Mud Crabs

I did forget one story...There was one afternoon that I was napping on the beach kinda late around 4pm. When I woke up, I was surrounded by these mud crabs ( I don't know if that is their real name, but I heard someone call them that.) It was a little creepy when I first looked up, but I realized that they weren't crawling on me or on my blanket so I was cool...there were thousands of them! they are comparable to a medium-sized spider. It was really interesting. I watched them eat, and what they would do is rake food into their mouth, and then the extras or sand and dirt that they had sifted through would come out the top of their head. They would scrape it off and put it behind them. That is why the ground looks like a lot of little balls of sand. That is what they have already sifted through. I thought this was really cool, so I took a short video of it...enjoy!

Thailand!!!!

And now for the long awaited Thailand blog...

Here are some of the logistics of it all...
January 27, 2009
5am-depart for Thailand
7am-board plane
12pm-arrive in Bangkok, Thailand.

January 29, 2009
7pm-depart for Chao Lao Beach
11pm-arrive at New Beach Travel Resort

February 3, 2009
3pm-depart for Bangkok
7pm-arrive in Bangkok

February 7, 2009
12:00am- arrive at Bangkok Airport
2:00am-depart for Xi'an
7am- arrive in Xi'an
8am-arrive at XIS


The above times are approximate, and may not line up exactly with my story. I apologize in advance for any discrepancies, it is kind of blurry at this point.

So my first few days in Thailand were spent in Bangkok. First, let me begin with the fact that I went from below freezing temperatures to temperatures that were in the 80s and 90s (Fahrenheit that is). I was extremely glad to thaw, and to enjoy a lot of sunshine. While I was in Bangkok for the first few days, I did a lot of shopping...I like to shop, but that is not what I go on vacation for. I was with Carrie J. and Vikki, and they needed to shop, so I just went along for the ride. I saw a movie, and ate at several western restaurants...this was a nice change, though I do love chinese food.

Moving on...Our retreat started on the 30th so we went back to the airport on the 29th and took a 3-4 hour bus ride to the beach!!! If you didn't know already, I really love the beach! There is just something about being there, that makes me feel more alive...While there I tried really hard to relax as much as possible. My schedule in Xi'an can get pretty busy, so I really needed some time to decompress. The location of the place we stayed was very beautiful...and far away from everything. This was really nice, but not convenient. When we had to find food on our own things were a little difficult, but no big deal. I really enjoyed just chillin' for a while. I went out on the beach every afternoon except one...and that one I just took a really long nap! I napped on the beach too don't worry. The weird thing about this beach though was that it was not at all like the Florida beaches that I am accustomed to.

The beach was made of dirt, seashells, sand and some rock...not the most comfortable for sunbathing, but not completely awful either. The first night we got there I needed to put my feet in the water as usual, and so the journey began. I know there shouldn't be a journey when your resort is on the beach, but when the tide was low there was a journey to be had...We had to walk about a quarter of a mile just to get to the water, and then it was only ankle deep...I thought this was really weird, but again no big deal I was at the beach! The next morning I got up early to take a walk on the beach (I know waking up early for me is unheard of) and when I went down to the water, it was only about 15 feet from the stairs...later I found out that I would still have to walk a quarter of a mile or so to get in deep enough to swim...I liked this beach even though it was weird mostly because I didn't need or want anything fancy, I just wanted to be on some type of sand with a book and sunglasses in a place that was warm, and quiet other than the sound of the Gulf of Thailand...I also have not mentioned how calm the water was...super calm...no waves, perfect for swimming! I had forgotten how much I love being in water too. The place we stayed also had a really awesome pool. So that was nice as well.

One afternoon, we did go to a different beach that was more like what I am used to. It was about 6km from the resort where we were staying. This was a really relaxing afternoon...what I mean to say is that I took a really good nap on the beach that day. I think this was my favorite day of the whole trip...

Back to Bangkok...After the retreat was over, I had a few more days in Bangkok. This time Brad was in Bangkok too, so I didn't need to shop as much which was a relief. The first day we were tourists...We went to several things that were kinda touristy... our main stop was The Grand Palace...There was a temple there, and in order to go in, you had to be dressed appropriately...no shorts...or short pants...So we rented a skirt (for me) and pants (for brad). To get to the Palace we took a ferry sort of thing from one part of the city to another. It was a really awesome ride. I loved seeing the sights that way!

In Bangkok, I also saw 3 movies, drank about 10 Chai Tea lattes at starbucks, ate awesome thai food (i still like chinese better), and walked a whole lot! I like walking, but recently it has been really cold in china so walking is a little more painful...

The last day we were in Bangkok, we met up with some people from Alabama that I met while I was in college. They work with students at the University of Alabama, but have come to Thailand to work with a university there for a year. It was really cool to see people that are from home on this side of the planet. Then we went to our last movie...Madagascar 2 on IMAX (awesome!) We didn't have to be at the airport until really late (or early i suppose) so we went to the night market. It was a pretty cool place. It was just like an open air market with hundreds of booths. There was live music and food...I think if I lived in Bangkok, I would go there all the time. Having said that, I don't ever want to live in Bangkok, there are some things about that city that I would have a hard time dealing with. My heart was broken at the number of young girls I saw who were selling themselves to whoever they could. It broke my heart and made me want to vomit all at the same time. I was glad to come back to china. Things like that probably happen here, but we don't see it. After the night market, we searched and searched for Rotii...a pastry dessert thingy that is awesome. I like mine with banana and sweetened condensed milk. ( now you know why it is awesome) Then we made our way to the airport where we met up with the rest of the team that was headed back to xian. We arrived back here at about 8 in the am, and I got directly into the bed! I slept until 4pm and then got up and went to eat dinner...Then I went back to bed at 11pm and slept for 12 more hours! it was an awesome time of rest!

I am sure that there are things that I have left out, and I am greatly sorry for that. Just know that this trip was some good and some bad, but mostly good!


Are there pictures? of course!

love from china!

Coming Soon....

The Thailand update!!!

Chinese New Year!!! Chun Jie Kuai Le!!!

Sorry it took so long, please forgive me. I will try to do better!


Okay so Chinese New Year was the most awesome thing I have experienced while living in China! This is the year of the OX by the way.

I am not even sure that words can express what it is like so you might have to come and see for yourself! Come and visit me next year!

Here is my best description...

So my day started with an outing with Carrie and Vikki, then we spent the afternoon trying to decide if there was anything we still needed to buy for our thailand trip...

I took a short nap at their house and then I had the privilege of getting pizza from Pizza Hut (not quite the same as in the states) for our evening. I left their house at about 6pm and the fun had already begun...for several days before this you could hear fireworks fairly often, but they were usually kinda far away...no big deal. Well by the time I went to get the pizza the festivities were slowly beginning. I sat in Pizza Hut and waited for the pizza while really loud fire works were going off on the side walk right outside the door. At this point I was getting a little nervous about needing to walk out the doors and onto the side walk. These were fire crackers that last a good 30 seconds and are as bright as lightening. So I made it safely to a cab that was conveniently waiting at the curb. (this is rather unusual especially on New Year's Eve) So I told the cab driver where I wanted to go, and then experienced quite a fireworks show from the cab. It is about 7:30pm by now and there are fireworks going off all over the city.

So we ate pizza and at about 9pm we went out and shot our own fireworks...there is some video with lovely commentary from myself (that statement was full of sarcasm) maybe I will get it loaded! What we did on the sidewalk would be illegal in America. We found some bombs that were just really really loud....like could cause hearing damage loud. It was quite fun!!!!!We bought a big box of 49 different fireworks that were lit with one fuse! That was pretty cool cause that meant we had our own personal fireworks show!

Then we went to one of our other friend's house to watch the real show. They live on the 10th floor of a building and so they have a great view of the city...At about 10 minutes before midnight the insanity began...From 10 till until about 15 after, you couldn't even talk to someone standing next to you without yelling because the fireworks were so loud. The beauty of it all though was that you could feel the unity of the whole country in that one moment. Everyone was celebrating together. It is just hard to describe how that felt. They were excited about the new year! There were other things that were done that were a little weird, but all in all it was totally awesome!

I am so glad that I was here for this. It gave me a better understanding of the Chinese people and their culture. It made me appreciate where I am.

The picture above is me in front of the south gate of the city wall. It was pretty cool. The decorations were awesome!

More Pictures and Videos. These are a few of the videos I have a few more, but I am working to get them uploaded. I am not a great videographer, but you will get the jist of things at least.

Chun Jie Kuai Le!

Back in the swing of things...

So I am back in China now...Here's the breakdown...

I arrived on Sunday night January 4th...without my luggage...it got left in America. Just once I would like a flight to go exactly as planned with all of the luggage in at least the correct country. Is that too much to ask?

I got back and was talking to a friend, so I forgot to call my mom. She was a little worried. It didn't even cross my mind that she might be worried. oops... She did finally call me after emailing a few of my friends to see if they had heard from me. I was so tired, and I couldn't think straight anyway...but there is no excuse. sorry mom:)

I decided to just jump back in, so that maybe there would be no jet lag...It worked when I flew back to america...go 48 hours without sleep and it is easy to get on a different schedule. What I am saying is that I flew in Sunday night, and then went to school Monday. We didn't do math, but I was there. It did work pretty well though. I didn't really experience jet lag at all this time.

I did a few things with friends that week. Brad had made some chinese friends while I was gone, I kinda already knew them. So we all got together a few times...Brad also got a roommate the day after I got back...Ty. You can read about him on Brad's blog...just click on the word Ty. Ty is pretty cool, and I am glad that he is here, because now Brad has another guy to hang out with.

I had a Christmas celebration or two when I got back because I had missed Christmas in China. I did Christmas with my classes on January 9th. I even put my Christmas tree in my classroom. Then that night I had Christmas with Carrie J. and Vikki and Brad. It was lovely and I learned how to play Mahjong (the real thing). I finished Christmas on January 13th when Brad and I opened presents.

I got The Office-Trivia Game from Angela when I was home, so me and a few of my friends tried it out...it was super fun!

Friday (the 16th) was a half-day at school (end of the quarter) and so I went to help my students with an outreach they were doing. We went downtown and passed out scarves and hats to people who needed them. I got to put gloves on a really cute little baby. It was my favorite, because he was so proud of his new gloves! There are pictures...I will post later.Later, I got to rescue Brad in downtown Xi'an, because his wallet was stolen. Saturday, we did a toys for tots thing in a village just outside of Xi'an. It was a beautiful area, but the skies were kinda gray so you may not be able to see its beauty. However, I do have some great pictures of little chinese kids.

Saturday afternoon, I went and got a foot massage with carrie b! Sunday I went to a meeting, and then came home to talk to Brianna on skype! She showed me I love you in sign language, and that made me so excited. When I left Alabama she had been moved to her own room, but we still didn't know the extent of her brain damage. She had her one eye open, but we just really didn't know. When I talked to her on skype, she had both eyes open, and was doing all kinds of new tricks. Now she is talking and pottying and all kinds of other normal kid stuff. I serve an Amazing Creator who still does miracles. You can check on Brianna at her caringbridge site...www.caringbridge.com/visit/briannanewsome...She will be back a full force very soon, and only a month ago we weren't sure if she was going to make it. Anyway...after I talked to Bri and my mom, I went to get my nails done with Carrie J. and Vikki...I know this seems like a lot of pampering for someone who is in my line of work, but here things are a lot cheaper...I paid $7 for the 1.5-hour massage and $4 for the nails...you wanna live in china too, huh? Then we sat at Starbucks for several hours just having a good girl-talk...I don't usually have much time for that, so this was nice. Why do I have more time, do you ask...Because...

I am out of school for 3 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I love Chinese New Year!!!!! See in china, chinese new year is a really big deal, so we get a 3 week break for that. I know you are thinking that is not fair, but we only got 2 days for Christmas and 2 days for new year's and nothing for thanksgiving. So, be thankful for what you have too...it is just different.

This past monday, I went shopping with a chinese friend, and tried squid for the first time...not a huge fan...

Tuesday- slept til noon! another chinese friend came over, and we went shopping and to pizza hut and then watched a movie.

Wednesday- slept til noon! lunch with Jenee, dinner with Jon and Patti...

Thursday-slept til noon! Dinner with Carrie J., Vikki, and Ty.

Friday- Slept til noon! Dinner and shopping with Jenee...almost got frostbite...It is really cold in Xi'an.

Saturday I will spend some time with Kalina...Sunday-Carrie and Vikki...happy chinese new year's eve...there will be explosions, I mean fireworks, all over town!!!

Monday final preparations for Thailand...

Tuesday- leave my home at 5am to head for the airport!!!Off to Thailand!!! I am so excited!!! I am going to the beach to live in warm weather for about 2 weeks!!! Then Back to Xi'an to finish the school year!!!wooohooo!....

So that should catch you up at least almost!

My next update should be from Thailand!!!

Thanks for reading about my adventures! feel free to leave a comment on how ridiculous all of this is:)

I love you all very much and can feel your support even though I am thousands of miles away.

much love from china

Some Pictures related to this blog.

Livin' in America...sing it!

If you have not read my last few blogs, this one won't make much sense...

So here goes.

Tragedy brought me back to the US on December 21st, and I was there for two weeks. Here is a brief breakdown on what happened while I was in the US. Hence the title Livin' in America.

Well I flew into ATL on December 20th at about 6:30pm...I proceeded to find my gate for my next flight (to b'ham) and then I went and got something to eat. Arby's was my first american meal! (I was in the airport, so not a lot of choices.) I finished eating and talked to a few friends and went to the gate. I had about 15 minutes before they started boarding...Got to the gate and sat down...there were lots of southern people there, so it made sense to me that they would be traveling to alabama...I had forgotten that i was in Georgia...hence the southerners. Anyway...I waited a while, and they hadn't started boarding...This is when I realized that this plane wasn't going to B'ham it was going to Pittsburg! I had been awake for almost 48 hours at this point and was ready to just walk home if that is what it took...So it wasn't quite time for my actual plane to depart, so I went to an info desk and asked what gate I should be at...She informed me that my plane had already departed, but it was at gate E16 or something...this was in a completely different concourse! So I hurried to that gate in hopes that they would magically be waiting on me, but when I got to the gate, I was priviledged to see my plane backing away from the terminal!!! So then I was upset. The plane had left before it was supposed to and I was not on it. I went to the Delta counter with about 5 other people and they informed me that there were no other flights out that night. I am surprised that I didn't immediately start throwing a fit...A lack of sleep on top of the sadest days of my life and no flight home should have been more than I could handle, but I have a friend who provides Comfort and Hope when none can be found. Time for a new paragraph.

So I called my mom, who was almost in B'ham at the airport, and told her that my luggage should have been on the plane. She went into the airport to get it. Then they decided that they would just go ahead and come to ATL to get me. I was gonna make sure that there were no other flights, and then if not, they would come to get me. I tried some things with delta, but nothing worked, so I talked to my parents again and we decided that I could go sit at a 24 hour restaurant and they would find me there. Now I needed a taxi...While on the phone with my mom, a big black dude named Demetrius walked up to me and asked if I needed a taxi. I said yes, and away we went. He took me to an 24 hour IHOP right outside of ATL. He was my best friend for about 45 minutes. He was easy to talk to, and we talked a lot about what I had been doing and where I was coming from and going to...He was a blessing, and I think maybe I blessed him too. My mom said that after I had gotten to IHOP, that I sounded like a different person. Demetrius had helped me to get over the fact that it was midnight and I should have been in AL hours ago. He was put in my path on purpose ;)

At about midnight AL time (1am ATL time, and 10am xian time) My parents arrived at IHOP!!! I was so happy to be headed home for real, and I had mom and dad and noah with me!

So we drove back to B'ham! arriving in bham at about 2am we went immediately to the hospital to see brianna who was in fairly stable condition, but we still didn't know what was going on in her little body... Jackie got special permission for me to go back and see her because technically visiting hours ended at 2am.

I got to see Brianna, and that is when I knew the gravity of the situation. She looked pitiful, but I was glad that I could touch her and talk to her....being far away makes things like this really hard.

So we stayed and talked to Jackie and Sarah for a little bit, and then went home...I arrived at my parents house at about 5am AL time on December 21st.

That means that it took me...hmmm...36 hours to get from china to home...it should have been about 24:)

So I slept for a few hours and then we had other things to do...The visitation was that night, and the funerals the next day. Christmas eve was next and then Christmas day. No time to breathe just keep going. Do what you have to do. These days were the hardest ones I have ever lived through, but I did live through them!

Of and on for the rest of the time I was home, I went to the hospital to see Brianna, and to be there for the fam...

I also tried to catch up with all of my friends. I didn't get to everyone, but I did get to hang out with a few.

I had a wednesday night supper club on sunday night with my friends from kingwood. dinner with dana, partied with angela, and the next day with renae.
I also took noah and his friend Jake to the movies...got family portraits made, spent new year's eve with the fam...played rock band with noah...went shopping for all of the things that I miss in china...ate lots of good food! yes, I did eat chinese, but it is not the same as the real thing ( I think I like the real thing better) Yes I do eat with chopsticks everyday here in china, and you can eat rice with chopsticks...you scoop it up, duh.

I went to walmart about 8 times in the two weeks I was at home-one or two times I didn't even buy anything. I just went in to breathe....We have walmart in china, but you can't get everything you want there. Noah also started playing basketball right before I left.

My favorite part about being at home was spending time with my family. When tragedy strikes, many times it can be a hard time for relationships, but I think my family is just getting closer, and I didn't even think that was possible.

Love from china!

some pictures.

Time to catch up!!!

I know, I know.....Some of you think that I am not really back in China because I have not posted another blog. Well rest assured that I am back and am doing fabulously well...I don't like to write blogs when I am not in a great mood because they are not as good then.

I'm gonna catch you up now...

love from china!