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.