Because Video Messages Rock!

I'd like to start off by thanking my readers...all 3 of them.  Ya know, I was really skeptical about this whole 'blogging' thing, I just kept thinking, "Why?  Is anyone even going to read it?"  The answer is, "No.  Most of the world won't..."  I've decided I either need to:

Be more creative

Be funnier--which is hard because I'm hilarious.

Add more pictures?

Spice up my life a little more and do something drastic, like body piercings or tattoos.

Maybe it's none of the options above.  That being said, thank you faithful readers.  (Professor Hamilton, I hope you didn't think I was being negative about blogging.  It's fabulous.)  

I thought I'd write a little bit about my latest guilty pleasure or current obsession.  Video Messages!  They are so wonderful.  I was recently introduced to them by my dearest, Ali.  Wow, thank you for showing me.  My life just got way more exciting.  

Reasons why video messages rock:

It's like real life, but not really

You get to see AND hear the person

You can add music to the video and...shabang...you have a music video

You can do things without feeling as embarrassed in real life

So naturally the best way to end this entry would be to put a video message at the bottom right?  The answer is yes.  I would so love to do that; however, I really have no idea how.  So let's just pretend I did and it rocked.  

Happy Sailing!

The Draper Temple

Over a month ago I signed up as a volunteer at the Draper temple--thinking I might be doing some ushering, or at least be inside the temple.  Instead I was a designated sandwich maker...not quite what I had in mind, but it was still cool.  My mom and I worked on the last day for all the VIPs...aka...the important people,  (my invitation was lost in the mail).  It was actually a really neat experience seeing how everything was run and how organized they were.  After our shift was over some "high ups" gave us the green light to go through the temple when there was a little down time.  

Thoughts and feelings:

1.  First of all, it's five minutes from my house.  I feel so lucky!!

2.  That temple was one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever been in.  It was immaculately clean and decorated with the finest furniture from all around the world.  As I was walking through I kept thinking, "Ok, this room is my favorite," but then I'd walk in the next and think the same thing.  So beautiful!!

3.  I have always thought I would get married in the Salt Lake temple, like the rest of the world.  It's an amazing temple with so much history and most of my family has gotten married there.  However...after going through the Draper temple, I think it may be a toss up between the two.  We will see which one wins.  I should probably find my significant other before I further the wedding plans. 

4.  I want to be a temple worker!!  The peace and warmth that you feel there is indescribable.  All you feel are good things.  I would love to be around that all the time!  

The Draper temple is open for at least another month and a half...if you have not walked through it, slap yourself silly and go through.  It's remarkable!

An Assignment For Class (Write a News Story)

An Inaugural Address

This morning at 10:00 am in Washington D.C., Barak Obama was sworn in as the 44^th President of the United States of America. 

Immediately after, President Barack Obama gave his first speech as President. 

“I stand here today, humbled by the task before us,” said the President.

His speech was started with gratitude and appreciation for former President George Bush.  He then thanked the public for the chance to serve them and the country.

The President addressed the public about the nation’s difficult times right now; explaining the stresses and strains that have made influenced the economy for the worse. 

The President said, “The challenges we face are real,” and they are many, but they will be met.

The challenges the country is facing are new.  The way they are being handled is new, but the nation’s values are old and true, “they are the quiet force of progress,” President Obama said.

He praised the public for choosing to have hope rather than fear.  Then said that all are equal and free, and everyone deserves a chance to pursue happiness. 

The President moved on to explain that greatness is not a gift, but that it is earned.  America has the freedoms that they do today because of its ancestors and their sacrifices they made years ago. 

He assured the public that things would be difficult no matter the time.  The Founding Fathers dealt with unimaginable things, but made it through.  He encouraged the country to pick themselves up and dust themselves off. 

President Obama encouraged the people to continue to be hopeful.  The economy will get better.  Changes will be made to better the country and the world.  He assured the public that costs would be more affordable.  He is concerned about making things work, whether the government gets bigger or smaller.

He closes with a quote from the Father of the country.  He urges the country to press on and to “keep your eyes fixed on the horizon.  God Bless,” President Obama.  

I still miss it.

I haven't written much about the last part of my China experience...because it was the hardest.  There were times when I felt like I would be in China forever.  At one point there were 5 calendars up in our rooms so that everyday my roommates and I could cross off several days.  I was so ready to be home...or so I thought.  

That last week finally came, and suddenly I was feeling like I didn't have enough time to do the things I wanted to do before I left... forever.  I felt like I had so many pictures to take, places to visit, and goodbyes to say.  

Those last few nights in China were a joke.  Even with prescription sleeping meds, I still wasn't sleeping more than a few minutes!  I was so excited to be home with family and friends; however, I never anticipated my goodbyes to be so hard.

I broke the news to my kiddles that I was leaving about a week before...this is the reaction I got...At least I know that some of them loved me! 

I honestly never thought that saying goodbye would be so hard.  I developed such a strong attachment for these kids!  It's amazing to me how we can know so clearly the love that we have for each other when we can hardly speak one another's language.  Leaving these kids was one of the hardest things ever.  I'd take anyone of them home with me in a heartbeat.  

So overdue...

Alright Sarah I think it's about time I show my gratitude for you creating this blog for me by finally posting something! I realize that this was created so that I could keep my peeps back home updated on China life, and I'm already half way through my experience...but no worries I will catch you up in a jiff.

My China experience started off fairly rough. For those of you that don't know...I found out I had mono a week before I was leaving, and saying I felt like hell is an understatement. The journey to China including the 3 flights and layovers took about 30 hours and I was so sick if I would have had a pan, I would have asked the yucky, Asian man sitting by me to knock me over the head with it. But I made it...and that's the important thing! I made it without losing my sanity...

We flew in to Hong Kong in the middle of a typhoon, and all 40 of us spent the next two days touring Hong Kong and exploring the city. Then we split up according to the schools we were assigned to teach at and made our journeys to where we'd be living for the next 4 months. The school I teach at is called Kaiyin and is in the city Zhongshan (about 2 hours from Hong Kong). It is beautiful where I live. Our school is in a very suburby and more upper class area, so I feel really lucky. My apartment is slightly different however...I share a dirty, crowded, bug infested 15' X 20' room with 2 girls (that I love thank heavens), but I often wonder why I am here? Since we are all scared to kill the spiders, cockroaches, and other creatures that invade our spacious apartment, we've decided to name them and allow them to live among us. I've since adopted the phrase "embrace it".

So the reason why I came...teaching my asian kiddles the English language. What an adventure that has been. Since August 23rd I've become the mother of 8 beautiful Asian children who are all the same age, but have different fathers...take it as you will. I had the privilege of giving a few of them English names, but my favorite name is Popeye. My kids are all between the ages of 5-7 and know very basic English, but I'm slowly trying to help them progress. When you see pictures of them you will see how adorable they are, but what you won't see is what little hellions they can turn in to sometimes. That has probably been the most frustrating thing for me since I've been here. I spend time planning and preparing lessons that are fun for them, but they chit chat in Chinese, poke each other in the eyes, and do everything but listen to me...maybe I just need a reality check. I'm not teaching adults, I'm teaching little children.

Aside from teaching my first graders, I have 4 kindergarten classes that I teach once a week and they are the cutest things I've ever seen, but have no respect for my personal bubble. I really like my bubble... People told me that the Chinese don't have a problem invading personal space, but I didn't think that would be a problem with my kindergarteners. I was teaching them last Thursday and I've honestly never felt more violated by little children in my life. Every time I turned my back to any of the kids I got spanks left and right on my booty, which turned in to spanks on my front side as well...hmmm....as I was trying to control my kids and protect myself, I noticed two little boys laying on the floor giggling as they were looking up my skirt. Really children? Really? Who taught you this?? Lessons learned from the kindergarteners...wear a cup and never wear a skirt again.

When I'm not teaching I'm vacationing! I have been on two amazing vacations since I left...the first was to a place called Guilin, and the other was Beijing and Shanghai! Guilin is a more rural part of China and one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. The mountains are incredible...they are luscious green and remind me of mountains in Dr. Seuss books. In Guilin we rented electric scooters, swam in mud caves, floated down a river in a bamboo boat, and shopped! I also had my first experience of traveling on a sleeper bus, which I wish everyone could experience at some point in their life. Last week I got home from my second vacation Shanghai and Beijing. It was amazing. In Shanghai we had a blast with the night life, walking the streets with vendors, and sight seeing. We also went to Old Shanghai which is how I pictured China with all the Asian architecture. We only spent one night in Shanghai because our main focus was Beijing. In Beijing we went to Tienamen Square, the Forbidden City, Summer Palace (the Emperor's summer home), several olympic venues, the silk market (where my bank account severely suffered), and most importantly The Great Wall of China! It was the most amazing and surreal feeling walking along the Great Wall...it was undescribable. Something I never thought I'd ever do... I love being able to have this vacation time because I didn't realize how much there is to see in China. There is so much history here, and I've only scratched the surface. China is amazing. There are definitely things I haven't expected though and I am still trying to get used to...so I decided to create a list...which will be added to as the adventure continues...I've titled this list P.S. China (It's a friendly list China might be interested in...)

P.S. China

1. Yes the chickens have large talons, and no I don't want to eat them.
2. As fun as it is to pee without a seat or a door, I'd like one...
3. To the mothers and fathers: Check the crotch of childrens clothing before buying. It seems to be a common trend to buy crotchless clothing for young kids. (I first discovered this while on a train watching a baby create a fountain a urin that puddled to the floor of the bus I was on. While I watched in shock, the mother wiped the urin on her hands off onto her shirt)...really?
4. To the masseuses: Please wash your hands before massaging my face...sometimes they smell like butt.
5. To clothing store workers: My name is London, not "Hello Just Looking!"
6. Take out the word sleeper in "Sleeper Bus" the last thing you do is sleep on 1' wide x 3' tall bed with Asian music playing the whole night long...
7. American girls posing like manniquins in the middle of Shanghai doesn't qualify making the news...
8. To the taxi drivers: It's ok to admit you don't know where something is.
9. Why are there Irish pubs China?
10. What does maybe really mean?

Although this list may seem negative, these are only a few of the many reasons why I love China!! Honestly, this is coolest thing I've ever done, and I can't wait for more adventures! I love you all at home!!

Hi

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