北京到了 I've arrived in Beijing

I've missed Beijing very much and am glad to be immersed once again in this country. Of course, I was in America for so very long that I had forgotten the frustrations of living here. For example, the great firewall of China. I had forgotten about this. When I was in America, I was really getting into building a community on youtube and now China has permitted me from being a part of that community. How crappy and selfish. Arggh. I feel like I am 14 all over again. I, like, totally hate my parents.
On the other hand, people speak Chinese here! How incredibly exciting! I came back and Chinese just started sort of spilling out of my mouth again. Also, I think the distance from China for three months has actually improved my listening skills. Since I have been away from the country for such a long while, I have a new and fresh patience with the listening aspect of communicating. I don't think I can say the same about my speaking skills, which definitely haven't improved while I was out of the country.
Now, the search for an apartment is happening. Wish us luck. It looks like I'm going to live with Ross and Ariel. We're looking for a 3 bedroom. We'll take up two of the bedrooms and have the third for a studio. How exciting!
去找一找房子呀！

Miami

Bird and 107th



found in Winn-Dixie



$0.25



kristina marie gonzalez




typical wet season afternoon shower





Kristy's barbeque, Ricky's cookin'



Susie and Kristy




Mahzhong (麻将) at Fridays



Oh, Miami!


On Monday Ariel and I go back to Beijing to meet Ross.


Very soon it will be back to teaching English, eating greasy yummy things and speaking Chinese. Mmmm.

Leif turns 2 and I turn a lot older than 2

****Leif's party**********************************
***********************i told you!****************

leify and fam


fingers in cake


cake in mouth



********************************************
**************My Birthday*******************


Kristy and Susie showing off their glowing parts




Isabel and Ariel


Kris and I showing off J's bling



Andre and Lindsey




Shrek




Jorge and Erika


That was really fun.
*Susie, thanks for the house. *
*J, thanks for the speakers.*

tropical park: chasing a dinasour into a pond

things from cambodia

a collage of bits of Cambodia


The country that affected me most was Cambodia. The feeling there was much different than any other Asian country that I visited. Vietnam is more influenced by China and it is evident in their temples, food and society. In Cambodia however, the temples are incredibly different from anything I have ever seen, the food has more curry and milk, much like Thai food, and the people interact with you in a completely different way. It felt a bit more threatening and a whole lot more unstable, but it was refreshing to hear people openly bad mouth the party in power.

We were there when the country's 4th elections were taking place. Emotions were stirring and party banners lined the road. People were proud to have voted but did not seem surprised when the same party that has been running for 15 years, the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), won yet again. It seems that the CPP will continue to deposit the Cambodian people's money in their own accounts and give nothing to their people. If this is doomed to continue for 5 more years, when will it be declared a failed democracy?

It is sad and infuriating to experience a bit of the rich and lost Khmer culture only to find out that the bit of hope these people had on their election day was immediately destroyed by these CPP gangsters.

Bangkok Portraits

Last night, Ariel, Ross and I were walking back to the hotel when we came across a portrait artist on the street. For a dollar-fifty a pop, we had the three of us drawn.



Today, Ariel and I landed safetly in Tokyo, Chicago and lastly, Miami. Ross is in Bangkok.

coming home

After a month of traveling through various Asian countries, I am ready to visit somewhere familiar. And so, I am coming home!
I will see you all tomorrow, the 5th.
When I'm able to use a computer next, I will post pictures and stories.
See you all soon.
<3