ice-skating

About a week ago I went ice-skating with some friends at Houhai (后海). It was incredibly freezing but definitely worth almost losing my toes to the cold.

We arrived at sun down and it was nice watching the light change from a natural sort to the neon and flourescent variety.


my rented skates


ariel anna and andy



ariel skatin'



I'm not exactly sure what happened but when I arrived Andy was on the ice and Aoife laughing and apologizing.

ariel posted about our outing as well!

my new little monster!

The little monster, Adriana, skyped me today.
I love you, Adriana.

This little person changed the dynamics of my family. My parents have been bumped to grandparents, my brother and his wife are now parents, and my other brother, his wife and I are now aunts and uncles. How amazing.

a makeshift Thanksgiving 感恩节快乐！

andy and ariel acting excited


Our Thanksgiving feast: sweet wonderous chicken strips, cute tiny sliders and quesadillas con queso extra. Un sangsgiving tan rico que no lo puedo poner en palabras! (poner en palabras? did i just translate that? oops)


Is drinking part of Thanksgiving? I can't remember. I think so.

没有吃火鸡呀：（

This thanksgiving was a bit different than last year's. Ariel and I went to Steak and Eggs, which is an American diner (that first opened if Florida, believe it or not). When we arrived, the owner said there was no space for us. Needless to say we were very upset.
Since we were in an area of Beijing that's full of western restaurants (great Russian places) we decided to go with the nearest American restaurant, TGI Fridays. Yes, we spent thanksgiving at Friday's. Ross felt sick and stayed at home, so it was Ariel, our English friend Andy and I who celebrated Thanksgiving at the great American restaurant chain. It felt like America.

Well, no turkey for me this Thanksgiving. But a lot of cheesy appetizers & 2 long island ice teas later and all is forgotten. I hope all of you had as wonderful a thanksgiving as I did. Please, eat a leftover turkey sandwich in my name!

中国人，
你没吃过火鸡的话，你下个感恩节去个美国朋友的家或者美国餐厅吃吧。 感恩节有好多很好吃的菜 有土豆泥， 南瓜派， 地瓜，等等。 好吃死叻
火鸡日快乐

finally

I finally am connected to the rest of the world! We have the internet.
Soon, I will post lovely pictures of our house and my room.

I have been back in Beijing for about a month now and have been working for about a month as well. My classes are going good and for now i have the weekends off, which is great because I will get to visit my friend Lix in Weihai (威海)!

That's it for now. Soon, I'll post pictures.

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.*