Tuesday Night Noodle Nights

I agreed to help the school with a voice recording, this meant I had to wake up and go to the main campus real early this morning. I didn’t actually know what they were wanting me to do…. apparently it meant I would have to read a 10 page translation with some crazy Chinese words thrown in the mix. Fortunately, I have experience with being the voice of places. I was once the voice of Whitney English...tear...

Now I am the voice of Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology

They gave me some money as my “gift of thanks”. It is paying for our train tickets next week. So waking up early finally paid off.

I had class after the reading and there was no chalk in my class. So I went next door and this is what I found….

What a beautiful and exciting moment. This is how I know I am becoming a teacher. A good box of chalk brightens my day...

All day I was looking forward to my dinner. Winter introduced us a few weeks ago to this really great noodle restaurant. It is a good walk from our school but worth it. You get your OWN huge plate. It is full of calories, fat and deliciousness.

This however is not delicious. Bowls of fish I believe? Sitting on dirty stairs next to a dirty wall with the fire extinguisher next to it. At least they are prepared for a fire... just in case.

Tuesday night Noodle Night. I love you.

kisses.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

In my grandparents living room 36 years ago today, my sweet hippie parents vowed to love each other for the rest of their days. My mom with her long flowing hair and true seventies lace wedding dress, my father with his long stringy hair, slim body, and blue tuxedo took the plunge and said "I do"!

If I had access to their wedding photo it would be on here guaranteed. But I don't.

But what I do have are my memories. I want to share some of my favorites of my 2 favorites....

They are incredible parents who love, teach, support, and encourage their children.

And my what beautiful children they have! (My only picture with both of my brothers at the same time...and it's over 3 years old. Sad.)

They have taken everything they have ever done as parents and are using it with their grandsons! They are wonderful grandparents to 3 precious little boys!

They hold them.

They teach them about the things they love to do!

They lay with them.

And when they learn to walk, they hold their hand and walk with them.

These little boys are the luckiest little kids and they don't even know it.

I am pretty lucky myself. My parents have taught my brothers and I what it means to love. To truly love.

I give some credit to these 2 for being such great examples.

They love a lot!

Why are they so cute?

Thank you mom and dad for everything you do and continue to do for our family and others! Never have I known 2 people more giving,caring, and hard working than you both. I have grown up watching you 2 love our Father, love each other, support each other, and love your children. Thank you for teaching me what a marriage is supposed to look like. I love you more than I could possibly say. I wish I could be there to take you to dinner and tell you in person how blessed I am to be your daughter.

Congratulaions! 36 years, woooow! Happy Anniversary! I love you! I miss you!

kisses

I love Sundays

This sunday family time was at Tim and Kara's school, which means a really warm, cozy "apartment", Christmas decorations, and something baked from Kara's heart! We first met Jessica, Justin, and Heidi at the bus stop.

Justin bought this panda hat for Jessica in Beijing which makes for really great photo opts.

Justin is terrifying.

After a wonderful Sunday with delicious baked goods from Kara, amazing togetherness time, BBQ, and group Glee chatting, it was time to go. Kevin had to get back quick so he splurged for a taxi. We all 5 piled into a taxi and started cruisin'. We thought we were going to make it back without troubles until the driver made a strange left turn.

We turned into construction zone city. We went off-roading in the taxi, a little extra bonus we didn't have to pay for. We kind of thought we were going to die, our driver was taking us to a far away dirt hill to eat us or something. We thought maybe this was a short cut? But it isn't even a road? We realized our driver was kind of confused so after about 15 minutes of laughing and confusion we called trusty Robin to bail us out as usual. Robin talked to the driver, 2 minutes later the driver got us to a road and in the middle of the road this is what we saw....

ROBIN!!! We don't know where he came from or how he knew where we were, but our little guardian angel Robin saved the day. I am telling you this man never disappoints!

Then tonight we showed Elf to a few of our classes. I can't tell you how hilarious it was to watch it with 100 Chinese students who have never heard of an "elf" or "santa's helper" before tonight. They laughed at most of the normal funny parts, but they laughed really hard at the parts that were not funny at all. Which then made it very funny to us. Students were even taking pictures of the movie....???

On our walk back from the building to our dorm we heard a dance party going on. And that is just what it was.

Apparently every Saturday and Sunday night the students dance. Group dances, line dances, Chinese dances. Why have I not heard about this? Well you KNOW I joined in. It was FREEZING, but after about 5 minutes of dancing I was sweating. I now know what my weekend plans are for the rest of the year!

I love this place.

kisses

Kara's Day Of FUN!!!

Saturday was Kara's Day. We wanted to celebrate her engagement with lots of questions about the wedding planning, shopping for new clothes to meet the non-English speaking in-laws, and lots of laughing and squealing!

Much to our surprise the live creepy pandas happened to be downtown. It was as if they knew we were coming!

High Five Denied!

We went to the fabric factory/market place to have a coat made for Kara. This place is like Hobby Lobby

She had to pick out buttons for her fabulous new red coat!

We of course made Kara pose with the mannequin brides, even if those dresses make you want to throw up a little bit.

We couldn't resist walking into the fancy big wedding photography store to waste some precious Chinese time.

I found this huge picture on the wall. The pose on the man is what I admire most. Do you think I can get Marshall to do this one day?

We went for dinner at this North Korean restaurant, they sing and dance, and pretty much make you feel like you are eating in a dream world.

While we were enjoying the beautiful sounds of the pretty ladies, Kylie and I spotted a birthday table in the corner. There were 5 old men who were looking pretty swasted, the birthday man had a crown on. They pointed at us and motioned for us to come to their table.

Of course we did. When we got there they told us they were Korean. Well how convenient. KARA IS MARRYING A KOREAN. When they found this out their drunkenness must have really kicked in.

Because the tiny tiny small Korean man started to give Kara Korean money.

They cut us each a giant slice of their Chinese birthday cake and we went back to our tables to figure out how to make it look like we had eaten it. Chinese birthday cake is not American birthday cake.

Kara's Day Of Fun was fun. I can't wait for our next day to celebrate her engagement. I suggest once ever 3 weeks because I really enjoy the love.

kisses

For Kori: my taitai

A wise man once told me how much energy and brain power is used when teaching. Unfortunately , I am bad with numbers and can't remember. Ask Marshall if you are really interested. But it was a lot which makes since for how exhausted I am at the end of my day. I used to work 8 hour days 5 days a week. I should be able to handle teaching a few classes a day right? Class just makes me want eat chocolate, rice, and KFC.

This is what I saw when I looked out my classroom door yesterday

He is always wearing his rollerblades to class. I don’t know how he gets up the stairs. I don’t actually know if he owns shoes? Not my student. But I wish.

Once every 2 weeks we have English Club for the students. We have formed together with the Foreign Language Club. We provide games, pose for pictures, and get the students excited. FLC just provides the games. The leader of FLC is this student who is J.Ward’s Chinese half.

We all know and love J.Ward for her individuality. She is not afraid to speak her mind, stand up for herself or what she believes in, she does not take "No" for an answer, she is the future President of the United States.

Meet Nancy Simon. The Chinese version of J.Ward.

Nancy Simon. That is right, 2 names. She is all business no party.

Except she is party right here, I told her to do something fun.

Nancy Simon is always saying things like “Excuse me, Attention Attention”. She loves order and being on schedule. She will be the next ruler of China one day.

Thank goodness for people like J.Ward and Nancy Simon. How would we ever get anything done without them?

kisses

p.s. I love my J.Wizz

Winter in China

Winter has been saying how she wanted to make us a "special Korean dish". She called me as soon as I got home from class and said she was on her way over to start preparing.. 3 minutes later I opened my door to this....

Winter and her friend, who does not speak English, had a HUGE bucket of rice (and no her friend is not smoking, it is a sucker)

They got right to work on this special dish....

Turns out it was just sushi. I didn't have the heart to tell her I don't actually dig the sush....

But when these cute faces are giving you the "please eat my delicious food I made for you" eyes how can you resist?

So then Kevin, Kylie and I showed off our chopstick skill. Okay, I know I am only holding one but it made for a better picture this way. I do have chopstick skill. I haven't used dinosaur since I got here. Pretty impressive I know.

And that was my Wednesday....

kisses

...AND I'M BACK IN ACTION WORLD!!!

You aren’t dreaming. It’s really me. Thanks to Tim, and his amazing googling and determination we can now access our blogs, Facebook, Twitter, even YouTube. We have broken through the great firewall! I know what you are thinking... will she ever work and leave her room? Yes, yes I will. I must have cool stories and pictures to post for you.

How do I even update you all on the past 3 months of my China life? I can’t, it is too awesome. So I will try and update you along the way. If you wish to view more photos and videos from my time in China, hop on over HERE

I searched through 2,334 pictures to try and come up with how to describe my incredible experience thus far. But since I can't upload them all here are a few... Enjoy

My Girls! I can't imagine my life without each of them. I continue to learn from them. They are remarkable women with so much love in their hearts. I am so thankful for the special bond we share here.

The amazing Qinhuangdao sunrise! A student dragged me out of bed at 5:00 a.m. to go watch the sunrise. How can you not thank Him for His beauty?

I climbed The Great Wall... and boy was it great!

Baby butts.... babies don't wear diapers here. They wear split pants. They "go" wherever they feel like it. Kind of a good concept..

Halloween in China. Ttanic. Iceberg. It was a good idea in theory...

Sweet friends! I love teaching them how make something that seems so normal to us... mashed potatoes!

Robin! He is our liaison and helps us survive here. He has become one of our best friends. I have to find a way to get him to America. He makes me laugh all day long, Bonnie Hunt or Ellen would eat him up.

The students! After all they are the reason I am here.

Until next time....

HR