Moments I love

Okay there are so many moments I love! Today was full of them. A week ago my friend Sally and I decided to go hike Mount Fushan. In Qingdao there are two mountains Fushan and Laoshan. Supposedly Fushan is easier…well I wouldn’t call it easy but doable. So we plan to meet at 11:00 ready to go. Well due to some miscommunication with taxi drivers instead of my friend and her flat mate picking me up I went in search of them in a taxi once I found them we went to my campus to pick up my friend/Principal. Once we were all assembled we head out about an hour after we planned-no worries. We walked up the street from our campus went right passed some Chinese cemeteries went to the right again and passed a bigger cemetery then we looked out and tried to figure out which way after we phoned a friend we followed the flat dirt part and went into the trail/bush. So then it is time to hike I mean rock climb up the side of this mountain-we made and took it slow. As we were reaching the almost top we stopped and explored a German bunker that was cool although we got a bit of scare. We took a picture expecting more distance and just a wall and there was an open door that let down a long tunnel-apparently Sally and Kahurangi saw a horror movie about tunnels and mutated people so we got a scare-lol. Then we made it up the last bit of rock climbing as we were going we saw people repelling and commented on how fun that would be. We get to where the group is and were asked if we would like to try. Well of course we said yes! So Sally and Kahurangi went then Jane and I went. I have to say it was tricky trying to climb up these huge rock formations to get to the top and starting off was tricky but once I hit the edge and starting walking I got comfortable and actually repelled and jumped off! J It was so amazingly wonderful and exhilarating words can’t express. These groups of guys were so friendly and encouraging it was an adventure! Apparently by the time I went down we had a crowd watching-lol have to see what these foreigners are doing-love it! One of the moments I love during this hike and repelling is making friends with so many people! After we repelled we went to a look out house where a older man had passed us on the trail and he offered us 2 rounds of tea-so sweet of him. Next it was the adventure of going down. We explored another bunker and lookout then we went through this cool tunnel and took pictures on a huge bolder. Then we walked down the mountain we had conquered filling full of life. We parted ways with Jane and then Kahurangi and then Sally and I treated ourselves to a blizzard. J Oh but the day was not done I realized I was late to a birthday party for one of the “nephews” I have here. So I ran up my 4 flights of stairs and changed clothes than ran down 4 flights of stairs finally got a taxi to show up with about 30 minutes of the party left but I made it and he was happy! J I am not sure what the next adventure will be however I am ready! Go big or go home!:)

Autumn in Asia

Hello Autumn, 

I love Autumn it is my favorite season! I have had a busy month of October. We had the Mid-Autumn Festival. I was able to make moon cakes with my students and ate a few too...yummy! We had a break for Mid-Autumn Festival so what does my roommate Debra and I do on our first Saturday... wake up about 6:40 a.m. and start making pancakes for a pancake breakfast party with 3 of our favorite kids, of course! We had a blast the rest of the break was a bit more relaxing. I went to a used furniture market with some ladies where I did not find what I was looking for but I came up with a couple of ideas that would make my parents proud. Such as an old bicycle with a cart would make a great plant bed or an old door would make a good picture display. On the actual Sunday night of the Moon Festival we had some colleagues over including kids there were about 30 people. We made kabobs and mini chocolate pies. Everyone brought something to share and some people brought games. Since our apartment has two floors we had Pictionary on the top floor and Karaoke from the Philippians on the bottom floor. I am still having adventures though. I have gone to a place called Tai Dong which is huge, there is a fabric street, plant street, pet street and tons of shops in between including tailors which is where I went because I had a skirt made and a dress taken in. The main reason for this trip is because I have lost at least 8 kg which is about 17lbs since arriving 3 months ago, Awesome! Okay so some other fun times have been had as well. We had a sip and see which honored three of the newest babies in our community. Last weekend I had a fun adventure I joined some friends on the beach to watch the waves and eat a Japanese hot pot meal. Today I am going to a Pumpkin Party it is to celebrate three birthdays with yummy pumpkin treats. I am loving living here every moment I am thankful!

Adventures in China Oh I LOVE it!

First Weeks Here

Okay so I landed in China on July 26th, I think. Then it was hit the ground running which means everything started at once and now that I am in September it is kind of slowing down. The first two weeks I was here people took me out to eat for both lunch and dinner which is both super sweet and a bit overwhelming. None the these it is much appreciated. The second week was New Staff Orientation. During this week it came to the time to meet with your Principal and Division. Well since my Principal had arrived the day before and my Division is on another campus about 20 minutes away, I thought okay easy I will get a ride with the lunch van going over there, easy right. Well the first part of this adventure was easy I got a ride to the front gate no problem. Then once I was there I got the tour from my Assistant Principal including my room. :) Then I worked in my room (2 year old-Junior Foundation) for awhile until I realized I need to walk down the hill and go right to the main road in order to pick up the main campus bus home. So I walked down the hill so far all is well. After waiting about 15-20 minutes I called a fellow teacher who lives at the first apartment building stop. She said "Oh yea they just left should be to you shortly." I waited another 15 minutes or so and realized they are not coming this way.. oops. Okay I did not panic I called my Assistant Principal to make sure there was not a bus at the top of the hill. When my suspicions where confirmed and I assured her I would take the bus and I would be fine. I walked towards the sea and the direction I knew was going towards town. I arrived to the bus stop just as the 104 bus pulled away. Okay so I thought I will just walk to the next bus stop. During this time I had tried to call one of my roommates however her phone was on her number from south China not Qingdao, no luck. As I was walking to the 2nd bus stop my roommate called me asking "Are you home and can't hear me?" I chuckled and responded "Nope I am walking to the bus stop. I take the 104 bus right then it is the 210 or 402, right?" She confirmed my thoughts I tried to describe where I was which she did not know much more than me since we arrived on the same day. She told me how to say the shopping center in Mandarin. Okay so I caught the 104 bus tried to tell the bus ticket lady the shopping center, fail so I said Jusco. She knew where I was going gave me a ticket and I paid 1 kuai (4th tone). Got off that bus went through the underground shopping to the other side of the street. While waiting for the bus I called my roommate again. She tried to explain how to walk home but then I saw the bus so I ran for it. Meanwhile my roommate was staying at our neighbor's apartment below us because we had to give her key to the person moving a piano out of our apartment. In the end I have an amazing roommate who was patient with me through this adventure, I made it home with 10 minutes to spare before going out to eat with new friends and i had a wonderful adventure. 

There are always adventures. Another adventure I went on a few weeks after the above adventure was my same roommate and I decided to go buy some furniture from a guy that was going back to Canada that lived and had worked at the University. We told our friends/neighbors who have three children that we have become Aunties to. :) They have a 5 year old, 2 year old and 2 month old about the "sale". So we all ventured there. Once we had gotten all of our finds we went in search of taxi with 3 adults, 3 small children, stroller & car seat and all our Oh there are so many adventures actually there is usually an adventure almost everyday. dōngxi (stuff). Well that is not going to happen. So we called our Head Principal. He and his wife graciously picked us up.

Oh there are so many adventures actually there is usually an adventure almost everyday.One more favorite adventure. I was sitting in my living room watching a movie when I heard what sounded like a small airplane. I looked out to my window to see a person fly by my window. So of course I opened the door to the balcony to see more. My apartment is on the 6th and 7th floor because it is a 2 level apartment. I saw eight parachute gliders! Parachute gliders have a motor on the back and a parachute on top. They flew right through my building and the one in front of us. It was amazing oh but of course I did not have my camera. Now my camera does not work. :( I cannot wait to see and experience more adventures!~Thankful and Grateful     

Here we go

Hello y'all 


Okay I am new to this so please give me grace. So I am back in Florida for about 10 days before I move to China. I am super excited however I still have to pack...lol. I was in upstate New York for training for a little over two weeks. I met new "family members" who all hold a place in my heart. I went to Canada with my parents for four days. We visited Toronto, Niagara falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. We were able to experience street cars, buses, subways and trains. What a hoot! At some point my mom, dad and I almost fell while standing up on the buses. The most beautiful and sweet town was Niagara-on-the-lake. The falls at Niagara falls were amazing and gorgeous natural creations. So with only a few days left I am dog/cat/house sitting lol. I have my flight booked to leave on July 24th and arrive in China on July 26th. I will be taking 4 flights altogether which is exciting because I have never flown to any of the destinations before! I will write more as it gets closer. 

Blessings Love AJ