“ Saturday/Getting there a day early
I got to TAF a day early, because i went with a counselor. It was nice to see all the behind the scenes stuff, and made me fully realize how much work the counselors have to put in even before TAF started. They had to go through training which went on until like 1 in the morning, and then they still had to decorate the hallways, which only took them forever. True, they were goofing off for a majority of the time, but they still did put alot of effort into it.
Sunday/Seeing Everyone Again
Chloe and I nearly DIED waiting for everyone. since we got there a day before it actually started, we were able to see the door tags and all the new names, so we were really curious to see who they were. So when sunday came, we were all so happy, but then it kinda hit us that most people wouldnt be coming until like late afternoon. but, people did finally start to arrive and it was so nice to finally see them again. Most people didnt change much in appearance, but there were a few people that were just like “holy crap who are you?!”. But yeah it was nice being together with all these people again
Small Groups
Small groups were definently one of my most favorite parts of TAF last year, so i was hoping it wouldnt let me down this year. And you know what? it didnt.
The people (see down below) were awesome and we really got close. I think the reason why small groups are so amazing is because we know that we can say pretty much anything and can trust no one will tell anyone outside of our small group. And also, since we spend so much time together, we really get to know one another and always have all those inside jokes and everything.
Speaker Sessions
Once again, a week of great speaker sessions from roger. Last year, he made me realize alot, and i just really opened up last year after the “be real with taf and taf will be real with you” speech. i think this really tied in with last year, because he was once again talking about how you cant let society influence your own values, and that you just need to be open to change. <– baha. paradox right there. but anyways, i love the speaker sessions because even though we might nod off once in a while, roger teaches us soo much in so many different ways and hes just really open to all of us and its just really nice.
Sibs
I love this program. I think its nice to have someone older to look up to/ younger to help guide. the big sibs are amazing and really try to get close to all the younger campers. Kudos to the PDs that came up with such amazing activities that make sibs and family groups so fun to be around.
Project TAFway
Funniest part of TAF.
Our whole small group thought that are outfits would be the best out of everyones, because of kevins fly swatter and speedo, ellerys dress that actually looked normal, and the amazing bahzhang purses. But nope. we were wrong. the other groups were really good too, but oh my gosh did group 7 own or what? when jesse appeared, there was just this huge shout of laugher, then, in the family groups, youd hear, “is he even wearing pants???” haha. congratulations eric:))
Pantyhose
There seemed quite a few activities with pantyhose this year. I remember the first i saw of it at TAF was on saturday night, and the counselors were all in the hall, and i just see howard there, with the pantyhose over his head, walking the other way, trying to stretch it out. you couldnt actually tell it was howard at first, thats how messed up the pantyhose made him look. Then later on in the week, it came up during taiwanese american gladiators and chloe and i were like ooohhh. Then during the carnival, pantyhose came up again, and people had to put it over their heads and swing it around.
Balloon Factory
It got so wet this year.
Minority Report
I really didnt like this movie, im not quite sure why. I mean, the lesson came out clear, YOU make out what happens to YOU, but i dont know, it just wasnt a very good movie.
Swing Choir
Swing choir was amazing. i was kinda dissapointed at first that we wouldnt be doing partner dances this year, but now, im really kinda thankful, cuz there are 3 more girls then guys, so i probably would have had to dance with another girl :/ The dances turned out really really good this year, i think last years was maybe just a little too complicated? idk. well, just for the record, I WASNT THE SHORTEST GIRL THIS YEAR:))
Choir
Awesome song choice this year, even though it did tend to drag on a little in the beginning. when we first started singing this in the really cold excercise room, i just remember like some people in front were doing like hand motions to pretty much every line, and i dont know, it was kinda distracting, but it was just really funny and a highlight for me during choir.
Gender Dialogue
Just as lovely as last year:)) haha. i thought it was pretty boring, the part with just the girls got pretty deep, but i think the fishbowl part couldve been better. What we said in the middle of the fishbowl wasnt very deep, and people on the outside probably already knew that. <– if that made any sense
Teahouse
Its always nice to relax and just have fun after such serious discussions. This years teahouse was really fun; we all got really crazy with our dancing. There were some crazy dancers this year; andrew, allen, and joe, and they kept the party moving. And i just want to thank Chelsea and Jess and whoever else for making the bubble tea, i know it gave you guys alot of trouble.
Water Fight
Oh my. i really dont know what to say about this. It was amazing and sooo wet. And cold too. And those water balloons hurt when they hit you, and often times, they didnt pop. I officially suck at the slip n slide relay races. Me and my sibs lost TWICE to two different sets of juniors. it was soo bad:)) but yea, the water fight was amazing, it always gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when i can empty a cup full of water on someone:)) just kidding:))
Flip Side/Parent JH dialogue
I think it was interesting stepping into our parents shoes. It seems that most asian families are the pretty similar, crazy, strict, education-focused parents, and fed-up, not-gonna-treat-my-kids-like-that children. but really? i can totally see where our parents are coming from, and they really do care. Also, us kids are always like ohmygosh my parents are soo mean id never treat my kids like that, but really/ i think once we have the weight of bringing-up-a-kid-to-the-best-they-can-be on our shoulders, i think we’ll start to act like our parents. i mean, we may change a few things around because we grew up in the same society as our kids are, unlike our parents, but all in all itll probably be pretty similar.
Carnival
So many great games this year. Whack a ninja was great, even though i felt bad for the people sticking their heads up through the holes, cuz some of the youth guys really tried their hardest to hit them. like really really really tried. King Cobra/Princess Pythons fortune telling was amazing. it was so funny, even though the fortunes did start to sound alike after a while… haha. Im soo sad they didnt do im a chubby bunny this year. that game was great. last year i got like 2? ish? i was hoping to improve, but noo. they didnt have it. The hair salon was great. those who got chelsea and jess actually got decent hairdoes, but those that ended up with ji? oh my. he doesnt know a thing about hair. it was just pretty much like OH! HAIR! LETS JUST MAKE IT STICK UP AND OUT IN RANDOM PLACES. it was pretty cool though.
TAFlove
taf IS love. This was another one of my favorite parts of taf. last year, it was really different and didnt really hit anyone hard, but this years, oh gosh, this years was so heartfelt. We all sat in a circle facing out and group by group people would get called up and theyd have to tap someone on the back, like, someone that made them smile, or someone they wished they would have gotten to know better, or whatnot. Everytime i got tapped, it was just like wow. and i dont know. its like, wow, i didnt really realize i impacted so many people this week. I was crying even before the first group finished. The one that really hit me was the last one. It was to tap someone that had shown you love that week. Im pretty sure like EVERYONE started to really cry on that one, because that really is what taf is all about, showing and spreading taflove.
TAFnight
TAFnight is just soo bittersweet. We get to show off all weve learned and how far weve come since the beginning of the week, but then tafnight also means pretty much the end of taf. Theres nothing besides the celebration dance planned after it, so its just like wow. taf is pretty much over. But then we try to make the most of it and thats really what makes TAFnight so amazing.
Celebration Dance
Craziest part of TAF. everyone just lets loose and just completely go insane.
People
Small Group: Subway $5 footlong… TURKEY SUBS
Jess and Kevin: you guys are awesome counselors, even if kevin IS insanely immature and you both have terrible handwriting. Jess, im sorry i TOTALLY did not recognize you as the other person car last year:/ Kevin: nice job with the racism thing, it was really the only time you were really serious. You both made sg really memorable and great:)
The other Kevin: Stay awesome, but get involved more:))
Dorothy: it was great to get to know you this year, your totally adorable and such a sweet girl; no wonder so many guys were falling for you:))
Ada: get a facebook and come back to taf next year:) your a pretty awesome person; really nice and er… well lets just say you need to stop kicking kevin:))
Ellery: I really didnt know what to expect about you when i first saw that you were rooming with colleena; some people werent too happy about being kicked out of colleenas suite cuz of you, so i was kinda.. idk. But you turned out pretty darn awesome and were a great contribution to our small group:)
Reggie: DANCE REGGIE DANCE:)) and get a facebook:)) you were a pretty cool kid and a nice pillow, even though your turkey does have plaid feathers. i had noo idea youre going into high school, thought that youd be like a year younger or something. but then again who am i to talk?
Willy: Absolutely positively THE cutest kid in jh EVER. like im not even kidding. how are you able to act like your on a sugar high at 4 in the morning? small group def isnt gonna be the same without you next year, and stay cute:))
JH Staff
Howard: jesus howard your gonna kill yourself one day if keep eating those nasty mixtures the campers make for you. ABOVE THE INFLUENCE! LEARN TO SAY NO! haha. you really would do anything to make the campers laugh, wouldnt you? Your a great PD, second year running:))
Juliana: I didnt really get to know you that well this year, but i really admire how open you are to everything and everyone. Thanks for being a great PD:))
Chelsea: Amazing job with the swing choir, it looked really good:))
Lawrence: you 2; great job with the swing choir. im sad i didnt get you as my counselor, but that would have been kinda weird. idk, i still know you best as my pre-k buddies older brother:)) stay awesome:))
Angela/Ivanka: nice mole. haha jkjk, you seem like a pretty cool person though ive been in JH for 2 years and still havent gotten to know you:( oh well, theres always next year:))
Frank: you and your abnormally large weenus. hahah its kinda creepy, no lie. well i got to know you decently well from the first day, and yea. see you next year
Jeff: I dont think i have ever met anyone as unselfconcious as you jeff. its crazy, but in a good way:)) all the campers can count on you if they need a good laugh. your awesome:))
Liz: didnt really get to know you either, but great choir song selection. its still stuck in my head:))
Mark: the JH counselor TC this year:)) like jeff, we can always count on you to make us laugh:))
Tiffany: counselor from last year! wish i couldve hung out with your more this year, but oh well. i know youll always be there for me:))
Ann: Fellow Kansaser:)) though i spent so little time with you at taf, i felt like learned alot about “inner beauty” in your sg with roger. and i just want to thank you for that. and yea, ill see in in like a few weeks at chinese school:))
Ji: Another fellow kansaser:)) kansan? hmm. idk. even though this was your first year at taf, you seem to have really blended in with the rest of the tafers. it was a party with you around:))
Jess J: didnt really get to know you this week, but kudos with the cooking workshop, the mochi was very interesting:))
KING COBRA: hahahha you def need to bring that back next year, it was great. the campers can always go to you if they a good laugh:))
Roger: AMAZING speaker sessions, once again. i have learned soo much from you, this year and last, and really, thank you. you have helped me change soo much in becoming a better person. the way you teach your lessons is in a very JH friendly way, pretty much everyone understands you. come back to taf next year:))
The girls:
Allison: roomie 09:)) felt like a really got to know you better this year; youve changed alot. last year you were like this emo-wannabe chick that looked like josh from behind:)) but this year, i dont even know how to say this, but yea. lots and lots of guys like you this year:)) lol. anyways, rooming with you this year has been pretty pimp, and we have our share of inside jokes. 6 am- STOP YELLING AT ME DAD, getting up at 5 to tape up that door that phillip tore down sooo quickly, and trying to keep you up past 12:30. it was great. lets do it again next year hmm?
Veronica: sad we didnt get to room together this year, but at least we were across the hall from each other:)) dannngg girl you need to SPEAK UP! still as quiet as last year, but still amazing.
Chloee: Saturday and the beginning of sunday were great. well, the rest of the week too, but i really got to know you on those 2 days. There were some sad and serious moments, but all in all, it was pretty cool being able to spend time with you like that. oh. and btw. just a bit of advice. START LIKING PEOPLE YOUR OWN AGE.
)
Maggie: Even though you moved up to youth, i think we still stayed pretty close this year. youre still amazingly nice and thats what we all love about you. and yea, stay amazing:))
And the Other People
Jonathan: you are absolutely adorable with your fobness. i can totally see why allison liked you:) it was nice to get to know you this year, and i know ill def be seeing you next year:))
Andrew: tc 09:)) youve changed alot from last year, youve gotten alot more social, i guess, for want of a better word. but yea, like last year even though we were in the small group like no one really got to know you. and yea it was nice to actually get to know you this year, and spiking your ice cream is def gonna become a tradition, so watch out:))
Josh: goshdangit WHY MUST YOU BE SO TALL. rawr. haha. i remember seeing you last year cuz you were just like this like overly tall junior and i remember not liking for some reason, i guess it was just like you thought you were so cool. idk, but i was wrong, youre a pretty cool kid, it was nice being able to get to know you this year, and ill miss you in youth next year.
Jeff: Pre k buddies:)) idk, we never really talk at taf for some reason, its always just like after taf and idk. its kinda weird, but congrats on getting back with angela, you guys are freaking amazing for being able to catch up like that, but yea, i WILL get to know you better next year
Jesse: You havent really changed much since last year, still awesome; spontaneous; weird. Kudos to you with the project tafway thing. that was soo funny. im sad we didnt really talk much at taf this year, but theres always next year:))
Kevin Huang: Holy crap. could you have grown any taller? i honestly did not recognize you on that first day. but other than that, i dont think youve changed much either, your still really nice and just cool like that:)) ill miss you in youth next year
Jarrell: Crazy little dancer that spells his name with 2 L’s. haha im pretty sure i spelled it wrong on your yearbook, sorry. didnt really get to know you this year, but no matter, youre still awesome:))
Phil: hold on, your related to WILL? ive had so many of these moments at taf this year, but yea, it was nice to get to know you this year, and thanks for killing like 2 hours of hard work me and allison put in taping up your doorway:(( and no one else saw it either:(( lolol
Bing: small group was diff without you:(( ohh well, at least i still got around to talking to you every once in awhile:)) ill be seeing you in youth next year:))
Steven: your probably one of the only juniors i got to know this year, and your a pretty cool kid, even though you did kill my “TAF 09″ drawing on the sidewalk:))
Derrick: yea kansas:)) shouldve hung out with you more at taf, but ohh well. i can do that at chineeeesse school. just cuz im cool like that:)) and that unicorn in the sky? well. good luck with that:))
Allen: crazy good dancer, youre cute:)
Aileen: Sibs!
) it was pretty fun, especially at the end of the carnival when we had to put on that jacket. haha, great times this year:))
Vicki: OHMYGAWSH absolutely UNBELIEVABLE that you were my big sib again. and i mean that in a good way:)) Im sad we didnt quite get that drink to lawrence again, but at least someone drank it… all of it… haha. these past 2 years have been great, ill miss having you as my big sib next year
Erica: SHHWWEEEETmates 09:)) youre a crazy, blunt, and adorable little girl with a brother that can DANCE:)) haha hope you liked your first year at taf and id better see you next year… and btw, in case you didnt know, josh liked you this year:)) (sorry josh, i couldnt help myself, and anyways i doubt youll read as far as this)
Erin: cant believe i didnt get to know you last year, i def missed out on alot there:)) lol your an awesome person and i do believe i shall see you next year in youth?
)
Colleena: dang. still didnt really get to know you this year. but there is always next year:)) you still have those mad tumbling skills, and ill miss you next year in youth
Jessalyn: barely got to know you this year, but you and willy would look adorable together. just sayin:))
Joyce: I hope you had a great first year and I’d better see you and Ada next year:))
John Chen: be a youth counselor next year:)) it was nice getting to know you better this year, and im not that much of a crier… and just for the record. KANSAS IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN NEW YORK:)
Ho Chie: exactly how many years have you been to taf? you never quite told us :/ i love your jacket thing that you bleached, ima try that one day:)) well anyways, it was nice getting to know you alot better this year, and yea, stay awesome and see you next year:))
And then theres the nooobs that couldnt come this year (frances, josh, brad, melinda, jason lee, eric kao, and anyone else i missed): just for the record, you guys suck. but i still love you and YOUD BETTER GO NEXT YEAR:))
TAF just wouldnt be the same without you amazing people, so thank you, and
I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU ALL
TAF playlist
You’ll be in My Heart- Phil Collins: JH choir
Viva La Vida- Coldplay
We’re in Heaven- DJ Sammy: still the most interactive dance song:))
Upside Down- Jack Johnson: Youth Choir
Beat it- Michael Jackson: one of youths swing choir song
Boom Boom Pow/Showdown- Black Eyed Peas: JH swing choir
Fire Burnin- Sean Kingston
Forever Young- Youth Group
Just some random TAF memories
Girls go to jupiter to get more stupider boys go to college to get more knowledge:))
jonathan is a FOB. and allisons tc:))
and the willy dance:))….. ON KEVIN
i need a belt. does anyone have a belt i can borrow…
…
whos belt is that kevin?
veronicas:))
what? you still dont have your luggage???
juniors attacking andrew
NEENJA
Reggie makes a nice pillow:))
Whip cream + black tea
when did you get those jeans andrew? they look really… er… tight.
hello willy and why are you eating on the floor?
im playing a card game:))
taping up a doorway
NO HOWARD DONT DIE
nice pants there jonathan.
whats that? a black hole,
whats that? a WHITE hole.
plaid feathers?
you know that guy dancing in the middle of the circle over there?
yea. hes hot.
WHAT?! HES MY BROTHER.
(ohhhh shhnnappp!)
USE YOUR MANLY HIPS
the girls in coachs ark: monICA veronICA erICA and… christine… ahaha
my rear is sore.
our second year tradition prank on lawrence… though it got changed around
JH! how do you feel? WE FEEL GOOD! OOH WE FEEL SO GOOD! UGHH!
hey ho chie, can i have your bag now?
do the vicki dance:))
you fell down because of your BIG EGO
reggie has long pinkies
smurf dance
stop kicking kevin, ada!
allisons fuzzy blanket
unicorn flying in the sky
Ninja in the middle of the airport
howard and julianas orientation speech
THEYRE RELATED???
eric and emily chen
will and phil shih
kevin and jess jou
Tony and Clarice/Reggie/Kristi
TAF truly an experience like no other. It helps us grow and become better people, and it helps us make an impact to make others better people.
TAF is…
Speaker Sessions
Small Groups
Sibs
Project TAFway
Pantyhose
Balloon Factory
Water Fights
Not Stereotyping
Making our own decisions
Swing Choir
Choir
Fishsticks
Dances
Carnival
TAFnight
People
Understanding
Trust
Friendship
Forever
But most of all,
TAF is
LOVE “
This was Tiffany’s second year at TAF and she was part of the Junior High program.
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