tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63770284337564208012024-03-05T09:35:32.772-08:00my lifeRebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-53783613509277019382011-06-10T14:35:00.001-07:002011-06-10T15:11:09.449-07:00Why I Love My Serger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWeTBdZMcWE0Qb_qfLurgOqETvX118boPIUTtTTPty77diiO9wskLL-SqU1b7zCkKt7zBme_MfNqtwXEduL8yJk_wQM8j02BnWBkC-YivQhPVi36yYoG1qp-8-NNGc7MPZK7aT89lEo1M/s1600/IMG_0977.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWeTBdZMcWE0Qb_qfLurgOqETvX118boPIUTtTTPty77diiO9wskLL-SqU1b7zCkKt7zBme_MfNqtwXEduL8yJk_wQM8j02BnWBkC-YivQhPVi36yYoG1qp-8-NNGc7MPZK7aT89lEo1M/s320/IMG_0977.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616708181985631522" /></a> <br /><br />MY mom is very talented in just about anything. She can turn a bolt of fabric into very durable clothes overnight! When I was a kid living in New Zealand some of my most favorite memories were of my mom taking us to the fabric store and letting US choose the fabric we wanted our clothes to be made out of! Looking back now in pictures I'm not so sure it was the greatest idea to let US choose our own fabric because we came up with some wacky combinations! But we loved it! We would kiss her good night with folded fabric on her desk and in the morning she would have CLOTHES at the end of our beds! She brags now that she could make a pair of pants in 15 minutes! <br /><br />My dad surprised my mom with this serger (pictured above) one day. He went to the a sewing centre in Browns Bay, bought it, and had it out of the box and sitting on her desk when she got home! She was SO excited! She used it to make most of our clothes while we lived in New Zealand! She brought it with her to the states (with a clunky converter my dad had made for her) when we moved and it hasn't had much use since...until a few weeks ago when I went home for a visit! We found it in the basement and mom and I cleaned it up! With some dusting and a little oil it works beautifully! My mom gave it to me and I have been making clothes with it like she did for me twenty years ago! So, this is why I love my serger :) <br /><br />(Side note: I'd like to name it but haven't thought of one yet, any ideas?)<br /><br />much love to all of youRebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-2861793123296403102011-04-18T09:22:00.000-07:002011-04-18T09:49:02.139-07:0015 days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqS-TX8YomNQFZZFS7_yBTfRCBGNOHBlRGWa_lzmX1OsanpW87DOnG80v7kDByImlf9A4yMUyKkR-v_ET3WoJrEYPix43_JoscreuN1drW3sVGSD4zwEaYhHOcoepw-IBt0KUS5Um6tTB/s1600/6a00d8341c721253ef010536d3591f970b.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqS-TX8YomNQFZZFS7_yBTfRCBGNOHBlRGWa_lzmX1OsanpW87DOnG80v7kDByImlf9A4yMUyKkR-v_ET3WoJrEYPix43_JoscreuN1drW3sVGSD4zwEaYhHOcoepw-IBt0KUS5Um6tTB/s320/6a00d8341c721253ef010536d3591f970b.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596966601806117650" /></a><br /><br />I could bore you with my life as a student and the anxiety of pop quizes, group grades, and the bad self image that comes with being unprepared for a test but I won't do that to you, or to me either. Life is looking up: I have 15 more days until the semester is over...sure I still have to write two papers, a lit. review, take 3 comprehensive exams and continue weekly assignments but I can see the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel" and it is bright and calling my name! The past few weeks my husband and I have shared conversations that can be summed up by this dialogue which took place last night:<br />Kyle: "I'm not sure I can finish this..." <br />Me: "You can too! you'll do great! (pause) Now, tell me I can do it too"<br />We're both in the same situation which is nice sometimes because we understand each other's needs...but as husbands and wives share stresses and empathize with each other sometimes it feels like a weight of two work loads on our shoulders. I think this is ok though, because in 15 days our feeling of freedom with be magnified by two as well.Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-80185277072639748462011-03-31T20:19:00.000-07:002011-04-18T09:08:15.316-07:00my new-old grand dad ted<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXjHFpDWBvbrOJn2uEk_2W6HPcb0UvSGoVbltN2SlOp9BOlx4PO9FTL2Qku0rZZE-qKKlOxiNr7riTGJWpIJ8d0kqW4kURbuxz7_LHKR8c7-ucqwutZe_dBaOJ-aSnrS2KXq730qnkOBn/s1600/Steers.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXjHFpDWBvbrOJn2uEk_2W6HPcb0UvSGoVbltN2SlOp9BOlx4PO9FTL2Qku0rZZE-qKKlOxiNr7riTGJWpIJ8d0kqW4kURbuxz7_LHKR8c7-ucqwutZe_dBaOJ-aSnrS2KXq730qnkOBn/s320/Steers.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596955913775101490" /></a>
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<br /></div>Growing up in another country from each of my grandparents in different times in my life has made having a decent relationship with either set difficult. When I lived in New Zealand my mom's parents were my constant. When we moved to the States my dad's parents became the norm. I used to think having a relationship with at least one set was better than nothing. Now I see if I don't have a substantial relationship with both of them I lose half of my identity (not to mention really great stories about my parents).<div>Last year, while I lived in China, my Grandad Ted and I took interest in each other and skyped often (it helped too we were in closer timezones). At first it felt weird and mechanical because it had been so long and we didn't really know each other. With every chat, though, our conversations became more fun and enjoyable. Now I feel very apart of him and his life and I think he feels the same about me. After all of these years I feel like I have a NEW granddad ted and it's exciting! I love hearing his stories and seeing his view of the world. He was a sailor, a captain, then a harbor master and has been all over the world. 7-year-old Rebecca didn't know any of this! </div><div>He, in the last few years, transformed his kiwi orchard into a pasture and is raising "steers" - NOT cows - and he has two cats and a little corgi dog.</div><div>I'm excited about this new-old relationship :) </div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8">Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-16117234556655617442011-02-16T14:16:00.000-08:002011-02-16T14:59:04.822-08:00I don't want to be a CounselorAs many of you know I am in school getting my M.A. in Counseling at Harding grad. I really enjoy my classes and my professors are brilliant and really care about their students. It has been a good journey for me so far and I look forward each semester getting closer to graduation. The title of my blog post might not make sense to many of you and some might be thinking "why is she getting her M.A. in Counseling and not wanting to be a counselor?".<div><br /></div><div>Basically I look at education as a journey. I made a mistake when I worked towards my undergraduate degree in Special Education...I thought I was working to become a special ed. teacher. Learning so many ideas in school I became a different person: Rebecca, the special education teacher. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now I'm in counseling school and I don't want to get lost again. I don't want to just be a Counselor. Instead it is my goal to enrich myself with what I learn so no matter what job I have I can help people and not have to have the label of "Counselor" to do it. <div><br /></div><div>So by the end of my schooling I want to be Rebecca - who knows a thing or two about marriage and family counseling and special education; and who is not too controlled by what she has learned to only be able to see life through the eyes of a counselor.<br /></div></div>Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-68831503638685690102010-10-05T09:41:00.000-07:002010-10-05T10:05:20.728-07:00Old me New me<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Re-entry has been interesting...I guess you don't know how much you've changed until you re-enter your previous culture. <div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We're living on campus at harding grad. and although the apartment is small it is so nice to have all our things in one place. While unpacking these boxes I'm reminded of our lives before. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>For one thing we have distinct personal boxes. The labels say "Kyle's books" or "Rebecca's stuff". This past year in China really meshed us together as one unit. I'm not sure if we packed our belongings again if we would need to specify whose stuff everything is because it's all OURS. </div></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Another thing I've learned about myself is I'm shocked at how much stuff we have! Before we went to China we sold most of our things and we still have SO much more than we had in China. It's nice to have these things but it's hard, after seeing how the Chinese live, not to feel guilty for having nice things. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Although re-entry has been confusing and not so fun at times we're making it. It really helps to have friends who understand, family who loves us no matter how weird we are, and a God who loves, blesses and cares for us everyday.</div>Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-70074343518652885442010-08-05T11:14:00.000-07:002010-08-05T11:22:41.974-07:00Finding Peace<div>Our life is a crazy mess right now. Our stuff is in three different places over the country (Dallas, Atlanta, and Henderson), we've lived out of our backpacks for the past month and a half, we haven't stayed in the same place since visiting our families for over a week, we have a lot of possibilities but none of them are a sure thing yet. We've spent many nights weighing pros and cons and trying to make plans. We've been stressed, we've lost sleep...We're starting school in a few weeks and still don't know how we're going to pay the bills. All the while trying to adjust and re-enter into this familiar yet foreign culture we're moving home to. </div><div><br /></div><div>With all this stuff going on you would think we would be out of our minds…God continues to give us peace with our current situation. He continues to provide a place for us to lay down at night. He continues to provide us with meals and enough gas to get us where we need to go…Our God is great, Our God is loving, Our God provides in an incredible way. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are not comfortable, we are not established, we are not successful, we are not settled. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today I've found strength and peace in Psalms 119:73-76:</div><div><br /></div><div>Your Hands made me and formed me;</div><div>give me understanding to learn your commands</div><div>May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, </div><div>for I have put my HOPE in your WORD.</div><div>I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous,</div><div>and in faithfulness you have AFFLICTED me</div><div>May your UNFAILING love be my COMFORT,</div><div>according to your PROMISE to your SERVANT.</div><div><br /></div><div>God made me and formed me with his hands. He has a plan for us. He gives me peace and patience to excitedly wait for what he has planned for me.</div>Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-78674860490685818502010-04-19T07:27:00.000-07:002010-04-19T07:48:10.254-07:00A New Community<span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Tonight was the first warm night in a while. It was humid from a fog that seeped into our city but it felt refreshing. Kyle and I decided to go for a run. The campus we live in doesn't have a track but we've found one in the neighboring campus.<br />We discovered a new community on that dark track. There were all kinds of workouts being performed...some I'd never seen before! The young college guys would sprint around the track for a few laps. Satisfied with their run they'd go to the pull up bars in the center and start doing really fast sit ups. The young college girls, arm in arm, talked rapidly as they walked around the track or leaning lazily on the bars in the center talking on their cell phones. Older couples walked around the track backwards swinging their arms in huge motions across their bodies and then out again. One woman walked the entire track several times with her arms raised above her head the whole time. There were little children racing each other in the center being watched carefully by their grandmothers. And of course there was an army training for the new college students taking up all of the lanes on one part of the track. (In China all the college students must have army training their freshman or sophomore year.)<br />As you can imagine all these different activities made a regular run on the track quite an obstacle course! We plan to be regulars on this track and make some friends along the way.<br /></span><style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss117/hotbliggityblog/autumnflowers.jpg"); background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; }</style> <div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(217, 198, 182); border: 2px ridge rgb(120, 79, 43); bottom: auto; cursor: pointer; height: auto; left: 593px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: fixed; right: auto; top: 190px; width: auto; z-index: 2147483647; opacity: 0.4; display: none;" class="translator-floating-panel"><div style="background: url("chrome://translator/skin/icons.png") no-repeat scroll left top transparent; display: block; height: 16px; margin: 2px; width: 16px;" title="Click to translate"></div></div>Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-15982806562390593022010-04-03T23:30:00.000-07:002010-04-03T23:49:09.013-07:00Climbing Hills<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjXJSvxTJOSAMsEXk9mdMttaQRPJi9VPO0fBu__P5MW70fIcTYyyXodRFmCy2nXuGgaN2xufd6IqkJffk1yk7TdulzZnY9LLZ6PhHsmhabxhAe-5AOF0c3QNkyoXzEjo9HPI2HCYGIr6A/s1600/DSC02996.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjXJSvxTJOSAMsEXk9mdMttaQRPJi9VPO0fBu__P5MW70fIcTYyyXodRFmCy2nXuGgaN2xufd6IqkJffk1yk7TdulzZnY9LLZ6PhHsmhabxhAe-5AOF0c3QNkyoXzEjo9HPI2HCYGIr6A/s320/DSC02996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456167826601683458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);"><br />Sylar, A student of mine, grew up in Hangzhou and knows a lot about the city. For months we've been talking about climbing the hills next to west lake and today we had an opportunity to do so! Sylar, Butterfly, Kerri, and another friend came with Kyle & I!<br />We experienced a completely different side of Hangzhou, one we'd never seen before. We left the hustle and bustle of the city streets and started the climb. Stairs of course. Like our Huang Shan Christmas but not near as strenuous. Once we climbed to the summit we sat on rocks and looked at the city below. It was an awesome feeling to find a place of retreat from crowded buses, busy streets and over populated sidewalks. Today we found our favorite place in Hangzhou.<br /></span><style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss117/hotbliggityblog/autumnflowers.jpg"); background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; }</style>Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-28344421667908845012010-03-20T18:36:00.000-07:002010-03-20T18:41:29.968-07:00Three Months<span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">For three months I've entertained the idea of being a teacher next year at the international school here in Hangzhou. I had three interviews & thought I "had it in the bag". Our thoughts were if we got the job we could stay here for two years or more and take care of our financial debts. Kyle couldve tried to do school online & I wouldve been happy getting a tremendous experience being a teacher in an international school. Sounded perfect to us.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);"> About a week ago I found out I didn't get the job. The ideas & plans we'd thought about for so long came crashing down & left us wondering "ok, that didn't work out. What next?". We had a meeting with our family here & talked about longterm & short term goals. No real decisions have been "set in stone" yet. But most of us are thinking "what next". Please think about us while we all try to listen to him about what's next.</span><style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss117/hotbliggityblog/autumnflowers.jpg"); background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; }</style>Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-14161907901898471942010-03-08T04:51:00.000-08:002010-03-08T04:51:51.951-08:00A Gift<span style="color: #cccccc;">We received an email a few days ago from the FOA (Foreign Affairs Office). The message said we had a gift waiting for us in their office for "Happy Woman's Day".</span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> I had two classes this morning, met some friends for lunch and decided I had enough time to swing by the FAO before my next class started.<br />
It was raining hard at this point and I had my bag over my shoulder and braced my umbrella against the wind with both hands. I arrived to the fourth floor of the office building, walked down the hall and was greeted by a smiling face. Our Happy Woman's Day gift turned out to be boxes of Welch's grape juice! </span><span style="color: #cccccc;">Each box had four glass bottles and they were heavy. I got two boxes because she asked if I could take Kyle's too. Walking down the hallway with this heavy load I didn't know how I was going to juggle these boxes and an umbrella at the same time. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;">A few ideas were flying through my head: I could have held both boxes with two hands and just trudged through the rain with no umbrella - but I would have been soaked for my next class. I also thought maybe I could hide them somewhere in a building and come get them after class - this was risky too because I could miss the bus home...<br />
The elevator door opened and it had only one occupant. One of my students from this morning's class! She noticed I was struggling and took one of the boxes out of my hands and said, "I will help you go where you need to go." She walked all the way across campus in the rain carrying my box of juice!<br />
The very moment I wondered how I was going to make it I was sent a gift. <br />
</span><span style="color: #cccccc;"></span><style type="text/css">
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</style>Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-91361613424866475192010-03-06T04:08:00.000-08:002010-03-06T05:30:37.807-08:00Spreading the English WordIn class this week I asked my students if they'd ever read something in English they didn't understand. :o) Those that answered said "of course". I told them I would teach them a method I had learned that helped me find meaning in text. I wrote an excerpt from Solomon's wise words on the board and told them to write it in their own words. I was very proud of a lot of their opinions and understandings. We talked about when you read something that is good you should apply it to your life...so I asked them "If you were to live by this, how would you?" They thought about it and a lot of them had incredible responses. <br />Recently I learned from my students that they DON'T speak English to each other outside of class. This is their biggest struggle in learning English (they don't live in an English-friendly environment). Understanding this made me determined to create an English-friendly environment for each of my students.<br />I gave each student the challenge to speak English to five people throughout the week about what we talked about in our class. If all 60 of my kids from two classes talk to five of their friends, that's 300 people having English conversations about good things outside of class. Once they'd talked to five people they had to email me the names and responses of those people. Accountability. <br />I've had several emails already and it's been really neat reading my student's opinions on good things and speaking English outside of class.Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-58593152137485365462010-02-24T04:58:00.000-08:002010-02-24T05:24:34.268-08:00Our Trip <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/beccaharp/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Many of you know we’ve been traveling for about six weeks in south east asia. There are too many stories, experiences and pictures to share in just one blog so I’ve chosen a few pictures to show you and tell you about and that will just have to do. Feel free to email me with questions or comments :o) They are always welcome and encouraging. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We started our travels in Hanoi, Vietnam. This is a picture of the whole gang at a very beautiful outside café. We were all enjoying the warmer weather and excited to start our travels!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGIUF8P8TN060daOtm1rxCes-jufshPd-Z7bDkgFxDaNvuzU1NNabBfzZQVnvYJpqEMeBXPVkKF0UQxSV7tUqMu8YKmIrp_ZRFAA9o4YZsB2qwxkOY6rG4XJ2uy0tMS7MMog3M0kXuwLh/s1600-h/pic1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGIUF8P8TN060daOtm1rxCes-jufshPd-Z7bDkgFxDaNvuzU1NNabBfzZQVnvYJpqEMeBXPVkKF0UQxSV7tUqMu8YKmIrp_ZRFAA9o4YZsB2qwxkOY6rG4XJ2uy0tMS7MMog3M0kXuwLh/s320/pic1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441794856051840386" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/beccaharp/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Hanoi is “famours” for the avid use of mopeds. They use them for everything…we even saw a man and woman riding down the street with a twin mattress in between them! I didn’t get a picture of that but I thought this one was interesting…Chickens stuffed in a cage on the back.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-7U252cFI94Al6C1Q2qUHedYJfRb0KPBLy2wMk5psTNCFMeIE7MTL4ui-YorkTu26_NBIWE6O6fMLyWyj87CMUSA-BcPS4E8e903D_xzraITnV8pWEjIh580UmkBmBiMrzKr8bdKxRjM/s1600-h/pic2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-7U252cFI94Al6C1Q2qUHedYJfRb0KPBLy2wMk5psTNCFMeIE7MTL4ui-YorkTu26_NBIWE6O6fMLyWyj87CMUSA-BcPS4E8e903D_xzraITnV8pWEjIh580UmkBmBiMrzKr8bdKxRjM/s320/pic2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441795248847580242" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/beccaharp/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Mui Ne is a very special place in all of our hearts. The people are very laid back and funny. It’s a small beach town in South Vietnam. Kyle and Kevin took Kite boarding lessons and the rest of us tried our balance in surfing! We enjoyed our beach time there.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEvFIBKlSjGaqvh3Vr1iDXgRyHY3xIDrPtK3831Y_beV4_mbTf5_sCgGeVyoDB02gfky-SYJBZN5uSeQrp41aGgMHzS8gKq2Y29BwTahKqsT6pmKUSdrOIJB9rFHF5T42zUjCQ7EXyeLp/s1600-h/pic3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEvFIBKlSjGaqvh3Vr1iDXgRyHY3xIDrPtK3831Y_beV4_mbTf5_sCgGeVyoDB02gfky-SYJBZN5uSeQrp41aGgMHzS8gKq2Y29BwTahKqsT6pmKUSdrOIJB9rFHF5T42zUjCQ7EXyeLp/s320/pic3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441795721624070802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs7dcuJFJ_vytz4CqUu98Rh0kGhy74I0Xbu_XKAHQGgTNproPdS-6oNZUu3GEmILDQeorlEfCQt4mFSnFofuswpxFqJWRwjeinuZL29ox6HW1ECWc3u9oIrn__JC1kYvzK8qAbndCAVh6/s1600-h/pic4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs7dcuJFJ_vytz4CqUu98Rh0kGhy74I0Xbu_XKAHQGgTNproPdS-6oNZUu3GEmILDQeorlEfCQt4mFSnFofuswpxFqJWRwjeinuZL29ox6HW1ECWc3u9oIrn__JC1kYvzK8qAbndCAVh6/s320/pic4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441796193199422498" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/beccaharp/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">From Mui Ne we went to Saigon…we don’t have many pictures from there because it was just a stop over for a few days before we headed to Cambodia!
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The first city we enjoyed in Cambodia was Phenom Phen. We were blessed to spend time with family who took care of us very well!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Siem Reap, Cambodia was a very relaxed city. Here we went to see Angkor Wat and two other temples. We enjoyed our time here very much!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyXyFCITWSI8ZQu-cAST93i1NJEufnl8rThCC03p25-LidhgUplEj-7Ipmx0kpN0Xw3rVA_RMV5u02AeVMcrIh7ebWDn6Fq7aoeHR5yyRe57op27UFmfbaYPv-GQdkmbKOcvX2rG-X-yo/s1600-h/pic6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyXyFCITWSI8ZQu-cAST93i1NJEufnl8rThCC03p25-LidhgUplEj-7Ipmx0kpN0Xw3rVA_RMV5u02AeVMcrIh7ebWDn6Fq7aoeHR5yyRe57op27UFmfbaYPv-GQdkmbKOcvX2rG-X-yo/s320/pic6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441796891602092402" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--EndFragment--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bhKeWxPgIlXG6nAhZZGFApefpdoE6XVLPEGdvMWFv3ng5taZ7-A4G2xEy_JSOVEaERfBpsP89Y1C0bACp24wOlqDSOqs089uqNjzKEhzojjMpoTz_WS8_MI91sxxRboDIN-s64gwPTop/s1600-h/pic5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bhKeWxPgIlXG6nAhZZGFApefpdoE6XVLPEGdvMWFv3ng5taZ7-A4G2xEy_JSOVEaERfBpsP89Y1C0bACp24wOlqDSOqs089uqNjzKEhzojjMpoTz_WS8_MI91sxxRboDIN-s64gwPTop/s320/pic5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441796786565739090" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/beccaharp/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">After Siem Reap we went to Bangkok, Thailand and spent time with friends like us. We had so much fun with the people there!
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">From Bangkok we went to Beijing, China for a winter break orientation where we got pumped up for this semester. We did make some time for fun and tourism too! We saw the great wall, Tiananmen square, the forbidden city and the Olympic buildings! We found a ski resort a few hours outside of Beijing and we went Snowboarding for a few days.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This has been an incredible trip but we're ready to get back to work! Tomorrow we start teaching and continue to live with purpose. We're really excited about this semester and hope all of you think of us here in China.<!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1ybk7-9KYSTR4OJ14UtlQrjQHw6qZS86T3A5CR-hx1N1djozTGxJFLcvtgQJNtV7BrV7Ryq2OKsU8bFF8Hh6kS7UY0kAdaRmVzZP7zj3zk8GLcPwwzPda2Gg30syYaYK7kGU8QzD6N0i/s1600-h/pic7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1ybk7-9KYSTR4OJ14UtlQrjQHw6qZS86T3A5CR-hx1N1djozTGxJFLcvtgQJNtV7BrV7Ryq2OKsU8bFF8Hh6kS7UY0kAdaRmVzZP7zj3zk8GLcPwwzPda2Gg30syYaYK7kGU8QzD6N0i/s320/pic7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441797634704733154" border="0" /><!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> </a></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p><p></p><p></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p> <!--EndFragment--> Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-51062274432401037522010-02-11T08:41:00.000-08:002010-02-11T08:57:24.593-08:00ShareI feel so energized! Some people are just incredibly energizing. I talked to someone like that for me tonight. This special person lost her job a year ago and just when you think she should be the lowest of lows she let her dad figure things out for her and she has been loving life ever since. He has never failed to pay her bills or provide for her the things she needs. I LOVE hearing how well fathers take care of their children.It is exhilarating. I hope we all share how great our dad is and how he cares for his children. When we share, it opens an opportunity for someone else to share and a beautiful domino effect takes place.Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-12731753230556990912010-01-05T20:34:00.000-08:002010-01-05T20:58:50.720-08:00The Semester is Over!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiTZzDUuz8lvfhxo0I4WKTE1c9wIONcB13O86ldIZapocJ9zacC79bpu1hLLfVI0GnCwP1C8LksLVSpCC95L08G8v0wubsc9n5lzHburbz4SnbHIPGccICqUJj3ItOBA2uVqpuyqoxeLx/s1600-h/Photo+on+2010-01-06+at+12.54+%232.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiTZzDUuz8lvfhxo0I4WKTE1c9wIONcB13O86ldIZapocJ9zacC79bpu1hLLfVI0GnCwP1C8LksLVSpCC95L08G8v0wubsc9n5lzHburbz4SnbHIPGccICqUJj3ItOBA2uVqpuyqoxeLx/s320/Photo+on+2010-01-06+at+12.54+%232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423486038843625298" border="0" /></a><br />This semester is OV for me! I gave my last final today at 10:30, my how the time has flown! This semester has been absolutely incredible. What started out as a group of unfamiliar, nervous, chinese faces turned into a beautifully confident bunch of friends!<br />I remember on the first day of class the students slinked awkwardly into their seats looking at me wide-eyed and nervous. I was nervous too because I had never had to teach such shy people...American kids are the complete opposite - you have to teach them to not say everything they're thinking! I found out from a few of the bolder ones that many of them had never even talked to a foreigner before! From then on I understood and tried to make the classroom a friendly environment by building confidence every chance I could. I don't know when it happened but they transformed somewhere in the middle and the last half of class was spent joking during breaks and a lot of them came early to speak to me a little more.<br />I'm excited about next semester because unlike Kyle and the rest of the undergraduate teachers I get to keep my students! So we're going to have fun learning right off the bat with no need to go through that awkward time again!<br />I'm really excited about this incredibly long break! We plan to travel south-east asia (vietnam, cambodia & thailand) encouraging family along the way. I'm pumped and will be writing more about it as it happens!<br />(picture is a prezzie from one of my students named bunny, she got me a bunny so i'd remember her lol)Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-63278559183929962542009-12-24T08:30:00.000-08:002009-12-29T02:28:16.833-08:00Huang Shan Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIW9tcwdVmEth97Qdk2VZ8HaDJzpyF1E8oa9ld3brdiMvNCU3fZZaBX0NYon9gn6GHV688h1VM9Tw_JpymAMAzxJgyT33BMh3pvGRzJmVkGlu5oKzBpm4xgzR52bOFRuixf6AYXaXXIOo/s1600-h/DSC02187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIW9tcwdVmEth97Qdk2VZ8HaDJzpyF1E8oa9ld3brdiMvNCU3fZZaBX0NYon9gn6GHV688h1VM9Tw_JpymAMAzxJgyT33BMh3pvGRzJmVkGlu5oKzBpm4xgzR52bOFRuixf6AYXaXXIOo/s320/DSC02187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420593379894208866" border="0" /></a><br />About a week before Christmas our FOA emailed us to ask if anyone was interested in going on a trip to Huang Shan mountain on Christmas eve! Most of the foreign teachers don't have a family group like we do so most of them said yes! We thought Christmas in China was going to be different enough so why not add a trip to the mix!<br />THE TRIP<br />We left our apartment at 7:30 and climbed into an over sized minivan and were on our way! Two guys from Seattle, one from France, a woman from Brazil, an Aussie, four people from our foreign affairs office, a driver named Mr. Wong, and a tour guide that only spoke Chinese completed the group. This was my first road trip in China so I didn't know what to expect but I learned a lot! First off...apparently a trip is not a trip without a microphone. picture this: sitting right in front of a tour guide talking Chinese into a microphone, did I mention we were in a minivan?! The second thing I learned is that China has rest stops just like America! Except instead of westies (real toilets) there were stalls after stalls of squatties (holes in the ground) And the third thing I learned was not to ask what you're eating! Our first lunch I asked the brazillian woman sitting next to me "what's in the bowl of soup?" She responded with "Oh, I don't know, some dead animal" mmm dead animal, who doesn't want to hear that as they're scooping out their soup?!<br />After about four and a half hours of driving we came to the foot of the mountain! We saw a lot of China on the way there and I found myself glued to the window trying to see all that I could of this very interesting country!<br />At the foot of the mountain we started climbing stairs, our tour guide said the hotel was on top of the mountain so we started climbing! After a short while we arrived at the cable car barn and jumped on a gondola heading to the top (so I thought). The higher we glided the more our sight was consumed with clouds. When we got out of the cable car we were in the clouds and couldn't see a thing! I knew this was off season but it was disheartening being in such a beautiful place and seeing nothing of it. Our Waiban translated to us that the tour guide said "ok, only 6 KM to the hotel" SIX KILOMETERS?! UP STAIRS!? I thought...we started climbing and honestly it was probably one of the most strenuous things I've ever done...we climbed steps carrying our backpacks for five and a half hours! After a few hours of being in the cold clouds our hair got wet and started to freeze and by the time we got to the top we were frozen, wet, and exhausted. My legs wouldn't stop trembling all through dinner and we ate enormously because we were so hungry. After dinner Kyle and I said peace out to the group, came back to the hotel room and watched Christmas Vacation, a tradition his family practices every year.Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-69790456364377202432009-12-17T23:07:00.000-08:002009-12-17T23:31:12.062-08:00A day in TongluI went to my first-ever-real-life orphanage in China today! I went prepared with 20 bear hugs to give Christmas Cheer to all of the little kids! On the way there we rehearsed Christmas songs! But not your typical Jingle bells...we sang Feliz Navidad, Angels we have heard on high..., Super Duper Christmas (a song I'd never heard before!) and a few others! Imagine 10+ asian women trying to learn Feliz Navidad! It was hilarious! When we arrived we sang our songs we'd rehearsed and the kids loved it! Then it was prezzy time and we passed out bears and little candies and they loved it even more! I am so excited I was able to be a part of this wonderful trip! We weren't able to take pictures unfortunately but that's what memories are for right?!Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-26377247886644621692009-12-15T23:31:00.000-08:002009-12-17T23:41:58.874-08:00Making Bear Hugs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yBZOhc5RVuOuRc8fLEJUpyIHi_92d8APOFo8jWc3gEx2cNbycZU9OWoe74dkKtPVbIbP9g75dhtiP4vFnuZOIS6zwE3_YLg4h5cY9bugyg3o415lWCBAb6K8jzVDX3iQ8vVKwqhDnN_-/s1600-h/DSC02168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yBZOhc5RVuOuRc8fLEJUpyIHi_92d8APOFo8jWc3gEx2cNbycZU9OWoe74dkKtPVbIbP9g75dhtiP4vFnuZOIS6zwE3_YLg4h5cY9bugyg3o415lWCBAb6K8jzVDX3iQ8vVKwqhDnN_-/s320/DSC02168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416477048422516706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhz9wgok8tUAtOLcDAG9FeNLkk9tcWJuVwXygga-1TstGfx3OZ9yy3PHXs13B1qNPczTxh9qIoinFyFIhOnqpZtk9MO6aTxUNCtAzAy247G_gyEbAxrA8yTN8-Bt_AyFk3yGYcaj1Z1UT/s1600-h/DSC02167.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhz9wgok8tUAtOLcDAG9FeNLkk9tcWJuVwXygga-1TstGfx3OZ9yy3PHXs13B1qNPczTxh9qIoinFyFIhOnqpZtk9MO6aTxUNCtAzAy247G_gyEbAxrA8yTN8-Bt_AyFk3yGYcaj1Z1UT/s320/DSC02167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416476503440472194" border="0" /></a>Making bears for thursday's orphanage trip! I honestly could not have done this without the ladies from Buford helping me!Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-55661605636024509882009-12-02T20:46:00.000-08:002009-12-02T22:26:28.703-08:00Kyle's No Good Very Bad Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZKJF_8mfPf27OfSejwOgZU2aD-DLCIZR24yF_BpAQILFQJmaVy_r7tspiKFlC7DZJKxCs_xUd6GLm9Je5YD4wuI6EHCVPDX2quQaSfe52jKZ5SHezrqPjGtJ3dOuSq2X1Oli5M1yaPO_/s1600-h/IMG_1028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZKJF_8mfPf27OfSejwOgZU2aD-DLCIZR24yF_BpAQILFQJmaVy_r7tspiKFlC7DZJKxCs_xUd6GLm9Je5YD4wuI6EHCVPDX2quQaSfe52jKZ5SHezrqPjGtJ3dOuSq2X1Oli5M1yaPO_/s320/IMG_1028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410867458319896930" border="0" /></a>Yesterday was a tough day for Kyle and water. I taught all day and hung out with students after class so I was gone most of the day. Wanting to be productive kyle called for a water delivery, and had someone come and change the light bulbs in our apartment. When he went to put the water in the water dispenser he noticed that it was leaking, in his haste it fell off and hit the ground shattering into pieces and 18.5 liters of water went EVERYWHERE! He spent the next two hours moping up all of the water. :o( When he went to wash the towels he'd used to clean the floor he wanted to use hot water. Our washer only has cold water connected to it SO he took the hose and shower head from the shower and filled the washer with hot water. While doing this the hose burst and water went all over the floor! Unbelievable, I know! We then met juliane, stan, kris, and michael for dinner. When we got back home we started getting ready for bed. I was in the bedroom and I heard "you've gotta be kidding" along with the sound of water falling on the floor! He had looked under the sink and noticed a hose was leaking, he only touched it and it fell off spraying hot water everywhere! What a no good very bad day!Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-48735032831714169612009-12-02T18:11:00.000-08:002009-12-03T18:17:07.003-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MQLa-1geOk5sjyfUPGmBDs3fiNsGAcARnIe2DWIU_HruDWhSlg__96dGe-5UNAzn_epA0VAqlAqnZGju0vGZKnAglP-f4sznGssNxiW5ogIcDydk5UCOb9wHEC_WyZ9TINyj0t2jZK7I/s1600-h/P1040940.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MQLa-1geOk5sjyfUPGmBDs3fiNsGAcARnIe2DWIU_HruDWhSlg__96dGe-5UNAzn_epA0VAqlAqnZGju0vGZKnAglP-f4sznGssNxiW5ogIcDydk5UCOb9wHEC_WyZ9TINyj0t2jZK7I/s320/P1040940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411198741459457490" border="0" /></a>I hung out with my students on of their basketball games! We had so much fun!Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-75826641263045262382009-12-01T20:20:00.000-08:002009-12-02T20:38:25.098-08:00living with purposeDuring my last class today I noticed a few people outside the classroom window peeking in, trying not to be noticed. This is not a rarity here. Being a foreign teacher we get a lot of people peeking in from time to time. In this class I have a great group of precious girls that wanted to talk so I stayed for a chat instead of running to the bus. While I talked to my girls a group of about five guys came in the back of the classroom and waited until the girls finished their chatter. As the last girl disappeared through the door one of the guys started my way. He asked if I played for the same team he did. I said that I loved that team and I did play for hIs team. He had his rule book with him and got very excited to show me it. I asked him how he knew I played this sport. He said that he had wandered in my classroom a few weeks ago to study and he noticed I had some rules from the rule book on the board! He told his friends about it and they waited until my class was over to talk to me! A few weeks ago I taught about relationships and college life, I shared with all of my classes the great love poem and left it on the board, this is what he read. I am excited to talk about our game plan with them!Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-28540052689489980482009-11-26T19:50:00.000-08:002009-12-02T20:17:41.197-08:00i got a package!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnTJwnGCcpEu4jupji9AWm4mwaNQqgXZJqa7Mcx21TPQsy6Rvva4slUS8ZHJ96n5QRYlPgQIk8wHSOQMH_m7-fDG_k7Jsgxuak0sk-zCIjvgRSn269vhAqyZbWc8wGRLqFusfe4oTYurZ/s1600-h/DSC02137.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnTJwnGCcpEu4jupji9AWm4mwaNQqgXZJqa7Mcx21TPQsy6Rvva4slUS8ZHJ96n5QRYlPgQIk8wHSOQMH_m7-fDG_k7Jsgxuak0sk-zCIjvgRSn269vhAqyZbWc8wGRLqFusfe4oTYurZ/s320/DSC02137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410852742728702770" border="0" /></a><br />Today Kyle got a call from our post office on campus saying we had a package! When I came home from teaching I went straight to the post office and picked it up. Inside were 22 little bears to be filled for my little kids at the Orphanage! I am so thankful to the wonderful ladies at Buford that helped with this cause! When I first shared this idea with my mom I thought I might be able to make about five or six bears by our next visit because I do not have sewing machine etc. But with the help I have received every child will have a bear! They are going to be so happy to have a cuddly friend to comfort them through scary surgeries and lonely nights! Since I received the package I have been stuffing and sewing up the bears and they are perfect! In about three weeks we will go to the Orphanage again and we'll be able to give the kids the "bear hugs"! I am so excited and cannot say enough about how thankful I am to the ladies in Buford! You saw a need and are really helping! Stay tuned for pictures to come!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ64ZgcpyOOaKZuey7omK2D-0yTjngwN0xRUBTC62YjU4btiXZHI0440J-erfTPODNhUAsfDG0F_vpsjPdw952v9Gw2uzALEqItZXF_iymDkA-yrs9rYAHJ8F4UW01zffkNAcVhyypr5cg/s1600-h/DSC02140.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ64ZgcpyOOaKZuey7omK2D-0yTjngwN0xRUBTC62YjU4btiXZHI0440J-erfTPODNhUAsfDG0F_vpsjPdw952v9Gw2uzALEqItZXF_iymDkA-yrs9rYAHJ8F4UW01zffkNAcVhyypr5cg/s320/DSC02140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410858532488713026" border="0" /></a>Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-2786652153562168872009-11-26T17:21:00.000-08:002009-11-26T17:48:08.773-08:00A Shout out to the fams<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1wIT4ow8T4wp12QN5sz_YjVatMz8wn22uqg1D8irwdiC4TbEN0M_eLhyphenhyphenZMAaO8rxJrF-tXgFoHXDna5Mskj23y1ohHv_fuMM8tIPg4EBbhUpSY-SX_4-AKD2OAzmJjLArhqFZraLN1UX/s1600/n1325394767_30568843_7797315.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1wIT4ow8T4wp12QN5sz_YjVatMz8wn22uqg1D8irwdiC4TbEN0M_eLhyphenhyphenZMAaO8rxJrF-tXgFoHXDna5Mskj23y1ohHv_fuMM8tIPg4EBbhUpSY-SX_4-AKD2OAzmJjLArhqFZraLN1UX/s320/n1325394767_30568843_7797315.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408594007172070322" border="0" /></a><br />I woke up this morning at 8ish to skype my whole family on Thanksgiving Day at my BigDad and Nana's house. I must admit I was dreading it because I thought when I pushed the hangup button I would hate China and want to go home. Just thinking about them being all together playing rook, eating 'til absolutely stuffed and chatting with everyone made me sad.<br /><br />When I accepted their call I was overwhelmed with happiness at the sight of them all! They crammed into my BigDad's study and I got to talk to everyone! My little cousin Alex blew me kisses and said "I love you"! Loralei didn't want to say it but I know she does all the same! :o) I caught up with my cuz Ari, she's not doing ballet anymore if you were wondering, she's just doing basketball and soccer! I got to meet Uncle Brent and Bonnie's dog ~ Baxter...HE's a Shih Tzu, easy Brent!<br /><br />I hope my family knows how cool they are and how much I miss them! And instead of making my day in China a sad one, they made it really happy!Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-7780317137173856932009-11-19T19:43:00.000-08:002009-11-19T20:36:19.501-08:00chicken wings!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4uRPNeJTRcHk3amhdUqlN79my-re3F-WoOUgUfgQsz7U2hjkMdLH1h-PIhZAwKOXI-IiB7o6fj6z-32lVm7X36sto98W8dx6YHrL_b65ngrSwKDgl7oOh1flRJt25rrcB7-F8gIEfHMH/s1600/DSC02133.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4uRPNeJTRcHk3amhdUqlN79my-re3F-WoOUgUfgQsz7U2hjkMdLH1h-PIhZAwKOXI-IiB7o6fj6z-32lVm7X36sto98W8dx6YHrL_b65ngrSwKDgl7oOh1flRJt25rrcB7-F8gIEfHMH/s320/DSC02133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406027838080279570" border="0" /></a>Today I set out to the store by myself to get some groceries while kyle was at work ~ after eating toast for breakfast and toast for lunch I decided we needed more in the house than just bread. After three-ish months of living life in China I'm actually getting quite used to going grocery shopping - picking up the usual and getting out before anxiety sets in. Today I felt a little brave and thought I would see what the meat department had to offer. Anytime before this I've tried to avoid it as much as possible because there are scary things like: turtles in tight nets trying to escape, crabs tied up tightly by string, naked meat lying on beds of ice...not something a newbie needs to experience. I wanted to cook something for my hard working husband and what's a meal without meat? I found chicken wings...not in a bag, but sporadically laid on a bed of ice, I stood and observed the process before I jumped in. I watched as a man held the plastic bag in one hand and picked over the wings with the other. He didn't seem to notice or care that he was touching raw chicken meat with his bare hands or that the sleeve of his coat was being dragged through the ice and raw meat...once he had gathered all he wanted he went to the meat counter where a woman took his bag from him, weighed it, and gave it back to him. I felt like i could do this too...SO with a sudden boast of courage I got a bag, turned it inside out and used it as a glove so I didn't have to touch anything with my hands, I was also careful to watch my sleeves or anything else from touching the meat. Once I'd gathered my lot I fought the crowd to the meat counter and shoved my bag out there with the rest of them. No one seemed to be bothered by the man behind the counter beating and chopping the mess out of a huge table of meat, or the woman investigating the ribs infront of me with her BARE HANDS. With a smile I took my bag of chicken wings from the lady behind the counter. I felt quite accomplished and ventured to the not as scary but still quite odd vegetable department where I picked up some potatoes and garlic...mmm I took a packed bus home just in time to cook wings and mashed potatoes and spend time with Kyle before we needed to start another day.Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-43767084430515481772009-10-31T22:46:00.000-07:002009-11-05T23:22:31.042-08:00HALLOWEEN<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h3Euj4kClgl_6v2XBJfI2TxsH06NTq1CwecBrW80RlWpkUywFvGUFYcogCmS7FE02kxd4_sumKJq-aILLi7HEL2ZBrN97zEeud5Rr11w5ZqB26KY4jrFDoFdde5j7Sx5fjJgFk4vOcNn/s1600-h/DSC02061_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h3Euj4kClgl_6v2XBJfI2TxsH06NTq1CwecBrW80RlWpkUywFvGUFYcogCmS7FE02kxd4_sumKJq-aILLi7HEL2ZBrN97zEeud5Rr11w5ZqB26KY4jrFDoFdde5j7Sx5fjJgFk4vOcNn/s320/DSC02061_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400878936238150578" border="0" /></a><br />Stan and Juliane had a Halloween Party at their school and invited us to come! We dressed up ~ Kyle like a Vampire, me like a cat ~ because it was a costume party after all. :) I had cat ears and a tail and he had white face paint on his face and hands. We had to catch a bus to get to their campus! We were stared at A LOT! Especially the older generation. People just didn't know what to think of us! It was hilarious! Once we got to their campus we were informed they had had an H1N1 break out and all parties were to be canceled! Vincent, their waiban, got the party OKed - so it was still on. When we walked in we realized that Juliane, Stan, Kyle and I were the only ones that had dressed up! The chinese people all had some masquerade looking masks, so not only were we Americans ~ we were the only ones dressed up haha! we really stood out! It was a lot of fun though. We played games and got to know a few of their students so it was really cool! After the party we went and hung out with Stan and J @ their apartment and then went home via taxi.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_VTfoumW8VjstRm5CE59kKHCGDh0G5OA_zutGmToJYeovTQw22zNEG7t1GgwUejtQf3PHvOG_Jl0R4pZazzclnjWsLI-SYHTugu5syDa2-zk2juOONgLN0OHQEksnxKuNOTyTZSuEo8i/s1600-h/DSC02095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_VTfoumW8VjstRm5CE59kKHCGDh0G5OA_zutGmToJYeovTQw22zNEG7t1GgwUejtQf3PHvOG_Jl0R4pZazzclnjWsLI-SYHTugu5syDa2-zk2juOONgLN0OHQEksnxKuNOTyTZSuEo8i/s320/DSC02095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400886073178178642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNuSLFj1Q1TVit3DcGhYPPGKMnIatJMCACe-1TpW9q6gqvrah67M5jyI1dmmdFTwvrSKSBDU3Lxug7IAoVlJNqrBpc2Gl-lHXcV8WptLQ3K9u3BblnRf1hv-GOa9GSAF2-VK7PhrQA1SL/s1600-h/DSC02084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNuSLFj1Q1TVit3DcGhYPPGKMnIatJMCACe-1TpW9q6gqvrah67M5jyI1dmmdFTwvrSKSBDU3Lxug7IAoVlJNqrBpc2Gl-lHXcV8WptLQ3K9u3BblnRf1hv-GOa9GSAF2-VK7PhrQA1SL/s320/DSC02084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400881972165343730" border="0" /></a>Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377028433756420801.post-77916376203965320932009-10-30T22:10:00.000-07:002009-11-05T22:39:17.655-08:00WALMART<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2-HsJQDpq_Et0VfZG5ar0D3zq0noAH2SxAATEm0_V0pCcjlc27kwjIK7NlawLn0XUUvQ5RwfI2PYVJI6b6xVbt5fdMm6SRai3XLiKbp39GXqmSPEKeAJMWSiJX2b8PXbnkJr7vsYvsIj/s1600-h/IMG_1067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2-HsJQDpq_Et0VfZG5ar0D3zq0noAH2SxAATEm0_V0pCcjlc27kwjIK7NlawLn0XUUvQ5RwfI2PYVJI6b6xVbt5fdMm6SRai3XLiKbp39GXqmSPEKeAJMWSiJX2b8PXbnkJr7vsYvsIj/s320/IMG_1067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400870121844985602" border="0" /></a>Today on my day off I went exploring! I heard there was a WALMART close to us but hadn't seen it yet! I looked up the address and headed there on the search for a halloween costume ~ I thrive on last minute dashes to the store. Kyle wanted to be a Vampire and I really wasn't sure what I wanted to be. Knowing that I was in a country that doesn't celebrate halloween meant that I'd need to be creative in finding a costume. I walked along a street looking at each number for 550, turned the corner and found this beautiful sign! I figured if any store would have Halloween stuff it would be Walmart. I went in and it was a beautiful sight! With Smiley faces smiling at me and finding great value brand and equate I was excited! Walmart didn't have a really big imported aisle but they did have some good selections on things. The best and greatest difference was that in any other supermarket here I find myself feeling anxious to get out and claustrophobic with the smaller aisles and huge banners hanging from the ceilings but in Walmart it was nicely spread out and I felt like I could breath! :) It was a great experience! They had some Halloween things but not a huge selection. I called Juliane wondering if she wanted to meet me at the next store because it was close to her apartment. I found out the bus I needed to take, went to the bus stop but the bus didn't stop there. I was puzzled and asked a Chinese woman if she knew where the bus stop was. She couldn't speak much english and was really struggling. A car pulled up to pick her up and she asked her husband and his friend where it was. They came to my rescue! They couldn't tell me where the bus stop was but offered to take me where I wanted to go! They were very nice business men so I jumped in with the other woman in the back seat! They said they were headed to the airport to go to Xian for the weekend. The man in the passenger seat had great english and was named Kenny. We had a lovely chat on the way to Auchan ~ a store where I was to meet Juliane. They dropped me off and went on to the airport. I wish I had their email to thank them. What great hospitality!Rebecca Hooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740398278501892176noreply@blogger.com0