Autumn...kind of

so I know it has been another 5 months since my last post....shameful I know. I have traveled China a bit more. I was in another city for 7 weeks at an internship that bored me to sobs(even though the people were excellent and I really learned a lot), and I have started school again. At the end of my spring semester I did a little traveling with a lovely pal named Laura from church. We went to Xi'an and saw the terracotta warriors, we went to the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, and I revisited Beijing and saw more that I hadn't seen last time, and some that I had. Xi'an is an interesting interior city, large and growing - developing at China-speed. However it is still experiencing many of the growing pains that all other areas of China seem to be struggling with.

The Shaolin Temple is actually one of the more interesting Buddhist Temples I have been to since coming to Asia. I have seen MANY buddhist temples since coming here, but this one was more diverse. We even got to see a little kung fu performance. I got to see more of Beijing, The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, the Great Wall again.

At the beginning of May I bought a Giant road bike(OCR3500) and I've been adding some kms to it pretty steadily this summer. I was really dedicated while I was at my internship in Guangzhou(for lack of anything else to do really) but I've slacked off a little since returning to Shenzhen. Now that school has started again and I need to budget my time better I'll have to see what I can do to adjust my schedule appropriately to make room for daily 45km rides. Here's the sunrise from Shenzhen Bay as seen on a recent ride.

too long coming

So, it has been far too long since I last posted. Chinese New Year has come and gone, I went to the Philippines, South Korea and Beijing.

Currently I'm back in school, studying my ever-lovin brains out. I just had a reading and writing exam, but I failed it miserably. At this point I've decided to focus on speaking and possibly the reading and writing will come to me later. I think I'm going to pursue a career in business so speaking is most important. Chinese is a language that is one of the hardest to learn, there are too many homonyms, it is unfortunately quite a vague language - but because of that I doubt it will ever become THE international language.
My Dad and I went to the Philippines for Chinese New Year, and it was really relaxing and lots of fun. Maybe too much Daddy - Daughter time, but it was still nice.

I went to Seoul at the end of March beginning of April to see my old bestie from high school Moon Min-Jung. It was AMAZING to see her, and it helped that we were in Seoul, possibly one of the coolest cities I've been to in Asia. Seoul has an amazing arts community and a plethora of museums and culture to see and learn about. It is absurdly easy to navigate around too, and not just the metro, the bus system as well! Not to mention two of my favorite things in abundance: Korean food and SHOPPING!!
The more Korean food I eat the more I like it. Just like the more Korean music I listen to the more I like it! (I love you Big Bang!)
I went to Beijing the end of April beginning of May for the May-Day holiday. I went with some schoolmates. One Russian girl and a Ukrainian Couple.

Although they didn't plan the trip super well, I still enjoyed it, and I got to meet up with some Beijing YSA and I got to see the BYU Chamber Orchestra and best of ALL, Amanda and Jared Cook!! Amanda and Jared are old friends from BYU Film school and now work for BYU Broadcasting and I was able to see them in Beijing that weekend and two weeks later in Guangzhou. What a treasure to see them in what has come to be "home" for me.
So summer has started again in South China, which means that pretty much if I want to sauna - I just go outside. Seriously, I live in a steam sauna climate. Try as I might, it will be pointless to straighten my hair for the next 7 months.
Until December, I'll only need a sweater in case the airconditioning is turned too cold(very uncommon).
Currently no immediate travel plans, but summer looms and I want to see more things!!
I might be scoring an internship in Hong Kong though this summer, which will mean no travel, but more exploration of the SAR and getting use out of the $30 hiking book I bought last autumn.
Too bad that time in Hong Kong won't exactly improve my Mandarin.

Worst of Both Worlds

So I discovered two fine lines under my eyes that won't go away any more.
They are here to stay.
Yeah, ok...I don't take the greatest care of my skin, especially under my eyes.
I accept this.

However, about a week ago I discovered my first wrinkle.
It's center left on my forehead.

I'm 26 and I have a wrinkle. Aren't I too young?

Fate has played a cruel trick, because although I now have a wrinkle I have also learned that said wrinkle seems to be a prime location for acne to set up shop.
Yeah, just what I need. Acne scarring on top of my wrinkle.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Talk of the Town

So, something that people can't stop talking about these days is the rise of China.
We talk about it ourselves over here in China all the time.
This past Monday I was in Hong Kong with another young American and he was bemoaning the loss of power and respect that the USA has suffered the past 10 years. I said, "all good things must come to an end, and mostly it is our fault"
Regardless as to whether you agree with me or not, the fact is that China has grown in strength and power in the past decade. It has grown rich, and it has grown proud. Not unlike the United States. And just like the United States it feels it is right about certain things and because it is powerful it can express those opinions more aggressively.
I've mentioned before reasons to not fear China. China's economic standing is strong currently but it is on shaky ground. This is a great piece from Hong Kong's largest english language daily to help describe the situation: http://topics.scmp.com/news/china-business-watch/article/Todays-miracle-tomorrows-crisis
There was an issue of the Economist this past autumn that had a few articles on how India's growth is going to outpace China's. I very much agree with this, http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2010/10/13/ahead-of-the-curve-%E2%80%93-indias-growth-to-outpace-chinas.html a commentary on the issue as a whole.
India is a democracy, and therefore seems less scary to the West because it has copyright law that is better enforced than in China. India's university system is also producing more qualified and dynamic graduates than China's. We really shouldn't have a reason to be afraid, other than that their innovation industry is very dynamic and will overtake ours quickly, especially in regards to developing products and solutions for the developing world. Hopefully India won't so much overtake us, as become a healthy competitor in innovation.
Either way, competition and challenge are healthy. Isn't that what we believe as capitalists? We don't believe in monopoly of business, so why believe in a monopoly of economic and political power.
I know that this seems naive and overly idealistic. But believe me,
I'm not naive.

Can't Sleep

So I realized that this time a year ago I was debating taking up skiing or snowboarding.
A few weeks later I decided instead to move to China.
I didn't even realize that I needed a change so badly. Not that a desire to take up expensive winter sports is a sign that your life is boring. But for someone like me that enjoys cheap thrills, it should have been a a flashing Vegas style sign that I was not being challenged enough. Not that learning how to gut and fillet fish on your weekends isn't fulfilling, but I needed something altogether challenging. When I'm a little scared each time I walk out the door that something isn't going to go according to plan(because it usually doesn't).
I'm really glad I decided to buy a plane ticket instead of a snowboard. I think it suits me better.
Because I think everyone can tell you, I fall down way too easily to secure both my feet rigid objects on slippery surfaces.
As for new steps...
I bought my first CD by a Chinese artist today. Han Geng 韩庚, he used to be a member of the Korean boy band Super Junior, but now he's gone SOLO, and I bought his album. So the music video for the single from this album is a little weird, but I'm just so happy that I understand like three lines of the lyrics that I don't care. Enjoy.

Asiafication

Ok,
So today I'm out shopping with my awesome friend Leti.
I've been in the market for a phone charm for awhile.
I live in Asia, and frankly they are really useful for finding your phone in your bag.
So I mention this and we decide to go to this accessory shopping area next week. We are browsing our local book shop and there is a toy section. We are looking through it and discover a ton of Studio Ghibli merchandise. I was in HEAVEN.
I found TWO phone charms! one of Totoro and one of Ponyo! HAAAAM!! Ship SHAPE!


I also bought a Totoro backpack...which is AWESOME!!

which compliments my already rad Pokemon folder that I bought in Tokyo:

The pies de resistance however...is this AMAZINGLY ridiculous phone charm that Leti found and after finding told me, "if you use this backpack everyday and this phone charm I will pay you!"

you own up to THOSE words Leti!!
Because this phone charm is Kick-A!!
It has count them 8, that's right 8 photos of Choi SiWon on it!! That's right, I have laminate cards of Choi SiWon the K-Pop star extraordinaire. I can look at the Super Junior hottie whenever I use my phone!
My phone ring is also the K-Pop megahit Lucifer by SHINee.
What am I missing besides an Asian boyfriend?

Coming Home

So last night my plane arrived in Hong Kong.
I was supposed to stay the night at the airport Marriott, but my Mom accidentally made the reservation at the Novotel, and I didn't have anyway of contacting her, or knowing that so I rushed to get the last coach to the HuangGang port border.
I started coughing as my lungs inhaled the polluted south China air.
As I entered China I had to haul my Christmas present laden luggage across a pedestrian bridge, with gypsy cab drivers and "luggage helpers" bothering me, pulling on my clothes and luggage. I finally make it to the taxi queue and turn around as I see a kid trying to nick something out of my hand bag.
I get in the taxi, tell the driver where to go. I doze off, wake up - not at the right place, give the driver directions to my house, street by street.
Get home, and can't sleep.
But I go to class the next day. I feel right at home...it's hard to believe that 30hrs prior I was in Salt Lake.
I go to lunch with Jade and Letizia, I have the Xin Jiang(Uighur) hand pulled noodles with spicy beef and potatoes that I was craving the whole time I was in America. So, so good.
I go home, and go upstairs to the Ho's(family in our Branch) I play around with their awesome kids awhile, planned Christmas dinner with Elsa. Returned home for an hour nap that lasted almost 5hours.
I woke up to my Dad watching some movie in the living room.
Now I'm awake, thinking that I'm home from home now...such a weird sensation.
I loved being back and seeing everyone, it felt natural and right. But it was the strangest feeling, that it wasn't home anymore, even though it was full of people I love and miss. My home is far away in another place now.
Maybe it's because I've moved so much.
Maybe it's destiny.
But at least for right now, I'm home.