The Two Month Mark!

Well I have been here for exactly 2 months! In some aspects it feels like forever and in other aspects I feel like I just got here. I have gotten involved in a lot of things, which I think helps in the transition of living overseas. Things are still not easy but it is slowly becoming the new normal. School is slowly getting better and better (however there was a small hiccup yesterday that sent my day into a tail spin). Also getting involved at the church is one of the best things, it is what helped me in China and is what is helping me here.

When people ask me how long I have lived here sometimes they are shocked by my answer. I have learned how to get a taxi and tell them where I need to go, whether by saying it in the language or showing the address on my phone. I know how to buy vegetables at the local street market. I don’t always understand what they are saying but I manage to pay them and not feel ripped off. I know a couple of key phrases and can give input on the way things work here. I am nowhere near perfect but I have learned quickly some of the things needed for survival.

Everyone at church knows I am new, but because I am involved in a lot of things (the young adults group and the women’s group) people tend to think I have been here longer. I think this is a big part of transitioning. Getting involved helps to not think about home so often and I meet tons of new people. The young adults have been meeting at our apartment for the past month. It is so awesome to have a big living room where everyone can sit comfortably. Also I am a part of the women’s connection team! It’s nice having things to do outside of school. It makes me feel like I have more of a purpose here and an impact on the city.

School has been an up and down roller coaster. Whether it is trying to understand co-workers or trying to learn from the other foreigners. There are so many people (yet so little) working here and we are all different. We have different ways of communicating, teaching, and experiences. It’s a lot of adjustments to make while also adjusting to teaching in a foreign country. It doesn’t help that we never hear encouraging words from parents. We only hear the negative things which in turn make us feel like failures. But God is at work here! I am so grateful for the daily reminders that He is here with me. Some days it is easy to see and others it is a little harder. But I always know he is here and he has called me here. Thank you for your continued prayers and love!

2 months down and 22 more to go!

Taco night! And a few games of Dutch Blitz! 

Holidays in this Strange Land

It's the holiday season! This is my favorite time of the year! I love getting together with friends and family and just spending time together! It's the best thing in the world. Quality time... it's my love language! I know people say that Christmas is their favorite holiday because they get presents and tons of food. Well I could care less about the presents and the food, although there is some delicious food at Thanksgiving and Christmas! The best thing about Thanksgiving and Christmas is that families make it their mission to be together for the holidays. Whether it is seeing one side of the family for Thanksgiving and the other for Christmas or everyone gets together for both. That is the best part of the holiday in my opinion!

Unfortunately this year I will miss it (and more). These Western holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) aren't really celebrated here in East Asia.

America is the only ones who celebrate Thanksgiving and, here in China, I don't really have any American friends. I'm not complaining. I love all the friends I have here in China that come from all over the globe. But when it comes to beginning the holiday season with Thanksgiving there is no one here that actually celebrates it. :(. That was hard, but thankfully I have some awesome friends (*cough* Tanith*cough*) who want to celebrate with me even though they don't actually have this holiday in their home country. So the group of foreigners I work with decided to go out on Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) for a "Thanksgiving" in China meal. Sadly there was no turkey but again it's not about the food. It's about the company. :)

I did call home on Thanksgiving. It was cool to FaceTime with my mom and get to see all my family after they had stuffed their faces full of Thanksgiving food prepared by my awesome Aunt and Grandma. It was great talking to everyone for the brief time I had but I was a little envious. I wanted to be there so bad. Not just for the delicious food that you can truly only get back home, I mean it's called home-cooked for a reason ;), but for the company of family. My family has been going to my aunt's house for Thanksgiving for at least the past 8 years and I always enjoyed it, but the phrase "you don't know what you got til it's gone" really resonated with me. I don't have the quality time with family this year and I definitely miss it.

But now that Thanksgiving is over.... I get to look forward to Christmas.... here in Asia.... where December 25th is just another working day. You read that right, I have to work on Christmas day. Our school is having a party for Christmas but I think it is called a Snow Party. In preparation for the party we have to decorate our classrooms with Christmas decorations. I don't know why but this makes me want to go home even more. I miss decorating the tree and making holiday cookies. Because all of these things are done with friends and family.  Holiday movie nights, baking Christmas desserts(No Bakes, sugar cut outs, peanut butter balls, etc), and just being together. WAAAHHHH Can I go home?

But a good thing is I have some great friends here that I get to spend the holiday with. My friends at church are having a Christmas dinner on Christmas. So I am leaving school that day and traveling the hour distance to go to their house and have Christmas dinner! I am super excited! Then I think the day after Christmas some of us foreigners at IVY are getting together for a Christmas dinner. So I will still get to spend time with friends. It's the family traditions of Christmas that I will miss out on. Hopefully I will get to Skype/FaceTime with my family so I will get to see them at least :).

Everyone tells me to enjoy this adventure because it's a once in a lifetime. I agree I am going to enjoy it but there are definitely ups and downs that come with it. I miss the holidays and my family and friends back home. But I wouldn't change this for the world. I know this is where God has called me to be. I don't know for how long but for right now this is where I am meant to be. I have learned and grown so much during my time here and my time isn't over. Just keep me in your prayers this holiday season! :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Remember the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus! :)

Four Months in China

Well it's official... I have been in China for exactly 4 months. It has been a roller coaster here. It's true what they say about culture shock being ups and downs. When I think back to my first month here it feels like years ago but also like a couple days. I can't believe it has been 4 months, it really doesn't feel like 4 months when I think about it. I have made a lot of new friends and done a lot of things that I would never had done back home.

It is really interesting to live in a foreign country. You don't know the language, but you pick it up along the way. I have gotten good at getting what I need from the local stores and traveling by taxi, but when it comes to having a conversation with the locals I am at a loss. I know bits and pieces of Chinese but not enough to hold a conversation. I did buy Rosetta Stone (for 70RMB which is like $11) so I am beginning that but it could take awhile.

Traveling in China is an experience all on its own. I feel like I am an expert at taking the subway. LOL. It's actually a great way to get around and it only costs 2RMB, that's like 30 cents. The only things you have to get over is the amount of time it takes to get places. To get to church it is like 5 stops and it takes almost an hour. To get to some of the tourist attractions it could take over an hour. But it is cheap and you get to be stared at by Chinese the whole time. LOL. You start to get past the staring after a couple of trips.

So my job has been pretty good. I really love the awesome foreigners I work with and our Chinese assistants are pretty awesome too! I just started using ClassDojo (a classroom management tool) in my class and it is going great! My kids are listening and paying attention more. We set goals for them to reach so I think they are really excited about getting candy or a toy if they can get enough points by the end of the week!

I haven't really done any sightseeing since I moved to Huilongguan. I did go shopping at some markets. I bought some scarves and a nice cardigan for pretty cheap. As we went to one of our favorite "western" restaurants in SanLiTun, The Den. So let me just say The Den has amazing french fries and sandwiches and it's always on our list of places to go. Shopping is fun here, you never know what you are going to find. And it is always great to have AWESOME company ;). Can't wait to do more shopping and sightseeing.

APEC is having a week long conference here in Beijing. So all the schools are closing for 6 days. Factories are closing and less cars are being allowed to drive during this week. Can you guess why? Pollution! Since leaders from around Asia are going to be here in Beijing, they want the air quality to be amazing! So what are we going to do with the 6 days off, EXPLORE CHINA! We've made a list and we are going to have a great time! #theadventuresofAllieandTanith

I signed my contract with the school yesterday. I wish they would have let me read it thoroughly before signing. I found that if I decide to end my contract early I will have to pay a month's salary. :( I had to sign the contract so that they could get all of my work visa papers sent in. I don't know what is next for me after leaving IVY but I know God has great plans.

God is doing so much in me during my time here in China. I am learning a lot about who I am and who He has created me to be. I am learning to trust Him and not worry so much about what is going to happen. Everything always works out in perfect timing.