My Asian Valentine('s Day)

Yesterday was my first Valentine's Day in Taiwan and possibly the most bizarre Valentine's Day of my life. Of course I was surrounded by my students all day long. And I did enjoy when one of my 9th grade students walked up to me before class and said "Ms. Pint-a! You're beautiful-a! Happy Valentine's Day-a!" while handing me a Lindt Truffle. (my students tend to add an "a" sound at the end of words because in Chinese, a lot of words end in that sound and it's sort of a fallback for them and super adorable for us teachers to hear)

The best part of my odd Valentine's Day was at the end of the day however. One student (whom I don't even teach) in 11th grade, Wayne, was telling me all day that he had gotten me a balloon and candy and I thought he was just making it up. At 7:30 I got a knock on the door to my apartment-and yes, it's still weird that students can just come to where I live by walking down the hall! Of course when I open the door, it's Wayne with a heart shaped balloon and chocolate for his favorite non-teacher.

Wayne then informed me that he was going to get me a rose, but decided to get me a balloon instead so we could "do the helium thing" in his words. So I proceeded to bite the balloon, suck up some helium, and speak like a chipmunk for 5-10 minutes with an 11th grade student in the dorm hallway. Weirdest Valentine's Day ever but also, possibly the best! Now if I only had my loved one's here with me it would be amazing.