grins
I'm dating someone. :)
But I'm not going to tell you who - you have to guess. (mwahaha!)
Hint: If I'm asking you to guess, it's most likely someone you know.
And if you happen to want anyMORE hints I'd be happy to oblige, as long as they aren't some variant of the question: "What's his name?" That's for you to find out!
oh! And if you do happen to find out (which eventually I hope you DO!), please keep the secret so I can prolong the torture of those who haven't guessed yet. grins
Happy guessing! ;)
12.22.2006
12.18.2006
12.17.2006
12.13.2006
1) I love my cat , Veev/Veever/Vivi/Vuvvy/Vuv/Voovoo/Buggy/Whatever pops in my head - all short for Velvet. My dad says she's his, but really she's mine. She just sleeps on his stomach while he watches TV every night - the only cat in our long history of having cats that has ever chosen to approach my dad for attention. grins She sleeps with me almost every night and makes me feel better when I'm upset or frustrated or annoyed or sad or all of them at the same time. And she makes me feel even better when I do feel good (which is most of the time). I got her when I was in 4th grade right after 2 of our cats died in our house fire. She disappeared 2 years later for 4 years and miraculously found her way home via our neighbors a couple miles down the road. Apparently she'd shown up at their house one day a couple years prior and they were sick of her having kittens. :) What are farms for but to take in promiscuous cats? But hey. I can't complain. I got my cat back. grins
2) I really like vanilla soymilk. But if I had to choose between that and raw dairy milk - like some random millionaire offered me a million bucks to choose not to drink one for the rest of my life - I couldn't live without the cow. :)
3) I just acquired a new bike. For free. But it's not new. It's been sitting in the dilapitated shed of a house we just bought (more for the accompanying farmland than for the house, though that might come in handy for my brother someday). It needs... a lot of fixing up. :) And the thing I'm most excited about is the Japanese-style basket I intend on attaching to the back of it (after, of course, cleaning off the cobwebs and spider poop, fixing the tires and gears, and oiling it up a bit). One more reason to look forward to spring.
4) I really really really want a white Christmas. A lot of white. Like a couple feet of white. And a whole lot of cold weather - below freezing (I know you all thing I'm nuts, but I have a good reason. I promise.) - because I want our pond to freeze over so I (and whomever wants to accompany me) can go iceskating. :) And if the pond freezes and there's lots of snow we can go sledding down the hill behind my house and slide across the width of the pond. Otherwise you have to stop you and your careening sled before you whoosh into the pond and freeze to death.
5) Tegan, I finished The Handmaid's Tail in 6 hours. grins Sometimes it's nice just to read a book straight through, stopping only for refills on hot beverages. :) I haven't done that in a long time. It's not so nice having to wake up the next morning after going to bed after 3...
6) I like it when I use up the very last bit of hand/body lotion, unscrewing the top and scooping out the last of it with my fingers. Then throwing the empty bottle in the garbage.
7) I discovered that if I want to study, I need a "study spot". I can't concentrate anywhere else.
8) My hands shake when I play the piano for people who are paying attention to me, excluding my family. I love playing the piano, but not for performance.
9) We have an outdoor cat with chopped tail and deformed ear that we affectionately named Stubbs. She's super affectionate and kind of stupid. She sleeps outside on our deck waiting for someone to pet her even when it's raining and snowing, until I suppose she finally gets too cold to stand it anymore and goes to a barn.
10) All of this was so I could procrastinate studying for the GRE, which I now have to go do. It's 7pm and I want to watch a Frank Sinatra - Gene Kelly movie at 8. :) Anybody else like the old Turner Classic Movies (TCM)? I love 'em. grins
2) I really like vanilla soymilk. But if I had to choose between that and raw dairy milk - like some random millionaire offered me a million bucks to choose not to drink one for the rest of my life - I couldn't live without the cow. :)
3) I just acquired a new bike. For free. But it's not new. It's been sitting in the dilapitated shed of a house we just bought (more for the accompanying farmland than for the house, though that might come in handy for my brother someday). It needs... a lot of fixing up. :) And the thing I'm most excited about is the Japanese-style basket I intend on attaching to the back of it (after, of course, cleaning off the cobwebs and spider poop, fixing the tires and gears, and oiling it up a bit). One more reason to look forward to spring.
4) I really really really want a white Christmas. A lot of white. Like a couple feet of white. And a whole lot of cold weather - below freezing (I know you all thing I'm nuts, but I have a good reason. I promise.) - because I want our pond to freeze over so I (and whomever wants to accompany me) can go iceskating. :) And if the pond freezes and there's lots of snow we can go sledding down the hill behind my house and slide across the width of the pond. Otherwise you have to stop you and your careening sled before you whoosh into the pond and freeze to death.
5) Tegan, I finished The Handmaid's Tail in 6 hours. grins Sometimes it's nice just to read a book straight through, stopping only for refills on hot beverages. :) I haven't done that in a long time. It's not so nice having to wake up the next morning after going to bed after 3...
6) I like it when I use up the very last bit of hand/body lotion, unscrewing the top and scooping out the last of it with my fingers. Then throwing the empty bottle in the garbage.
7) I discovered that if I want to study, I need a "study spot". I can't concentrate anywhere else.
8) My hands shake when I play the piano for people who are paying attention to me, excluding my family. I love playing the piano, but not for performance.
9) We have an outdoor cat with chopped tail and deformed ear that we affectionately named Stubbs. She's super affectionate and kind of stupid. She sleeps outside on our deck waiting for someone to pet her even when it's raining and snowing, until I suppose she finally gets too cold to stand it anymore and goes to a barn.
10) All of this was so I could procrastinate studying for the GRE, which I now have to go do. It's 7pm and I want to watch a Frank Sinatra - Gene Kelly movie at 8. :) Anybody else like the old Turner Classic Movies (TCM)? I love 'em. grins
12.08.2006
The Beige Thundersquirrel is back on the road!
grins
Yes, it's true. After almost a year and a half of sitting in a barn collecting dust and mouse turds, having its brakes frozen up from rust and the tires deflated from disuse, the Thundersquirrel has officially passed inspection. :) And I am very very happy.
Yes, it's true. After almost a year and a half of sitting in a barn collecting dust and mouse turds, having its brakes frozen up from rust and the tires deflated from disuse, the Thundersquirrel has officially passed inspection. :) And I am very very happy.
12.04.2006
reconnecting :)
My closest friend growing up... and one of my only christian friends... a sister and a 2nd family (they really ARE a 2nd family)... an encourager in my faith (and I hers)... a confidant and collaborater (mischievous knowing grin)... and so much more...
got married last month (I got to be her maid of honor). :)
And for those of you who've never met her, here she is:
Krisonda Rae (no longer Alsheimer) Hosmer and her new husband, Cody.
"Part of the family": Zach and Danny... 2 of her "little" brothers, who both happen to be a whole lot taller than me. :)
And "the gang": Kris, Jake, Danny, and Zach
And NOW Kris and Cody live in Canandaigua (pretty close to Naples) and I get to see them a WHOLE lot more. Very exciting. :)
11.29.2006
M:i:III
"Please don't interrupt me when I'm asking rhetorical questions."
Stated by the good guy they thought was a bad guy but was really a good guy.
My favorite line of the movie. :)
Stated by the good guy they thought was a bad guy but was really a good guy.
My favorite line of the movie. :)
11.28.2006
a taste of home (WNY)
Me, my dad, and my "birthday cake". (applie pie) :)The rest of these are fall pictures that me or my mom took around our house (or our fields, barns, etc.).
Frosted cedar.
My mom's flowers. Dawn.
Our grass. :)
Naples' vineyards and Canandaigua Lake.
Missed a piece. ;)
Straw roundbails.
Our backyard, late summer.
Naples' vineyards.
Our barns.
11.21.2006
Because I love maps...
and I've seen this on many a friend's blog and have been dieing of jealousy (not really, though almost) because I wanted my own map showing where I've been in the world... I like looking at it. Well, at maps in general. I take this flat picture and fill it in (in my head) with people and names, places and smells and foods... languages, modes of transportation, life experiences.
create your own visited country map I recommend it. It's fun. :)
create your own visited country map I recommend it. It's fun. :)
11.20.2006
On the way back to NY...
I stopped by Pedroland (better known as "South of the Border") on the border of North and South Carolina. The last time I was there... was when I was in 4th grade. I was terrible excited to be there when I was in 4th grade... this time I was highly amused.
Pedro greets you.
Me too. :)
AND to top all that off, I spent the night at Hiram's house and got to know more of his wonderful family (mainly his mom and 2 endearing sisters). He also introduced me to his new Christmas song. If you haven't heard it, ask him to sing and play it for you. (Sorry if you get swamped with a ton of requests, Hiram.) :) It's a song that gives words to the moving in my heart towards the tiny baby who was born our Savior. It will cause you to praise God, who blesses each of in his own special way, according to his grace and purpose, with gifts that turn all of the glory and praise back onto himself. It was an incredible song.
And right now I'm going to bed. I'm very very tired.
Pedro greets you.
Me too. :)
AND to top all that off, I spent the night at Hiram's house and got to know more of his wonderful family (mainly his mom and 2 endearing sisters). He also introduced me to his new Christmas song. If you haven't heard it, ask him to sing and play it for you. (Sorry if you get swamped with a ton of requests, Hiram.) :) It's a song that gives words to the moving in my heart towards the tiny baby who was born our Savior. It will cause you to praise God, who blesses each of in his own special way, according to his grace and purpose, with gifts that turn all of the glory and praise back onto himself. It was an incredible song.
And right now I'm going to bed. I'm very very tired.
11.13.2006
Letter to a Japanese friend. Re: Questions about God. Reason for the hope that I have.
...I want to encourage you - keep seeking the Lord. Keep reading your Bible - even the difficult parts that you don't understand, because later on someone might come along that can explain a difficult part to you and you will know the story they are explaining. I've been a Christian for 21 years. I grew up in a Christian home with a Christian family and I've gone to church since I was a baby, and I still don't know everything. You can't know everything about God, or understand everything. (Someone once said somewhere (I can't remember who or where) that (paraphrasing) 'if you gathered together all the people who have known and experienced the hand of God in their lives (all people in some way, shape or form), from the beginning of time until now, from all over the world, and compiled all of their experiences and revelations into this God who created us, we still could not know all there is to know about our God.') In Isaiah 40:12-14, 18-23, 25-26. 28 it says (you might want to read it in Japanese because the English is more difficult - kind of like poetry):
"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was is that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?"
"To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to? As for an idol, a craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A man too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple. Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of the world to nothing."
" 'To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom....."
I guess all that to say, I know you may be frustrated by parts of the Bible like the Old Testament, that don't seem to match up with the life of Jesus and the words that Jesus spoke, but that is God's Word also. And the New Testament fulfills all of God's promises made in the Old Testament (2 Corinthians 1:20 "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through this the "Amen" ("So be it"... or May the Lord's will be done in this... or truly, assuredly, something spoken in faith without doubt.) is spoken by us to the glory of God"). 2 Timothy 3:16 says: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." And it's a part of the story that WE are apart of. We may not, and often times, don't understand the ways of God - because they aren't our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9 " 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' "). Simply put, He is God and we are not. There is mystery in God because he is greater than us. But not just his power and his understanding are greater, his love and mercy and grace are greater, too. And THAT is why he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to us. Because God's love is greater than our sin. His faithfulness is greater than our unfaithfulness (like so many stories in the Old Testament). His infinite understanding of the story of life from beginning to end is greater than our limited understanding of historical events and possible future ones. And he understands the meaning in the histories of events unravelled and the meaning in the future before it ever happens.
I believe you when you say you believe in Jesus. But Jesus doesn't offer himself in pieces for us to choose what we like and don't like about what he says and does. He offers all of himself - all of his words and all of his actions as a whole, not in parts. When he says to love others as you love yourself, you may understand that and desire to do it because it is love. But just as much, when he says he is God's Son... those Words have just as much value and truth as "love others" - in fact, they give Jesus the authority to say and do all that he did, because he IS God's Son. Jesus is God, and God of the whole Bible, not just part. God, the Father, gave us his Son Jesus Christ so that we could have a relationship with God - because our God is a God of relationships. The Bible is full of them - and not just the New Testament. The Old Testament does have many stories of war and fighting and sin and punishment and God's anger, but it is also full of God's astounding and faithful and burning love for his people. If you have a child and you tell your child something very important to do or not do, and your child disobeys you, you become angry because your child put his or herself in danger. And for your child to learn that lesson, you have to punish them in some form or another. The Israelites of the Old Testament were God's chosen people, his children. When they obeyed him, he blessed them abundantly. But when they disobeyed him - doing things like worshipping false gods and sacrificing their child on altars and committing adultery - it was necessary for God to punish them as a nation because of their disobedience. It was the only way for them to learn that what they were doing was wrong and sinful. And when they realized what they were doing was sinful, they would turn back to God and he would bless them again. But in the end, as was his plan, God sent Jesus Christ because he knew his people, and those who came to know him through his people, could never match up. All of the sacrifices and ceremonies and rules offered to God and required by God could never bridge the gap between the sinfulness of humankind and the holiness and glory of God. God's love bridged that gap, in the form of his Son. And so instead of a distant God of sacrifices and ceremonies and regulations, we can now KNOW God through being in a relationship with his Son, Jesus Christ. Speaking from my experiences in my relationship with the Lord, the power of God is found in his grace, his love, his forgiveness, his mercy, and his humbleness (and so much more that I have niether room nor time to express).
I know that you are full of questions, and I am glad of that. I believe Christ is working in your heart in an amazing way. And I know what I've said may be disagreeable to you. I've said it strongly, and I'm sorry if it has offended you. But I hope, rather, that it has encouraged you to keep asking questions and knowing the Lord more.
I hope to hear from you again, soon. Keep seeking, and know that I'm praying for you in everything.
love,
Rachel
"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was is that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?"
"To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to? As for an idol, a craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A man too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple. Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of the world to nothing."
" 'To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom....."
I guess all that to say, I know you may be frustrated by parts of the Bible like the Old Testament, that don't seem to match up with the life of Jesus and the words that Jesus spoke, but that is God's Word also. And the New Testament fulfills all of God's promises made in the Old Testament (2 Corinthians 1:20 "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through this the "Amen" ("So be it"... or May the Lord's will be done in this... or truly, assuredly, something spoken in faith without doubt.) is spoken by us to the glory of God"). 2 Timothy 3:16 says: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." And it's a part of the story that WE are apart of. We may not, and often times, don't understand the ways of God - because they aren't our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9 " 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' "). Simply put, He is God and we are not. There is mystery in God because he is greater than us. But not just his power and his understanding are greater, his love and mercy and grace are greater, too. And THAT is why he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to us. Because God's love is greater than our sin. His faithfulness is greater than our unfaithfulness (like so many stories in the Old Testament). His infinite understanding of the story of life from beginning to end is greater than our limited understanding of historical events and possible future ones. And he understands the meaning in the histories of events unravelled and the meaning in the future before it ever happens.
I believe you when you say you believe in Jesus. But Jesus doesn't offer himself in pieces for us to choose what we like and don't like about what he says and does. He offers all of himself - all of his words and all of his actions as a whole, not in parts. When he says to love others as you love yourself, you may understand that and desire to do it because it is love. But just as much, when he says he is God's Son... those Words have just as much value and truth as "love others" - in fact, they give Jesus the authority to say and do all that he did, because he IS God's Son. Jesus is God, and God of the whole Bible, not just part. God, the Father, gave us his Son Jesus Christ so that we could have a relationship with God - because our God is a God of relationships. The Bible is full of them - and not just the New Testament. The Old Testament does have many stories of war and fighting and sin and punishment and God's anger, but it is also full of God's astounding and faithful and burning love for his people. If you have a child and you tell your child something very important to do or not do, and your child disobeys you, you become angry because your child put his or herself in danger. And for your child to learn that lesson, you have to punish them in some form or another. The Israelites of the Old Testament were God's chosen people, his children. When they obeyed him, he blessed them abundantly. But when they disobeyed him - doing things like worshipping false gods and sacrificing their child on altars and committing adultery - it was necessary for God to punish them as a nation because of their disobedience. It was the only way for them to learn that what they were doing was wrong and sinful. And when they realized what they were doing was sinful, they would turn back to God and he would bless them again. But in the end, as was his plan, God sent Jesus Christ because he knew his people, and those who came to know him through his people, could never match up. All of the sacrifices and ceremonies and rules offered to God and required by God could never bridge the gap between the sinfulness of humankind and the holiness and glory of God. God's love bridged that gap, in the form of his Son. And so instead of a distant God of sacrifices and ceremonies and regulations, we can now KNOW God through being in a relationship with his Son, Jesus Christ. Speaking from my experiences in my relationship with the Lord, the power of God is found in his grace, his love, his forgiveness, his mercy, and his humbleness (and so much more that I have niether room nor time to express).
I know that you are full of questions, and I am glad of that. I believe Christ is working in your heart in an amazing way. And I know what I've said may be disagreeable to you. I've said it strongly, and I'm sorry if it has offended you. But I hope, rather, that it has encouraged you to keep asking questions and knowing the Lord more.
I hope to hear from you again, soon. Keep seeking, and know that I'm praying for you in everything.
love,
Rachel
11.12.2006
Down in the not-quite-so-deep South. :)
With Laura and Phil and their housemates, Bill and Tad (although Tad has been gone most of the time I've been here). Yup. I drove from NY to Charleston, SC. Long drive, but I got to spend the night with Tegan, Mike, and Tegan's friend Karli on the way down. And now I get to hang out with Laura, who I hadn't seen since she and my mom were with me in Japan in May, and meet all of her and Phil's friends (wonderful people).
I have to add... it's November, and I am THOROUGHLY enjoying the beautiful sunny warm weather of the southerly regions. ;)
And of course, what is an update without accompanying pictures. :)
Laura and Phil and their 2 dogs, Minnie and Naya (very VERY cute).
Playing cards with their friends, Alana and Jeremy (and not yet born Charlotte :) ).
Having all sorts of fun :) (me and Laura and Phil's housemate, Bill).
I even got a motorcycle ride (a REAL motorcycle!) with Bill! grins I could definitely get used to that. haha Anyway, more fun and adventures to come, I'm sure.
Being with Laura and Phil has been a blessing. A needed break from home, some time to myself to study for the dreaded GRE and continue to crank out the grad applications, and just have fun. I miss peers. Spending time with my family has been wonderful, but I most definitely miss friends. And being here surrounded by friends who are also peers has been an incredible blessing. :)
I have to add... it's November, and I am THOROUGHLY enjoying the beautiful sunny warm weather of the southerly regions. ;)
And of course, what is an update without accompanying pictures. :)
Laura and Phil and their 2 dogs, Minnie and Naya (very VERY cute).
Playing cards with their friends, Alana and Jeremy (and not yet born Charlotte :) ).
Having all sorts of fun :) (me and Laura and Phil's housemate, Bill).
I even got a motorcycle ride (a REAL motorcycle!) with Bill! grins I could definitely get used to that. haha Anyway, more fun and adventures to come, I'm sure.
Being with Laura and Phil has been a blessing. A needed break from home, some time to myself to study for the dreaded GRE and continue to crank out the grad applications, and just have fun. I miss peers. Spending time with my family has been wonderful, but I most definitely miss friends. And being here surrounded by friends who are also peers has been an incredible blessing. :)
10.27.2006
Have I ever mentioned that I have the best brother in the ENTIRE WORLD!
grins
5 minutes after arriving home from getting his license. :) Priorities are priorities. hehehehe He looooves me. ;)
5 minutes after arriving home from getting his license. :) Priorities are priorities. hehehehe He looooves me. ;)
10.19.2006
The last of our adventures in the "Middle Kingdom"...
So, while Amy was teaching all day, Noel and I wandered around Qingdao. :) It's hard to believe I'm now writing about what took place almost 2 weeks ago.
It was restful. And living "in community" again with Amy and Noel was wonderful. It's funny how quickly doing life with people you love becomes so normal in so little time. It didn't feel like I was spending just a week in Qingdao, it felt like I was building a life there. As Noel and I aquainted ourselves with Qingdao and Chinese and the other teachers at MTI (Amy's school) and Amy's cleaning lady Ling ling (and Amy joining us after school), Qingdao quickly began to take another shape of "home" rather just being "Amy's home".
Here are some pictures from last week to give you an idea of more of our adventures together. :)
Playing taxi tag. :)084.0.jpg)
On top of "Little Fish" Mountain. We climbed to the top floor of the now empty temple and got a beautiful view of Qingdao at dusk.094.0.jpg)
At the top of the temple with 2 of Amy's fellow teachers, Jenny Lee and Heather.103.0.jpg)
Buying pearls... for several dollars. Yes. That's dollars, NOT 100s of dollars. I've never seen so many pearls in my life!! There were stalls upon stalls of bundles of pearls of every shape, size, and color you can imagine. And when you thought you had seen all of them, they brought out MORE bundles. Craziness.081.0.jpg)
Noel and I discovered a fool-proof way of drawing a crowd in China. grins Here's a peek at our masterpiece. ;)
"Antebellum South meets Egypt... in China" grins
Noel's last full day in Qingdao (last Friday), we caught a bus to a national park mountainous area called Laoshan (shan = mountain(s)). We took the bus until it went no farther, hopped off, immediately got lots of propositions from taxi drivers who wanted to take us to places we couldn't understand, found a hiking map and started walking. It was beautiful. Although pretty hazy the majority of the week, by Friday it had started clearing up a bit, so we got some nice albeit a tad hazy, views. 
Although it doesn't look like it, the buildings in the background are actually public restrooms.
What would our experience in China have been without a little Engrish, right? ;) 
And that thing about drawing crowds... well, you don't have to build sandcastles to do it... walk around and you'll be just fine. grins We met this group of wonderful kids (and their teacher) crossing a bridge. :) They waved and said "come join" and we thought 'hm. nice place to eat lunch... pretty water, fun rocks, and plenty of space so we won't intrude on their party.' It was a nice thought. ;) Meet our friends, the Chinese Tourism Class of Qingdao University (1 of them).
We started making our way down the rocks and a couple of them came to meet us and "help" us. grins It was humorous. One girl took my hand and said 'This way.' 'Step on this rock.' 'Now this one.' :) When we made it over to the group, the whole gang of them clapped and cheered for us. It was insane. What do you say to that? Noel and I laughed. :) They then asked us to sit down, and formed a circle of sorts around us. They peppered us with questions like 'What's your hobby? Do you like China? Do you like Chinese food? Where are you from? What did you study? Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? How old are you? Why are you here? WILL YOU SING A SONG FOR US?' hahahaha To give us a little encouragement, one girl stood up and sang a Chinese pop Christmas song. I was blushing and Noel was bowing out gracefully. And then I remembered an experience I had while in Cuba... Our group was asked the same question, and no one would sing. I remember how disappointed my Cuban friends were afterward... It was a part of their culture to share something of that sort, and no one would. And so... I decided to swallow my shyness and embarrassment and sing. And they loved it. :) And I resumed being shy and embarrassed when I finished, and then I got over it. grins But then they convinced Noel to sing! hehe He sang part of a song that was in his head and when he finished they clapped and cheered. What a crazy afternoon! We made our way together down the rest of the "trail" (wide man-cut and laid stone walkway) until we came to our bus. They sent us off with a warm farewell and we were on our way. And starving because we had yet to eat our lunch. :) And of course, what better way to end the day than meeting Sam, newly arrived from Thailand! Joined by Amy, we began introducing Sam to Qingdao. Saturday we sent Noel off. *sniff* :) And I couldn't imagine ending my time in China better than being able to spend time with Amy and Sam together. Pictures to follow - as soon as Sam emails me them. :)
10.10.2006
More adventures with Amy and Noel...
In Amy's classroom at MTI... preparing lessons and being distracted. :)
Tai Dong Rd. Lined with shops and food and bubble tea places, and ALSO the road off of which Amy and I went to get traditional Chinese shirts made for us, and Noel found pearls (REAL pearls) for about $10. How crazy is that.
Noel and I off exploring the coast (Yellow Sea) while the tide was out Monday afternoon. Amy's apt. complex is way in the background.
Can we really be hanging out in China??? And at the ocean to boot!!
After school adventure with Amy. :) Walking along the coast, avoiding crashing waves (crashing over the pier walk and over us), avoiding vicious looking dogs, peeking into a purple-themed wedding, laughing, joking, loving life together. How amazing is our God... that 3 of us can meet halfway across the world and just SPEND TIME TOGETHER. grins
Tai Dong Rd. Lined with shops and food and bubble tea places, and ALSO the road off of which Amy and I went to get traditional Chinese shirts made for us, and Noel found pearls (REAL pearls) for about $10. How crazy is that.
Noel and I off exploring the coast (Yellow Sea) while the tide was out Monday afternoon. Amy's apt. complex is way in the background.
Can we really be hanging out in China??? And at the ocean to boot!!
After school adventure with Amy. :) Walking along the coast, avoiding crashing waves (crashing over the pier walk and over us), avoiding vicious looking dogs, peeking into a purple-themed wedding, laughing, joking, loving life together. How amazing is our God... that 3 of us can meet halfway across the world and just SPEND TIME TOGETHER. grins
10.09.2006
The Forbidden City's neighboring park...
After the Great Wall, Noel and I made our way to downtown Beijing.
Tian'anmen Square...
the Forbidden City...
(picture of the gate to the City)...
The hubbub of Beijing. We approached the City with much giddiness and excitment, and proceeded to enter through the 'side entrance'... what we thought was the side entrance.
We wove in and out of beautiful gardens, painted patios and pagodas, and impressive ceremonial buildings.
We took in the sites and sounds and smells of the 'Forbidden City'... until we came to the end of the park and looked over the very high wall to our right and saw the mammoth rooves of the palace rising up over them.
We were very confused. :)
So, we wound our way back out to enter the REAL Forbidden City... and got caught just outside of it, barracaded off by military personnel. It was time for the ceremonial taking down of the national flag. The sidewalk was cutoff to pedestrians, and the traffic was momentarily stopped while men in uniform marched across the street, took the flag down, and marched back.
(the gate to the FC lit up following the flag ceremony)
So we almost, but not quite, made it to the Forbidden City. Oh well. :) Fun stories and good times. The company is the best part, eh?
More to come. :)
Tian'anmen Square...
the Forbidden City...
(picture of the gate to the City)...The hubbub of Beijing. We approached the City with much giddiness and excitment, and proceeded to enter through the 'side entrance'... what we thought was the side entrance.
We wove in and out of beautiful gardens, painted patios and pagodas, and impressive ceremonial buildings.
We took in the sites and sounds and smells of the 'Forbidden City'... until we came to the end of the park and looked over the very high wall to our right and saw the mammoth rooves of the palace rising up over them.
We were very confused. :)
So, we wound our way back out to enter the REAL Forbidden City... and got caught just outside of it, barracaded off by military personnel. It was time for the ceremonial taking down of the national flag. The sidewalk was cutoff to pedestrians, and the traffic was momentarily stopped while men in uniform marched across the street, took the flag down, and marched back.
(the gate to the FC lit up following the flag ceremony)So we almost, but not quite, made it to the Forbidden City. Oh well. :) Fun stories and good times. The company is the best part, eh?
More to come. :)
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