Halloween

I found myself laughing as Steve and I took out Tristan and Alyvia trick or treating.  My experiences with trick or treating over the years, have all been DRASTICALLY different:

1. Trick or Treating in Canada while Living on an Acreage: In -25 degree weather, we would head out the door with our costumes shoved over our ski jackets, mittens, and toques.  We would jump in the car and proceed to be chauffeured (by our parents) to the local houses in the area.  Because of the distance between acreages, we would not hit many places, but the houses we did hit were always a score of candy, chips, and if we were lucky, pop! By the end of the night we would seek the shelter and warmth of our own homes, and count our candy.

2. Trick or Treating in Kuwait: Since the Kuwaitis do not celebrate Halloween, it was an event that the parents of AIS staff children planned with other teachers in the school.  Staff that wanted to participate in giving out treats, would put a pre-made pumpkin on their door so that the kids would know what doors to knock on.  Heading out for the night, the kids would ensure that their costumes were light weight, as to not sweat to death during the process of running door to door. In 30 plus heat, trick or treating could get a little heated. As a group, we would travel to the four teacher buildings and ride up and down the elevator, finding doors that we could knock on.  By the end of the night, we were all sweaty and ready to hit the air-conditioning of our own apartments.  Here we would count our candy.

3. Trick or Treating in Japan: Traditionally, the Japanese do not celebrate Halloween, but when a bunch of Japanese kids get word that candy will be given out to all people in costumes on the 31st of October, in a rural area called Chofu, they come in bus loads to partake in the fun.  With 15-20 degree temperatures, all costumes are permissible in Japan.  Kids do not run the risk of freezing or sweating, but they do run the risk of being stuck in a line to receive candy.  In true Japanese fashion, there was such a crowd, that most houses in our area had kids lined up at their doors.  One of our teachers put together a "haunted yard" and by 7:30 pm there were at least 200 Japanese kids waiting in line to get in!  Luckily, we had VIP passes!  With so many kids out and about, Halloween spirit was certainly in the air. The great thing was, that being a school night (the Japanese are very serious about school), everything shut down by 8:30, and soon there after, we were at home counting our candy.....which did not add up to much...with up to 2000 kids at some houses, people have to be a little "skimpy" on what they give out.