tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31854474001312883702024-02-19T16:11:52.187-08:00Jenni on a JourneyWhen you come to the end of everything you know and the next step is into the darkness of the great unknown, you must believe one of two things... either you will step out onto firm ground, or you will be taught to fly!Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-56874614334117781962013-06-12T07:46:00.000-07:002013-06-12T07:46:02.926-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcg3LG2Q-P6s7XcleKHDIHfiRn0psy7LRWn8pPFMlkVugkpnLXWnVMjYxQd_iDP96IBwlH0aFX16FndvOMO_7qW7JyI1dczq-a03r8d6ObojRfzGrlw95DZC5dt_l638wDNQ5utZAeFDY/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcg3LG2Q-P6s7XcleKHDIHfiRn0psy7LRWn8pPFMlkVugkpnLXWnVMjYxQd_iDP96IBwlH0aFX16FndvOMO_7qW7JyI1dczq-a03r8d6ObojRfzGrlw95DZC5dt_l638wDNQ5utZAeFDY/s320/IMG_0083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I had to upload this for my class.Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-74778469220636068622011-01-06T00:14:00.000-08:002011-01-06T00:14:36.880-08:00Chinglish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been wanting to post these pictures forever, but there were just so many!! China is so funny! The english signs... they're instant classics! Or the t-shirts. I swear half of the Asian population wears shirts with english sayings on them- except for half of those don't even make sense! It's just so funny! This is a taste of what we say daily! "Chinglish" signs are everywhere in China, yet they never cease to entertain you!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiik80R7syONN2m9ax6K6hRfXKOc_mCT5QgS6yYaF7XBVBD0eZib5hPD4ygU5ITBOvotbSo6te4EJ2JqYeACr2mWd8gtBrofuU-ptC4DCArVxgmJcNPip8f_YXfLkySXvsbPwAgNIznnEY/s1600/SDC14729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiik80R7syONN2m9ax6K6hRfXKOc_mCT5QgS6yYaF7XBVBD0eZib5hPD4ygU5ITBOvotbSo6te4EJ2JqYeACr2mWd8gtBrofuU-ptC4DCArVxgmJcNPip8f_YXfLkySXvsbPwAgNIznnEY/s320/SDC14729.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This was in our school... the first grader's hall. CLASSY!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH8MXM65bNmTl7Zqg81BMKPinFraptL4c8C7pQIreQTZUdUUKHR6l1p3rzYrbZrzIvTgZElzwar3wiTPfkwkYhrndYBRR6g5UHFtrbCBAOgyiX1T-SRFGidlAKvZvOl7C24q9KPuJXBw/s1600/SDC14748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH8MXM65bNmTl7Zqg81BMKPinFraptL4c8C7pQIreQTZUdUUKHR6l1p3rzYrbZrzIvTgZElzwar3wiTPfkwkYhrndYBRR6g5UHFtrbCBAOgyiX1T-SRFGidlAKvZvOl7C24q9KPuJXBw/s320/SDC14748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Well, then why are we here?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-M4SQusgpdf2M8DRM2_RHt1cks90oaA0s2skYQuxWhf133V98-V4vP_s_P41oTq7uZNkqMibKpum5NNCiuLLPocR_eeyPheqhBEt0PPzyhxth_x3YYvqOS6M-gOLku8Pu7u3DW0-iLg/s1600/SDC14762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-M4SQusgpdf2M8DRM2_RHt1cks90oaA0s2skYQuxWhf133V98-V4vP_s_P41oTq7uZNkqMibKpum5NNCiuLLPocR_eeyPheqhBEt0PPzyhxth_x3YYvqOS6M-gOLku8Pu7u3DW0-iLg/s320/SDC14762.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Thanks!! I'll remember that next time I'm at an ocean!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWWOzQoCYNJY0rw8jvU3o3R1pmFiyVYY2bUE_rDFXqS5vTQuIUsz-6n6OFVllU1r_CQ840oIge6XJYIA1FlkKwg1TbspmUhiKv-2W5y5HBo-B3F5g5R-XpwGl7Qgj2b2bnl34m3NlVJo/s1600/SDC14772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWWOzQoCYNJY0rw8jvU3o3R1pmFiyVYY2bUE_rDFXqS5vTQuIUsz-6n6OFVllU1r_CQ840oIge6XJYIA1FlkKwg1TbspmUhiKv-2W5y5HBo-B3F5g5R-XpwGl7Qgj2b2bnl34m3NlVJo/s320/SDC14772.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A sign in Weihai. Just love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxS_aieAoAy-ko6gaqKT8mcSpGqZoUyi12q6YaCs3E6EZTroMAkjBRnw_1-msuV66dNATKpFkskPKq2kNk5rgihqZDD9gv5Cl_35KB8U1D2CCs99EYCBPKYNi6P-CWUbx9YKY4lwkswA/s1600/SDC14803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxS_aieAoAy-ko6gaqKT8mcSpGqZoUyi12q6YaCs3E6EZTroMAkjBRnw_1-msuV66dNATKpFkskPKq2kNk5rgihqZDD9gv5Cl_35KB8U1D2CCs99EYCBPKYNi6P-CWUbx9YKY4lwkswA/s320/SDC14803.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Face bleach. Who knew?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiG8FidG4LB_vMu2NQc_e5Z3eJEaHnmYA830mvzG7pqyea8BPBcw4sTIEP6wHMVba1KoG9Mvl6BU9iQoUFm1yU0uLMT_-GzhmsbXmzZOkckp_o4nd77mZpcgbRkm4s7oV7r-KoUV6uMc/s1600/SDC14885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiG8FidG4LB_vMu2NQc_e5Z3eJEaHnmYA830mvzG7pqyea8BPBcw4sTIEP6wHMVba1KoG9Mvl6BU9iQoUFm1yU0uLMT_-GzhmsbXmzZOkckp_o4nd77mZpcgbRkm4s7oV7r-KoUV6uMc/s320/SDC14885.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I just loved it when things were misspelled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglCiFf-iu90RUt7bAQAhjOT-wkkOHVbmkBohv0BcgYpA_td56Fxl9-1EydKsltXAuj6hqc83mx_cye7LGgL0q5Kplho0j9UG9cuip_HluCUQ1ef0DrLpg_RCDBYc-D7n0So8C3QV-ycg/s1600/SDC15046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglCiFf-iu90RUt7bAQAhjOT-wkkOHVbmkBohv0BcgYpA_td56Fxl9-1EydKsltXAuj6hqc83mx_cye7LGgL0q5Kplho0j9UG9cuip_HluCUQ1ef0DrLpg_RCDBYc-D7n0So8C3QV-ycg/s320/SDC15046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A sign in the bathroom of our hostel in Beijing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVrtdtQ8KVXOIrgD2O9pcl8vGRBg45H0oMYwKDUDE42Sh6U1TpBs-N6KzM2xOw4RmZVdZy5EfTfO99PNG7BIW5E3vDSAteWAKGNH1juZ-EKxLFujruVRuFA8OdCaJTXS1BqLmJwY56Hg/s1600/SDC15109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVrtdtQ8KVXOIrgD2O9pcl8vGRBg45H0oMYwKDUDE42Sh6U1TpBs-N6KzM2xOw4RmZVdZy5EfTfO99PNG7BIW5E3vDSAteWAKGNH1juZ-EKxLFujruVRuFA8OdCaJTXS1BqLmJwY56Hg/s320/SDC15109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Probe outside??? No thanks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMo3lZyjOHaH1SiDpv0zQIH4QUbDoWwaPBLvLCETEU0qMTozZeEQQ9mQsruaY3dSBazFIzCem9DB-1sTyAhb6sCMBBzJzhOKT27GbyaGzpsmH1b1-tiovVKwmU2FfRy9EUEtDP_uZwgY/s1600/SDC15154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMo3lZyjOHaH1SiDpv0zQIH4QUbDoWwaPBLvLCETEU0qMTozZeEQQ9mQsruaY3dSBazFIzCem9DB-1sTyAhb6sCMBBzJzhOKT27GbyaGzpsmH1b1-tiovVKwmU2FfRy9EUEtDP_uZwgY/s320/SDC15154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ... WHAT?! This sign was next to the next picture...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnlIUFnB-IZzPXZWFAlSFp2VXMIFt545xzNUwxbiZ4hQpq9k8FtfvDD2c59MOazzXxpoMDLgcm7QzGtfktn8dYB1lTzweN3N6iA1L2CYO-i1IxtzW5uJvOCUve4Z_zTIuHxxneCfzpeE/s1600/SDC15155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnlIUFnB-IZzPXZWFAlSFp2VXMIFt545xzNUwxbiZ4hQpq9k8FtfvDD2c59MOazzXxpoMDLgcm7QzGtfktn8dYB1lTzweN3N6iA1L2CYO-i1IxtzW5uJvOCUve4Z_zTIuHxxneCfzpeE/s320/SDC15155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqoiNQO2UVzopX6SrezLzdQIi1xxJHTXZDjzner4FFNOWbYBhEe44QDgH8QJuQ3GCzTcObM1Tvo8R2gMmAdPtRPeP9g-BjAtKQNbzxrZb2rrMnFyKqsC57AI_byF1NWOKB-2zSSTzUVs/s1600/SDC15235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqoiNQO2UVzopX6SrezLzdQIi1xxJHTXZDjzner4FFNOWbYBhEe44QDgH8QJuQ3GCzTcObM1Tvo8R2gMmAdPtRPeP9g-BjAtKQNbzxrZb2rrMnFyKqsC57AI_byF1NWOKB-2zSSTzUVs/s320/SDC15235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Very poignant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioq4XlFPg5tK8DiF7NRkh_0hryFaXEwGzLxVM9_haBiID1hyphenhyphenSeo2JNNy5VfK5PR8U0PPIs6ZPjWFhiZN0lZpLGqlpDrcU6gHIYPwOsceR9sVQo1dhXNT5mMmneyYMFcB73tX4y8NjkGN0/s1600/SDC19714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioq4XlFPg5tK8DiF7NRkh_0hryFaXEwGzLxVM9_haBiID1hyphenhyphenSeo2JNNy5VfK5PR8U0PPIs6ZPjWFhiZN0lZpLGqlpDrcU6gHIYPwOsceR9sVQo1dhXNT5mMmneyYMFcB73tX4y8NjkGN0/s320/SDC19714.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I LOVE Kelly... but she was one of the worst perpetrators!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuxtwyjxESaZAFcEhvhvO-iY4Arwq43LlR7wYlP3X552FVcobOUhnO4t22c36gr9n4TNzH1Ol4vmzUWsjpwB8XM3W2lDrrAFAsh6m4Khsn5W1Pczn-YiR31fCKlCJjK0NnGAoPS5q-e8/s1600/DSCN0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuxtwyjxESaZAFcEhvhvO-iY4Arwq43LlR7wYlP3X552FVcobOUhnO4t22c36gr9n4TNzH1Ol4vmzUWsjpwB8XM3W2lDrrAFAsh6m4Khsn5W1Pczn-YiR31fCKlCJjK0NnGAoPS5q-e8/s320/DSCN0167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Tell me how to do that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54gBwRxHy41yfhvhUeLBsFdAhDxwyWjva5FFZbMJonkvDoBblVWojEqejyykwIMTmLaXshLd-Hec80XwfDhnaGc9R4GsURGmi0ZCwS6pZwSLbkc2-ETyUuCv7CI0qjypEq_qeEN0RcBo/s1600/DSCN0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54gBwRxHy41yfhvhUeLBsFdAhDxwyWjva5FFZbMJonkvDoBblVWojEqejyykwIMTmLaXshLd-Hec80XwfDhnaGc9R4GsURGmi0ZCwS6pZwSLbkc2-ETyUuCv7CI0qjypEq_qeEN0RcBo/s320/DSCN0168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Ya... we still just don't know what that means!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-17oxOVyvJhZDyo-UCFydWE-IeirMG-vT3YTMhyphenhyphenTUqKjIcIpeoYhqC6tWEwAnHJ4J5UQvvmhnxsprwkZSOroRexmN7vKF-CqtuIiPrRNZ8VjDvNLZlnwxPF9s5BAsSl7OILgIma4CmFA/s1600/DSCN0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-17oxOVyvJhZDyo-UCFydWE-IeirMG-vT3YTMhyphenhyphenTUqKjIcIpeoYhqC6tWEwAnHJ4J5UQvvmhnxsprwkZSOroRexmN7vKF-CqtuIiPrRNZ8VjDvNLZlnwxPF9s5BAsSl7OILgIma4CmFA/s320/DSCN0169.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I took this one for my sister. I just thought it was funny they had Red Bull in China.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbju8LodnPudXxYvQAMjAR5NJ0UJWEDstghbFi2mMwvQqnioJFieEixWl69F86jkYuVxh-ZOgLFA9fR6jgj1WqZbB-sR_tNdcHKJbRG5R9xexrxEQOkj-kE0LSgZfkG16pQx-xgEb2I4/s1600/DSCN0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbju8LodnPudXxYvQAMjAR5NJ0UJWEDstghbFi2mMwvQqnioJFieEixWl69F86jkYuVxh-ZOgLFA9fR6jgj1WqZbB-sR_tNdcHKJbRG5R9xexrxEQOkj-kE0LSgZfkG16pQx-xgEb2I4/s320/DSCN0199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Well said!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmdslQRXHsaREg2otxUxwyMLhM9Ytwm15SpHyo4_MZygsLm1bXgHufRWCNVBz-kIxS-7Z3npbVy_lDQZ9AAnXQFXyiNO33w0rrinSG1BbA6F0PgnXCH2EBP22L1-V0sSF5cQ_TzMy9Fc/s1600/DSCN0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmdslQRXHsaREg2otxUxwyMLhM9Ytwm15SpHyo4_MZygsLm1bXgHufRWCNVBz-kIxS-7Z3npbVy_lDQZ9AAnXQFXyiNO33w0rrinSG1BbA6F0PgnXCH2EBP22L1-V0sSF5cQ_TzMy9Fc/s320/DSCN0288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This was a shirt I found for sale at the underground market. I just don't know...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsB1PNsx4NigAPG9qKUGRePDMPdgBqLVCPTSa0TBsAuYQvOEgJeyuvrmi0stV9PGU2IMh9hZ8yHr2mC4wMShg83JVkcXFnLcnC3oP4FP6GfeF4WDcsKTbsXykAunDoQZTYvxYg2tikZA/s1600/DSCN0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsB1PNsx4NigAPG9qKUGRePDMPdgBqLVCPTSa0TBsAuYQvOEgJeyuvrmi0stV9PGU2IMh9hZ8yHr2mC4wMShg83JVkcXFnLcnC3oP4FP6GfeF4WDcsKTbsXykAunDoQZTYvxYg2tikZA/s320/DSCN0392.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> At the Buddhist temple</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUp6kMfiqIx7cPRf7jbDRnMrYD7yGmgRdm0XWVhE-5NA4Sn-ksKRlvR_2Ja_AGMaNtOT2nV0tF6Xd99_T04PHEq2gza9ZTDxgw6NOtbXGoemCW8qIBo0rwlDJ6FB12dfhziBRZ-Sa0tU/s1600/DSCN0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUp6kMfiqIx7cPRf7jbDRnMrYD7yGmgRdm0XWVhE-5NA4Sn-ksKRlvR_2Ja_AGMaNtOT2nV0tF6Xd99_T04PHEq2gza9ZTDxgw6NOtbXGoemCW8qIBo0rwlDJ6FB12dfhziBRZ-Sa0tU/s320/DSCN0400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I hear praying works better than preying... just sayin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6WYxWB94UT93lS_I2LWeVVRVbFhfmB0I-hFxW3ElpeLwvxITDGaJLNfvaZ3l4X1_8vclcL-DLPHLxcRDQA_r12ZH0mVI8xHWHA-BRYnUVe1uK8XrKFexNCgMyTwXjp7b2cKEx7R9dCg/s1600/DSCN0411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6WYxWB94UT93lS_I2LWeVVRVbFhfmB0I-hFxW3ElpeLwvxITDGaJLNfvaZ3l4X1_8vclcL-DLPHLxcRDQA_r12ZH0mVI8xHWHA-BRYnUVe1uK8XrKFexNCgMyTwXjp7b2cKEx7R9dCg/s320/DSCN0411.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Classic! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjAxU2YbC7Z80IXhJTQFcaCy2u1kxGYbIlSjBlKGRbdd4Kq-ui1EUXbK8EbuitIRE-mkNA9OKTvdLsfSfzTZR6iN44KL4zD_Vcf7T4sbeVD9_1FCu454Y7u-dTBVWSrhSiHMgURthD2M/s1600/IMG_0602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjAxU2YbC7Z80IXhJTQFcaCy2u1kxGYbIlSjBlKGRbdd4Kq-ui1EUXbK8EbuitIRE-mkNA9OKTvdLsfSfzTZR6iN44KL4zD_Vcf7T4sbeVD9_1FCu454Y7u-dTBVWSrhSiHMgURthD2M/s320/IMG_0602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsONaN8LQALy1qxwtprCP5uhF9COR_AczuOWDi-RQbxZwWSdlw798eIBHqQEnBkzMxoF5KgsQnIFOgICTQVGLaWOsNCZxzEBkhy_mS7j3SdOe7-Eh7zg_NQ4eB5ig7Zj-xlgs_CEv3mU/s1600/IMG_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsONaN8LQALy1qxwtprCP5uhF9COR_AczuOWDi-RQbxZwWSdlw798eIBHqQEnBkzMxoF5KgsQnIFOgICTQVGLaWOsNCZxzEBkhy_mS7j3SdOe7-Eh7zg_NQ4eB5ig7Zj-xlgs_CEv3mU/s320/IMG_0607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I think Kayla and I broke that rule by blowing bubbles on this gondola.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZCwSdLemwHrm09sc6dYCiCJtkk7ILKyFfdM9GJ1NVaXhSqam2N4bcL2OyIrbVzD_G3SqYtSlCtTsUenn9HdRTMSX3_7LfE99VPczCd5c8c17gmzDZ-hbCbr_oYan1LP_CQVcr2hNyRw/s1600/IMG_0626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZCwSdLemwHrm09sc6dYCiCJtkk7ILKyFfdM9GJ1NVaXhSqam2N4bcL2OyIrbVzD_G3SqYtSlCtTsUenn9HdRTMSX3_7LfE99VPczCd5c8c17gmzDZ-hbCbr_oYan1LP_CQVcr2hNyRw/s320/IMG_0626.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We've now entered a mix of England and the Kaysville theater.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbZkML2HnO_5s8hGD8rRvjn4boBH5v1A3Z2_3SVC_7wmZtkSffJ-IPhjDveLkU8D3G8967LEtYB-bd1hYpqmsPy2-F1LlOO047fZhogsOb9oHJOz7YHbtHBWmvAoFJMM5rIFFe9YUU4c/s1600/DSCN0524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbZkML2HnO_5s8hGD8rRvjn4boBH5v1A3Z2_3SVC_7wmZtkSffJ-IPhjDveLkU8D3G8967LEtYB-bd1hYpqmsPy2-F1LlOO047fZhogsOb9oHJOz7YHbtHBWmvAoFJMM5rIFFe9YUU4c/s320/DSCN0524.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lRcPQM0hi13MvU4kn__6VAe4FXrvV4bVQadBKo-UyFQNOGnhS7N6xYjqLJfJKQrBgQ8QxGwzbG50ciNfZNsynoE5W1zn2ALDv31MJU1cBYvrJugDD-SzZIVP5-I7HuK4tfrsvyEA8XA/s1600/DSCN0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lRcPQM0hi13MvU4kn__6VAe4FXrvV4bVQadBKo-UyFQNOGnhS7N6xYjqLJfJKQrBgQ8QxGwzbG50ciNfZNsynoE5W1zn2ALDv31MJU1cBYvrJugDD-SzZIVP5-I7HuK4tfrsvyEA8XA/s320/DSCN0526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is correct in China, I just found it ironic!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYWQQqYFlW2uFEeVvFkeMyaKiGgYubotUBLf9xMEw8r3jVxI5uzY6bpr6BzoU12z-wHEJUP_4MBAGxFL6hk63_l-EB1fZj8cXp0fL7x29z33YUO6bEXQEMo6Go-9rMCtKLqXPbv4bAb8/s1600/IMG_0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYWQQqYFlW2uFEeVvFkeMyaKiGgYubotUBLf9xMEw8r3jVxI5uzY6bpr6BzoU12z-wHEJUP_4MBAGxFL6hk63_l-EB1fZj8cXp0fL7x29z33YUO6bEXQEMo6Go-9rMCtKLqXPbv4bAb8/s320/IMG_0724.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> PHEW!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSubIs8hg_QiuDXrsH6FEhHlfbL7v7M8ABs_v6PAYjWcbnhTai9RtB_HnZYeEijXuVNmTnozCDKwMBbp36wkHCrITNBloEOgY4inev6FsQjxc13tnv3_fg9fpygnAC0R0MskEEwda6Ns/s1600/IMG_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSubIs8hg_QiuDXrsH6FEhHlfbL7v7M8ABs_v6PAYjWcbnhTai9RtB_HnZYeEijXuVNmTnozCDKwMBbp36wkHCrITNBloEOgY4inev6FsQjxc13tnv3_fg9fpygnAC0R0MskEEwda6Ns/s320/IMG_0731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfAg1YippRhIlhwJ8Rq9B6Y-gEABsV-i6WZxfchLAbWiCxnH91vEv_m_uTy5HsQpmtCqQUJjnxYQ8aTeGqvaEFH7qNBJzBXoPzFmbzRmcLhHTh-g82ZJuwWQKhny6jl9w26dV0LUkDLo/s1600/DSCN0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfAg1YippRhIlhwJ8Rq9B6Y-gEABsV-i6WZxfchLAbWiCxnH91vEv_m_uTy5HsQpmtCqQUJjnxYQ8aTeGqvaEFH7qNBJzBXoPzFmbzRmcLhHTh-g82ZJuwWQKhny6jl9w26dV0LUkDLo/s320/DSCN0595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I'm so confused!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZjsSoVsDq6n4p41t6btT0EZvyPgwgGpWfIHO9LYM0cgAAFwdorYHyiyfK6tBadtqy0G7fBrsEOXljAHnhN4U1yQuyjZJz-D3ITjw81hO4pw5Pz4eKBV9v0suAOlZOQUaQS__t9DQcps/s1600/DSCN0613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZjsSoVsDq6n4p41t6btT0EZvyPgwgGpWfIHO9LYM0cgAAFwdorYHyiyfK6tBadtqy0G7fBrsEOXljAHnhN4U1yQuyjZJz-D3ITjw81hO4pw5Pz4eKBV9v0suAOlZOQUaQS__t9DQcps/s320/DSCN0613.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lPwKmqh5bmwQQdhgZ6UMyNSbrvdxA43qKxPohPYkxnnPBbtqILV9uRxameldfmIt_9DT8nsC9DWpLjDCaXIJ-JnqUSdyA2qpHPkzacoKW5IE97MeT0v0g9h-Kzako25JjGAAyKRiG3M/s1600/IMG_0990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lPwKmqh5bmwQQdhgZ6UMyNSbrvdxA43qKxPohPYkxnnPBbtqILV9uRxameldfmIt_9DT8nsC9DWpLjDCaXIJ-JnqUSdyA2qpHPkzacoKW5IE97MeT0v0g9h-Kzako25JjGAAyKRiG3M/s320/IMG_0990.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Blast! I wanted to scribble so badly! China... always ruining my schemes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZA95hljs2cyPGUkuxtYP9wOUpfshTgdX8f9vWbpCNVmBAd7_hjaIi7LEkc4gA7YU6BAH2TmvNXTqTS_TO4m9L9BpFWCta70rF4FsxjL1noeiEryp2vsj4JqZpyNLaKUAj5V9Nw7gLaA/s1600/IMG_0999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZA95hljs2cyPGUkuxtYP9wOUpfshTgdX8f9vWbpCNVmBAd7_hjaIi7LEkc4gA7YU6BAH2TmvNXTqTS_TO4m9L9BpFWCta70rF4FsxjL1noeiEryp2vsj4JqZpyNLaKUAj5V9Nw7gLaA/s320/IMG_0999.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgne_94_VE-79ieVMbtPlOSwUt0Orr2VJi-ihcYKjPgS9lq99l3MhETM_LvDT4KLb46JvHi1ukeJQOhTqbIsr1Sr1_Nw4rXwwZ8QK_Tv9My5LJ8QgHGUvySSR8ABM06CBdpVyAirriWUNU/s1600/DSCN0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgne_94_VE-79ieVMbtPlOSwUt0Orr2VJi-ihcYKjPgS9lq99l3MhETM_LvDT4KLb46JvHi1ukeJQOhTqbIsr1Sr1_Nw4rXwwZ8QK_Tv9My5LJ8QgHGUvySSR8ABM06CBdpVyAirriWUNU/s320/DSCN0635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzDlezz0Q4HW2ZUoeh2J1p25PI4BVHk_3-Uhh-qp3YSi2EzPn9Zn5IumsQ7XCY4QSnoIBNyNpbWIjHLIMNe1JgKaexLrUUyUdg827W_0BT4m5G47z4as-Uvb772sixDCd6ckYUiO6naM/s1600/IMG_1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzDlezz0Q4HW2ZUoeh2J1p25PI4BVHk_3-Uhh-qp3YSi2EzPn9Zn5IumsQ7XCY4QSnoIBNyNpbWIjHLIMNe1JgKaexLrUUyUdg827W_0BT4m5G47z4as-Uvb772sixDCd6ckYUiO6naM/s320/IMG_1210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyhqB-ygsnA5gEiJDAkPdSmoltEbxtRsBFx1VPF09md4sFCwgnrbS1xZdM5zHo65phRNS8BA54AuK1sJqc-fBtz7z6jjOaY0K8ifa8hajqFliqihmsmCRHDQbVD_LeMOtV3FsSWlxY2Q/s1600/DSCN0723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyhqB-ygsnA5gEiJDAkPdSmoltEbxtRsBFx1VPF09md4sFCwgnrbS1xZdM5zHo65phRNS8BA54AuK1sJqc-fBtz7z6jjOaY0K8ifa8hajqFliqihmsmCRHDQbVD_LeMOtV3FsSWlxY2Q/s320/DSCN0723.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I find it funny that it was sponsored by the AMERICAN express company.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-U6sZJHO6ZllvoDS9izOH_Ul3IuZ4kjB8E8lo6mYRCZ0FEMtUXgPnPgtplrhoFfIu7DeHWCPWQfw6_xgsZAaDBZLG0T1lkSiSd7H78vnzRxUGrjXkO7jmtzg6_qIdEKBEwFFPJ5gl3c4/s1600/DSCN9061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-U6sZJHO6ZllvoDS9izOH_Ul3IuZ4kjB8E8lo6mYRCZ0FEMtUXgPnPgtplrhoFfIu7DeHWCPWQfw6_xgsZAaDBZLG0T1lkSiSd7H78vnzRxUGrjXkO7jmtzg6_qIdEKBEwFFPJ5gl3c4/s320/DSCN9061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgae9brMbfJ_Lv4bocgG_VYfdtjdGRSZuKTrrxZOEj00p1l7sQd3JJb2qOnF0c95M92E9A4p6qYpEse-QzIKFKzZARTFvm64wmCrkA53C5dUzfzK2iVcleH7bT4aXfWOHfz1knIy8SVCmM/s1600/DSCN9144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgae9brMbfJ_Lv4bocgG_VYfdtjdGRSZuKTrrxZOEj00p1l7sQd3JJb2qOnF0c95M92E9A4p6qYpEse-QzIKFKzZARTFvm64wmCrkA53C5dUzfzK2iVcleH7bT4aXfWOHfz1knIy8SVCmM/s320/DSCN9144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Confused? So are we.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xFnkEEWStogwFqxncp7qC3-0RcS1-sYNnazmwyeqhyphenhyphenfX530Fyv1PRWMbjO4QI3pDtATsrRWcr9BSflLxEkQSlpkdm9ZPcqYRLu6tfO7fS7Pgii2HIoPyjOYT1F4OKXF7GUQeyCRPf6o/s1600/DSCN9320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xFnkEEWStogwFqxncp7qC3-0RcS1-sYNnazmwyeqhyphenhyphenfX530Fyv1PRWMbjO4QI3pDtATsrRWcr9BSflLxEkQSlpkdm9ZPcqYRLu6tfO7fS7Pgii2HIoPyjOYT1F4OKXF7GUQeyCRPf6o/s320/DSCN9320.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYwNvlcljCLj-zjx57vooWz3Ze3wQrpSN5y8LUu_Ho6XgZ4bKnPOucmY070tmTrAVI6HOypoEeIMtJ6Yu-JulgqLikmWKXnNHGoxXxlGbiUdtj6yVB3TccVReDKOWBgMKkNYNpCitjCE/s1600/DSCN9332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYwNvlcljCLj-zjx57vooWz3Ze3wQrpSN5y8LUu_Ho6XgZ4bKnPOucmY070tmTrAVI6HOypoEeIMtJ6Yu-JulgqLikmWKXnNHGoxXxlGbiUdtj6yVB3TccVReDKOWBgMKkNYNpCitjCE/s320/DSCN9332.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Where?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifp5zPb-0UAA-M3g4DNSqEFW6wS7EvcH7HNgAo3C-Nva-X1PtqIEA-Jb2Wixo71aJyDsj6szWoPKMOyIVc7596WY04QzLlQw4gYgf4g0mZiO-LU1R9oSLa5FihAW346jS8tdwsXOO2mNA/s1600/DSCN0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifp5zPb-0UAA-M3g4DNSqEFW6wS7EvcH7HNgAo3C-Nva-X1PtqIEA-Jb2Wixo71aJyDsj6szWoPKMOyIVc7596WY04QzLlQw4gYgf4g0mZiO-LU1R9oSLa5FihAW346jS8tdwsXOO2mNA/s320/DSCN0823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> That can't be right...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dXFxU6uaWE6cHs5GN1E2SA0KtRpp30l13HxwiaEd0gce9pFqGTaCSQq0vv8rl8Pkojf4syXRy12DJapnhzuQ63sZZrctM4LNvVavcAubFNp9zZ8weBCM7poGyY2n0Fi_jNkRPSSMTQs/s1600/DSCN0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dXFxU6uaWE6cHs5GN1E2SA0KtRpp30l13HxwiaEd0gce9pFqGTaCSQq0vv8rl8Pkojf4syXRy12DJapnhzuQ63sZZrctM4LNvVavcAubFNp9zZ8weBCM7poGyY2n0Fi_jNkRPSSMTQs/s320/DSCN0911.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Ya. That was me. Sometimes I think I'm funny.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinRQNcxwMhP3Erday8F9TwTpx9CcBjCVY2eHJ-zGPtqrzTX2tN4X9kr28lZV2wN2THX2-5A74MAspfIPbmI_DEXJDk07xgqnWApaPSxv6rQu0TbwvKb8GLk2v82NyEe8W5mB9_R9pjSE/s1600/DSCN0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinRQNcxwMhP3Erday8F9TwTpx9CcBjCVY2eHJ-zGPtqrzTX2tN4X9kr28lZV2wN2THX2-5A74MAspfIPbmI_DEXJDk07xgqnWApaPSxv6rQu0TbwvKb8GLk2v82NyEe8W5mB9_R9pjSE/s320/DSCN0936.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It looks like an AGGIE sweater!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnICMPnuqL9G6LX-eYv4NYMWrDI8xB_IxYv9RBtW5Bsk3XLRZpbe4SNv8BB0bz_EhTaeqV3rm5bMNFEYfZqfP4Zw8987o3w-TVBNn9koCa4FfMNDQIzo7z_h6FPVCwhyphenhyphenuhN7E9jaVNXq8/s1600/DSCN0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnICMPnuqL9G6LX-eYv4NYMWrDI8xB_IxYv9RBtW5Bsk3XLRZpbe4SNv8BB0bz_EhTaeqV3rm5bMNFEYfZqfP4Zw8987o3w-TVBNn9koCa4FfMNDQIzo7z_h6FPVCwhyphenhyphenuhN7E9jaVNXq8/s320/DSCN0943.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Spongebob has a girlfriend?! Ha! They had the funniest keychains there!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1MxLkiMQZc0Mu21d3G_skujJAKO3Whp35ltUyPnxSrdZma8yV5TTJpsw_ImiZNC_2wj-Q74Uv5ZsCLIcUJpbghEufGtT6Vf4SG4Ha9UpBdH5ObNAO54XZ-wHhcx0pyksFo4ROX_YodI/s1600/DSCN0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1MxLkiMQZc0Mu21d3G_skujJAKO3Whp35ltUyPnxSrdZma8yV5TTJpsw_ImiZNC_2wj-Q74Uv5ZsCLIcUJpbghEufGtT6Vf4SG4Ha9UpBdH5ObNAO54XZ-wHhcx0pyksFo4ROX_YodI/s320/DSCN0951.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And there truly were wild monkeys!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkgE1L2sSbzje4xsnsJ95J581HlqBCOegQRu63rx-gQjccl1thvPGCCKhjlXEKzhh8tj-bE_7CXjblt_nLi2Dw9psyYII9jGcLi9IwHZQXzlpcPZNl4Mz31hV9KYF5ZioiOpGN2JFIpk/s1600/DSCN0971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkgE1L2sSbzje4xsnsJ95J581HlqBCOegQRu63rx-gQjccl1thvPGCCKhjlXEKzhh8tj-bE_7CXjblt_nLi2Dw9psyYII9jGcLi9IwHZQXzlpcPZNl4Mz31hV9KYF5ZioiOpGN2JFIpk/s320/DSCN0971.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jpuhmL7y-UrnLUFIqceOV4MJQ57jShLqJZGOhz1WoDvPI1M3QEuM_Vpio8GU9OpZn69GVzJJ3_QFz0Q4yf-zgd6IJeAqLZsMuiBfiHxSizQweZEwg-2-aNm5XC3HEsAxjuLgrnsiYAM/s1600/DSCN1012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jpuhmL7y-UrnLUFIqceOV4MJQ57jShLqJZGOhz1WoDvPI1M3QEuM_Vpio8GU9OpZn69GVzJJ3_QFz0Q4yf-zgd6IJeAqLZsMuiBfiHxSizQweZEwg-2-aNm5XC3HEsAxjuLgrnsiYAM/s320/DSCN1012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRrgVhpO5e8ZGBUk7fjKfLlly8LQ72s2GDuUvHjxYuTBRKYjOZaixRkPc7EXBLRWfTouG6jA7WB5g0mz5Zev2bJ_ehyphenhyphen8BbXlGqvAu8m70AvVPlXnpspoiDwseWAsYMts7zHSfwEyyjhI/s1600/DSCN1013.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRrgVhpO5e8ZGBUk7fjKfLlly8LQ72s2GDuUvHjxYuTBRKYjOZaixRkPc7EXBLRWfTouG6jA7WB5g0mz5Zev2bJ_ehyphenhyphen8BbXlGqvAu8m70AvVPlXnpspoiDwseWAsYMts7zHSfwEyyjhI/s1600/DSCN1013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The drawings were helpful! PS WC means water closet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg687-Ncot5Crau7xb9W0OyJdmgkQXL6xBB0xWY7-ZvSsulya_Dl0fU_YTc_oY4B1Ge1WJd8muSgPQ1q8kuF-DneKDpBs6UR-6AJyvXIPG-Sm-_fMyTTQtxBVDTRqIBFR3Uc6DDiFi5dUM/s1600/DSCN1086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg687-Ncot5Crau7xb9W0OyJdmgkQXL6xBB0xWY7-ZvSsulya_Dl0fU_YTc_oY4B1Ge1WJd8muSgPQ1q8kuF-DneKDpBs6UR-6AJyvXIPG-Sm-_fMyTTQtxBVDTRqIBFR3Uc6DDiFi5dUM/s320/DSCN1086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2BsZW_AJK3Ka4R4oAB2uXzJCACiJUo6ZNup5Sf9dqWmWNL2VcoaKT_GZGSGQpEByDzf4Q5Zis0VoeTS1Bhyk2I4cRwOz7XFb7K-M7U8qGCzQfrEbyUm_s-98YhYcfwbzTnhNT9R0f5k/s1600/DSCN1126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2BsZW_AJK3Ka4R4oAB2uXzJCACiJUo6ZNup5Sf9dqWmWNL2VcoaKT_GZGSGQpEByDzf4Q5Zis0VoeTS1Bhyk2I4cRwOz7XFb7K-M7U8qGCzQfrEbyUm_s-98YhYcfwbzTnhNT9R0f5k/s320/DSCN1126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R7NQmtw1v-7GVawqKeMgKkFHDLdOTQ225VezZ13sUjZVcN9qB7AX4SxwwZx2PWrDRcoMD3hFsEPulP3fmWT9WGhUPVEnnxm7DN-OsA41KO7eF_miBIpxUBBlxdELR6wy4kQyjCKJ4xU/s1600/DSCN1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R7NQmtw1v-7GVawqKeMgKkFHDLdOTQ225VezZ13sUjZVcN9qB7AX4SxwwZx2PWrDRcoMD3hFsEPulP3fmWT9WGhUPVEnnxm7DN-OsA41KO7eF_miBIpxUBBlxdELR6wy4kQyjCKJ4xU/s320/DSCN1138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozm8V-FahuAz_XFFo-t268SRqqUpRiulD-iNAX9BW-iVMerQnM3jrInS5f2Nu4EEa5uy1wK9809mMB5QujVOZxwCZ4YQadDpG25wfoKW-QhX3p2J0yJoRawd-A0VmpHjbkMZu7Gjg12g/s1600/DSCN1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozm8V-FahuAz_XFFo-t268SRqqUpRiulD-iNAX9BW-iVMerQnM3jrInS5f2Nu4EEa5uy1wK9809mMB5QujVOZxwCZ4YQadDpG25wfoKW-QhX3p2J0yJoRawd-A0VmpHjbkMZu7Gjg12g/s320/DSCN1140.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This is just a taste of the signs!!! There were many more! I would have been taking pictures constantly if I'd tried to get them all! Some of my kids' shirts... :) Haha! Speaking of which, I still miss my kids! :) Anyway. Chinglish! Always a source of entertainment!Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-77735233280471481792010-12-29T16:07:00.000-08:002010-12-29T16:07:10.611-08:00China Sick.I had NO time to post those last 2 weeks in China. There was so much to do and I just wanted to soak up every minute. I've been home for almost two weeks. I think it's JUST hitting me that I'm truly home and I won't be going back. It was a sad realization!<br />
<br />
I miss my kids so much!!! Saying goodbye to them was honestly the hardest thing of my life! It kills me to think I'll never see them again! I think a small part of me is still expecting to go to my school and play with my kids any day now....<br />
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</div>I don't really know what to say, so here's pictures of my kids. I just can't come up with the words. A picture is worth a thousand words... right?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9LaR5h389b5o56ok9WKJSLiC169RTfSTGolICvCENAsdI_l7urOFMNkkoC1lLdLXLogy-Y7mNERWijX-1QSzYumj_by_XZBHOl2x1e_Zi2VFTE5VH5PMJrk30jI8ALPDUdD_UoTx4zc/s1600/DSCN1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9LaR5h389b5o56ok9WKJSLiC169RTfSTGolICvCENAsdI_l7urOFMNkkoC1lLdLXLogy-Y7mNERWijX-1QSzYumj_by_XZBHOl2x1e_Zi2VFTE5VH5PMJrk30jI8ALPDUdD_UoTx4zc/s320/DSCN1928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes they're a little crazy, but that's why I love them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpGB7iZvNxGTiRgRHvHsykzCgK515jQ9Apix34NidUIMWz8_xF13e2BOIR1wZcoME5rLN4y28H718c_xGHvxY6jkP711YLZ9eS_ZpYivkWZ7AH1qGzEniPVbcJBRxT1Af6jMrsjktOc4/s1600/DSCN1916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpGB7iZvNxGTiRgRHvHsykzCgK515jQ9Apix34NidUIMWz8_xF13e2BOIR1wZcoME5rLN4y28H718c_xGHvxY6jkP711YLZ9eS_ZpYivkWZ7AH1qGzEniPVbcJBRxT1Af6jMrsjktOc4/s320/DSCN1916.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>This is Dustin. He was seriously the funniest kid I had! He loved doing "high five... on the side... up above... down below... TOO SLOW" and would always make faces at me while I was teaching!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBZOWjIDSTCxzt0kFFchwFBvHRo6eMewPe49VVRvh204WWztI5Rl3oWsCh3-Wn1adeWLmjkMaRnpfeoe6BeOfDGrCKyZkFVfFEw7mBy5AumykPwGE90ZT9qrat5SEvqLMe95bi1wj7Gc/s1600/DSCN1931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBZOWjIDSTCxzt0kFFchwFBvHRo6eMewPe49VVRvh204WWztI5Rl3oWsCh3-Wn1adeWLmjkMaRnpfeoe6BeOfDGrCKyZkFVfFEw7mBy5AumykPwGE90ZT9qrat5SEvqLMe95bi1wj7Gc/s320/DSCN1931.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Me and Heidi!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsrJJ2y681S1LqII3smxBuq9mMgLU8AnRh6C0gh4qPkyisQ9tNBwuXxE8QETe0umY0a8UnqXk9Xk0FwazlA6QDqCUtBZqO-e-KV4JFax_1ADfltaaN8WUsS9b4sviSVWWP6BnUKe_CAk/s1600/DSCN1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsrJJ2y681S1LqII3smxBuq9mMgLU8AnRh6C0gh4qPkyisQ9tNBwuXxE8QETe0umY0a8UnqXk9Xk0FwazlA6QDqCUtBZqO-e-KV4JFax_1ADfltaaN8WUsS9b4sviSVWWP6BnUKe_CAk/s320/DSCN1937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I seriously just love them! There's nothing else to say!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UOsC5AVxfqmR3Ap2lC8CHxFkt6d-OUV9rK1jbyA53JteW6vgWfNYMu6_ytNdYUCIr9JDQ4otuu1UP4Pgv4PUTPdDC1Cuabu1cvD6vt5f9HggRmBHWTB3h25lBwtoq8pcnYpw6oKXl9s/s1600/DSCN1945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UOsC5AVxfqmR3Ap2lC8CHxFkt6d-OUV9rK1jbyA53JteW6vgWfNYMu6_ytNdYUCIr9JDQ4otuu1UP4Pgv4PUTPdDC1Cuabu1cvD6vt5f9HggRmBHWTB3h25lBwtoq8pcnYpw6oKXl9s/s320/DSCN1945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And sometimes Morgan would just get in the splits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbQGGtT_CmURo3PVRxYWHi7K3lHeikgFjZPecCbDWIfOz3oHXzXgHgSD5Z5azkq09f0VV00jf66EfPN-jHxE5qpdqrsPtf1Oy1fBjsvOHk-Sneq_2COdoh4cqYTbe1NdGXR_qtDf29kk/s1600/DSCN1946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbQGGtT_CmURo3PVRxYWHi7K3lHeikgFjZPecCbDWIfOz3oHXzXgHgSD5Z5azkq09f0VV00jf66EfPN-jHxE5qpdqrsPtf1Oy1fBjsvOHk-Sneq_2COdoh4cqYTbe1NdGXR_qtDf29kk/s320/DSCN1946.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> You try getting these kids to pose when you barely even speak their same language... it just doesn't happen! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNQjEy5WM9-F0ozIZL7_Syro9l6I4uoA8bWKUZ1rbWm9YQxgQwFojw2xRGBQV5Yo-rXF-G8pYnXSIJ1aDcRwsEYspI-WeTTj0JxK-TEXAbGXoNleNfipSAsEPFmQZuLNog02wZ79Nllw/s1600/DSCN1954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNQjEy5WM9-F0ozIZL7_Syro9l6I4uoA8bWKUZ1rbWm9YQxgQwFojw2xRGBQV5Yo-rXF-G8pYnXSIJ1aDcRwsEYspI-WeTTj0JxK-TEXAbGXoNleNfipSAsEPFmQZuLNog02wZ79Nllw/s320/DSCN1954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> One of the last days we flew paper airplanes from China to America. It was great fun!! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUYSOWy_AFbQcKFDCZ9343eQq5PwQ1L9Ade2F65WYNqzFTjVMUTBnd7YoHozlBng-CZi9SKq6ZhQVg0Gij_ovSE6AkLhqdam2Vs267ygtL54FPlYlZZ2QiefWLMGCAHzFGe7WvE9xK_g/s1600/DSCN1961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUYSOWy_AFbQcKFDCZ9343eQq5PwQ1L9Ade2F65WYNqzFTjVMUTBnd7YoHozlBng-CZi9SKq6ZhQVg0Gij_ovSE6AkLhqdam2Vs267ygtL54FPlYlZZ2QiefWLMGCAHzFGe7WvE9xK_g/s320/DSCN1961.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Madi, Alli, Cheryl, Jess, and Anna! Love those girls!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuzm-4yZlMF712aIEfjauiL-VXNFhnSaBd3ZY2WpsRHrRpEYYMCzWXG5nUwGRiJtiF6aL9Mcb735OSZen29wLYP4A4ObEYU32EP3855oUjOEXftGPiKwOi-XbeCAKOByw1EE8ztEtMZY/s1600/DSCN1966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuzm-4yZlMF712aIEfjauiL-VXNFhnSaBd3ZY2WpsRHrRpEYYMCzWXG5nUwGRiJtiF6aL9Mcb735OSZen29wLYP4A4ObEYU32EP3855oUjOEXftGPiKwOi-XbeCAKOByw1EE8ztEtMZY/s320/DSCN1966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is Rick. Isn't he cute?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLOSTa_6Xjtbwgdnqx1WWTvjdJWXENWxVb0rdReKIOnQ08xiCkDEmAOW6BGwtQhZGtCKE_B_xRzSD8oHzsChdpNWLSYzCOGS-VvEqF0ggzj5dylXJVlBLION10qpPG0sc0NvtuY_9zJY/s1600/DSCN1991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLOSTa_6Xjtbwgdnqx1WWTvjdJWXENWxVb0rdReKIOnQ08xiCkDEmAOW6BGwtQhZGtCKE_B_xRzSD8oHzsChdpNWLSYzCOGS-VvEqF0ggzj5dylXJVlBLION10qpPG0sc0NvtuY_9zJY/s320/DSCN1991.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Chuck. OOOOooooh Chuck! Gotta love him! He was Cierra's student at first and I was so mad when he got switched to my class. He was SO annoying! He did this screech thing that was literally ear piercing. And then suddenly one day he turned into the biggest sweetheart! I still don't know what happened! But he'd come up every 5 minutes or so (while I was teaching...) and give me a hug. :) Love him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ue3eeoGKL9u3nb75oD6noY_WBykFjLHQdtg7jjSX79DCwsu5MAu8D1-wpVRDqseP6woYbvC_6SlD-fkiDM5V0X-tp3E5OOtEHA_I10hZQxBWv85XclNBdc-fImi-N9shlkujLvtUiek/s1600/DSCN2103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ue3eeoGKL9u3nb75oD6noY_WBykFjLHQdtg7jjSX79DCwsu5MAu8D1-wpVRDqseP6woYbvC_6SlD-fkiDM5V0X-tp3E5OOtEHA_I10hZQxBWv85XclNBdc-fImi-N9shlkujLvtUiek/s320/DSCN2103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is me teaching during one of my public lessons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprMHTa6Gyi2rTmmkNwCwiIXZyHNQ4S3Ty7Ryva72ViZNVbRNWxtm6Ipu8mp9V_tCIM_5JFjP3Z3AzQnkoGoz7YHosFaKR5YVTeQzl-rMqWnqRgSb39_c9l7Q9uW0Iz0B5lawZvxFOwFg/s1600/DSCN2111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprMHTa6Gyi2rTmmkNwCwiIXZyHNQ4S3Ty7Ryva72ViZNVbRNWxtm6Ipu8mp9V_tCIM_5JFjP3Z3AzQnkoGoz7YHosFaKR5YVTeQzl-rMqWnqRgSb39_c9l7Q9uW0Iz0B5lawZvxFOwFg/s320/DSCN2111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My class full of Harry Potter names! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifM45SSSIfxrngad9JiJ2h1GkrkAieFaOZuVnrO6XsdjlPnhuqbuBuulK_AOiD3sK6OnQAUj8SJzT0coF9SLIH9ByLrL4-cGbHAmiDP4lOclYftFTF24iQ8qgz-PLCZhllVeOeeDORw7c/s1600/DSCN2122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifM45SSSIfxrngad9JiJ2h1GkrkAieFaOZuVnrO6XsdjlPnhuqbuBuulK_AOiD3sK6OnQAUj8SJzT0coF9SLIH9ByLrL4-cGbHAmiDP4lOclYftFTF24iQ8qgz-PLCZhllVeOeeDORw7c/s320/DSCN2122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Me and Charlie! He was such a trouble maker, but I still love and miss him so much!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi3vUWGyWDFuFljt_h6yxfoU91C3tNvxYgOKAy1FsCIKb7wio3JKlRW5w0qu1pV7-WrY5qhp2K2yGT8FqwgiYyd-AAJBiiKOqhB56deH7PCls2d-KN5JAcrQh5BpZ7Ljr78gMN6b9M1k/s1600/DSCN2123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi3vUWGyWDFuFljt_h6yxfoU91C3tNvxYgOKAy1FsCIKb7wio3JKlRW5w0qu1pV7-WrY5qhp2K2yGT8FqwgiYyd-AAJBiiKOqhB56deH7PCls2d-KN5JAcrQh5BpZ7Ljr78gMN6b9M1k/s320/DSCN2123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> CYD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't even tell you how much I miss her! She was seriously just the best student ever!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sAZzMs_VEU0eEePXL5OtEUIGuw2b4cOb7mt3E_8zm8TdHHZzf56iKzCMePQ2jRFBslSlXJwXnLSlBfhoE6Mh6K0yuQ-bJeX8ZWmexqXYVGxvDsyBAjv6l4Kxk4CX8U5eopZJDD7msTY/s1600/DSCN2125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sAZzMs_VEU0eEePXL5OtEUIGuw2b4cOb7mt3E_8zm8TdHHZzf56iKzCMePQ2jRFBslSlXJwXnLSlBfhoE6Mh6K0yuQ-bJeX8ZWmexqXYVGxvDsyBAjv6l4Kxk4CX8U5eopZJDD7msTY/s320/DSCN2125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> You get that candy cane, Becca!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZAW-1oW4_uZABkZ4FGeYkn9bmE4IdE2dlxJJqCYzglUa8jIttyHFMwCTor_joA9QG9SmfZC1NxAJLRIxQipc-Ov9z9Btl-OePRHZBC43qnx2biwBUcTuZJPNOg6_ju__NYto70Qwnh8/s1600/DSCN2131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZAW-1oW4_uZABkZ4FGeYkn9bmE4IdE2dlxJJqCYzglUa8jIttyHFMwCTor_joA9QG9SmfZC1NxAJLRIxQipc-Ov9z9Btl-OePRHZBC43qnx2biwBUcTuZJPNOg6_ju__NYto70Qwnh8/s320/DSCN2131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Brynn!! Such a typical Asian picture!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo7tIPfzKqZpr5Au5OcsshoN6ZfItQE5m52dbjfdJpbN8p5PiWTEb0CqSy3kMCArh_pV638c0PoNEjQRQkMZ9hEASDIY_wOOePPnZcvuo0c7onJSOXyWkZAKXIRh7wiW-o9G4iH49oog/s1600/DSCN2136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo7tIPfzKqZpr5Au5OcsshoN6ZfItQE5m52dbjfdJpbN8p5PiWTEb0CqSy3kMCArh_pV638c0PoNEjQRQkMZ9hEASDIY_wOOePPnZcvuo0c7onJSOXyWkZAKXIRh7wiW-o9G4iH49oog/s320/DSCN2136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These were our cooks. They were so sweet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaIM1R2fq6XNZHnpeg1TUc5DmHMZlXWGpHyjBvcIywawNMV8LyqfxVJPaRcVERD9GIwfEhM24HlgDDW4WXUrpt7CA0k8dnxwIr-B9x4a0o1kj45YbjMfT3uxJm3DY3_NjRfHkfO4KMlM/s1600/DSCN2153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaIM1R2fq6XNZHnpeg1TUc5DmHMZlXWGpHyjBvcIywawNMV8LyqfxVJPaRcVERD9GIwfEhM24HlgDDW4WXUrpt7CA0k8dnxwIr-B9x4a0o1kj45YbjMfT3uxJm3DY3_NjRfHkfO4KMlM/s320/DSCN2153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My class #3. They were CRAZY, but so smart!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJGM9rffsSMXWgaplTj_91in0RXUOHQcs7JqKM_h1J7758WukhmWgmeJ7G4fGMCFfkpuPqy0FodHccM9nFxnUZhIszlUkJWUeYQWbmHYV-_5hTWmWXGr4UcGdc8PJiQzxGl8ozvXlVgk/s1600/DSCN2158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJGM9rffsSMXWgaplTj_91in0RXUOHQcs7JqKM_h1J7758WukhmWgmeJ7G4fGMCFfkpuPqy0FodHccM9nFxnUZhIszlUkJWUeYQWbmHYV-_5hTWmWXGr4UcGdc8PJiQzxGl8ozvXlVgk/s320/DSCN2158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Me and Tanner! He was by far my smartest student. He was a total class clown but I couldn't help but adore him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1ZrsQh-svhq5VNO93JUOAuPc1h8xd5pZ1tW5j0ZhhfRqoEnT-HFxftMGYBMENWC9Xj3CCwdnXEu_sS-3_xngCILPUFpzqLwrKmH8khiywo-uI6B_CaibUHBTZOrxdY43j0K2iVwggHg/s1600/DSCN2159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1ZrsQh-svhq5VNO93JUOAuPc1h8xd5pZ1tW5j0ZhhfRqoEnT-HFxftMGYBMENWC9Xj3CCwdnXEu_sS-3_xngCILPUFpzqLwrKmH8khiywo-uI6B_CaibUHBTZOrxdY43j0K2iVwggHg/s320/DSCN2159.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is Leanne. She is such a sweetheart!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf59Hiom9lGs172rqBZaYCaQ5Icw3X2wxE7JzhT5XB7YveSE4Jp4cE1fOeUeVYEeujRfM2awPoQfsAM7fuSpbJgkR3y5kszC_xKJjwDy0gVC45EP2EpehD43oWmIhuaY9vjrsmZN3JQ8/s1600/DSCN2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf59Hiom9lGs172rqBZaYCaQ5Icw3X2wxE7JzhT5XB7YveSE4Jp4cE1fOeUeVYEeujRfM2awPoQfsAM7fuSpbJgkR3y5kszC_xKJjwDy0gVC45EP2EpehD43oWmIhuaY9vjrsmZN3JQ8/s320/DSCN2160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is Mike. Such a crazy little kid! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkb76UZ7okuuCo-g_3rWEk0hIauMMnNp9BU1dRCz3wQh9-AFoTpOBU53GGMp7wrQAJ-Zurt7Ze2-1w1jBr1RnyOcZbE_1okk2-8G8y3WLKf1J3vZk8IxCICiFTzwrQIEfYNHgNCEau50/s1600/DSCN2161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkb76UZ7okuuCo-g_3rWEk0hIauMMnNp9BU1dRCz3wQh9-AFoTpOBU53GGMp7wrQAJ-Zurt7Ze2-1w1jBr1RnyOcZbE_1okk2-8G8y3WLKf1J3vZk8IxCICiFTzwrQIEfYNHgNCEau50/s320/DSCN2161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Mark was such a shy, but sweet kid! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSkyGjDgFZ1DL6SFL8pWT-p86_Mp5Slx_9KFwQ5KGJqliRojqiciOnQBZOj1azeubcF-ix8sB8UuHQz6HFD_3_aqQ0QwahxES2NFrFjKo4B9xStvZK_1Cz7NU2EJKumTTaHB4nysp1bw/s1600/DSCN2391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSkyGjDgFZ1DL6SFL8pWT-p86_Mp5Slx_9KFwQ5KGJqliRojqiciOnQBZOj1azeubcF-ix8sB8UuHQz6HFD_3_aqQ0QwahxES2NFrFjKo4B9xStvZK_1Cz7NU2EJKumTTaHB4nysp1bw/s320/DSCN2391.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is after one of the Chinese teachers translated that I was leaving...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisi0n8DAAXxRn7RiPykvU-THWSDJpa1NVHVtb7WQ8XFEjqOuNn0tLBK7_0OtQb5dPVGyUvPF7Fj0KAtUFYdqUoBgTfJm34zGBnn-hl1SIl8DPFaOhJEA0v5Q-BuV5B6CTMc_-NpQfAmvQ/s1600/DSCN2403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisi0n8DAAXxRn7RiPykvU-THWSDJpa1NVHVtb7WQ8XFEjqOuNn0tLBK7_0OtQb5dPVGyUvPF7Fj0KAtUFYdqUoBgTfJm34zGBnn-hl1SIl8DPFaOhJEA0v5Q-BuV5B6CTMc_-NpQfAmvQ/s320/DSCN2403.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My girls. Amanda, Macey, and Lauren. I love them! I think I will miss them forever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNvDqwQPuaiWGn8IlvovOAz3va43KcyJhXH21JXJDP5IwzBtColZNOSWGExKn_iX5nwkNaV7R5_1sKtCHnusBIw1Le2e4Zy1JLpmWUf4S1Dc7LmRa8FTVoBbwHs-8dIchVL13c2s6IP8/s1600/DSCN2406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNvDqwQPuaiWGn8IlvovOAz3va43KcyJhXH21JXJDP5IwzBtColZNOSWGExKn_iX5nwkNaV7R5_1sKtCHnusBIw1Le2e4Zy1JLpmWUf4S1Dc7LmRa8FTVoBbwHs-8dIchVL13c2s6IP8/s320/DSCN2406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Amanda. She is seriously the best!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXro7G19UfgHr4BZDAJ-zqIF86ndBtkO34rzIV8wfUb-xD_LdlcWLpr7K4iDZ0GAY72EMRMD8Wg40hnEp2DpbKT05z0me63n_du1Lz3K5phw4rJInEUfDleduW4ak64E_IuIubnceCQo/s1600/DSCN2414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXro7G19UfgHr4BZDAJ-zqIF86ndBtkO34rzIV8wfUb-xD_LdlcWLpr7K4iDZ0GAY72EMRMD8Wg40hnEp2DpbKT05z0me63n_du1Lz3K5phw4rJInEUfDleduW4ak64E_IuIubnceCQo/s320/DSCN2414.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Cierra and I with some of the Chinese teachers! They were awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyRUErqZkklrvrZHNcOeUVrT-dRH7JlIuMeJI0I-yFnH6fK6ErpY40aZlM5GwWtEBJpZrC23Xt9ntqcGFtMYr26kkOqTii1Pr8KPuguqHmmVZ026fM0Ffurs1XSp2mHYlV6exUDfsLss/s1600/DSCN2415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyRUErqZkklrvrZHNcOeUVrT-dRH7JlIuMeJI0I-yFnH6fK6ErpY40aZlM5GwWtEBJpZrC23Xt9ntqcGFtMYr26kkOqTii1Pr8KPuguqHmmVZ026fM0Ffurs1XSp2mHYlV6exUDfsLss/s320/DSCN2415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is the teacher that would always give me food and make sure I was taken care of! Thank you! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfU6f3n8Ay0EK2r-DZLoklXFgVAZkYUU5UR6KkOj3UPSAOqQroxd9TUcZ55oFwqfA7hIJT3JuiI-XVUUkZPs3-H4tp4c6Wh0zJEI9vpB93E8v8RUuAkhIyx_zV8kMr9_sPHnYtDmKk3s/s1600/DSCN2416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfU6f3n8Ay0EK2r-DZLoklXFgVAZkYUU5UR6KkOj3UPSAOqQroxd9TUcZ55oFwqfA7hIJT3JuiI-XVUUkZPs3-H4tp4c6Wh0zJEI9vpB93E8v8RUuAkhIyx_zV8kMr9_sPHnYtDmKk3s/s320/DSCN2416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Paul. Isn't he adorable?! At first he was such a crazy student! I couldn't figure out how to get him to pay attention! Then one day we were teaching about sports and I brought a ping pong paddle and a ball. BAM. I had his total and complete attention! I started bringing that to class every day and suddenly I had a model student! He'd do anything for his turn to play!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV3U0GY6gRBM0BTRltNh9LSsVQALZIeW4s3JO9MsRxzj9aAEKVLJUb3eNPq4ZoNdj6CLxg9gBS2ZMQm1y-t5NNslFfTvdF0HGVS5DKGjcGQROcyR-HtsqIVB0blaav_2CSFrT4cl1MSs/s1600/DSCN2431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV3U0GY6gRBM0BTRltNh9LSsVQALZIeW4s3JO9MsRxzj9aAEKVLJUb3eNPq4ZoNdj6CLxg9gBS2ZMQm1y-t5NNslFfTvdF0HGVS5DKGjcGQROcyR-HtsqIVB0blaav_2CSFrT4cl1MSs/s320/DSCN2431.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Paul, Darren, and Jana! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKicPwTFm5Kq8iPO0D0jpFGg5F6wrJsqHWXa36WbmURrLe5YLxerowsGgnqATkwM9RhZ-8-kb8_RIOvAii43p7Rrdeet5LkcBfRgTZaZz2taSlnkAzmpLpoLN9RyECCluasOPDPFQuJI/s1600/DSCN2447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKicPwTFm5Kq8iPO0D0jpFGg5F6wrJsqHWXa36WbmURrLe5YLxerowsGgnqATkwM9RhZ-8-kb8_RIOvAii43p7Rrdeet5LkcBfRgTZaZz2taSlnkAzmpLpoLN9RyECCluasOPDPFQuJI/s320/DSCN2447.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is George. Oh my gosh. I'm going to cry while I'm writing this!!! He seriously has a place in my heart forever! My classes found out the week before that I'd be leaving the next week. On my last day George brought me a letter that he had his older brother help him write. It said:</div><div style="text-align: center;">"To: Teacher Jenni</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hello Teacher! I'm George. When I heard that you are going to USA, I were very disappointed, so I cried every night and I want to write a letter to you, and a brother called Jim helped me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have two wishes to you:</div><div style="text-align: center;">First, I wanna hug you before you go back;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Second, when I am grown up I'll go to USA and I'll find you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, can you leave your email or phone number please? I hope you have a good life, and find a boyfriend at USA! Haha :) Then, Bye bye!</div><div style="text-align: center;">From: your lovely student, George"</div><div style="text-align: center;">*then there was a lovely drawing by him</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ya. It melted my heart .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LYtnldu9TE3CEbwI7zz0d7kIvSWKswyOIjep3iWtpuiMDovbWm_suxIdKyAcd2thFUGjDlWd_YgZBtRa8UBSkdWUCrrj0ofS0xDtxIOPUhwuc0HtfO8K-CTcuxqMjBImev9nqI7KW5I/s1600/DSCN2460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LYtnldu9TE3CEbwI7zz0d7kIvSWKswyOIjep3iWtpuiMDovbWm_suxIdKyAcd2thFUGjDlWd_YgZBtRa8UBSkdWUCrrj0ofS0xDtxIOPUhwuc0HtfO8K-CTcuxqMjBImev9nqI7KW5I/s320/DSCN2460.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Larry. You all know how much I love him! :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEcaOGe6aV2bYJLMpf4rR7ioUEpdGHql4jDEkdIHZr-dO8qb5n3BTUC8d4yaoKxO-4lTJKxqiwr1fc3hnxcQEfH6FS0EYq3VPFYEQ7ANutxZxbhWiCeeEsppuluXilQhELr1OPAvo30s/s1600/DSCN2469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEcaOGe6aV2bYJLMpf4rR7ioUEpdGHql4jDEkdIHZr-dO8qb5n3BTUC8d4yaoKxO-4lTJKxqiwr1fc3hnxcQEfH6FS0EYq3VPFYEQ7ANutxZxbhWiCeeEsppuluXilQhELr1OPAvo30s/s320/DSCN2469.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Bill and Charlie. So energetic! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQiDD84f8Snzs-YRn4kZTdqtQxYzGm44xGad01xvzYrnHgLTfwVdsjzrCAnE1ctYGeZR_skdE6lgUg9waDHtBfmm33mNyuYSH0mbSKiA0qm_W6z2dhMoXTXbEltab2N6aD6FA8LJ8Dzk/s1600/DSCN2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQiDD84f8Snzs-YRn4kZTdqtQxYzGm44xGad01xvzYrnHgLTfwVdsjzrCAnE1ctYGeZR_skdE6lgUg9waDHtBfmm33mNyuYSH0mbSKiA0qm_W6z2dhMoXTXbEltab2N6aD6FA8LJ8Dzk/s320/DSCN2477.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Cyd, Lily, Michelle, and Heidi! :) Love them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXUNB-lKv9IG3P_kzQiZ1IL57Xgz1cEWFVNoSgZsApTuZ9E_E32tElDEw6jRyyZlC8coCmvIYrYnmrh0Yrz3vSEDagS4Cbtf4xxcJqtCgrnwTGsRbOd8gA5yhiSC9qAG5WWgLN19uvfI/s1600/DSCN2478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXUNB-lKv9IG3P_kzQiZ1IL57Xgz1cEWFVNoSgZsApTuZ9E_E32tElDEw6jRyyZlC8coCmvIYrYnmrh0Yrz3vSEDagS4Cbtf4xxcJqtCgrnwTGsRbOd8gA5yhiSC9qAG5WWgLN19uvfI/s320/DSCN2478.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is Annette! She is fantastic. I wish you all knew her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6IAKM-spjH3lJwAONJfWZQK7MwbTRdu0PV4FMfcxhtzUiypln8IyPryS3IuBVPcB25uWj9fVIJ1YD99Mcu5-RXCYBS3IPuBHlsPmu739HKHmEXzZFPYu-W3miq8kwL_N2SEY47cf7rI/s1600/DSCN2483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6IAKM-spjH3lJwAONJfWZQK7MwbTRdu0PV4FMfcxhtzUiypln8IyPryS3IuBVPcB25uWj9fVIJ1YD99Mcu5-RXCYBS3IPuBHlsPmu739HKHmEXzZFPYu-W3miq8kwL_N2SEY47cf7rI/s320/DSCN2483.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Me and George! :) Yes. I did give him a BIG hug before I left!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e0sDfvxsoiFnhgmKzeLt3oCHCKTaxTVt1Xsb9ALTbEKBCcih2NzIcTrxeTiivIUWVk51SkhsN_AT4sGm4PFmQjTPAFAHi4pzHwyscWKihyphenhyphenDUvB-7oejqtW0OZSwrM7ymNs3LH0FNXSc/s1600/SDC10336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e0sDfvxsoiFnhgmKzeLt3oCHCKTaxTVt1Xsb9ALTbEKBCcih2NzIcTrxeTiivIUWVk51SkhsN_AT4sGm4PFmQjTPAFAHi4pzHwyscWKihyphenhyphenDUvB-7oejqtW0OZSwrM7ymNs3LH0FNXSc/s320/SDC10336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> She is seriously just awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRz-IYetyOrADy138mEnzUHZMRdxZvyamA1jTBnTDXOsSsIGanDd_6dQqVXEq2h3Jss1QmSTlpKFdKM6MniTrHBzj8DHw36pjW0gEv-nuuzlchfpZi09NzdJYrrMkKjyelf0oTCB0ROM/s1600/SDC10338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRz-IYetyOrADy138mEnzUHZMRdxZvyamA1jTBnTDXOsSsIGanDd_6dQqVXEq2h3Jss1QmSTlpKFdKM6MniTrHBzj8DHw36pjW0gEv-nuuzlchfpZi09NzdJYrrMkKjyelf0oTCB0ROM/s320/SDC10338.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This was our favorite first grade teacher!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bde_lEXNZuqPc5APZHJ1cVQgyh2JSwnblwjzqFeQN86Hl9fH7bXTE2KaRoM1L7zZLp7el0es3rF__3mwCHzZXmH5hCwFnHILVz-aIQsfw88-IX0plhd20sh3oY5-qdc67eiM1HSxVHs/s1600/SDC10339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bde_lEXNZuqPc5APZHJ1cVQgyh2JSwnblwjzqFeQN86Hl9fH7bXTE2KaRoM1L7zZLp7el0es3rF__3mwCHzZXmH5hCwFnHILVz-aIQsfw88-IX0plhd20sh3oY5-qdc67eiM1HSxVHs/s320/SDC10339.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The kids mobbed me in the hall!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXcm8K_FX3yzxId9aq41VB3vIp2NBZiGseTQcs6RaAjnA5HypuMudN6v4n9-k9NxW6ttN-dzVxTqVn6vD96XiOX313gRvMHTXo5KFTsROXrbmyQMdj_ILBNH3yuKjjapMvxPuIKbsCJI/s1600/SDC10341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXcm8K_FX3yzxId9aq41VB3vIp2NBZiGseTQcs6RaAjnA5HypuMudN6v4n9-k9NxW6ttN-dzVxTqVn6vD96XiOX313gRvMHTXo5KFTsROXrbmyQMdj_ILBNH3yuKjjapMvxPuIKbsCJI/s320/SDC10341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> :( I MISS THEM!!!!!!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaZTyIUz43n7Z8eBr1zV92HYrVrmnlJFLc-3m8Hng5nzQE5-ClGvXByZAZQrlmPW0BLrTUVUWAlSu0FE5qFOgBjOHPN4jGwCx_qsdeoNO0csRQl1PH4NFFbUEvKAtEbqyY8k6MU0pKoY/s1600/SDC10378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaZTyIUz43n7Z8eBr1zV92HYrVrmnlJFLc-3m8Hng5nzQE5-ClGvXByZAZQrlmPW0BLrTUVUWAlSu0FE5qFOgBjOHPN4jGwCx_qsdeoNO0csRQl1PH4NFFbUEvKAtEbqyY8k6MU0pKoY/s320/SDC10378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And they mobbed me again in the cafeteria. This is Michelle and Lily!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW0nz8K7wuI8CSjvJGgNMZ9lVzCuc78gJ5RlKrile1TodxMh-Y6B0VbY_wYvCpXhEndxxHdTacFh_aW3KtQaDrbv2DwmGWzpqfKaWrK2hezHHbKwBGa76kaROxYlT0Xtj7cmEvQzM1eg/s1600/SDC10423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW0nz8K7wuI8CSjvJGgNMZ9lVzCuc78gJ5RlKrile1TodxMh-Y6B0VbY_wYvCpXhEndxxHdTacFh_aW3KtQaDrbv2DwmGWzpqfKaWrK2hezHHbKwBGa76kaROxYlT0Xtj7cmEvQzM1eg/s320/SDC10423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Jess told me she'd miss me and she loves me! :) So sweet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KxyXRX8uGnhBN1Lisg1_m0bABC-_O1HPZ4CuG3-g5_LBy-wj7UDSI3sGDy5EMf7MeaMIgtAvmswJWHTivla9n1W0A0DRTtxERu6DnKvVyELUZqkNRQ7wNq1Sv7-YVeGDvol944erdl4/s1600/SDC10426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KxyXRX8uGnhBN1Lisg1_m0bABC-_O1HPZ4CuG3-g5_LBy-wj7UDSI3sGDy5EMf7MeaMIgtAvmswJWHTivla9n1W0A0DRTtxERu6DnKvVyELUZqkNRQ7wNq1Sv7-YVeGDvol944erdl4/s320/SDC10426.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My boys made hearts out of their reindeer antlers and gave them to me. :) Sooo adorable! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ok. I've gotta stop. This is making me way too China sick. I can't tell you what those kids mean to me or how they changed my life. China changed me!! And I'm so grateful for it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-81992769314777831192010-11-29T06:06:00.000-08:002010-11-29T06:06:44.145-08:00Turkey Day... Minus the Turkey!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I’ve had a lot of people ask me if they celebrate Thanksgiving here in China. Let me just answer all those questions from the get go. No, they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. No, there isn’t turkey here. Yes, it’s possible to get it, but not around Weihai. If we were in a big city like Beijing we could probably buy an imported Butterball or something, but they usually cost around $75 (USD, not Yuan). Yikes!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We taught like any other day on Thursday. I taught my kids all about family and Thanksgiving. I brought my computer so I could show my kids pictures of my family and Thanksgiving dinner. They LOVED that! :) And I loved teaching them about it! They kept calling my family beautiful and I’d have to say I agree! I love my family! When I showed them pictures of Thanksgiving dinner they went nuts! I think they would quite enjoy the holiday! Eating way too much delicious food... what’s not to love?! I also had the opportunity to introduce them to a great American tradition: handprint turkeys!!! :) It was quite a blast. My kids get so excited and it’s so fun to teach them! :)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuU34V66wI11hQURdzKoPFgyxjOpM4I_kHnwHUtpL-VKK93v11p-H1zuAx7pnBmNsLcfVGV4s7CdLMhqspDWKd-FVOCaUuX8e8cJgV8l4aVD5mAH7LJel0rqONXuyJpDBH3X_bk4fn8Y/s1600/DSCN1726.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuU34V66wI11hQURdzKoPFgyxjOpM4I_kHnwHUtpL-VKK93v11p-H1zuAx7pnBmNsLcfVGV4s7CdLMhqspDWKd-FVOCaUuX8e8cJgV8l4aVD5mAH7LJel0rqONXuyJpDBH3X_bk4fn8Y/s320/DSCN1726.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My kids making turkeys!</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That night our little group of Americans celebrated Thanksgiving. It definitely wasn’t a typical or traditional Thanksgiving Dinner! We went to a little nearby restaurant. We had a whole lot of stereotypical Chinese food. It wasn’t turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, pie, and all the other things you would normally associate with Thanksgiving, but it was still delicious. Emily’s parents recently moved to Beijing, so they joined us for the Holiday. It was so fun to have them with us. Emily was making us all a little jealous as she laid her head on her dad’s shoulder and her mom gave her a back scratch! We were all especially missing our families! Brother and Sister Latimer were awesome though! They brought us candy and oreos for dessert, so we did get a little taste of America on Thanksgiving! :) And then they went above and beyond and paid for all of our dinners! It was so kind of them! Thanks again, Brother and Sister Latimer! :D</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkerhLCtl9931lTQA69tcW6qOMHJkQwzimSSx1Q5wIbJj7T4K6qulzhyphenhyphenDtDKr6bKbJmEF3IDAekSlxM1_DnoVHxWZPPeL4k2cAK7LNM6gGWpcvwx7EE4q5k0gcZ7k6S15PUtxon7IoOs/s1600/DSCN1763.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkerhLCtl9931lTQA69tcW6qOMHJkQwzimSSx1Q5wIbJj7T4K6qulzhyphenhyphenDtDKr6bKbJmEF3IDAekSlxM1_DnoVHxWZPPeL4k2cAK7LNM6gGWpcvwx7EE4q5k0gcZ7k6S15PUtxon7IoOs/s320/DSCN1763.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 3 of us at dinner!</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PSAgbSoedX9vnfy9BVADJDlKisTRC6Q5J8Xx8qlF1eghi1RJw2XzyjalUOs5KZ95D2V8k_ZsqeeXJAfmcerYpSEMFzAWsI8VMtaEUmNoOPkYGtKOyLhV7fQpl_lzepkW6VYBqJ9vQG0/s1600/SAM_0846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PSAgbSoedX9vnfy9BVADJDlKisTRC6Q5J8Xx8qlF1eghi1RJw2XzyjalUOs5KZ95D2V8k_ZsqeeXJAfmcerYpSEMFzAWsI8VMtaEUmNoOPkYGtKOyLhV7fQpl_lzepkW6VYBqJ9vQG0/s320/SAM_0846.jpg" width="320" /></a></span> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our table at dinner. This wasn't even all of us!</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Even though the food itself wasn’t typical, the atmosphere was! We went around the dinner table and played the ABC game... the one where you say something you’re thankful for that starts with that letter of the alphabet. I love the way Thanksgiving makes you realize how very much we all have to be grateful for! We talked and laughed and though we’re not technically family it sure felt like it! These guys have all become like family to me!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">On Friday morning (Thursday back at home) I got to talk to my family! Thanksgiving was at my house this year, so I got to see my mom, dad, brother, sister, brother in law, and all my extended family that lives in Utah (mom’s side). That was so nice!! :) I love my family so much! I’m really glad I could be able to talk to them. My cousin Annalise brought some friends with her who had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving. They are from China. So I was talking to these Chinese people at my house from China... It was pretty ironic!! :) It’s amazing how being away from my family has helped me realize how strong and important family bonds and ties really are! On Saturday I got to talk to the Hilton’s- my cousins from Nevada. That was so fun as well! Even Maggie joined in the conversation! :) I love my family!!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">On Sunday a group of us pulled our resources together and made our own little Thanksgiving dinner. We has stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, biscuits, cornbread, cranberry sauce, and Spam turkey (which surprisingly wasn’t that bad!) We even has a little spice cake for desert! :) It was delicious!! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadfwC1hcpljtEnQSSi9HkhMlNR36fRa2fOwbRCYdlG-ACLWzdgpkVc_KSBScX4PB9KJaUNKQqrPeGB8KPGIi2pAERa2D-3ZG96LrtXLVpVfuXdukuGo79i74SjH7dydBwjU-4EE8DJXc/s1600/DSCN1788.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadfwC1hcpljtEnQSSi9HkhMlNR36fRa2fOwbRCYdlG-ACLWzdgpkVc_KSBScX4PB9KJaUNKQqrPeGB8KPGIi2pAERa2D-3ZG96LrtXLVpVfuXdukuGo79i74SjH7dydBwjU-4EE8DJXc/s320/DSCN1788.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Here we are with our classy Thanksgiving dinner on our silver trays! Kayla decorated the table and everything!</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Being in China has really opened my eyes to a lot of things. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how blessed I am! I am so thankful for the many things I’ve been blessed with. I have been given so much. I know that where much is given much is required! I hope I can remember that and be a blessing to those around me. These are some of the things I’ve really come to appreciate while I’ve been in China:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-the technology that allows us to communicate and connect with one another</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-washers and dryers</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-soft beds and pillows</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-heaters!!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-peanut butter. I would have died without it here! I’ve discovered it goes good with ANYTHING! (...even rice. But ironically I learned that BEFORE coming to China!)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-dairy products</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-my home (carpet, couches, tables, dishwashers, ovens... everything!)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-the bathrooms in the US!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-the US government and the freedoms we have</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-religious freedom! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-the beautiful smell of America</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-the education I received and the wonderful teachers I had!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-traffic laws </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-the temple</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-my membership in the church! The support I’ve had from the church has been so sustaining. And the gift of the Holy Ghost has been SO important in comforting, protecting, and guiding us!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-my amazing friends who are always there for me!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-my loving family that has supported me through everything!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-my Savior! He truly knows me, loves me, and blesses me!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I think this is the first Thanksgiving that I’ve TRULY caught the spirit of gratitude! I hope that I can remember how blessed I am and keep that spirit with me when I come home! I hope everyone had as happy a Thanksgiving as I did! :)</span></span></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-91380653757649419742010-11-28T22:29:00.000-08:002010-11-28T22:29:26.237-08:00Hogwarts?! I thought we were going to China!!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It all started when we put our luggage on the luggage carts (see first blog for picture) and were walking around... wide eyed and completely lost. I felt like 11 year old Harry looking for platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross! That was when we realized there would be a lot of Harry Potter references this trip! Here’s a list of why China has reminded me of Harry Potter:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-We are living at a boarding school! And there are a lot of stairs and secret passageways. Admittedly it would be way cooler if Daguanghua was a castle (although it kind of is compared to the rest of the city) and the staircases moved unexpectedly!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-I feel like Harry... everyone stares, points, and whispers at us wherever we go! We’re celebrities for something we have no control over!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-Muggle money is useless here!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-For some reason we always speak in British accents! It doesn’t really make sense- we’re American... in China. Go figure!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-Everything is new and intriguing. Going from America to China is like going from the Muggle world to the Wizarding world!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-I see Cho Chang everywhere...</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-There are a lot of cats around where we live. The orange one... that’s Crookshanks!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-There is a cupboard under the stairs!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkJCXCaXdLsq6uH7iKH7s6uzjmFnqHdEHBpkDXFjX4TzNJjdQHo36QEjvfNU13BobkWwgfoFr1HAbvKPp3tfRWf5uIlq-8zC4pGR0EaJ7LYHRV5rVYaAMp1Ez4b3lhlcgtXn0mI4TYY4/s1600/DSCN0319.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkJCXCaXdLsq6uH7iKH7s6uzjmFnqHdEHBpkDXFjX4TzNJjdQHo36QEjvfNU13BobkWwgfoFr1HAbvKPp3tfRWf5uIlq-8zC4pGR0EaJ7LYHRV5rVYaAMp1Ez4b3lhlcgtXn0mI4TYY4/s320/DSCN0319.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Rumors that a small boy with untidy black hair and a lightening bolt scar is living there have neither been confirmed or denied!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-We have ridden multiple night busses... and just like THE Knight Bus, the busses here in China drive CRAZY and squeeze through impossibly small spaces!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-Half of the candies we’ve tried seem like they could be ear wax flavored Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans.........</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-I have a class full of Harry Potter names! :) My Arthur always wears a Harry Potter shirt!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKid8FAB78qKgOX7BJGAqRhVpKVMX-h04nfyPrPR3b1Rb_djRNLkvBQCb_KoWzBnxJe5dNZGBSeBxxMQe_xZipEW5c6vFagZ-5GH8vla5KnFJbxhkjUKtS-K6oHMb-erq_uiK1p9OyT8U/s1600/DSCN1543.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKid8FAB78qKgOX7BJGAqRhVpKVMX-h04nfyPrPR3b1Rb_djRNLkvBQCb_KoWzBnxJe5dNZGBSeBxxMQe_xZipEW5c6vFagZ-5GH8vla5KnFJbxhkjUKtS-K6oHMb-erq_uiK1p9OyT8U/s320/DSCN1543.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">He knows what’s up!!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-The lights in our hallway are sound sensors. How do we turn them on? Shouting “LUMOS”, of course!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-We have a common room!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-Somehow at the beginning of the trip Cierra and I were dubbed with the nickname “The Wizards”. I have no idea how we got it, but it has stuck! So being called and responding to “wizard” everyday has got to be affecting me!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Those are just some of the ways we feel like wizards! My group always makes Harry Potter references. If you know me, you know I love that! :) Haha! This past week we’ve been doing a Harry Potter marathon in honor of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 coming out. All of us were bummed to be missing the premier back home! I forget what a nerd I am until I am with a new group of people and they don’t know how much I know about Harry Potter. Ya, I shocked this group. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Due to a lucky coincidence we found a theater that shows english movies!!!! What a relief! There was no way I was going to be able to wait until I got home to see it! On Monday the group trekked downtown to see the movie! It was so much fun!! :) We wanted to dress up or something (too bad I left my radish earrings at home!), but we have very limited resources here in China! Kayla and I started the trend of drawing scars on our foreheads... even the Asians sitting in front of us joined in! Yes, I got made fun of once the movie started because I was so ridiculously excited. So sue me! I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I laughed, cried, and screamed out loud. Ha! And I left more than satisfied. In my opinion this is the best movie by far!!!! :) I didn’t even notice the Chinese subtitles at the bottom!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD4Hhz870h72HDmr5cWRcSCgj9lBEfbOh_EvISnw3hRUN_jY0IMhoMH4USLDmG5Im5oS0G19vamJkbJAV2f41XeGYBYsaLhk7eMZYmbWFYgWaSro7BwXXYFWEzyk7FWERa5cbx1H2Bfw/s1600/DSCN1696.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD4Hhz870h72HDmr5cWRcSCgj9lBEfbOh_EvISnw3hRUN_jY0IMhoMH4USLDmG5Im5oS0G19vamJkbJAV2f41XeGYBYsaLhk7eMZYmbWFYgWaSro7BwXXYFWEzyk7FWERa5cbx1H2Bfw/s320/DSCN1696.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Jenni and Kayla. Ready for Harry Potter!!! :) And standing in front of the Chinese sign! I was so glad Kayla was there! She was stand in for Madi... Madi and I usually end up holding onto each other the whole movie. Haha! Truth be told I probably would have died this trip without Kayla! She’s become one of my best friends!!! :)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsuMnwi1TcDqsILUjdKcC0R7b-uMO1Qf48FUAhX30J_gqWOdwJ1YTunVbjA_S5hCZxtjJRjF8S3czEeLHMr3vrwum12f29zPPhSd9bso7U9oqyYGNYJtVXwHTMzlcyvx1xAQTPQ8Wjlg/s1600/DSCN1697.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsuMnwi1TcDqsILUjdKcC0R7b-uMO1Qf48FUAhX30J_gqWOdwJ1YTunVbjA_S5hCZxtjJRjF8S3czEeLHMr3vrwum12f29zPPhSd9bso7U9oqyYGNYJtVXwHTMzlcyvx1xAQTPQ8Wjlg/s320/DSCN1697.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Heather and me anxiously awaiting the movie!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtru5jofFFlLrc9KTUYx3C6ogCYX2zmmuvldYrLxw-Asi189nfTME-ZQjkTp6HJZxrdwrvh_O8Wa6MPmz2tzshIOtVpc3Fc_8PQeBEojNzhmj_kEZfx0m0R3uAa7Etk3DmFJn4dHJFFc/s1600/DSCN1706.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtru5jofFFlLrc9KTUYx3C6ogCYX2zmmuvldYrLxw-Asi189nfTME-ZQjkTp6HJZxrdwrvh_O8Wa6MPmz2tzshIOtVpc3Fc_8PQeBEojNzhmj_kEZfx0m0R3uAa7Etk3DmFJn4dHJFFc/s320/DSCN1706.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My new friends! :) </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Long Live Harry Potter!</span></span></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-63844451516048673282010-11-18T22:02:00.000-08:002010-11-18T22:03:22.675-08:00Sk8 or Die!!!!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">One Saturday Kelly took us to this little arcade place to go roller skating. I hadn’t been roller skating for AGES. Come to find out, roller skating is way harder then rollerblading! Since it was a Saturday it was really busy. I had not idea roller skating was still so popular. They take it SERIOUSLY here in China! Just imagine us Americans struggling around the rink with all these Asians speeding around us doing all these crazy stunts. It was pretty epic! It was a ton of fun... even though I’m horrible! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1O56_GkOC-Pg8gkL7_-rytfUTHuOnWsXDBAjNuWFwhdsLYZno-6sSiBANxhyphenhyphenzaHyLmE9uVqLUKpkK_JEYPNAJ1QibxCIS806z7k6P7gtLw0zlnbXAlIr1UGQU8masvV1yNRgpL4yPco/s1600/SDC19816.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1O56_GkOC-Pg8gkL7_-rytfUTHuOnWsXDBAjNuWFwhdsLYZno-6sSiBANxhyphenhyphenzaHyLmE9uVqLUKpkK_JEYPNAJ1QibxCIS806z7k6P7gtLw0zlnbXAlIr1UGQU8masvV1yNRgpL4yPco/s400/SDC19816.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cierra tried to help me skate. I was a little pathetic. Haha! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54j7XVwd0rxGqRkh8w0s19gDZ_2dlzfWEcgSm0vmrgTXT4csq5TvATvhDgHdcRBwkdTK_Djwrwpi0b6HX_XES18lGAyE6_c808dMbzaFtO25Z2MunNK7BrayC_bqMqP9HqFUcI3zPG2c/s1600/SDC19844.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54j7XVwd0rxGqRkh8w0s19gDZ_2dlzfWEcgSm0vmrgTXT4csq5TvATvhDgHdcRBwkdTK_Djwrwpi0b6HX_XES18lGAyE6_c808dMbzaFtO25Z2MunNK7BrayC_bqMqP9HqFUcI3zPG2c/s320/SDC19844.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I don’t know if you can tell, but there’s a guy in the very bottom right corner. Somehow they got in and out of this without missing a beat. Baffled!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4bOierjMCNXrcEjvWok9mFCHBMeZ830l1TUa8d49mbmFYlPidNmrpDWAl6BrUy6nraafCBK7FSG2rb02u_pCax0YhDyZaFgi4XYD2rnOYeo-USwEAgvijoT535uWD_6riVEHWgCx7p0/s1600/SDC19838.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4bOierjMCNXrcEjvWok9mFCHBMeZ830l1TUa8d49mbmFYlPidNmrpDWAl6BrUy6nraafCBK7FSG2rb02u_pCax0YhDyZaFgi4XYD2rnOYeo-USwEAgvijoT535uWD_6riVEHWgCx7p0/s400/SDC19838.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The pictures don’t really capture the craziness of what they were doing on 4 wheels! Haha!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We played some arcade games after roller skating. I’m happy to report that there are normal games in a Chinese arcade. There are also some really weird ones! Sadly there is no ski ball! That was a big disappointment. My favorite game? Run around in the revolving door! Haha! Heather, Braden, and I had a jolly time!!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOJOJ6Gc6mrbcBcS57uix7x-z9AYPJPUeVDYRDWDlc8QJR9uUQiIFr2rgEnM0-m3JZBXQqaHuvzpNnmouCJJ-93Vyp3-r0eT0yYqUh1CekPanNSrbyfHBuyOGN8ezuvg9RTVywr7U1WM/s1600/DSCN1472.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOJOJ6Gc6mrbcBcS57uix7x-z9AYPJPUeVDYRDWDlc8QJR9uUQiIFr2rgEnM0-m3JZBXQqaHuvzpNnmouCJJ-93Vyp3-r0eT0yYqUh1CekPanNSrbyfHBuyOGN8ezuvg9RTVywr7U1WM/s320/DSCN1472.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Braden trapped me!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Now moving on to a completely different subject: packages! Cierra and I both got packages from our dear mothers! THANKS MOM! :) We now have food to last us until the end! You know.... there’s just some days you can’t handle the cafeteria! (I know that we got them a little bit ago, but hey! I’m running on a better late then never policy here!)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6NPbAZwkdqAWfZ9L7f_j1oDcWPVvqQOwGdQPavbAVXhWrdutwp5wwhSO25cSaTgtUBsPpyip-vQtbS6IDD_bRckYs_8W2ez40MToh3EN1y4F3mybPQoolH6BAaGoFC__OEARU5gf4cE/s1600/DSCN1512.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6NPbAZwkdqAWfZ9L7f_j1oDcWPVvqQOwGdQPavbAVXhWrdutwp5wwhSO25cSaTgtUBsPpyip-vQtbS6IDD_bRckYs_8W2ez40MToh3EN1y4F3mybPQoolH6BAaGoFC__OEARU5gf4cE/s320/DSCN1512.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My package! Thanks! :)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxKuhK-XdYJDSP25mNnXNAtOahcHqCg0sECRZ-S_T0N-VjHIoKUKS1DBQdLMhanigMicH5GFt6EJmPAC53gdZWLWS-Dw-futXB8qaGtgcouglV7W8FMVSyUQPYv9mD2IpYwa98GGQ1e8/s1600/DSCN1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxKuhK-XdYJDSP25mNnXNAtOahcHqCg0sECRZ-S_T0N-VjHIoKUKS1DBQdLMhanigMicH5GFt6EJmPAC53gdZWLWS-Dw-futXB8qaGtgcouglV7W8FMVSyUQPYv9mD2IpYwa98GGQ1e8/s320/DSCN1513.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The inside! My mom definitely knows me. 2 bags of Reese’s! Only the best candy known to man! :) Don’t worry. Cierra asked for healthy stuff... Haha! You know me! :)</span></span></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-37334120838795334792010-11-15T13:24:00.000-08:002010-11-15T13:25:34.620-08:00Dancing Through Life<div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A few weeks ago there was a talent show. Kelly informed us that they wanted the Americans to perform in it. No one in my group wanted to perform, but we needed 2 acts. Finally a few of us brave souls decided to volunteer... or Cierra volunteered us and Samantha. Haha! Cierra, Samantha, and I decided to do the Alumni dance we did at the Cardinelle Collage earlier this year. We worked on it for about an hour and adjusted it for three people. It really was not a big deal at all...</span></span> <br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We showed up at the talent show. Oh my gosh. Sitting through that talent show was one of the most painful experiences of my life. I’ve been told by multiple people here that all Chinese people can sing. Apparently they’ve never been to Daguanghua! The screeching.... I think it will haunt me forever. The worst part of it was that the mic guys seemed to think that if it was SUPER loud you wouldn’t notice the quality. So pretty much my ears were harassed all night long!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVOhbJWpsz12o9fb2AffvFC32a4yRvy_OxeWtqT8K-d6o_MMPe3hyphenhyphenlhZZRioVtsMd_FppKixB_fhndks6wKh4KzSKj7e7w-WGXvCT1mmE4XZ9NZNNAiRe34yeOPbtxFkXmEvUIh8wPpU/s1600/DSCN1384.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVOhbJWpsz12o9fb2AffvFC32a4yRvy_OxeWtqT8K-d6o_MMPe3hyphenhyphenlhZZRioVtsMd_FppKixB_fhndks6wKh4KzSKj7e7w-WGXvCT1mmE4XZ9NZNNAiRe34yeOPbtxFkXmEvUIh8wPpU/s400/DSCN1384.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This was one of the singing and dancing numbers we witnessed.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cierra, Samantha, and I were one of the last performances. We did a pretty good job- for not having dance shoes or a proper dance room, not dancing for quite a while, and only working for an hour on it! Haha! But as soon as we pulled out that ariel... dang! Apparently that is quite impressive to them! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy2ALUp9MVB1cLKVnlCcUPscovFVBkP23t1GfXPpNgHuYd7OMxE-bKt8xhsFbQPx6zbapZ9fuGJGnVfyrt04ctvTmxnKrY1k6QPp7fdCyPzUr0wxnWJz5AdtP5f1uF_sSxIP9mnu4ilM/s1600/DSCN1377.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy2ALUp9MVB1cLKVnlCcUPscovFVBkP23t1GfXPpNgHuYd7OMxE-bKt8xhsFbQPx6zbapZ9fuGJGnVfyrt04ctvTmxnKrY1k6QPp7fdCyPzUr0wxnWJz5AdtP5f1uF_sSxIP9mnu4ilM/s400/DSCN1377.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Us dancing together again!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgmxhV9vrKzpcHbsvN9nndLlZVfiFZqB0Vwow4_SZ7_6aCYMSJ-PjpCqwSD5WIESA7FyQZkOI2BaQeuk68rOl1e781-0CyzL75bFdHmnUbvQJF4NwlFsm4gVyhaGQ6AjTfnyTUVq42iY/s1600/SDC19737.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgmxhV9vrKzpcHbsvN9nndLlZVfiFZqB0Vwow4_SZ7_6aCYMSJ-PjpCqwSD5WIESA7FyQZkOI2BaQeuk68rOl1e781-0CyzL75bFdHmnUbvQJF4NwlFsm4gVyhaGQ6AjTfnyTUVq42iY/s400/SDC19737.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is the only even semi-good picture we have of us dancing!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The next day Kelly came into our room and was like “Are you guys professional dancers?” We tried to explain to her that no, we are not... it’s just something we like to do. Shouldn’t have said that! Since then she’s been having us dance at everything! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">One weekend, while we were at our “family’s” house, Kelly called us and informed us {we never really have a choice in the matter...) we needed to hurry home because we would be dancing at the half time of the basketball game. Our group went to watch the basketball game... one of the funniest things of my life! There’s a reason Yao Ming is the only Chinese person to make it in the NBA! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0t1ztBEcqmzcSSl5bzKtJUl4elr1-l_6Gn1gETef7ldGWuPJ_6jSuVcCFkK4qcotICb74D6Vn9_fwv3EmFopduz2Zpf34VSdAUpmpaG01P_fzX27X_pt7YtaPQsRJzX4caOLrzD9Tuk/s1600/DSCN1453.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0t1ztBEcqmzcSSl5bzKtJUl4elr1-l_6Gn1gETef7ldGWuPJ_6jSuVcCFkK4qcotICb74D6Vn9_fwv3EmFopduz2Zpf34VSdAUpmpaG01P_fzX27X_pt7YtaPQsRJzX4caOLrzD9Tuk/s320/DSCN1453.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Just some Chinese kids ballin it up!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our school wanted us there so we would do American cheers and pretty much just intimidate the other team. We get used for that type of thing a lot... but it ended up being hilarious! They gave Stuart a microphone. That was a mistake! Haha! Never give something like that to Stuart... Actually I’m glad they did because it was one of the most entertaining things of my life! He did a whole commentary of the game. The Chinese people were just eating it up even though they had no idea what was going on.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl_7TK6Vc9oHmR-k_2V7D5_i16kDcJ2OTBKm8tFt7ZtBrsZonTc4B-UjScFVx6PrAoNL-ZKwwRdyZ4qH5hb29fnPzQgERV0NGj1pM_b8wDsA989ruDrk73MxPt5QBEEvSlqnfoSFmEtA/s1600/DSCN1456.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl_7TK6Vc9oHmR-k_2V7D5_i16kDcJ2OTBKm8tFt7ZtBrsZonTc4B-UjScFVx6PrAoNL-ZKwwRdyZ4qH5hb29fnPzQgERV0NGj1pM_b8wDsA989ruDrk73MxPt5QBEEvSlqnfoSFmEtA/s400/DSCN1456.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Stuart as the MC!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For half time they had Stuart and Braden introduce ILP (this was all in english. I don’t know why they wanted it... I don’t think anyone could understand). Then they wanted us to sing “We Will Rock You”. You just have to understand- here in China nothing makes sense. I have NO idea why they wanted us to do any of this, but they did. They just get these crazy ideas in their minds and then think Americans are shameless enough to do it... and this group is! Haha! They let Stuart keep his little microphone and then they gave Braden a headset. Another mistake. Stuart and Braden seriously just rocked out... air guitar madness! I wish it was recorded more than anything! That’s definitely the hardest I’ve laughed the whole time I’ve been here!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFZWNKEK83zDOe56xvh4xqrCRBmAP72OrpUHGZudJvgNPtXNz-9O3i_09qYHIcvqrvAg4hPMMHogxxXTlGAx-VKEvOMgwR50Bi9FPVTHws962JUEQtIdwDnr-_m1lIYAn7Qk-CZ2Ipxo/s1600/DSCN1462.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFZWNKEK83zDOe56xvh4xqrCRBmAP72OrpUHGZudJvgNPtXNz-9O3i_09qYHIcvqrvAg4hPMMHogxxXTlGAx-VKEvOMgwR50Bi9FPVTHws962JUEQtIdwDnr-_m1lIYAn7Qk-CZ2Ipxo/s400/DSCN1462.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is Braden’s back after rocking out. He did the whole air guitar/spin on the ground thing... The court turned his sweatshirt green. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After that little jam session they had the three of us dance again, which went great. Jenny and Sophie came to watch us, so that was so much fun! :) Gotta love my little Chinese sisters!! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip19n9a0ChEcJazvarPKGKouHvG3T9c_nqfRd_C5OwXeGF8_rjAO1oj_8yG9tMDhYinOlU6FYfsrwtzRQoZ2VGdz2GPuj95ePmMImaS-nn39yULRY30Ftd2N3ea7_ZnzUiAbv0KTbh5vY/s1600/SDC19798.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip19n9a0ChEcJazvarPKGKouHvG3T9c_nqfRd_C5OwXeGF8_rjAO1oj_8yG9tMDhYinOlU6FYfsrwtzRQoZ2VGdz2GPuj95ePmMImaS-nn39yULRY30Ftd2N3ea7_ZnzUiAbv0KTbh5vY/s320/SDC19798.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here we are with our little “family” after our performance.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Last week Kelly had us go perform at a special needs school. That was an awesome experience! The kids were SO sweet and excited we came! All of us who went were really touched by their spirits and innocence! There was a little girl there who reminded me of my beautiful cousin Maggie and it made me a little homesick.. It was worth is to have Kelly drag us around to all these random places to dance just for this sweet experience.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">:) With the kids! (They wanted us to do that heart thing with our arms... once again, nothing makes sense in China...)</span></span></div></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-74652309654409564372010-11-15T12:50:00.000-08:002010-11-15T12:52:48.500-08:00A Different Kind of Halloween<div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">I know this is late, but I’m still trying to catch up on my blogs! Haha! HALLOWEEN!! They don’t have Halloween here in China. Sad, but true! Since this is my kids’ first english class most of them had never even heard of the holiday. It was my privilege to introduce them to it! :)</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">On the Tuesday before Halloween we did a whole lesson on the holiday. I taught them about pumpkins, costumes, candy, trick or treating, ghosts, witches, monsters, etc. Most of the kids caught on... I’m sure the ones who didn’t thought I was CRAZY! Haha! :) </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUwyetYiLXcAQRuNvzv-S_tG0Ilxv2FMDW5zM72uE_fxY1Ydf6OchyphenhyphenZvSL6J-5cg9UrwD5SEy5DepPmBZLAKW-SRnWyrkwzY0G2rqxH2AH-MCRWsUDiLP4InfT3_whuD7erV_5305_PE/s400/DSCN1369.JPG" width="400" /></span> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Teaching my kids about costumes! :) Love them! </span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">That Thursday Cierra and I combined our classes and had a little party. We made sucker ghosts, painted pumpkins (well... a pumpkin), and played games with them. At the end they went “trick or treating”. They absolutely loved it! It was a blast! :D We “dressed up” as cats (we had to make do with what we had!) and the kids thought it was hysterical!</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wKbglHA8q36XMqfKovmaDGLgVgSvMGewd0WOEokislgDzZ81DOMIyaJWM55KGAKoHgQy3d91YUgz9pktPJLR3DdtSpPeW9cp3OuyC06QSdXfbaRr4Q9DEGabBVPFpZiy8I4B3FD4Ezw/s1600/SDC19776.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wKbglHA8q36XMqfKovmaDGLgVgSvMGewd0WOEokislgDzZ81DOMIyaJWM55KGAKoHgQy3d91YUgz9pktPJLR3DdtSpPeW9cp3OuyC06QSdXfbaRr4Q9DEGabBVPFpZiy8I4B3FD4Ezw/s400/SDC19776.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Creative, I know.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpbjsi8GpzUcEvOG26DKOiZGGjSY0QWhT4iuALAWIgceH1T5gkxMpQqybeBB2xQ-k0xG0FwzIYy3PjEK8e6c1CqnQOZ7oUKK098QdC5fdFnf5BsZOL1tSKUaaylEi46lLCq9A9KrRFKM/s1600/SDC19787.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpbjsi8GpzUcEvOG26DKOiZGGjSY0QWhT4iuALAWIgceH1T5gkxMpQqybeBB2xQ-k0xG0FwzIYy3PjEK8e6c1CqnQOZ7oUKK098QdC5fdFnf5BsZOL1tSKUaaylEi46lLCq9A9KrRFKM/s400/SDC19787.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Playing the pumpkin toss!</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJFF9TmFrdrGd255LqLWfW8cgWdvt2o7uHzANrDRg1xBRXw-uv5H3hILQmpDaSYzkTjrHzMokbzYVlWdTngmUWuDhRojEggMp3k5u7k6A_rK9hvEHtE1bUhs8K_vtM3-JEEIXwP9M9Ek/s1600/DSCN1429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJFF9TmFrdrGd255LqLWfW8cgWdvt2o7uHzANrDRg1xBRXw-uv5H3hILQmpDaSYzkTjrHzMokbzYVlWdTngmUWuDhRojEggMp3k5u7k6A_rK9hvEHtE1bUhs8K_vtM3-JEEIXwP9M9Ek/s400/DSCN1429.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">This is Larry with his sucker ghost! Larry is my favorite kid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">I know I shouldn’t have favorites, but I do! He’s so funny and quirky! He always tilts his head when you talk to him. He doesn’t walk... he bounces around from place to place in the funniest ways! He just lives in his own little world! He’s so smart and well behaved on top of that. I just love him! I want to take him home! Haha!</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">On the 31st it was a typical day here in China. We had an awesome church meeting! Random side note: there were 5 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays this October! Cool! Anyway... That night we passed candy out to the middle school students at their “Halloween Party”. It was a good attempt, but not much like a REAL Halloween party. Haha! Jenny and Sophie (my little Chinese sisters) were there, so I gave them all my candy. Oops! :) Haha!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7mHugAa7wlmjcMM_X2zb4VCgClZtuuS_vCZ0W_fPiiKHLaPZUz-O4oZpwgPa0BvPOaqDyXR0Jgl16ANSd6aEbLRnBkwve-zrWc4IYr57SM_OdbTIKX7LGusc9qtGfQglChANw-TRZNI/s1600/DSCN1473.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7mHugAa7wlmjcMM_X2zb4VCgClZtuuS_vCZ0W_fPiiKHLaPZUz-O4oZpwgPa0BvPOaqDyXR0Jgl16ANSd6aEbLRnBkwve-zrWc4IYr57SM_OdbTIKX7LGusc9qtGfQglChANw-TRZNI/s400/DSCN1473.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Some of the middle schoolers having their Halloween party- China style!</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Later that evening we were talking about how it really didn’t feel like Halloween. It had still been a way fun day and all, but something was missing! I suggested that since we didn’t have pumpkins we carve apples. Everyone laughed. I was serious! So Cierra, Braden, Aaron, and I decided to give it a try. It was awesome!!! And delicious. Soon most of the group had joined in the fun! It wasn’t a typical Halloween, but it was a blast!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOUCaraGL7ETZDyR_6Z8U34ZRxxfGor4p4-cPXjA3Op_KZgcMdyyVMVVBDMpdl-hZD1PRJZxK-Njf0w2aOmEPGZfJ19Cx69W6VC0aYNMJ6ZWBhej-t13ZJ49QROB8OECG3UIyyJUpUNM/s1600/DSCN1484.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOUCaraGL7ETZDyR_6Z8U34ZRxxfGor4p4-cPXjA3Op_KZgcMdyyVMVVBDMpdl-hZD1PRJZxK-Njf0w2aOmEPGZfJ19Cx69W6VC0aYNMJ6ZWBhej-t13ZJ49QROB8OECG3UIyyJUpUNM/s400/DSCN1484.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Here we are... just carving apples!</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Kayla happened to have birthday candles (go figure! Kayla always has the randomest things. I love it!), so we stuck them in the apples and lit them up! :) </span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61qZca_COOmCUujaZI8gy5QeauPjaWgFpMt9hZ1O3rYoeAvR3tMnJe95Vc1RIx-LjgsvcIoqe71CC5T0sfgxueFTwGZNr8MpBv52uRCDm-Dg0m9cv8N8NWsUhr2TdwjI3fFMuEtliDto/s1600/DSCN1501.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61qZca_COOmCUujaZI8gy5QeauPjaWgFpMt9hZ1O3rYoeAvR3tMnJe95Vc1RIx-LjgsvcIoqe71CC5T0sfgxueFTwGZNr8MpBv52uRCDm-Dg0m9cv8N8NWsUhr2TdwjI3fFMuEtliDto/s400/DSCN1501.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Everyone’s apples... all lined up and lit up!</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Coming up: the Chinese are convinced Samantha, Cierra, and I are professional dancers. Find out more next time on Jenni’s Blog! :)</span></div></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-9564625546502226422010-11-07T21:15:00.000-08:002010-11-07T21:27:44.818-08:00My Chinese Family<span style="font-family: courier new;font-size:100%;" >The past few weekends I’ve had the incredible opportunity to go on “home visits”. Cierra and I have been going to visit this lady (no english name... we’ll refer to her as “Penelope”) and her daughter Sophie. Their neighbor Bonnie and her daughter Jenny come over as well. Penelope is the middle school director here at Daguanghua, so we see her around here sometimes as well.</span><div style="font-family: courier new;"> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >The first week it was a little awkward at the beginning... we didn’t know anything about them and it can be hard to get to know people through the language barrier. But as we got talking we got more and more comfortable. The little girls are so cute and they have become like little Chinese sisters to me. They love to dance, play piano, and draw. They love the American card games Cierra and I have taught them. And they LOVE chocolate... :)</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Kelly set up these visits so we could have a more up close and personal experience of living in China. While we’re there learning about life in China we’re supposed to help Jenny and Sophie improve their english. I have learned so much from them and from these visits. There really are no houses here... just apartments! They don’t even have an oven, dishwasher, or freezer in their home! It’s so crazy to me the things that I never even thought of as luxuries. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">And they have no pictures on the walls, but there are “good fortune” trinkets everywhere. Chinese people are very superstitious. </span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Penelope, Bonnie, Sophie, and Jenny are always so hospitable! They have opened their home to complete strangers, and opened the door to a special friendship. I am thankful that they have been so giving and that I’ve had this opportunity to get to know them!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >We have learned how to cook many different dishes at their house! This is the GOOD Chinese food... the kind that I like and I’ll miss! :)</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhnS4JWeCSyH7WiZoavjcyAvyMA3hhS5DUrikh7gmRlHDUnU9Fdz72sgeLk0n39TU9j75jTBQjt3Cxafc7JZH19CpD_LgOFit0aJFrb45_MEeX4YWv7c9A4GbqmRfJM4B9m3gTMO9e7I/s1600/DSCN1259.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhnS4JWeCSyH7WiZoavjcyAvyMA3hhS5DUrikh7gmRlHDUnU9Fdz72sgeLk0n39TU9j75jTBQjt3Cxafc7JZH19CpD_LgOFit0aJFrb45_MEeX4YWv7c9A4GbqmRfJM4B9m3gTMO9e7I/s320/DSCN1259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537044826374714930" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >The first Jao Zi I’ve ever made! :)</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WNrY4gzu3w9iVi7x4BrMuD0jhoqFbjFqhvm_w65C_qH7e38cb2ps_kB3BH6gttOjQ2K3L2zrel7ZBF51zwl24OkZiLneuBqCHaZXRWavKZM-ywlgUBBSuUd2fXrpHWNj9wg9PB99P6U/s1600/DSCN1316.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WNrY4gzu3w9iVi7x4BrMuD0jhoqFbjFqhvm_w65C_qH7e38cb2ps_kB3BH6gttOjQ2K3L2zrel7ZBF51zwl24OkZiLneuBqCHaZXRWavKZM-ywlgUBBSuUd2fXrpHWNj9wg9PB99P6U/s320/DSCN1316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537044804472261650" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Learning to make Bao zi.</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >On one of the visits the family took us around parts of Weihai we’d never seen before! They took us to a park. Let me tell you, China has a lot to learn about fun park equipment! But we still had an awesome time!</span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhHLq_KpcIEFO7kmxeROUj77mBz7-Jv5wEnnz2N1ZyvMees5xyurcIrJ8OlorAlhY7ibCWQAW6B_urXnXc98AqNoHFqh_hwZFjI9b4vLF3QQkzJ14xNVLyNFnEbS7B3lSepRVIIyxeo0/s1600/DSCN1268.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhHLq_KpcIEFO7kmxeROUj77mBz7-Jv5wEnnz2N1ZyvMees5xyurcIrJ8OlorAlhY7ibCWQAW6B_urXnXc98AqNoHFqh_hwZFjI9b4vLF3QQkzJ14xNVLyNFnEbS7B3lSepRVIIyxeo0/s320/DSCN1268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537044815759736818" border="0" /></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" ><br />Sophie and Jenny pushing me on a swing. ... Seems like it should be the other way around, but I swear they wanted to! haha!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >They also took us on this amazing drive that seemed like it could be from the movies! It was one of those super windy roads where the mountains and trees are on one side of you and the ocean is on the other. It was gorgeous! Even though it was cold we still played at the beach!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTC_Nam_el58NBLkUipoGR0M84ih-d-rOUytnRjbGHO_7ZRSunz5JwqLXwg7_v8hDlsVm74Q8OfMZXW2UF1vLux9HX5N_CdA1K3pS-2T3E2xS3q1DN4SUILnbORnMc5lVHTUw5Dag8zU/s1600/SDC19671.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTC_Nam_el58NBLkUipoGR0M84ih-d-rOUytnRjbGHO_7ZRSunz5JwqLXwg7_v8hDlsVm74Q8OfMZXW2UF1vLux9HX5N_CdA1K3pS-2T3E2xS3q1DN4SUILnbORnMc5lVHTUw5Dag8zU/s320/SDC19671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537045977071907042" border="0" /></a></span></div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >This is Sophie!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxK6hVFkKk-sUgmNtsDO6AxopHPjkL6IuRBp6_LxOTduIxaCmT-AQpRSl2iUtzBAvadfq2JnshyphenhyphenDB-wzwMvrGYjQPSutJA_arl2wkL17JaAgMc-dBJ021HIO-hm4JaOz8tBhmlGkzNEu4/s1600/SDC19670.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxK6hVFkKk-sUgmNtsDO6AxopHPjkL6IuRBp6_LxOTduIxaCmT-AQpRSl2iUtzBAvadfq2JnshyphenhyphenDB-wzwMvrGYjQPSutJA_arl2wkL17JaAgMc-dBJ021HIO-hm4JaOz8tBhmlGkzNEu4/s320/SDC19670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537045961274102162" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >This is Jenny. Ironically she reminds me a lot of myself!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFug2kypSmwqKjlqJVh52jMgMp-N4AEIkNTh2MH3bp5FmixCN-zo9xTH-54UURA-fyoIGLZAM1wSJaI5VOAx5G8MfReEeRqhQ_o0vHhXRKdj9-0y0hPDD07StZzGnQckO7m-cTWFsWSI/s1600/DSCN1278.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFug2kypSmwqKjlqJVh52jMgMp-N4AEIkNTh2MH3bp5FmixCN-zo9xTH-54UURA-fyoIGLZAM1wSJaI5VOAx5G8MfReEeRqhQ_o0vHhXRKdj9-0y0hPDD07StZzGnQckO7m-cTWFsWSI/s320/DSCN1278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537044812002716530" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Did I mention I love it here?! :)</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >One week as the family was dropping us off at Daguanghua after the visit they said they had something for us. They opened their trunk and pulled out a whole box of apples. We’d said earlier how we liked them, and they decided to give us a whole box. That type of thing actually happens all the time here. If you say you like something they’ll give it to you! They are a very giving and generous people!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdqT5KH12Gvwgxi5EVZXiVtRp3YGiJ0NcBcp47SFLkKTwb6vmLR87K42sT3nUV67xTNZujZep3gVEAJXJXmD0hlTijZl7LCIMxMSUjzVHkwltw7dYZVgCURP-bUQhbtqLcssN9MwiiTo/s1600/DSCN1451.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdqT5KH12Gvwgxi5EVZXiVtRp3YGiJ0NcBcp47SFLkKTwb6vmLR87K42sT3nUV67xTNZujZep3gVEAJXJXmD0hlTijZl7LCIMxMSUjzVHkwltw7dYZVgCURP-bUQhbtqLcssN9MwiiTo/s320/DSCN1451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537044798292830578" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Cierra and I lugged them all the way back to our apartment! And this is what our little fridge looked like after! HA!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >We love going on these visits! We hope we continue getting invited back. It’s so much fun to see what life is REALLY like in China!</span></p> </div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-84125106440579219382010-11-01T08:07:00.001-07:002010-11-01T08:15:53.604-07:00Half Way There?!<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The first week back from vacation was crazy! We had to get back into the swing of teaching and the schedule. It took a bit of effort to get the kids back into the routine of our classes. </span><div> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We work with a lady named Mrs. Tao. She is one of my favorite people I have met so far. She is immensely entertaining! One day after teaching our driver was in a meeting. The meeting ended up going SUPER long, so Mrs. Tao sat and talked to us. She told us all about her life and found out all about ours. It’s funny though because this conversation that would have normally taken half an hour in the States took nearly two hours! It’s a whole lot of repeating and charades. I’m thinking that I’m going to be a master of charades at the end of this! </span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj387j5oMsO-dPiCmmVea3qv5_rbytAmXvmnXwjMG7dB7hXUsnit6JYT51no37fVYSKY1I09EnjW4sboJIVgIntoW0n91d7L_YbOIshs6ihleGGb7XXOdZQyc7fZDKxXbWUpIJR2pGgAhA/s1600/SDC19700.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 447px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj387j5oMsO-dPiCmmVea3qv5_rbytAmXvmnXwjMG7dB7hXUsnit6JYT51no37fVYSKY1I09EnjW4sboJIVgIntoW0n91d7L_YbOIshs6ihleGGb7XXOdZQyc7fZDKxXbWUpIJR2pGgAhA/s320/SDC19700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534599423806063090" border="0" /></a></div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is Mrs. Tao in a wig we used for class! She’s a hoot!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Teaching was excellent though. One of my classes is pretty restless and stuff, but the rest of my classes are really good! A thousand little funny things happen every day- I wish you could all just sit in on my classes to see it! The whole language barrier thing can provide entertainment!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Moving on... On the 13th we had a birthday party for Samantha! We went out to our favorite noodle place, had an epic and never ending congo line, and sang a rousing chorus of happy birthday. Heather was able to round up the ingredients to make a cake. It was amazing! I have no idea how she was able to make a delicious home made cake with the chinese equivalents to ingredients and a microwave... Mad props!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikOsPzZZdtc-Fv9HKpk03F3akelUQwbOcm-PRy1i67DFeysg6vWnz31hPTHvYN8wG_LcIhEmysb7rHpVJZua7xQLhfydkcQHmQmDsmQYreldFKma6A6Gvclmy2JduMDmCQt9QYPqW7uQ/s1600/DSCN1221.JPG"><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_JustifyCenter" title="Align Center" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 11);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/blank.gif" alt="Align Center" class="gl_align_center" border="0" /></span></span><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikOsPzZZdtc-Fv9HKpk03F3akelUQwbOcm-PRy1i67DFeysg6vWnz31hPTHvYN8wG_LcIhEmysb7rHpVJZua7xQLhfydkcQHmQmDsmQYreldFKma6A6Gvclmy2JduMDmCQt9QYPqW7uQ/s320/DSCN1221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534599448284207138" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Happy Birthday, Samantha!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The next week marked half way for us! CRAZY! I can’t even believe it! Time is going SO FAST! Casey, one of the head directors of ILP, came for a visit. He did interviews with each of us. It would remind you of a Bishop’s interview on your birthday... He just wanted to see how we were doing and if there was anything he could do to make our experience better. I really do love ILP. They take great care of us! </span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our school took us out to dinner since Casey came. They took us the the “Pizza Buffet” It was wannabe western food... Some mediocre pizza, french fries, peaches, watermelon, onion rings, chicken nuggets... that’s about all the food that I knew what it was.... Now, had I gone to this restaurant a few months ago I would have thought it was absolutely deplorable! However, on this night it was a little taste of Heaven! :) Funny how situation changes perception!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We had a group meeting with Casey to discuss any problems with kids and teaching. At the end of the meeting a miraculous thing happened... Casey brought out the Reese’s! :) They were just the tiny ones, but he brought enough for us to each have 11. :) Reese’s are my favorite candy in the world, but apparently they haven’t made it to China yet... :( I was so excited I thought I was going to die! Ha! Who knew such a little thing could elicit such a reaction! :)</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintuY3Qn6esK0dMPNunskqP8Q-kreXWBuEytysC8WM4jYhbI_JjT5t7Inv0ZPhsz9X7mwwQJMYeEcJC4SNAroaE5diwVutcOSifvEgCk9iuUcQv9vBX-ZNn0yTmTH8WgX7PW9-6Y19xMY/s1600/DSCN1307.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 457px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintuY3Qn6esK0dMPNunskqP8Q-kreXWBuEytysC8WM4jYhbI_JjT5t7Inv0ZPhsz9X7mwwQJMYeEcJC4SNAroaE5diwVutcOSifvEgCk9iuUcQv9vBX-ZNn0yTmTH8WgX7PW9-6Y19xMY/s320/DSCN1307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534599439458891426" border="0" /></a></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I LOVE REESE’S!!!!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cierra, Samantha, Kayla, Anna, Lauren, and I decided to have a party that weekend to celebrate our half way mark! Lauren saved a cake mix and frosting for this occasion. We made a 6 layer chocolate cake and devoured it in mere minutes! It was DELICIOUS! We also listened to Bon Jovi a lot.... “OOOOOOOOHHHHH we’re halfway there!”</span></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmco1lEtwt8wwE94V53VWklIOJNt_fdYMlOaztYBrbtvlDopoV1hkzlLQFdpEeqPo7ChMRVRriOAcd9g4BOY6CqUqqjYMRlzgUbdIfINAYl21sgui9QuJ6LdbdPTH5aJtENG5dyd3zB4/s1600/DSCN1346.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 422px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmco1lEtwt8wwE94V53VWklIOJNt_fdYMlOaztYBrbtvlDopoV1hkzlLQFdpEeqPo7ChMRVRriOAcd9g4BOY6CqUqqjYMRlzgUbdIfINAYl21sgui9QuJ6LdbdPTH5aJtENG5dyd3zB4/s320/DSCN1346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534599434275262914" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4063uV_XzvTe4kvYHW9lYFZIPvynvCKlfVD_w5e7ycHBEK43NPMXZ23yPcojs7EoE9UwnnT1x3gkP6tIhnI_4q44R5w6WKV19OUEtTs0wATrlhB-er3DJXEQ2gDOYgvGhJaloTTvhs9w/s1600/DSCN1355.JPG"><br /></a></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The epic cake of deliciousness! It may not look pretty, but that’s because we are super creative and have had to learn how to make things in a microwave. Improvisation... one of the things I’ve learned over and over again in China!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4063uV_XzvTe4kvYHW9lYFZIPvynvCKlfVD_w5e7ycHBEK43NPMXZ23yPcojs7EoE9UwnnT1x3gkP6tIhnI_4q44R5w6WKV19OUEtTs0wATrlhB-er3DJXEQ2gDOYgvGhJaloTTvhs9w/s1600/DSCN1355.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4063uV_XzvTe4kvYHW9lYFZIPvynvCKlfVD_w5e7ycHBEK43NPMXZ23yPcojs7EoE9UwnnT1x3gkP6tIhnI_4q44R5w6WKV19OUEtTs0wATrlhB-er3DJXEQ2gDOYgvGhJaloTTvhs9w/s320/DSCN1355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534599429474402530" border="0" /></a></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Kayla and Lauren couldn't eat it without getting it all over their faces! It was hilarious!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That night we also discovered room 504 (the one across from Cierra and me) is haunted. No one lives there, but it sounds like there’s something vicious trapped in there! The door rattles all the time and it emits the oddest noises. We asked Kelly to get the keys because we thought there must be windows open and the wind was causing it. Turns out all the windows are closed. We figure it must be ghosts then!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I know this blog post has a lot of cake references... haha! We like to find any excuse to celebrate with treats! :) I really can’t believe we’re halfway through this amazing experience! We are trying to make every day count... I think we’re doing a pretty good job! So much happens here and there’s no way I can blog it all! Between my blog, journal, and emails and letters to friends and family I hope I’m documenting it all! I’ve made so many great friends, learned amazing lessons, had once in a life time experiences, and loved every minute of it!</span></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Half way through and still loving life! :)</span></p></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-11953958897277876702010-10-24T06:06:00.000-07:002010-10-25T07:43:27.893-07:00Mud Caves? Don’t Mind if I Do!<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Day 2 in beautiful Yangshuo! :) It started off with Lou’s Bakery... of course! Then we went to the water and mud cave! The adventure started how every adventure in China begins- the bus ride! The bus that took us to the cave seriously had to be the most rickety bus known to man! You know the Jurassic Park virtual ride at Disney World where there’s a screen and the seats move... you’re supposed to feel like you’re in the ride, but really it’s like the most jerky, nauseating few minutes of your life? That was this bus ride! The left back tire was almost coming off and it sounded like an oversized lawn mower. It’s a miracle that we got up the mountain in that bus! I was almost certain it was just going to fall apart.</span> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To get into the cave you had to go in these boats. They were as bad... or worse... then the bus. These boats had to be made by neanderthals and lasted through the ages. We had to duck down to get in the entrance.</span></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWf0Tl0M_PMEUlQ1CHa7guUu4P28mKC6dRSJKz3nZwV8U2mrfSfyPEJuzElD5Y4JdPeRa9jUkSXxbfroO7rRdo7huZbyIs8witGdsPAW8IjQfLqmoCpyesHipLQe5CkK-jtJvVrbvhVU/s1600/IMG_2065.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWf0Tl0M_PMEUlQ1CHa7guUu4P28mKC6dRSJKz3nZwV8U2mrfSfyPEJuzElD5Y4JdPeRa9jUkSXxbfroO7rRdo7huZbyIs8witGdsPAW8IjQfLqmoCpyesHipLQe5CkK-jtJvVrbvhVU/s320/IMG_2065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531993354570204370" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here we are in the infamous boats!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgwLCU31F5E1wzHewwuQ8QlpcEGOOX3g6W1TZSAbBWqQX4aaLOWFqdKWPE3vZ3UViA4gq7PiPye1xW7GnAKS-hwbgSIvsn6E0520Zrx1oP3z240OkFdz-lGxYa52-uQJl7v5vplSSX5c/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgwLCU31F5E1wzHewwuQ8QlpcEGOOX3g6W1TZSAbBWqQX4aaLOWFqdKWPE3vZ3UViA4gq7PiPye1xW7GnAKS-hwbgSIvsn6E0520Zrx1oP3z240OkFdz-lGxYa52-uQJl7v5vplSSX5c/s320/IMG_2075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531600014051379618" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is the group of us in the caves. It’s our “BEFORE" picture!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We had a tour of the cave. The last stop was this natural pool. We were swimming and from the rocks and playing games... it was awesome! :)</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKZQcgDycReE4Z-YANs0cNGx3hixPfZkM5Zd8BRxEGp1w_Hc1nOyn43tZ0pRX9gEoFN0Mu37ec2uoMAYqOFEn6f35PGch3fc_AXktVTUvdOIm4dzRD0Agr_ufGCyiBoFylH-XPQGp6T4/s1600/IMG_2098.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKZQcgDycReE4Z-YANs0cNGx3hixPfZkM5Zd8BRxEGp1w_Hc1nOyn43tZ0pRX9gEoFN0Mu37ec2uoMAYqOFEn6f35PGch3fc_AXktVTUvdOIm4dzRD0Agr_ufGCyiBoFylH-XPQGp6T4/s320/IMG_2098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531600010845950242" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Just a bunch of us jumping off rocks into a natural lake in a cave in China. No big deal. :)</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After swimming in water it was time to play in the MUD! It was a blast. You’d lay in the mud and just float.... it was so odd! We were completely covered. I got some in my eyes... not cool! But still fun! :)</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAyh8hzzo8uYjfsaO11J1ayuCr5GGdTEjXkcYuruK8KE0E6euScsUwvpOetgTYMJzvfXLGNahN9HV6JQaX7sJx4UHJA-6MuPb20zXWHnctAx-wccQxBePWJmhKM4Cz0OVQxD_VB9HQ9c/s1600/IMG_2138.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAyh8hzzo8uYjfsaO11J1ayuCr5GGdTEjXkcYuruK8KE0E6euScsUwvpOetgTYMJzvfXLGNahN9HV6JQaX7sJx4UHJA-6MuPb20zXWHnctAx-wccQxBePWJmhKM4Cz0OVQxD_VB9HQ9c/s320/IMG_2138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531600003709658498" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Floating in the mud!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vw9NvfOmF1KJwGHgLI1_9He9Y06EJ7rSe2qMa_F2TawiyTfUtP2mjjPQiWAKe_ve1jabNZpxm_hRJUenEl0dIi05u4-5pvgdwZwIT0Qd9ZFKCN4E9yIS8QZVRwJUpULJAx6Ihk_lNK4/s1600/IMG_2147.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vw9NvfOmF1KJwGHgLI1_9He9Y06EJ7rSe2qMa_F2TawiyTfUtP2mjjPQiWAKe_ve1jabNZpxm_hRJUenEl0dIi05u4-5pvgdwZwIT0Qd9ZFKCN4E9yIS8QZVRwJUpULJAx6Ihk_lNK4/s320/IMG_2147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531599997948856770" border="0" /></a></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The “AFTER” picture!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our group had a blast! But the fun wasn’t over! After the mud caves we cleaned off with the world’s coldest hose! It was ok though because after that we got to go to the natural hot pots! It was definitely a good time!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Even though we were super uncomfortable, wet, and dirty lunch took precedence over showering! We went to Ryley’s Cafe. This quickly became our favorite place in Yangshuo! It was the best! They had pizza, chicken cordon bleu, and this apple crumble stuff that was FABULOUS! I don’t know why more things taste like that in China! Simply delightful!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">On the walk home something great happened. Let me preface this story. On the bus to Guilin I was talking to Anna about how I really wanted to see someone slip on a banana peel. Like, you always see it in movies and stuff, but I’d never seen it in real life! On the walk home Cierra slipped on a banana peel!!!! It was HILARIOUS!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_lvHDrctPk8Y3nAPL5eQ9YIbmXiBMhlNozTJwLF-WCoSYNzJyT838Z3ESD4BczOzaCCc4tnMKaSrBRghxY45bfpxWVUcT-Z_7EyGZJyW2bSBuCucnHeNHdbxx1IaX6ECAGZny9aOkSM/s1600/IMG_2184.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 408px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_lvHDrctPk8Y3nAPL5eQ9YIbmXiBMhlNozTJwLF-WCoSYNzJyT838Z3ESD4BczOzaCCc4tnMKaSrBRghxY45bfpxWVUcT-Z_7EyGZJyW2bSBuCucnHeNHdbxx1IaX6ECAGZny9aOkSM/s320/IMG_2184.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531599990636465490" border="0" /></a></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I am so glad I witnessed this!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Getting all the mud off me was a nightmare! I’m pretty sure I was getting mud out of my ears days later! But it was so much fun and so worth it! It was definitely a great adventure in Yangshuo!</span></p>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-19917101501173166182010-10-23T07:51:00.000-07:002010-10-23T08:01:31.581-07:00Welcome to Yangshuo!<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">From Guilin we took a Bamboo raft ride down the Li River to get to Yangshuo. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my life. The scenery almost made me feel like a dinosaur should pop out at any second... it kind of has a Jurassic Park feel to it! I really don’t know how to describe it! We jut mozied on down the river on this raft amongst the beautiful scenery! It was so relaxing and enchanting! </span><div> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaxIj0UfR11m7ejfoAXt4yncK9klYMgdcfrLzpL0w-t9hMd7bzTrJ3Zxq3jJJlJ2K8EgWhlWC2iMfYnBHYNtU620pWAGPxUDZDd3720HlhBPKbj_mmHJ3_xPqkuoPeU5wNbBk4BLJUmc/s1600/IMG_1964.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 396px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaxIj0UfR11m7ejfoAXt4yncK9klYMgdcfrLzpL0w-t9hMd7bzTrJ3Zxq3jJJlJ2K8EgWhlWC2iMfYnBHYNtU620pWAGPxUDZDd3720HlhBPKbj_mmHJ3_xPqkuoPeU5wNbBk4BLJUmc/s320/IMG_1964.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531256221191272002" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is how very relaxing the ride was! ha! :)</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Yangshuo has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world! There are no high rises- it’s all very quaint and cute. It’s surrounded by the massive Li River and the impressive “Dr. Suess Mountains”. We got to our hostel... we were on the 6th floor!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh82w43igF7uDQbBLrNz1Nbl7uWeXPkAZQLXhldvQozdhOKz7jvIqeIDjZXcMrKZfUh_1javTU8Ra9yF7GUXLFBNeKbmkUeEjlwdlVseCqLnqK5Xio81zbCgRGDugaY1lVUTjIbsQw07k/s1600/IMG_2017.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 391px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh82w43igF7uDQbBLrNz1Nbl7uWeXPkAZQLXhldvQozdhOKz7jvIqeIDjZXcMrKZfUh_1javTU8Ra9yF7GUXLFBNeKbmkUeEjlwdlVseCqLnqK5Xio81zbCgRGDugaY1lVUTjIbsQw07k/s320/IMG_2017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531255796618920482" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Imagine lugging your stuff up all these stairs. It was quite exhausting. I don’t know why China has SO MANY STAIRS! </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That afternoon a group of us decided to see more of Yangshuo by way of bike. We rented bikes- 10 yuan each! That’s a mere $2.50 (or so...)! Now THAT’s experiencing China... riding around the city, ringing the little bell to tell people to get out of the way... all that! :) It was so fun! We didn’t really have a destination, we just decided to explore. We set out on a road and about a half hour (and a ton of beautiful countryside) later we came upon this little village. It amazes me that people still live in that way! It had very run down buildings, dirt roads, burning garbage piles, chickens and dogs in the road, and the happiest and friendliest people you’ll ever meet! It was actually quite a humbling experience. </span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCDf3NsL7OcEe6DyzGIGY7MHP-zrsbFdUQCNH1hL_wrgAJr_0FyYB-GZszi6XFSDJkh1RUuAqjX9AzLCzQgd7-Y3xjCz6oYq2d3ISwGYJ0cPl4SVA5II4s3YRlEuyE35J91BzBUjW70U/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 381px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCDf3NsL7OcEe6DyzGIGY7MHP-zrsbFdUQCNH1hL_wrgAJr_0FyYB-GZszi6XFSDJkh1RUuAqjX9AzLCzQgd7-Y3xjCz6oYq2d3ISwGYJ0cPl4SVA5II4s3YRlEuyE35J91BzBUjW70U/s320/IMG_2050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531255788165059170" border="0" /></a></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Eventually we came to this trail that we couldn’t go on with our bikes. We ditched those and set off on foot. It led us further into the countryside toward gorgeous mountains. We found an old Chinese graveyard! It was pretty awesome!</span></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISxyYBz5JsmyOon7eG72Sh7fAqqPObw2_ZyS92ScPG9DYmGC8baP3YIHfjIZ7wzwty2Squf5ewIv1x9IwSx3qxT1fztXs8OmCyVZ-8rEaF7wC7J62KloV2qTaFTiCL9u0ZwT3qVPSr3U/s1600/DSC02301.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISxyYBz5JsmyOon7eG72Sh7fAqqPObw2_ZyS92ScPG9DYmGC8baP3YIHfjIZ7wzwty2Squf5ewIv1x9IwSx3qxT1fztXs8OmCyVZ-8rEaF7wC7J62KloV2qTaFTiCL9u0ZwT3qVPSr3U/s320/DSC02301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531255815791823874" border="0" /></a></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is the group of us that ventured into the village and mountains!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After exploring the mountains for a while we headed back to our bikes. We saw some more cool things on our way back to the city- another little village, water buffalos, the weirdest fruit ever.... things like that!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That night we hung out on West Street. It is a pedestrian only street with a ton of shopping and eating! :) That night we went to “Lucy’s Cafe”. Cierra and I got this grilled cheese sandwich thing. I’m pretty sure they have the same grilled cheese maker I had up at school. It made me... college sick? Haha! We had grilled cheese sandwiches from that little machine almost every day! Anyway... Later in the evening we met yet another ILP group! :) One girl looked SUPER familiar and she and I were trying to figure out how we might now each other. She’s related the the Salmond’s, went to Davis, and goes to Utah State... so it has to be one of those! Haha! It was fun to talk to them! </span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">On the way back to the hostel we made a discovery that would endear Yangshuo to us even more- Lou’s Bakery. It was a legit bakery! In China! There was banana bread, almond bread, all sorts of little cakes... it was amazing! :) We frequented that little shop while we were in Yangshuo! </span></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3F6_MCxmLGn3mSDJeNq2g4-4GMM928MHytLqhtVEYkSMqvB4bwbC0Tz9d-xRxRJW-ygnxP2N6hi1OlN9n4pPI6kXgVmTv_ooHnVREzQes9KxuyXBPIex61zQ6Ow5wZQTvcx5SWINjnA0/s1600/DSCN1122.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3F6_MCxmLGn3mSDJeNq2g4-4GMM928MHytLqhtVEYkSMqvB4bwbC0Tz9d-xRxRJW-ygnxP2N6hi1OlN9n4pPI6kXgVmTv_ooHnVREzQes9KxuyXBPIex61zQ6Ow5wZQTvcx5SWINjnA0/s320/DSCN1122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531255809664013570" border="0" /></a></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is from our last day in Yangshuo when we were saying goodbye to our friend at Lou’s Bakery!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We’d only been in Yangshuo for a few hours, but we knew we were going to love it there! :) And this was only the beginning of our adventures there!</span></p> </div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-34476329749031011132010-10-15T08:35:00.000-07:002010-10-15T09:19:03.217-07:00Xi'an adventures!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >The first stop on our vacation was Xi’an. We got on the bus on Friday. This is where we learned the first lesson that would haunt us the rest of our travels: All sleeper busses are not created equal. Our sleeper to and from Beijing was very clean, comfortable, and just an all around good experience. This sleeper was not. It was cramped, smelly, and there were Asians sleeping in the aisles. There was a little girl who ended up with Cierra almost the entire ride!</span> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8bq0GiS0Rr2efpFCfyfB5dIZdbkv4Q47K6HBWXGt3i4PvSDwfi5hpPYBEA8LnshB47DQOtd4xMeTJkeyzp8LiXauMFmdIX2Rq4jd7jxZjPWB3VCYfAF99vAuUhLJCnS0q1gN7KTyV4k/s1600/DSCN0816.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8bq0GiS0Rr2efpFCfyfB5dIZdbkv4Q47K6HBWXGt3i4PvSDwfi5hpPYBEA8LnshB47DQOtd4xMeTJkeyzp8LiXauMFmdIX2Rq4jd7jxZjPWB3VCYfAF99vAuUhLJCnS0q1gN7KTyV4k/s320/DSCN0816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528303798743379986" border="0" /></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" > The bus ride was supposed to be 21 hours... it ended up being 23 and a half! This is where we learned the second lesson that would haunt us the rest of our travels: EVERYONE travels on National Day in China! The roads, busses, restaurants, tourist sites... EVERYTHING is packed! Here in China practically everyone gets the first week in October off. It’s madness.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >We arrived in Xi’an on Saturday sore, hungry, tired, and smelly. We finally got to our hostel. We only cleaned up. We didn’t have time to sleep because we had a very limited amount of time there. I hurried and used one of the shared computers so I could let my family know I was safe. I got the best news that put me in a great mood for the rest of the day: USU had slaughtered BYU in football!!! YES!!!!!!!! Go Aggies! :) Cierra, Samantha, and I did a little celebratory dance. :) With my newly heightened mood I set out to see the sights. That day we saw the sights around the main part of Xi’an including the Drum and Bell towers and the local night market.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >Our second day in Xi’an was one of the craziest days of my life. Literally. We opted not to do a tour of the Terra Cotta warriors because we felt like we had paid too much for our tour on the Great Wall. Maybe it would have been better to do a tour... We got up early to get to the bus that would take us to the Warriors. It was PACKED!! Note: National Day is not the time to visit the Terra Cotta Warriors! What makes it worse is that China can’t seem to master the concept of standing in line. At first we were in a semi orderly line and then suddenly and for no apparent reason the line just turned into an insane mosh pit of chaos and terror. It was a mad dash to get to the front.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUn6X6HEAC1lkPd6iYbnB_EiVCsLLbgyzSDB7T4viP4DaoFS84KIxv1WDRkcUwb_w8bRHi39H_WOTnI0if7C1pde1tNueQKxqS9YQWXMGSYz5vNIsp-gKND0WOHLD4BA4ahFqnukZm7Y/s1600/DSCN0844.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUn6X6HEAC1lkPd6iYbnB_EiVCsLLbgyzSDB7T4viP4DaoFS84KIxv1WDRkcUwb_w8bRHi39H_WOTnI0if7C1pde1tNueQKxqS9YQWXMGSYz5vNIsp-gKND0WOHLD4BA4ahFqnukZm7Y/s320/DSCN0844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528303808067725698" border="0" /></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >This is me with Anna and Kayla trying to make our way through the crowd!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >After quite the struggle we FINALLY got on the bus! It took us nearly an hour, but we all got through and ended up on the same bus! The hour long bus ride ended up being a little over 2 hours because of traffic. But after a few rounds of the alphabet game (yes, you can play it in China!) and other various things to entertain us we were finally there! We got in line to buy our tickets. This line wasn’t TOO bad… until we got to the front and found out that it was the wrong one!! So we had to go stand in another one. Dang it! But that line gave half price to students, so it was ok! Now we were really in!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >Seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors was INCREDIBLE! I was amazed, in awe, enthralled, and all other synonyms! It’s quite the sight to see! There are thousands of them and each one is different!<br /></span></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoeeK0SAw6BM0TTeOhUXwPCV6t_-32D6FWdumiFvpCbxwL9z1i_mqHhzOLZ_EroDMAqDDRDYZNrs66A5lgek-nzjnqJ6JnDBh_GoG7YqVNpYIDANCPG9plU-1ZYSPV-GYfADmb372y4A/s1600/DSCN0855.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoeeK0SAw6BM0TTeOhUXwPCV6t_-32D6FWdumiFvpCbxwL9z1i_mqHhzOLZ_EroDMAqDDRDYZNrs66A5lgek-nzjnqJ6JnDBh_GoG7YqVNpYIDANCPG9plU-1ZYSPV-GYfADmb372y4A/s320/DSCN0855.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528303808754100306" border="0" /></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >The Terra Cotta Warriors were discovered in 1974 by accident. They are still uncovering more and rebuilding and restoring them. We watched people at work! Leah Wood, I think I found the perfect job for you!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lN9x1RqxMt1CTTSgY4M_3GhyP34gM740u5zIWVt9ogd_MDaptdgulyQlbrlxk7ZETEake-Rs6iR4apxn_jA61tBeEhvwZGPmDXTKeXLEvBCNWhVR3jBQZNgbcNTFt8oknHKq9FeeaQ8/s1600/DSCN0879.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lN9x1RqxMt1CTTSgY4M_3GhyP34gM740u5zIWVt9ogd_MDaptdgulyQlbrlxk7ZETEake-Rs6iR4apxn_jA61tBeEhvwZGPmDXTKeXLEvBCNWhVR3jBQZNgbcNTFt8oknHKq9FeeaQ8/s320/DSCN0879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528303813953517346" border="0" /></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >We spent a lot of time in there and exploring all the other exhibits. It was honestly one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Even though it was a fight to get there it was totally worth it! We left and headed toward the bus stop to get home. Remember the chaotic mosh pit from the morning? Times that by 10 and that will give you an idea of what was awaiting us! I honestly don’t have words to express the situation we were in! After over an hour of holding onto each other and trying to hold our own in the massive crowd we got to a bus. I took a video of what we had emerged from. I tried to upload it, but it’s too long to send... that’s how insane it was!</span><br /><br /></div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >We got on the bus. It was completely over crowded, so only a few of our group got seats. Kayla, Samantha and I snagged the stairs, so it was kind of like we had seats. We rode like that for a while and then the bus pulled over. They made all of us get off… apparently you can’t get gas with passengers on the bus. While we were waiting there a bunch of other people snuck in line. When they said we could get back on the bus everyone ran toward the bus so they could get their seats back and not get ousted by the people who snuck in line. In the madness Kayla and Lauren had the most epic fall I’ve ever seen!!! It delayed us and we didn’t end up getting our spots back… but it was hilarious! Kayla, Cierra, and I ended up just sitting in the middle of the aisle surrounded by many Asians.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouklCbPtdkq14wfE33Km3_5PGGifPwjMapdnVRFiKAGrmZW-QxmkDM5nt8QhI4mP1I9dEL7pet6ImwuGYe7izxSl841xHMUJyV_aXX1KM9BPiS_6NdWWbKLLUQYVhXnc2FdqFilyihYA/s1600/DSCN0916.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouklCbPtdkq14wfE33Km3_5PGGifPwjMapdnVRFiKAGrmZW-QxmkDM5nt8QhI4mP1I9dEL7pet6ImwuGYe7izxSl841xHMUJyV_aXX1KM9BPiS_6NdWWbKLLUQYVhXnc2FdqFilyihYA/s320/DSCN0916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528303822206511762" border="0" /></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >This is our makeshift bandage for Kayla’s leg! This poor girl is the most injury prone person I’ve ever met!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >The bus ride ended up being over 3 hours!! It was so hot, crowded, and uncomfortable! We hadn’t eaten dinner, so we were all starving. We were all rummaging through our bags to find any snacks we might have. Between all of us we found a few cookies, some dried pineapple, and some chip crumbs! Pathetic, I know! This older lady sitting by Kayla saw that and she shared her dinner with Cierra, Kayla, and me! I have no idea what I ate, but it was the sweetest gesture! During that bus ride we went off roading, hit a car, and I think my butt melted to the ground. Ha! Apparently the delay was caused by construction. Good planning, China! Way to have construction on the road to one of the most famous places in the world during the heaviest traveling time of the year! Getting off that bus was the most glorious feeling in the world!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-dug-kbe6_pG1HUaiwg5bvQ0rZLazLIh2iY27D1Zx3POesU77KqTYD_cT_njxUMJevBCZMGrY1eN6ZUjaq-nk4Uy9s2dKfWRNABZzSL6anlF2pGI9XElShNz6rmc-ChtSSsp2ss1Y2c/s1600/DSCN0918.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-dug-kbe6_pG1HUaiwg5bvQ0rZLazLIh2iY27D1Zx3POesU77KqTYD_cT_njxUMJevBCZMGrY1eN6ZUjaq-nk4Uy9s2dKfWRNABZzSL6anlF2pGI9XElShNz6rmc-ChtSSsp2ss1Y2c/s320/DSCN0918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528304948502480066" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >This was our infamous bus ride!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >Even though it was crazy the experience was worth it! We accomplished what we traveled to Xi’an for! The next day was a traveling day to Guilin. We decided to splurge and get breakfast at our hostel. It was the first real breakfast I’ve had in ages and it was DELICIOUS. We wanted a good breakfast before getting on our sleeper bus all day. This sleeper bus had to have been designed by someone in the 70’s! It had brown leather beds and orange and yellow blankets. Sweet. Cierra, Samantha, and I ended up in this little cove made for three people in the back.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXPlxn8QFvGhAR3zrgYSEXMaqog23nJRHt1Psq0nAEqrLiccrYqRYG7Snm_wNP5cSVt7ijmvtuKkyWmdie-qz1KtvOp7Bo7ZfiR541z70QS1rjw4xsnpKj3fN6TZCPPGdPm4ydt_JSTo/s1600/IMG_1566.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXPlxn8QFvGhAR3zrgYSEXMaqog23nJRHt1Psq0nAEqrLiccrYqRYG7Snm_wNP5cSVt7ijmvtuKkyWmdie-qz1KtvOp7Bo7ZfiR541z70QS1rjw4xsnpKj3fN6TZCPPGdPm4ydt_JSTo/s320/IMG_1566.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528306639796388194" border="0" /></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >Yep. We were surrounded by Asians!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >The ride wasn’t too bad! It just was a lot of sleeping, eating, and talking. It was another 23 hour bus ride. Waiting for us were more great experiences in Guilin! Stay tuned to hear about those! Love you all!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:130%;" >On a side note, the 4th was one of my very best friends in the world’s birthday! I was sad I couldn’t be there, but now it’s on the wall of our hostel in Xi’an forever! Love you, S!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskVW70ENwnWloe0C5M5xxPKEWWmu-_2VXWwEJADJv6TtEmC_IHiZyHy0hyphenhyphen-x-hZQW9543lN-KYD3utKLCVCE6GtgBoVY4jPCKUjzP2h-UyRcDdShkimOYFBTiW_hMqOW6kFZ92ReImR0/s1600/DSCN0930.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskVW70ENwnWloe0C5M5xxPKEWWmu-_2VXWwEJADJv6TtEmC_IHiZyHy0hyphenhyphen-x-hZQW9543lN-KYD3utKLCVCE6GtgBoVY4jPCKUjzP2h-UyRcDdShkimOYFBTiW_hMqOW6kFZ92ReImR0/s320/DSCN0930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528306634011384722" border="0" /></a></span></p>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-42378197673971691692010-10-15T08:17:00.000-07:002010-10-15T08:24:51.102-07:00A Not So Typical Teaching Day<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I think I’ll start out a little before our vacation! Cierra and I had a hardcore cleaning day. I think we’re fighting a losing battle. We try so hard to keep our apartment clean, but I don’t know if it’s actually possible. I undertook the task of cleaning the bathroom. After only a few minutes into it this is what the water looked like:</span> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTd2sxyCjPNc7JOnmzjYklcPDZHYBC45j-J9YflyW0yA8MuNfulW9aMEdMz8o6t0HNmF7wNb6xDkBjlm7Eaix7RYCvBSML8JPmTDqTwlOI4woBqXX8opcQLvQtlc2EplyWHJXw2VSeSU/s1600/j.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTd2sxyCjPNc7JOnmzjYklcPDZHYBC45j-J9YflyW0yA8MuNfulW9aMEdMz8o6t0HNmF7wNb6xDkBjlm7Eaix7RYCvBSML8JPmTDqTwlOI4woBqXX8opcQLvQtlc2EplyWHJXw2VSeSU/s320/j.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528294014660191874" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We had already cleaned our bathroom that week too... I just don’t understand! </span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The day before we left for Xi’an CIerra and I had to teach. To preface this story I must tell you a little bit about where I live. We are on the 5th floor. The stairs are steep and there are no elevators or anything. Our apartment building is in the farthest corner of campus. Our school is built on a hill... a steep one. There are hundreds of stairs just to get to our building... and then up five more floors! Anyway... So we left to teach. We meet at the gate at 7:10 and there’s supposed to be a van to pick us up. Once again there was no van. We asked the security guard to use his phone and he wouldn’t let us. We walked all the way back up to the teaching building to look for Kelly (our foreign coordinator). She wasn’t in her office, so we walked all the way up to our apartment building to find her. On the way we met Amanda (our head teacher) and she told us Kelly was supposed to be in the teaching building. So we went back down there. Not there. So we went back to the gate to make sure the van hadn’t come... it hadn’t! The nice guard was there, so we used the phone to call Kelly. No answer! So we walked all the way back up to Kelly’s room (which is also on the 5th floor). Kelly called some people and they sent a van to come get us. We walked all the way back down to the gate. Hundreds of stairs later we were finally in the van!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We thought our journey to teach was over. We were wrong!! The driver was not our normal one and she was SCARY! About 15 minutes into the commute (the scariest one of my life) the lady just pulled over on the side of the freeway. We had no idea what was going on. She started driving again and like 2 minutes later pulled. We were thoroughly confused. She kept calling someone on her cell phone, but obviously we couldn’t understand what was going on. We started driving again and then she pulled over next to our usual van. We had to switch vans... slightly scary on the roads in China! We transferred vans and FINALLY got on our way!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Teaching that day went really well! 3 out of 4 of my classes are consistently good! :) That’s not bad odds, right? Anyway... the faculty at our school loves us! It’s so awesome! The chefs especially love us.... apparently feeding blonde Americans is fun to them! Earlier we had mentioned that we liked dumplings. That day the chefs made dumplings especially for us! It was so sweet and they kept offering us more and more! Our school is seriously so cool! I love it!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After lunch Miss Tao invited us to play ping pong. Welcome to China, right?! Ha! Miss Tao was way into it! She was ready to play! They take their ping pong seriously here in China! I’m not very good... I think I disappointed the Asians! What better place to work on my ping pong skills than in China?!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYcVAp6owdTONwBE7PZdRedaf4_y5CgYOIpsxVl-59ZYMjROvM8ygSblq0nk17fvJd1F9jblk7vtFOQNibVRroPliDUGn1sG7c4nTEFKcbh263SOBANj30QJ48fiLQpKMjdNPuALcwjw/s1600/j2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYcVAp6owdTONwBE7PZdRedaf4_y5CgYOIpsxVl-59ZYMjROvM8ygSblq0nk17fvJd1F9jblk7vtFOQNibVRroPliDUGn1sG7c4nTEFKcbh263SOBANj30QJ48fiLQpKMjdNPuALcwjw/s320/j2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528293650640699058" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is Cierra and Miss Tao playing ping pong! :)</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The day started out a little hectic, but it ended up being great!! </span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Next up: Xi’an! :)</span></p>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-90889198704688985062010-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:02:04.164-07:00Hello there everybody!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I'm finally back to Weihai safe and sound! Our trip was AWESOME! Seriously... so much fun! I have SO many stories! Here's the thing though.... there's no way I'm writing them to everyone! That would consume my whole life! So I'm going to slowly but surely start blogging them and you can hear them that way! :) Haha! Sorry. Just the way it has to be! Good thing I kept a good journal otherwise I'd have no idea even where to begin! Holy cow! It was a ton of fun and quite the adventure!!! We went to Xi'an, Guilin, and Yangshuo... then we had an unexpected trip to Shanghai! Now I'm back in Weihai and we're all jumping right back into teaching! I want to hear what's been going on for all of you though, so email me! Love you all!!</span><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Jenni</div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-80309783315316646552010-09-28T20:53:00.000-07:002010-09-28T21:28:45.950-07:00Making our Mark on Beijing<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I’m back from BEIJING!!!!!! Ok. So if any of you ever have the opportunity to go to Beijing TAKE IT! I had so much fun there! Beijing is a really cool city with so much to see and do! We packed so much in and barely even made a dent in it!</span> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The adventure started with our bus ride. The bus pulled up and we found out that it was a sleeper bus! That was a first for me! It was so cool. It’s sad when the beds on a moving bus are more comfortable then the ones in our apartments... Yikes! haha! :) It was the most comfortable 12 hour ride of my life! </span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><br /></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNolzvR4W76K3Rtka4Ar0Pq2Z9C4xCv4x9Ijntt36oKa0bdo5pwy4sHGnHhFy3FcCG7mCJeWNqAX98rhsOpFcH0gbnLWKulmlSSHyALCxXFumOoWRwgbAc878UDrEWXsU35No1hEH23H8/s1600/DSCN0573.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNolzvR4W76K3Rtka4Ar0Pq2Z9C4xCv4x9Ijntt36oKa0bdo5pwy4sHGnHhFy3FcCG7mCJeWNqAX98rhsOpFcH0gbnLWKulmlSSHyALCxXFumOoWRwgbAc878UDrEWXsU35No1hEH23H8/s320/DSCN0573.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522183859801127298" border="0" /></a></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"> This is my first time on a legit "night bus"! :)</p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><br /></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We got to Beijing around 6 in the morning and jumped right in! We stayed at the Candy Inn. It was way cool! Hostels are really fun and social. We met a lot of cool people during our stay there from ALL OVER the world! The food in Beijing was amazing! Street food... it’s about 50 cents in US money, and it’s delicious! :) There was this chicken sandwich place right next to our hostel that we frequented. They were divine!</span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Day 1: We went to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace has a lot of shrines, former Emperor’s homes, and gardens. It was really beautiful! The group I was with had a lot of fun exploring, eating street food, and bonding. It was a blast! After we had our first experience at the Pearl Market. And that’s when my shopping began! I learned how to barter really quickly and actually became one of the best in my group. You should never pay more than 10% of their original offer... most of the time even less. It’s all about pretending your not all that interested and saying you’ll go get it somewhere else! You also never give in to their price. ALWAYS make them come down to yours for the final one! It’s actually kinda fun! That night was the Moon Festival! Our hostel had a giant party with free food, music, etc! It was a lot of fun! Moon Cakes are definitely not my idea of dessert, but apparently they’re a big deal here! I don’t even really know what the Moon Festival is, but I’m glad it happened! It gave us a vacation! :)</span></p> <p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzNUdiM_lnsgQF_31yfkUZqpxr9OBMBSrW1eor4KQJIELC-UByKEcmFnHeP-2SHnRKiE6iYBxh9h1gx7LJ5KjZCX2PE7zDapoWc1C6UrF0Xnk1TUApB_K9hvW8U5M5p9G-DqUpDvFfzo/s1600/DSCN0594.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzNUdiM_lnsgQF_31yfkUZqpxr9OBMBSrW1eor4KQJIELC-UByKEcmFnHeP-2SHnRKiE6iYBxh9h1gx7LJ5KjZCX2PE7zDapoWc1C6UrF0Xnk1TUApB_K9hvW8U5M5p9G-DqUpDvFfzo/s320/DSCN0594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522181868740149346" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> This is the beginning of our adventures at the Summer Palace! :)</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><br /></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU45qnX-qOc4ylIfTwpMqUsLvP9wSdBhKnYnUKyEFfcPIqCCYfVY1DSs8LOsJewWqJ_KXAHwxB8pXyEf7Pj3iJZZVnIg4aMYBGRr5xsXuVpHyVvEOyN_0CBOlMfhSXoApXH4WrcnKCwQ/s1600/DSCN9036.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU45qnX-qOc4ylIfTwpMqUsLvP9wSdBhKnYnUKyEFfcPIqCCYfVY1DSs8LOsJewWqJ_KXAHwxB8pXyEf7Pj3iJZZVnIg4aMYBGRr5xsXuVpHyVvEOyN_0CBOlMfhSXoApXH4WrcnKCwQ/s320/DSCN9036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522181846553548914" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is the Summer Palace. It was really gorgeous!! </span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Day 2: The GREAT WALL!!! It was seriously so exciting to see the Great Wall! We had so much fun hiking around the wall and taking pictures! If we were stationary for more then 5 seconds then we had a whole line of Asians wanting to take pictures with us. I seriously have never had so many pictures taken of me in my life. I should have kept track of how many! But we had a blast on the wall and it was amazing to see! </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo58VIi218_Y3X_i7-HTUjEaRdTAqKHuqaOlpqSrX2wvk2CUE29gmsfFn6D3PpMLoWWcpA-ikRLtvfNSwEf2F0YtgmddNo80cmD19aV4bC-YM-47zrlXXQKPMM_CFaJYVTZDJ7pX-71U/s1600/DSCN0642.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo58VIi218_Y3X_i7-HTUjEaRdTAqKHuqaOlpqSrX2wvk2CUE29gmsfFn6D3PpMLoWWcpA-ikRLtvfNSwEf2F0YtgmddNo80cmD19aV4bC-YM-47zrlXXQKPMM_CFaJYVTZDJ7pX-71U/s320/DSCN0642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522181859170417778" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Just chillin on the Great Wall! </span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSt1_I25HWbZgjkt9Z9sR_xtNgIiz6XttNYkauXmsRYKQTkq7iNI_DHZJIWgW02ffVETc8kO-WDpudsl1Y7_MpmU-mL7oqeT94Gc3VTCU0-nzqxRUMliZEpxW5DG_Ar5YnJ_CqMRl8Fg/s1600/DSCN0662.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSt1_I25HWbZgjkt9Z9sR_xtNgIiz6XttNYkauXmsRYKQTkq7iNI_DHZJIWgW02ffVETc8kO-WDpudsl1Y7_MpmU-mL7oqeT94Gc3VTCU0-nzqxRUMliZEpxW5DG_Ar5YnJ_CqMRl8Fg/s320/DSCN0662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522181850699040450" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> It's me sending my love from China!!</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNnEcFe33QQDPT1LkxP5HOHzAPTSqGCymuxFdEqLjf1ZPWYePzH959mZIsgXESYZ43oESA5ejrl2jfVZtCaNlP_zucZdsuBKnHh-PugtBhhsRBspIFhL8rYm0CahM4F7g5gIrAaSg7Sg/s1600/SDC15147.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNnEcFe33QQDPT1LkxP5HOHzAPTSqGCymuxFdEqLjf1ZPWYePzH959mZIsgXESYZ43oESA5ejrl2jfVZtCaNlP_zucZdsuBKnHh-PugtBhhsRBspIFhL8rYm0CahM4F7g5gIrAaSg7Sg/s320/SDC15147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522181833772686786" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Yes. I HAVE done a handstand on the Great Wall! haha! We literally got applause for this picture. Thank you... thank you.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >We saw the Ming tombs, jade factory, and silk factory that afternoon, too! We ate lunch at a delicious restaurant. It was the first place that tasted like legit Chinese food to me! YUM! It was awesome. We had the craziest tour guide ever. Her english name was Sherri. She was nuts. She liked to sing Christina Aguilera to us... and she would just babble on in Chinglish... She would tell the most awkward stories. It was slightly uncomfortable, yet hilarious! She knew the oddest english phrases and it made me wonder what type of person taught her english. Come to find out she’s marrying her english teacher next month... so ya! Sherri was quite the lady! </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_ZbtUxLx9DxTQRQwJWtKBJpT_N2Dno2ViEJDZ_pLb0jQZVkVAOA8_E1-X_iicQ_FemH_eexpksGEucQDUPOcdPCFwMz4JH_RRTtdjnrJUNx7Xj9kCv2sHhwB3c-rl-WtNwXGCi5aftw/s1600/SDC15153.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_ZbtUxLx9DxTQRQwJWtKBJpT_N2Dno2ViEJDZ_pLb0jQZVkVAOA8_E1-X_iicQ_FemH_eexpksGEucQDUPOcdPCFwMz4JH_RRTtdjnrJUNx7Xj9kCv2sHhwB3c-rl-WtNwXGCi5aftw/s320/SDC15153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522183863823228818" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> This is our crazy your guide</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >That night we went to the night market in Beijing. It was a blast! There were the craziest foods there... such as scorpion, starfish, and sea horse skewers! AH! There was delicious foods as well. There were these breadsticks that were amazing.. and candied fruit skewers that made us all completely sticky AND completely happy! :)</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFtap-LfwAuiwidN4U2fkzE_4b9ZYoZIuORESIlY2C1lzyzNfpJCQbOrx_9t2ZzCbjvawVBktinKqLAiRU7_AZC6YmEaPDqHCveYT3puDynnBPnD8rcGXgI5sdjdNIXFHvuh6Qb5AQz8/s1600/DSCN9216.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFtap-LfwAuiwidN4U2fkzE_4b9ZYoZIuORESIlY2C1lzyzNfpJCQbOrx_9t2ZzCbjvawVBktinKqLAiRU7_AZC6YmEaPDqHCveYT3puDynnBPnD8rcGXgI5sdjdNIXFHvuh6Qb5AQz8/s320/DSCN9216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522183889274312082" border="0" /></a></div><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The night market! It was such a fun place</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Day 3: Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City! I seriously felt like I’d stepped into Mulan. Yes, my group did sing Mulan the whole day. And take ninja pictures! It’s weird to me that this whole mini city was completely closed to everyone and it was only for royalty and their servants. It’s huge!! It really was beautiful! And we met some cool people from Sudan! It’s funny... When you see other foreigners you make eye contact and it’s like you know what they’re going through with the looks and pictures. It’s like an automatic bond! Haha! Unless they’re Russian... then they look a little angry. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmQ55y0EDUYGn2YTRlfrGK3-I4fjYP1k0K6g8vN4hFyEk6jn_SqV81S-f-VcA7RUdR-FG9QZnp1UVD9PbBHLvn0OLgmATf4XHAQHnDYjrO1rUQHY-dwNB-d69ezY1VTj2CK-mQiVkX2Y/s1600/DSCN0711.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmQ55y0EDUYGn2YTRlfrGK3-I4fjYP1k0K6g8vN4hFyEk6jn_SqV81S-f-VcA7RUdR-FG9QZnp1UVD9PbBHLvn0OLgmATf4XHAQHnDYjrO1rUQHY-dwNB-d69ezY1VTj2CK-mQiVkX2Y/s320/DSCN0711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522185853272067026" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> I'm holding up the guard! :)</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Oip4gNkKMsU0iEkRi2679PHveD29IPQtDP6naNC01h9dLHwRmLJrdjcrbOFmXHFkxSLtY-lwS6uHLSMPKJe1Q4QJIzmyJlHePKYMy0crkLJX3T9bW8AzYw2VlOJswfZiWfgcaDqVnYs/s1600/IMG_1092.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Oip4gNkKMsU0iEkRi2679PHveD29IPQtDP6naNC01h9dLHwRmLJrdjcrbOFmXHFkxSLtY-lwS6uHLSMPKJe1Q4QJIzmyJlHePKYMy0crkLJX3T9bW8AzYw2VlOJswfZiWfgcaDqVnYs/s320/IMG_1092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522183875054098450" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> We're ninjas!</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlmLcVHbb_plxTzPOMXJ-E6b0tJSIcshFPT6T8UNK-sfxIvgz-ltE3mUdgRZ-N-wWwAXP1nRCSSXiTrYguZE941frYTxsioZw1tmqXD_D3M4tRt934IiYopvFOE14LwJqn9AxMVMuJ6s/s1600/DSCN0719.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlmLcVHbb_plxTzPOMXJ-E6b0tJSIcshFPT6T8UNK-sfxIvgz-ltE3mUdgRZ-N-wWwAXP1nRCSSXiTrYguZE941frYTxsioZw1tmqXD_D3M4tRt934IiYopvFOE14LwJqn9AxMVMuJ6s/s320/DSCN0719.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522185849150611810" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> This is supposed to give you good luck.</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjI17esYvQ4GxsEcVr6nPuhYLQ3T5rVMPME6x5aMYuImONtJ9oWKUmPipcLCzVeGF2fPA8p1jKgsvomWKzH-4j91grj7wosBjSCZ3L1O0ww6ut4hmtHCsCLbdLQxiFXyqZITEbzHbNzqg/s1600/IMG_1163.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjI17esYvQ4GxsEcVr6nPuhYLQ3T5rVMPME6x5aMYuImONtJ9oWKUmPipcLCzVeGF2fPA8p1jKgsvomWKzH-4j91grj7wosBjSCZ3L1O0ww6ut4hmtHCsCLbdLQxiFXyqZITEbzHbNzqg/s320/IMG_1163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522183874212246450" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> :) Like I said... We're ninjas!</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >That afternoon we found a bakery! My group is so easily entertained... it’s hilarious! We sat there watching this Chinese lady decorate a cake for like 20 minutes! When she was finished she spun it around to show us and we all applauded. I think it made her day! After that little detour we went to the Temple of Heaven. There was an entrance fee to get into the park and then when we got to the temple we found out there was an additional fee. Well, some of us were being cheapos (we knew the big day of shopping was coming up!) so we opted to not go in. We decided to explore the rest of the park. While walking around Cierra, Samantha, Heather, and I heard music. We decided to find the source... it wasn’t that hard. We turned the corner and there was about 20 middle aged Chinese women dancing to Chinese version of techno in the middle of the park. Naturally we joined in. Best decision ever! We learned some of their dance moves and they were just eating it up. They thought it was hilarious! So we decided to see if they would follow us. We started doing the Boot Scootin’ Boogie... imagine a group of middle aged Asian women doing that line dance in the middle of the park. It was AWESOME! When that song got over we decided to see how the Macerena would go over. It was a HUGE hit. They LOVED it! I thought it was awesome seeing them doing the Boot Scootin’ Boogie... it was even better to see them doing the Macerena! :) Eventually we had to meet the rest of our group, but before we left we were mauled by people wanting pictures with us... the crazy, dancing Americans! :) It was seriously one of my favorite moments of the ENTIRE trip thus far!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdhD5x2ujmiesSl0N1byafi4DmH2_CUIURA7ffJ6EUeOqjA01P-mXvvJx02hpYPQi-QdSSRx9JpD8mtr1Y7-FXY35-xip4dMRIvSI1gkNhZMXagEPu_Jirt4LDPANBsLg4P_nIpOMuCg/s1600/IMG_1233.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdhD5x2ujmiesSl0N1byafi4DmH2_CUIURA7ffJ6EUeOqjA01P-mXvvJx02hpYPQi-QdSSRx9JpD8mtr1Y7-FXY35-xip4dMRIvSI1gkNhZMXagEPu_Jirt4LDPANBsLg4P_nIpOMuCg/s320/IMG_1233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522185868029440642" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Here we are dancing....</span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQ8Bfzkw53DsMgPsOpFw_E7teGHkUNlNYXOfnL5gJn31H0PdCaEl01gUvOaNdp_sovrhPauFRMy2AKKFJoQS6o5ziNZq6p9-Xpl5ZSJzDOqVFSqApAaEAmC9JlXnOUhAyhMU6IdchV-Q/s1600/DSCN0750.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQ8Bfzkw53DsMgPsOpFw_E7teGHkUNlNYXOfnL5gJn31H0PdCaEl01gUvOaNdp_sovrhPauFRMy2AKKFJoQS6o5ziNZq6p9-Xpl5ZSJzDOqVFSqApAaEAmC9JlXnOUhAyhMU6IdchV-Q/s320/DSCN0750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522187277285689042" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> This lady was by far the best at the Macerena!</span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oGBprXdIl-gm7l1bevhY2QBV7PnTUvtZ2pTpm0w69cGIV09VeG66Vh7kTJ9iuP4qUICSb7EAYXlEHE13-15EfGIEaX7MM2Muek1i7Vr4AUj7h3MxkSDnCGyFFMDBfzq1YNMrli9hAPU/s1600/IMG_1265.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oGBprXdIl-gm7l1bevhY2QBV7PnTUvtZ2pTpm0w69cGIV09VeG66Vh7kTJ9iuP4qUICSb7EAYXlEHE13-15EfGIEaX7MM2Muek1i7Vr4AUj7h3MxkSDnCGyFFMDBfzq1YNMrli9hAPU/s320/IMG_1265.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522185860727924866" border="0" /></a></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We just thought this picture conveyed the joy we felt after the dance party! haha! :)</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Day 4: We started out by going to the Olympic Square! I LOVED it... you know me and my love for the Olympics! :) I started singing all the songs from the program I participated in when the Olympics were in SLC when I was in 5th grade. Yes, I still remember them. Thank you Madi for having that cd still! :) haha! But I had those songs stuck in my head all day and now my group knows them too! I’m sure they really appreciate it! I got to see the Bird’s Nest, the swimming place.. the water cube that changed colors and that Michael Phelps DOMINATED, and where the Olympic flame burned during the games. It was sa-weet. </span></p> <p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxKjUgMX2yPfTxiYIVcaYR89CPfRyZz0hawO1sqDdAr2WBt5E2FyiGl5f6VNw1MqzvNxHtg3xZgmrgmnXUIEyVpoTinjR4ZbuY6xv7lfNlAGuI5_co5bbjeimg-KGAvm9fiBadPKLg5g/s1600/DSCN0753.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxKjUgMX2yPfTxiYIVcaYR89CPfRyZz0hawO1sqDdAr2WBt5E2FyiGl5f6VNw1MqzvNxHtg3xZgmrgmnXUIEyVpoTinjR4ZbuY6xv7lfNlAGuI5_co5bbjeimg-KGAvm9fiBadPKLg5g/s320/DSCN0753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522187269199824066" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >The BIRD'S NEST! I felt like a champion.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: times new roman; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMHHjeWBvBhZTVpKWiXNyezz8FKJl48UTIpNnfY_jmjAAfKhsyf5LAL7zwo396eldqAnzRK2RnrflDUu6wsy0j6hWCWcWKpJ8Lf8zoIc3emtP9inuFtcSyyeJMmO22QrqLx4zSUNDPFs/s1600/DSCN0756.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMHHjeWBvBhZTVpKWiXNyezz8FKJl48UTIpNnfY_jmjAAfKhsyf5LAL7zwo396eldqAnzRK2RnrflDUu6wsy0j6hWCWcWKpJ8Lf8zoIc3emtP9inuFtcSyyeJMmO22QrqLx4zSUNDPFs/s320/DSCN0756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522187263477250386" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Kayla and I drowning at the swimming place!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >After that we went back to the Pearl Market... SHOPPING! Like I’ve never shopped before... literally! It was pure madness and yet so much fun. Even the boys enjoyed themselves and made some good purchases! Thank you Hilary for the advice on jeans... the vendors were trying to say they couldn’t go under 120 Yuan, but I KNEW Hilary had gotten them for 90.... So after a lot of persuasion, walking away, and threatening to buy from a different vendor I got my way! :) I feel like I’ve gained a talent at bartering that will be null and void when I go back to the states! I can see it now... me walking into neighborhood wal-mart and refusing to pay the given price! haha! It’s weird because you barter/haggle/bargain EVERYTHING here... and you very rarely do it back home! It was a full day of shopping and I got some souvenirs people should be excited about! :) I was exhausted by the end of the day!! That night everyone was doing show and tell with their purchases and it was fun to compare what people got and the prices they got it at! We are all REALLY good at imitating the vendors now... “Cheaper for you!” “I give you the best price!” “Buy from me pretty lady!” “Give me your final price... no joking. No joking!” “It’s different! Mine’s better quality!” “That price is impossible!” “I make-a no money!!” “What’s 10 yuan to you?!” “I give you because we friends. Just because we friends!” “Fine. Your price.” “You’re tough lady!” “Tell your friends to come to me!” It’s always the same!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Day 5: The morning was really crazy. A few people had left super early in the morning to go see Mao’s body, but the rest of us were leaving for church at 9. Everyone thought that Stuart and Amanda were with the Mao group and they were the ones with directions to the branch! So Kayla and I searched until we found President Lewis’ phone number, found a phone to use, and got directions. Come to find out Stuart and Amanda had decided not to go, but woke up late! So the stressing wasn’t actually necessary. Half of us had already checked out of the hostel so we went first (since we’d already made the effort to get directions...) and then the second half still had to check out and come a little later. Well, a few people in the group I was with like to think that they know everything about traveling... or maybe they don’t know how to read a map... I’m not sure yet. But when we got to the subway I found the route we had to take. It was 2 stops. I looked up and my group was getting ready to get on a train... the wrong one. I tried to tell them that they were going the wrong way, but they wouldn’t listen to me. The train they were getting on WOULD get us there.... it would just do nearly a complete circle and take one transfer and 16 stops. My way had one transfer and 2 stops... But they didn’t have the directions and they just got on the train. Since I was the only one with the directions I had to follow them. I was so frustrated because no one would listen and we were going to be late... I found a new route that would require one transfer and only 6 stops, so I made them follow me and do that. The few who wouldn’t listen to me complained the whole way. Well, when we finally got to church the later group had beaten us there! They were baffled. I was right. Haha! But it was crazy... as soon as I got to the floor church was on there was an instant calm and suddenly I wasn’t frustrated anymore! :) Church was great! It was cool to have normal bread for the Sacrament! And during Sunday School Sister Lewis passed out cookies- real, homemade, peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies!!! They were amazing! Not a trace of China taste in them! It was my first cookie in over a month and it was glorious! :) Sunday School was all about the temple. I hadn’t realized how hard it has been on me to not be able to go to the temple, but it has been! I am excited to reinstate Temple Tuesdays with my beautiful friend Jess when I get home! :) Going to the temple regularly has blessed my life immensely and really helped me have an added measure of the Spirit in my life. </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >After church was lunch at the Lewis home. The Lewis family rented a bus to take us there. Ya. They rented a freakin bus! And not one of those broken down, old school busses. It was a nice, soft seat, 50 seater bus! They are seriously the most generous people I’ve ever met. We got to their house and as I walked in I realized this was the first home I’d been in for a month. It was kinda weird to think that! It was so nice though- carpet, real bathrooms, a kitchen, pictures and quotes on the walls, a piano, a candy dish, AND it smelled good! :) Sister Lewis fed our whole group! Now, I know I’ve only been gone for a little over a month, but at the same time that’s a long time to be without familiar food! She made us taco soup with sour cream and cheese, a fresh green salad, fresh fruit, and homemade rolls and jam! We were all freaking out!!! It was the best meal I’ve ever eaten! :) haha! And she had root beer! That’s all I’ve wanted for like 2 weeks now! For dessert she had 2 different delicious pies with ice cream. We were all in heaven! We all sat around, talked, laughed, and felt right at home. We had a wonderful devotional together and then it was time to go. She had treats for us to take with us. I really wanted to cry when we were leaving. I will always remember that experience... not because of the amazing food, but because of the impact it had on me. President and Sister Lewis are the type of people who go above and beyond in their callings. They showed us so much kindness, hospitality, and love! I can’t believe how gracious they have been to us. They have made my experience in China a spiritual journey rather than just a physical one. I hope one day to be the kind of example the Lewis family has been to me. </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJIuFlntLJK0E8ehVzw9jAMNjmqQnK6FnYjiwJLfhbyuCh7lA8jf4M5Tr7nV9iB-b3nnVbsy9EPjUz3aLflrQbHfSBm3AOgptEDvHayZlO1TF_WwG3YaTkovF8yv9dcqaoTFd3kB9uDs/s1600/DSCN0774.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJIuFlntLJK0E8ehVzw9jAMNjmqQnK6FnYjiwJLfhbyuCh7lA8jf4M5Tr7nV9iB-b3nnVbsy9EPjUz3aLflrQbHfSBm3AOgptEDvHayZlO1TF_WwG3YaTkovF8yv9dcqaoTFd3kB9uDs/s320/DSCN0774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522185876075618802" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is the wonderful Sister Lewis! :) And the bus they rented us in the background.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >The bus the Lewis family rented for us took us right back to our hostel. We had a little less than an hour until we had to leave for the bus station, so we just played games and talked. We finally left for the bus station with our suitcases much heavier and our wallets much lighter then when we came. We had another sleeper bus. A bunch of us stayed up late talking and laughing. I can’t even imagine having to say goodbye to these people at the end of this experience- we’ve all bonded so much! The walk back to our school at 5 AM was ridiculously long and awkward with all of our stuff. When we got back Cierra and I felt so fortunate... we were the only ones who got to go back to sleep. I love the school we were assigned to! :) haha! That day we got a package from home! We love our moms! :D </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >This week we teach like normal. I’ve been to my Tuesday classes. My class #2 is my hard class... I don’t even know what to do with them! But the rest of my classes are really good! (And Tom was wearing a pink jacket today. Why couldn’t you have worn that the first day?! ha!) I’m glad I got to name my students because it makes things so entertaining. So many of them have attributes of the people they’re named after! It can be hilarious. Today I had to tell off two students for messing around together- Harry and Ron. Haha! :) And one of my girls, Leslie, cut her own hair... it’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. This girl surprises me every day. The other day she was completely covered in blue chalk... haha! I love my kids! The teachers at the school we teach at are so good to us! It’s fun to work here! And the cooks love us! Today we started English Corner. That’s where 5th grade students who have already taken english classes come to talk to us, ask us questions, and just practice speaking. It was a pretty relaxed thing and actually quite fun. Every single person we asked what they liked to do said ping pong or badminton! HAHA! I thought that was pretty funny!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >Next week is National Day here in China- it’s like the 4th of July... China style. Everyone gets next week off, so yes... we get another vacation! I’m excited, but at the same time it’s kind of a bummer that our vacations are so close together! We’re going to have a long stretch from mid October to December without any breaks! We’re going to Xi’an and Guilin. It will be a LOT of traveling, but it should be a lot of fun! :)</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >I got to talk to my mom, dad, and sister on Vid when I got home! I just missed my brother and brother in law! I love my family! My mom had to get surgery during my adventure to Beijing. That was crazy to find out, but I’m glad she’s ok! And I’m grateful to the people who have helped my family out while I’ve been gone. I also got some sad news! One was the accident of one of my neighbors, ward members, and friends’ dad. I just wanted to let them know I’m praying for you! I’d also ask any of you reading this to add Brother Kapp to your prayers! The other piece of heartbreaking news I got was the death of my good friend’s brother. I am so sorry for your loss and I love you so so so much! I seriously was so sad when my mom told me! I wish there was more I could do! So dear blog readers, please add the Neilsen family to your prayers as well!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >I’m having a better experience then I dared hope for here in China! Sometimes it’s hard, scary, and tiring. And sometimes I just want to curl up in my Northridge Choir blanket on my soft bed... But it’s all added to my experience. I’m really loving it here and am so grateful I’ve had this opportunity! I hope all you at home are having amazing things happen for you too! Love you!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px; font-family: times new roman;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times new roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;font-size:100%;" >PS I FINALLY reclaimed my high score on Bejewled from Cierra. WOOO!</span></p>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-10158421772584379222010-09-18T19:52:00.000-07:002010-09-18T20:05:37.577-07:00A Week in the Life of an ILP Volunteer<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Ni hao! I’m sorry I’ve been so far behind on my blog! This week has been really crazy! Last weekend was a blast! Cierra, Samantha, Kayla, and I rented a paddle boat at the beach.</span><div> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ5xkEkdOdLEa35CqLR0ReRncyCkil_bJDJnixA0nu140hXODe7nTT98U59qcaf2Ybm83NV0tCmivqfvDg_GERXmpihFIjm0TSDT2Jsyt8UHZxZM3BkXsyApcm2CeJFPRPCfSamyhpiw/s1600/SDC14938.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ5xkEkdOdLEa35CqLR0ReRncyCkil_bJDJnixA0nu140hXODe7nTT98U59qcaf2Ybm83NV0tCmivqfvDg_GERXmpihFIjm0TSDT2Jsyt8UHZxZM3BkXsyApcm2CeJFPRPCfSamyhpiw/s320/SDC14938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518454409226187938" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Just 4 girls paddle boating in the ocean! :)</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The Lewis family came to visit us from Beijing on Saturday. It was so fun to have visitors! They organized our group so we will be able to meet on our own for church! We’re excited for that! It’s really cool doing the conference call, but sometimes it’s really hard to pay attention... staring at a white wall the whole time! Except for last week we had a visitor during church... </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcibIqRLcn9-e8auuXW634EQcgSPds2OywqI5fi962F6gO8Qu6DlILsiq5K9zXa7d3u1tEdpuvemUSyxuPBRmTOz1UkKV1hzqY9pUg4Jr59QjM1tOAUno3XGDNKzdEwNl9_WysGjjKJH8/s1600/SDC14952.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcibIqRLcn9-e8auuXW634EQcgSPds2OywqI5fi962F6gO8Qu6DlILsiq5K9zXa7d3u1tEdpuvemUSyxuPBRmTOz1UkKV1hzqY9pUg4Jr59QjM1tOAUno3XGDNKzdEwNl9_WysGjjKJH8/s320/SDC14952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518454402458080658" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This was seriously the biggest spider I have ever seen! I’m pretty sure he escaped from the Forbidden Forest and that it’s the offspring of Aragog!!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Like I said, this week has been crazy. On Monday morning Cierra and I rolled out of bed, put “professional clothes” on, and went to the flag ceremony at 7 AM. We hadn’t even done our hair, brushed our teeth... nothing! We were planning on going back up to our apartments after the ceremony and then getting everything ready for the day! Well... our plans were changed! Leslie and Heather woke up really sick that morning, so Lauren came running and begged us to teach. Of course we said yes... but it was crazy! If you know me at all you know I HAVE to eat breakfast. Well... there was no time for that. She found us, gave us Heather’s and Leslie’s lesson plans, and took us straight to our classrooms. Teaching itself went really well... I was just starving and felt pretty gross!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Tuesday was a full day of teaching at our school. It went really well! After all our classes we have a meeting with the English teachers. They pretty much tried to hand over the department to us. We tried explaining that we’re not allowed, much less qualified, to do that. It’s interesting trying to resolve problems in very broken English...</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Wednesday was spent doing everything we planned to do on Monday. That night we had FHE and played a lot of fun games. My group is a lot of fun! :) Have you ever played the Mexican horse name game? I learned it at EFY my first year... Someone (the person who is in on the game) assigns everyone a Mexican name. You hit your legs to make galloping sounds and yell “HOOF [insert name here]”. We spent a lot of time that night playing... Kayla went for rounds and rounds as “HOOF Arted” and didn’t catch on. She didn’t understand why the rest of us were laughing so hard. Childish? Maybe. Hilarious? Definitely.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thursday was another full day of teaching.... after we finally got there! The van was a half hour late picking us up. Once again, it can be very interesting trying to resolve problems when you’re not speaking the same language! Teaching went AWESOME! My classes are great. There are trouble makers and all that of course, but for the most part they are just good students! </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In my last class of the day I was calling students up to demonstrate actions for the rest of the class. I called on Tom. Now, the first day of class Tom was being a real handful, so I named him Tom after Tom Riddle. Since then he’s been pretty good. A little crazy sometimes, but who’s not? Tom has worn the same blue and yellow shirt everyday and he has short spiky hair. Well, I called Tom up and noticed he was wearing a different outfit... A princess shirt. And flowered leggings. Turns out Tom is a girl. WOOPS!!! HA! What a terrible blunder on my part! I started laughing so hard and my class had no idea what was going on! So yes. I have a little Chinese girl named Tom after the most evil wizard of all time. Classic.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hJXZF1rvdc7ygS6ky_PDbZEv8FUWp6ussHO8lqSBWIsr8KJ2t15kQ-ZoGIrwirqlSggWuEfoh3EZRL2irKc8JEETG4j_CJcKzYwn8PYuPo1HW6tJeJm9d9PXz74n-TjngRJQGcfTO0Q/s1600/DSCN0499.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hJXZF1rvdc7ygS6ky_PDbZEv8FUWp6ussHO8lqSBWIsr8KJ2t15kQ-ZoGIrwirqlSggWuEfoh3EZRL2irKc8JEETG4j_CJcKzYwn8PYuPo1HW6tJeJm9d9PXz74n-TjngRJQGcfTO0Q/s320/DSCN0499.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518454392586498866" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is Tom in the yellow shirt. See! Anyone could have made the same mistake! Sometimes girl first graders look like little boys! *cough* Madi *cough*</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our group found out on Thursday night that we had to teach Saturday because we have our vacation next week (Beijing, here I come!!!!). So Friday was spend doing a lot of last minute preparing. I’m currently teaching my kids parts of the body.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WUsChUMoMXQZIX0TPar6ovDPVTqmXHVl-6Y46S93I1o2IxnSck5JVXnTEh8rUtzgC1YjPMY-5_F80KGjXHTceiD4rwq0TbsKHiG_shY8_kJ4YjzlaNEQoOdRPlJeki2kom6tQleJce8/s1600/DSCN0492.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WUsChUMoMXQZIX0TPar6ovDPVTqmXHVl-6Y46S93I1o2IxnSck5JVXnTEh8rUtzgC1YjPMY-5_F80KGjXHTceiD4rwq0TbsKHiG_shY8_kJ4YjzlaNEQoOdRPlJeki2kom6tQleJce8/s320/DSCN0492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518454389769254018" border="0" /></a></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I spent a good amount of time putting this body together. It was a big hit. The kids loved it!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Friday night Cierra and I had the best idea ever: No Bake Cookies!!! Seriously. It was the most delicious thing I have eaten here. We didn’t have anywhere to actually make them into cookies, so we just ate the batter. DELICIOUS!!!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3rgzFiFO4iJLLbNUPyTnsBYBJQuo475xs3vO-fvV2sqLdcK2hgWkf0-CUxL19lzlDP6tY7VvDHhW3inWp-z6BnYEC5Lv5Ce-NP0KivYYRoGGpdFMjcnhk2wYSQ3xjtFC80Cv5Z3QPkc/s1600/DSCN0497.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3rgzFiFO4iJLLbNUPyTnsBYBJQuo475xs3vO-fvV2sqLdcK2hgWkf0-CUxL19lzlDP6tY7VvDHhW3inWp-z6BnYEC5Lv5Ce-NP0KivYYRoGGpdFMjcnhk2wYSQ3xjtFC80Cv5Z3QPkc/s320/DSCN0497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518454377987246226" border="0" /></a></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The biggest No Bake Cookie ever! :)</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Teaching Saturday went pretty well. I have one class that was really restless, but the rest of them were pretty good! I was so tired by the end of it... apparently my body could tell it was a Saturday and it was not used to being at school!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhBrV7hUo2vtE3DqlyFwGDezqK9W0wdansfqezS_HfCacz8EU4V5vu9YyHc1A3u_2A930l-x3RxUKwpW6_qNJykzNzf6qYj0KzAm1-Ki7C3yNkWrTcpVK75NpyEBk8biV5b6iZv8m-DQ/s1600/blog.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhBrV7hUo2vtE3DqlyFwGDezqK9W0wdansfqezS_HfCacz8EU4V5vu9YyHc1A3u_2A930l-x3RxUKwpW6_qNJykzNzf6qYj0KzAm1-Ki7C3yNkWrTcpVK75NpyEBk8biV5b6iZv8m-DQ/s320/blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518455189988044530" border="0" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">These are some of the kids I teach!<br /></span></p><p face="Helvetica" size="12px" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is my "family". Nate, Brian, Cheryl, Nancy, and Dan!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Tomorrow we’re going to celebrate Kaity’s birthday. We got a cake from the local bakery... I hope it’s ok! Heather says Chinese cake is different, but hey... at least it’s cake! :) I also have the opportunity to speak in church. You know how when people get up to speak they’re always like “I’m so glad I got this topic” blah blah blah and it fits right into their life? Well, that’s never happened to me. Until now. I got the topic of the Restoration. How does that fit into my life right now? Valid question. Well, ever since I came to China I have been thinking and reading a lot about the Restoration. My testimony has been strengthened so much on that particular matter (see the blog post about the Buddhist temple!!). I had just been talking to Sister Lewis about that particular subject and then soon after Stuart asked me to speak on it on Sunday. I’m actually excited! We’ll see how it goes! Two things are for sure... they’ll find me more entertaining than a white wall and less frightening then a giant spider. Well, at least I hope!</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Next week we’re heading off to Beijing! I don’t know if I’ll get another post done by then or not, but stay tuned to find out all about our Beijing escapades! :) Wo ai ni (I love you)!!! See you later! :)</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">P.S.- Ever seen an asian with a mullet? I have!</span></p></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-17539042552090724832010-09-15T01:15:00.001-07:002010-09-15T01:15:40.817-07:00And That’s When I Knew I Was In China!<p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">Hello world!! :) I hope everyone is happy at home! I’m happy here in China! :) It’s weird... even though I’m half a world away sometimes it doesn’t feel like it! It’s a different language, culture, and all that, but sometimes it seems like I’ll just go on a little drive and end up at home! But then there are moments where I am suddenly startled back to the realization that I truly am in CHINA. Some of those moments include when:</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-Being “white” was actually an ADVANTAGE in basketball!</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-We saw the price tag on concord grape juice... 189 Yuan.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-Getting dairy products is a nearly impossible feat.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-Having visitors who spoke English seemed like a Heaven sent miracle!</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-The lady next to me on the bus took out her phone and just took a picture of me.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-McDonald’s became one of my favorite restaurants!</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I cooked muffins and anything else you can imagine in a microwave. Apparently the Chinese don’t believe in ovens...</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I saw a little boy in a shirt with a little American flag on the front. On the back there was a bigger American flag and under it it said “Great Britain”.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I used a squatter... and had to bring my own toilet paper.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I tried to eavesdrop on someone’s conversation and couldn’t understand a word of it.</span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">-Taking a warm shower became a luxury.</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I was excited to go to sleep... on my board bed.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I booked my first hostel!</span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">-A fish jumped out of the tank in the market and was just flopping around in the middle of the meat section... no one did anything about it!</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I rode in a “Tudza” (“Rabbit” in English... they’re little taxis around our city. They are QUITE the experience)!</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I did my first video chat.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-September 11</span><sup><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">th</span></sup><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;"> came and went and no one but our little group noticed.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-Three of us teachers got photographed for the local newspaper. (Ya... I’m pretty much a celebrity! HA! Just kidding!)</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-We got excited because there was something worth eating at dinner in the cafeteria… 2 nights in a row. Definitely a record!</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I realized Peanut Butter has become one of the staple of my diet.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-Saying “thank you” in Chinese is more natural than English...</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I had my first formal Chinese class.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-Seeing fireworks nightly is the norm.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-Cierra, Samantha, and I were drawing pictures in the sand to communicate with someone.</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-Our school asked us to pretty much run the English program… uh… ok? That’s not what we’re here for… we’ll just keep teaching, thanks! We’re not exactly qualified to run your school! Haha!</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">-I woke up with a swollen lip from a bug bite in the night… twice!</span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">…And those are some of the times when I knew I was in China!</span></p>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-72316016603220403242010-09-08T08:23:00.001-07:002010-09-08T08:28:16.804-07:00“More Firsts in China”Tuesday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NATE!!! I love you, brother!) was mine and Cierra’s first day at our new school. We were picked up at 7:10 from our school. The school we teach at is about 40 minutes away. When we got there we were seriously like celebrities! We were escorted into the school... we are the first American teachers to teach there, so everyone was enthralled by us! We were introduced to the headmaster and given a tour of the school. Then, we FINALLY started teaching.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pqdriRf_piXwrf3t0fWya08RbSNxApGx1zAGXJm3BQVhF7ObJi7dk8DyN5h4dnxL6PgwSX94PnAa2Tigbwf7Ux5Tyeh4eboSp1aMZRcIB6XDO5BxISwcAX3cE7g_2C1RlAaig7lc0VY/s1600/DSCN0437.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pqdriRf_piXwrf3t0fWya08RbSNxApGx1zAGXJm3BQVhF7ObJi7dk8DyN5h4dnxL6PgwSX94PnAa2Tigbwf7Ux5Tyeh4eboSp1aMZRcIB6XDO5BxISwcAX3cE7g_2C1RlAaig7lc0VY/s320/DSCN0437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514564762045909154" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is the name of our new school... ya...<br /></div><br /><br />The number of students at this school makes it impossible for us to use ILP’s traditional teaching method. So, pretty much we had to take all our training and everything we’ve been doing up to this point and throw it out the window. We just had to wing it! I teach 4 classes of about 20 students. Cierra has about the same load. This is these kids’ first english class... it was REALLY hard. They literally had no idea what I was saying. However, it was so cool! By the end they could do Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes and the Hokey Pokey! They could also follow all my simple commands. I taught them about 10 commands and they were able to recognize them even when I mixed them up or asked them individually. Teaching these kids is a lot of repetition, practicing, modeling, and acting things out. It’s surprisingly fun! I’ve really discovered this trip that I love teaching. I think it’s a blast! The kids were really well behaved and eager to learn, which definitely helped. They also LOVED us. We’re the fun teachers from America!<br /><br /><br />Since this is their first english class I got to give my kids their english names. My first class is full of my closest friends and family’s names. I just did it randomly, but Nancy, Brian, Nate, Cheryl, and Dan are the smartest kids in the class! So, kudos to you family! :) Alli won’t listen, Madi won’t talk, Steph rocks the middle part, Dustin is STUBBORN, and Kye picked his nose all class. The rest of you were pretty normal... HAHA! I love having little Asian children counterparts of my friends and family. It’s quite entertaining.<br /><br /><br />My second class is all the ILP volunteers’ names with a few other random names thrown in there. Stuart will be thrilled to know that his namesake just sat and hit himself with the english book all class! My third class is full of my extended family’s names and my friends’ families’ names. To make it easy for me to remember I sat them strategically... Sherri, Robert, Morgan, Darren, Chase, and Tanner all sit by each other. I sat Mark and Janna next to each other... things like that! Haha! It’s excellent!<br /><br /><br />My fourth class... well, that class has Jim and Pam (the Office) in it, but then it’s mostly Harry Potter names (the simple ones). My Arthur is the goofiest looking kid you’ll ever see! Fred and George look alike... :) (to be honest, a lot of them look alike to me... ha!) I fear I may have doomed the kid I named Tom to a life of the dark arts! And my Harry.... he has round glasses!!!! I was so excited when I saw him!<br /><br /><br />Judge me for my naming technique if you want, but I already have most of their names memorized!! :) I’ll DEFINITELY remember Harry.<br /><br /><br />Once in the morning and once in the afternoon we get a break. Miss Tao (one of the teachers who we work with) took me to the teacher office (Cierra teaches in a different building). There was this teacher there who knew no english, but was fascinated with me! She kept having Miss Tao translate things to tell and ask me. She was shocked at how “big” my family is! Every time my water got even half way empty she’d go and fill it up. And during both breaks she gave me an apple! It was so funny. I wasn’t hungry, but I didn’t want to be rude or anything.... ha! :) We were asked SO many questions. Everyone wanted to know where to visit in America. We asked where in America they were going... their answer? “Um... America!” We tried to explain the concept of states, but they just weren’t grasping it. They loved when we asked them stuff about China. It was really fun! And I think I’m going to LOVE it there!<br /><br /><br />My group is still getting along SO well! We have so much fun! Right now we’re trying to figure out what’s going to happen for vacations. It’s really hard because everyone wants to travel together, but not everyone necessarily wants to go to the same place and it’s not really practical for ALL of us to go together! I’m stoked for our first vacation! :)<br /><br /><br />The other night Cierra and I came home to a surprise on our door. Heather calls us the Wizards... we don’t really know how it happened. It just did! But this is what we found on our door:<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vZgF9hUt4nPF4oF4_mo9A5v9wPAmpDPH3oyOYV68hYTpkAtFkrdBkTE4KZ3pbY05LgR7DWmY8I2ZpYCPDWZyqIRYNqgVKL2jOaZGN7uQd-yBgmhZuXZRK8bxgIghhkyBxvG9UdnGKG4/s1600/DSCN0436.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vZgF9hUt4nPF4oF4_mo9A5v9wPAmpDPH3oyOYV68hYTpkAtFkrdBkTE4KZ3pbY05LgR7DWmY8I2ZpYCPDWZyqIRYNqgVKL2jOaZGN7uQd-yBgmhZuXZRK8bxgIghhkyBxvG9UdnGKG4/s320/DSCN0436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514564416596868818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We LOVE it! :)<br /></div><br /><br />On Monday night Samantha so kindly let me use her Skype (mine wouldn’t work... long story...) and I got to talk to my parents for the first time since I’ve been here! It was so fun! It’s amazing that I was here in China on Monday night and my parents were just waking up Monday morning in the states... And we could just video chat! It’s so cool! I was so happy to be able to talk to them! I don’t currently have Skype, but I have Logitech Vid now! So if anyone has that I’d love to talk to you! It just either has to be early in the morning or late evening because of the time difference! :)<br /><br /><br />I hope things are going well for everyone back at home!!! I’m having a great time! It’s already been such a worthwhile experience! Stay tuned for more adventures and more firsts!! :)Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-64914266424273225372010-09-06T09:49:00.000-07:002010-09-06T12:16:50.021-07:00More adventures...This weekend was awesome! We are having a lot of fun adventures here!<br /><br /><br />It all started during the day on Friday. Since Cierra and I don’t start at our school until next week we had the day off. We decided to go into downtown Wehai and get massages.... for less than 8 bucks! :) Mine was absolutely delightful! It felt so good, especially after sleeping on the “beds” we have!! Cierra either had a really strong lady or she is a pansy... We haven’t been able to decipher which yet! ;)<br /><br /><br />Friday night was karaoke night!!! :) Our AWESOME foreign coordinator, Kelly, treated us to a night of karaoke. Oh man. Let me tell you, the Chinese know how to do karaoke right!!!! Wow! The place was insane! You got these private rooms with dance lights and all this crazy stuff! It was an awesome time! I just love our group! We were all singing, dancing, and having the time of our lives! I think it says a lot about how much we’ve already bonded because no one was sitting out, scared, or holding back even the tiniest bit! It was seriously a BLAST! I wish I could take you all... but alas, it’s in China! Oh and yes, they had songs in English!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6W4iDhJb-X1x2esvxyaSnSsAdYrTKgLTUv_gaQAu_OoTeflS0tiXDp9YqT9dbql5nSccmvtMBk_gui_n9xl67bKClM9sZVwzxrhlBUNAS6HlVQrt7igbq6YrBXk6Dd6ZnNwMV2ZcWuI/s1600/DSCN0352.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6W4iDhJb-X1x2esvxyaSnSsAdYrTKgLTUv_gaQAu_OoTeflS0tiXDp9YqT9dbql5nSccmvtMBk_gui_n9xl67bKClM9sZVwzxrhlBUNAS6HlVQrt7igbq6YrBXk6Dd6ZnNwMV2ZcWuI/s320/DSCN0352.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513845808359129554" /></a><br /><br />We were singing our little hearts out!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSHeEuDZUoDJr7Q25yWFcCH8rHTYMbXmXi4bDLhtAx_KQAobdnDcAsBHEd2UQ582fhyphenhyphenDotI3O3S2TgRLNBnParAETpJaNp00wT_Eyvf7RbikE10mXIMu70-Ia_bkvqHLo_WdwS4fmP3w/s1600/DSCN0373.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSHeEuDZUoDJr7Q25yWFcCH8rHTYMbXmXi4bDLhtAx_KQAobdnDcAsBHEd2UQ582fhyphenhyphenDotI3O3S2TgRLNBnParAETpJaNp00wT_Eyvf7RbikE10mXIMu70-Ia_bkvqHLo_WdwS4fmP3w/s320/DSCN0373.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513845798969722002" /></a><br /><br />We were all just singing and dancing together. This was most of the girls in our room<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf1Jl_UYz5le1-4PAzXBH1IO6OCO1ayBUjmtqMxoPlRT1K9mfVW9QlapdkD8u8fReWmTFS3rFrlD1K5K5K8iHfNfjHtiw5fK9iVYYn-WUVgOlmqakscJbg5Jiu7y3SxnaGn3wgAEESOU/s1600/CHINA+GROUP.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf1Jl_UYz5le1-4PAzXBH1IO6OCO1ayBUjmtqMxoPlRT1K9mfVW9QlapdkD8u8fReWmTFS3rFrlD1K5K5K8iHfNfjHtiw5fK9iVYYn-WUVgOlmqakscJbg5Jiu7y3SxnaGn3wgAEESOU/s320/CHINA+GROUP.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513845791811247810" /></a><br /><br />This is our entire group! I love them! Kelly is the Asian in the front doing a peace sign! Awesome! haha! Love it!<br /><br />Saturday our group took a bus and went to this Buddhist Temple. It was beautiful there! There was this huge water show (like the Bellagio, but not quite that level) that was really fun! We got to see a ton of statues, temples, gardens, etc. It was a good experience to see a bit more of the history/culture/beliefs of the Chinese.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwuNHVQX1QPO1_Wuvn8e4srz0Y4RSyGwvwN9N3iwIMzUWxlDpg4b854BMaYCRjkv5dleILkp83_BAYSWXzHU-RsVJusLyGB5KFnxXdsVxxlb1JsXmLzLkl6yM5uG1Kj20lEDqOjc1WBs/s1600/CHINA+Anna,+Kayla,+Jenni+.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwuNHVQX1QPO1_Wuvn8e4srz0Y4RSyGwvwN9N3iwIMzUWxlDpg4b854BMaYCRjkv5dleILkp83_BAYSWXzHU-RsVJusLyGB5KFnxXdsVxxlb1JsXmLzLkl6yM5uG1Kj20lEDqOjc1WBs/s320/CHINA+Anna,+Kayla,+Jenni+.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513881011910385826" /></a><br /><br />These are my friends Anna and Kayla. We’re at the water show!<br /><br /><br />There was one statue that was HUGE! It seriously reminded me of going to the Statue of Liberty... just with a lot less security! ha! It was really awesome and had an AMAZING view. You could see the whole park, the mountains, the city, and the ocean. It was breathtaking.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX9kCXeI9H-Kaxzp6qamEQRCCAy607PbcanBe5Jgaq_XUEawFPzhrDV1OUHJcHPwGzkf7DcvTalP3zOXAf_Op6_KcoU0dXxaxu04JoKLI2Vi6oHhX5wGcQEJJLfnTfI0wBE7bvhfrDX0/s1600/CHINA+jumping.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX9kCXeI9H-Kaxzp6qamEQRCCAy607PbcanBe5Jgaq_XUEawFPzhrDV1OUHJcHPwGzkf7DcvTalP3zOXAf_Op6_KcoU0dXxaxu04JoKLI2Vi6oHhX5wGcQEJJLfnTfI0wBE7bvhfrDX0/s320/CHINA+jumping.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513881005081652754" /></a><br /><br />This is the statue. Now I know what you’re thinking... “How many times did you have to try before you got that picture?” Once! Ya. Mad props to our photographer, Lauren!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj-6B_2qID44Ybg7TI4XTXepkibr1Cb98rj6xQ6TEKbxwm9U77VGsW-dbE1okW3xpdyNhBEDZHpzGfB4s8tnMg1kXSJchJdbOVAAJvfV7aQn4rZxiN5dqILfcKayb3742BgybmTKLGQY/s1600/DSCN0427-1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj-6B_2qID44Ybg7TI4XTXepkibr1Cb98rj6xQ6TEKbxwm9U77VGsW-dbE1okW3xpdyNhBEDZHpzGfB4s8tnMg1kXSJchJdbOVAAJvfV7aQn4rZxiN5dqILfcKayb3742BgybmTKLGQY/s320/DSCN0427-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513881538684033074" /></a><br /><br />Cierra, Samantha, and I got sweet parasols! Now we’re sure to fit in!<br /><br /><br />Going to the Buddhist temple was a neat experience. It was definitely peaceful there. It helped me see how there is truth all around us. While I am not Buddhist and don’t necessarily agree with all of their beliefs, I felt that there was some inspiration and truths within their practices. Being here has helped me understand and gain a stronger testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was peaceful at this temple, but there was a spirit and feeling missing. It did make me miss being able to go to the LDS Temple every week! I am excited for when I get to do that again! :)<br /><br /><br />Today we got our Skype church to work. We have a cool set up! There were 26 different calls connected and 94 people listening in this week! I am grateful for the technology we have! It makes it possible for me to interact with people of my own faith and to keep in contact with all my friends and families at home!<br /><br /><br />Sundays are a little hard for everyone in our group. We’ve come to the conclusion that it’s because back at home we all usually spend this day with our families and have delicious food... neither of which we have here! If I were back at home I’d be going to my Grandma Slagowski’s for dinner tonight... the first Sunday of the month! I’ll DEFINITELY be thinking of that when I’m eating in the cafeteria tonight... I hope my family knows I love and miss them!! That’s what I miss most (don’t worry friends, you are a very close second!!)... My dad with his big smile and ability to make you happy (except me in the mornings...), my mom with her crazy connections and answers, my brother who entertains me nonstop, and the most perfect couple in the world- Cheryl and Dan with their constant ideas for games and fun! I am very lucky to have a friendship with my siblings and I love and miss them! <br /><br /><br />Anyway... that was kind of a rant! :) I’m excited to start at my school this next week! It will be nice to finally get our permanent assignments and classes!! I’ll let you know how that goes and keep you informed of our journeys! Love you!<br /><br /><br />I'll send the last picture next... it's being weird.Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-16706523999681512172010-09-02T06:56:00.000-07:002010-09-02T07:10:20.580-07:00One week update!I’ve been a resident of China for over a week now. These are some things I have learned that I think you all should know:<br /><br /><br /> 1. When guys are hot here they just lift up their shirts and walk around with their bellies hanging out.<br /> 2. China is like anywhere else in the respect that cafeteria food is NASTY!! When I first got here I was so worried thinking that all the food tasted like the “food” in the cafeteria. It doesn’t! I’ve been to some DELICIOUS places!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt4Ta4k-2u_SerkYAji8rhCD2Q3Qjw_Gm1lPuFt_c5Pnl2INmcE0KZL8Pev3bEajnADPrHbcGekVeCb5lVGLa8Ujiqd91I_tuI5Xrgq-zdgWffKvajgIXEUxWQzKjOXOBysokB0SQgZM/s1600/DSCN0289.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt4Ta4k-2u_SerkYAji8rhCD2Q3Qjw_Gm1lPuFt_c5Pnl2INmcE0KZL8Pev3bEajnADPrHbcGekVeCb5lVGLa8Ujiqd91I_tuI5Xrgq-zdgWffKvajgIXEUxWQzKjOXOBysokB0SQgZM/s320/DSCN0289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512316417989723426" /></a><br />This is a group of us at a fabulous little dumpling place! YUM!<br /> <br />3. There are NO traffic rules. Lanes are more of a guideline.... they use their horns A LOT. They squeeze into TINY spaces, even if it means driving on the sidewalk. They don’t believe in helmets or seat belts. <br /> 4. As for pedestrians... they do not have the right of way. Crosswalks are rarely used... it’s more like a giant game of frogger.<br /> 5. Very few Chinese people believe in diapers. More often you see pants with a giant hole in the crotch and babies being held over garbage cans. Lovely...<br /> 6. People will stop to speak ANY English they know to you... which usually consists of “hello” “hi” and “beautiful”, but when you try to speak Chinese to them they just ignore you!<br /> 7. There are a million toilet shops lining the streets, yet there are “squatters” everywhere... <br /> 8. The equivalent to a “your mom...” joke is “your ancestors...”<br /> 9. Staring at white people is not rude... neither is taking pictures... or filming... or stalking... I had this one girl follow me for like 20 minutes at the beach. She kept looking at my nails, hair, and trying to read my book over my shoulder... <br /> 10. They really use fireworks to celebrate anything! They’re just always going off in the street! It’s pretty sweet!<br /><br /><br />Those are some things I have observed over the time I’ve been here! It’s really interesting immersing yourself in a different culture like this! It’s amazing how different things really are! I’m learning to love certain aspects of it. At the same time, I’m finding out how grateful I am for my own culture!<br /><br /><br />Things are going so great here for me! Our group is quite big and they’re splitting us up to teach. 9 are staying here, 8 are going to one school, and 2 are going to yet another school (then there’s our 2 head teachers. One is over the people staying, one is over the people traveling). We’re all still living here together and doing everything together, we’re just being split up to teach. Who are the lucky 2 going by themselves? That’s right, Cierra and me! Originally it was going to be Cierra, Samantha, and me, but they needed one more person in the other group, so they took Samantha from us! It’s ok though! She’s going to be teaching at a WAY nice school, so that should be great! <br /><br /><br />We don’t really have any information about the school we’ll be teaching at. All I know is that we officially start there on Monday. Chinese people tend to be a little disorganized... so, we probably won’t know details until Saturday or Sunday! Haha! Lucky us! I’m excited though! We’ve been teaching, but it’s been in random places where we’ve been needed. I’ve loved teaching and I love those kids! But I’m excited to get my permanent class! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yWcBkLJ0CLTvTRM66mVmrnzX5SV1pi151xLgftVcQAvapp0fMOWRgihfN_ZQEIqkgKUDogmzyG7ZnioL0TqB14Y9eTzplDfGU92GEhIYlRlqoIqxF4pfclw3GomGsEakom7Cd0iKrqw/s1600/DSCN0277.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yWcBkLJ0CLTvTRM66mVmrnzX5SV1pi151xLgftVcQAvapp0fMOWRgihfN_ZQEIqkgKUDogmzyG7ZnioL0TqB14Y9eTzplDfGU92GEhIYlRlqoIqxF4pfclw3GomGsEakom7Cd0iKrqw/s320/DSCN0277.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512316431108194050" /></a><br /><br />These are some of the kids I've been teaching. The two in the front are Kyle and Coco! They were little angels! :)<br /><br /><br />Our group is going to start Chinese lessons soon (once again... Chinese people tend to be a little disorganized...). But I’ve been really anxious to learn! Heather will tell me how to say something (at meal time, at the store, teaching... any random time), so I’ll come back to my dorm and write it on a sticky note. Cierra and I have sticky notes covering our cabinets! We’re trying hard to learn!<br /><br /><br />Lately, Heather has been getting bombarded by our group since she’s the only one who knows Chinese. Well, she doesn’t mind HELPING people, but she really doesn’t like DOING it for them! She came in the to our room the other night and saw us trying to learn how to count! She was so excited! Cierra and I left for a few minutes, and when we came back she had labeled our room in Chinese! It’s awesome! Heather is SO hilarious and I just love her! She’s been an amazing asset and blessing to our group!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiREhumKVGxq-k6y3fbmIDSRWp4HK83Dp1n2EfuXzvd8asH0IzOO_KHeqm-tWrGTCXAcG-30u3edJ5Y10f9p71NQt_azl88OIiiLa_O1qiSikUd_A_S9IZkU1_HC8TafVv_E2PDSSLRY/s1600/DSCN0304.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiREhumKVGxq-k6y3fbmIDSRWp4HK83Dp1n2EfuXzvd8asH0IzOO_KHeqm-tWrGTCXAcG-30u3edJ5Y10f9p71NQt_azl88OIiiLa_O1qiSikUd_A_S9IZkU1_HC8TafVv_E2PDSSLRY/s320/DSCN0304.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512316406833102322" /></a><br /><br />This is an example of Heather's labeling! It's ALL over our room! :)<br /><br /><br />A group of us went to the night market a few nights ago! It was way cool! I am now the proud owner of a Hello Kitty watch. I figured it would help me blend in a little! :) Plus I needed a cheap watch to keep track of class time... ha! But we saw some crazy things at the night market... skewers full of chicken heads, cockroaches, squids, and many other unnamable things. At least we don’t have that stuff in our cafeteria!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6s3ZMMO0cT_ZsDgeKJGqwXtUgdU8gmySIsALJ8B1bzjFkH7fvMOLr2jquw_JHQrgH2YqFrgz2kQA263eyVxxUqM2tuTrDGBEY83fpNiGBiToapHUuXh2GLzDrTvn3q-yjKX8n6hjo3w/s1600/jjjjj.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6s3ZMMO0cT_ZsDgeKJGqwXtUgdU8gmySIsALJ8B1bzjFkH7fvMOLr2jquw_JHQrgH2YqFrgz2kQA263eyVxxUqM2tuTrDGBEY83fpNiGBiToapHUuXh2GLzDrTvn3q-yjKX8n6hjo3w/s320/jjjjj.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512316400652810722" /></a><br /><br />This is my new watch. There's also a little taste of the night market in the background! haha!<br /><br /><br />I hope everything is going well back home! I’ll keep you updated! Love you!Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-12007118173054337412010-08-29T22:59:00.000-07:002010-09-02T07:41:47.355-07:00Checking in from China!Greetings! I’m checking in from China! :) Living in China is a very interesting experience. Even within just one week I feel like I’ve already experienced a great deal of personal growth! Let me share some of my experiences and the lessons I’ve learned! <br /><br /><br />We started teaching the first full day we were here! It was REALLY good for me that first day (as I’ve mentioned). The second day went even better! My lesson was really good, the kids were great for me, and I felt really good about it! I had so much fun teaching that day and I wanted to steal Molly, Coco, and Kyle and bring them back to the U.S. with me! I love those kids! The third day of teaching, however, was a catastrophe! It was a Friday, so of course the kids were rowdy! We couldn’t get ANYTHING done and no amount of discipline worked! It was intense. Oh well! Monday will go better! :)<br /><br /><br />Teaching these kids has already taught ME so much! First of all, patience. They barely know the language I am speaking to them. Instead of getting frustrated, if i try again (usually a little slower) they almost always realize what I’m saying! They are also a very rambunctious group, so patience is required there, too! Another thing we really try to do is love these kids! These are first or second graders in a boarding school! Their Chinese teachers are VERY strict and they don’t even have a family when they go home. Just a little room, a care taker, and cooks. When we teach with love they respond so much better!! These kids need to feel like they’re loved, and I’m honored to be one to help them feel that way! And in turn, they love us! They give us big hugs and are so excited to see us in the cafeteria or around campus!! :)<br /><br /><br />It has been raining non stop since we arrived. Today there is finally some sunshine and everyone is SO excited! Anyway... I’ve learned that Utah is really unique weather wise (and in all other ways, too!). For example, if it’s raining you can wait a few hours and then it will clear up and be nice the rest of the day. It’s true what they say... wait 10 minutes and the weather will change! Not here! When it rains, it rains for a good week straight! And it rains HARD! I haven’t been dry since I stepped off that bus!<br /><br />Around our living areas there are cats. Cats everywhere. We’re not allowed to touch them... One day Cierra and I had our door open and this cat just came into our room! I named it Chinese Cat. Some of the other people in my group named it Spencer, but I think my name is much better! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILH_kVbfYz_P4WAQgIcHHlv4AtW46BQ4tq9_FxJ2_n5ikUtCwk6L_dPg_I4ZnbSR-x4Q-ycHVgL_QXqA7I7mKoPybkuWnkXvu9Dldk-lIFi8JZSLrOlBGFbQNRT7OC-ohqac8zm5h_4Q/s1600/DSCN0190.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILH_kVbfYz_P4WAQgIcHHlv4AtW46BQ4tq9_FxJ2_n5ikUtCwk6L_dPg_I4ZnbSR-x4Q-ycHVgL_QXqA7I7mKoPybkuWnkXvu9Dldk-lIFi8JZSLrOlBGFbQNRT7OC-ohqac8zm5h_4Q/s320/DSCN0190.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511079962902115282" /></a><br /><br />On Saturday we braved the rain and decided to go into downtown Weihai. It’s about a half hour on the bus. It was so fun! Our group, guided by our awesome local friend Kelly, explored the city! We went to the “Happy Gates”. It’s rumored that if you walk on the big brass sculpture you will find your happiness! I’ll let you know if that’s true! :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBIll9p7jM_zObA8Qx05JjVeAjjIW201TnFRhmPAHACs1TaI2O_94vjVUIlFe6U5tlqQCc1-8HiueGNVPLR5G0Fm5A39RB_ksP0opCU2JrcJcpObqdBXxZIK_kMqvQmyiH4U1KN7d_sY/s1600/DSCN0220.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBIll9p7jM_zObA8Qx05JjVeAjjIW201TnFRhmPAHACs1TaI2O_94vjVUIlFe6U5tlqQCc1-8HiueGNVPLR5G0Fm5A39RB_ksP0opCU2JrcJcpObqdBXxZIK_kMqvQmyiH4U1KN7d_sY/s320/DSCN0220.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511079951091115666" /></a><br /><br /><br />We found all these way cool and cheap markets! I haven’t really bought anything yet because I don’t want to over do it my first week! I need to get accustomed to prices and bartering! We got completely lost in the city when Kelly left. Luckily we had Heather who could ask directions from a local and he could guide us where we needed to go!<br /><br /><br />Before leaving the city we had some dinner. MCDONALD’S! Now, usually I don’t like McDonald’s, but it was amazing! Don’t get me wrong, the food isn’t BAD or anything at the school... it’s just different. It’s hard to get used to. There’s VERY little variety, and it all just kinda blends together. So even after a week it’s getting a little monotonous! But french fries.... YUMMY!!! And to those of you who know me well, this will be no big surprise to you. One of the hardest things for me has been the lack of ice cream and chocolate. There’s a very limited supply, and their versions are just not quite the same (milk ice?!). But a hot fudge sundae from McDonald’s... It was the greatest thing I’ve ever tasted. I ate one... and then got another. Ya, call me fat if you want, but it was worth it! :) It was like being reunited with an old friend!!<br /><br />Today was the Sabbath day! Even in China there is a special feeling to this day! We are part of the Beijing China International District Branch. We call in on Skype. There are people scattered all throughout China. President and Sister Lewis are already taking good care of us! Today our internet connection wouldn’t hold, so we didn’t really get to listen in. We had permission from President Lewis, so we had the Sacrament. I’m very grateful to have Priesthood holders in our group! We had crackers on a dinner tray for bread, and used the desk drawer as a water tray. It was quite the experience. Afterwards, since we couldn’t really listen in to our meeting, Stuart just gave a quick thought and we had a bit of a testimony meeting. It was a really cool experience! No matter where you are or what you have to work with, the Spirit is the same! The Spirit and unity of that meeting were so strong. I fell blessed to be in this group. There are so many incredible people I’m learning so much from! I am really grateful to have this opportunity. It is so amazing in so many different ways!<br /><br /><br />A big group of us decided to go on a Sunday walk. We heard about this trail behind our school, and we decided to go on that. WELL... it turned into quite the experience!! About 30 bug bites later and quite the adventurous walk we are back and safe! It was fun though. I just itch. I’ve accepted that I’m just going to itch most of the time here. There are so many bugs!!<br /><br /><br />Many of the lessons I’ve learned here don’t have a specific experience tied to them... it’s many things combined. For one thing, I’ve learned how good home is. Even the poor in America live much better than many here! I sleep on a board, my bathroom is disgusting... the plumbing can’t even handle toilet paper... the streets are dirty, you can’t drink the water, and so much more! I really do come from a blessed and prospered land! But not matter our circumstance, we can be HAPPY!! And we are! We are so happy and having fabulous experiences! It’s also amazing that we can share our beliefs and are free to do believe and think what we want. I pray that one day the country of China will be opened to the Church and these people I’m growing to love will have the opportunity to have the blessings that come from being a member of the Church!<br /><br /><br />Well, I hope you everything is well back home! I love you all the way from China! :)Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-87234668222964634322010-08-29T22:32:00.000-07:002010-08-29T22:58:06.752-07:00And so it begins...(As blogspot is blocked in China, my dear friend, Michelle Falk, will be posting my blog for me! THANKS!!!)<br /><br /><br />Ni hao from Weihai!!!!! WOW! It’s already been an adventure unlike any other! I have no concept of time right now! Let me update you on my experiences thus far!<br /><br /><br />Saturday night I said goodbye to my friends and family! Madi, Alli, Ben, and my siblings ended up staying up all night talking and playing games! It was so much fun! I said goodbye to my Cheryl, Dan, Nate, and my pets. It was harder than I thought for me. Sunday morning at 6:30 I met my group at the airport. My dear friends Alli, Madi, and Steph accompanied my parents and me to the airport. They are the best!!! I will miss them more than I can say! I checked my luggage... both bags were 49 lbs exactly! WOOT WOOT! That couldn’t have been more perfect... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fZN-xoSyW6YdDe-zc7MpFpAZaTInVOwE8QgIxXi19RGyUXkTsIieCgElHYiYzE0uXy76dfpfT8y5SD2gZYuNmUlj1RKEVo1bPFURBbh0yVvAZnUmwRAECXfnyQtnUDcR9iBjd9qOeCs/s1600/DSCN0126.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fZN-xoSyW6YdDe-zc7MpFpAZaTInVOwE8QgIxXi19RGyUXkTsIieCgElHYiYzE0uXy76dfpfT8y5SD2gZYuNmUlj1RKEVo1bPFURBbh0yVvAZnUmwRAECXfnyQtnUDcR9iBjd9qOeCs/s320/DSCN0126.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511076702919471586" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraoCE44Q-C4gwLxoQucLbSilXLrHSIrnE907KD9HJfMAsBjq2G5MutduclH46RVzma4Zq4N6bO375e__msaH__XUt4mgQmtNT-KsJ0qakCvEw8YExKNPuJfxzI1JsD1TwegABUftdRF8/s1600/DSCN0127.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraoCE44Q-C4gwLxoQucLbSilXLrHSIrnE907KD9HJfMAsBjq2G5MutduclH46RVzma4Zq4N6bO375e__msaH__XUt4mgQmtNT-KsJ0qakCvEw8YExKNPuJfxzI1JsD1TwegABUftdRF8/s320/DSCN0127.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511076690536493042" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEhjGUjadZcpJYHMgP9ZHirrS1DVLOUGsFRX1LgGAWN185ZpGmrAwMhKvg0ViHvexkLwEk-kRZ6aErEe5eEzKbSUW4LquuxWSRf3fdoSHtudK5eJ2QjsvYeRb5ElpmIUk613tAR84OhI/s1600/DSCN0141.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEhjGUjadZcpJYHMgP9ZHirrS1DVLOUGsFRX1LgGAWN185ZpGmrAwMhKvg0ViHvexkLwEk-kRZ6aErEe5eEzKbSUW4LquuxWSRf3fdoSHtudK5eJ2QjsvYeRb5ElpmIUk613tAR84OhI/s320/DSCN0141.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511076682424783138" /></a><br /><br /><br />It was Cierra’s birthday the day we left. Samantha and I tried to make it a good birthday... I mean, at least we got her a Cinnabon! Anyway... first we flew to San Francisco. That wasn’t bad at all. I sat next to a kid in my group named Matt Goodrich on the plane. We were able to bond over lame jokes on our last names (“Bad Poor” and “OH! Like the guy from Monster’s Inc?! Mike Wazowski!)<br /><br /><br />The next flight was intense. No one is really sure how long it was... it’s still an ongoing debate. But it was LONG! I probably slept for 2/3 of it. The rest of the time I watched free movies! I finally saw How to Train Your Dragon and the Back Up Plan. They fed us two dinners... kinda weird! But I didn’t go hungry! I sat next to a newlywed couple. They were so cute and nice. They helped me with my bags and woke me up at meal times! :) The weirdest thing about the flight was that even though I knew it should be getting later and later in the day, the sky stayed bright as midday the whole time! It’s kind of an unnerving experience! I really liked Korean Air though! The flight attendants’ outfits are SWEET! As we landed in Korea I took my first steps off the American Continent! Still a little strange... It was so hot and muggy in the Korean airport, so we were actually happy to get on the plane again!<br /><br /><br />Our next flight was from Seoul, Korea to Beijing, China. It wasn’t too long... We got another dinner though. At that point I felt like I should be eating breakfast, but it was just evening there! I had my first battle with food. I’ve decided I want to try as much stuff as possible while here... and some of the stuff in the dinner was testing my will. I tried it all though! Come to find out, I don’t like Bean Curd with Oriental Dressing. And apparently slightly flavored rice stuck together with some raisins in it counts as a dessert in some places. Anyway, I couldn’t get any cool pictures of flying over China because it got dark! We went through immigration, and finally got all our stuff! Not one of the 21 of us lost any luggage, so that’s a miracle! :) <br /><br /><br />You would think that we’d be there at this point... nope! It was time to hop on a bus. For 12 hours. Luckily I was still exhausted, so I slept most of the time. Toward the end of the drive, our driver started a movie for us. Oh man! It was so stereotypical. Karate, colored hair... all that and more. It was actually pretty entertaining! <br /><br /><br />We FINALLY got to our school at about 11 AM on the 24th (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DUSTIN!!!!) It was still Monday night back at home. Still weirds me out. We lugged all our bags up 5 floors... 100 stairs. We counted. You would think they’d heard of an elevator over here, but apparently not. We finally got to unpack and settle in a little. Our rooms are pretty nice. The bed is not comfortable at all. I have sept on more comfortable beds at girls camp. Seriously though. And our pillow is a bean bag. Haven’t the Asians heard of feathers?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy221VYaZUeAAYfPmkxgBWRFW5pfUT6e6HwlOPW59hWyn9QvgHbVjqD1CVDYXl5FXKwI3lqmgbz6A8Rab_Ho356bO628fL0JqTpDFx-FZDc6ROCgeDqJCUg46wjKVtN-bbcssBZMXv08Q/s1600/DSCN0173.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy221VYaZUeAAYfPmkxgBWRFW5pfUT6e6HwlOPW59hWyn9QvgHbVjqD1CVDYXl5FXKwI3lqmgbz6A8Rab_Ho356bO628fL0JqTpDFx-FZDc6ROCgeDqJCUg46wjKVtN-bbcssBZMXv08Q/s320/DSCN0173.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511078045020004418" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KYe3faBHvyrs2lhAFLB3r6m6-vlPsZ8xbUSbA__Oa2di2N9Kope8jo5Unf0w2sjt_bHyYsF3o_jiiXMgXhjqYX8u7hAdXTo7mtrqE5H7FjvbbLSEKsGYGWFbcy1HMj5aHDkNEObzmcc/s1600/DSCN0151.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KYe3faBHvyrs2lhAFLB3r6m6-vlPsZ8xbUSbA__Oa2di2N9Kope8jo5Unf0w2sjt_bHyYsF3o_jiiXMgXhjqYX8u7hAdXTo7mtrqE5H7FjvbbLSEKsGYGWFbcy1HMj5aHDkNEObzmcc/s320/DSCN0151.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511076671055291842" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpDqtY7h0Ismq1vxw8TNckbO_q3SQueDcS4pth4NyW9hM7-zLSdLQXp0KBvEi1Z3ttrp5nC5ypQDheiIHOKjCmNCtGTVbxd_4QNIzV6KqKQeMqBBV3qJgub_dzh-du-xTYyqpu5YxKbs/s1600/DSCN0171.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpDqtY7h0Ismq1vxw8TNckbO_q3SQueDcS4pth4NyW9hM7-zLSdLQXp0KBvEi1Z3ttrp5nC5ypQDheiIHOKjCmNCtGTVbxd_4QNIzV6KqKQeMqBBV3qJgub_dzh-du-xTYyqpu5YxKbs/s320/DSCN0171.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511076655867352034" /></a><br /><br />Another things the Chinese apparently haven’t thought up yet: showers. That’s right. We have a shower head and a drain. If I were really lazy I could sit on the toilet and shower. Or if I was really efficient I could shower and go the the bathroom at the same time! HAHA! <br /><br /><br />I had my first legitimate Chinese meal. Yes, we ate with chopsticks. No, we didn’t eat on the floor. I think that’s Japan? (People NEVER sit on the ground here! I’d tell you why, but it’s gross.) It was actually not too bad. Nothing nauseating... But I do like American food 100000000 times better! I could really go for some mashed potatoes. There was also a random pot of boiling water in the middle of the floor. None of us Americans could figure out what it was used for...<br /><br /><br />Our entire group headed out into the city. Here are a few things I learned:<br /><br /><br /> 1. You can hold an umbrella and ride a bike.<br /> 2. Don’t assume you have the right of way as a pedestrian.<br /> 3. The Chinese aren’t ashamed to stare! They point, too. And when you notice them staring, they don’t look away! They’re shameless! I now know how celebrities AND zoo animals feel! Blonde hair... it’s not letting me blend in at all here!<br /> 4. Asians use skin bleach. There were face whitening masks all over the Supermarket. We tan... they bleach!<br /> 5. Chinese just assume you can’t understand them. And I can’t. HOWEVER... we have a girl in our group who speaks fluent Mandarin. She’ll translate what people are saying about us... it’s awesome! It’s like we have a spy in the group! Because she’s like the most American looking person you’d ever see! No one expects it. She’s broken into a few conversations in Mandarin. It’s quickly becomeing a form of entertainment for us to see their reactions!<br /> 6. Apparently “Blueberry” is a chip flavor. They’re not bad. It’s like eating fruit and chips at the same time. Healthy, right?!<br /><br /> 7.The cute little turtles for sale on the street are for dinner... not pets. :(<br /><br /> 8. When it rains... it POURS!!! There was literally a waterfall forming at our school! And I had to buy an umbrella. It’s HILARIOUS!!! ... only in China! :)<br /><br /><br />We’re wasting no time here... We started teaching today! No time to rest! I planned a lesson last night. Way over planned! But they say that’s good. I had plenty of stuff to keep us occupied. The idea behind the method is to engage the children and immerse them in english... kind of like you would a baby! You model the language and they practice it. The kids we were teaching today already know a little english. On monday we start with new kids, so that will be very interesting!! It was really fun though! My head teachers, Amanda and Lauren, said they were very impressed. They thought it would be much more rough, especially on the first day! I was pretty excited about that!<br /><br /><br />It’s going great here! I’m loving it so far... even though I’m always soaked!! OH! During meal times they play this music over the loudspeaker trying to teach english! It is hilarious! Today they played the Mickey Mouse song, but that’s the first semi-normal one I’ve heard! The rest are like: “May I have a cookie” “Yes here’s a cookie” “MMMM! May I have some more?” “No. That’s all there is. There’s no more.” “No more?” “No more.” “No more?” “No more!” ... then they repeat that with like every food possible. It’s great when that gets stuck in your head.... haha! :)<br /><br /><br />Well, that’s all I have time for! We’re way busy here, but I’m having fun! I really love my group- it’s like we all bonded right when we met each other! I hope to hear from all of you! Email me at jennislagowski@hotmail.com! Love you all! BYE!!! :)Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-38571005415956449272010-08-18T23:46:00.000-07:002010-08-19T00:22:23.114-07:00The Unexpected AdventureSo... at this time next week I will be living in China. I keep trying to wrap my head around that fact, but I don't think I'm going to! I'm pretty sure it won't hit me until I'm actually there! That's how life always is for me at least...<br /><br />This week has been a blast! I'm trying to get everything in and to visit everyone before I leave! I'm coming to realize, however, that I'm not going to get everything done that I want to... but it's ok! <br /><br />So what's the hardest part of this adventure (besides leaving my friends, family, and pretty much everything I know, of course...)? PACKING! ... something I wasn't expecting!<br /><br />I have many friends who have gone on LDS missions. They had to pack for 2 years and they were packing the night before they left! Granted they're boys and all they had to pack were shirts, ties, suits, and then all the other random things. I, however, will only be gone 1/6 of the amount of time, and I've already tried, and failed, at packing TWICE!<br /><br />My first problem is a simple fact of life. I am a girl. Like most girls, I want a variety of clothes, cute (but sensible) shoes, pictures of friends and family, stuff to do on my free time... all that! And I'm having a hard time deciding what stays and what goes on this adventure with me! As my roommate found out last year, I have a lot of "stuff", and I tend to think it needs to come with me!<br /><br />My second problem is that I only have 2 suitcases... one of which is filled with supplies! That leaves me with one bag! And as anyone who has been on vacation, to girls camp, or even just a sleepover with me knows... I tend to OVER PACK! I am like a boy scout. I like to "Be Prepared". So sue me if I'm WAY over-prepared! At least I'll have my Princess and the Frog coloring book (thanks, Alli!) to entertain me while everyone else is BORED!<br /><br />An then there's the supplies themselves! I am so grateful to everyone who donated!! I need 4 months of lessons... that's a lot of supplies! I am just starting to wonder how I'm going to fit it all! Oh well! It will all work out, and I will have the best prepared lessons the Chinese have ever seen! I just may have to shove a few boxes of crayons in my pockets. :)<br /><br />The last problem is very interesting... (if you're an immature boy, skip to the next paragraph) They do not sell tampons in the stores in China. I've been told by multiple volunteers that you can search the whole country and you won't find a single box! As if I didn't have enough to pack, now I have to pack 4 months worth of those... <br /><br />Ok. enough complaining! I'm sure I'll figure it out! I just may have to learn to live with less... Which would be very good for me! :) Once I get through the unexpected adventure of packing I'll be off on the adventure of a lifetime! I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity! As it gets closer and closer I feel even more sure that this is the right thing for me to be doing at this time in my life. I love you all and hope this next 4 months is an adventure for you, too!Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185447400131288370.post-26222817543889189442010-08-10T15:48:00.000-07:002010-08-18T23:45:59.061-07:00Getting ready...Hello everyone! It's Jenni Slagowski here! I'm assuming most people who will actually read this know me, but for those who just stumble upon this here's a synopsis of who I am! Slagowski is pronounced "slug" "ow!!" "ski"... it's really quite easy, yet it's always slaughtered! I am 20 years old and the youngest in my family. I think I have the greatest family on earth and I love them very much! I am a proud member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (www.mormon.org if you have questions). Yes, I know this is true. No, I'm not brainwashed OR ignorant of the "real world". And yes, it truly does bring more peace and joy into my life than I could have ever asked for! <br /><br />Moving on... I love to dance, and burst into song at random moments. I also believe I have the best friends in the world! This would include, but not limited to: my family (my second families the Simcox's and Nelson's as well), JAMS, the "Psyche 6" (I'll include Dustin and Matt and their families in this), my INCREDIBLE roommates, those girls (and coaches and families of both) I spent my life with as a Cardinelle, my old Ridge Crest YW crew, and many more... I love them all and don't know what I'd do without them!!<br /><br />This is my first attempt at a BLOG! I'm starting it so I can keep people updated about the adventure I'm about to embark on! :) On August 22 I will be leaving the wonderful country of the U.S.A. and going to Weihai, China. I will be there for 4 months. I am going with my good friends Cierra Schang and Samantha West! :) We have met a few of the other people we will be with and we are so EXCITED! We are going to teach English in a boarding school. No, none of us know Chinese! The method we use to teach does not require us to know the kids' native language. (If you want to know more about it go to ilp.org) While we are there we will also have the opportunity to do some sight seeing and exploring! :) I've had three friends go to foreign countries with this program: Hilary Stout, Emily Petersen, and Katie Workman. They all said they felt very safe and that the program took great care of them... so don't worry about us! I mean, it's not like Cierra, Samantha, and I could cause ANY trouble whatsoever! ;)<br /><br />I am getting everything packed and ready to go! I asked my home ward and family for donations of supplies I need to teach over there. I am overwhelmed by everyone's response! They have been so giving... I'm starting to wonder how I'm going to get it all there! I just want to thank everyone who has been so generous to me! I am so grateful for the support! It's really taken a load off my mind and I really appreciate it! Thanks again!!!! :)<br /><br />While I am a LITTLE nervous about going, I'm mostly excited! It's going to be crazy and we most definitely will not fit in there! But I think it will be exactly the experience I need in my life! As I'm getting ready to leave I'm really grateful for my incredibly supportive family and friends! I am also so comforted to know I have the gospel! I have a feeling I will be relying heavily on prayer and the Spirit! I'm so grateful for these blessings in my life.Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01392996076819831206noreply@blogger.com2