We Celebrated The Fall Moon Festival!

This past weekend, we attended the Asian Children's Mentoring Program's exciting Fall Moon Festival event! I didn't really know what to expect, but Mama and Baba told me it would be a lot of fun. Here we are arriving at the event. I also was excited to see my mentor, Ji In, again. I also dressed in traditional Chinese attire for the event. This is one of many outfits Mama bought me while in China.

This was the first time I decided to let Ji In hold me. I am usually fairly "shy" about other people besides Mama and Baba holding me. However, she was able to successfully bribe me with balloons. It worked!

See, I'm all smiles now! All it takes is a little creativity to get me to come out of my shell.

Ji In asked me how old I will be soon (January 22nd), and I told her "THREE!"

She was amazed at how much talking I am doing now compared to just a few months ago.

As always, I was the center of attention. These students seem to really enjoy my company.

I decided that Ji In and I should wear some streamers. She put a yellow one on me
to match my outfit.

Ji In, I think you need some more streamers around your neck to complete your look.

You're getting there - looking good so far.

Peace!

Now Ji In is tying a string to my balloons so I will not lose them.

And then we hit the buffet line! Ji In is about to feed me some rice and noodles. YUMMY!

Wait - what is that?

Oh, OK. A piece of chicken. Mmmmmm!

We're having a little conversation now.

We had time to play with my balloons before the activities started.

Give me back my balloons, Ji In!

And now it's time for the show.

The show began with a young Chinese woman playing an instrument called a Guzheng. Those have been as popular in China over the years as the piano has been in Europe and America. And, the instrument dates back more than 3000 years. The song she played was very beautiful and was called "Xue Shan Chun Xiao." It was a song about the changing of the seasons in honor of the Fall Moon Festival. She is also wearing a replica of a traditional silk palace dress.

And then a young man from the Philippines sang the Filipino National Anthem, Lupang Hinirang, meaning "Chosen Land" in Tagalog. He sang the song beautifully.

And then some other students from the Fillipino American Student Association performed for us. It was called Tinikling, which involves two people hitting bamboo poles, using them to beat, tap, and slide on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. Mama said it's sort of like "Double Dutch" with poles instead of rope.

Wow, look at them dance!

Then they let us come up and try. I was the first one to jump up and volunteer! I am pictured here with my friend Lili.

And then we watched the UGA Taekwondo club perform. This guy broke two boards with one good kick.

Now THAT's a kick.

And then they asked for some volunteers. Mama didn't catch this picture, but again - I was the FIRST person to run up there when they asked for volunteers. :)

Alice, who is one of the Asian Mentors, taught us how to make fists and
pose in a particular stance.

And now a few moves. Here I am again with my friend Lili.

And then Delta Phi Lambda (and Asian-interest sorority), performed a puppet show for us about the history of the Moon Festival.

After the puppet show was over, it was time to enjoy some moon cakes. But first, the girls from Delta Phi Lambda handed out the puppets from the show to us. I got the emperor!

And now, I'm about to try a Moon Cake.

Well, it's almost time for the festival to end. We had a GREAT time.

Mama said she knows this picture is a little blurry, because I was moving. But this is one of her favorite expressions of mine that I make when I'm really happy.

Mama and Baba also wanted to thank the Asian Children's Mentor Program at the University of Georgia for all they have done to help children like me to remain linked to our birth culture. These students put a lot of time and energy into planning and holding some WONDERFUL events for us. We are very, very grateful for the program and also for me to have my very own mentor, Ji In. We look forward to a long relationship with this awesome group of Asian students. Thank you! Oh, and didn't they do a great job decorating? Look at these pretty paper lanterns.