I'm in Thailand now for grad class and it is going well.  It is the second day of class and the last week of teaching was crazy in China!!!  I am happy to be here and feeling less stressed.  Funny how going through classes is less stressful than finishing things in order to leave the country.  The weather here is beautiful and not too hot in the mornings and evenings though mid day is a killer, but i have class then so we are inside.  It is crazy how a country can be so asian, yet be so western in so many ways in terms of things/food that they have here that we can't get in China.  Maybe they just cater more to tourists or something.  There are actually a TON of tourists/foreigners/westerners here in Chiang Mai, which is weird to see even coming from a city like Beijing!  Anyways, homework calls...  Also the rumors are true,

I will be returning From Feb. 12-24 for a visit for my parent's 25th anniversary party!  Yea parents for having a party!  Yea parents for giving me a ticket!  I love you guys, and i'm excited to see you!!  If you aren't invited to the party perhaps there will be another time I can see you all.  Email me and we'll figure something out!

 

It has been a while since i've written!  Our internet was down last week due to the earthquake in Taiwan, so I haven't had a chance to update my blog.  Last week/weekend was so, so busy.  I spent the 23rd and the 24th doing the christmas play for our fellowship.  I must have done twenty people's hair as well as help to organize costumes and do makeup.  It went really well though, and fun was had by all.  It has been awhile since I've acted, so it was fun to do something again.  A friend of mine from Yentai came to visit as well, which was a really great time.  She stayed through Christmas before she left for her couisin's wedding.  I love Christmas, christmas eve is my favorite day in the whole year.  I was able to talk to my family as well which was really fun.  Watching Christmas movies like White Christmas and Home alone was also a pleasure.  Our team had brunch together, opened presents, and played mahjong.  Sadly, Christmas night I became sick and spent most of the week in bed after that.  I still have a cough, but i'm doing well.  Saturday we were surprised with snow!  It was very exciting.  We got Mon through Wend. off but we had to work Saturday to make up for it.  Apparently in China when you get days off you have to make them up, so they aren't really days off exactly.  For new years I went to a banquet the school held.  It was a good time complete with singing of which they informed us a few minutes before we needed to perform.    Afterwards I went ice skating with some friends which was awesome, i forgot how much i missed ice skating. Yesterday I went to a friend's house and made jaozi (dumplings) with her and her mother in law and played with her son.  I felt really at home with them, which was really nice.   Happy new year to all and may the Father bless you in all you are doing!