Friday night concert

The college had a concert to welcome new freshman! Random but you get new students in your classes after the October Holiday. Adam and I went to the concert with Vera and May and it was fun! I look kinda stoned but May and Vera are so cute and fun! Adams ears got cold so I wrapped my scarf around his head to keep him warm! haha There is a picture of four boys balancing on one chair, pretty impressive! And the party was over at 10! It is really strict here. They have a gate around campus and monday through thursday unless the student has a written consent they can not leave campus. Teaching is good, China is great, the weather is still nice, and I miss american food, my family, and my clothes!!!

~October Holiday in Beijing~

October Holiday

~*October Holiday in Beijing*~

We had a week off of school so we decided to go to Beijing! For starters we got our train tickets to Beijing just a little late and got a slow train with seats, no sleepers. :( We searched for hotels for a while and finally found one that wasn't full and made reservations. So Saturday we are packed up ready to go and the hotel called and canceled our reservation because you can't check in after midnight. So we searched again for a hotel and luckily found a cheaper hotel. We got to Beijing around 3 in the morning and we decided to get our train tickets back to Weifang and it was INSANE!!! We stood in line and just as you get up front there are so many people trying to push their way through. I finally had to elbow people so we could get our sleeper tickets! Well we had to sleep in the train station until we could check into our hotel and while standing in line we found a friend that followed us around. We finally had to split up and Adam had to lose him! We found a pretty clean spot on the hard marble floor and slept until a security guard woke us up to have us move. We then went into a waiting room and slept on the chairs which was way more comfortable till we got woken up again because you can only take up one chair! So I slept on Adams lap until about 7ish and got breakfast at McDonalds. We then got a taxi and we were so happy to get to our hotel and of course our hotel did not let foreigners stay......ok so we were exhausted and had to find a hotel that let foreigners stay. It didn't take too long only the first few were full but I was so happy to have a bed and a real toilet even though it was expensive, Harry went out and found us a cheaper hotel for the week! The next day we shopped and went to Tianamen Sqaure and walked around this cool park and enjoyed this night market that went for a half a mile of these chefs and food vendors, it was great. Then Monday we were going to go into the forbidden city and as we got out of the taxi Adam forgot that his wallet was on his lap and got out of the taxi. So we spent that afternoon trying to find that taxi driver and of course the night before I had read in a book to get the taxi receipts, they can be useful if you forget something and I thought about it before we got out, but I didn't act on it!! So we acutally did see the driver drive past and Adam and Harry ran after it and Harry got a taxi to try and follow it but to no avail. Thank goodness Adam didn't have too much cash but his Visa, and our train tickets lost. So we had Adams dad western union some money to us, thank goodness we had enough money on us to last a few days but we still had to buy new train tickets. We went to the Forbidden City on Tuesday and it was awesome. Wednesday we went to pick up the money and they couldn't give it to us because we didn't have the control number, well the western union that Brian sent it from said that we wouldn't need it. Hahah wow! But we got the number, Brian had to go back and get the number and we got the money. Then my contact solution emptied into Adams suitcase and the day we went to the Great Wall one of my eyes got all infected and sensitive so I had to take out my contact and I had forgotten my sunglasses. So we decided not to walk up the wall because of the lack of time, we rode the cable up and enjoyed the great wall, it was magnificent. We then walked down the great wall which was enough for me and tobogganed down the mountain side! We got a van back instead of the bus and rode it back with a couple that lived in Kuwait, he was Irish and she was Armanian. It was a lot faster and so much nicer. We stood in line for train tickets again, Harry still had his ticket so it was important that we get on the same train. They had standing tickets so we just got them thinking that we would have to stand for an hour at the most and hopefully we could get to our sleepers and those tickets hadn't been pawned off. The last day we went to the summer palace which was way cool. Of course I went shopping again and got some cute things! A pair of sevens, true religions, rock and republics, ugg boots, some scarves, a pearl necklace, coach bag, and a Chanel bag, a sweater and a wool coat! and the best part is I spent maybe $200 american dollars! Well we left Saturday and we were getting on the train and I showed my sleeper ticket and he let Adam and I through but then he checked Harrys ticket so then he checked Adams and kicked them off the car. I was all alone with these Chinese girls that didn't speak hardly any English, but they were so nice and kept me from crying and fed me. Then a student from Beijing, Leo came and thankfully knew English and the two sleepers we had originally paid for hadn't been taken!! I didn't have Harrys number but luckily I had our friends Blanches number, we called her and got a hold of Harry and Adam. They said that the train was packed. They had been standing for almost three hours and there was only space for their feet. So Leo went to find them and they had just a got a seat but they weaved their way through and had to hold the suitcases above their heads and payed for sleepers. Which was way nice because then our train stopped for almost 3 hours to get fixed or something. So we left Beijing around 3p.m. and got home around 6 a.m. and spent almost 1000 Yuan just to get home. It felt so nice to be on our hard bed in Weifang! What an experience!!

One of my classes!

This is my favorite class! They are freshman and are so much fun. They are learning so fast! They LOVE to take pictures of us all the time. I have to tell them in the middle of class to put away their phones and that we can take pictures after class! Atleast let me smile! I was looking at this one girls phone and she had like 10 pics of Adam and I- walking, teaching, talking. haha I teach 7 times a week and have 4 classes. I will post more pics of my other classes.

Qingdao!!

We were able to go to Qingdao for the weekend to go to church. We left on Saturday morning and took the 2 hour train ride with Harry one of Adams students. Qingdao is a nice city by the ocean. It was leased to the Germans for 99 years, so it has a lot of European architecture. The weather was hot and humid but the breeze was nice and cool. Of course lots of seafood and it reeked of it. It is very pretty. We went shopping ALL day long! I feel so bad for the boys but there were so many shops. Needless to say I did not find as much as I thought I would. Great shopping to me is when I find so many cute things to buy that I actually have to pick and choose! But that is me. :> I only bought a dress, some boots, and a bag! I was on a mission to buy some heels for church so I didn't have to wear flip flops!(it ended up not to matter cuz you take your shoes off at the door!) But of course almost all the shops carried a shoe size up to 39....and I wear a 40! I found a pair that were 375rmb almost $62. Which is expensive for China but after 40 shoe shops I just wanted to buy them. But Adam convinced me to wait until after Beijing. And they are pushy here! They compliment you and then go in for the sale. It was funny this girl said, I have this most beautiful sweater for you and it is the biggest size. haha and it was pry the most expensive item there and pry the ugliest. You can see a naked boy at the beach and the fake LV bag that Harry bargained for! So we finished our spree and I was craving American food so we went to Pizza Hut and it was amazing! MMM It was Harry's first time to Qingdao, first time in the ocean and first time to eat pizza and use utensils. You can see Adam is a little confused! And for dessert we had walnut pie. Delicious!!! Then Sunday morning came and we rode the bus for 45 min. and went to church in the Branch Presidents apartment. The ward is made up Koreans and then a mix of English speaking members. Most BYU teachers teaching at the Qingdao University. Most of the sisters invited us to dinner and I was so sad that we couldn't accept, we had to leave after sacrament so Harry could get back. But we are excited that we can go to church! The spirit was so strong and I am so grateful to have the gospel available to us here.

Peoples Park, Kites, Bargaining and little bronze statues!

Adam and I spent the weekend shopping!!!! Shop till you drop and we did! We also went to the peoples park! You can see the last pic is Adam and I on the love bridge! It was a lovely park and there are a few pictures from there- they had a tree that got hit by lightning and I didn't get a picture of this but instead of wearing diapers here the kids just have a slit in the back of their pants so when they need to go they just squat and go- wherever they are, in the middle of the walkway,on the steps, on the grass, no problem! I was shocked when I saw this puddle from this little child in the middle of the sidewalk! haha You wouldn't have to worry about the costs of diapers or wipes! And there is Vera, May, and Blanche our good friends that love to show us around and us girls love to go shopping. I do not like to bargain though! After we went and saw the outside of the Kite museum (which Weifung is famous for its kite festival) we sat on these statues and had to wait to get off because people wanted to take pictures of us. We went to the shops, and of course because we are American they jack the prices up and I can't even bargain because I don't speak Chinese! But I just pointed and Vera, May and Blanche would bargain for me, but if they knew we were together then no budging on their outrageous prices. I decided I don't mind paying a little more for better quality and no bargaining! It has been fun going around and just seeing Weifang.

Super Wal-mart!!

We went to super wal-mart and I am so glad that we have one close by! Even though they don't have that much american stuff, there is more here than anywhere else! Ok the first picture is my first official purchase of many to come! I got this shirt dress and sunglasses at a shop in wal-mart and of course for way cheap! The next pic is of us trying to find a dvd store! It was really ghetto it reminded me of Ecuador, with all the shops and people just hanging out. And then of course the picture of super wal-mart!! The wild fungus soup looks so yummy huh! The traffic is insane!!! I couldn't find a great pic but Ecuador was sooo safe compared to this, cars turn around or try to pass into on-coming traffic no big deal, people riding bikes, scooters, walking are all over the road. CRAZY!! The last pic is on the road in front of campus- there are always people selling fruit, making food, and selling random things! It has been great so far. Teaching is fun! The food here is soooo good! Adam is more willing to try anything and go into almost any restraunt..me, i like to stick with the nicer places! And so far it has all been good and we haven't got sick!

Weifang! Beginning of an adventure~

Here are a few pictures from the city Weifang and on our campus!

*~*CHINA*~*

Adam and I got to China safe and exhausted!! China is 14 or 15 hours ahead of home! We accidently left our luggage in Vancouver cuz the 5 people I asked in SLC didn't think we had to re-check our bags, but we did and so our stuff got left in Canada! I pretty much packed everything I needed in my carry on, but Adam didn't! So he wore the same clothes for a few days and used my tooth brush!haha I was really thankful when our luggage got to us though! I was kinda freaking out about losing it mostly because of the tums. haha You can't buy them here so we brought a big bottle and my stomach has been killing me cuz the food is so spicy! Our total trip was around 25 hours and when we got to Weifang, I couldn't sleep! I am still adjusting to the smells, food and sleeping schedule! I have woken up every night at 2 or 3 and am wide awake and can't get back to sleep, so I am going to try a natural pill to help regulate sleeping schedules. We have gone shopping, just for a blow dryer, towels and food! Another teacher and her husband took us, she is great and helped us bargain! Things here are cheap! I already miss american food though! The bread and grapes are even different. But thank goodness for peanut butter and honey! haha and I don't even really like peanut butter that much! But we have only tasted a few things! I am sure I will love it in a few weeks. Adam is doing great and is picking up chinese fast, they love to hear Adam speak Chinese, it seems like he didn't even need to adjust. We taught our first classes today and it was great! They clap when you walk in and are so funny- I went to Adam's last class and they were all taking pictures of us with their phones. Our schedule is really light- we don't even work 14 hours a week. We are excited to be here and experience China!