Saturday, 9 January 2010
Happy Holidays!
Hello all,
Wow, I feel as though I have so much to say, yet I don't know where to begin. It's been a crazy month! Lots of traveling and getting ready to travel! :)
The Christmas season just flew by . . . I participated in three "Secret Santa" exchanges, which was a big step for me, as I usually am not a fan of "Secret Satan" as I like to call them. :) I was in an exchange with the English department at work, the adult leaders for KG (Bible study/Youth Group), and among our small group of friends. I received some nice gifts from my friends as well as some of my students.
On Dec. 22nd, I signed out of work early so I could catch my flight to Thailand. I had my own private driver to the airport, which was nice (but not for coming home because I couldn't find him at the airport). No problems getting into Bangkok--it was soooo warm when I stepped outside of the airport! I stayed overnight in Bangkok and met some nice people from Germany and New Zealand while waiting for the hotel shuttle. It was a short night, though. I checked in around 11 P.M. and decided to take the 4 A.M. shuttle back to the airport to catch my flight up to Chiang Mai. Wow, I got about 3 hours of sleep, and was scared to death when a little gecko shimmed up the wall next to my door! I had forgotten about the bugs and geckos in Thailand!
My next flight was at 6 A.M., but just as we were about to take off, we had to go back to the gate because of some kind of engine trouble--not very reassuring. After about a half an hour, we were finally on our way. Tutu and Birdie met me at the airport, and it felt so strange to be back in Thailand again. I was able to go back to Mike and Debbie's to freshen up before the group got back from Bangkok. It was sooooooo nice to see them all again!
It was an interesting couple of days. We definitely jumped right in . . . we went to a Thai funeral (we didn't know the deceased) and FROZE sitting there at night. It gets cold at night, and I was wearing a skirt and didn't really have an adequate jacket. The funeral was . . . well, a Thai funeral. A lot of talking I didn't understand, people talking all the time, children running around, dogs chasing each other . . . it was different! Also, we were seated in the "choir" section (thanks, Tutu) and sang two different songs. It was a LONG 3 hours, for sure.
The next day, we went to one of the new orphanages--sooo cute! The kids are all young (under 8, I think) and they were super shy! Anyway, we just said hi and the kids showed us their new blankets. :) Then we headed to a juvenile detention center for teens awaiting their sentencing. Most of the kids were charged with dealing drugs or stealing. The group from Asia's Hope performed and had a service for them--it was an interesting experience. The singing was fun! I was also able to hang out with the girl I sponsor--she is super sweet! We also had a home made Christmas dinner (thanks, Debbie) with our little group, and it was gooood! Classic Christmas dinner! :)
Pat, Kris, Sara, and I then checked in to a nice hotel (the one we stayed at last summer) and spent Christmas Eve at the Night Market! That was really fun!!!We slept in a bit on Christmas and then had breakfast outside next to the pool. It was surreal--it definitely didn't feel like Christmas. We headed back to Mike and Debbie's that afternoon and I was able to call home that night and the next morning. It was kinda sad, though. I missed home. :( Anyway, that day David wanted to take us to the mall to see Avatar (great graphics, a LONG movie--reminded me of Star Wars for some reason) and we also were able to experience a FISH SPA! For 100 baht (3 dollars) for twenty minutes, I stuck my feet into a tank filled with little fish so they could eat/suck all the dead skin off my feet. It was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo weird!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was an experience, for sure. It felt like little shocks on your feet! Pat, Kris, Sara, and I were all in the same tank, and we definitely created a scene! Maybe it was the four screaming Westerners??? Sometimes the "big" fish bit your feet and you couldn't help but scream! It was really fun, though, and my feet were smoother!
That night we all gathered at DS #1 (the first orphan home) for the children's program. It was so fun and the kids all did a great job! Sara and David were going to sing a song together, and I joined in (I had heard the song about 15 times in the car:) and that was fun. I don't think my mic was on, though. :)
The next morning(Sunday) it was time to leave. :( It was sad to leave my friends and Thailand, but who knows? I may be back again one day! As my plane finally landed back in Shanghai, it was SNOWING. Not cool. Also, I didn't actually bring a real coat, so I was FREEZING. And I couldn't find the driver! It took at least an hour for us to find each other! But I made it back!
Fast forward to New Year's Eve (just a few days of teaching, whatever) and our little group of girls (Jen, Jen, Beth, Diane, and me) signed out early (again) and took the party van to the airport to go to Hong Kong. We had a lot of fun! Jen Chan has Hong Kong citizenship (that made her immigration experience super quick!) and it was funny to hear her and the other Jen (Shang--who is Shanghainese) argue about which place was better--Hong Kong or Shanghai! I, of course, offered "America" as my answer, but they just laughed. It took forever to get through immigration in HK, and we were scheduled to eat dinner at the G-Bar (in the IFC Tower) at 10 . . . after immigration, getting a taxi, and getting to our hotel (after going to the wrong one first--stupid "sister" hotels) we literally had 15 minutes to get ready for our evening. Oh, our hotel was nice--it was attached to a MALL. :)
Well, after going on the subway and transferring lines (wearing heels and a dress) and even running (NOT COOL) to catch the subway, we FINALLY made it with about a half an hour to spare! Tons of people, fun music, and good (expensive) food! We had a nice time, though. The fireworks were fun, and we were in a fun location. We didn't stay out long, though--we all were exhausted. It was a long day! We spent the next day shopping (there were LINES of people waiting to shop at Prada and Gucci) and just looking at all the pretty things. I was thinking, wow, we could solve world hunger with all of that excess. I would NEVER pay that much for a purse! Anyway, we had fun at one of the street markets, and then we all met up for dinner--it was interesting. I had fried rice, and it was good. :) We headed back to the hotel that night and went in the hot tub, sauna, and the pool--so relaxing.
The next day we checked out of our hotel, stored our luggage, and went to eat classic dim sum. It was ok. I'm picky (or so I hear!) and I almost threw up when they failed to tell me there was shrimp in the bun, but it was a different experience. We then headed to Disneyland Hong Kong--fun! We rode Space Mountain, It's a Small World, and the Buzz Light Year rides. We also ate--cotton candy, hot dogs, hot chocolate. YUM! There was also a cool Christmas parade. I had never been to a DisneyLAND before, so it was really fun for me. For my California friends, it was small and so sub par to the Disney in Cali, but WHATEVER! :) I had a good time. The castle was so pretty at night!
The next day we checked out of the Hollywood Hotel (I had to leave my little pink suitcase behind because it broke and wouldn't close--so sad) and headed back to the airport. By this point we were all exhausted! But it was a fun trip, AND a stamp in my passport. I would definitely go back to HK again!
Well, here I am, getting ready to head to church in a few hours. I've had a nice weekend of relaxing (massage, shopping, watching movies, etc.) and I am looking forward to the LAST full week of school. I have 20 days and counting until my plane lands in Detroit! YAY!!!! I hope all is well . . . looking forward to seeing everyone when I get home! :)
Thanks for reading. I'll try to post again after I get back from Harbin in two weeks (and haven't frozen to death!). Crazy Christine, are you ready to FREEZE???????????????? :)
Susannah
"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." (Robert Louis Stevenson)
"Tourists don't know where they've been, travelers don't know where they're going." (Paul Theroux)
Wow, I feel as though I have so much to say, yet I don't know where to begin. It's been a crazy month! Lots of traveling and getting ready to travel! :)
The Christmas season just flew by . . . I participated in three "Secret Santa" exchanges, which was a big step for me, as I usually am not a fan of "Secret Satan" as I like to call them. :) I was in an exchange with the English department at work, the adult leaders for KG (Bible study/Youth Group), and among our small group of friends. I received some nice gifts from my friends as well as some of my students.
On Dec. 22nd, I signed out of work early so I could catch my flight to Thailand. I had my own private driver to the airport, which was nice (but not for coming home because I couldn't find him at the airport). No problems getting into Bangkok--it was soooo warm when I stepped outside of the airport! I stayed overnight in Bangkok and met some nice people from Germany and New Zealand while waiting for the hotel shuttle. It was a short night, though. I checked in around 11 P.M. and decided to take the 4 A.M. shuttle back to the airport to catch my flight up to Chiang Mai. Wow, I got about 3 hours of sleep, and was scared to death when a little gecko shimmed up the wall next to my door! I had forgotten about the bugs and geckos in Thailand!
My next flight was at 6 A.M., but just as we were about to take off, we had to go back to the gate because of some kind of engine trouble--not very reassuring. After about a half an hour, we were finally on our way. Tutu and Birdie met me at the airport, and it felt so strange to be back in Thailand again. I was able to go back to Mike and Debbie's to freshen up before the group got back from Bangkok. It was sooooooo nice to see them all again!
It was an interesting couple of days. We definitely jumped right in . . . we went to a Thai funeral (we didn't know the deceased) and FROZE sitting there at night. It gets cold at night, and I was wearing a skirt and didn't really have an adequate jacket. The funeral was . . . well, a Thai funeral. A lot of talking I didn't understand, people talking all the time, children running around, dogs chasing each other . . . it was different! Also, we were seated in the "choir" section (thanks, Tutu) and sang two different songs. It was a LONG 3 hours, for sure.
The next day, we went to one of the new orphanages--sooo cute! The kids are all young (under 8, I think) and they were super shy! Anyway, we just said hi and the kids showed us their new blankets. :) Then we headed to a juvenile detention center for teens awaiting their sentencing. Most of the kids were charged with dealing drugs or stealing. The group from Asia's Hope performed and had a service for them--it was an interesting experience. The singing was fun! I was also able to hang out with the girl I sponsor--she is super sweet! We also had a home made Christmas dinner (thanks, Debbie) with our little group, and it was gooood! Classic Christmas dinner! :)
Pat, Kris, Sara, and I then checked in to a nice hotel (the one we stayed at last summer) and spent Christmas Eve at the Night Market! That was really fun!!!We slept in a bit on Christmas and then had breakfast outside next to the pool. It was surreal--it definitely didn't feel like Christmas. We headed back to Mike and Debbie's that afternoon and I was able to call home that night and the next morning. It was kinda sad, though. I missed home. :( Anyway, that day David wanted to take us to the mall to see Avatar (great graphics, a LONG movie--reminded me of Star Wars for some reason) and we also were able to experience a FISH SPA! For 100 baht (3 dollars) for twenty minutes, I stuck my feet into a tank filled with little fish so they could eat/suck all the dead skin off my feet. It was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo weird!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was an experience, for sure. It felt like little shocks on your feet! Pat, Kris, Sara, and I were all in the same tank, and we definitely created a scene! Maybe it was the four screaming Westerners??? Sometimes the "big" fish bit your feet and you couldn't help but scream! It was really fun, though, and my feet were smoother!
That night we all gathered at DS #1 (the first orphan home) for the children's program. It was so fun and the kids all did a great job! Sara and David were going to sing a song together, and I joined in (I had heard the song about 15 times in the car:) and that was fun. I don't think my mic was on, though. :)
The next morning(Sunday) it was time to leave. :( It was sad to leave my friends and Thailand, but who knows? I may be back again one day! As my plane finally landed back in Shanghai, it was SNOWING. Not cool. Also, I didn't actually bring a real coat, so I was FREEZING. And I couldn't find the driver! It took at least an hour for us to find each other! But I made it back!
Fast forward to New Year's Eve (just a few days of teaching, whatever) and our little group of girls (Jen, Jen, Beth, Diane, and me) signed out early (again) and took the party van to the airport to go to Hong Kong. We had a lot of fun! Jen Chan has Hong Kong citizenship (that made her immigration experience super quick!) and it was funny to hear her and the other Jen (Shang--who is Shanghainese) argue about which place was better--Hong Kong or Shanghai! I, of course, offered "America" as my answer, but they just laughed. It took forever to get through immigration in HK, and we were scheduled to eat dinner at the G-Bar (in the IFC Tower) at 10 . . . after immigration, getting a taxi, and getting to our hotel (after going to the wrong one first--stupid "sister" hotels) we literally had 15 minutes to get ready for our evening. Oh, our hotel was nice--it was attached to a MALL. :)
Well, after going on the subway and transferring lines (wearing heels and a dress) and even running (NOT COOL) to catch the subway, we FINALLY made it with about a half an hour to spare! Tons of people, fun music, and good (expensive) food! We had a nice time, though. The fireworks were fun, and we were in a fun location. We didn't stay out long, though--we all were exhausted. It was a long day! We spent the next day shopping (there were LINES of people waiting to shop at Prada and Gucci) and just looking at all the pretty things. I was thinking, wow, we could solve world hunger with all of that excess. I would NEVER pay that much for a purse! Anyway, we had fun at one of the street markets, and then we all met up for dinner--it was interesting. I had fried rice, and it was good. :) We headed back to the hotel that night and went in the hot tub, sauna, and the pool--so relaxing.
The next day we checked out of our hotel, stored our luggage, and went to eat classic dim sum. It was ok. I'm picky (or so I hear!) and I almost threw up when they failed to tell me there was shrimp in the bun, but it was a different experience. We then headed to Disneyland Hong Kong--fun! We rode Space Mountain, It's a Small World, and the Buzz Light Year rides. We also ate--cotton candy, hot dogs, hot chocolate. YUM! There was also a cool Christmas parade. I had never been to a DisneyLAND before, so it was really fun for me. For my California friends, it was small and so sub par to the Disney in Cali, but WHATEVER! :) I had a good time. The castle was so pretty at night!
The next day we checked out of the Hollywood Hotel (I had to leave my little pink suitcase behind because it broke and wouldn't close--so sad) and headed back to the airport. By this point we were all exhausted! But it was a fun trip, AND a stamp in my passport. I would definitely go back to HK again!
Well, here I am, getting ready to head to church in a few hours. I've had a nice weekend of relaxing (massage, shopping, watching movies, etc.) and I am looking forward to the LAST full week of school. I have 20 days and counting until my plane lands in Detroit! YAY!!!! I hope all is well . . . looking forward to seeing everyone when I get home! :)
Thanks for reading. I'll try to post again after I get back from Harbin in two weeks (and haven't frozen to death!). Crazy Christine, are you ready to FREEZE???????????????? :)
Susannah
"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." (Robert Louis Stevenson)
"Tourists don't know where they've been, travelers don't know where they're going." (Paul Theroux)
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