Siberian beauty

While walking to work the other day I passed two men walking the most beautiful Siberian Huskies. I've been thinking about getting one, obviously not till I get my own apartment. But still I was considering it, I'v never had a pet dog before. Aren't they beautiful?

All my love

Hmmmm ... So I taught my first two classes last night, they weren't the most amazing things ever but I think I did pretty good all things considered.  Then at like 3 this morning I awoke to news of the earthquake in America, I instantly got on facebook to make sure everyone was ok. They were all fine, and I was better for the lack of sleep as I got to talk to one my best friends for about an hour before he sent me to bed. Anyhow the other day I went in a little shop and I got a small notebook and a calligraphy style fountain pen, I planned on writing down chinese words and phrases as I learn them. I was disappointed to find later that the pen had no ink in it. So today I went back and through a serious of back on forth conversation I got a jar of ink, it ended up being red but that's alright, I'll probably get another one later and get black. the bottle of ink was only 3 yuan that's like 45 cents. It's unbelievably cheep. Anyhow, this is my book and my pen. The pen has ink and the book has words. Talk to you soon.

"Days like these I got nothing to sing about"

Well that's not really true. But it's a great song by John Mark McMillian. Crazy day, I had to go to the big police station down town and then I had to get a body check (EKG, Sonogram, Chest X-ray, Blood drawn,   Blood Pressure and Temperature, Height and Weight, Eyes, and probably some other stuff I'm forgetting). Later I had two hours of training and demo work and Nancy told me I did very good, that makes me sooo happy. Then I had a break and went for a walk, long story short I got this hair thing, to the left <. And this food thing down below. Both were amazing! The food is also from a street vender. It's like a fresh made pita pocket with peppers and beef in it, soooooo goood. I don't think I've ever had so many peppers in my life, but I'm actually beginning to enjoy them. Oh and the bottom picture is a work picture of me and the envelope they put it in, (I like the envelope).

Not Normal

So this morning, I ate peanut butter toast and worked on a little project, I'll show you later. Later my boss took myself and some friends out to lunch. It was a fancy Korean restaurant, my first time ever eating dog. It was remarkably tasty. I didn't have to go in to work today so after beginning the ultimate game of rummy (which I am winning) we went on a horrendously delightful looooooooooooong walk through the city. Over all a good day.

Arrrrrrrrg like a Pirate

See these keys? These are the keys to the apartment, That middle one is crazy it's like four keys in one. Do you know how long it took me to use that key and figure out how to get the door open? TEN MINUTES! Yes you heard me 10 min, that's insanity!

Out and About

I walked to the music store this morning, if figured I'd just go look around. I ended up being the only one in the store, so they were trying to talk to me and it was like language barrier ... epic fail! However, I next ventured on to KFC where I successfully ordered and ice coffee without ice, in Chinese! Then a woman asked me how to get somewhere (in chinese) and I successfully explained to her that I speak very little chinese. I'd say I gained some awesome points for trying and partially succeeding at communicating. Oh and then I went to the school for 5 and a half hours. When I got home it took me a good 10 minutes to figure out how to get the door unlocked :P. Oh and this > 
is a tower that I pass on the way to KFC. I love it! 

What shall I do?

Hello all! Today was good, some friends came in late last night so I only  got four hours of sleep. However, the noisy little dears we've been watching are now gone and the house is quiet. Went into work and had a training session with Andy, Andy like Paul is from Scotland though I have to say he has a much more epic accent. Anyhow, after that I watched four of Pau's classes. Over all a good night, it ended with an invitation to join my two new Scottish buddies at a karaoke bar tomorrow night,  Paul "me and andy might have a few beers but you don't have to, if you don't want to. But it's a lot of fun." I do really wanna go it sounds like a lot of fun. They seem like really good nice guys and I've been missing my guy friends. Talked to one of them earlier today (my bestest guy friend ever, that is) It made my day so much better, you don't even know. And I got to talk to my dear mommy, love her so much! I was practically dripping in happiness. Though, I'm exhausted now.  Oh and I just got my first bloody nose of the year, I think it's gonna be a long one.

P.S. This is a russian art museum.

Tid bits

Really am feeling to tired to write a decent blog post which always puts me in even more of an unbloging mood. But i'll give you a bunch of pictures from the other day and tell you a little of what I've been up to. The day after I arrived my emailing friend Esther came by and asked if I wanted to go out. I really had nothing better to do so I said sure, it was a lot of fun. Then met a bunch of the university students last night, made some new friends and today I got my teachers shirt and sat in on my two first observational classes. I will admit that I do miss my family and friends. But I really do love the people, the culture and the city. I'm not always I find, exceptionally pleased with the food. However, it hasn't made me sick yet. Oh yes and stairs, lots of them, all over the place. And I walked to KFC (pronounced Kunda G) all by myself, ordered an ice coffee said thank you in Mandarine and walked home. The internet is being stupid and the pictures won't load I'll try latter.

Here in Harbin my new Home

Yes I am here! I am alive and almost all is well. I finally have the internet hooked to my computer, but I'm so exausted I don't know what to say. I know! I won't say anything, I will just let you look at pictures. To the left is my new window seat, I love it!  We're on the 6th floor (no elevators :P ) so a nice breeze comes in at night and I can listen to the sounds of the city. I'll tell you much more tomorrow.

Adventures

So a while back, July 12th to be exact I posted a list of questions and answers and told you I didn't know what they were for. Well, TADAH! It is my going away present :) I'm gonna miss my lefty sister so bad. I leave in 8 and a half hours what is so far the biggest craziest adventure of my life. I'll probably be the big baby crying on the airplane, but I'm ok with that. Adventures have their ups and downs. But it'll all work out, Gods plans are always best. Well I'll see ya in China ;)
(I'll post  better pictures later)

Last Sunrise in Delaware

Second to last

So I only have one more full day before my journey begins, and I must say I am feeling better about it. I have my visa, and I've had time to spend with friends and family. Tonight is that last bonfire and I'm wanting to stay out all night and watch the sun come up. (Don't know that I will but I want to.) Almost all packed, everything is under 50 pounds and I'm eating some Dubliner cheese, dark chocolate and drinking earl grey tea. I had a good relationship repairing conversation last night and it has significantly lowered my level of stress. I'm hoping to have everything done tonight so tomorrow I can take a nap and just hang around and relax with family and friends. I leave tomorrow at midnight. 

Tedious Packing and Brilliant Underhanded Ideas

So our group is heading out of NYC through American Airlines and transferring to China Eastern Airlines in LA. Now the problem is that AA only allows checked luggage to weigh 50 lbs where as CEA allows 70 and I just can't seem to get my suitcase any lower that 58 lbs. So I got to thinking, AA allows one carry on and one personal Item (PI being a back pack purse or briefcase etc). Where as CEA does not, they only allow one carry on. So I was thinking what if I put extra stuff in a back pack and then transfer it to my suitcase when we switch to CEA. Hmmmmmm, just might work.

Distant Fog Horn

Once again the sun was absent from my morning. If you listen closely over the sounds of the waves you might here a distant fog horn. Did you ever watch Tuggy the Tug Boat? I remember watching it when I was very little and loving it. 

Carrying On

Found this leather carry on size luggage for $3 in my favorite thrift shop. I almost bought it. Now glad I didn't as it was and 2 inches to big. Oh well! For now I'm packing and it's harder than I expected. Tomorrow I have an outing with friends in the morning and then my last youth group :(. Work friday morning and hangin with my big brother that night. My time is running short.

6 More Baby!

Hard to believe I leave in 6 days! Yesterday felt awful, everything made sad and I was really stressed out. But today is a new day, today is the day that the Lord has made. And things are looking up! I went crabbing yesterday and completed lesson 1 of my Pimsleur program for learning Mandarin. Busy beautiful day ahead. I really want waffles but don't know if I feel like making them.

Swimming with the Bioluminescence

So the other night when we had our bonfire, I and two of my friends went swimming at 11:30 P.M.  It was super cool swimming in bioluminescence. Ours wasn't nearly as bright and it had a much greener light. It was so beautiful and amazing.

Free music

Free music Bjorn&tara

Day 7

So I know I missed day 8,  I was traveling to Washington D.C. to get my Visa from the Chinese embassy.  While waiting we went in the Whole Foods Store, it's like the Anthropologie of food. I met a guy from Brasil, he was speaking to a woman ahead of me in line, in what sounded like portuguese and he looked very much like one of my friends from Brasil. So when the woman left I asked if he was Brasilian he replied in the affirmative and we had a lovely conversation.