Christmas Party

Quick update: 

We had our Christmas party last night. And it was awesome!!

We had all our friends here, cookies, frosting, paper snowflakes cutting, singing and fellowship. 

Everyone cut out their hands on green paper and we made a Christmas tree of hands that turned out awesome. We sang a slew of songs with guitar, bass, ukulele, piano and (of course) the tambourine. 

We told the Story of Christmas and finished out the evening with more singing. 

It's at this time of year that I really appreciate all that I have and all that I'm missing.

Clichéd, I know.... But let me explain. 

Here in China, I've got friends who are my 'family' while I live here. They are my support system, and my strength and my laughter. I would not be nearly as content here with out all of them. Plus, all the new friends I make on a weekly basis. There is some pretty great food, things to do, and the weather is decent (most of the time). 

In America, I'm missing my blood family and the festivities that usually surround Christmas. Baking with Gram, watching White Christmas with Twig, building a snowman with Beasty, and shopping with Mom. And of course, ch.rch with my whole family. 

However, it's not the 'haves' and 'have-nots' that I'm thinking about. It's just the joy that I have because all of these things exist in my life. I can talk to my mom and family on Christmas. I can spend Christmas with my family here. I could be anywhere... But at this time in my life I'm here. For a purpose. And for that I'm thankful. 

I hope each of you can find contentment this Christmas season in all that you've been given. 

Merry Christmas.

Until next time. 

P.S. Seth says 'All hail. ....' (He's a little odd) 

December starts rolling...

Hi friends...

So, December has rolled in.

And, boy, did it roll in like a bowling ball set on a strike.

The month started off grand with a package arriving from home with goodies from St. Nick.

Momma and Gram send me some love in the form of socks, chocolate (twix!!) and a couple cards. St. Nick has always been my favorite part of the holiday season. I love Thanksgiving, and I love Christmas with the family. But my Mom and Gram have always made a big deal out of St. Nick. It was something fun as a kid to wake up on a school day and get a couple little treats. Because it was right after the Thanksgiving holiday was over and Christmas excitement hadn't quite set in yet, I just loved it. This grand tradition continued all through high school and college for me, and now has followed me to China.

I love it.

Then, this past weekend we had a large gathering of Women at my apartment for Women's Retreat weekend. We had friends come in from Shanghai and Hangzhou for some crafts, cooking, singing, dancing and quality time with each other and HIS word.

It was such a joy to see all my friends, and spend time with them. We had about 30 people here... which is not quite the hullabaloo that was Thanksgiving but nothing to sneeze at. Particularly when sleeping arrangements needed to be made. We had three to a bed in some places, and the living room had about 14 people on the floor and couches and snuggled in for body heat. (it's pretty cold and we don't have any full house heat. Only stand alone heaters) But we all had a good time.

Then, Jen and Liqing (lee ching) stayed for an extra day and us girls baked up a storm!! We made two batches of chocolate chip banana bread, chocolate chip muffins, chocolate chip muffin cake (we ran outta muffin cups, so we put the extra dough into a pan), apple cinnamon bread, and nutella sugar cookies. The kind that you roll into a ball and then roll in sugar. It felt like home and baking for christmas....

I loved it.

Not to mention I loved eating it. (I might have had treats for lunch today....)

Then, this week classes, and this weekend we're having a small group of girls over to help me roll out and cut sugar cookie dough to bake. Which we will save all our cookies for the following weekend when we have our giant Christmas party. Hopefully we'll have a big turnout and a lot of fun.

I planned, organized and executed Women's weekend with the help of my fellow women. I've got this next weekends cookie cut out day planned, and the plans for the Christmas party just went out to my teammates.

I feel like I can add project manager to my resume... haha!! But I love to do this sort of thing.
I like being the behind the scenes woman. I feel like organize people well, handle the unexpected, and delegate. But I'm not so great in the spot light... Luckily, I have always had cohorts that take that role and execute it spectacularly.

After our holiday party, a few of us are heading up to Hangzhou to help them with their holiday party as the musical entertainment. We have a couple guitar/bass/ukulele players here, and I've taken up the tambourine.....

I play a mean "We wish you a Merry Christmas".

Then, back to classes, and such until Christmas Eve when the team will get together to spend the holiday as a family. We have to work around the holiday, but we get Christmas Day off.

And after ALL OF THAT..... whew... I'm tired just thinking about it all. I have to teach a bit again, but  I'm planning a trip to Shanghai for the New Year to spend it with Jen and Sam and the team up there. And after that, hopefully, I'll get to breathe a little bit..... And start looking forward to Spring Holiday.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Advent season.

Until next time.

Turkeysaurus Rex and the dinosaur called Thanksgiving

Hello friends, 

I'm headed off to bed shortly. But I thought of all of you as I was wrapping up cleaning the dishes this evening. I haven't talked to you in a while, so I'll give you a recap of the last weeks events. 

We've been in full Thanksgiving planning for quite some time. I've been point woman on the festivities which included: Thanksgiving on Thursday with other foreigners, cooking a storm on Friday (today) and then a large group Thanksgiving with our Chinese friends. 

So, Tuesday, Tony and I spent about 3 hours at the grocery store getting all the supplies and such for this large extravaganza. Oh, I should mention we are expecting 60+ people for Saturday. 

Wednesday, Tony made shepherds pie, and I made apple pie together after school. 

Thursday, Thanksgiving!! But, I had school. China doesn't observe western holidays... Which obviously makes sense... doesn't mean I like it. Then after school I headed back to warm the pies. Both shepherd and apple... and Tony and I headed into town to the shindig. 

It was great. There was good company, good food, and we played a fun 'get to know you' game. 

Then.... THEN! Friday. Hang on to something, this is about to get crazy. 

I had to teach in the morning, finishing two classes at about 11:30 and I walked home (about 15 minutes) stopping along the way to pick up some yeast (it's important later) and get some lunch. 

When I arrived home I took the turkey out of the fridge to warm to room temp and dry off. OH, I totally forgot to tell you that my friends and I killed a turkey. Tony went to Wenling, a city south of here, and bought a live turkey. You heard me. Live. He took it to school on Monday and everywhere that Tony went the Turkey was sure to go........   ..... sorry. 

Anyway, on Monday night we decided to lop off Turkeysaurus's head. (that's his name) We prepped, we had a little liquid courage, and finally we just did it. Unfortunately, we were unaware of the practice usually involved in bird murder..... You tie the wings together so they don't flop so bad. We just had Seth and Jordan holding them. So as soon as the head came off and the bird went berserk! they let go and ran, so the bird was left to flop around the room. Seth also chose this moment to go berserk as well. I am not using the term berserk carelessly here. Its the only word that properly describes what he did. Running around the bird and trying to catch it, screaming quite loudly and trying to not step in the blood. 

If you have the stomach for it... and are looking for a good laugh... here's the video 

<The death of Turkeysaursus Rex>

Okay, back to Friday, I had taken the turkey out of the fridge. Here's the order of events. Ate lunch. Made banana bread. Made another banana bread. Made rolls. Set oil on the stove to heat. Made more rolls. Wrapped my arm in a towel and glove (rubber bands were used) and grabbed Turkeysaurus by the wing. 

Lowered him gently into the oil...which promptly overflowed all over the counter. Effectively scaring the shit out of all of us (oil+stove=fire) But I stuck my gloved hand into the spatter to turn off the burner and quickly mopped all the oil into the sink. Through all this I was telling Seth (my sous chef) that we had to get the burner going again or the turkey would be lost. So we got it cleaned up a bit and the burner going again. 

(whew)

Then, I left Seth to watch over Turkeysaurus. Made more rolls. Gave Petra instructions for banana bread. And another banana bread. Took the turkey off the stove and set to cool on a rack. 

Of course I had to see if he was done, so I cut out a small piece and take a bite. I promptly swoon with the amount of flavor in my mouth. IT WAS SO GOOD!! So good. 

Now, all of these things happen simultaneously: Eggs boil. And cool. Potatoes washed and sliced. Eggs peeled. Deviled eggs made. Waldorf salad made. Chicken breasts thawed. Turkey carved. 

Then, chicken gets deep fried because Turkeysaurus turned out so well. And cleaning-paloooza commences. 

Now, I'm headed to bed and the items we have sitting for lunch tomorrow:

• 4 banana breads
• 3 batches of rolls (about 80)
• Turkey
• Chicken
• Waldorf salad
• 60 deviled eggs
• gravy (made from turkey juices)
• cranberry sauce
• Mashed potatoes (get made in morning)
• Stuffing (morning too)
• Fruit salad (also morning)
• Rice (because this is china)
• veggies (just need to heat up)

And then everything needs to be warmed for serving. And we will have ourselves a pleasant little feast. And I say little, but I mean whopping. 

I'm practically falling asleep as I type and sorely need to go to bed. So I bid you adieu and will update you on the success of tomorrows lunch and if we had enough food or if we have a mountain of leftovers. 

Happy Thanksgiving, and Merry Start of Christmas music all the time!

Until next time. 

NEW!!

Quick thing...

Usually I don't have too many new things happening in my daily life. China is china, and I'm just being me. But yesterday (Saturday) I was on my way home on the bus. Which was crowded. As per the norm on a saturday. But it seemed extra crowded. I mean, sardines have more room to wiggle in their canisters than this bus did. Anyway, we were about half way home and all of a sudden...

PHthudaKaTAdisssSSsssssssss

We went over a bump and flat tire. The front tire of the bus. Flat.

We all got off and some people walked to the next stop a couple hundred yards up the road. Carina and I waited for a taxi. Which took about 20 min or so because we were not in a part of town that has many taxis.

We got a taxi and got home and it was fine. But it was something new for the books.

Until next time.

Shanghai Shenanigans, and the Kitchen rampage

Episode 1: Shanghai Shenanigans

I had off of school last week on Thursday and Friday.

So in good teacher fashion.....

I left town!

I headed up to Shanghai on Thursday afternoon to spend some quality time with my SH friends. I met Jen and we went to Ikea for some meatballs and ice cream for dinner. Friday, I spent the morning laying in bed/napping. Because what else is a girl to do on her day off? Then, we made dinner. Jen, Sam and I made a chicken stir fry and steak fries and watched movies with Jon and Horatia. It was great fun. We watched some "Boy Meets World" while dinner was cooking, and then "How to train your dragon" because it's only the best ever, and finished with some "Secret life of Walter Mitty" which I'll admit was slightly frustrating... But ended up being great.

Then Saturday rose with some rain, but cleared up quickly and we biked downtown to peruse the fancy mall, have lunch at Mex&Co.

Yes. Mexican. Real (mostly) Mexican. I had a burrito and it was scrumptious. Then we headed home to make banana bread for our friends coming for dinner. It was great because I got to see a couple girls who lived in SX last year, and now are living in SH. They didn't know I'd be there, so it was a great reaction from them when I walked around the corner.

Then Sunday, we went to Ch.rch followed by the giant market located in the metro stop for the Science and Technology museum. I don't think the market has an actual name. Everyone just calls it by the metro stop.

Anywhoooo, this market has the 'mecca' of Vera Bradley. Which means theres a ton of stuff, and you can get it for fairly cheap.

This does not make things easier. Actually, more choices made it harder. But I knew I wanted a backpack. That was the only thing I knew. Then....

WHAT PATTERN??

If you know anything about Vera, she's got a plethora of options.....

I finally settled on a pattern called "Bittersweet" which is a plump floral of autumn colors with a scattering of black and white geometric lines pleasantly accenting. And I caved into the aura that is Vera and got a cosmetic bag too in a pattern that I can't remember the name of... But it's a grey base with a few bright pastel colored flowers that just make you wanna smile. I bargained a bit, but the woman was a shark. So I ended up getting both pieces for about $70. Still a good deal.

Then, as we were walking about the place, I caught sight of a yellow suitcase. Now, I need a new suitcase because the wheel on one of mine was broken. But I wasn't really looking to buy one at the time. I was gonna have a friend back in SX take me to a place that was cheap.... But I thought, "What the heck? I'll ask."

I meander in to the store and look (not touch, just look) at the suitcase in question. The woman selling them, comes over in full salesman mode. She says 'it's a good case', 'you should buy it'... so I ask the inevitable question of how much. 580RMB. (Which is just shy of $100)

On my chinese salary, and with the money I have on me... I can't afford this. Plus, seeing as how I didn't really want to buy the thing, I decided to see how low she could go. So, I said I'd give her 200 for it. She gets this screwed up look on her face and goes 'oh, no no no, I can't. Give me a little more. Your best price' ... and I say, 200. She goes... 400?

Okay, better.... But I need to remind you. I don't have that much. And I should really say. I have no money. I used it all at the Vera mecca. So, I'm relying on Jen. (She said she could help, bless her heart)

Back to the bartering with this woman.... After her offer of 400 I say "I don't think we're seeing eye to eye" and I start to leave. I have to walk around a center display of suitcases. As I reach the first corner headed toward the door, she says... 'okay, 300' ... I keep walking with a response of 'no, i can't sorry' and as I hit the corner closest to the day, she says 'okay okay! 200'

At this point I'm trying to keep my cool, and say 'okay, I'll take it.' But on the inside I'm doing a happy dance and fist pumping the air, and going 'BOOYAH!!!' I never expected her to go down that far from 580. Which means that I spent approximately $33 on a full size, four wheeled, hard side suitcase... That happens to be sunshine yellow (my favorite).

Please... hold your applause. ;)

And that's basically the highlight of my trip. It gets a little hairy from that point. We go home and I load up my new goodies, and my back pack of clothes into my new suitcase and head for the metro. Which takes it's sweet time, so when I arrive at the train station I have a whopping 12 minutes to get up three flights of escalators (none of which are next to each other), through train security, get to my gate and on my train. This doesn't look promising. I get off the metro, scamper to the main floor, up to departures, thankfully there no line at security, but I enter at gate 23.... Mine is 8. Luckily my new suitcase rolls like a bowling ball on a fresh lane, and I run toward my gate. I make it with a few minutes to spare, to get down the escalator to the platform and onto the train. There were other people still boarding which made me feel better. But 'whew' was I sweaty and so thankful.


Episode 2: Kitchen Rampage

It's Wednesday. My Shanghai adventure is fresh but fading as I settle into my routine again. Today, I got the itch to cook. I had planned on making banana bread because we have friends coming over for snacks tomorrow. I had also been wanting to try apple pie. See if it is a thanksgiving possibility. Annnnndddd, I suddenly had a craving last night for meatloaf.

Now, usually when these things hit me, I lack the motivation for more than one endeavor. Today was different. I had the recipes ready. I had my list made, and Walmart had a sale on ketchup. (coincidence? I think not)

Let me break it down....

• I arrive home from the store with my goodies. 
• I get the oven going, and start with banana bread prep.
• Banana bread goes in the oven, pie crust prep starts
• The pie crust gets tossed in the fridge to chill, and banana bread comes out to cool. (I need the pan that it's in for the meatloaf)
• Meat loaf gets messy... I love squishing it with my fingers. I have to chop an onion so this part takes a little bit. 
• Banana bread comes out, pan gets a quick wash and dry, grease and the meatloaf goes in the oven. 
• Apples get washed, peeled and sliced. Crust gets rolled out and placed into pan with apples, and then the lattice top. (I know, fancy!)
• Meat loaf is ready to come out. I wasn't sure, but now I know that I got pork at the store. Which works just as well as beef. But it makes the meatloaf look a little funny. So I check it a bunch to make sure its done. It is. Out it comes!! And it smells like home. 
• Apple pie goop (thats only word that comes to mind with this stuff) gets heated on the stove and then poured over the lattice top. Into the OVEN!!! 
• The meatloaf was cooling, and the apple pie needed to change temp after 15 min, so I decided to clean and do dishes. (This kitchen rampage made a fair number of dishes)
• Dishes done, meatloaf cooled a bit too long reheated and I finally got to eat dinner at 7:20. It was most tasty. 
• Apple pie done and now I'm writing to you. 

I'm debating if I go slice a small piece to try now, or if I take it snack time tomorrow with the banana bread and let my friends be the guinea pigs..... mmmmm. I think I need to try it.

Until next time. 

Run, Hangzhou, Run!

Alrighty folks. Here's the low down. The four-one-one....

My life is pretty cazshsszzz.. That's 'casual' but shortened.
I have no idea how spell that sound.
Give it a try. Say 'casual', but stop around the s.... How do you spell that sound?
I'll take suggestions.

Moving on... It's been a couple weeks since my last foray into the blogger world.

I've said this before, but I feel like I could always say it again. I haven't forgot about you. I seriously haven't. I know you're there, waiting with feigned patience for my next update. Or, if you're my Gram, you check everyday. I just don't have anything going on. My life is pretty normal..... I mean I live in a foreign country... But it's normal.

However, to give you a glimpse into my day to day, I'll lay it out a little bit.

I'm gonna start on Tuesday, because thats where my week begins...

Tuesday: I usually sleep at Zion, so 7am rise and shine, walk to school at 7:30.... Teach two classes (four 45 min periods), Lunch, catch the bus home at 12:40. Then, I rest. Catch up on some work, and some TV and call it a night.

Wednesday: Rise and shine at 6am, catch the school bus at 6:50, get breakfast and kill an hour twenty  at zion (which is a 20 min walk from school), teach one class, lunch with Yvonne (I eat with her every wednesday, she's a friend who is a senior at my school), bus home at 12:40, rest again, then someday's I go help cook dinner for the st*dy at Wenli, where the boys live. Some days I go to the English Corner on my campus.

Thursday: Rise and Shine 6am, school bus 6:50, breakfast and kill hour twenty at zion, teach one class, lunch and rest at zion for about hour 40, teach another class at 1:30, catch the 3:35 bus home, then we have a Chat'n'Snack at Carina and my apartment at 6pm.

Friday: 6am rise, 6:50 bus, two classes, lunch, Zion for a rest and prep for the evening. St*dy at 4 and 6:30 with dinner in between, then sleep at Zion.

Saturday: Chr.ch at Zion, and some cleaning, then head home for my weekend. Saturday afternoon is my time off. I usually try to get some planning done so that I can chill on Sunday. Coffee. I have a coffee maker, but I'm not really home enough during the week to make good use of it.

Sunday: Finish everything I didn't get to Saturday. Or rather procrastinated on.... Coffee! Sunday is the day that I really put the coffee maker through its paces.

Monday: I head out to Zion around midday for Women's st*dy in the afternoon. And spend the night out there for class Tuesday.

All my in-between times are filled with dumb time wasters like getting food, commuting, and sleep.
Actually, I like sleep. Ha!

I also try to get out and bike once or twice a week. And one night a week I go out to Keqiao near Zion to get dinner with Marie. Which usually means that I spend the night at Zion that night too. Last week it was Thursday, this week it was Wednesday (I just got back ;))

Okay....

NOW ON TO THE MAIN EVENT

I was writing originally to tell you about the marathon in Hangzhou!

We (most of my team and I) went up to Hangzhou to see the runners in the marathon. My friends Jen and Sarah, who live in Shanghai, were running the Full and the Half respectively.

I have so much respect for runners. First, all the power to you for wanting to just move in a straight motion for an extended amount of time. Second, for the will power to run for four hours straight. Jen, who I graduated college with, and spend a fair amount of time with finished the Full in about 4 hours. She had hoped to finish in 4:30, and she blew that time out of the water! I was so proud. It was a ton of fun to cheer her on, and see her finish, and just be there for the runners high. (She was pretty goofy. And that's always a good time.)

We had costumes because it was so close to Halloween. We had banners and flags. We had silly string. We got Starbucks between the start and finish. And Subway for lunch. (which we don't have in Shaoxing... so YUM!) I had a blast.

OH! and I almost forgot... On Saturday, a group of us went to the silk market. It's a quaint little street full of small shops that specialize in silk products. Mostly scarves, and dresses, with some boxers, and pi's and some clutches and purses.

I... Of course.... made my contribution to the economy of this market by purchasing three lovely pashminas (one for my momma... I'll try to not wear it!) and three pairs of silk boxers with excellent chinese-y prints on them.

It was overall a great weekend. It was good to get out of Shaoxing and see all our friends.

This next weekend, aka tomorrow, I'm headed up to Shanghai for three days. Gonna see Jen again, and hang out with the crew up there and enjoy my five day weekend.

I'll be sure to let you know all my adventures. I'm hoping to do somethings I didn't have the chance to when I was in Shanghai last year.

Until next time.

P.S. I'm still knitting. Working on a scarf. See?!?

To the land of .... IKEA!

Hello friends.

I have to start this post with a name drop. But not the normal name drop, I'm not gonna say I know or saw someone famous and thus try to add credibility to myself.

Nope.

This is a shout out to my Gram.

(Yes, gram, you)

I'll explain for those of you who don't have my Gram as your gram... which is everyone of my awesome readers except my sister.

(Hi Twig!)

My Gram. Where to begin. Sweet. Loving. Wonderful. She's my gram. She's the one who knows me best after my mom (Hi Mom!)

Okay... Side step. Hello everyone else! There. I can stop saying 'Hi' to everyone now. ;)

Back to Gram. Yes. She came to every elementary school event no matter how trivial, every high school achievement was met with a big smile and a hug and the occasional $5 to supplement my spending change. (Which was always so crisp! I think grandma's have a special bank where they get only brand new $5 bills... seriously!) As I've gotten older, I've helped gram get into the world of tech. She's got a nice laptop, and wireless printer. She's got email down, Facebook and I helped her book mark my blog so she can get here in one click. The latest lesson, just before my return to china, was how to leave comments on my blog. So you know what?? She commented the other day with a short "Meg, where are you??"

......

......

Seriously!!!!!! Gram. No, Hi, how are you? No, miss you. No, love ya. Just want an update. Good grief. ;) Ha, I love you Gram!!

In her defense, it has been a couple weeks. I apologize. At the end of last year I believe I mentioned that there was less to talk about because things had become normal. For example, if all of you kept a blog of your daily comings and goings it would peeter out after a couple weeks because our lives have strong leanings toward routine. Unless you work for a temp agency or make a point to do something different every other month, this is true.

The same applies to China. It has become my normal. So the last couple weeks have been the same. School. Home. School. Home. Sleeping and eating and socializing. Nothing noteworthy. But, now something has happened.... And Gram.

So, here's the update, per request of Gram.

Saturday, yesterday for me, my school organized a bus trip to IKEA. We had probably 40 people sign up to go and for 50yuan we took a bus to Ningbo to go to IKEA for four hours and then come home. Seems simple enough... We allotted two hours for travel each way and the time table of the day was leave at 9, return at 5. Of course, this didn't happen. Our driver got lost. With all of the smart phones that our Chinese guides had, and the GPS stuck to the dash, this should have been a slim possibility. But we got lost.

Geography lesson: Shaoxing is directly west and slightly north of Ningbo. Our driver took us almost directly North to a place called Cixi. (ssss-i-she) Which meant that our two hour trip to IKEA that started at 9am turned into a five our trip. We arrived at 2. No, I did not mistype that. 2. Thankfully, we stopped for directions and were able to use a restroom.

My first stop was the restaurant. I was starving. Got some swedish meatballs and a coffee and I was in heaven. Then meandered the store a little. But the real fun place is the market. Where all the free standing, small items are. I bought two candles and a square dish to stand them on. The are 45 hour block candles, unscented, one red and one white. They look very christmas-y... But as they are so great, and I love candles, and they are burning next to me right now, I'm not sure they will last until christmas. Ha!

>>Side note: I'm listening to Bette Midler music on Spotify as I type and 'Baby Mine' is such a great song. mmmmm. yup.

I also bought a plain brown bowl. It was only 6 yuan (that's a dollar) and its the perfect size for easy mac. Oh yea! We only have one microwave safe bowl at the apartment, so I figured it was necessary. I also bought a cute coffee mug. It's got a tiny little handle and its plum colored. I love me a new coffee mug.

I mentioned we arrived at 2. Our departure time was set for 6. Carina and I finished our shopping with an hour and half to spare. So naturally we headed to the bistro for ice cream cones and hot dogs. I am unashamed to admit that I had two hot dogs and three ice cream cones over that last hour. Twist cones for 2 yuan. That's about thirty two cents for a twist cone from IKEA. I realize that it's China, and their quality isn't always up to par... But their ice cream cones were so worth it. And I wasn't gonna waste this prime opportunity.

Then, we loaded up all our goodies on the bus and headed home. Mine obviously fit into my purse. But the other teachers bought larger items for their apartments. Chairs, end tables, rugs, dishes, etc. A few of the moms did most of their christmas shopping for the kiddos. The trip home was met with some good natured trepidation. Choruses of "We'll be home by morning hopefully", "Five hours back right?" and other jests at the amount of time it took to arrive. Well, an hour and forty minutes later we were pulling into campus, home again.

Take a moment. Five hours... less than two... what? Yea. Do that for another half hour or so and you'll be where we all were when we got home in a fraction of the time.

But its a classic Chinese travel adventure.

In other news, my knitting is going well. I finished a pair of hand warmers. They are basically just a square piece of knitting that I stitched into a tube leaving a hole near one end for my thumb to stick thru. But I knit it with a pattern so they're pretty sweet. Now, I'm working on a coozie for my new glass water bottle. I filled it today with hot coffee to take on the bus but it was so hot to touch that I stuck it inside a sock so I could carry it. But I figured, I can make a little handmade 'sweater' for my bottle. I've got about 4 rows in.... So I should be able to finish it tonight.

My class this week is going to be about Halloween. I've worked up a little 'history of...' to show my class and put in pictures of myself carving a pumpkin and dressed up in costume. They'll get a kick out of that for sure. I'm also getting observed on Thursday by a fellow foreign teacher. I'm not worried, it's mostly just a formality.

And that's all. Life continues as normal. In the future, (this is for you gram) I'll try to be a bit more prompt in my updates. :-P

Until next time.

Knit 1, Pearl 2

A vice of mine is Pinterest. In the States I use it as an idea center for teaching, for cooking, or when I get that craft itch and want to try something new. Here in China, I use it to feel at home. I browse the home page while sipping coffee and its glorious.

I usually try to avoid the food.... because most of the food is difficult to make here, and it always makes me hungry. (Although, we did make potato-bacon-grilled cheese and it turned out fabulously)

Well, my latest Pinterest gem came in the form of knitting. But not the usual knitting. I used my arms as the needles!!

Crazy, I know... But hear me out. I used real bulky yarn, and then instead of one strand, I used four. Quadruple the fluff! and then knitting is fairly similar to on needles (as far as I know) and you're left with a lovely bulky scarf.

Well, when I was in Wuhan, we went looking for yarn so I could teach my friend how to do it. And in the process, she bought me some needles to teach me traditional knitting.

So, now I am a knitting fiend!!!!

I made two arm knit scarfs, and one traditional knit cowl. I'm working on a long, skinny scarf at the moment. But the best part is I learned to purl (because of that saying I used in the title). So now I knit a row, purl a row and it make a great little pattern.

I've found that I love to knit, and it suits my weird brain that needs something to do always. I can knit while I watch tv or listen to music, or sit on the bus.... I spent a good chuck of the train ride knitting.

My next project is a simple pair of hand warmers. The kind that have no fingers and a hole for the thumb. I found an excellence pattern on Pinterest (of course!) and as soon as I'm finished with my current scarf, its gonna happen.

Until next time.

My current project. A skinny block color scarf.

My first attempt at arm knitting. This is a double infinity scarf. 

Busy wanderings

Hi y'all!

It's been a while (sorry)... I've been traipsing about the country for a while, and busy busy busy!

This last week, the 1st- 7th was National Day holiday here in the Middle Kingdom. Which meant we had off of school!! (fist pump)

So, like all teachers off of school, I took the liberty of sleeping in. But I also traveled inland a bit to the city of Wuhan. A fellow FoC city where my friends live. I'd never been there, and this seemed like the perfect time to go.

So, my roommate Carina and I left on a Thursday night train arriving in Wuhan at 7 am.

We took hard seats for the trip. Which is the equivalent of hard airplane seats.

Why??

Well, for starters they were less than half the price of the sleepers (beds) and I figured if I could sleep on a plane, then I could sleep on a train right?

WRONG.

China has this thing, where they have a billion people. Yeah. And national holiday is a time when they all go home. Which means that every mode of transportation is over crowded. This train was no different. So, we were lucky really to have seats. There were probably two dozen people with 'standing room' tickets. Which meant that they had to stand/crouch or sit on the floor for the 8 hour trip. Basically, there are people everywhere. The seat that I had was on the end of a row at the end of the car. I was sitting next to a crowd of people who were crouching/sitting on the floor. One man was sitting next to me on top of his luggage. My shoulder and his butt were fast friends (huge eye roll!) There was even a short time when he was falling asleep and he was nodding off onto my shoulder. A quick elbow to the ribs solved that problem. (don't gasp, everyone is extremely rude when traveling.)

The trip back was better. There was less luggage underfoot, and no one leaning on me. And the smell was better because we were not next to the bathroom.

Okay, so now that you've been throughly horrified about travel in China... Don't worry, it's only like that during the holidays.

What did I do in Wuhan???

I visited coffee street and got some more coffee. I'm almost out of the coffee I brought from America, so it was a good thing.

Walked along the river.

Took a ferry boat ride across the river (it was essentially a bus fare to get across)

Visited art street, and food street... both very very crowded.

Spent an afternoon at the Hubei Art Museum. Very cool, and relaxing. I enjoy art so much. There was one very interesting piece that was geometric cross type patterns painted on tartan... Yup. A painting on Scottish plaid. How cool!!

OH! I almost forgot. We watched the Packer-Viking football game Friday morning when we arrived.

I made banana bread for my host and friend Becca.

And we visited a beautiful Buddhist temple and climbed a pagoda where we could see much of the city.

We went to the shop called Mr. Mai's two times for homemade apple pie. The owner is from Louisiana, and it was a taste of home for sure!

I had a ton of fun, and I'm glad for the experience in a new city. The differences in China between provinces is so great... Just going over two means there are so many new and different foods to try, and the people are so different, and the culture is even different.

I'm off now, gotta go to class and teach my students about American food/ restaurants.
(We're gonna watch a VeggieTales clip. =) )

Until next time.

4am

4am.

A time of day that usually passes unnoticed,
spent in the comfort of your bed or the arms of another.

4am.

After an afternoon and evening relaxed
the sleep is to follow. But, occasionally the drowsy doesn't come.
The slow fade that usually creeps, meant to draw like a shade over your eyes
doesn't.

4am.


Body aching from the day,
shoulder, neck, and that one spot behind your right eye.
Every minute is one you could be sleeping.
We've all played the game...
If I fall sleep now, I'll have four hours before I need to wake.

4am.

Too late for decent sleep.
Too early for sunrises.
It's quiet. Nothing stirs.
I know I should retire, but I hate to waste this moment.
This pure, all encompassing night.

4am.

It's four in the morning.
Increasingly heavy eyelids are a sign
An ache above my right ear too.

4am.

Goodnight.

Until next time.

(For a little insight into 4am, I highly suggest this video that outlines the mysterious 4am hour with humor. Click  4am  and enjoy. )

Normalcy...

Hello friends.

I hope you are doing well.

I am feeling quite content these days. Life has settled into a little bit of a routine. The routine is changing still but only slightly and in another week we have a national holiday that includes a week off school. So life will get the toss up then. But for now I have reached a bit of normalcy.

My days include a variety of daily tasks. I teach seven sessions Tuesday thru Friday. It's one class - Practical English for Listening and Speaking. I teach the same thing seven times...which is nice because of having only one prep a week. But also can get a bit repetitive for myself. This last week's class was all about 'get to know the teacher' and 'get to know the students' so there was no real work done. I told them about me and my life a little, I had them fill out a student sheet that told me about them, I asked each of them their favorite color (because why not? ;]), I let them ask me any questions they wanted about the class or me, and I finished each class with Hangman.

The most fun question for the students and one I expected was "do you have a boyfriend?" and it was usually followed by "do you want one?" or "what is your ideal boy?" ... My classes are all vastly female. The average class size for me is about 40 or 45 and the average number of boys is 6. So the girls got a kick out of asking that question. It was always accompanied by a number of giggles and hands covering faces. Most amusing for me. =)

When I am not teaching, I spend a bit of time in commuting. Luckily, on most days I have class times that correlate well with the school bus that my university offers the teachers for free. My commute is about 45 min one way. Which can seem a bit much, but for me I spend that time reading.... so I love the commute.

Then, during the week I have three different studies in the evening. At the moment this schedule is Monday evening, and two on Friday afternoon/evening. I'm working on another one on Tuesday or Wednesday evening. And then Sundays are my 'me' days.

Today is Sunday, and I've done very little as of yet. I slept in, had some coffee and played around on the computer, went to lunch with my roommate, and now I'm having some more coffee and playing on my computer again. =) The rest of the day isn't looking to be much more productive. However, I am hoping to plan the study for tomorrow. Maybe look over/go thru my lesson for the week one more time. But that might happen tomorrow.

Sunday's are supposed to be lazy, right?

Until next time.

Chinese Idiosyncrasies; Vol II, Issue 4

Note from the Editor:

• We all know that a person has habits that we don't always appreciate. Similiarly, a group or population or even a whole nation can have similar habits. That's what this periodical aims to highlight. Whether you agree or not with the evaluation of the author, the idiosyncrasies of China are usually strange to foreigners and often comical. If you have any idiosyncrasies to rival ours, please send your stories to the magazine. 

Foodies, alert!

• As one explores China and the available cuisine, it won't take much time before realization hits. Variety is limited. The food in China is varied, but its all Chinese. Rice and noodle based diets, vegetables in an array of salty sauces, and fried anything. How about western food? Occasionally. Mexican? Rarely. Italian? Nope. And when an establishment offers these alternatives to Chinese food, the price jumps dramatically. This week my friends and I went to "GoodDay", a restaurant offering Mexican and American food. Now, this doesn't stand up to any standards I have. But there were tacos, burritos, pizza, sandwiches and salads. All of which was easily 10 times more than I would have paid for Chinese cuisine. But, Tacos were appealing. My meal came with three tacos, chips and two small cups of sides. One was salsa, and it was quite delicious. The other was sour cream (the waitress told me this) but I knew at a glance that it was not. No, upon further inspection... It was mashed potatoes. So, my disappointment was short lived, because who doesn't love mashed potatoes? Even cold ones. (disappointment grew slightly at that discovery) I can't complain to much because my tacos were delicious, albeit over priced. Moral of the story? Sometimes, no western food is better than weird chinese-ified western food. 

When it rains....

• The weather in China is unpredictable. In a given day it can look like rain from the start and nothing happens. Other days the sky looks clear, and as close to blue as its gonna get and suddenly a pouring rain that soaks to the undies in minutes erupts from the heavens. This occurred the other day. It was one of those 'iffy' days where I grabbed an umbrella just in case. Now, it had been raining on our ride from the restaurant, but as we exited the bus to walk the 200 meters to the apartment doors, a steady rain turned to flood waters pouring from above. My umbrella was rendered mostly useless as it only managed to keep my head and shoulders dry. As I walked, the sidewalk turned slick and after nearly sprawling twice, I removed my shoes. Only to slip two or three more times barefoot. Grimy, wet tile doesn't lend itself to traction. But the inch of water on top didn't help either. It rained so quickly that even the driveway next to the canal was underwater because the rain couldn't run off fast enough. Twenty minutes later the rain was finished. 

The Commute

• The only modes of transportation I frequent are my bike and the bus. Each has their pros and cons, and to get the 45 min out of town I opt for the bus. The road the bus takes is under construction. Has been for a few years. During my ride this week, I really took note of what was happening outside the bus. We crossed a bridge that had been narrowed to one lane as a crew and jack hammer tore apart the lane next to us. There was approximately 8ft between myself and the jack hammer and less than that between the outside of the bus and where the road gave way to canal below. Evidently, this is common practice. I could only think of America. There is a bride near my house being rebuilt, and all the precautions taken to ensure both vehicle and worker safety. In China, these men are working mostly with hand tools, in their underwear because its hot, with no safety gear while cars and busses drive past. I should mention that there are no flags. That is, its first come first serve as to who gets to drive down the 8ft wide lane thats available to traffic in both directions. 
• Another bus anecdote for your pleasure. I was headed downtown on a local bus. I've ridden this bus plenty of times, and noticed this before, but I guess that day it really just hit me. The location of bus stops is not exactly conducive to route. This particular bus was in the left of two lanes as it was nearing the stop. The driver gave it some gas to get around a car next to the bus and the proceeded to cut to the right across a lane and into the bus lane. Stopping neatly at the but stop. Okay, not so bad. But the stop is about 30 meters from an intersection. And the bus route turns to the left at said intersection. Are you with me? If you are, you probably rolled your eyes. If not, feel free to do so now. .... Yes, you guessed it. The bus driver cuts back across both lanes of traffic to get into the turn lane headed left. Sometimes, this isn't a problem as there are few to no cars. But somedays, like the day I'm referencing, traffic is backup behind a red light 8-10 cars deep. And the bus just inches out until its across multiple lanes waiting for the light to turn green. The other cars either go around before the bus gets to far, or they stop and wait. But, foreigner me, can't help but chuckle at the idiocy going on. And I'm a part of it!! 

Talk to Me

• I am an English expert in China. I have picked up a fair, but small, amount of Chinese in the year I've been here. I feel pretty confident ordering food. Especially at a small food place near the apartment. However, I walk in the other day and go to the window to order "chiao ningao" or fried rice noodles. Something that is easy to say, and I've ordered here before. (They remember me. Trust me, I'm one of 6 foreigners that probably eats there) The man behind the grill looks at me like a zoo exhibit for a moment. (keep your jokes to yourself please) Then, says 'ah, ah, jia jiao'.... Is that what I said? NO!! So I say again, 'chiao ningao' and finally after another moments pause, the man goes 'oh, oh, chiii niiiigaaa' ... I interpreted that to be his version of what I said, and nodded agreement before sitting down. I ended up getting what I wanted so apparently he was just shocked at the perfect Chinese i spoke to him. 

Lifestyle

• My good Chinese friend, Marie, and I were walking downtown. We had just crossed the street and stepped up on the sidewalk when an E-bike drove past. As it approached I noticed a man driving, and little baby legs peeping out from behind him. In China, it's no odd sight to see a family of three on one E-bike. Or sometimes three adults for that matter. So, the baby legs peeping out didn't surprise me. But, I turned to look at the rest of those chubby legs as the E-bike passed me. What motivated me to look, I don't know, but what I saw was not sometime I had ever seen in china before. The woman riding behind the man was breast feeding those little legs I saw. Now, no big thing right? Except it was like she had the babe under her shirt, or had draped a blanket or something. Nope. She was holding the babe with shirt lifted, and the bike was in motion on what I'd say is the second busiest street in the city. (This is a face, palm moment. A big one. Just don't hurt yourself)

Until next issue. 

Know thyself

Know thyself.

Its a small phrase uttered by someone, and said multiple times over the course of history. Perhaps it was said to encourage, to enlighten, to caution, or in lieu of something more meaningful. Whatever the origin, the phrase is still in use.

For me, it has come into extreme focus recently. We had a group of people visiting the city of Shaoxing over the weekend for a holiday known here as Mid-Autumn. But for us Americans, Mid-Awesome... because it's awesome to be able to get together with our 'cousins' from nearby cities.

The topic of discussion during devoti0n, was about trials. The trials we face daily, what we can expect from this year, and how we expect to grow from them. In order to answer than last question, one must have a fairly good understanding of themselves to know how they will respond or react to trial. I expect trials...

...homesickness...

...team dynamics....

...language barrier...

...my ugly introvert...

and each of these trials and many more will affect me in various ways that I don't know exactly, but can foresee, at least a little bit.

But my point.

The crux of this current thought train.

Know Thyself.

China is a difficult place for a foreigner. Even in my second year, I know that this year will be hard. Maybe not as hard as last year, but it will have its own unique set of difficulties that I will have to navigate.

A concept brought up over the weekend really hit home for me. China is a refinery.

A refinery.

A refining process happens to a person here. Or any foreign country I would think. Think about metal. To refine metal extreme heat needs to be applied. In China, that can mean quite literally the 90 degree weather, but also the trials. The difficulties. That's the heat. But, also, when metal is heated the impurities rise to the surface to be scraped away. Similarly, in China, the worst parts of myself rise to the surface under the intense heat of life here. I know more about myself now that ever before, and I don't know if I would, had it not been for China.

I don't know if this is a melancholic post. I hope not. But as I reread the last few paragraphs, I can see where it might seem that way. In this moment, I am feeling completely content. I'm not overly happy. I'm not sad. I'm content. [the peanut brittle i'm eating could sway the balance to happy tho ;)]

I guess this is one of those times when I have these thoughts, and instead of pondering them, I write. I get them out. This is the kind of thing that makes me uncomfortable talking about in person. This is the kind of thing that I always want to talk to my mom about, but can never find the right moment. (Love you mom) This is the kind of thing that leads into other thoughts and suddenly its 4am.

I digress.

The refining process is ongoing. I will probably always be a bit lacking in self-confidence. I will always be blunt. And my inner introvert will always pick coffee and a book over a crowd. But I know now, that I can conquer the raging stream of life when I'm unsure of my footing if I pretend that I can see the next step under the current and no one will be the wiser. [maybe metaphors aren't my thing? haha]

( I may be losing focus, but my roommate just got home, so I was talking to her. )

Back on track.

Know thyself. Refining thru heat. China.

I know myself because China has been/will be refining me.

Hopefully this process allows me to fulfill my duties here. To be a role model to the girls who are new to the refinery, to be a good member of a team, to go out and make friends (dragging my stubborn introvert along), and...

...most importantly - To be me.

Until next time......

...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked... Luke 12, verse 48

Settling in again

Well, I guess its time for an update.

Hello again everyone! So glad you're back with me for another adventure in the strange place known as China. I'll try to keep my posts fresh and frequent.

Life is settling back in. I haven't spent a great deal of time at my own apartment. The other four members of my team live across town. My roommate and I have been spending more than a fair share of our time over there. I've done some exploring and some chauffeuring with the newbies. I think they are acclimating nicely. We've been keeping it chill and very lounge-erific. Which I like, and could do indefinitely, especially in this heat! The weather has been sweaty with the occasional downpour rain. Today, the smog has blown out a bit, so we have semi clear skies, but that just means the sun beats down with even more of a vengeance. Ai-yo!

I'm loving the food. Getting back into the rice, noodles, ningao, and my favorite (for the moment) jia-jiao. Jia-jiao is fried dumplings. They are crispy and meaty, and go oh-so-well with spicy sauce.

I am having a bit of re-culture shock. Not in the sense that everything is new and weird, but in that everything is not quite as I remembered it. Somethings are better than I remember, like the food, but others are worse than I remember, like the filth. But, hey, that's China. =)

Nothing too exciting is happening as we're adjusting to life in China. I believe we are having a bunch of friends from Hangzhou and Shanghai down this weekend for the holiday, and then I get my teaching schedule on the 10th and school starts the 15th. It'll be a new experience teaching college students, and I'm anxious to see my schedule (which also determines the campus I'll be teaching at).

Stay cool out there! [I'm sitting about 18inches from an osculating fan right now myself]

Until next time.

One long ass flight......

New life goal: Fly international first class... at least once.

My flight to China wasn't bad. It was 14 hours from Chicago to Hong Kong. We flew right past my house (by my best guess) and over the North Pole and Russia. I was able to sleep for about 5 hours straight, and then napped a bit too. As far as jet lag goes... I think I'm gonna kick this quick. I feel great, and an early bed time tonight and I should be good. (fingers crossed)

I'm just killing some time with free WiFi at the Hong Kong international airport. < insert fist pump > My next flight in in about a half hour for Hangzhou and then 'home' from there.


My motto for the year... a little take on Dr. Suess...

"I'm off to great places, this is my year. Adventures are waiting, so let's get into gear."

I love you all.

Until next time.

Munks....

So, I thought when i came home that life would be slow, calm, relaxing....

Well... That didn't last long. We have Chipmunks in the house. Yes. IN THE HOUSE!

My sisters were ten minutes ahead of me in getting home, and they call in hysterics saying "there is a chipmunk in the house!" It was in the kitchen, ran down the hall and into my sisters room. They went to check it out, and it ran into my parents room. So they shut the door, and put pillows in front of it so that it couldn't get out. When I got home, we grabbed a cardboard box, a stick and the broom and went hunting..... The box was by the door and mom had the broom, and I went looking for the rodent. I flushed him out from under the bedside table and he ran straight into the box. YES! Mom put the broom in front of the box and I closed the flaps and we took the thing outside. Now, chipmunks are generally thought of cute... so I wanted to look at him. I crack the box open a bit and he jumps out at me and runs across the yard... Aiyo!

Well, thats done, right? .....nope. My middle sister left, and my mom and I ran some errands leaving my littlest sister at home. She calls and says "It was on the stairs! It ran back into the basement!" So, mom and I head home to help...

My sister had closed the doors down stairs to try and keep the 'munk in one room. When I get home, Hannah and I head down stairs with the box, and a stick and the broom. I hear it, but can't tell where it is... Then I hear glass tinkling together and the only thing that makes that sound is on top of my dresser. I opened my door and there it is... on top of my dresser! I scare him off and he jumps into my closet runs down my clothes, across my feet (I might have 'eek'ed') under my bed, climbs up my curtain into my window and up into the ceiling..... AH!

Well, I go get the rat trap, put some peanut butter in it, and set it in my room. Grab my pillow and I move upstairs. I don't want this thing to be crawling on my in my sleep.

Hannah goes downstairs to put clothes in the laundry and she screams 'I see it!' So I go back downstairs and there it is, sitting in the corner looking at me. I creep up and place the trap near it, and the box on the ground near it too. But it runs down the length of the basement and disappears into a corner. UGH!!!

Well, we get sticky traps and set them around the basement, and haven't seen them since... We think there are two.

I'll keep you posted... Gonna go check all the traps now.

Until next time.

Post-Post: Year End from the Plane

Year End - Reflection

I’m sitting, mostly comfortable, in seat 37D of American Airlines flight 288 from Shanghai to Chicago. Going on hour four of a nearly fourteen hour flight, and I’m hoping to stay conscious for all of it. Dinner service ended a bit ago, and the cabin lights have been dimmed… so I might be in for an uphill battle with sleep. 

I’m writing this because I’m too lazy to reach down and dig out my phone cord, connect it to my computer and work on editing videos. They need to be done, but since my computer and hard drive are already situated on my tray table and I have ten hours, I might as well procrastinate more. But the real reason I’m writing is because I’ve the need to reflect on my life in the last ten months. I blog regularly, and so I am not lacking in the department of getting things out into the world. My blogs have varied between moment by moment run downs of my life’s events and emotional pondering. I enjoy writing both styles, and I think this one will be more of the latter. 

I had all these thoughts I wanted to share, but as I’m sitting here…hum of the plane in my ears above the sound of Elle Goulding singing… nothing comes to mind. Isn’t that always the way. There’s a moment where the dams could burst— where tears could pour, screams could burst, and words never allowed to be unsaid could be spoken — and in that moment you know you can’t. So you put on your best ‘little dutch boy’ face and stick a finger in the dam so it doesn’t burst. For me, usually I just want to get by myself before I let go. Public shows of the ugly cry or strings curse words is rarely beneficial. But then, when I am alone… the dam is no longer ready to burst. The mind is a strange thing that way. 

I digress… my thoughts are still not appearing, but I’ve had a new one. Numbers. You may or may not know that I was a Math major in college. I graduated as a Math minor, but only because I couldn’t stay in school for one more year - I’m one class away from being officially a Math major… So that’s what I call it. (Again with the digressing) Numbers. I like numbers. I like being able to work with them. To test myself. Finding new ways to add or multiply quickly. I admit, proudly, that I do math problems for fun. (#go check out khanacademy.com) Numbers don’t lie…. as someone wiser and probably dead once said “two plus two is always four.” The world can be broken down into numbers. This web page you are reading is a collection of zeros and ones called binary code that the entire internet uses. 

What do numbers have to do with my life? Well, I’m going to break down my first year in China into numbers…. Here we go.

10 - the number of months I was in China. The number of months I didn’t get to hug my mom. The number of months that I had a home somewhere new. Where no one I grew up with ever saw. The number of months that could produce a child. It’s mind blowing to think someone could have found out they were pregnant just after I left and they’d have a baby by now. 

13 - The day of the month I use to count. I left the US on September 13… So I always count months based on that date. Oct 13, Nov 13, Dec 13, Jan 13, Feb 13, Mar 13, Apr 13, May13, June 13…. 

9 - The number of coffee mugs I collected from the various cities I visited. My idea of a vacation includes a combination of a few things: outdoors, fewer than acceptable showers, new experiences, food, and if it’s a proper civilized adventure - there is a Starbucks where I can buy a mug. It might be the one thing that makes me high maintenance. And I don’t care. I love the Starbucks mugs. I have one from nine different places around the world. (11 if you count the two I have from America that are slightly different) 

2 to 7 - The jump in countries I’ve visited. Before I graduated China I had placed foot in USA and Canada (which almost doesn’t count) But now returning home, I’ve been to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong (which just recently was absorbed as a special area of China so….) and China. There is this ‘game’ of sorts that I heard about during the past year - It’s called the Travel Age. Your travel age is the number of countries you have been to. In the last year, I’ve aged from 2 all the way to 7. The point of the game is that your actual age, and your travel age should match. Which means, I’ve got a ways to go…. But I like this game. And I’m going to play forever…. =) 

13:50 - Thirteen hours and 50 minutes…. The estimated time of our flight. We are making good time, and I think we’ll land 45 minutes early…. No complaints on that one. 

# - This isn’t a number. It used to represent a number. Now it’s called a hashtag. Its a marker for other things. (#nosuchthingastoomany) And I am fully guilty of using them regularly. I don’t twitter - I ‘gram. Instagram may or may not be addicting, and I love it. I think I figured it out once that I ‘gram on average 8 pictures a day. Now, I don’t. But when I am traveling it is really easy to throw 10 to 15 up a day… so averaged, 8 is about right. 

20 - I don’t know if I even want to include this number because I’m not sure of it… But it’s apart of my year reflection. I am guessing I’ve lost 20lbs this year. Now, I’m not certain if this number is even close. But I do know that my weight has shifted. I’m not carrying it around my middle so much as in my legs. All the walking and biking I’ve done has beefed up my leg muscles. The other indicator of shifted weight, is that none, I repeat none!, of my pants stay up unless they are elastic. And even some of those are temperamental. This could totally be a result of no dryers in China. Nothing has the option to shrink back up. I’m gonna get home, wash and DRY my jeans and we’ll see for sure. 

% - This one isn’t a number either…. This is more of a concept. Percentage. Percentage of time, and of life that I’ve missed, and that I’ve gained. I’ll start with the more depressing end. I’ve missed so much in the last 10 months at home. My little sister’s first year of college, and her visits home. My other little sister got contacts, braces, and grew a foot. I missed it. I didn’t get to see her play volleyball or basketball. And those are the easy things to measure because they are visible. My mom probably scrapped, and she got her hair cut. My dad might have thought up of a new classic dad joke, and I didn’t get to give him shit for it. [Speaking of dad jokes, I just heard a good one. Here goes: Dad and son are are in the kitchen. Dad pours a cup of coffee and son asks “How’s the coffee dad?” Dad replies “Ah, like having sex in a canoe.” Son, confused, asks “What? is that good or bad?” Dad answers, “Means it’s close to water” Dumps the coffee and walks to the living room.] So there are a lot of things I missed with my family. Now, for the slightly more positive side. I gained so much in the last ten months. Things my family might not ever get to experience. All of the numbers above outline them. I scuba dived in Thailand. I saw Ankor Wat in Cambodia. I drank too much wine in Singapore. I ate scorpions in Beijing. I hung off a mountain, literally, in Xi’an. All of these things are fairly normal for me. I have put on this backpack, again literally, of worldliness. Packing my hiking backpack with a weeks worth of clothes and getting on a train is normal. I am so thankful for the opportunity to go and do and see all that I have. But it’s something my family hasn’t done. Each person is individual, but until this last year we were all very close. We lived similar lives in the same place with similar experiences. And now there is this very large block of different. I don’t really have a point with this observation. I haven’t had a ton of time recently to think about home and being different. But a month or so back I thought about it. And farther back than that we were told about re-entry, and how sometimes the places are the same, but you are different. I’m curious to see how ‘home’ looks and feels with my worldly backpack on. 

I’ll be on the ground in about 8 hours and I’ll let ya know how the first few days go. 

Until next time. 

Beijing ! !

Once we returned to BJ proper, there was ample time to explore the more touristy sections of town. Nate, Kirstin, Hannah, Jen and I set off into town to see what we could see....


We ended up down on Wangfujing street... which is popular among tourists and Western folks because of the crazy food available. We weren't there for long because it was extremely busy and crowded but we did sample some interesting cuisine...


Here's the list:
- Scorpion: There were skewered and moving prior to a quick deep fry and salting. Tasted a big like popcorn chicken. Not bad at all.
- Cocoon: Looked like turds on a stick. Was airy and crunch and the after taste was awful! I think they were silk worms, but we're not sure....
- Snake: tasted like fish... had a strong sea food taste. Very tough. You could tell it had spent its whole life moving, because it was a tough muscle to eat.


They were all deep fried and salted and.... Hey, you only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.


Later in the weekend, I also had some spicy squid... Which was fishy, and really really spicy but good.


Saturday was the wedding! Hannah (an FoC teacher) and Jacob (a Chinese man) got married in the afternoon. It was a great service, a good meal, and the dancing to follow was a ton of fun! About 40 or 50 FoC members were there to celebrate and on top of the wedding it was just excellent to fellowship with each other. Most of us haven't been together since February.


We danced into the wee hours of.... well we had to leave the hall at 1130. But we started dancing at 8.... so it was hours long.


Needless to say, my body was done.... Two nights of sleeper trains, climbing a huge ass mountain, hiking to the great wall two consecutive days, not sleeping one night, walking all over BJ, and then dancing all night.... My muscles kept saying "SIT!" and my mind kept saying "There's so much to see!" and I was inclined to listen to my head..... haha.


Sunday after the wedding, I ventured down to Tiananmen Square and meandered some shops there, and then we explored Olympic park, and hit up a hot foreigner street and then back home late again.... Sleep is really just a suggestion at this point.


Today (Mon) has been real chill, and I've been able to tell you about my adventures.


And lastly.... Unbelievably.... It definitely hasn't sunk in yet, but I fly back to the US of A tomorrow afternoon. Somehow I've been gone for ten months. I've lived as an expat for nearly a year of my life and not only survived, but I've thrived! I've been awakened, I've been made even more alive. I've seen culture, food, and people that I'd not even heard of prior to September last year. I've made friends from all over the world, and a piece of my soul will always remain in China. I'm coming back in two short months, but today marks the end of a section of my life. But at the same time, today is the starting gun at the beginning of another spectacular adventure. Here's to re-entry and reverse culture shock. To homemade chocolate chip cookies from mom, and cheese curds. To being able to hug my mom, and see my little sister play basketball. To movie quote wars with my other sister and a pedicure with Gram.


America, here I come. Brace yourself. ;)


Until next time.

GWA: Meets THE GREAT WALL

This blog is titled "The Great Wall Adventure" and the purpose behind the name was I'd be in China and the Great Wall is a staple of China.... I still believe this, but China is so so so much more than just the Great Wall. Also, It took me ten months to get to the Great Wall. But it was a heck of a trip there.


I arrived in BJ (Beijing) from Xi'an on Thursday morning. (I had to think about that for a bit... all the days blur together when you're traveling) We took the subway to our 'home' for the weekend, and then gathered camping supplies and headed out to the Great Wall. Another friend, Mike, borrowed a car from a friend and was able to take all the supplies while the rest of us subway/bus/taxied out to the rendezvous point. We hiked up into the woods about 10 or 15 minutes and chose a prime camping point, and then hiked another 20 minutes to the base of the wall. The section we were near is called the 'wild wall' because its overgrown heavily. We crawled into the base, and up to the top of the wall and took a look around. We returned to camp, and each of us had a job. I started the fire, Becca helped with wood, Ben and Kirstin and Thomas set up camp a bit, Micah and Hannah and Nate were all over getting supper ready. We made spaghetti. Mike drove back into town to get Jen from the train station. Its about an hour or so by car.


After dinner we gathered around the fire and talked and sang.. FoC loves to sing. The rain set it about that time, and we scrambles to set up tents. I should mention that upon initial attempts to set up the four tents we brought, only three of them had poles, and some of the rain flys didn't match up. The group decided that it was nice, and we all had sleeping bags, so we would just sleep under the stars. Rain shot that plan in the face, and so there were were.... Setting up mismatched tents in the dark, in the rain, and among friends. Again, it was Hannah that chimed in with a quintessential quote, "Getting stuck in the rain alone is miserable, but getting stuck in the rain with friends is an adventure." And we expanded that to our whole ordeal. It could have sucked, been awful, full of complaints, and huddling in tents. But we laughed through it, sang through it and kept the fire going to dry off as we got wet. =)


It was about 1 am when we turned in, and the girls tent had five of us. So I channeled my inner sardine for about an hour and a half, and then decided to just get up. I rustled up the fire, and got a good flame going and a short bit later a few others woke up and headed up to the wall to try and see a sunrise. (still raining , mind you) I had just climbed 6000+ meters on Wed. and decided to tend the fire. Later in the morning, we all were relaxing around the fire, and suddenly the rain quit, the sun came out and broke up the clouds and blue sky appeared like a gift from G-d. We packed up camp a bit, and then headed up to the wall because blue sky! That second trip to the Wall was soooooo worth the rain and no sleep. I  could see for miles, the wall stretched along the ridge, nestled into the dark green of foliage around it.... We climbed up to a turret and just gazed in awe at the ancient technology that created the wall, and the blessings of a crisp blue sky filled with fluffy clouds.


The only tainting in my mind was the idea of the Great Wall in its original form and also its current state. I would have loved to see the wall when it was built. To have seen its glory, how the rocks fit together and were patrolled to watch for mongols.... But then again the wall workers died by the thousands during construction and the wall didn't even serve its purpose. But also.... I would love to see it today had it been untouched by humans. To see what nature would do to it.... Because even the section of 'wild' that we explored was rebuilt some. The bricks were too new, not nearly enough erosion for how old the wall is..... But I did get to see two ancient wonders in less than a week. Both of them older than Jesus. Wow.....


But my legs were yelling at me again because of the hiking. haha.


The last thing for the day was the car ride home. Mike's friend loaned him a car. A Jeep Compass. Its a mini SUV. Seats five with a 'trunk' space. Well..... We had nine people and all our gear in the Jeep for the ride home...... Mike driving, Thomas in the passenger seat, Nate on the center console with stools and bags around them. Becca in the trunk space stuffed with bags and sleeping bags and gear around her. Then back seat was Hannah, Kirstin, Ben and I on the seat.... or mostly.... with stuff around our legs and then Jen sprawled across the top of us. It was one heck of an adventure and we all poured out of the car after the hour n half ride into town with indents on our legs of gear and other people, and a few of us couldn't feel lower extremities anymore..... Ha!


It's something that only happens once and is told forever. I made one comment that seemed to sum up the whole experience. I said "bases happened".... as it 1st, 2nd, 3rd in the back of a car..... (raise one eyebrow) We are all closer because of that ride. Haha




Until next time.

Xi'an and one hell of a mountain

So, I've been traipsing all over China for two weeks, and haven't had a chance to tell you about it!


I'm going to try to remember it all and get it all in with out writing a whole novel in the process. =)


After spending a week in Hangzhou, I traveled with my friend, the amazing Hannah R. and our Chinese friend Summer to Xi'an. We took an overnight train leaving at 4 and arriving and 9am.... It was a good trip and I slept like a rock. Once we arrived in Xi'an, our first stop was the Terracotta Warriors! One quick bus ride out there and we were in business. It was real hot, but because we traveled to northern China overnight the humidity was low and I appreciated that!


The Warriors were pretty awesome. It was spectacular to see the reconstructed statues, but also really sad. This emperor, this ruler in ancient China was so afraid of death and what would happen to him once he could no longer control his life that he built this huge collection of 'things' that would be with him in death. These things that are still on earth, that have crumbled into pieces and are barely recognizable anymore.... (sigh...)


But the idea of these ruins being older than Jesus was pretty cool. And the area is an ongoing archeological dig... which meant that the crumbled warriors are still being excavated and reassembled. So awesome!


After seeing the warriors we headed into town, stopped at Starbucks, and then hit up Muslim street. A famous food street that has all the local favorites, and specialties of Xi'an. We had mutton soup, and homemade yogurt. All delicious. Then, we headed back to the train to go out to Huashan mountain.


We got some sleep, and then the next morning we hit the mountain!! Our hike started at 5am and boy.... did it start. The trail started off as all uphill path ways that made my calf muscles scream. But that wasn't the worst part of it.... Once the uphill finished, the stairs began. All vertical, super steep stairs that never ended.... Once the steps started, so did the chains. The paths had chain railings, and on the steep vertical stairs they were necessary for clambering up the 'steps'. It was really quite like rock climbing. And the names of these places wasn't much better... There was the 1000 foot gorge. Where all you could see walking thru it was a sliver of sky above. And then there was the sky ladder. A shorter climb but vertical like a ladder and sky above. I could tell I was alive the whole way up because my muscles were shouting their opposition to what I was putting them through, and my heart was pounding both in my chest and in my ears. I will never climb it again, but I am so glad I did for a few reasons. First, the view from the top!! Oh.... the wonders and majesty that is G0d's creation took my breath away. The peaks that floated in the sky and stretched for ever and were layered like a bunched up sheet across the land. Second, the experience at the top called "Plank Road in the Sky". There are no words to describe how terrified, excited, stoked, 'bahhhh' I was to do this. Let me paint you a picture.... Harness around your upper body. Both arms strapped in and clipped in the front. Then you have two carabineers on straps leading from those chest clips that you use to connect to the side of the mountain. Imagine walking a dog, but you are the dog. Then, you climb down a stone/ metal bar latter to a wooden plank bolted to the side of the mountain where there is pure rock on one side and nothing but airspace on the other. 6000 plus meters of drop under 12 inches of wood. It was breath catching, nerve wracking, heart racing, eye opening and any other awe emotion you can think of. Hannah said at one point 'I can't open my eyes wide enough!' And that's really the only way to describe it. There was so much nature to take in... And no way to really capture it except in person. My memory holds that beauty now....and that is enough.  I was a dare devil as per the norm, and clipped myself to a bolt and then leaned back to hang off this wall, and I sat down on the wood plank to feel nothing but air beneath my soles.... to understand the grandeur that is a mountain. I could use a whole book worth of adjectives and metaphors to describe this experience, but nothing would suffice. So I'll leave it here.


We had to hike to a neighboring peak and then took a cable car down to the bottom. Bus back to the hostel, grabbed our bags and headed back to Xi'an, and caught an overnight train to Beijing. I was in Xi'an area for a total of 1.5 days. It was a whirl wind tour for sure, but I enjoyed. (once I stopped wheezing from the mountain climbing)


Until next time.

Adventures in the H Zeeee

So I'm spending a week in Hangzhou helping my 'cousins' with an English camp. And while I've been here, there have been some awesome adventures in the last few days. I'll run them down for ya....

- Visiting the beautiful West Lake in Hangzhou. Its considered the most beautiful place in all of China.
- A quick visit to Shaoxing to get my passport and see town with a visiting friend. It was a whirl wind, but a good time.
- Getting a foot massage where I soaked my feet in tea while they rubbed my shoulders, and they got all the dead skin off my feet, and it was most wonderful.
- Rock climbing!! We bussed/hiked up a mountain, and climbed through the bushes to a rock face where we climbed. It was awesome! And yes, it was actual rock climbing with harness, rope, belayer and real rocks with no set route. I got stuck for a few minutes at the half way point as I figured out how to hoist myself over a little ridge and keep climbing. The view from the top was so worth the climb and the sore arms that came a day later. haha.

The view from the top!

The view straight down... you can barely see my belayer.
(he's wearing a blue helmet at the very bottom between the trees)

- Swimming in the Bamboo river. Its a place near here that is in a botanical garden. We swam near a small waterfall and it was warm and basically fantastic. I love to swim and haven't gone since Thailand. I didn't catch anything from the water... so don't worry.

- Visited the tea fields near here. I'd been there before, but it was cool to see again. 

- Whew! Are you tired? Because I am.... Haha. 

- OHH, and I almost forgot we explored a cave! I got dive bombed by a bat. And got a little muddy. But the weirdest part was that as we stood at the exit the air coming out of the cave was so cool that we could see our breath. The temperature difference between in and out of the cave was at least 20 degrees. Crazy!!

The schedule for the next few days includes KTV (karaoke), helping people move apartments, biking and taking selfies around Hangzhou, training up to Xi'an to see the terra-cotta warriors, and climb Mount Huashan (google 'mount huashan southern peak'.... just do it), then training over to Beijing, and flying home. AHHH!! It's getting so close. And I've still not convinced myself that I won't be returning to Shaoxing after my adventures. 

Until next time. 

Home

Home: 
     - A house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person or family
     - the place in which one's domestic affections are centered
     - a dwelling place or retreat of an animal
     - the place/region where something is native or most common

Synonyms: abode, dwelling, habitation

- Home is where the heart is
- Home is where your rump rests - Pumbaa  
- Home is where you go and they have to let you in
- Home is where the laundry is free
- Home is a safe place where we can go as we are and we won't be questioned -Maya Angelou
- Home is where the Wi-Fi connects automatically


I was writing this post in my head today as I rode my bike around town. I thought I had used the title before, and didn't want a duplicate. But upon inspection, I realized I hadn't written a post all about home. And, as you can see, the term 'home' has a history. It's definition is subjective to the person using it. It's been used in famous quotes. It's a part of multiple everyday idioms. There are songs dedicated to home, going home, and finding home. It's the 162nd most commonly used word in the English language. (No, I didn't know that... I just looked it up) 

There are two reasons for my fixation on the word 'home.' First, I'll be leaving my home this weekend and setting out for another home, and second, my roommate Laura left the apartment today, and she leaves China tomorrow morning. Let's approach these one at a time..... 

First, my departure. The concept of leaving Shaoxing for two and a half months is weird. I'm leaving a large pile of my belongings here because I know I'll be back, but the time between then and now seems unreal. I'm leaving for Hangzhou and I'll be there for a week, and then traveling to Xi'an province before going to Beijing. And then I'll be coming back to Shaoxing right? Like all of my other travels I'll be coming home right? Well... yes, but I'll be going to my home in America. The term 'home' becomes ambiguous and frankly, confusing when used so often. According to the Merriam-Webster definition, my usual residence is Shaoxing.... Or at least it has been for the last nine months. But, my native home is the bright yellow room in northern Wisconsin. The place that is most common for me is Shaoxing, but the place where my family dwells is Wisconsin. Do you see my conundrum? I'm not saying I have to decide on one or the other because I'm a firm believer that 'home' is the ground under my feet. I can make my home anywhere.... But rather, my point is this: Going Home is a concept that is so foreign to me. During my college years, that meant going back to WI. For nine months, going home meant my six floor walk up in Shaoxing. The idea of actually going back to my bed, to the house I share with my parents and sisters hasn't been an option for so long that it doesn't seem real. I think I'm trying to vocalize an emotion and I'm not sure how I'm doing..... The only thing I can compare it to is the idea of Spring in January. You know it exists. You know its coming. But it's been so long you're leery, and you're content with the snow. 

The second thought is all about Laura. For the last couple years of college, and now the last year in China, Laura and I have spent a large majority of our time together. And we lived together for nine months. Now she is going home, finding an apartment, buying a car, and finishing up details for her wedding. She's diving into domestic life. Its awesome, and I'm excited for her, but I realized something. Our friendship is going to change now. We will never again be roommates. We won't see each other everyday. I will see her in July for her wedding, and possibly next school year if she visits China... But who knows where life will lead us after that. I know that we will still be friends, and that we'll strive to see each other...But our friendship will be different. Not worse, just different. It's like when you graduate from high school or college. Move to a new city or gain a new sibling. Things won't ever be as they were prior to the event. I guess I'm having a nostalgia moment because I had so much fun this year. There will never be another in my life like Laura. 

Life will never be the exact same.... and a large part of me knows that its supposed to be this way. I'm excited for the unknown, for what's coming, for new adventures. I'm nervous that when I go home to America everyone and everything will be different. Either the place or the people will have changed, or I will have changed and feel differently about things. And then I'll be coming back to China.... I guess the only way to find out is to just keep moving... One foot in front of the other, finding my way home.... I'll see you soon!

Until next time. 

Annual Dragonboat camping; Year 1

HI! How are you?

This past weekend was Dragon Boat festival. I don't know what they celebrate... I didn't see any dragons. But I saw a few boats. BECAUSE... I was camping on the beach. Yes. Beach.

So here's the sitch.... Tony, Seth, Marie and myself planned a little jaunt to Zhoushan. Which is East and South of Shaoxing. But, you're thinking to yourself, isn't Shaoxing on the east coast of China? Well, yes... but not actually on the ocean. I'm getting ahead of myself... Let me start again.

(insert thoughtful moment)

Okay, Tony, Seth, Marie and I left for Zhoushan on Saturday. It was a three hour bus ride from Shaoxing. We stopped in town, and grabbed a taxi to the beach. It was overcast, and misting on and off, but not awful. The air was still pretty warm, but the wind picked up quite a bit as we hit the shore. After a moments debate, we set off down the beach toward a spot for our tents. In a jiffy we had our small little tents pitched, and were searching the beach for fire wood. I've camped a ton in my short life. I've even 'roughed it' a few times... but this was different. We built a fire, and had a cozy little time the first night. It rained as we slept, and Sunday was quite wet. We headed into town to see what we could see, and in search of coffee. We wanted to find a coffee shop to sit down in and spend a few hours because the beach had an entrance fee until 5pm... And we weren't gonna pay. However, our search of the very small town proved futile. Finally, we noticed some chairs and a table in the lobby of a hotel. We entered and explored a little, and our wanderings led us to a multipurpose room that was basically abandoned with a few desks and four chairs. Luckily, that was the number of people we had... so we decided to camp out for a bit until the rain quit or we could go back to our tents. We played cards for an hour or two and then were getting antsy.... Until we noticed a ping pong table behind a pillar. YES! We set it up (it was in two pieces) and discovered that there was only one paddle. HUGE LET DOWN!! But, wait, what was that odd shaped thing next to the table?? A ping pong ball shooter?? AND WE'RE BACK UP!!! So, we poured the bucket of ping pong balls into the machine and lined it up and began to play one at a time. But as happens with mid twenty year olds.... it soon turned into a war of 'person with paddle' vs 'everyone else'. The shooter would shoot a ball, and the paddle person would try to hit one of us with the ball, as we would dodge, and then throw back..... Needless to say, there were around 100 ping pong balls laying around the room at the end of each session... Which we promptly picked up and began the whole thing over again. =D! It was a lot of fun.

After the hotel got old, we left and headed back to the beach. The rain had quit for the time being, and we were curious if our tents had suffered from it. Upon our return we discovered everything intact except for Maries sleeping bag had gotten really wet. Like wringing wet. Which was unfortunate, but luckily my sleeping bag unzipped completely and we could share it. We wanted a fire on Sunday night too, but wood was wet, and conditions weren't exactly favorable. There was intense wind.... We had picked up a large stack of newspapers from the hotel, and had some toilet paper to help us get things started. After nearly two hours of barely lit newspaper, almost lit twigs, and building a rock retaining wall to block the wind, we got it! And had a nice little fire going for a few hours before the rain set in again, and we called it a night.

Miraculously, Monday morning dawned clear, sunny, and warm! We woke, and decided the ocean needed to be tested. So around 7am we hit the waves. And they hit back! The water was cold, and the waves were sizable. Surfing could have happened, but we settled for body surfing. Which is not as easy as one would think... I definitely went ass over tea kettle a couple times, and eventually was able to ride a wave or two. It was a ton of fun!

We packed our 'dong-she' (stuff) and headed out around 10am to catch the bus back to town and our bus to Ningbo, and then our train to Shaoxing. It was a short weekend, but so much fun. Despite the rain, we had some laughs, some good conversation, and some awesome camping. I had forgotten how much I love camping. After we returned to town, we set up the tents to brush any extra sand out of them and laid out damp sleeping bags. As we finished repacking the tents, Tony and I decided that camping over Dragon Boat festival is gonna be an annual thing. Next year, same time, different place.

Until next time.