Last night was the KAS Christmas party. It was held at a posh hotel downtown. The Christmas tree in the lobby was huge and understated, by Taiwanese standards.

The elevator doors were dressed up for the season.

We were whisked up to the 42nd floor to the circular restaurant at the top of the building. It was a spectacular view with all the cities lights down below. I'd love to go back sometime and see the view during the day.

As an international school KAS likes to combine both American and Taiwanese elements in its traditions so we were given red envelopes by the superintendent as we walked in the door. Red envelopes are the traditional gift in China for pretty much every celebration so why not for a Christmas bonus?

I'm not sure how I'll spend my money. Maybe at the jade market....

Another American tradition the people at KAS like is the Yankee swap, a game I personally dislike. You put some effort into bringing a gift you think someone might enjoy and you end up coming home with somebody's idea of a joke. Case in point: Lee took a bottle of scotch and came home with this, the "Tube Slimer."

Really, it says tube slimer. I chose not to participate, for obvious reasons.