Talking the Lingo...kinda

So today after church we went out to lunch with our friends. We have our own little group that get together on Sundays to play games and hang out. So today we went out to lunch together to this BBQ place at the American Club called Moose&Roo. We took a taxi to get there it is about 30 minutes away from the church.

Our taxi driver was super nice! He taught us the correct way to pronounce the address of Moose&Roo. Then he asked where we were from. At first I didn't understand what he was asking. I knew he was asking a question but I didn't know what it was. But then he started naming countries and I was like ooohhh. So I told him that we were Americans. Then he asked how old we were. It was so much fun to answer back in the language. Even though I only understood a couple of words in the questions I could get the gist of what he was asking. 

It was a lot of fun to practice the language that we have been learning everyday. It wasn't perfect but it was fun! This was probably the best taxi driver I have had since being here. He taught me how to pronounce the name of the taxi and his name. He also gave me his card with the number so we can call him to pick us up! 

It is such a great feeling when you can understand a little bit of the language and have a semi conversation with the locals. Even if the conversation was very one sided (he asked questions and I answered) it was still great. It makes me excited for the day that I can have a full conversation with a local in their language :).

Also the food as Moose&Roo was DELICIOUS!!! It was real BBQ with authentic sides. It could rival City BBQ back in Lexington. We left will full stomachs and full heart (because the company was great). The BBQ came with homemade sides and OHH MY GOODNESS best food I have had here. I ordered the BBQ chicken with cornbread and onion rings. We all shared our food. So I got to try the pulled pork, the ribs, chicken wings, and the brisket. We also shared the sides. We got mac N cheese, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, and french fries. We spent 2 hours there talking and eating. I am so glad God has given me such great friends here and the opportunity to find hidden gems like Moose&Roo to fill our bellies.

BBQ chicken with cornbread and onion rings. 

I did it!

I did it. I went to the supermarket by myself!  

After church I had lunch with some other young adults at the church. It was so nice to met others living here. I really think I am going to like it here. There is a group of young adults that meet every Thursday. I am hoping to go this Thursday and get plugged in :).

But this post isn't about that. This is about my major accomplishment! I have been here for 10 days and today I successfully went to the supermarket by myself. I hailed a taxi (unfortunately the most expensive one) and asked them to take me to Big C (the supermarket). It's a little far away so I got a little nervous when it took so long and I haven't quite figured my way around (so the streets all look unfamiliar). But when we got close I knew we were in the right place! There was a big sign that said Big C :). 

I went inside and they wrapped my bag (you have to have your purse wrapped to prevent shoplifting but it also prevents pickpockets). Then I went shopping. I bought a new pillow for my bed because I am borrowing my principal's pillow and sheets because I forgot mine in the States. I was going to by sheets but I don't know the diminisions of my bed, so I will get those next weekend!

I also bought my groceries for the week. Lots of chicken, some garlic, and onion. I also bought a six pack of Sprite and some avocados :). They are super cheap here (less than $1 for a kilogram) and they are big :).  

 At the market there is a lot of fish. That is alway how you know you are shopping in Asia!

I steer clear of the fish, but there is a lot of it! 

I know those!!! They have Goldfish here and they are only $3. In China they were like $6. 

After I chose my groceries it was time to stand in line to pay. Well I had 54 lanes (yes you read that right) to choose from. So I stood in line and waited. With 54 lines it only took like 5 minutes but it was kind of slow for a Sunday. The cashier rang up my groceries and I bagged them myself (this is where working at Kroger comes in handy). I paid (350,000 = $16) and I was on my merry way. 

The registers. There are 54 of them!!! 

Then I got a taxi (again an expensive one but one thing at a time). For some reason some taxis don't know how to get back to my apartment. So he started driving and I just kept getting more and more nervous. The streets are still unfamiliar and I don't see any buildings I recognize. But then I see Star Tower which is a building I know! But my driver turns the other direction. Uh Oh! Now we are entering a part of the city I don't know. So I have to tell the driver to turn around and go back to where I can see Star Tower! Thankfully he is really nice and doesn't kick me out of his car! He turns around and we head back. He turns on a street that looks familiar and I see the park! I know the park! I live straight down the street from the park! So he finally gets me home! 

So I accomplished two things today! I went to the supermarket and I got myself home! Even with getting a little lost on the way, it's a pretty big deal since I have only been here 10 days! And what is even better is I didn't feel scared at all. I know the Lord has me here and he is my protector. Everything is just another adventure for us to go on together :).  

**the taxi to the store only cost me $4 and the taxi home cost me $5. Expensive for here, but actually pretty cheap :)

State-side

Well I have been back in the states for a little over a month. I have been trying to figure things out and it's been a crazy month. 

The first two weeks I was home were holidays. So Christmas with the stepfamily, Christmas with my mom's family, and then the New Year. I couldn't really get anything done these two weeks because everything related to government and teaching are closed for these two weeks. 

The third week I was home I went to Washington, D.C. with my friend. The trip was so I could go talk to the Chinese visa office and try to figure everything out. I knew it would take 3-5 days so I planned for 4. Well as my past visa trip to Hong Kong proved I should have only planned for one day. 

We went to the visa office the first day we were there. It wasn't as busy as Hong Kong so I didn't have to wait long to talk to someone. When I got to the window to talk to the agent the same thing happened. She asked why I had a diplomatic visa in an ordinary passport. I told her they made a mistake and she leaves me to go talk to someone. When she comes back she tells me that I can get the work visa for $160. (Ummm. She totally avoided answering why I had a diplomatic visa). I didn't want to pay $160 to get the visa when they couldn't answer me about the diplomatic visa (I didn't want the same thing to happen). When I told her that I needed to know why I got a diplomatic visa she said that she couldn't answer that and her supervisor was out of town until the end of the month. She said I could wait until then. (SERIOUSLY?!?!?) I was not going to stay in DC til the end of January to talk to the supervisor and I wasn't going to pay $160 to get a new visa when they couldn't answer my questions. So technically we could have gone home that day. It was looking like a wasted trip. But to make the best of your time in a new city (or country) go sightseeing. So we walked around Georgetown and went to Georgetown Cupcake. Then the next day we went to the Holocaust Museum and sightseeing. Sounds just like Hong Kong! LOL. 

On our way home from DC I got a call from my Aunt saying that my grandma on my dad's side wasn't doing well. :(. Good thing I was heading home. My uncle was going to be flying in the next day because they didn't think she would be with us much longer. My Uncle got in town that Friday and she passed away 40 minutes after he got to the nursing home. So my family traveled to Western KY to be with family and attend the funeral. (Can we say whirlwind?) So I spent the week in Western KY with family. It was great to be with family. 

When I came home I knew I needed to begin to figure out what I was going to do. The Chinese visa office didn't really help me but I just felt like God was closing the door right now to China. So where and what does God want me to do? So I am praying about where God is leading me. I have some applications to apply for schools abroad that I need to fill out. I am also looking into some missionary organizations. Just seeing what doors God is opening. I was going to apply for substitute teaching but the deadline for my local county was in December so I missed that. I did apply for surrounding counties but I haven't heard anything back. So right now I am just babysitting and praying. Praying about where to go next and what I need to do. God is providing and leading. Just have to trust in him :). 

Until next time!