Yes, today I was the object of a classic Point and Laugh. Our children attend the Taipei American School. TAS is considered one of the most prestigious international schools in the world. Ironically, over 90% of the 2000 or so students at TAS are Taiwanese. The Taiwanese, like most Asians, place a heavy emphasis on schooling. Most Asian kids go to school around 12 hours a day and then go home and study for 3 more hours. You think I’m exaggerating; I’m not. As a result, most of the poor American kids are in Resource. I’ve been told that the only classes that American kids tend to dominate are American History (the Taiwanese don’t really give a crud) and drama (not used the applause and the whole concept of drawing attention to oneself). Even my straight A child pretty much bombed the placement exams. You can imagine how well my non-straight A kids did.
I have to take one second and brag about the elementary school playground at TAS. It has a climbing wall, a butterfly garden, two waterfalls, a really cool spiderweb climbing thingy (Elizabeth’s favorite feature) and a beautiful Buddhist temple next it with singing monks. I’m told the temple occasionally shoots off fireworks in the middle of the day for no apparent reason.
Back to the Point and Laugh. So today I was at one of the countless new parent orientations that I’ve attended this week. At one point, the presenter asked the parents of high school students to stand. Up I went. Then the presenter asked the parents of middle school students to stand. Up I went again. Polite laughter in the background. Finally, the presenter asked for the parents of elementary students to stand. Up I went a third time followed by a roaring Point and Laugh. I didn’t volunteer the fact that I have two in elementary.
Afterward, a Taiwanese mother came up and asked if I was Mormon. Yep.
Six Abroad 
Cute! I’m sure your HUGE family gets many a stare here. . . get ready for lots of finger-pointing LAO-WAI!
Yesterday a friend and I were discussing the fact she’ll have both a kindergartener and a high school senior next year (with five other kids in between). Yay for you! Soon I’ll have both a middle schooler and a preschooler. Even that is weird to some people.
You are amazing Erin! What an experience!
What a great story!! I hope your kids are getting the hang of school over there. Sounds really kinda rough! Do they not believe in extracurriculars? I feel like my kids are pretty darn busy, especially the high-schooler, but man, 12 hours and day plus 3 more hours of HW. I don’t know. Alex is often gone for at least 12 hours a day, but that includes seminary, arriving at school 45 minutes before it even starts (good HW/study time), and staying after for a sport team practice. Even then, she’s home about 11-11 1/2 hours after leaving. The 3 hours of HW though, typical, and more sometimes. Good luck to all of you with this huge transition. Love love love reading about your life over there! So so fun! 🙂