Mixed Emotion About ICE

Every year, a large hotel in the area has a popular holiday exhibit called "ICE!" where they bring in an entire team of ice carvers from China to carve characters for the year's theme. It is based Ina popular Chinese festival where prolonged freezing temperatures and an abundance of ice lends itself to a spectacular art. Unfortunately, Texas doesn't have either, so this hotel spends an enormous amount of money to have ice of different colors made, delivered to a temperature-controlled tent, and carved by men who travel from China to use their craft to sculpt famous children's characters.

It initially sounds like a great way to learn about a Chinese tradition, but I couldn't wonder if this exhibit was worth supporting. Not only were we viewing cartoon characters rather than the traditional characters one might find in the ice festival in China, but I couldn't believe how much money we spend on this spectacle. In the midst of an economic recession that has families struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table, those of us who do have the extra $35 per person are putting it towards this? Think of how much money it is costing the hotel to keep the temperature in this tent at 4 degrees? And it's electricity, a valuable resource which produces waste our children will have to deal with later, and all for a popular holiday exhibit. Don't get me wrong. I am not trying to be a scrooge. I enjoy holiday carols and holiday lights like anyone else, but I think there are far too many wasted resources here. I just feel like a hypocrit explaining to Rai why we don't waste water and then taking him to a gigantic fake ice festival held in a temperature-colored tent inside a hotel.