CHINA: Some Things I Love and Some Things I Don't Love as Much

At the Beijing airport during my BIG trip through Asia with my dad. At this point I was ending my one year teaching adventure in China.My suitcase is the red one. Naturally it was the very last piece of luggage off the plane and of course it would happen to get stuck on the belt while the carrousel was still going. I, of course, was so tired and irritated(anyone who has done any amount of traveling within China will understand my irritation) that all I wanted was to get the heck out. Apparently China had another plan for me. After hunting down someone to get my luggage off the belt I still had to find my dad...that was another adventure in and of itself.

Christine and I getting ready to leave China. Me, FOREVER! Her , to see her husband!!! I think you can see how sad we were to leave. We just didn't want to go (sarcasm)! Although I have my days where I really miss China.

TRAIN STATION: This is one of my favorite things to do in China! I love going to the train station and standing in line...uhh...wait lines don't really exist in China. What I mean to say is I love going to the train Station and playing block out the Chinese with my elbows. It was a super fun game I played at least once a month. 

I will admit China has some of the best 3D glasses . (Please excuse my funky looking eye, it looks like I have mad eye) 

Buddah: Is this not the most adorable Korean kid you have ever seen.  I looked forward to seeing him at church whenever we went. He is going to be a little heart breaker when he gets older. LOVE THIS KID!

I miss just walking down the street and finding Mr. Fix It. If my shoes broke all I had to do was walk a block or so in one direction and I would find some Fix it dude just waiting for work. I was always happy to provide work. Although some guys were way sketchier then others. 

Grandma and BABY: I have mixed emotions on grandmas and their grandchildren in China. Oh sure you are saying how cute, how precious but watch out for them in confined spaces, like trains! I 'm not sure how many of you know this but most kids in China don't wear diapers. True story!! So basically they just do their business wherever they happen to be. One time I was in a grocery store and I was walking through the dairy section. Well in China a lot of the milk comes in these plastic bags. As I was walking through the milk section I saw out of the corner of my eye this arch shaped liquid coming from somewhere. As I did a double take I noticed that it was not coming from the milk bag as I previously suspected but it was coming from a child peeing on the floor in the milk section at the grocery store being held up by none other than a smiling grandma. EWWW!!! It was so gross. Second story: I was on a jam packed train with some friends. I was sitting by the window, Kayte was in the middle and Christine was on the isle. Well, sitting directly across from Christine was a grandma with her grandson and across the isle was a mom and her son. How do we know they were boys? Well, the goods were hanging out because...they don't wear the diapers. So this little baby sitting across from Christine had to pee like every 30 minutes. So since he doesn't wear a diaper where does he do his business? In a water bottle grandma carries with her of course. Well the baby wanted to stand up mi way through the train ride so grandma lets him. Soon thereafter Christine looks down to little baby peeing on her $200 UGS. Hahahahah It was a really funny experience...at least it was for me. Poor Christine was scandalized. I do miss experiencing good stories like this. 

This is my favorite Chinglish sign in Wei Fang. I would ask some to translate  but it looks as though that was already done. 

This is some fun art at the art place we went to . I came home with so much art I had no idea what to do.

This was the art lady and her husband. They were two of the sweetest people. I really like them! Good people! 

I miss watching old men playing cards and chilling with their little singing birds in random places like this.

Shuttlecock: I'm not sure if i spelled that right but thats how it sounds. I miss watching Old ladies play this.  It's like a form of hacky sack and let me tell you the old women were incredible. 

I would say more than half of my pictures were taken by myself in this format. I know, I know I have mad skill what can I say. 

Watching couples dance in random public spaces. Anytime I needed some form of cheap entertainment all I had to do was walk outside. This couple happened to be Amazing!

This me and my homeboy MAO! We hung out a lot while I was in China =0)

Generally I find men in Uniform HOT, but these dudes...just didn't do it for me!

YUM!!!!!! There are certain foods I miss.....

....and others I can do without!

Our electricity going out really wasn't that uncommon. There was this particular night where our electricity went out lucky for me I bought a flashlight a few days prior that happened to have this blue purple light along with it. It made everything look a little creepy...including Kayte.

All my hard earned money!!! That was a little over two thousand american dollars in Yuan...and as soon as I took this picture it was gone...That's what i get for traveling!

This happened to be in Kayte's slipper one night apparently it was there for a good 30 minutes before she noticed it. Sick! I'm just glad it was her slipper and not mine. After that, I made sure to thoroughly check my shoes anytime I put them on.

Dreams

I had this crazy weird dream last night. But before I tell you about my dream I have to state that I really didn't care much about the royal wedding and thought it was way over hyped. Although I did fall in love with the wedding dress. I thought it was gorgeous and it fit her beautifully.

So, in my dream I became best friends with Kate Middleton, pre-marriage. At first I hated her stinking guts! This probably spawns from the fact that I have been in love with Prince William since I was 10 years old. Don't worry I am over him now. But, if I am going to be honest I did seriously believe that I was going to marry him or Jonathan Taylor Thomas (by the way if any one knows what happened to that guys I would love to know. It seems as though he dropped off the face of the planet. Who knows, maybe he did.)

Well anyway in this dream of mine Kate asked me to hang out with her for the day. At first I was like no thank you (ya know cause I "hated" her) but then I thought to myself 'ok if I get to hang out with Prince William too, why the heck not'. So the three (mind you this is the story of my life...I am always the third wheel...ALWAYS!) of us started walking down this street until we came to this run down shanty of a house that is when Prince William left. I was like dang it I only got to spend like 2 seconds with him....LAME!! Kate proceeds to tell me that we are going to make breakfast for this family that lives here, turned out they were my cousins that I had never met. Then after we are done doing our good selfless service of the day, this mob of girls start chasing us telling Kate how much they hate her. As we are running for our lives trying to escape the mob of madness we see an army vehicle pulling out of a parking lot so we run after it (cause in my dreams I run extremely fast as does Kate Middleton apparently) and we hop in. Upon jumping in the vehicle our clothes are changed to fancy gowns. I would have thought that my clothes would be changed to army fatigues...but I guess my self conscious doesn't think logically...Then we end up at this brothel dancing on table tops. Kate tells me that I am her best friend and wishes we could do this(dance on table tops) all the time. Hahaha...then I woke up!

Oh, I have no idea where these ideas come from but they sure do entertain me. If anyone would like to interpret this dream please feel free to then of course tell me your interpretation!  

Thank you Ms. Angelou

I love Maya Angelou!! I wanted to share with everyone some great quotes by this amazingly fabulous women so here are just a few that I love: Maya Angelou Quotes

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. "I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

"Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it."


"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style" 




"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you."


"A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her." 


"There's a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure truth."


"I do not trust people who don't love themselves and yet tell me, 'I love you.' There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt."


"You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!" 


"Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option." 


"When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say. "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow." 


"When we find someone who is brave, fun, intelligent, and loving, we have to thank the universe." 

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!!!! Choices, choices, choices!!!!

I am in the process of looking for a job! Fun? ....Not the most fun I have ever had but it is pretty fun to see what jobs are available. Not that I could even apply for 3/4 of the ones that sound cool. This is why I should get a masters All the fun exciting jobs I have seen require more education than I have.

I feel like I am hanging out in limbo at the moment. I am not sure which way to even turn my head. I feel like I have a hundred decisions to make but just keep putting them off. I know it's not the most responsible thing to do so today I have finally made a decision, I am going to be responsible and ACT!! So, if you hear I have done something and it sounds like a really ridiculous decision that's probably because I didn't know what else to do but I felt I had to do something. Wow, this is what life is all about huh!? Making decisions! Well for good for bad for whatever at least I can say I am trying....Today is the start of a new direction in my life. There are a few people I need to talk to before I can really, truly move on; for me, talking to these few people are going to be the hardest part of this getting-out-of-limbo process but..it must be done!! I have always found it difficult to express my feelings. I always have ideas thoughts and feelings in my mind but am never able to get them out unless it is in a jumbled mess. Which makes it twenty million times harder to convey how I feel. So if you are reading this and happen to be one of these people I must talk with then please be patient with me.
 

I'm not really sure how to start this post because I have so much on my mind that is just aching to get out. So excuse me if this post is just random ramblings that no one but myself understands.  

I remember being in college thinking life will be so awesome when I get out of here! While that statement is true, to a degree, sometimes I wish I could go back to the good ol' days where all I had to worry about was homework and my part-time job. Never thought I would fess up to that so soon. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I have 'the-grass-is-always-greener-on-the-other-side' syndrome, I just miss classes and am tired of being an adult. HAHA! Aren't we all at some point or another.

Next, I am 26 years old or young, however you want to look at it. I realize that 26 is not that old but sometimes it makes me feel like I am going to die and old lonely spinster especially living here, in Alaska for those of you who don't know, and being LDS. Yes! there are boys here...but that is the problem there are tons and tons of boys and very few men. Sorry guys! I know I don't always act my age but when guys act like 15 year olds...pretty much all the time...I just can't deal with it, it's too much for this girl to handle. And whats more, I'm 26 I don't like playing games! You all know the games i'm talking about "oh does he like me...oh does she like me... yada yada yada". If you like the person ask them on a freaking date or do something about it...geez!! I really wish people were more honest about their feelings...I know i'm not perfect, YES! I am far far from it but I feel that I have been honest with people...for the most part when or if I have feelings...and you can only share your feelings so many time before they begin to feel as though they are invalidated. Yeah of course honesty can be hard but the sooner it is out the faster others and yourself can move on whether for good or for bad.

There are so many other thoughts I could share at the moment but i probably shouldn't in the state I am in. If I did I would probably just end up with regrets! 

THE END....for now!

Learning Chinese can be.....well, it can be a really good time!

When there is nothing else to do in China you can always practice your Chinese. Christine this is a just for you!!

Pictures.....YAY!!!

3-2-1 BUNGY!!!

I finally did it! I have been meaning to bungy jump for ages but just never got around to it until my trip to Thailand. I mean honestly, could there be a better place to do this? I think not! But then again I am a little biased.

So, Yes that is me up there in the orange shirt. What was i thinking you ask? Well the first thing that came to my mind at this point was, "Wow! This is a little high...Kelly what are you doing up here?!"

It was only 50 meters (150ft) which really isn't too high but it is still high enough! I honestly wasn't scared. The only time I got nervous was when this picture was taken. This was the point I finally looked down and saw that it was a fair distance to the lake below. When I got to the top the guy told me to stand up (I was sitting down) and walk to the edge so that my feet would be hanging over. Then he said "I will say 3-2-1 BUNGY! When I say bungy you jump!" my thoughts ".....umm... ok .....whatever you do kel don't hesitate! Just do it (I'm a big Nike fan..hahaha)."
About 2 seconds later, the time finally arrived. As he made the count down I just keep thinking "don't hesitate or you wont do it."  I was so proud of myself, when he said BUNGY! I did it with no hesitation. YES,  I am a winner.

Bungy Jumping it was a very exhilarating experience. So glad i got to do it. Next on my very extensive bucket list, SKY DIVING!!!

APPARENTLY SPEEDOS ARE FOR EVERYONE

Nothing beats a man in a speedo!! Enough said

Just FYI if you love the speedo look Thailand definitely does not have a shortage.

Dinner in a Pineapple. All that should be said about this very delicious meal is YUM!!

I thought this was the most picturesque scene. It reminds me of wallpaper for your computer.