Happy New 牛(Niu) Year!

This Year is Year of the Bull in China. The Chinese pronunciation of bull sounds like "new". So Happy Bull Year.

We had a great Christmas last week, and we were extremely busy. We got together and ate breakfast and opened presents. Then we went to Aloha for an amazing Christmas meal. After that we went to Mr. Mai's for a Christmas performance. The party at Mai's was Christmas eve and Christmas day. The parties totaled about 250 people who heard the story of Christmas. It was great to tell others about the good news.

We just finished our last day of teaching on the 31st. It's been a long semester and we are ready for our long break. We are planning a short trip to the Chinese city of Guilin next week, and I am going to see my mom in Russia (burr) at the end of January. The rest of the time I have no major plans. I might take a couple small trips to see some friends around China.

We recently went to a Chinese performance with some great Kung Fu and Acrobatics! Here are some pictures from that night....And PLEASE DO TRY THIS AT HOME!!! Hahahaha





Here's a video of me singing at the New year's Eve Party for my school. I am singing 2 of the Chinese favorite songs "My Love" by Westlife and a Chinese Song! Enjoy!

First Semester Almost Finished

Well It's been a long time since my last blog. I apologize. My power chord for my laptop broke, but I finally got the replacement. Much has happened since last time.

It's getting much colder here. It's been averaging 40 at night and 50 during the day.
The students have also been restless. They are all stressed about finals. We have about 4 more weeks of school left. So we will finish right before Christmas. We will have 6 weeks off from school so we are still deciding where to go for a warm get away. I am planning to visit my mom in Russia during the Chinese New Year but that will not be until the end of January. And that will be a cold get away.

Things are going well. I play music at Mr. Mai's every Tuesday night and that has been a highlight of my week. I met some other foreigners who also play music. The last couple of weeks there were about 60 people! They all want to take pictures with me and be email pals with me. It's pretty funny. I feel like I have reached a semi-celebrity status out here. I will be out in the town and someone will stop me and tell me they saw my performance. It's quite hysterical.

We had a good Thanksgiving. We got together with our fellowship and ate turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and all of that good stuff. We played games with the kids and watched a download football game. It's nothing like the states but I will not forget days like that which make up my China Experience. But I could use prayer for this season. It is lonely sometimes when you can't see family and friends during the holidays. Yet I am surrounded by great friends who share the same feelings and experiences. It's easier when there are more people during those time.

I did not bring my camera for thanksgiving(of course I forget it during important times) but here are some pictures of a trip we took to a tourist farm.


An irrigation system in the ancient days. We would pedal like a bike and it brings up the water from the lake below! Pretty cool!



I don't know why they had these stilts here but it was fun.


My Boss Kai and another teacher Jessie at the farm. Haha

"Don't pick the plants" This sign was right in front of the next picture!


I don't think anyone wants to pick these plants!

Vacation in Beijing

Much has happened since my last post. We have started school and have been teaching for about a month. Teaching is going very well. It is much easier the second year for the simple fact that I know what is going on in my students minds! I know how to make the lessons interesting, how to get them involved and how to help them learn.

I have been volunteering a lot more at Mr. Mai's coffee shop. The manger has given me more responsibility with planning events and helping out with other little things. Between school and Mr. Mai's I have been staying pretty busy!

The Chinese national holiday was on October 1st and we decided to take a trip to Beijing. It was lots of fun. It was very very crowded, but fun nonetheless. It was kinda like going to Washington D.C. for the 4th of July.

Since I have been to Beijing before I did not do too many 'tourist' things. The first day we got there Cory and I went to meet our Chinese friend Shane and we all went the the Beijing Open. It was a small tennis tournament with a few big name players. The finals was played between Andy Roddick and some No. 94th ranked player from Israel. It was a good match. Andy Roddick won the match in 3 sets.

I also went to the Beijing Olympic sites. We did not go inside because tickets were too expensive but we were able to get right up next to them. We then went to the Summer Palace where we hike around and marveled at the Qing Dynasty Buildings. It was beautiful. Tiananmen Square was always buzzing with excitement. We tried to see the morning flag raising ceremony but we arrived too late.

That's all that is going on with me right now. Things are going very well. I miss you all and thank you so much for your pryer support.

Ernesto, Will and Myself at the 5th anniversary of Mr. Mai's Coffee House


The Beijing Open


Shane and I watching some good tennis!


The Birds Nest


Me and the Cube. Chinese people love Michael Phelps!


A bridge at the Summer Palace


More of the Summer Palace


Amazing. The emperor's summer get away!


Chairman Mao and Thousands of People! Tiananmen was buzzing with excitement.

Safe Arrival

I had a great time back home this summer. Thanks to all my friends and family for taking time to see me. I had a wonderful time thanks to you.

Well we finally made it back to Wuhan on Monday morning. The flight didn't seem as long this year. Probably because the element of the unknown wasn't there anymore, and because the two Tylenol PM knocked me out like a little baby. The past couple of days we have been seeing old friends and showing the new people around the school. This year there are 5 foreigners teaching at my school and 4 other foreign friends teaching in a city called Huang Shi. We are very excited to have more people this year.

Anyways, I don't have much to say but I just wanted to tell you all thank you for reading, prying, and being interested in what is going on with my life right now.

Taylor

Final Stretch!

Firstly I want to thank you all for thinking of me during this past year. I could not have done it with our your 'help'.

Secondly I want to tell you all that after much consideration I have decided to stay in China for a second year! I am really excited for my future plans and the plans for this wonderful country.

I am coming home this summer. I will be home in early July and I will leave again in late August. Don't worry, we will have plenty of time to catch up when you take me out for lunch at Chipotle or In-N-Out. OR...if you are feeling really generous you can take me out for a steak dinner! hahaha

My last trip was in Chendu (Panda Capitol of the World). Here are some pics of the cuddly creatures!


Nap time!




3 Amigos


Ha ha ha...This one is great!






So Cute!




Chinese Guys stop for a cucumber break!


Chinese Opera!


Don't try this at home!


Thank you for reading and looking and I thank you all so much for 'thinking' of me during this final stretch!

See Ya Soon!!!

Spring Time!

They say Wuhan only has two seasons, Summer and Winter. I have found that to be true when fall lasted about 2 weeks. It's 'spring' time now but it might last only another week or so. I am enjoying it while it lasts.

I can't believe it's already April. The time went by so fast. In about two months I will be boarding a plane and arriving in LAX. I am still not sure the exact date I will be coming home but it will be sometime in mid-June or early July.

I want to thank you all for taking the time to read my blog, respond with comments and above all thank you for prying for me. I could NOT have done it without your support. Thank you.

Most of you know that I have been considering coming back for a second year. After much thought and much pryer, and much reading the word I have decided to come back for a second year!

This is a big commitment but I am very excited for this next year and what will come of it. Don't worry...I am coming home for the summer. So you will have plenty of time to see me and take me out to Chipotle or a steak dinner! Hahaha

I love you all. Again, thank you for your support.

Here are some pictures from "Tree Planting Day" hahahaha

One of our bosses(Kai) and Stew working Hard

Stasi and Glendyr planting trees! We were all in Chinese Newspaper and TV for this!


I planted the most trees! hahah But Stew doesn't think so!


Kai and his tree!

Back to School

Well my gigantic six week break has come to an end. After Thailand I stayed in Wuhan for a couple of weeks and then I met my parents in Beijing. I had such a wonderful time seeing them and showing them around China. After Beijing we went to Xi'an for a couple of days and then brought them to Wuhan (They even helped me teach some of my classes)! The students loved it!

So I have four more months left here in China. It almost seems like no time at all. Now the big question is what am I going to do next year. I need pryer for this because I am torn between a few decisions. I am thinking about coming back and getting a job, grad school, and I am also thinking about staying another year! aaahhhh It is a huge decision that can't be made overnight but it does require a lot of thought and pryer. Thank you.

Here are some pics of the trip to Beijing and Xi'an.
Mom on the Great Wall!

Richard Nixon said it best, "It sure is a Great Wall."

Terracotta Warriors.

When the emperor died the Chinese stopped making the warriors. That is why these ones don't have heads!

Little Chinese Kid at the Forbidden City

Rebuilding the Warriors.

Thailand Tan

Have you ever noticed that everyone who is white wants to become darker. Yet, everyone who is dark wants to become whiter. I have thought about that before but it was different this time because as I was laying out in the beautiful Thailand sun I knew that in a few days I would return to China where it is snowing! Anyways...there is your thought for the day.

We started off our Journey with a trip to Hong Kong. It is a huge city and we were bombarded with overwhelming thoughts of high prices and surrounded with millions of businessmen and women. We didn't do too much here, but we did go to Disneyland which was the highlight of Hong Kong. We only stayed there for a few days because we were soon on our way to Thailand.

Thailand was AMAZING. The sun was shining and we wore shorts and rainbow sandals the entire time. Did you know that Thailand has a King?! He recently celebrated his 80th birthday! There were pictures of him Everywhere. Billboards fifty yards long saying, "Long live the King" and Lance Armstrong bracelets saying "We love our King". It was quite a sight. The Kings Sister had just died a couple weeks before we arrived so they decided to keep her body in the central temple for TWO MONTHS so that the Thai people can give their respects.

We only stayed in Bangkok for a few days because we were going to our ultimate destination, Phuket's Beaches. It was a much needed vacation. A vacation from teaching, a vacation from the cold weather, and a vacation from my busy thoughts. It was very restful thinking about Father and what he is doing in my life.

It is good to be back home in Wuhan. Some of you have heard about China on the news. This is the worst snowfall China has had in 50 years. Some people are dying because factories have caved in. Thousands, or even millions, are stranded because airports, trains and roads are shut down. It is almost Chinese New Year which is the biggest holiday in China. Many people can not make it home. I was blessed to make it back to Wuhan. But know that I am safe and staying warm. Here are some links about the news in my city. I love the skiing student story! hahaha
love ya,
taylor

http://www.fasttrackski.co.uk/ski-news/general-ski/student-tries-to-ski-home-in-china-200801302561.php

---student skier---



http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0129/china.html

---other news…factory---


Thailand...so beautiful.



No words to describe this image..i love it



Sandy white beaches and clear blue water...nothing better!Phuket, Thailand



Riding an elephant is a MUST in Thailand


Bamboo raft ride down the river


The city.



This building was amazing. Every color is a different tile. Beautiful.


Soda in a bag...what more could you want?!


Bangkok bridge


Stew hit this gong and then some lady made him donate money! hahaha


Flower Street


Little Thai School Girls


Stew on the river in Bangkok, Thailand.


Classic Chinese Pose...DISNEYLAND(Hong Kong) And no my California year pass didn't work!