tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23927799017242239262024-02-06T19:23:07.608-08:00The World's Greatest HoneymoonThe adventures of Benjamin and Rachel's lengthy honeymoonBenchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-62671036923334343542014-05-12T04:59:00.000-07:002014-05-12T05:21:15.969-07:00How to Kinda Live Like a Hippy in China<div class="p1">
Leaving California was not the easiest of decisions, especially since Ben and I had grown accustomed to certain habits and a way of life there. Thankfully, we have found small ways to retain this lifestyle through things like homemade vegetarian lasagna (using tofu instead of ricotta cheese) and recycling our bottles by giving them to the people who go through the trash cans each night.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="">Ben and Sweet Purple Potato Soup. Yum!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="">However, one of the most difficult things about being in China is the food. Don't get me wrong, I love Chinese food. But the oily, spicy, meat-y dishes often leave me and my digestive tract longing for my gentler California cuisine.</span></div>
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<span class=""><span class="">This year I have an increased interest in making more foods from scratch. At first this included lots of breads and cookies because carbs is something I always crave, but now I am branching out more.</span></span></div>
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<span class="">My first MYO (make-your-own) venture was one of my favorite foods: peanut butter. Having finished my jar of natural peanut butter, I was stuck with the dining hall's Skippy pb. </span></div>
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<span class="">One day it dawned on me how easy it would be to make my own, and I was (partially) right. Peanuts here are sold for practically peanuts [<i>hehe</i>], and I found after some roasting and some blending, I could make a jar of all natural peanut butter in about an hour for about 20 cents. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peanut butter that deceptively looks like chocolate ice cream </td></tr>
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I will never go back to paying $ 5 a jar for ones in the States! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even better than the "real" thing! </td></tr>
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Now that imported milk is available in our town, I have enjoying milk much more. After learning how easy it is to make my own yogurt, I knew I had to give it a try, especially since plain yogurt is non-existent here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUXw55UqkfqywxWd92MiIzDFpdDLNVeYko7aakOdXAva8MCCm3s9WB8zUYFCzY88a5SJWLLqOovjNR7wSpHkn9rziCUQRhApVZwTGP3h2YdEhG_B1lyZ3abuiiZEef4lprsxJoGF08uU/s1600/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUXw55UqkfqywxWd92MiIzDFpdDLNVeYko7aakOdXAva8MCCm3s9WB8zUYFCzY88a5SJWLLqOovjNR7wSpHkn9rziCUQRhApVZwTGP3h2YdEhG_B1lyZ3abuiiZEef4lprsxJoGF08uU/s1600/imgres.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Mine looks kinda similar, but I didn't have a good pic </div>
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<a href="http://www.simplebites.net/homemade-yogurt-101/">http://www.simplebites.net/homemade-yogurt-101/</a></div>
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It take minutes to make, about 12 hours to incubate, and approximately two days for us to go through a whole carton. Super delicious and nutritious. I even tried straining it and making a Greek-style batch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super strange looking way to strain</td></tr>
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<span class="">I definitely foresee some delicious tahzaki dips and some sour cream substitutes in our future! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWrPZnvNPC37v1N3xK7SJeXSIvCYCrvwHamjU1AMCqEJMZ-TgkIKxzHL2NIfpjOdf9zJYKZgCdDecHmF1AofsxrRvDLhsD4gDF0cTT_UyTASWLDWIhoQcktLXd6NMKg0PgjhwlsyUbLI/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWrPZnvNPC37v1N3xK7SJeXSIvCYCrvwHamjU1AMCqEJMZ-TgkIKxzHL2NIfpjOdf9zJYKZgCdDecHmF1AofsxrRvDLhsD4gDF0cTT_UyTASWLDWIhoQcktLXd6NMKg0PgjhwlsyUbLI/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="">The fermenting Process </span><br />
<span class="">(note the Radiator / Kombucha / Yogurt brewing Machine)</span></td></tr>
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<span class="">Next on my list was kombucha. I was a big fan of it in the States, and I know probiotics is always a good thing for China living. However, I didn't have a starter SCOBY, so I was stuck. </span></div>
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<span class="">Thankfully one of the other teachers got a hold of one, and I was gifted one of her "babies." It was love at first sight. So squishy and slimy. I began making kombucha immediately, and every week we have a fresh batch to drink. A combination of green, black, and jasmine teas with some fresh strawberries thrown in near the end of the week is our favorite way to enjoy this refreshing drink!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOg6jsBTKE0OKG5ezDhfFyCBpiHhLRLNoKJfSWmn8MORYnBHsR1_FtR39J_UoKrJ5wZhEJ9ohtnP11pPZTpBgPoGDJJGYhNUzrfrvtSxbUwr7TowdHZf2b3FcNXmIrebcXrEduG2ediXs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOg6jsBTKE0OKG5ezDhfFyCBpiHhLRLNoKJfSWmn8MORYnBHsR1_FtR39J_UoKrJ5wZhEJ9ohtnP11pPZTpBgPoGDJJGYhNUzrfrvtSxbUwr7TowdHZf2b3FcNXmIrebcXrEduG2ediXs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberries and fermented tea - how can you go wrong?</td></tr>
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<span class="goog-text-highlight">This last one is not about food and actually might be even weirder than strange fungus g</span>rowing drinks. Recently I have been experimenting with a DIY "shampoo." </div>
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Sulfates and other stuff that is in shampoo is apparently bad for your hair (according to very official sources like Buzzfeed) So when I found a recipe to make your own shampoo and conditioner that only required baking soda, water, and vinegar; I thought, why not? </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2E256JdcwE6igVb7CAstinf7X-kKWy9024D5-Rjwqdq0j8FJ0KnjUAbnRrjUM8K7YXPjlhgTcRnTOiraKdfTJdouOP5-23sXNDUtUCoI2jCU0yzNqYl8n-DrW9CHNu_X0-dCPdSvrYY/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2E256JdcwE6igVb7CAstinf7X-kKWy9024D5-Rjwqdq0j8FJ0KnjUAbnRrjUM8K7YXPjlhgTcRnTOiraKdfTJdouOP5-23sXNDUtUCoI2jCU0yzNqYl8n-DrW9CHNu_X0-dCPdSvrYY/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shampoo ingredients</td></tr>
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Although it is a bit strange initially, I did feel like my hair became healthier and had less split ends. Just a word of caution though, do not try this in conjunction with coconut oil deep conditioning unless you enjoy nice coconut oily hair all day long (which is something an actual hippy just might do)! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqx0rFcaxtqAk_xgorh1iA5YM4q0g-UAX040Df7N6t9bQIW3mtbQnoFClijx3qYTuB0bu0n4ZMmcbSZgEN5Z593ahoIP5WUCZtxA-8PDBmafJgo-EqKy3R-UUUfQcdcXltOx7r9YckrWo/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqx0rFcaxtqAk_xgorh1iA5YM4q0g-UAX040Df7N6t9bQIW3mtbQnoFClijx3qYTuB0bu0n4ZMmcbSZgEN5Z593ahoIP5WUCZtxA-8PDBmafJgo-EqKy3R-UUUfQcdcXltOx7r9YckrWo/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="400" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roasting peanuts with my hippy hair</td></tr>
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So there you have it! How to kinda live like a hippy in the middle of China.<br />
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<span class="">If you are interested in some homemade goodness below are the links to the recipes I mostly follow:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2014/02/03/diy-homemade-peanut-butter/" target="_blank">Peanut Butter</a></div>
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<span class=""><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Yogurt" target="_blank">Yogurt</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-kombucha-tea-at-home-173858" target="_blank">Kombucha</a></div>
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<a href="http://frugalliving.about.com/od/make-your-own-hair-products/qt/Baking-Soda-Shampoo.htm" target="_blank">Not Shampoo</a></div>
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Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-11110186249045511032014-03-31T18:13:00.003-07:002014-03-31T18:42:55.998-07:00Not April's Fools<span style="text-align: center;">I guess that renewed blog interest I had in December and
January was not meant to last, but I’m back for now! And man, do we have a lot
to catch up on.</span><br />
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Ben and I had an adventure-filled winter break in the
Philippines complete with crazy souped-up motorcycle rides, swimming and water
fall jumping deep inside caves, ATV-ing through massive mud pits, and of
course, backpacking up a volcanic, sulfuric mountain for three days. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying not to die on this not-for-three-people motorcycle up at mountain</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRtWicnB0v23yTxZAXgx-eNUQU8CFrKXAbaG_8RIR4KcZTZzDyuSp0tWxDBYfxkWKSc243pofm6eBv8s1Gdka7qteXUEf5Q-gZBY1YUVpCWhE17f-oVACgyrSexBQxHd49UDcYV_4p3E/s1600/DSC_5777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRtWicnB0v23yTxZAXgx-eNUQU8CFrKXAbaG_8RIR4KcZTZzDyuSp0tWxDBYfxkWKSc243pofm6eBv8s1Gdka7qteXUEf5Q-gZBY1YUVpCWhE17f-oVACgyrSexBQxHd49UDcYV_4p3E/s1600/DSC_5777.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backpacking up the volcano</td></tr>
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After that relaxing vacation, we plunged into teaching and
Chinese classes pretty hard, and now we have finally come up for air…sort of. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Last week and this week has been filled with visits from my
amazing family! I will try to devote a whole post on that wonderful experience
soon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_Ihg4ZkjGz3MRHD_CGC917nUmedUl14LWFyFY4sHABsPu-EJLvfn6EsLxBcK0qbT3c5_XvCJZ3DqXhLvh5DXwDDp3uZ72S5aE48PNSLqaTLEcc8WIUCik5Kjanvo8jj5JsZtbc_qL10/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_Ihg4ZkjGz3MRHD_CGC917nUmedUl14LWFyFY4sHABsPu-EJLvfn6EsLxBcK0qbT3c5_XvCJZ3DqXhLvh5DXwDDp3uZ72S5aE48PNSLqaTLEcc8WIUCik5Kjanvo8jj5JsZtbc_qL10/s1600/photo.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating scrumptious Chinese food with Ben, Hannah, and Sarah!</td></tr>
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However, the real reason why I decided to break my blogging
hiatus is that we have some exciting news: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We are returning to the States in June!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOz_iOf9Mi7T3XuSmMW_63E-Cl4ZemaMqb8BL0OVT_8_nicUrUVBe-UFgdjwNkhZlXkGW3njxP-1SoEzRlzFj1Tf8RU_k9H3tRqjMog8RfOmvjtPNjqVuvVkiY2CYOrG6hb7TGrxddYo/s1600/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOz_iOf9Mi7T3XuSmMW_63E-Cl4ZemaMqb8BL0OVT_8_nicUrUVBe-UFgdjwNkhZlXkGW3njxP-1SoEzRlzFj1Tf8RU_k9H3tRqjMog8RfOmvjtPNjqVuvVkiY2CYOrG6hb7TGrxddYo/s1600/download.jpeg" /></a>I say “exciting”, but it is actually more bittersweet. I got
accepted into grad school at Monterey Institute of International Studies, where
I will be studying International Education and (and sometimes in) Chinese! We
are beyond happy to moving back closer to family and friends…yet, it means we
are moving far away from our Sias family and friends. <o:p></o:p><br />
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The decision to leave our incredible community, job, home,
and life here was a very difficult one, but we are confident that this is the
right move for us. We also have the assurance that we will be back for visits
and possibly work in the future. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This summer Ben will be studying for his Civil Engineering
test and finding a job and apartment, while I will be in a Chinese immersion
program in Vermont. We are excited to see what new opportunities and adventures
await us in this next stage of our lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and I with our friends on top of Mt. Apo</td></tr>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment-->Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-6944329237320135132014-01-03T21:24:00.000-08:002014-01-03T21:24:01.333-08:00Christmas in January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday on my way back from a run, I stopped by the school post office hoping and praying to God and China Post that the long-awaited package from my family had arrived. </div>
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Having been denied for weeks, I was beginning to think the Pacific Ocean or custom officials had consumed it. However, much to my amazement, it was there! </div>
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I grabbed it and sprinted home as fast as my tired legs could carry me. Unfortunately, Ben was on a man-date, so I had to wait an excruciatingly long hour before he returned. It took every ounce of my very limited willpower and patience to not tear into it. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgoWaoHUyXeqWCtTEKneBCf7a7F5I5qqVZbzUd3SSFC4A6yzvypSCMQGjsu0fqe6hBYBon0MVlGaP4GWB_uzBAy8hEPyaIgPhVPbTAyMLecNTvHysJlynKsekA9qv9y5pYL1hdxE-itI/s1600/IMG_4966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgoWaoHUyXeqWCtTEKneBCf7a7F5I5qqVZbzUd3SSFC4A6yzvypSCMQGjsu0fqe6hBYBon0MVlGaP4GWB_uzBAy8hEPyaIgPhVPbTAyMLecNTvHysJlynKsekA9qv9y5pYL1hdxE-itI/s400/IMG_4966.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victory Pose! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We knifed into the like a couple of children on Christmas Day who didn't have any adult supervision.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvRfmTJGc6zt3_zVEpBjv23XxiQzecg-Bp68mwfUfPIC1hVv2wQ3JgHkV49WxhfqVd75VzmPod78GDYBoexTuxRuFkBnKi7CUac2b5skAEbquPpjPxV4hZj4GZ983jNFXZw_ctIkPg3A/s1600/IMG_4967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvRfmTJGc6zt3_zVEpBjv23XxiQzecg-Bp68mwfUfPIC1hVv2wQ3JgHkV49WxhfqVd75VzmPod78GDYBoexTuxRuFkBnKi7CUac2b5skAEbquPpjPxV4hZj4GZ983jNFXZw_ctIkPg3A/s400/IMG_4967.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't this how everyone opens boxes? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Underneath the Trader Joe's brown paper bag (not tied up with string but still one of my favorite things!), I discovered a box from Auntie Faye! This may not seem that impressive except for the fact that my dear great aunt passed away about four years. </div>
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What? How on earth? Actually, this is not a story about a miraculous post-mortem delivery, but more of a testament to the fact that my mother never throws anything away. Not even postal boxes from five years ago. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPk1CbFSkjhcSubOarpjQNG1cUEKx53svV1-naRsy4V4erOcV3q4FgvP_LiBXhWS-N3FBkzXNwlEIhxcZyOH5TxSnXrKIbgaECjo7_xpUkuLHhFCL42izmqWLdhgrmg3NphpJg30L_bI/s1600/IMG_4969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPk1CbFSkjhcSubOarpjQNG1cUEKx53svV1-naRsy4V4erOcV3q4FgvP_LiBXhWS-N3FBkzXNwlEIhxcZyOH5TxSnXrKIbgaECjo7_xpUkuLHhFCL42izmqWLdhgrmg3NphpJg30L_bI/s400/IMG_4969.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you, Auntie Faye and Family and... Jesus?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAubN2cRPrUcmvDoSqviVfZgmOkZpJDqjNjUYgJS1ZShRXnrYrCk3ubhC5magJTn-RgblS8rw1HNc4Nzfk_ob9pxtenhNlKYACNQQNQbfBmpBWWt3tlhiG6uWOBNkTs0gYUjbriY-Xamg/s1600/IMG_4970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAubN2cRPrUcmvDoSqviVfZgmOkZpJDqjNjUYgJS1ZShRXnrYrCk3ubhC5magJTn-RgblS8rw1HNc4Nzfk_ob9pxtenhNlKYACNQQNQbfBmpBWWt3tlhiG6uWOBNkTs0gYUjbriY-Xamg/s320/IMG_4970.JPG" width="320" /></a>Inside this deceased women's box lay a veritable treasure chest of things to feed the soul and stomach. Every square inch was stuffed with teas and chocolates and deliciousness. It is like they knew exactly what we wanted (or perhaps, read my emailed wish list to them last month). We are so loved and so spoiled! </div>
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Since all my willpower had been used up to not open the care package before Ben arrived, I succumbed to the delicious powers of dark chocolate and immediately tore some of the goodies. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4f0f8yTULK7BoaJ4p7BN44hO6VpfLcG3O0voweMOGvB-_qwOjKN9kMR9C9Y7fdHB4O2MwziJY4scWz4c4h0oqnnm8ZnFEOrRJBMEqZktQmoVoBA_GdI6gdhKgbekQkln5Ryo-dqtfwI/s1600/IMG_4973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4f0f8yTULK7BoaJ4p7BN44hO6VpfLcG3O0voweMOGvB-_qwOjKN9kMR9C9Y7fdHB4O2MwziJY4scWz4c4h0oqnnm8ZnFEOrRJBMEqZktQmoVoBA_GdI6gdhKgbekQkln5Ryo-dqtfwI/s400/IMG_4973.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My preciouses </td></tr>
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Ben, the weirdo, was most excited about...pens. I had asked my parents to send him his favorite Zebra ballpoint, and he was over the moon. I will never understand him, but I guess I knew what I was getting into when I married him...mostly. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiSCsNve3IHB9QrJWdJuip6K2OEKpoiZmAC19Xv1lRIAKInTu9nZXaQiwh6csUakotDoLc8W9FiDizE8IpeNeWUEQAmT_sVFp2JqJo47xT9JAiTh8247_xHrjf0vXLohzw9Ow6zSLOPk/s1600/IMG_4971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiSCsNve3IHB9QrJWdJuip6K2OEKpoiZmAC19Xv1lRIAKInTu9nZXaQiwh6csUakotDoLc8W9FiDizE8IpeNeWUEQAmT_sVFp2JqJo47xT9JAiTh8247_xHrjf0vXLohzw9Ow6zSLOPk/s400/IMG_4971.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pure (nerdy) joy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Of course, the non-edible highlight were the letters from (most of) the family. They brought me smiles and sniffles as I read through them-- thank you, Mom, Dad, Sarah, and Bex....I could be wrong, but didn't I have a couple brothers over there, too? :) </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfKO4GUgpqpiP5gmHnwSBKddnEYmx3_13GGG4Qo4eVMOMefFmY8ZnqaIYPRna57sHf5L0ahaoscZEJ2tCmxJDXKuCQeXrCF0nEKYKvGjD7Ev1XcbbuT6hyGTOGNPTfcDA1rEKth-DO7A/s1600/IMG_4976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfKO4GUgpqpiP5gmHnwSBKddnEYmx3_13GGG4Qo4eVMOMefFmY8ZnqaIYPRna57sHf5L0ahaoscZEJ2tCmxJDXKuCQeXrCF0nEKYKvGjD7Ev1XcbbuT6hyGTOGNPTfcDA1rEKth-DO7A/s400/IMG_4976.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much love </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtsCqrQ650ipopQQhppnoyVp-zyyVEb3NfgU0kLAN3NfmQ0U7FS6Uzk3TtAJx0wMfomisEcVVkWGYpulUvn1NnBKWMZPGhoP2Cu4_jIqeh1_QSO2vULY0FUAlE3jIOtkyxARCoScWeng/s1600/IMG_4975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtsCqrQ650ipopQQhppnoyVp-zyyVEb3NfgU0kLAN3NfmQ0U7FS6Uzk3TtAJx0wMfomisEcVVkWGYpulUvn1NnBKWMZPGhoP2Cu4_jIqeh1_QSO2vULY0FUAlE3jIOtkyxARCoScWeng/s400/IMG_4975.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The loot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And lastly, I'll leave you with one last picture. I call this one Chocolate Hot Flash.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmwmTAqZXXlQv9nNoXYUk1b57Kb-ZHSFeBu_kQ3HigZgDTxj0yTquSr0A99zjiYOpzYhH3LDh-xk8rNFNh5rLl2zrjsI0IRSTJTFdQH6Id74VCdTzA9s70BNzID4qQiKi03wr0yKAbE8/s1600/IMG_4974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmwmTAqZXXlQv9nNoXYUk1b57Kb-ZHSFeBu_kQ3HigZgDTxj0yTquSr0A99zjiYOpzYhH3LDh-xk8rNFNh5rLl2zrjsI0IRSTJTFdQH6Id74VCdTzA9s70BNzID4qQiKi03wr0yKAbE8/s320/IMG_4974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-17904520072291445322013-12-31T19:54:00.000-08:002014-01-16T18:55:06.735-08:00Cheater, Cheater, Dumpling Eater<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A couple weeks ago, Ben and I proctored for
some fellow teachers' exams. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before coming to Sias, I barely knew what
proctoring was and really had no idea what it entailed. Lucky me is getting
lots of practice here! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/546120-40218-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/546120-40218-40.jpg"></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I totally should have been a P.I.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Due to the huge issue of cheating among
students, reinforcements must be called upon to catch them in the very act and
turn them into the authorities (i.e. teachers). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, the only time I ever saw cheaters in my
life was when a lady who worked in the building next to mine was definitely
having an affair with a married man (my office had very large windows and a
nosy coworker, me.). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nevertheless, we are all required to proctor a few times
each semester to enforce the law of academic honesty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Us teachers are pretty
much split 50/50 about how we feel. Some enjoy the thrill of discovering a
hidden cell phone or uncovering cheat sheets hidden up a sleeve. Others, myself
included, hate the tedium of it and are entirely unable to catch more than
shifty pair of eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This time around, the proctor in the class next to mine caught two
cell phones and suspected a girl of hiding notes in her blouse. Me? I uncovered an
old steamed dumpling hiding inside somebody’s desk. Don't worry, I didn't eat it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It becomes even more awkward when I know the students who were taking the exam, and they
become really excited to see me…unless they realize I’m there to make there to make already an stressful situation become even more so by closely monitoring every neck stretch and yawn. </span></div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Cheating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Cheating.JPG" width="320"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p>In all serious, schools in China and America (see: </o:p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=132376">A Cheating Crisis in America's Schools</a>) are dealing with this very troublesome problem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The students here are under an overwhelming amount of pressure and some are even encouraged by their parents to cheat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sias is trying to very hard to combat this epidemic through the proctors and stricter penalties and even a jumbotron of shame (giant screens that show all the names of students who have been caught cheating) but many students fail to see how cheating is even wrong. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.personal.psu.edu/cms5318/cheating.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://www.personal.psu.edu/cms5318/cheating.gif" width="320"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few weeks ago, a girl was wandering the halls of Peter Hall distraught because she had been caught cheating in her exam. She was looking for the proctor to beg/bribe for mercy. While I did feel sympathy for her, but I also knew, given the chance, she probably will cheat again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As it turn out, I might be teaching an Ethics and Morals in Leadership class next semester. Since I am passionate about justice and doing right, I am excited but nervous about how to approach it in a culturally-aware, but also straightforward way. Should be a fun challenge!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right now we are in Xi'an for a few days before heading to The Philippines via Hong Kong! We will try our best to keep everyone updated on our travels and adventures!</span></div>
Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-73365449104828360632013-12-31T18:56:00.000-08:002013-12-31T18:57:54.801-08:00Remember, Remember....: Soccer/Football/足球<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hope you aren't getting tired of the constant barrage of blogposts. If so, tough.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.warmphotos.net/img/funny/soccer/soccer09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.warmphotos.net/img/funny/soccer/soccer09.jpg" width="162" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soccer fans...making football<br />
fans look normal since 1928</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Some of you may know that before I met running, my first (sport) love was soccer. I played in the city league as a girl; I played on my high school team for four years; I played on IM teams in college, and I even coached AYSO U12 boys a couple of years ago.<br />
<br />
I am also crazy about the World Cup and pretty much think it is better than Christmas, which is saying a lot because I adore <a href="http://benchelvidmaryan.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-merry-little-chinamas.html">Christmas</a>.<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Hence, when I heard about the a two month long soccer tournament at SIAS, I couldn't wait to relive my "glory days." Joining the Rejects team, as I affectionally called us because we were students and teachers who didn't have a department to join, was a blast and a great experience. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Initially I thought it would be a fun way to keep in running shape because my motivation to run is directly to correlated with the outside temperature. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Yes, I find it ironic that the thing I hated most about soccer-- running-- was my primary motivation to join the team (who am I?!). Although it did help me exercise, I was painfully reminded that I am no longer 8 years old, or 16, or even 20. My knees and hip ached and groaned after just kicking the ball around for a few hours. Wimps.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie411tASGWvjtQAyGGa4wZ6cKWqZFMmTypvSSar6CuPD1wMA8XWsW6MvRn1ZVVDmQziarHdjiijzIkwhV4EBIMTffSUCzH_Q8nFcTFAg91_DLQx67TSnBsuKM5-mOx4BT1-77H_mB5o_o/s1600/IMG_4789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie411tASGWvjtQAyGGa4wZ6cKWqZFMmTypvSSar6CuPD1wMA8XWsW6MvRn1ZVVDmQziarHdjiijzIkwhV4EBIMTffSUCzH_Q8nFcTFAg91_DLQx67TSnBsuKM5-mOx4BT1-77H_mB5o_o/s320/IMG_4789.jpg" width="240" /></a>We had a great team who may have not had the best record (our total wins was, um, zero), but we lacked in skill and talent, we made up in heart and spirit.<br />
<br />
At the end of the tournament, we played the two best in the league, and almost tied with both. Everybody loves an underdog, and we definitely gave them both a run for their Chinese RMB.<br />
<br />
Interestingly enough, girls playing soccer is almost unheard of here. In a university of 20,000+ students, we had <b>one</b> Chinese girl join. She had to play on our team because her department wouldn't allow girls on their team. Crazy.<br />
<br />
Apparently, girls who play contact sports here, especially soccer, is the equivalent to those who play tackle football in America or buzkhashi in Central Asia.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn-i.dmdentertainment.com/cracked/wong/buzkashi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://cdn-i.dmdentertainment.com/cracked/wong/buzkashi2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding on a horse, swinging a dead goat. Very manly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Playing against some of my former students and seeing their surprise and amazement never failed to crack me up. A few almost couldn't believe that I was the same person who taught them how to say their "th" sounds (who am I kidding, most of them still can't).<br />
<br />
Overall, despite the old lady joint pains, impressively unbroken losing streak, chilly/smoggy weather, I had a great time.<br />
<br />
I love how many amazing opportunities we have here to participate in, and I am so thankful.<br />
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<div style="text-align: start;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4x5nAxyMgytLAT6N-YCRxvESOMnxPElzF8HJ6iu6i4cX2L71pEg01ZwMgylAztnfg16qL8xi9eEHyX-JokpZuhcyoEWnUWIzhJCASufgIXMoqr8wxHT1JDWr9q6hAlylU9ZyWGqs-uO8/s1600/IMG_4890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4x5nAxyMgytLAT6N-YCRxvESOMnxPElzF8HJ6iu6i4cX2L71pEg01ZwMgylAztnfg16qL8xi9eEHyX-JokpZuhcyoEWnUWIzhJCASufgIXMoqr8wxHT1JDWr9q6hAlylU9ZyWGqs-uO8/s400/IMG_4890.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right before I nailed him in the head with the ball</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTLjjJxGex_9fhEXHY2DEdlts8js_JQuoE-uoF1YfBGq2VPG7WqmoeBpkIn7SWcPM-nA_dgF40ogvCWsZc9rI6Z69NX1lmqSNt9hF80IIkSLeVOuAtEjLoHULbOxZAIRw7NRYzoPVF0s/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTLjjJxGex_9fhEXHY2DEdlts8js_JQuoE-uoF1YfBGq2VPG7WqmoeBpkIn7SWcPM-nA_dgF40ogvCWsZc9rI6Z69NX1lmqSNt9hF80IIkSLeVOuAtEjLoHULbOxZAIRw7NRYzoPVF0s/s400/IMG_4794.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Failing as (I think the score that game was 1-7) </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtL4DU1ZvCCVE3w70Mrr3BYUiWi02qoUK25P1YU5qZaqMJ0eBezj-1yNlva55De2dOOxgbZCcHop1OWk3RI33DTE9ddTV_kGwZQS07gwiJ70G3BkaP5LzBFikZRQ8l61_xQzuG_fFyY-s/s1600/IMG_4884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtL4DU1ZvCCVE3w70Mrr3BYUiWi02qoUK25P1YU5qZaqMJ0eBezj-1yNlva55De2dOOxgbZCcHop1OWk3RI33DTE9ddTV_kGwZQS07gwiJ70G3BkaP5LzBFikZRQ8l61_xQzuG_fFyY-s/s400/IMG_4884.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grass Warmers! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And the best part was that we wore totally <strike>authentic</strike> counterfeit FC Barcelona uniforms/kits! Since Barcelona is my favorite European pro club team, when fellow teachers saw me wearing it, I told them that they recruited me to play with them in Spain on the weekends. Strangely, very few believed me.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccB2KkC_1aal4j8rCkq4Ph8q_DvuH_HspBBjv7gfm6i65l23AMV3X-NKUryp5f0ddo52bpHUNC-lNYO7wpv_lNYCaUfUbYB6A7MPozBkU-c6b4YjyPjlkIfUHYwRtVmX_1LfAbjGuAJM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccB2KkC_1aal4j8rCkq4Ph8q_DvuH_HspBBjv7gfm6i65l23AMV3X-NKUryp5f0ddo52bpHUNC-lNYO7wpv_lNYCaUfUbYB6A7MPozBkU-c6b4YjyPjlkIfUHYwRtVmX_1LfAbjGuAJM/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally legit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-78430127671250431562013-12-29T03:02:00.000-08:002013-12-31T16:56:08.199-08:00Remember, Remember, What Happened in November : Culture WeekI guess I'm going chronically backwards from now to the start of school in September. Since we've covered December <a href="http://benchelvidmaryan.blogspot.ca/2013/12/a-merry-little-chinamas.html" target="_blank">here</a>, it is on to November!<br />
<br />
This month was dominated by two things: Culture Week and soccer. Both took up a lot of more time and energy than anticipated but were very fun and rewarding. This first post will be on the joys and trials of Culture Week.<br />
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Every year, the foreign faculty here at Sias get the huge honor/responsibility of representing all the populated continents over the course of a several days through song, dance, food, and drama (much, much drama). It doesn't matter that the vast majority of us are from North America or that most of us have the acting ability of the silent shepherd in the Sunday School Christmas pageant. The show must go on!<br />
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As you may or may not remember, Ben and I got roped into being Mario (curse you, Italian-looking, Armenian genes) and Princess Peach last year which required three hour rehearsals nearly every day for weeks.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINit4HvTf4Jxydy3fs5pP66B_09mQyXCAkgVR1lgP79Kvu1LIQX7CuopeRhcJQTooN5Zr5SeU9xuZzhqFbW140NrBqeBvEGgqcQZSMLtllBTjdiFMD26RF7MVQ3fq3AthJG9ALGrODq0/s1600/pp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINit4HvTf4Jxydy3fs5pP66B_09mQyXCAkgVR1lgP79Kvu1LIQX7CuopeRhcJQTooN5Zr5SeU9xuZzhqFbW140NrBqeBvEGgqcQZSMLtllBTjdiFMD26RF7MVQ3fq3AthJG9ALGrODq0/s400/pp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Yes, go ahead and laugh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This year we swore that we'd scale back on our commitments. However, <i>someone</i> signed up to be treasurer, prop-maker, King Arthur, and a cha-cha dancer. I joined him in the cha-cha dance and somehow ended up choreographing, directing, and performing in a Scottish dance, too, while simultaneously teaching a double-load of classes plus lesson planning 15 hours a week due to a teacher's visa problems.<br />
<br />
Needless to say our attempts of not overcommitting were futile between nightly two (!) hour cha-cha practices, afternoon Scottish dance practices, and weekend decorating and much more. The good news is if Ben and I need to direct a really low-budget off-Broadway play called <i>Mario and Princess Peach's Cha-Cha Adventures in the Ancient British Isles</i>, we would totally be <strike>un</strike> qualified!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWofLA3Yu27NJWmv8ZPofuFhwFsPODQYPmvi7uDCBkMojgayZnhcgW8U70p5q8SxQqaUqY5l3VxBqHvRC2lQXOMw8_cVSr1ig5p4zRDKclbLEvJBWBHEZjcMmPBgjvuth1dmjjBi-nSyY/s1600/_mnt_sdcard_tencent_MicroMsg_a2ea6da1b3e98fdcbc676afecfa86c81_image2_51_bb_51bbbdd7c1248c7cedf3758eef1b6858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWofLA3Yu27NJWmv8ZPofuFhwFsPODQYPmvi7uDCBkMojgayZnhcgW8U70p5q8SxQqaUqY5l3VxBqHvRC2lQXOMw8_cVSr1ig5p4zRDKclbLEvJBWBHEZjcMmPBgjvuth1dmjjBi-nSyY/s320/_mnt_sdcard_tencent_MicroMsg_a2ea6da1b3e98fdcbc676afecfa86c81_image2_51_bb_51bbbdd7c1248c7cedf3758eef1b6858.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They hid us (me) in the back left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
Ben and I technically joined the Europe team, but we helped out the South American Day with our friend's cha-cha dance that solidified my suspicion that I inherited the dancing ability of my incredibly wonderful, yet so terribly gangly father.<br />
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<br />
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Parts of the ordeal were enjoyable, and the hundreds of pictures and videos the students took of us provided us with plenty of cringe-inducing memories, complete with bizarre graphics.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21nJdcwaKjAGO6WmBO6Jmanrveb6Hk6qg8orqCqgYwWEBCX8RJvkiTMR_2hjOjbBrLudr1BBiJPQuBWsHNtovOLv_EAy00S9lPFaOTIFaS4VP4iQgSLnEimFegpVOqoLbzNcHTD711hc/s1600/_mnt_sdcard_tencent_MicroMsg_a2ea6da1b3e98fdcbc676afecfa86c81_image2_06_bd_06bdd47f80d3805a4e02ab58ffaa0f3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21nJdcwaKjAGO6WmBO6Jmanrveb6Hk6qg8orqCqgYwWEBCX8RJvkiTMR_2hjOjbBrLudr1BBiJPQuBWsHNtovOLv_EAy00S9lPFaOTIFaS4VP4iQgSLnEimFegpVOqoLbzNcHTD711hc/s200/_mnt_sdcard_tencent_MicroMsg_a2ea6da1b3e98fdcbc676afecfa86c81_image2_06_bd_06bdd47f80d3805a4e02ab58ffaa0f3d.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pix showed up<br />
in a marketing presentation! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjDnd2Rhyphenhyphengv831iMViJe3owaOGK7GI4dsbt46hyphenhyphenFjcnvIFkEXf4J1tKPKiunfcnOpO93-1yISxHs2dNRqB4T3Gy1WK1cWs4WW6PQPMB9TXyjHmS7HzfUibFiWj5qPFHfTlu1HthRBPa4/s1600/_mnt_sdcard_tencent_MicroMsg_a2ea6da1b3e98fdcbc676afecfa86c81_image2_32_07_3207304bba676395ef4960c2fd900fa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjDnd2Rhyphenhyphengv831iMViJe3owaOGK7GI4dsbt46hyphenhyphenFjcnvIFkEXf4J1tKPKiunfcnOpO93-1yISxHs2dNRqB4T3Gy1WK1cWs4WW6PQPMB9TXyjHmS7HzfUibFiWj5qPFHfTlu1HthRBPa4/s200/_mnt_sdcard_tencent_MicroMsg_a2ea6da1b3e98fdcbc676afecfa86c81_image2_32_07_3207304bba676395ef4960c2fd900fa3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aren't our wings lovely?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z9CWZ8XrFv6IHYb6TunZ20nOU5qMOdYyDgjgS00oa8XJpm-E5e8iJJfz-C85hzyoa2O7YiqWWOU3Fr_VMqxpiwJTy-Ws2z4MHzUp_ZAhUTX5u85X5lUcQ1PIrFu1E2hgCvc0yvqYVM4/s1600/_mnt_sdcard_tencent_MicroMsg_a2ea6da1b3e98fdcbc676afecfa86c81_image2_32_9d_329dd20d351cbb981c5d569fd0f26e7f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z9CWZ8XrFv6IHYb6TunZ20nOU5qMOdYyDgjgS00oa8XJpm-E5e8iJJfz-C85hzyoa2O7YiqWWOU3Fr_VMqxpiwJTy-Ws2z4MHzUp_ZAhUTX5u85X5lUcQ1PIrFu1E2hgCvc0yvqYVM4/s200/_mnt_sdcard_tencent_MicroMsg_a2ea6da1b3e98fdcbc676afecfa86c81_image2_32_9d_329dd20d351cbb981c5d569fd0f26e7f.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love is in the air?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I was in high school, we had mandatory Scottish dancing for our PE class which was pretty much the bane of my overly dramatic existence (dancing + boys = emo Rachel hell). However, those hours of learning Strip the Willow and The Gay Gordans (hehe, still funny) came to my rescue all those years later when I was so willingly volunteered to choreograph a European dance.<br />
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After calling in a few favors, coercing, and begging friends and my sweet students, we had enough for a rousing Scottish hoe down. We even got "King Arthur" to wear a kilt and join us! You can a video watch our dance on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202079517176919" target="_blank">Scottish Dance</a>.<br />
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Despite the long, long hours, the constant rain, and making a fool of myself, I do admit it was highly enjoyable at times.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSu3hYGE6WK-7y3GIST9tCMZZ3-msupKfr5eq1vicfJfwhpQNGY1Pl7WMDYO-0-I8OFpWULlhDLldZzPu_99YyjAwC6Juk2yBgfEPvRhwpY5FkoUx9McuOaNQD-bCD4Tl3NZtpsOOPLg/s1600/IMG_4753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSu3hYGE6WK-7y3GIST9tCMZZ3-msupKfr5eq1vicfJfwhpQNGY1Pl7WMDYO-0-I8OFpWULlhDLldZzPu_99YyjAwC6Juk2yBgfEPvRhwpY5FkoUx9McuOaNQD-bCD4Tl3NZtpsOOPLg/s400/IMG_4753.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Ben and his paparazzi </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP-DIUp8dm9r_LAHQM29KN_YJOn897hh9VLpaNU6waYlASAqXVp2D99alXm4PhspizjjDC9CKh9nGbarD6rRiW_c0AiGKVBlaBEgUh1m85oUoQcRy1COU2RYLKWs385-qmUwNVIxjka4/s1600/IMG_4756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP-DIUp8dm9r_LAHQM29KN_YJOn897hh9VLpaNU6waYlASAqXVp2D99alXm4PhspizjjDC9CKh9nGbarD6rRiW_c0AiGKVBlaBEgUh1m85oUoQcRy1COU2RYLKWs385-qmUwNVIxjka4/s400/IMG_4756.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He enjoyed his role...too much</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBpVHXbZoztDQFU3jCyqKRQkuM03PJlXLJJoWUbvK50AKca54qbR6OKAyYlg1BYPDsDsYNnbi6nvxApIDb8s3oh93CGGxQShN9WXerbTYjUzmtmk8vhiNIxl8rUE1B-agegX5LDlvfVA/s1600/IMG_4771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBpVHXbZoztDQFU3jCyqKRQkuM03PJlXLJJoWUbvK50AKca54qbR6OKAyYlg1BYPDsDsYNnbi6nvxApIDb8s3oh93CGGxQShN9WXerbTYjUzmtmk8vhiNIxl8rUE1B-agegX5LDlvfVA/s400/IMG_4771.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet, dear students</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dsxeUJOhkXxzGASOX8kD_zZp0-1FGAE7nuIWcvgsnWx1j7YdNwO_qOabHgRrX3b2MrxbaWJXW8KBKhxROEA49rG_N2GyfnaD912VEluEjICyUYuUoke8mB4K-y-X6oIucv71jVEevoE/s1600/IMG_4772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dsxeUJOhkXxzGASOX8kD_zZp0-1FGAE7nuIWcvgsnWx1j7YdNwO_qOabHgRrX3b2MrxbaWJXW8KBKhxROEA49rG_N2GyfnaD912VEluEjICyUYuUoke8mB4K-y-X6oIucv71jVEevoE/s400/IMG_4772.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dang, I need some cool frames, too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemJFGRdEKG2bfv6dY8PiwYjrjh_KLAY4iaqwrMVQaaPySJW2eFh0qRqULpQFKbKyfJ8wCsU0z7TPm1tX7E1tfZuO3gdjLOJBzaLxp57e8A1z7WViRjiCqwDlejicZ1EB-Sx8WfmWiCCA/s1600/IMG_4774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemJFGRdEKG2bfv6dY8PiwYjrjh_KLAY4iaqwrMVQaaPySJW2eFh0qRqULpQFKbKyfJ8wCsU0z7TPm1tX7E1tfZuO3gdjLOJBzaLxp57e8A1z7WViRjiCqwDlejicZ1EB-Sx8WfmWiCCA/s400/IMG_4774.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King and I</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkz_59B4b_-a4UpfqJL7X4fy7QXtvCLYGwP5rPQ20VXH3lcoFEpsEu7RU7ZZzekGBv7fiQBvb79Nae2MjhWnexfSK9PSE-3VYsehHSMsykzSgHGxlaHXNNtysv-lkOQDe4NS1Mb2o74I/s1600/IMG_4776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkz_59B4b_-a4UpfqJL7X4fy7QXtvCLYGwP5rPQ20VXH3lcoFEpsEu7RU7ZZzekGBv7fiQBvb79Nae2MjhWnexfSK9PSE-3VYsehHSMsykzSgHGxlaHXNNtysv-lkOQDe4NS1Mb2o74I/s400/IMG_4776.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Chinese were harmed in the making of this photo</td></tr>
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Thanks for reading and experiencing a special aspect of life here at Sias. It truly is something (what that something is-- I am still figuring out). Much more to come!<br />
<br />Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-80116828482918326542013-12-26T17:44:00.000-08:002013-12-26T17:44:36.320-08:00A Merry Little Chinamas! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Christmas without family is never easy, but thankfully December gets so packed with activities that it is hard to find the time to succumb to homesickness. Well, there's always January for that!</div>
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This Christmas season has been full of fun parties and great friends. We are very blessed with a wonderful community here at Sias.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3sZUroM8mdQ3jgR1105jQvPxGmRbCnzKyq4y1QYt1gS9qWCqR_Cj8jo9tuawU_Tx2i1vjfFLAG9yRJkXmU4c07irrR8X2KszF5YDcflkQhIlL55oR20L4vEwTTufu8caq9zerEWUxJQ/s1600/IMG_4870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3sZUroM8mdQ3jgR1105jQvPxGmRbCnzKyq4y1QYt1gS9qWCqR_Cj8jo9tuawU_Tx2i1vjfFLAG9yRJkXmU4c07irrR8X2KszF5YDcflkQhIlL55oR20L4vEwTTufu8caq9zerEWUxJQ/s200/IMG_4870.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8zee6mhAWJKIxL1S4F6feHMAVckeXgu4Nfrm7hXQt-SqxAY3672TOCUc8FXnjwh9b0VEF8Q68JqPSvhpRJZT1pJMyvBom7HNKcW2yYR0ttUdDiS7k0B2a3AjnStEUn9SOlAxgf_Qzfg/s1600/IMG_4869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8zee6mhAWJKIxL1S4F6feHMAVckeXgu4Nfrm7hXQt-SqxAY3672TOCUc8FXnjwh9b0VEF8Q68JqPSvhpRJZT1pJMyvBom7HNKcW2yYR0ttUdDiS7k0B2a3AjnStEUn9SOlAxgf_Qzfg/s200/IMG_4869.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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We love decorating our front door and window.</div>
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Ben made the "Merry Christmas" window lettering and the awesome reindeer and trees.</div>
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We even got some gifts from a mysterious "Arctic Santa" in our stockings.</div>
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This year we bought a small Christmas tree and put up some lights and tinsel. Streaming Christmas music on Songza and baking cookies and breads non-stop really helped bring the holiday cheer to us and our guests.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS8Taklv-PhQHTetsgMOpo1cd8VBG2lC_VfwRLSoHFtEWZwJ0RFUEC4QRxhqltoDceJ1YPNFrnGb8uRwcgEEFtU5PhnMNWINHxh-nDjfKaBLYrMywzEKrW6rKik-Sm77D_YhpzDh-Yb4/s1600/IMG_4964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS8Taklv-PhQHTetsgMOpo1cd8VBG2lC_VfwRLSoHFtEWZwJ0RFUEC4QRxhqltoDceJ1YPNFrnGb8uRwcgEEFtU5PhnMNWINHxh-nDjfKaBLYrMywzEKrW6rKik-Sm77D_YhpzDh-Yb4/s320/IMG_4964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Each year, the university throws a Holiday party for the foreign faculty. This year it was held in our President's Mansion/Villa on campus. It was an amazing three-story house complete with a karaoke stage, full bar, movie theatre, and Oval Office (just kidding about the last one...I think).<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m0Li5iCK2EaVowaI-Ti4QwexyIQBrZzwFKFs9Ptc4WRnSn7WDhXSnDWhnrN92Yg_GlGfwWvJC3I9aUhY421HWXgeTRf4rWZBIXaUr-Wl4llVzNdrIg_yCb1WB1sx9-rjhF6dbnRD-0g/s1600/IMG_4856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m0Li5iCK2EaVowaI-Ti4QwexyIQBrZzwFKFs9Ptc4WRnSn7WDhXSnDWhnrN92Yg_GlGfwWvJC3I9aUhY421HWXgeTRf4rWZBIXaUr-Wl4llVzNdrIg_yCb1WB1sx9-rjhF6dbnRD-0g/s320/IMG_4856.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Every ritzy place in China must come with chandeliers</td></tr>
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It was fun getting dressed up and experiencing the more glamorous side of things for a bit. Ben and I with some others even preformed some China-fied version of classic Christmas songs: Laowei (Foreigner) Got Ran Over By a Tuk-Tuk, Baby It's Cold Inside, and Waka (a local supermarket) In a Chinese Wonderland.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDJwodVZjGiO80KBXM12C9SwA_MezWANdmI-wKGC166c0uWkJiovcLnYhwmuojxKEDMEBtS2V5fQXd2n9Xpcf7ebTG5ykiYPtSF-uJYMOURKeYMhyptytp9nomqVz1WDBAVWmVI0MLJA/s1600/IMG_4857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDJwodVZjGiO80KBXM12C9SwA_MezWANdmI-wKGC166c0uWkJiovcLnYhwmuojxKEDMEBtS2V5fQXd2n9Xpcf7ebTG5ykiYPtSF-uJYMOURKeYMhyptytp9nomqVz1WDBAVWmVI0MLJA/s320/IMG_4857.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two photo bombs, but I think only one was intentional</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDa2nDj84QLBTPhy39vG7r7KhXCOeMiHcsCgR3ZMed4EQN9E6E-5t2Uv53TnmyRgxd3U7PsEqPTc28nwSNoGEhcrNvzF9z8XVmJjjaB4h3hADC9kUfk_vJh8ymkCRLfpR7tYxkPB7-4k/s1600/IMG_4859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDa2nDj84QLBTPhy39vG7r7KhXCOeMiHcsCgR3ZMed4EQN9E6E-5t2Uv53TnmyRgxd3U7PsEqPTc28nwSNoGEhcrNvzF9z8XVmJjjaB4h3hADC9kUfk_vJh8ymkCRLfpR7tYxkPB7-4k/s320/IMG_4859.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">妹妹!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DXrr0u5EuZNwDUwjKJn3lwBKm1CPjfcFH8nVb4TEomkDjW17vadF4oqOhjf6UhetJvFhMkQXZaeIHyzqF-JsWvVA1xxbatuHHnBa-XudVprXPK_l6jeXp6KyYUTJeNPh2IyjGChsCAw/s1600/IMG_4863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DXrr0u5EuZNwDUwjKJn3lwBKm1CPjfcFH8nVb4TEomkDjW17vadF4oqOhjf6UhetJvFhMkQXZaeIHyzqF-JsWvVA1xxbatuHHnBa-XudVprXPK_l6jeXp6KyYUTJeNPh2IyjGChsCAw/s320/IMG_4863.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's one good-looking man, if I do say so myself! </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIy5SYC1t39IM_cggpkDJOwplub7Pd9LljKEmlgSeOlty05PoooVjc85AdDj44T5xQt5iyRxrtcQqa94w-rHty19dm3WwjSwYUHtxJE1l7zXtipDppCXEFh8D-HJdWYEfD2oeXhRmcZ8/s1600/IMG_4894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIy5SYC1t39IM_cggpkDJOwplub7Pd9LljKEmlgSeOlty05PoooVjc85AdDj44T5xQt5iyRxrtcQqa94w-rHty19dm3WwjSwYUHtxJE1l7zXtipDppCXEFh8D-HJdWYEfD2oeXhRmcZ8/s320/IMG_4894.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolmlT4U48pzIxd8ZIpyVODkQHTV6I5BMNgBsoikeFK33V4gS89NsEAfsq0U7C23btnZ6cJSMsDL4kaiobEqKKDKtUXnRaS9VOn3W_VdLxSVi4hzlvjeUHTuCWKsXRKZkUNv-z6zitM7A/s1600/IMG_4897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolmlT4U48pzIxd8ZIpyVODkQHTV6I5BMNgBsoikeFK33V4gS89NsEAfsq0U7C23btnZ6cJSMsDL4kaiobEqKKDKtUXnRaS9VOn3W_VdLxSVi4hzlvjeUHTuCWKsXRKZkUNv-z6zitM7A/s320/IMG_4897.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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The parties did not stop there! To mark the end of a crazy semester, I threw a small soup/Christmas-themed party for my 100 sophomore students. It was crazy but really fun! </div>
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I made a Western-style Creamy Potato and Bacon Soup, and some of my students made a delicious Corn, Oat, and Egg Chinese soup. Both were huge hits.</div>
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After that I taught them the true meaning of Christmas by showing them Home Alone. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5SoaVdkKZZJ3V1-PeB-x2VEXdnHcz4SvaPfr61iTeW8KSa66bfgVlwkmBPaMy7zQhXB9CMON8s1bE1vF6a_W8vb30MdX7pBHM7hCIimWRliJDPSiYxC4ApxEyKSajhanTaWPp2zvkpE/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5SoaVdkKZZJ3V1-PeB-x2VEXdnHcz4SvaPfr61iTeW8KSa66bfgVlwkmBPaMy7zQhXB9CMON8s1bE1vF6a_W8vb30MdX7pBHM7hCIimWRliJDPSiYxC4ApxEyKSajhanTaWPp2zvkpE/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Last Saturday, we invited some of our closest Chinese friends for a ornament decorating and cookie eating party. We had a lot of fun admiring and making fun of each other's paintings.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjftyZnsQ62Xsth63TiV35-CNNcwCeYA-MXtpjO1d1Qp4WBXOgbBmPhopts_zR8mV7uIfu-qhOhj2wwhAg-MyxNI1OcG56HC-t2QS2jLeSrH1lY6qYpA2M_l0XSeh8YwDVImowJcJsIw/s1600/IMG_4905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjftyZnsQ62Xsth63TiV35-CNNcwCeYA-MXtpjO1d1Qp4WBXOgbBmPhopts_zR8mV7uIfu-qhOhj2wwhAg-MyxNI1OcG56HC-t2QS2jLeSrH1lY6qYpA2M_l0XSeh8YwDVImowJcJsIw/s320/IMG_4905.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everybody loves our <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2009/02/thick-chewy-oatmeal-raisin-cookies/" target="_blank">Oatmeal Cookie Recipe</a>!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_t4HXzLEt_U_iENc11sE4OG6EiSycSDWJS7kNZxnZS2clq0nizQ4K_Ui2rTdnuqJwIjiJ8o188MpQBiNEqnMHbW8wVol-blvOqp2-MwizOx7VN5nXhQGEv6CcD12xerhTbyiqseW89I/s1600/IMG_4909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_t4HXzLEt_U_iENc11sE4OG6EiSycSDWJS7kNZxnZS2clq0nizQ4K_Ui2rTdnuqJwIjiJ8o188MpQBiNEqnMHbW8wVol-blvOqp2-MwizOx7VN5nXhQGEv6CcD12xerhTbyiqseW89I/s320/IMG_4909.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concentrated decorating</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_KbQ9zcYoohyphenhyphenVtTmTcjZ_fed913uhePr4GmRZe6wt-_Jih97aQH4OY2AkPJKmRZBRdLQtbVPxCrC-h-ubVV_kTVDVREpcyEcEuuFLy8q53KxR1Yt8s_4BJ6PvBGo_nK_dxWfOAmpjmk/s1600/IMG_4914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_KbQ9zcYoohyphenhyphenVtTmTcjZ_fed913uhePr4GmRZe6wt-_Jih97aQH4OY2AkPJKmRZBRdLQtbVPxCrC-h-ubVV_kTVDVREpcyEcEuuFLy8q53KxR1Yt8s_4BJ6PvBGo_nK_dxWfOAmpjmk/s320/IMG_4914.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the final products</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntNfvv-0x8cNJ2rvwzsPojTpBBQ76rwtGmUBTiNwAe3Jbn8ZCquQSmyXU0TCVdD4cOMkWv650_oeYaEa8MUw5L9nXiAT0NZOZmZxanFq9S4ayxo4T6DP7raMqY21Dea1Vde0AttDIj4o/s1600/IMG_4917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntNfvv-0x8cNJ2rvwzsPojTpBBQ76rwtGmUBTiNwAe3Jbn8ZCquQSmyXU0TCVdD4cOMkWv650_oeYaEa8MUw5L9nXiAT0NZOZmZxanFq9S4ayxo4T6DP7raMqY21Dea1Vde0AttDIj4o/s320/IMG_4917.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aren't they so cute?</td></tr>
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We also had some lovely Christmas services at the local church and our foreigner meetings. This was definitely one the highlights of the season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKwS5scu5hknjoFYsRTV4zMAjRCqr44Iz9VQpm_pOsN2A-LSaUZFBzm_rR_iCPMhA-8S28753477Rg31GL4oE9Wcg5YJmCA98AG13PyE7y_wSgyONpegHhRSCC80wW8hwpvWpkdtQf3o/s1600/IMG_4864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKwS5scu5hknjoFYsRTV4zMAjRCqr44Iz9VQpm_pOsN2A-LSaUZFBzm_rR_iCPMhA-8S28753477Rg31GL4oE9Wcg5YJmCA98AG13PyE7y_wSgyONpegHhRSCC80wW8hwpvWpkdtQf3o/s320/IMG_4864.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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We usually always go out for lunch with our friends after service, and it being freezing cold and Winter Solstice (冬至), we decided to go to hot pot. On Winter Solstice, everyone must eat dumplings in order to prevent their ears from falling off. It's on Wikipedia so it must be true: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%86%AC%E8%87%B3" target="_blank">Dongzhi Festival</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46lh_hHRLzoCs_jrT1BfZucpHwkKLkcF9j91pHVKYdh3mnrk50eLXWE0Iky_8SkigyC1vWFLXStisTqHr2VE53A-I2JMq5qajZ4XagyaOYCWa_EYq2WNkaG4Wn_XT96LLISH70v7tBC4/s1600/IMG_4924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46lh_hHRLzoCs_jrT1BfZucpHwkKLkcF9j91pHVKYdh3mnrk50eLXWE0Iky_8SkigyC1vWFLXStisTqHr2VE53A-I2JMq5qajZ4XagyaOYCWa_EYq2WNkaG4Wn_XT96LLISH70v7tBC4/s320/IMG_4924.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An International Hot Pot Party</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKjVb-6-RlZD_p11cUv1HmRaV-fxc0Q3Pbh8fhQatjX8KNh6Uvqw_WYqgaJFVHMGdMXaVdZVYNESMtO7oNlRoyJVH1h4i5PSdiiNZg05XPO6CBxFiBmJt4Prj2Ezhl7qPShW7cJvKrvE/s1600/IMG_4925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKjVb-6-RlZD_p11cUv1HmRaV-fxc0Q3Pbh8fhQatjX8KNh6Uvqw_WYqgaJFVHMGdMXaVdZVYNESMtO7oNlRoyJVH1h4i5PSdiiNZg05XPO6CBxFiBmJt4Prj2Ezhl7qPShW7cJvKrvE/s320/IMG_4925.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and his ear dumplings </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfa2vHz-_m6jHwCGUNAgjge2vwjRhFJ5A5y9ObV3CVV3Gvv-E7JnixEvYbdVKL8_FxHCG1Qja7PRjlSLcPOHv3OupyvosLhKI5CckN78btsiPTf-_DkM3bEkHTPPsl-C7qKJHcQjlm94/s1600/IMG_4928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfa2vHz-_m6jHwCGUNAgjge2vwjRhFJ5A5y9ObV3CVV3Gvv-E7JnixEvYbdVKL8_FxHCG1Qja7PRjlSLcPOHv3OupyvosLhKI5CckN78btsiPTf-_DkM3bEkHTPPsl-C7qKJHcQjlm94/s320/IMG_4928.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and his special face</td></tr>
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Finally, it was Christmas and time for the real parties! Christmas morning was spent with Ben eating delicious Life cereal (only in China do you get excited to eat cold cereal for Christmas) and opening up way too many Christmas presents. I am one spoiled wife. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_frLTrg_RbeA8appsaHDRx_RnF89kBIhIkcSnUI9AwkvmhJzHk20nnNx3oLv5sIqobmIL9IRuPF4QICl71BeCsm5iekAybQCp2pheM1fojcYfWBSAx8JulaTgmTl5csROCumbJBkLGpw/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_frLTrg_RbeA8appsaHDRx_RnF89kBIhIkcSnUI9AwkvmhJzHk20nnNx3oLv5sIqobmIL9IRuPF4QICl71BeCsm5iekAybQCp2pheM1fojcYfWBSAx8JulaTgmTl5csROCumbJBkLGpw/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Some delicious Christmas Eve American goodness</td></tr>
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Brunch with monkey bread, egg scramble, banana bread, and so much more was spent with some of our close teacher friends here. We did a fun gift exchange and scored some sweet gifts.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN-SGIgBdoNW6EtDaBaECmklSxOyBUbhRxQGUY1Te3dzqnj8VijmiicXHqIqsXy-vgjesbahl_YQMI12cKAbnenCaCSQ3H09mMk6VMxAjhN5SILt05NRZg_AaykJZfAE2uSVY2D_1JKo/s1600/photo+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN-SGIgBdoNW6EtDaBaECmklSxOyBUbhRxQGUY1Te3dzqnj8VijmiicXHqIqsXy-vgjesbahl_YQMI12cKAbnenCaCSQ3H09mMk6VMxAjhN5SILt05NRZg_AaykJZfAE2uSVY2D_1JKo/s320/photo+2.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love Skyping with the family! </td></tr>
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Now it is beginning to feel like we're bragging, but we had another party to attend in the afternoon. This time we did a Christmas toy exchange with our fellow teachers. We all opened up presents in the forms of bb guns, jump ropes, toy cars, and legos. This was my favorite part about Christmas last year, and it did not disappoint.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building their Lego airplanes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMtR_Oo2-CEm4uShJ-xnOtzWSr0H8bZdShpgSuCkjlBCMeqlapOu0owE485qjkA5pd0pC24Q0WAt0a9B71diBT4GiGphX5tJrFdwA4lhFdlO9UCQEF-0Z5oAXpEMcl2DR2ZjwGUYdxy0/s1600/IMG_4935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMtR_Oo2-CEm4uShJ-xnOtzWSr0H8bZdShpgSuCkjlBCMeqlapOu0owE485qjkA5pd0pC24Q0WAt0a9B71diBT4GiGphX5tJrFdwA4lhFdlO9UCQEF-0Z5oAXpEMcl2DR2ZjwGUYdxy0/s320/IMG_4935.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never too old for Christmas toys</td></tr>
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Christmas Dinner consisted of a feast of ham, salmon, turkey, pies, and more. We stuffed ourselves silly and then went back for seconds (and thirds for Ben). Then we somehow made it upstairs and enjoyed a restful evening and contented sleep.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfcvc4dKXQZFJ_0sNMsh09YD7j7RcnUT1IFsL9BGObCgNOAwK1fgtkdZvsWH8-qEUbwmLA-eVvynUkYfxbSaqg4wLbi-HhJBuKKTbryBOLr9Rc4ScTLMFhWJj3tfIdX1W49D7h3Qrp8Q/s1600/IMG_4949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfcvc4dKXQZFJ_0sNMsh09YD7j7RcnUT1IFsL9BGObCgNOAwK1fgtkdZvsWH8-qEUbwmLA-eVvynUkYfxbSaqg4wLbi-HhJBuKKTbryBOLr9Rc4ScTLMFhWJj3tfIdX1W49D7h3Qrp8Q/s320/IMG_4949.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massive and delicious hams</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1_BiDlHMv1uCNx1G5mPGQo51Sq_RuToVM9Mv6KAhDFaf-CpNoz1msfY1_XD_8_alcNm_89Vz6ckBewXj1oATdi29fl5813ujVmzx1HO1ZLEWpgPIQ0JIftx-WdrD_4YMovjhCwbdOVw/s1600/IMG_4954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1_BiDlHMv1uCNx1G5mPGQo51Sq_RuToVM9Mv6KAhDFaf-CpNoz1msfY1_XD_8_alcNm_89Vz6ckBewXj1oATdi29fl5813ujVmzx1HO1ZLEWpgPIQ0JIftx-WdrD_4YMovjhCwbdOVw/s320/IMG_4954.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben stealing the presents</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2GC2H7rZZyw1MxDSSMMT-xCjjS7LR-vXAUm-rODivIga6g6pvXanCUrZ8NutVyfLiZ0cdqAMCNGCk8vsMIBE90Dgh8aBMBc8EkA-gkn4k1M6yE8dhBzxgn9hGzVYYwM4_Or1ubbNusw/s1600/IMG_4962.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2GC2H7rZZyw1MxDSSMMT-xCjjS7LR-vXAUm-rODivIga6g6pvXanCUrZ8NutVyfLiZ0cdqAMCNGCk8vsMIBE90Dgh8aBMBc8EkA-gkn4k1M6yE8dhBzxgn9hGzVYYwM4_Or1ubbNusw/s1600/IMG_4962.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas to all! </td></tr>
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Ben and I hope that your Christmas was also filled with much love, happiness, and joy!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-78310188570616827612013-12-24T17:04:00.000-08:002013-12-24T17:04:03.817-08:00We Are Alive! After a whirlwind summer of great family trips, [over] eating, crazy traveling, and even a wedding, Ben and I arrived back in China at the end of August.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaiRlLZmN1-NSTf1eUZbGfGlwL-p80PBfFMZiTM3ewBhGHupjShPccxcg5fapZAWwpG7zb2TCDeVrjz2llXBcRK5hCCSw-8wle7SMqc08aD3YTZ2pufkBq-CgEuUHQMTEd_vc0LsuKsU/s1600/collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaiRlLZmN1-NSTf1eUZbGfGlwL-p80PBfFMZiTM3ewBhGHupjShPccxcg5fapZAWwpG7zb2TCDeVrjz2llXBcRK5hCCSw-8wle7SMqc08aD3YTZ2pufkBq-CgEuUHQMTEd_vc0LsuKsU/s320/collage.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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We were looking forward to getting back to a nice routine and a slower pace. That did not happen. Instead, we were greeted with many surprises. Ben's leadership role in our community took a huge jump in responsibilities and time commitments.<br />
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My surprise came in the form of finding that my new teaching job's courses were not developed, and the teacher who would be teaching the other courses of the Global Business English department wasn't in China yet!<br />
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Hence, September and much of October just flew by without hardly any rest.<br />
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We will try to catch you up on our semester here now that classes are over (for me), and I'm actually experiencing some free time now.<br />
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Stay...with us.<br />
<br />Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-58929660516568738552013-05-31T21:11:00.000-07:002013-06-04T17:42:34.785-07:00Weekending in Beijing: Part Two<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYAIGu993ap33UDwtMHOJb9_FSdFelodueiqVno75NuRZ6-aziMBrORB9uvo_91Icu_ZJTD1gSDIEaHsfbYNnoMamFpd0QVnTz1ThkSjBNGKoj6kkgWOPqUpR6wb1PwRBNiNE-N3PMZY/s1600/mc+coffee.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYAIGu993ap33UDwtMHOJb9_FSdFelodueiqVno75NuRZ6-aziMBrORB9uvo_91Icu_ZJTD1gSDIEaHsfbYNnoMamFpd0QVnTz1ThkSjBNGKoj6kkgWOPqUpR6wb1PwRBNiNE-N3PMZY/s320/mc+coffee.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I actually love McCafe coffee (classy, I know)</td></tr>
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This is the second part to our weekend in Beijing. If you haven't already, check out our first day here: <a href="http://benchelvidmaryan.blogspot.com/2013/05/weekending-in-beijing-part-one.html" target="_blank">Weekending in Beijing: Part One</a>. <br />
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The next day, we woke up nice and early to conquer the Great Wall. After another delicious breakfast at McDonald's (ugh), we took the subway to a bus station where we thought we could find a city bus to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. <br />
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After much asking and even more refusals of private bus tours, we finally found the tiny outpost where the bus was located. Our timing was impeccable; almost as soon as we ensured we were in the right place, our bus arrived.<br />
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We decided to go to the <a href="http://www.mutianyugreatwall.net/" target="_blank">Mutainyu</a> part because we heard that it wasn't as touristy and crowded as the Badaling or Juyongguan sections. If you have ever experienced the crushing mass of a Chinese crowd, you would understand why we decided on this. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkj_NUxUGFmG4tanygY3ifmuvViCCGMaTUKX-JONx62daszY031bzfCbc0PPkN-ME71TjhCL4vwKoAEVnPylpal4uvpS6wYBLoE1EkS3AVNZyA8FZ1ArrGkQgi3eldTm8HbjXpebtAms/s1600/love+these+trees.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkj_NUxUGFmG4tanygY3ifmuvViCCGMaTUKX-JONx62daszY031bzfCbc0PPkN-ME71TjhCL4vwKoAEVnPylpal4uvpS6wYBLoE1EkS3AVNZyA8FZ1ArrGkQgi3eldTm8HbjXpebtAms/s320/love+these+trees.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Furthermore, Mutainyu is surrounded by a protected parkland among the most beautiful orchards and pines we have seen in China. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to get
there (with poor Ben standing for most of the time), but the trip was
more than worth it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB301mne4O9fI3nAYaJivm7udhaJvUKUeKn0dULunAiTOePjKM1XAceTMUPNkSz0LZ4XmFVyrH0UEK1ttWCqdpXQIsTA5B-znUUU03JTzFiL3dWhmHO9111klYcRqemH-r43qxB6mXu30/s1600/off+roading.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB301mne4O9fI3nAYaJivm7udhaJvUKUeKn0dULunAiTOePjKM1XAceTMUPNkSz0LZ4XmFVyrH0UEK1ttWCqdpXQIsTA5B-znUUU03JTzFiL3dWhmHO9111klYcRqemH-r43qxB6mXu30/s320/off+roading.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle decided to go off-roading. Can you spot her?</td></tr>
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We had the option to take the cable car up or walk. Being cheap and semi-fit, we opted for the very pleasant hike up about a thousand or so stairs. Just a word of warning: China loves its stairs! Every mountain, hill, and building will have 2 to 20,000 of these seemingly innocuous things for your legs to enjoy (see blog post: <a href="http://benchelvidmaryan.blogspot.com/2012/09/department-of-transportation.html" target="_blank">Department of Transportation</a>).<br />
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After we finally got to the top, we were treated to some amazingly great views. Pictures don't even come close to capturing the grandiose beauty we experienced there. The weather was perfect-- sunny and warm with a nice breeze. The wall wasn't crowded at all-- especially we considering we came on a Saturday on the most beautiful day in May. <br />
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We spent the rest of the afternoon taking pictures, traveling up and down the steep...you guessed it...stairs along the wall, and just trying to take it all in. My whole life I've dreamed about visiting the Great Wall, and for once, something not only lived up to my expectations but managed to surpass them! To be there in the beautiful nature with all the amazing history with Ben...simply spectacular. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_zSJcGcD8j6ggWLx53CCq2CnFx5BbG2efOOIbnbMj5e2jQuIdajzI8O_iUfAUXpR1OCDQIpHl6-EPoJmy3H26aeZlruUYFxdHAvPTSTyLStkYUxu5yP6wCdowrZ_5kmpdeIO1EKwarg/s1600/closer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_zSJcGcD8j6ggWLx53CCq2CnFx5BbG2efOOIbnbMj5e2jQuIdajzI8O_iUfAUXpR1OCDQIpHl6-EPoJmy3H26aeZlruUYFxdHAvPTSTyLStkYUxu5yP6wCdowrZ_5kmpdeIO1EKwarg/s320/closer.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So happy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_igAcv42JOUGidjz1DTA46d6znvfhKKVbPK4hE-V5x2AsAQdztdLj8CeuFZgzJwEx36zIKLV41gVIHv7Z9tcV_pg-XlEaBJFH2VfEuUBtOqM88qd5ildhOpVAPbV4W-euD-fRCoyczqc/s1600/crazy+slant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_igAcv42JOUGidjz1DTA46d6znvfhKKVbPK4hE-V5x2AsAQdztdLj8CeuFZgzJwEx36zIKLV41gVIHv7Z9tcV_pg-XlEaBJFH2VfEuUBtOqM88qd5ildhOpVAPbV4W-euD-fRCoyczqc/s320/crazy+slant.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super slanted stairs!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzV73i0RCFbqEHmkQ9ZKOFfng0NxMwVqundu32iI-QkS2jgZ_KTDDIKQRJos9TRqaRlEG5oLAf61_STjI0lrfPZ0Sj8-8LAH3sVcZCw2klopV3WXn3QvO8EE1SaYOw4Awi1GwT4BgNEqg/s1600/peek+a+boo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzV73i0RCFbqEHmkQ9ZKOFfng0NxMwVqundu32iI-QkS2jgZ_KTDDIKQRJos9TRqaRlEG5oLAf61_STjI0lrfPZ0Sj8-8LAH3sVcZCw2klopV3WXn3QvO8EE1SaYOw4Awi1GwT4BgNEqg/s320/peek+a+boo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peek-a-boo</td></tr>
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This part of the wall was constructed about 300 years ago in the Ming Dynasty. As you may remember from the historical film, <i>Mulan</i>, the wall was built as a defense from the marauding (no relation to us) northern nomads. It was been continually reconstructed since the 1500s till the 1980s.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-u6R763YaRaFLjwEzeZ0Fw-SXy14gd7je80i-AZDWOps-RjRI0rnCMVCgU3oYdIi9KLIlS7wkgao2hg8kfU17Q0bevsKP8VcDl65Xkr3okHjGUGfEEEMUJRvap-C99lajTeTYZ74O70/s1600/unfinished.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-u6R763YaRaFLjwEzeZ0Fw-SXy14gd7je80i-AZDWOps-RjRI0rnCMVCgU3oYdIi9KLIlS7wkgao2hg8kfU17Q0bevsKP8VcDl65Xkr3okHjGUGfEEEMUJRvap-C99lajTeTYZ74O70/s320/unfinished.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't fall!</td></tr>
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Once we got the end of the reconstructed part, we trespassed onto the old, un-rebuilt section, which was also pretty cool with its dirt path, crumbling stones, and trees. We were able to see more villages and even a dust storm that was heading our way! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyH3B42QIQk6kGvedKl395O0TKICi8cvBKxxSUM7UxddM1pSTwpUdqNJGYREeUX8oG7ZhrIrSvGd-1zuv9zcLiJ0fStZ8EYPnmyuRyoNVoSZR4DXmrWeYi3kImhoyXXsqQ7LrOsS5R2Q/s1600/kiss+for+good+luck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyH3B42QIQk6kGvedKl395O0TKICi8cvBKxxSUM7UxddM1pSTwpUdqNJGYREeUX8oG7ZhrIrSvGd-1zuv9zcLiJ0fStZ8EYPnmyuRyoNVoSZR4DXmrWeYi3kImhoyXXsqQ7LrOsS5R2Q/s320/kiss+for+good+luck.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kissing on the wall brings good luck...just kidding, it was just because I love him</td></tr>
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With our bus leaving around 2 pm, we knew we needed to start heading back at around 1:45. However, instead of walking down all those stairs, we took the much more enjoyable route: tobogganing down! That's right, for about $10, we were able to careen down the mountain on little Chinese toboggans. It was a blast! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTpDBJa_gl66KD9CjgWERo3JnQXqoJTasJlQNRN9qyHYikquDMZmtx88hpK5mM5V0ya5580zfHBAG8mo4MKmvupY1Lw4oETwFjbnxJuUIbiR3N4JS-YsugywC7gWi70fGfi9zA1BdYRE/s1600/slow+michelle.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTpDBJa_gl66KD9CjgWERo3JnQXqoJTasJlQNRN9qyHYikquDMZmtx88hpK5mM5V0ya5580zfHBAG8mo4MKmvupY1Lw4oETwFjbnxJuUIbiR3N4JS-YsugywC7gWi70fGfi9zA1BdYRE/s320/slow+michelle.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faster, Michelle, Faster!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmnAwYVkHLA5UCbBx0wbbBddD4yNWi96HadqCi-WY4LjRLE2_7S7LL8r5X8nzrjM0w3e8c4ymu8iPaOGosfjO_4imk4fdqnFB-z9h0cbmNUp74rHx23Pf6Pv9eRYi4XxK_kq2jeJ89o4/s1600/so+happy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmnAwYVkHLA5UCbBx0wbbBddD4yNWi96HadqCi-WY4LjRLE2_7S7LL8r5X8nzrjM0w3e8c4ymu8iPaOGosfjO_4imk4fdqnFB-z9h0cbmNUp74rHx23Pf6Pv9eRYi4XxK_kq2jeJ89o4/s320/so+happy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben as happy as he was in Disneyland</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peace!</td></tr>
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Because Michelle was SO slow (not really, the lines were long, and the little Chinese boy in front of her was the slow-poke), we got back at 1:55. We still had not eaten lunch and the thought of a 2 1/2 hour bus ride with no food made us dizzy. Seeing a Subway near all the vendors at the bottom, we raced into it and jiejiemangmang (Chinese pinyin for hurriedly) ordered our sandwiches. Two minutes later we rushed out and caught our bus with impeccable timing again.<br />
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We crashed on the bus for about an hour and then hopped off to take our favorite mode of transportation, the subway, to the famous Silk Market. We were a bit disappointed by this place. It has become a massive, expensive tourist trap. Thankfully our [limited] knowledge helped us barter down quite a bit, but it quickly became exhausting. I would stay away unless you love bargaining or don't mind getting completely taken advantage of constantly.<br />
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Our day was still not over as we headed over to Peter's Tex Mex restaurant to consume some much needed Mexican food. Below were the best (and only) <span class="st">quesadillas</span> that I've had all year. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such cheesy goodness</td></tr>
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After another stop for dessert at TGI (by then we were experiencing culture and caloric shock) we headed out to our train for a long overnight ride back home. </div>
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We got safe and sound on Sunday and happy to be home. </div>
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Beijing is so great in many ways, but I wouldn't trade any of it for our home here. We feel very blessed to be in our little university in the middle of no-where. </div>
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Hope you all feel the same about wherever you are in this world. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZqF3E9yE7ONaAQ2N1JdgXv9TW8aMYw6x2rmcndjItLbMk63aWFi_J0tiTm26tZDYf9Z_97BIHQlu4SsbO8d_DfhQ-80tpT082bVkigDMOC0Hzi-gW4tBoFQTVFZ7UWjxDNn33Qrxa9Y/s1600/another+gw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZqF3E9yE7ONaAQ2N1JdgXv9TW8aMYw6x2rmcndjItLbMk63aWFi_J0tiTm26tZDYf9Z_97BIHQlu4SsbO8d_DfhQ-80tpT082bVkigDMOC0Hzi-gW4tBoFQTVFZ7UWjxDNn33Qrxa9Y/s400/another+gw.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheKVTY0MkyVu9G0fPXxLmlRAnTC_2UDWWVwHivNunh_uxq3LgqXwb3ZIPifEiiJc3mjsKa5HbQCL1qfNWVDh4RP2SoGiAKwp-vZM1qwB91gTIkiFZNGJog3bjV6v3aFdNuoXXE79y-2A/s1600/beautiful.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-19400812853486866832013-05-30T20:51:00.003-07:002013-05-30T21:53:00.598-07:00Our First 12 Months of Honeymooning!Well, it has been over a year now since we got married. Life has been full of adventures and full of surprises. We had a few good months at home after we got married followed by a bold move to China only a few months after marriage. Some say it causes for a difficult year and others say it is the best thing to do right after getting married. We have experienced the latter opinion. Having moved to China and away from our normal support groups and friends, we have learned to lean on each other more and to lean to Father more when things got tough. There is much more to this, but before I get carried away, here is the main reason for this post!<br />
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A brief review of our year of being married! We have done quite a bit! I hope you all enjoy this post!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>May 26th, 2012</u></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Tying the knot!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PAKue9D547KjVx_qHsz-yuWwV-XFXw-5YxJLY1-OsQTgwENYOyIgi0GHMkPI9D9cYyP01foHxco2WixmBiTmQaCFSGVVbiax_uu4FBXIPBChgaZ2v8O-iDFzTk4TXN9gCegK4QhFxsw/s1600/0371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PAKue9D547KjVx_qHsz-yuWwV-XFXw-5YxJLY1-OsQTgwENYOyIgi0GHMkPI9D9cYyP01foHxco2WixmBiTmQaCFSGVVbiax_uu4FBXIPBChgaZ2v8O-iDFzTk4TXN9gCegK4QhFxsw/s400/0371.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>June</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Moving into our temporary home for the summer! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOFOVrKQ8tWXGfWGDFNXkhH437i-JxoNkdfUgc4mb9OwbObGjuTRroTU3jvnBMnBGlAObUawk4nNvM4mzQvf_pNU84SKhryUuk0ek_WkH6WJqnQQWR-l8SIuhrBL5TVwCsZxi6faqaTw/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOFOVrKQ8tWXGfWGDFNXkhH437i-JxoNkdfUgc4mb9OwbObGjuTRroTU3jvnBMnBGlAObUawk4nNvM4mzQvf_pNU84SKhryUuk0ek_WkH6WJqnQQWR-l8SIuhrBL5TVwCsZxi6faqaTw/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Watching friends run 100 miles during Western States Endurance Run (with Marissa Licon)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFyTReRyp1wj-RNosdNLs7glx6BTE7YeEKYMBQDoDqvwRmEe9To9hwkPg2SMRlq_MUYFn8Zn3Jb44radLf09wMSlIgKrEilKWoSbaNgF9Lb_Vsn6wVcRfDE6BSh_nCO5SFkpy2VhuqfQ/s1600/IMG_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFyTReRyp1wj-RNosdNLs7glx6BTE7YeEKYMBQDoDqvwRmEe9To9hwkPg2SMRlq_MUYFn8Zn3Jb44radLf09wMSlIgKrEilKWoSbaNgF9Lb_Vsn6wVcRfDE6BSh_nCO5SFkpy2VhuqfQ/s320/IMG_0021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Climbing Mount Whitney together!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixng1MTP7NsAIvPGGdqPrS02D8gO3JYDZCFa4ZoMIXYO2fvn_HLv7qv3h1Lt1uzh1jcDIrVB8NDCEHTHoR6Q6sHBa3in7r74xadxIP3GDNQ-XJIx2KT_3D8c3aRUZNeZvyTlmEcul0s6M/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixng1MTP7NsAIvPGGdqPrS02D8gO3JYDZCFa4ZoMIXYO2fvn_HLv7qv3h1Lt1uzh1jcDIrVB8NDCEHTHoR6Q6sHBa3in7r74xadxIP3GDNQ-XJIx2KT_3D8c3aRUZNeZvyTlmEcul0s6M/s320/IMG_0139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The view from 13,600 plus feet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMh0mA8YlAVBmJ0iaJyaudxevYcMU4u0uMkZ9rt6g2RKDRav5NbS73DJi7BBXt3E-8kertkNR8V_lwKyZBDGZ8E1iYpCct3da35w1pJvGnCyZr8gajAS2xxiDZ7sSNu_vrzkm6Y5yO95s/s1600/IMG_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMh0mA8YlAVBmJ0iaJyaudxevYcMU4u0uMkZ9rt6g2RKDRav5NbS73DJi7BBXt3E-8kertkNR8V_lwKyZBDGZ8E1iYpCct3da35w1pJvGnCyZr8gajAS2xxiDZ7sSNu_vrzkm6Y5yO95s/s400/IMG_0176.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Visiting my sister in Pasadena! Love you Leya!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ta948hdjJqFoa0Z1cyXb3KAmVB4OOffSr4u-rXrjNtiO6j1PtnEvtPsfsA9-G7KVmiKbYK2iV-1uFuQxk4wbDTyt3IIAH_eKC4heOGI224GHVAp9unN2hhOtM1TzKitO5Kw4aEI5mS0/s1600/IMG_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ta948hdjJqFoa0Z1cyXb3KAmVB4OOffSr4u-rXrjNtiO6j1PtnEvtPsfsA9-G7KVmiKbYK2iV-1uFuQxk4wbDTyt3IIAH_eKC4heOGI224GHVAp9unN2hhOtM1TzKitO5Kw4aEI5mS0/s320/IMG_0204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>July</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Going to Disneyland :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWO-Oe6vTO8nDkYnN2V8LtG94CuhrSQ4qPgKyJsD_quPUEVWNxvfrOg_8VCvfd1HMHP4VxY2kyHBolYpPz-yEvqEn4_ijPnELWGyz5lgCn7dXAmVc3kjWBMyhRsi7W7hK-ui1HVtaKk0/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWO-Oe6vTO8nDkYnN2V8LtG94CuhrSQ4qPgKyJsD_quPUEVWNxvfrOg_8VCvfd1HMHP4VxY2kyHBolYpPz-yEvqEn4_ijPnELWGyz5lgCn7dXAmVc3kjWBMyhRsi7W7hK-ui1HVtaKk0/s400/IMG_0268.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> In Mickey's fridge (I think?).<br />
Cheese Dip Ice Cream anyone?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzKGXm_EquFsLPa54fGS-yAkPP6SU3QQVhIRkMw-_B5WlC1k8HJ3_kKPrbAAtW-9Rg_TWJD8lfA_oUa0FCskASb3SJrH8WZfaECmjq3vhd7oTXaNnROxUPGMxjQrBJrHRrEX5dd-Z1bM/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzKGXm_EquFsLPa54fGS-yAkPP6SU3QQVhIRkMw-_B5WlC1k8HJ3_kKPrbAAtW-9Rg_TWJD8lfA_oUa0FCskASb3SJrH8WZfaECmjq3vhd7oTXaNnROxUPGMxjQrBJrHRrEX5dd-Z1bM/s320/IMG_0265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rachel calling the local police for help! Unfortunately, it wasn't a real phone. ;-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnAiK744SE5cA47rS2P_cp_lJAqkqsmn2BcaM_pQdJ_PKLEAeYQ_xN-AJkx94GsLlGWANdwwvJ6j-BrB88urZfqN01y9f-vZYUknLN7tRv65-cEtxkhzyDPSDMUH1RKwX9rCXSDMLfpo/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnAiK744SE5cA47rS2P_cp_lJAqkqsmn2BcaM_pQdJ_PKLEAeYQ_xN-AJkx94GsLlGWANdwwvJ6j-BrB88urZfqN01y9f-vZYUknLN7tRv65-cEtxkhzyDPSDMUH1RKwX9rCXSDMLfpo/s320/IMG_0273.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe I was having too much fun? haha Can you tell which movie this is from?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizq5t5eZy479NaAR8Iptqksao2VY-ZJ64_z6WbAGG02eIyOsdt28ibO7gSOy0NR_jS5_eDQ8SiAIXReNJF8hlLF8s2t49h7R7-r3qZSzRBtDjZVVoexv3s6gN_khbCiJ3ffyRiYo5HyU/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizq5t5eZy479NaAR8Iptqksao2VY-ZJ64_z6WbAGG02eIyOsdt28ibO7gSOy0NR_jS5_eDQ8SiAIXReNJF8hlLF8s2t49h7R7-r3qZSzRBtDjZVVoexv3s6gN_khbCiJ3ffyRiYo5HyU/s320/IMG_0240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Vegas. The Bellagio for Rachel's birthday!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZC5arIwF-MPpvTxH8OmHdDca-BHyAguBEIhoyn0BYO3nnV0LXgZ-xreJNpl8c1Qel0o5MrARFXZdsllAfQdXQbZgDL354_Dz4B4I0WQTaXnIs9hh-w0nZ5Ep51yDASenshhFe7X4ytc/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZC5arIwF-MPpvTxH8OmHdDca-BHyAguBEIhoyn0BYO3nnV0LXgZ-xreJNpl8c1Qel0o5MrARFXZdsllAfQdXQbZgDL354_Dz4B4I0WQTaXnIs9hh-w0nZ5Ep51yDASenshhFe7X4ytc/s400/IMG_0327.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My classy wife! <3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rb03oWc39xh4vzSNdKnXfPLDmxj7WwRP9QtYH6HWTb6vB8aS1K0OYQlFIEJwxcV6KdPnMqfTSRQZu3bBpgNJafZWc9urnU9mgUAczPNxpVdRfZl0eO9y-upsYYl8xn21Gpxtwsm0Gzk/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rb03oWc39xh4vzSNdKnXfPLDmxj7WwRP9QtYH6HWTb6vB8aS1K0OYQlFIEJwxcV6KdPnMqfTSRQZu3bBpgNJafZWc9urnU9mgUAczPNxpVdRfZl0eO9y-upsYYl8xn21Gpxtwsm0Gzk/s400/IMG_0331.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a warm night in Vegas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CsCaFX-WE-LXwtnd0V088rWjsneAc_i-bt1DuPKX0SZ3fKhCq-0f4E9cvYAkQN7CMsnh3hN7ak_VSCp0U2OJmt81mlv8s9zbLNQ_r3w7EVVMN2XvehYeXp9NaEQbEbby3V0NMUIzLS8/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CsCaFX-WE-LXwtnd0V088rWjsneAc_i-bt1DuPKX0SZ3fKhCq-0f4E9cvYAkQN7CMsnh3hN7ak_VSCp0U2OJmt81mlv8s9zbLNQ_r3w7EVVMN2XvehYeXp9NaEQbEbby3V0NMUIzLS8/s320/IMG_0345.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>August</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our last stop at China Beach in San Francisco, CA...in preparation for life in China. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzIjaorSsX6m83e5vPw6QLkDSHtAfCTs-uc5i3E1wh18HypMCiI-N3ZfmmM5uMs7nysReqzdRRIAIPuohqD_MIUz7tewdvePf2584BpGSCAU-gGvyH5D_NszfKKRhVF1VkCV-ByC85q4/s1600/IMG_0396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzIjaorSsX6m83e5vPw6QLkDSHtAfCTs-uc5i3E1wh18HypMCiI-N3ZfmmM5uMs7nysReqzdRRIAIPuohqD_MIUz7tewdvePf2584BpGSCAU-gGvyH5D_NszfKKRhVF1VkCV-ByC85q4/s400/IMG_0396.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Layover in LAX and last meal in America for 2012. Thanks for treating Leya! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOO42-HavlPmsgQY31RiLsBIlh0BDYx-id9y8N-F5-aaADPaParAq77fmZCKReLXG1tU4bqxP5sd2Ls94pmczcRf1DWE_d_8uoXXefI9nu9X0jontAE9Dvay44dliUwxq_n0knGgUFqY/s1600/2012-08-25+21.01.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOO42-HavlPmsgQY31RiLsBIlh0BDYx-id9y8N-F5-aaADPaParAq77fmZCKReLXG1tU4bqxP5sd2Ls94pmczcRf1DWE_d_8uoXXefI9nu9X0jontAE9Dvay44dliUwxq_n0knGgUFqY/s320/2012-08-25+21.01.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">China here we come!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY634ySbvBsmLRJl-NfHkp44tjyLhDvs_ai0cVpHMmydUE0KbMbvsStXD8VVDZJTKAmHEi2JuhWMvD5eOaFqhIdSd_tceHpd-bOi-em5pKoJJkHGGTWGKXI9RELLZBpMocMdpNnpv2m8Q/s1600/IMG_0412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY634ySbvBsmLRJl-NfHkp44tjyLhDvs_ai0cVpHMmydUE0KbMbvsStXD8VVDZJTKAmHEi2JuhWMvD5eOaFqhIdSd_tceHpd-bOi-em5pKoJJkHGGTWGKXI9RELLZBpMocMdpNnpv2m8Q/s320/IMG_0412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of our first views of campus, SIAS International University, from Renmin Lu (People's Road).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-IqfUsBisjgQDy0iJFek3h7cLsMk19Dqm9HZMe73pICedefhaN7goSYOersd-SWByIEkeIbs4hiZn-l8_DG4mFMop_FCVpA_zrFXbP8-sgp4W39Kfpd_T-mrD7grLwJm4pDTdWxgqdA/s1600/IMG_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-IqfUsBisjgQDy0iJFek3h7cLsMk19Dqm9HZMe73pICedefhaN7goSYOersd-SWByIEkeIbs4hiZn-l8_DG4mFMop_FCVpA_zrFXbP8-sgp4W39Kfpd_T-mrD7grLwJm4pDTdWxgqdA/s400/IMG_0416.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>September</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eating dumplings in China! I think we ate a whole meal for less than $2 for the both of us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2-Zm4yJGd1rvG4Rt389Q-7UrhRqiD79LSmo6hKrzMwsGBRRKn5T2oYyvjmrcTWxf7TJd5dZS8aVM7QVxfivC5eXTrsb5RyzPslMvHzukhJgl_LNOmpjVlPLKE1nNoYID9UvDgmZ-jMI/s1600/IMG_0439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2-Zm4yJGd1rvG4Rt389Q-7UrhRqiD79LSmo6hKrzMwsGBRRKn5T2oYyvjmrcTWxf7TJd5dZS8aVM7QVxfivC5eXTrsb5RyzPslMvHzukhJgl_LNOmpjVlPLKE1nNoYID9UvDgmZ-jMI/s320/IMG_0439.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First bike ride in Xinzheng, China.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nDM-HwzoI4gCnDhtc3wHaRqITJ8vfD_6xmqi3phSQqHaBbqInB0JxWpVcFScjGqHysHNp9LYwHVUoCKCZeuStdEsw0SExC63v0tI-bpsQ7fII1tNk6a0oOpnZ6oKyg17P4QdzVjirkQ/s1600/DSCN2687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nDM-HwzoI4gCnDhtc3wHaRqITJ8vfD_6xmqi3phSQqHaBbqInB0JxWpVcFScjGqHysHNp9LYwHVUoCKCZeuStdEsw0SExC63v0tI-bpsQ7fII1tNk6a0oOpnZ6oKyg17P4QdzVjirkQ/s400/DSCN2687.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">What us foreigners call "Two-head Park" in downtown Xinzheng.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U2yQv_cSgIuCnWWOvSLrXUTr2s2haTr7Y94SzwqpB7w-OAJ-D95gdTnZOwOxAkP5GF_gMNiIrePToRWpozeABCnmtmxHIpaTTndcNn24WhAHpryeZHZmWUx1DlaNYb2m52XKr98VSGQ/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U2yQv_cSgIuCnWWOvSLrXUTr2s2haTr7Y94SzwqpB7w-OAJ-D95gdTnZOwOxAkP5GF_gMNiIrePToRWpozeABCnmtmxHIpaTTndcNn24WhAHpryeZHZmWUx1DlaNYb2m52XKr98VSGQ/s400/IMG_0526.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Climbing up to the 5th floor to teach Oral English.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30YIiINvKjpsD3_j4sRjxb6cpeHkhCtGxKpaw9ysBTZal62KBPRelD3JNNDcGsG_4BImz5nrMz0nov0TKVBvq26FjJmM_UsNFDgVCr74IawyiYzNdZky3uNYdTEQm1NdtvBCDgWtRdKc/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30YIiINvKjpsD3_j4sRjxb6cpeHkhCtGxKpaw9ysBTZal62KBPRelD3JNNDcGsG_4BImz5nrMz0nov0TKVBvq26FjJmM_UsNFDgVCr74IawyiYzNdZky3uNYdTEQm1NdtvBCDgWtRdKc/s320/IMG_0561.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>October</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Going to Xi'an and visiting the famous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army" target="_blank">Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses</a> site. (Click on link to learn more about these newly discovered (in the 70's) life-size soldiers that were made to protect the deceased emperor in 210 B.C.). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIGvVCMq-vFYH0k4addaZ5Gzt_39m3QWhBEr_5muG3nQujScjDSWr5VsdhZn0Ha_97RIHD4IGSHObt27FQzswqkb08gj6NfSTUc_wRtwJQ1OMBhm_Hl8S6Dz9mxmONY9htYnDus8ty88/s1600/IMG_0798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIGvVCMq-vFYH0k4addaZ5Gzt_39m3QWhBEr_5muG3nQujScjDSWr5VsdhZn0Ha_97RIHD4IGSHObt27FQzswqkb08gj6NfSTUc_wRtwJQ1OMBhm_Hl8S6Dz9mxmONY9htYnDus8ty88/s320/IMG_0798.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>November</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Visiting Kaifeng! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Read more about this from a previous post by clicking <a href="http://benchelvidmaryan.blogspot.com/2013/01/kaifenging-it-up.html" target="_blank">here</a>).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3pAVbWfU6efxnhouGzd9f2rWvm9KlgihI7IGJLlJTt-5gUeLrI7cDAnrTcRt9N26qoTUfta216og9V3N4U1DEv5L82KJHKQAzbwCqMvX0iMPw5lzYdNgb9iKT6tQDT0deBIUca6vKOA/s1600/IMG_1230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3pAVbWfU6efxnhouGzd9f2rWvm9KlgihI7IGJLlJTt-5gUeLrI7cDAnrTcRt9N26qoTUfta216og9V3N4U1DEv5L82KJHKQAzbwCqMvX0iMPw5lzYdNgb9iKT6tQDT0deBIUca6vKOA/s400/IMG_1230.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Visiting Luoyang!</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the coolest and unbelievable places I've been to in China: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longmen_Grottoes" target="_blank">Longmen Grottoes</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Over 10,000 statues of Buddha and his disciples carved into the mountain. Truly an incredibly historical place that one should visit if in China.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTNArPjJ5rZ02jEOcrXTDyQd2BZrX1ZqbzTTbdCdgh1XibpxPmaHmp4jL6QupPArncV9g1lBUUcByMItt3hVWQB_IiSJcMHHH0kY6ICFeJNrS_EnzMz5TZYTruXthbggoy39asnBLcmM/s1600/IMG_1461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTNArPjJ5rZ02jEOcrXTDyQd2BZrX1ZqbzTTbdCdgh1XibpxPmaHmp4jL6QupPArncV9g1lBUUcByMItt3hVWQB_IiSJcMHHH0kY6ICFeJNrS_EnzMz5TZYTruXthbggoy39asnBLcmM/s400/IMG_1461.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IPN_8j8H-1sYq4N_b_q71PTVC1rrHjEHnjz6uRJo_iiHqBslLcQAX8cVfArVaN_xQchUd7W0Lu5ufomRlJkiFkCnqos_6bRUZGy3r_MPoA6LvVRzgR9cOKMxvcJ3x6ZqQowLKkZroYQ/s1600/IMG_1501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IPN_8j8H-1sYq4N_b_q71PTVC1rrHjEHnjz6uRJo_iiHqBslLcQAX8cVfArVaN_xQchUd7W0Lu5ufomRlJkiFkCnqos_6bRUZGy3r_MPoA6LvVRzgR9cOKMxvcJ3x6ZqQowLKkZroYQ/s640/IMG_1501.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>December</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Experiencing our first snow in China (right outside of Peter Hall)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHkl70him9uFw9wxoBQpEpGX1QhXBzzMW5yW7Up7oe8LWt6P-etMZe6kwyrilF8e1nurBKTHdoH3r6G5ay0m0306eYC_FOwHuQunDtWGELy6AV9AOtSNOUSvFXE85nvfPOo-qF8mEIdc/s1600/IMG_1556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHkl70him9uFw9wxoBQpEpGX1QhXBzzMW5yW7Up7oe8LWt6P-etMZe6kwyrilF8e1nurBKTHdoH3r6G5ay0m0306eYC_FOwHuQunDtWGELy6AV9AOtSNOUSvFXE85nvfPOo-qF8mEIdc/s400/IMG_1556.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Also, experiencing some of the worst pollution days of winter (AQI: 500+).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbGQChBFn5dOeUzknNrNMqWJYy2sKhbXErNKrmArwQCz8_Ay2jq1RyHUU9NqI1b5lBdW8Ip7udtbA9LPwEIVxNevCj_iK-0Cq0qHfe2HJNlJPLEl95TxZmoRZHtGQlkpFOALPY43BlkU/s1600/IMG_1718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbGQChBFn5dOeUzknNrNMqWJYy2sKhbXErNKrmArwQCz8_Ay2jq1RyHUU9NqI1b5lBdW8Ip7udtbA9LPwEIVxNevCj_iK-0Cq0qHfe2HJNlJPLEl95TxZmoRZHtGQlkpFOALPY43BlkU/s320/IMG_1718.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>January</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Escaping to Thailand!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYG-OamkQntHhlQa2Yj5rJDrvoXmwWaeXP2mZBiWkaGE9M47wsyl4sN9mOsyGdWXTeTZd56R3axDJlKqtJpPtGA53v7YoWa-jctujYYE7pWrCwmEdBHoo5pzTRLvuFNO4O7vkk_DhWkos/s1600/IMG_1832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYG-OamkQntHhlQa2Yj5rJDrvoXmwWaeXP2mZBiWkaGE9M47wsyl4sN9mOsyGdWXTeTZd56R3axDJlKqtJpPtGA53v7YoWa-jctujYYE7pWrCwmEdBHoo5pzTRLvuFNO4O7vkk_DhWkos/s400/IMG_1832.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Nikki Beach Bungalows, Koh Samui, Thailand</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXyg7YP7zRibGc4Alv_xtlJo1V74OtMP59FqGxQe0dFjKnSHPhzzD2eMLn2bO2F6WhIzUJm0xPzM_CdW8euc5mMSTwueEXP-vho59Fh37SnDbxsAPVi2gOxQHHBH2sbZ4l_l9vOoxNYo/s1600/IMG_1971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXyg7YP7zRibGc4Alv_xtlJo1V74OtMP59FqGxQe0dFjKnSHPhzzD2eMLn2bO2F6WhIzUJm0xPzM_CdW8euc5mMSTwueEXP-vho59Fh37SnDbxsAPVi2gOxQHHBH2sbZ4l_l9vOoxNYo/s320/IMG_1971.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My lovely wife waiting for her dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qbyJsyyyno6jyoKzP2dVIIQhx4i9apf1iYVJn_I0ZN6ndIjkgLWz_Jt3cyjNRrS8aQeMBdmTOQYtJX7l9VVXzzZwzpMPFLqeJkz4mEe7aYvUgKZ5jkNERhNFi9187qH1QRU3oIn_V_A/s1600/IMG_2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qbyJsyyyno6jyoKzP2dVIIQhx4i9apf1iYVJn_I0ZN6ndIjkgLWz_Jt3cyjNRrS8aQeMBdmTOQYtJX7l9VVXzzZwzpMPFLqeJkz4mEe7aYvUgKZ5jkNERhNFi9187qH1QRU3oIn_V_A/s400/IMG_2011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Out for a joy ride in Chiang Mai, Thailand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02M_CqjcYffiG5dJWDSomOrZeeNg3Eh_HOHsXYPcQSQSgzw3DJBK7fjmZuY0qwbN65NbvwDgwUUfYQNw060upaD_gVOJXzfyGlY2ZcuPVOaJeJ2NNBEgLm5duu0zLWFMos0ViM2BdCbw/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02M_CqjcYffiG5dJWDSomOrZeeNg3Eh_HOHsXYPcQSQSgzw3DJBK7fjmZuY0qwbN65NbvwDgwUUfYQNw060upaD_gVOJXzfyGlY2ZcuPVOaJeJ2NNBEgLm5duu0zLWFMos0ViM2BdCbw/s320/IMG_2068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Thai shrines and Buddhas are totally different from their Chinese counterpart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnUE5lxjJuBVJNb3DsXjMVdDIaUYSkRPGUkWrLbEmsv85V5na5-Vk_8Y39JeDklpEnkan2FfC0Ak0vjDjTqBQDQea4WzR56G1notqrlFGUI6sgd72IbUcqknMpzLlgoV22ym57f6PRdE/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnUE5lxjJuBVJNb3DsXjMVdDIaUYSkRPGUkWrLbEmsv85V5na5-Vk_8Y39JeDklpEnkan2FfC0Ak0vjDjTqBQDQea4WzR56G1notqrlFGUI6sgd72IbUcqknMpzLlgoV22ym57f6PRdE/s320/IMG_2574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>February</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hong Kong! One of my favorite cities in China. A beautiful and overcast day on Victoria Peak.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWI_LOMl8hR3rSjPA0gUHx5Rl96w4Lc_6wH1Z-4nhh1vWtMm80oD46OuguL8nnh0X1X1O1kDWsuh8aiej44STHycMy-8gAH_YmYxf1X0nLpsPMhhd_HY7UExK9vdq-wImylgOAkXqbZD4/s1600/IMG_2681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWI_LOMl8hR3rSjPA0gUHx5Rl96w4Lc_6wH1Z-4nhh1vWtMm80oD46OuguL8nnh0X1X1O1kDWsuh8aiej44STHycMy-8gAH_YmYxf1X0nLpsPMhhd_HY7UExK9vdq-wImylgOAkXqbZD4/s400/IMG_2681.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Overlooking Hong Kong.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJYBLU-qr78ONQFz6YKFfzr3aOK4D63RNTy2Rn3USzp21PsmqDXr2Myxe35BKHfUnJL786zaW-pOPfr11r5LhQJxc4vnEHvCJDhbyMJ1OkOdT-XxofyCR7jHHKj0ZXr6t5ktnZH6wffU/s1600/IMG_2685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJYBLU-qr78ONQFz6YKFfzr3aOK4D63RNTy2Rn3USzp21PsmqDXr2Myxe35BKHfUnJL786zaW-pOPfr11r5LhQJxc4vnEHvCJDhbyMJ1OkOdT-XxofyCR7jHHKj0ZXr6t5ktnZH6wffU/s320/IMG_2685.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Being a little silly at a park in Hong Kong.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF1fvrdSwJao5CDKC9PdriwmQRG6oUu9cH0KdQp5YtbQ5i1P9TSfS-IDle0hPiD4uVrwVXdhzW5aHHL55BTrl4AK92Vny68YHn0Cg2hEkxpeMoS8BqIkp3HASzbpt40aLzdpgE0X5SFs/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF1fvrdSwJao5CDKC9PdriwmQRG6oUu9cH0KdQp5YtbQ5i1P9TSfS-IDle0hPiD4uVrwVXdhzW5aHHL55BTrl4AK92Vny68YHn0Cg2hEkxpeMoS8BqIkp3HASzbpt40aLzdpgE0X5SFs/s400/IMG_2826.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBgDzglbRr5TksTHtYAgwA-fXBIy6GdjiQ9t9Hk8AjJkwA80ISmEN8vZSRXYvvrSV-CyCmrCaZdM1bTRfaHVdRImL0tgEDDUHAAsg-960ZyC8x_4-dgb9ZaQr9hum1Z-QAhHH0l68ZXM/s1600/IMG_2827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBgDzglbRr5TksTHtYAgwA-fXBIy6GdjiQ9t9Hk8AjJkwA80ISmEN8vZSRXYvvrSV-CyCmrCaZdM1bTRfaHVdRImL0tgEDDUHAAsg-960ZyC8x_4-dgb9ZaQr9hum1Z-QAhHH0l68ZXM/s400/IMG_2827.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>March</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting back into the flow of things. One of the nine Finance classes I teach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhazF14s9_FuIDNW1yGsn93MnwYZzq1g7AjwZv2UKKYLpRgcajgtn4EIEwJhPNniZHdzI-3awasWFsjwWZYqzqLf__o4P8zYXZNRDhtVX1FxG75Y6KbPJYOXK4cGAeFElU9r558ZvyG0/s1600/IMG_3004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhazF14s9_FuIDNW1yGsn93MnwYZzq1g7AjwZv2UKKYLpRgcajgtn4EIEwJhPNniZHdzI-3awasWFsjwWZYqzqLf__o4P8zYXZNRDhtVX1FxG75Y6KbPJYOXK4cGAeFElU9r558ZvyG0/s400/IMG_3004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Isaac is not our student. But we met him in the beginning of the year and have been friends since!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubw3KYgWnKk4hoLzS8OkrQZJXVK6vYxwku7VgctuIsQY9YqQorMBLgdt1blqXxo4gW-Nxm2wO_PKi_XD9Tup9m4OE4V0MM7YMh_JSybWSMEKrsIjLOaqZ1kmToNcyL6aobp6T-aDXG1U/s1600/IMG_3083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubw3KYgWnKk4hoLzS8OkrQZJXVK6vYxwku7VgctuIsQY9YqQorMBLgdt1blqXxo4gW-Nxm2wO_PKi_XD9Tup9m4OE4V0MM7YMh_JSybWSMEKrsIjLOaqZ1kmToNcyL6aobp6T-aDXG1U/s320/IMG_3083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>April</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Climbing Songshan (aka. Mt. Song), one of the five sacred mountains in China.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsCNop-yZDCaC_Uls_CVke8hepRGF0jjJttYK6N649tDkEoCX8p3n9IWeunHOekpRvFJ9hiPAsYTqbTSGeBA5m8VNeQ3-Quih9WEDhkT9ISBJFHKjipmN3WmVHmDroVU0dhCNa9Pe26E/s1600/IMG_3097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsCNop-yZDCaC_Uls_CVke8hepRGF0jjJttYK6N649tDkEoCX8p3n9IWeunHOekpRvFJ9hiPAsYTqbTSGeBA5m8VNeQ3-Quih9WEDhkT9ISBJFHKjipmN3WmVHmDroVU0dhCNa9Pe26E/s400/IMG_3097.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Made it to the top!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDMmGA0L9XYbwIwbxFd4TiD4A_DMr1BPO2N4Daz_Aln6uFo_ZzVpLuSRQMFxZ9i54o3uzXvOk8L0mc3MfOOnUVeGGs9lityqi5df6u4NCZyoZ150g8ka3p8RsCouSCTtaCrnjEKRAdfk/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDMmGA0L9XYbwIwbxFd4TiD4A_DMr1BPO2N4Daz_Aln6uFo_ZzVpLuSRQMFxZ9i54o3uzXvOk8L0mc3MfOOnUVeGGs9lityqi5df6u4NCZyoZ150g8ka3p8RsCouSCTtaCrnjEKRAdfk/s320/IMG_3166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now to take stairs all the way down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxQdHgXtIMqU-s786iEVlOC8EeobpDVuQzrShb29QgU38iGXib3O8NQ5Zoni_-c1K_EbMCMt12Y-_rq-qWEXRNCWWRTK8NP-onujUVffbNkvWS9IQ-gm8NriISAAjxt52zBdpLw7szA0/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxQdHgXtIMqU-s786iEVlOC8EeobpDVuQzrShb29QgU38iGXib3O8NQ5Zoni_-c1K_EbMCMt12Y-_rq-qWEXRNCWWRTK8NP-onujUVffbNkvWS9IQ-gm8NriISAAjxt52zBdpLw7szA0/s400/IMG_3212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the famous Shaolin Temple.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvmhuKcK4p4-WRL4tXoJNef0elJFfcAH_lr0a4xVKwe3tx9QBccZmcTv8-jRbU-ebzrGiU1NzmUydIQQvUHwfrp72Ye62tFqdOBPULnb1wIE-SYtswudEWhaKktcRBhZfmMMqFd5nLXw/s1600/IMG_3283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvmhuKcK4p4-WRL4tXoJNef0elJFfcAH_lr0a4xVKwe3tx9QBccZmcTv8-jRbU-ebzrGiU1NzmUydIQQvUHwfrp72Ye62tFqdOBPULnb1wIE-SYtswudEWhaKktcRBhZfmMMqFd5nLXw/s400/IMG_3283.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The Pagoda Forest</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfYq5Sfnrr4AwRLZgxZSE1gwYnJN3xzNNQd1phZZa4D3Z4bB-vivZLnfMHdrzTd2TVVh6Zdcc1x8FQ1a7LwqTXiMwc27r7HCRaGRVGgJiG9TbZIPi7gSc-vTUuEga2RTTRdt0j8XBJxQ/s1600/IMG_3303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfYq5Sfnrr4AwRLZgxZSE1gwYnJN3xzNNQd1phZZa4D3Z4bB-vivZLnfMHdrzTd2TVVh6Zdcc1x8FQ1a7LwqTXiMwc27r7HCRaGRVGgJiG9TbZIPi7gSc-vTUuEga2RTTRdt0j8XBJxQ/s400/IMG_3303.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the coolest experiences we've had in China. </div><div style="text-align: center;">"Shaolin Zen Music Ritual"</div><div style="text-align: center;">An incredible outdoor show filled with Kung Fu with the mountains as a backdrop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZmCc8CwbYfpNNMULRjMHAQhMoBzaBcgppW0izSyXys0TGwVWQrueLk535P17es8JAcchsWM4VnXFTb_TA6puHJAeajafv4YRkZs_OTOJbMVIoq5_lMDB17FroXFK6O0EJS11Lp5zMLs/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZmCc8CwbYfpNNMULRjMHAQhMoBzaBcgppW0izSyXys0TGwVWQrueLk535P17es8JAcchsWM4VnXFTb_TA6puHJAeajafv4YRkZs_OTOJbMVIoq5_lMDB17FroXFK6O0EJS11Lp5zMLs/s400/IMG_3392.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Visiting the National Museum of Chinese Writing in Anyang, a city far north in Henan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf5Se7Cy-t-LB5bmML1HiOekj95k9g-ZCbxXdw43XEafFw9Bvc_Ksy1ynw7MQIwzv0i3AjfLsHgGfSTojNwp_zxeDT6fY4TCeam0rxTFl-zqJ3ujZ_HKG9FoHJUBbiZMeU4JurbHtfpY/s1600/IMG_3423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf5Se7Cy-t-LB5bmML1HiOekj95k9g-ZCbxXdw43XEafFw9Bvc_Ksy1ynw7MQIwzv0i3AjfLsHgGfSTojNwp_zxeDT6fY4TCeam0rxTFl-zqJ3ujZ_HKG9FoHJUBbiZMeU4JurbHtfpY/s320/IMG_3423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">An example of ancient Chinese characters. The far left is the ancient characters (they totally resemble the meaning) and center character is the traditional way of writing. Now, Chinese use an even simplified version.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1clZ6Naf-Z4vxcxs1BfB2BY5-eGQX8R0NoG6YLlC-3SubnHhsWcEdF-QSYPzuKZb64cC6bQ1j6AU-vbUbkzteuH90JWhx46x0-MeCfTjubA8rnchc60Ox7EZjdQ94T-KQccTaYwqMSw/s1600/IMG_3453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1clZ6Naf-Z4vxcxs1BfB2BY5-eGQX8R0NoG6YLlC-3SubnHhsWcEdF-QSYPzuKZb64cC6bQ1j6AU-vbUbkzteuH90JWhx46x0-MeCfTjubA8rnchc60Ox7EZjdQ94T-KQccTaYwqMSw/s320/IMG_3453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Visiting Linlu Mountain</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you look closely, you'll see all the stairs people must take to climb the mountain. Mountains in China are all equipped with stairs...that is how one climbs mountains here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5-RQvOsG9a8FLxX5CqWSo3u3FYrICB_qOpht5UXyL_gAO1Ba99j7ypv2krf7DPt44JL42VI5oEyJTKgrFB9LztHIX3NJEokHi6_bDhPtTjlYLdbrND1MEBDMHljdbYlQveIV6AdxuEM/s1600/IMG_3546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5-RQvOsG9a8FLxX5CqWSo3u3FYrICB_qOpht5UXyL_gAO1Ba99j7ypv2krf7DPt44JL42VI5oEyJTKgrFB9LztHIX3NJEokHi6_bDhPtTjlYLdbrND1MEBDMHljdbYlQveIV6AdxuEM/s400/IMG_3546.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Climbing Shizushan (aka. Mount Juci). The gentleman to the far right is a total random fellow. We encounter this is China quite often. People will ask to take photos with us regularly...but this guy? he just photo bombed this one and threw his hand on my back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxKSd6jkxaRRKO2JXIuj5kbA-IOW_ue042ykib-Irbch6xAAh9_iaZIMQlHKR29ICYHR9iNlPoO6VOCwEU2ZWJ6E6LO6AlrkVLjzuX2Gb7ry03e_WnM0xz4BDMykKNTRZlEzmtZfpwl8/s1600/IMG_3622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxKSd6jkxaRRKO2JXIuj5kbA-IOW_ue042ykib-Irbch6xAAh9_iaZIMQlHKR29ICYHR9iNlPoO6VOCwEU2ZWJ6E6LO6AlrkVLjzuX2Gb7ry03e_WnM0xz4BDMykKNTRZlEzmtZfpwl8/s400/IMG_3622.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">On our decent down Shizushan.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Rachel, Isaac, and Obama...yes, I said that correctly. His English name is Obama! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqx7kiKOqfTSzUVBk-jbAMWb0kO0wNNlL454RdwJRsv5xrW7PObZxQdEUCDT_uTi_f7sV7yrzKwTpretjSBeAkiZUK0cBIO92h4nxtWirU1U7wKbQ95ywPG09a1acdpNQvsMN5Qtte1BA/s1600/IMG_3633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqx7kiKOqfTSzUVBk-jbAMWb0kO0wNNlL454RdwJRsv5xrW7PObZxQdEUCDT_uTi_f7sV7yrzKwTpretjSBeAkiZUK0cBIO92h4nxtWirU1U7wKbQ95ywPG09a1acdpNQvsMN5Qtte1BA/s400/IMG_3633.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>May</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beijing! Finally!</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a view of Forbidden City from temple on top of a hill. Quite the epic view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpC0YeZYts17qndXuOXYI1RYDh04cNXCXUGQjMDoEI7iJnRsW-P_FbLhYuh6hemxLriFSjAkh5lMQnM1tDJ0nHHC4jLnwcHA9A2zsAFnJq6Li5pNBtwMTxFzDpm5BbEoJj8rEg_7glpn4/s1600/IMG_3859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpC0YeZYts17qndXuOXYI1RYDh04cNXCXUGQjMDoEI7iJnRsW-P_FbLhYuh6hemxLriFSjAkh5lMQnM1tDJ0nHHC4jLnwcHA9A2zsAFnJq6Li5pNBtwMTxFzDpm5BbEoJj8rEg_7glpn4/s640/IMG_3859.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Great Wall (Mutianyu section).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyhNXkrzk7IBVMwQbVK2UkClFTam5xZytZI31eIcr4bvCf1VutDWYMsp9W7GOvSYB3w1dvbVwCSblMdZ-M1cXOeQ3tKIsCAsDO1LQUIaG-HZeo6IKjZ0ArkTOkjY8s3mqu-rN6E2a4tA/s1600/IMG_3982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyhNXkrzk7IBVMwQbVK2UkClFTam5xZytZI31eIcr4bvCf1VutDWYMsp9W7GOvSYB3w1dvbVwCSblMdZ-M1cXOeQ3tKIsCAsDO1LQUIaG-HZeo6IKjZ0ArkTOkjY8s3mqu-rN6E2a4tA/s640/IMG_3982.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last but no where near least, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After over two and a half years together, we finally gave into wearing what is quite popular in China, couple t-shirts. We even have couple mugs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikt20tqj_gpFX4-gsveloaFNkqCAOr7ecDjfB2Hgtulhw0srxMq6SlIt3l6cBscLZfMeplCkkrf-Kpv_bg7KhQgo6eVX3TIWCP3emmk59ks3de_FVSMXJegVAdnIDfVSRgSvbIHA8AqnQ/s1600/IMG_4106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikt20tqj_gpFX4-gsveloaFNkqCAOr7ecDjfB2Hgtulhw0srxMq6SlIt3l6cBscLZfMeplCkkrf-Kpv_bg7KhQgo6eVX3TIWCP3emmk59ks3de_FVSMXJegVAdnIDfVSRgSvbIHA8AqnQ/s640/IMG_4106.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Thank you for reading our blog! We can't wait to be back home!<br />
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If everything goes according to plan, we will land on the 19 of June! Looking forward to it BIG TIME!<br />
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Miss you all!<br />
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-BenjaminBenchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-34802914350295117182013-05-25T20:34:00.001-07:002013-05-25T20:37:35.595-07:00Weekending in Beijing: Part OneEver since we arrived in China--actually, well before even that--Ben and I have wanted to visit Beijing. Our love of history and my fascination with Communist countries made a trip to Beijing at the top of our list. Despite it being relatively easy to get there, pesky things like teaching, below freezing weather, and Thailand made it difficult to go until now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFjZiVUPelKnsTAb2oAMhxxamFVj1zgDp9oo056EXEEB6u14NYP18zhMB-kJFFqS_wbAh-nPzIXyH8tftOBVthyphenhyphenhv40jUq4Yp09EriOctbwI-qGjpk7tdZITT9La4bWzCHJ_NExQUZUs/s1600/train+time.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFjZiVUPelKnsTAb2oAMhxxamFVj1zgDp9oo056EXEEB6u14NYP18zhMB-kJFFqS_wbAh-nPzIXyH8tftOBVthyphenhyphenhv40jUq4Yp09EriOctbwI-qGjpk7tdZITT9La4bWzCHJ_NExQUZUs/s320/train+time.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely Michelle and I ready to board our train!</td></tr>
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Thanks to our lovely friend Michelle, we were able to go on a semi-spontaneous trip to the capital a couple of weeks ago. Taking the 8 hour overnight train from our province's capital for about 45 USD (beat that, Amtrak!), we arrived ready to conquer the largest city in the most populous country in the world.<br />
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Since we live so close to our province's capital, Zhengzhou, I thought I knew what big Chinese cities were like: lots of traffic, smoggy, and dirty. Since ZZ <i>only</i> has 10 million residents, I thought Beijing's 20.6 million would mean even more smog, cars, and dirt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWqi9rFT8dNrNpqQquncbNLaIW5oC_rzhUKhSiM2f-DJCXrmd3wKSGtyCFKxLrB4gcZ79eqAweEVQdgZbZgmjiX-NN5INwApeLqmPwKMHrCmZ1wGFjU415_jhwftjBYHazh5kZEq9Ur0/s1600/leaving+our+smoggy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWqi9rFT8dNrNpqQquncbNLaIW5oC_rzhUKhSiM2f-DJCXrmd3wKSGtyCFKxLrB4gcZ79eqAweEVQdgZbZgmjiX-NN5INwApeLqmPwKMHrCmZ1wGFjU415_jhwftjBYHazh5kZEq9Ur0/s320/leaving+our+smoggy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken in Zhengzhou right before leaving</td></tr>
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However, we were more than pleasantly surprised when we arrived to find clean air, blue skies, and spacious roads. Granted, it had just rained the day before, but it is clear that the new pollution measures do sometimes work. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZAhHO1vtjXcQUPZtNvmvjMLNXwSlB9FvXeoabgxDuB_FW_O50-6FK0Gkpchfkxw2UJnWibGp-zEVlGNbufMQq6w9r5moVveiniAQpsmhAC43TVrsygMF50heyripnlumB1cQw1tp7J0/s1600/blue+skies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZAhHO1vtjXcQUPZtNvmvjMLNXwSlB9FvXeoabgxDuB_FW_O50-6FK0Gkpchfkxw2UJnWibGp-zEVlGNbufMQq6w9r5moVveiniAQpsmhAC43TVrsygMF50heyripnlumB1cQw1tp7J0/s320/blue+skies.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <span style="font-weight: normal;">Tiananmen Square Gate and blue skies</span></td></tr>
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After a quick McDonalds stop (yes, we are classy people), we arrived at Tienanmen Square at around 7:30 am along with half of the Chinese and European tour bus population. I will never again think San Francisco or Yosemite has a lot of international tourists!<br />
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The square is massive and quite impressive. It was built during the Ming Dynasty as a gate to the Emperor's grounds. It is where Mao declared the creation of the People's Republic of China 64 years ago. And of course, it is also where thousands of people were publicly denounced and executed; where students rose up and were massacred; and, most recently, where a five people self-immolated in 2001.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUH3J1syJZJAtwUGSPPFvoOeMggBdfC25MDt_EHXb4lwjM2N4UQf9ITy-wj5IOHrbKhNmdvHRobSs1q6N8yT07mRsThfGKmQXa2R4ptW9hfNhann3kFZTx_Ez8erk5eK3vxab_lacZ6iI/s1600/Tianamen+square.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUH3J1syJZJAtwUGSPPFvoOeMggBdfC25MDt_EHXb4lwjM2N4UQf9ITy-wj5IOHrbKhNmdvHRobSs1q6N8yT07mRsThfGKmQXa2R4ptW9hfNhann3kFZTx_Ez8erk5eK3vxab_lacZ6iI/s320/Tianamen+square.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Monument to the People's Heroes, the Maosoleum, and tourists</td></tr>
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The Great Leader's "Maosoleum" is located in the middle of the square, but unfortunately the lines were too long and our time was too short to gaze upon his dehydrated corpse. Next time though! I'm eager to compare Lenin's body in the Red Square with Mao's...that came out wrong.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Gh4_N_SkOjU50tFt2ctPAFOTKL_KoXagUiPt2hi-VueoFedGxECKWkmoV_EbaRsFD92OqX-ivay1E6asvBy_dk4rwjIiOQWMHk0LvN541fZIAN-oKbpo4ajz8mn6BadoMfSUsoNxL8/s1600/ben,+me+,+mao.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Gh4_N_SkOjU50tFt2ctPAFOTKL_KoXagUiPt2hi-VueoFedGxECKWkmoV_EbaRsFD92OqX-ivay1E6asvBy_dk4rwjIiOQWMHk0LvN541fZIAN-oKbpo4ajz8mn6BadoMfSUsoNxL8/s320/ben,+me+,+mao.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's looking over us all</td></tr>
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Moving right along! After some pictures in front of the (in)famous picture (does it remind anybody else of The Mona Lisa? No? Just me then), we ventured into the most unForbidden City considering how many people were also visiting there with us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpy2swEi7L4w9Bn7_LDcvuvjg5kbJ6ql5FnlpymMw0vctBim2UxmT1n-RU6GRx1Z-9Hr7jdSnM7p_zQ_CiUqx9_qUsd5U5LppDgSzcQG61L2gDq-Ru-2dHt4WTRGl8VKlqZsIi470E9Xc/s1600/forbidden+city.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpy2swEi7L4w9Bn7_LDcvuvjg5kbJ6ql5FnlpymMw0vctBim2UxmT1n-RU6GRx1Z-9Hr7jdSnM7p_zQ_CiUqx9_qUsd5U5LppDgSzcQG61L2gDq-Ru-2dHt4WTRGl8VKlqZsIi470E9Xc/s320/forbidden+city.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of crowds</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx0GUa8PN17r1TXIUcqDJD9yckLxd6JBKt5UohKLvA1asBnXyo1qX2GQ8K1kpBBS-pqHtByDiMgA7fNIqZ_fyyEzcLVNyXQCruk3PMyMwnZKYhasuGz43I-2mXnne4uJOSOxK7v3JSNM/s1600/us+and+gate.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx0GUa8PN17r1TXIUcqDJD9yckLxd6JBKt5UohKLvA1asBnXyo1qX2GQ8K1kpBBS-pqHtByDiMgA7fNIqZ_fyyEzcLVNyXQCruk3PMyMwnZKYhasuGz43I-2mXnne4uJOSOxK7v3JSNM/s320/us+and+gate.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Forbidden City gate (partially obstructed by our giant heads)</td></tr>
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The City was beautiful and grand, but since Ben and I have seen approximately 6,000 pagodas and temples since we have arrived in China, we fell a bit short of impressed. Next time, I plan on doing more research or getting an audio tour, so I can appreciate the significance more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihxwKo665z8c9w6exJijKG_p6ILhOkQ482NdJeXvWQSEK_WrC1O_jfi-rB9LPicjLVNaf9xvgBgEae4f6eEYz72s67QkXo_eUbpDwJZnwznoHFx9kuG3Te-TjuFrDHjXL_NHrYMPjhD8/s1600/me+and+fb+gate.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihxwKo665z8c9w6exJijKG_p6ILhOkQ482NdJeXvWQSEK_WrC1O_jfi-rB9LPicjLVNaf9xvgBgEae4f6eEYz72s67QkXo_eUbpDwJZnwznoHFx9kuG3Te-TjuFrDHjXL_NHrYMPjhD8/s320/me+and+fb+gate.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was still pretty cool to be there</td></tr>
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After the FC, we crossed the street and found a hill/park that looked interesting. We met back up with Michelle, who had opted to shop instead of going to the Forbidden City for her 10th time, and climbed some steep steps to the top of this mountainous hill. The views from the top were spectacular.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Sxl_lJMuPuHZROQ1O_KKK195IdAOerRGrACP869xAlumchoIPbdqlOBUs3VSqEMNOC76GBeFYqu9gG4UTn54_9ovRekdcpP9T6elKkFU8dnpBaZQxg6HkbjCVvHwKT8jaagIbNT90sE/s1600/ben+and+the+shan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Sxl_lJMuPuHZROQ1O_KKK195IdAOerRGrACP869xAlumchoIPbdqlOBUs3VSqEMNOC76GBeFYqu9gG4UTn54_9ovRekdcpP9T6elKkFU8dnpBaZQxg6HkbjCVvHwKT8jaagIbNT90sE/s320/ben+and+the+shan.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and <span class="st">Jingshan Hill</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEibqUDo8bfvkR8oRNuTli0amrtBlef0J4SUsuR87f3cvufPsX5kDKE3C1PBERqy-vvfgy7GzmY26kSBNSK8BTrpieMPkzmNAyj_z5PmMdic4weez0URNtTRxk_TmXWTbpbK4FNuuYsMg/s1600/modern+++traditional.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>We were able to see Beijing in every direction for miles and miles since we pretty much in the center. It was amazing to see the historical rooftops and buildings were intertwined with the ultra modern high rises and apartments. It is not often that a city is able to modernize so quickly yet still maintain its strong cultural identity. This is what has impressed me the most about this place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEibqUDo8bfvkR8oRNuTli0amrtBlef0J4SUsuR87f3cvufPsX5kDKE3C1PBERqy-vvfgy7GzmY26kSBNSK8BTrpieMPkzmNAyj_z5PmMdic4weez0URNtTRxk_TmXWTbpbK4FNuuYsMg/s1600/modern+++traditional.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEibqUDo8bfvkR8oRNuTli0amrtBlef0J4SUsuR87f3cvufPsX5kDKE3C1PBERqy-vvfgy7GzmY26kSBNSK8BTrpieMPkzmNAyj_z5PmMdic4weez0URNtTRxk_TmXWTbpbK4FNuuYsMg/s320/modern+++traditional.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful traditional roofs with skyscrapers in the background</td></tr>
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After a very long walk down some lovely shaded streets, we arrived at our hostel and checked-in. We booked a 3-bed room for about $12 a person. It was clean, comfortable, and conveniently located. No complaints! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE-PzzFWZpnyJJ26oIYtuHpBEvumS3Z0W4XBJv8Cpzu5SffUm-_eTYqNQJX0GnJbpdi1wj9-X36nhLEsfjjP52OCn_EJccTjE1_KM_AiknLk1CASV7QUTmji8ScXtbr1tUftxmG5-Iyc/s1600/Leo+hostel.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE-PzzFWZpnyJJ26oIYtuHpBEvumS3Z0W4XBJv8Cpzu5SffUm-_eTYqNQJX0GnJbpdi1wj9-X36nhLEsfjjP52OCn_EJccTjE1_KM_AiknLk1CASV7QUTmji8ScXtbr1tUftxmG5-Iyc/s320/Leo+hostel.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing all the shops to get to our hostel</td></tr>
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After a quick lunch, we headed out to the Summer Palace. By the way, Beijing has a great subway system: super comprehensive and only $0.30 to go anywhere in this huge city (beat that BART!). <br />
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Next we headed to the Summer Palace which was where the emperor and his family would escape the stifling city heat and relax in nature, which was exactly what we did, too. This place is huge-- After climbing some more hills and looking at some more temples, we came to a pretty, blue lake. Since this area was overrun with tourists, we escaped to a more remote place where we talked, played Risk on my iPad, and listened to the nearby sprinkler. Highly enjoyable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UXZHY2DdspM6ZUzxz9Choht4vJP2VBHfiFm4iBj_yVipW7SVBoMy028lhchABZuLU8dGRp8MmBBVirMPS38_5N1YHAlKdsyH-Xwls4DSp1f0GROSNr_Di4vTlYMf1dXZpHPY6YpKRrc/s1600/sp+building.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UXZHY2DdspM6ZUzxz9Choht4vJP2VBHfiFm4iBj_yVipW7SVBoMy028lhchABZuLU8dGRp8MmBBVirMPS38_5N1YHAlKdsyH-Xwls4DSp1f0GROSNr_Di4vTlYMf1dXZpHPY6YpKRrc/s320/sp+building.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the Summer Palace</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben rocks!</td></tr>
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Then we headed back into the city to a very ritzy, hyper Western part of town and consumed the most delicious (and expensive) burger I have had in China. It did not feel like we were in China...until the waitstaff wanted to take our picture for their restaurant wall. Oh well, can't win them all.<br />
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When we got back to our hostel, we crashed, and I had the best night sleep ever.<br />
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Stay tuned for our next post about a pretty great wall!<br />
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<br />Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-12061783063426843422013-05-23T01:25:00.000-07:002013-05-23T02:09:12.726-07:00Chinglish at its Best!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">One of my favorite things about being in China has been experiencing the wonderfully confusing yet amusing Chinglish signs all about the country. One of the various definitions urbandictionary.com provides for "Chinglish" is "broken English produced by people whose mother tongue is Chinese, that results from translating Chinese sentences on a word-by-word basis, instead of conveying the intended meaning (e.g. translating "wo hen xihuan" as "I very like" instead of "I like it a lot"). </span></div>
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This is a good example of why we shouldn't just use Google Translate to translate from one language to another.</div>
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I hope you enjoy looking at these pictures and get to experience a little bit of Chinglish culture with us! :)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"School likes our home, let's afforest together" -Sias Campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvgwNKr_f-nlr_7U8vJ0SzySOLcMNlLt8Tlm7ySjSWgAxzC6McDWpZcJXBkcNGk2DrEzqYeYprJ6b0d3PdXfliTNQq3-gqyVgYubywy04KJHqmuxtsop5sLLZT0_W5KGxxeWzvG3raw4/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvgwNKr_f-nlr_7U8vJ0SzySOLcMNlLt8Tlm7ySjSWgAxzC6McDWpZcJXBkcNGk2DrEzqYeYprJ6b0d3PdXfliTNQq3-gqyVgYubywy04KJHqmuxtsop5sLLZT0_W5KGxxeWzvG3raw4/s320/IMG_0447.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not really Chinglish: "Keep the environment clean"<br />
Don't you just love the mushrooms? :)<br />
-Sias Campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Wife Cake<br />
The fine print: "Thin filling thickness moisturizing soft we hope you enjoy our dessert"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A supermarket on the Sias Campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"GENTIS"??</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep watching the floor! It might do a trick! :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proper attire required?<br />
I guess this is okay, too. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzYE49unYqAFzh6zsDebgeyJ6VhtO8-E6ShS6JmgkHKo0sBjkjkRMH1ckdp9i338uisPah0x3-6CugDUThveTIU9HJqMite8dQFToM4rRQ0uD1K4l_Z5yv8LgjNT2cgxgKWA3dDOCMf0/s1600/IMG_1004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzYE49unYqAFzh6zsDebgeyJ6VhtO8-E6ShS6JmgkHKo0sBjkjkRMH1ckdp9i338uisPah0x3-6CugDUThveTIU9HJqMite8dQFToM4rRQ0uD1K4l_Z5yv8LgjNT2cgxgKWA3dDOCMf0/s640/IMG_1004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"pass The Wind"<br />
"Slow Down"<br />
-Seen on the freeway. One of my favorite signs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"mercy for grass<br />
Please give your"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Flowers for you smile, you have a bypass road around"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrjkL4-UyFuH8HbWzBlsFPUvgide6lwQ1OXBxVONSG4JRLfKQKnEN8nufxVGoUkZ7LOccO2jlW0cvsHS4_z0XnoKe3c9wEqjOrndBhwsugD6gy74oh8u5Zi4QaUR4KpjBNnB1BSuB4JE/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrjkL4-UyFuH8HbWzBlsFPUvgide6lwQ1OXBxVONSG4JRLfKQKnEN8nufxVGoUkZ7LOccO2jlW0cvsHS4_z0XnoKe3c9wEqjOrndBhwsugD6gy74oh8u5Zi4QaUR4KpjBNnB1BSuB4JE/s400/IMG_1189.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just in case you were wondering...no, there wasn't a play anywhere in sight! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recovery and Unrecovery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What if someone was to "safely" climb it? hmmm...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSA6hyphenhyphenzH-omf9L699SDc6fpPJana5XFqMy4uYchtd47U6KmUcvKKAzSGBq-QJ6ZLDpXdE60bX3A2v_Gq1DrMQnvOs4g-o9efcvCsdCp1Orv95Bj4wZjY-3aTrdh6Thm8SwNg15tgADxG4/s1600/IMG_1390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSA6hyphenhyphenzH-omf9L699SDc6fpPJana5XFqMy4uYchtd47U6KmUcvKKAzSGBq-QJ6ZLDpXdE60bX3A2v_Gq1DrMQnvOs4g-o9efcvCsdCp1Orv95Bj4wZjY-3aTrdh6Thm8SwNg15tgADxG4/s640/IMG_1390.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Please appreciate the beauty of flowers and grasses."<br />
Don't forget to appreciate the pomegranate. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mBsacpZDJATM2dbduMOfWG-bXDnZQoHqC03vTIR_pECyF8wKR8TLuJQT8K1OW0tD8_9gBPSm6iV1z5xy9qt50Maq-TgJvb7ZHDpJa_d5LI6F2xq5qIt-sEMCqnSFnUIyAHSbufrr0I4/s1600/IMG_1397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mBsacpZDJATM2dbduMOfWG-bXDnZQoHqC03vTIR_pECyF8wKR8TLuJQT8K1OW0tD8_9gBPSm6iV1z5xy9qt50Maq-TgJvb7ZHDpJa_d5LI6F2xq5qIt-sEMCqnSFnUIyAHSbufrr0I4/s400/IMG_1397.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"NO ANGLING"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgh7qy_vlfwJncIY5TWpVGwkzP8aYOTSJjnxRzxW5onm8l2Ah64DxyvoPmewl63B90aWP-VlueFBkx3rP48-wrPmlsaQjly7LxDfskcF3kZzG0NvvFTPlqzqlHT0OK3JPOeQ3JMG_88s/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgh7qy_vlfwJncIY5TWpVGwkzP8aYOTSJjnxRzxW5onm8l2Ah64DxyvoPmewl63B90aWP-VlueFBkx3rP48-wrPmlsaQjly7LxDfskcF3kZzG0NvvFTPlqzqlHT0OK3JPOeQ3JMG_88s/s400/IMG_1400.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"THE AUTO-INDUCTION ASKS RESPECTFULLY THE USE"<br />
-Another favorite of mine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEkOQA8eVIC_xH-H51dQMpsSriNbBoKLKbMlYAlvidVRGTHHOyd2RjIQwKhK6qizNNgHU7Eu29mKiUOqsnUnKImzIz6ZMEfkrTxMdPhBj2po1mtsQ3CH2S__OTjSQzLhxJx30oQRUtgw/s1600/IMG_2644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEkOQA8eVIC_xH-H51dQMpsSriNbBoKLKbMlYAlvidVRGTHHOyd2RjIQwKhK6qizNNgHU7Eu29mKiUOqsnUnKImzIz6ZMEfkrTxMdPhBj2po1mtsQ3CH2S__OTjSQzLhxJx30oQRUtgw/s400/IMG_2644.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'nuff said</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeD5Ohv4tpqwmcX0pjXg8TCbTC14UCwzSTGdbcRmRIns_j5Mmvzp16zjdO57HNb8ii-CA7CtxMU5zEUqptvadVG7qc_3TzlsRSX3XyEHk3nob4YUJQPq_fD5V1jy3RF2YKObGOaEMq-s8/s1600/IMG_3009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeD5Ohv4tpqwmcX0pjXg8TCbTC14UCwzSTGdbcRmRIns_j5Mmvzp16zjdO57HNb8ii-CA7CtxMU5zEUqptvadVG7qc_3TzlsRSX3XyEHk3nob4YUJQPq_fD5V1jy3RF2YKObGOaEMq-s8/s320/IMG_3009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I helplessly watched the workers install this sign as I walked to work in the morning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoNKYFTfMvNfYkZEJVWUf2kztW-4rivU2E1yLyqG-d5dzt35MtjdfMkgnm83ZYqVVyQAGOMEthz07wglISBj7A12hbJRbu4vkb_j3iDkCpDYZj4b9XflYkUoGZJOnowauH7H25KFV5no/s1600/IMG_3098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoNKYFTfMvNfYkZEJVWUf2kztW-4rivU2E1yLyqG-d5dzt35MtjdfMkgnm83ZYqVVyQAGOMEthz07wglISBj7A12hbJRbu4vkb_j3iDkCpDYZj4b9XflYkUoGZJOnowauH7H25KFV5no/s640/IMG_3098.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite signs! Seen while climbing one of the five<br />
sacred mountains of China (aka Songshan).<br />
"Dear friends: The mountain trails are songshan, would you please when<br />
mountain spirit is loosened, when breathing, general per<br />
capita smooth round trip."<br />
Don't even ask...I have no clue! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp3BOWomtg-Hbo2GwtpiHu8sZYTF7sBo17HdwoYB_v_QKeFfSbCP4PBfFei5tOR3giy6e7W-iR_-axu0lZUov12Z9at9q-d9tP876JUaxv2OM6MzP_LxgSUprcLcDSwK9rvPr6F9iPGM/s1600/IMG_3209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp3BOWomtg-Hbo2GwtpiHu8sZYTF7sBo17HdwoYB_v_QKeFfSbCP4PBfFei5tOR3giy6e7W-iR_-axu0lZUov12Z9at9q-d9tP876JUaxv2OM6MzP_LxgSUprcLcDSwK9rvPr6F9iPGM/s640/IMG_3209.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"No stopping in case of fallings"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbyOFd9SaHGtFJN2gbyGZX5BwQEZcgpNaAyaB3rcau6oI_Nq1SZEU-vZIPFZS1NyOaw4uN4Gi2uJpAoqUCqcGMtNYQ63N8ZMVQ4RL6ragto4c59k3rgkwOvN5n2NNeCADZDRyAxA66Y0/s1600/IMG_3248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbyOFd9SaHGtFJN2gbyGZX5BwQEZcgpNaAyaB3rcau6oI_Nq1SZEU-vZIPFZS1NyOaw4uN4Gi2uJpAoqUCqcGMtNYQ63N8ZMVQ4RL6ragto4c59k3rgkwOvN5n2NNeCADZDRyAxA66Y0/s320/IMG_3248.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wait...what?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgDI4brrCB6BoxwHI6N7jRy0TszVBB317neWEG2aNtccwDaEGw-q8IrY0F25RT2L1nv9oPJ_D655gx6f0FoKC6TlV5UEtRrj4uQFj_zzKmtp_Eo2oQtlqNuDBRwnV14RfkZV75bZgfI0/s1600/IMG_3315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgDI4brrCB6BoxwHI6N7jRy0TszVBB317neWEG2aNtccwDaEGw-q8IrY0F25RT2L1nv9oPJ_D655gx6f0FoKC6TlV5UEtRrj4uQFj_zzKmtp_Eo2oQtlqNuDBRwnV14RfkZV75bZgfI0/s320/IMG_3315.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another trash can! So glad they "retrieve"!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg0PZ3elh4GdoDL7qww6_T2JMqxLTcMfP5jjhMU-1w-9rO6dZnxdo9RdX3E2z8zicDb9m2gn8Uoad2Dz8P3H7ygVA6TtlRbwys4cImpQ9aPpSzorfWHNqg6_aONTqiVzt-z1LOfjk5n0/s1600/IMG_3316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg0PZ3elh4GdoDL7qww6_T2JMqxLTcMfP5jjhMU-1w-9rO6dZnxdo9RdX3E2z8zicDb9m2gn8Uoad2Dz8P3H7ygVA6TtlRbwys4cImpQ9aPpSzorfWHNqg6_aONTqiVzt-z1LOfjk5n0/s400/IMG_3316.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yet another ban!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbY9822uPo9e-W4ORdwhEDBk2h7kwxakL-LkHpcoqOVBeQYidneCSN2QQwOeExQmHModf1hc5KLUiZYA8DUE8HF8GxrWQFAua-1kQvKThhgBjpWhVg1LP_2wBgiHXv_eRq8pEIpVfYn4/s1600/IMG_3469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbY9822uPo9e-W4ORdwhEDBk2h7kwxakL-LkHpcoqOVBeQYidneCSN2QQwOeExQmHModf1hc5KLUiZYA8DUE8HF8GxrWQFAua-1kQvKThhgBjpWhVg1LP_2wBgiHXv_eRq8pEIpVfYn4/s320/IMG_3469.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm pretty sure this was on a Friday.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEukXV4qkA8na_y9q8256k8ykpRONFMni1AzAhKaCHS1ltjApq0tK8bvOfcXIV4U3jB8X_2pnneTPuVVeVDFzreADCta-SbGtq3OAZmOaFaCjL_EF3RG10P1dwK2V1wnQIYgoW9tqn98/s1600/IMG_3494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEukXV4qkA8na_y9q8256k8ykpRONFMni1AzAhKaCHS1ltjApq0tK8bvOfcXIV4U3jB8X_2pnneTPuVVeVDFzreADCta-SbGtq3OAZmOaFaCjL_EF3RG10P1dwK2V1wnQIYgoW9tqn98/s320/IMG_3494.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new kind of "online" shopping??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8E_6zGzHkH0lpOJghhh5jTn6dCQdkqekX5H-8HUMfoiKQWUB3PVXrhTFHOwgRCV2-b-N4PxpOr1Ezi5VLnJJHC7XF3QrLJr5NEkLPGxQjbcMEDXjFWVh0Q-fVjv9yTyLKbQThffuiMD0/s1600/IMG_3581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8E_6zGzHkH0lpOJghhh5jTn6dCQdkqekX5H-8HUMfoiKQWUB3PVXrhTFHOwgRCV2-b-N4PxpOr1Ezi5VLnJJHC7XF3QrLJr5NEkLPGxQjbcMEDXjFWVh0Q-fVjv9yTyLKbQThffuiMD0/s400/IMG_3581.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Appropriative Road for Sightseeing"<br />
Entrance of Walking and Clinbing way"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3HNTP5C96H1uBMDrfCodDsNfrzTOG23tRvy3qnatdpCewKPovi3-ngvkBBslMcW2CHp760r3JlsjifRiNOn2LO2KSCnf10QXwGZGHFnX-W8KSSQrfpYvfWwacxD2x9fhc9jBvtJh89A/s1600/IMG_3587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3HNTP5C96H1uBMDrfCodDsNfrzTOG23tRvy3qnatdpCewKPovi3-ngvkBBslMcW2CHp760r3JlsjifRiNOn2LO2KSCnf10QXwGZGHFnX-W8KSSQrfpYvfWwacxD2x9fhc9jBvtJh89A/s640/IMG_3587.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel practicing her good manners. Can you see her pinky? :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQddBTkarY3b9eYoayBy20Nf7Xzfx1fyAn_p5uGvUJvbhJBhhqcV92PTHVjXEVpJGYg49vbqEomaRV3VeKsqoG63BaiXdup-kTQJRlAosSv-aWmpk7WlPS7PWr8TPjxznVJ4iHm6IA5sA/s1600/IMG_3603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQddBTkarY3b9eYoayBy20Nf7Xzfx1fyAn_p5uGvUJvbhJBhhqcV92PTHVjXEVpJGYg49vbqEomaRV3VeKsqoG63BaiXdup-kTQJRlAosSv-aWmpk7WlPS7PWr8TPjxznVJ4iHm6IA5sA/s320/IMG_3603.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I won't even go there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GC0wPtbFcPMMPJkWsP6gn4w4PbbldloZVnAfpbLiQYvhP_nLS1p0O06HkY1YcnSA_Pro2Z0-UgYo4Z6m__dK_NdI4U68gcH-xY1YhRDk2A5wN2L-79B_WX7TMzsQiEH4_2hO6ePvtXY/s1600/IMG_3612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GC0wPtbFcPMMPJkWsP6gn4w4PbbldloZVnAfpbLiQYvhP_nLS1p0O06HkY1YcnSA_Pro2Z0-UgYo4Z6m__dK_NdI4U68gcH-xY1YhRDk2A5wN2L-79B_WX7TMzsQiEH4_2hO6ePvtXY/s320/IMG_3612.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is pretty awesome! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUJ94JH799_efU0ip-m_1E-1NrFa4-FrEoqvTT0elVAIEAfk8pVH1JvN-7AoSn8UcUihCdoa64flsdvlnEpxlf2IPXHFIVr0rZVY-429nT-dr4f6nzMPWRHr1imzLn_0qMFYQbB88wH8/s1600/IMG_3736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUJ94JH799_efU0ip-m_1E-1NrFa4-FrEoqvTT0elVAIEAfk8pVH1JvN-7AoSn8UcUihCdoa64flsdvlnEpxlf2IPXHFIVr0rZVY-429nT-dr4f6nzMPWRHr1imzLn_0qMFYQbB88wH8/s400/IMG_3736.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A coffee and sweets shop in a mall in Zhengzhou.<br />
"Candy tear ever & again"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiC2_G7FIpXJ_KASDUpdlPivg8EtN5TMq0bIL4nq86sixB9ywIaR_N7GsCEDrUoXhIw4Fd3ahJJ1tpzKH3FxaegbcZICxD1y28hpD6qvqwPr-9GKHcgYMekR2_y3dho7QJsaPZTeyT9U/s1600/IMG_3737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiC2_G7FIpXJ_KASDUpdlPivg8EtN5TMq0bIL4nq86sixB9ywIaR_N7GsCEDrUoXhIw4Fd3ahJJ1tpzKH3FxaegbcZICxD1y28hpD6qvqwPr-9GKHcgYMekR2_y3dho7QJsaPZTeyT9U/s400/IMG_3737.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little ice cream shoppe inside a mall in Zhengzhou.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PYlUfVK9f0cAkokvIq7Q6kPWRqsuK9go1weR9uSxHEyl0m6oA_dapor73Nq9j6i13HppcBpg2jL8ARmbgp8DnWZ-U3RuMAEDo5dvCMJB2wOqOgYTX7FmTgoPkLWrqMgfHSfzh8cr454/s1600/IMG_3914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PYlUfVK9f0cAkokvIq7Q6kPWRqsuK9go1weR9uSxHEyl0m6oA_dapor73Nq9j6i13HppcBpg2jL8ARmbgp8DnWZ-U3RuMAEDo5dvCMJB2wOqOgYTX7FmTgoPkLWrqMgfHSfzh8cr454/s640/IMG_3914.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a little fun with a sign in Beijing's Summer Palace. Yes, we went both ways!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzvO_bhANc_57XcSVvKBPHOCTz452TBQYP7oCz7tgpsr_Ky85Z-iuiCOAhxe1ZcXYAztBGk8e1IF0UgQzkoXaMPQeuAVpN3LLQSJG0JqDQUAZwQPrqBnX1FQZ7h6FV7HvtHgFNEYJgyc/s1600/IMG_3944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzvO_bhANc_57XcSVvKBPHOCTz452TBQYP7oCz7tgpsr_Ky85Z-iuiCOAhxe1ZcXYAztBGk8e1IF0UgQzkoXaMPQeuAVpN3LLQSJG0JqDQUAZwQPrqBnX1FQZ7h6FV7HvtHgFNEYJgyc/s320/IMG_3944.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance fee booth at the Great Wall (Mutianyu section).</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4PsM_VzFuTTnqsLUQllI3-YzZ3r6vxMJTcc8uD6qAv1Fbqnu9hwx9yribPLrBz7zsVQWr6cEUshRV-aea9Q-sxbNm5jLfPQqYQBkBaNDzNpJo5-UgolGVv7OtPvVkgxfLC5Qvgi4b_Y/s1600/IMG_3945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4PsM_VzFuTTnqsLUQllI3-YzZ3r6vxMJTcc8uD6qAv1Fbqnu9hwx9yribPLrBz7zsVQWr6cEUshRV-aea9Q-sxbNm5jLfPQqYQBkBaNDzNpJo5-UgolGVv7OtPvVkgxfLC5Qvgi4b_Y/s320/IMG_3945.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This actually makes sense!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIKaL-0Eoj3zCjJpf1ClQHIxuhcwV1hhrVEFzjAgACMVpAEaOTFtLH_zuu-P0Pe9SeYOiObCGSpf0UtABsezepSOIr4XnSo7PEEQV80dkz7J3JQH_YLsg2oVK6vV6TfCvPEVvZ1rXcRE/s1600/IMG_1220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIKaL-0Eoj3zCjJpf1ClQHIxuhcwV1hhrVEFzjAgACMVpAEaOTFtLH_zuu-P0Pe9SeYOiObCGSpf0UtABsezepSOIr4XnSo7PEEQV80dkz7J3JQH_YLsg2oVK6vV6TfCvPEVvZ1rXcRE/s400/IMG_1220.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrQrXCX-hOS4iXsOcjJTI6XUtDHkc4nF40xhO-s8qUuWZh-8jh2uE4h4bnwY0OFjt72BBba8F4QOe2ARDvGJ3bw7PaA1LcvaGvTfux6Al0Ht9kdKGyqfjDsAbTZ4l0u6wRJdd3PM9vas/s1600/312125_989592986726_1339795095_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrQrXCX-hOS4iXsOcjJTI6XUtDHkc4nF40xhO-s8qUuWZh-8jh2uE4h4bnwY0OFjt72BBba8F4QOe2ARDvGJ3bw7PaA1LcvaGvTfux6Al0Ht9kdKGyqfjDsAbTZ4l0u6wRJdd3PM9vas/s640/312125_989592986726_1339795095_n.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of AshleyRieger.<br />"Please cherish your life! No crossing!</td></tr>
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These are only a few of the signs that are seen around the country. As much as we do laugh at awesome signs like the ones above, they are quite useful most of the time!<br />
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Quite often, signs are only in Chinese. So Chinglish or English, we'll take it.<br />
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One of the cool things about teaching in China is the opportunity to teach our students to not just use their dictionary to translate things into english...or else, you know what happens. Yes, we deal with quite a bit of Chinglish in the classroom.<br />
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Hope you all are having a great day! I know we are! :)<br />
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Blessings,<br />
Benjamin<br />
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<br />Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-83729832592941588422013-05-16T19:29:00.001-07:002013-05-16T23:50:57.183-07:00Cultural Faux PasAs English teachers, part of our job is educate students about the various differences between Chinese and Western culture. I always stress how important it is to know what is considered rude or taboo in American or Western culture to avoid offending us. Examples of these include asking someone their weight, age, salary, and love life (all of which I have been asked and sometimes in the same 2 minute conversation). <br />
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We also teach a plethora of etiquette no-nos like picking your nose in public. One time, right in the middle of one of these lessons on manners, a student proceeds to hawk the loudest loogie I have ever heard. This sound, which sounded like came from the deepest, juiciest recesses of his lungs, manages to drown out my voice and reverberate throughout the entire room. After he spits out this practically solid mass on my classroom floor, my face could not hide my absolute horror. Thankfully the class (including the boy) laughed at this, and then I expressly forbad any spitting in class. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmUvZZZ3-pY_0hA04G3GHLSG6aUETsSUSBUGzMIbl2RjwaraMnzBmACUFwwtDVJVTSq1oN7gkDzxWAp6hJfE2rqyxGHu_1_ZIkKqtArkJBmxGPWjjUH94A4oi87s68MKVPpjLSdgnvzY/s640/blogger-image-837522827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmUvZZZ3-pY_0hA04G3GHLSG6aUETsSUSBUGzMIbl2RjwaraMnzBmACUFwwtDVJVTSq1oN7gkDzxWAp6hJfE2rqyxGHu_1_ZIkKqtArkJBmxGPWjjUH94A4oi87s68MKVPpjLSdgnvzY/s320/blogger-image-837522827.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need to post this sign in my class</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
During these culture times, I take the opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture from my students. Some interesting facts: never put your chopsticks straight up in the rice because this depicts a grave, don't wear bright green hats in China--it's a sign that your wife is cheating on you, and the number four is very taboo because it sounds like death-- cell phone numbers rarely have 4s in them because that is especially unlucky.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xzOa8aFX96tEIXCx_U9anLdts1MZO2RVW8T1F4XLkQYM_FC2gzz-uPutdbBjc4EOQ3u8_wRdQUb99DDPfr6NWP8JTTlkS-bmPdlXhV22t66VJ4oO_b8eT_aZ5Y1OcZpnpvUwTZO34zs/s640/blogger-image--1236226140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xzOa8aFX96tEIXCx_U9anLdts1MZO2RVW8T1F4XLkQYM_FC2gzz-uPutdbBjc4EOQ3u8_wRdQUb99DDPfr6NWP8JTTlkS-bmPdlXhV22t66VJ4oO_b8eT_aZ5Y1OcZpnpvUwTZO34zs/s320/blogger-image--1236226140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I try my best to absorb all of these superstitions and cultural taboos so that I can more be a better guest in this country. However, unfortunately, I fail quite often.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QqyF2E7dv0YTW4HSX_OacykShwK17B_DrS5kUwJlM3ZFKjIrSImR2BcsaW44LgBhPfuE6K_w78rJa93DjS0kBB-P8uqSW8QBOwABcVF8cDdN8A4y1hUBL3akv8AoAyyyA0hGxHyD9Dk/s1600/Snapseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QqyF2E7dv0YTW4HSX_OacykShwK17B_DrS5kUwJlM3ZFKjIrSImR2BcsaW44LgBhPfuE6K_w78rJa93DjS0kBB-P8uqSW8QBOwABcVF8cDdN8A4y1hUBL3akv8AoAyyyA0hGxHyD9Dk/s320/Snapseed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing short sleeves before May is a major no-no. Even if it's over 90 deg!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
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My most recent failure (that I am aware of) was made known to me whilst reading a book on teaching in China. In it, the man talked about how shocked students were when he began using red chalk to write on the blackboard. Normally, red is a very lucky color, but apparently it is taboo to use red to write. It is especially horrible to use red ink when writing a person's name because it means you want them to die or they will die soon. I believe it is because grave inscriptions were often done in red.<br />
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If you haven't already guessed where this is going, I did precisely this during my last midterm. Since our exams are all done orally, we require students to sign their name on a piece of paper before taking an exam to have proof that they actually took it. I used a black pen to write my notes and gave my red pen for my students to sign their name. <br />
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While writing, several of them expressed surprise at the red color. Stupid me just thought they were expecting black because my near identical pen and notes were nearby. One student even exclaimed, "This is red! Why is this red?" I think I said because red brings good luck (or so I thought!). <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4w9yKwPd_QT9dA4zm2bpHYUw62ankAlSUQxg3QJ5fzPbxz2t4Gz1RmqNLhos-uAf4cFX3WVMXr05DM_T8vtSJGB0ozVdSJnUkM-kEa7qf82HPlP6ULKQlhx_sCUCtnooczgSM3V2avJI/s640/blogger-image-2107835626.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4w9yKwPd_QT9dA4zm2bpHYUw62ankAlSUQxg3QJ5fzPbxz2t4Gz1RmqNLhos-uAf4cFX3WVMXr05DM_T8vtSJGB0ozVdSJnUkM-kEa7qf82HPlP6ULKQlhx_sCUCtnooczgSM3V2avJI/s320/blogger-image-2107835626.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Death!!!</td></tr></tbody></table>These poor students, already so nervous about exam taking, now they must deal with the possibility of the impending death, too! Tomorrow, I plan to apologize to my students and reiterate the importance of telling me when I make faux pas like these. <br />
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More Muradyan adventures stories coming soon! We have done quite a bit of traveling recently which (kind of) explains the lack of updates. So that just means more interesting (than this) posts in the future.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zyZ8PJQcT7X3iV1LtxNBB6lGItUV0vQgu8zerb5i5_KTFcCSe5U6RQC-wS8dEyL_SQYtLuYNSS6UAwj67EXL6a0pQx1j74ZkhQlbaWE2Oa38cF61GgH0dWvdVW06etVur9bp-kmwpkI/s1600/IMG_3618.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zyZ8PJQcT7X3iV1LtxNBB6lGItUV0vQgu8zerb5i5_KTFcCSe5U6RQC-wS8dEyL_SQYtLuYNSS6UAwj67EXL6a0pQx1j74ZkhQlbaWE2Oa38cF61GgH0dWvdVW06etVur9bp-kmwpkI/s1600/IMG_3618.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our many mountain trips</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
Much love to you all! <br />
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</a></div>Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-70665432988203388212013-04-09T17:08:00.001-07:002013-04-09T17:08:17.785-07:00Home Sweet Home<style type="text/css">
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</style> Some of you might be curious about
where we live here at Sias University; some of you may not be curious
(in this case, stop reading). All foreign faculty live in two large
buildings called Peter Hall. This place includes our apartments,
dining hall, cafe/lobby/meeting place, laundry room, conference room,
and much more. As you may guess, we spend a heck of a lot of time
here.
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqHQiMCxkX2uY6-DmAHsTBbk_-PSrYbCpRdVQP1yQa1_GNwS612IyRDq7tKwNzsX2eoYjyLiIGryxnDCbxB9TpkpzbodagHUjm7wEJP_kijFulXCvk6nbLhyphenhyphenrFyKe1_MqpmRXXTIeVfk/s1600/bridge.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqHQiMCxkX2uY6-DmAHsTBbk_-PSrYbCpRdVQP1yQa1_GNwS612IyRDq7tKwNzsX2eoYjyLiIGryxnDCbxB9TpkpzbodagHUjm7wEJP_kijFulXCvk6nbLhyphenhyphenrFyKe1_MqpmRXXTIeVfk/s320/bridge.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ONLY place for American coffee within 50 miles</td></tr>
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It is a great place for the most part--
clean, modern, and spacious, especially considering our surroundings.
Let's begin the tour in our front lobby. This glass ceiling-ed place
connects the old Peter Hall with the new one. It is where we get our
mail, meet with students, celebrate holidays, and drink (American!)
coffee. We were really fortunate to come when we did because they
just finished construction in October, and it already feels like an
integral part of Peter Hall.
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We often meet students for coffee in the Bridge Cafe or in one of the side meeting rooms (to pretend we are important and official) located
next to the lobby.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0WFIYZAHQhDOpsyxyBykHu1Nrjny4dsv0fJzjfPO1s8LAnl1bSDa6hPdAS0scvLUL3pKwj_WUhcmJESpDYOOO8-qflAbAmg6RwOakAU4Gjpv1iruZ9GREH21pjhpaRoUGh8095P0DfU/s1600/lobby.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0WFIYZAHQhDOpsyxyBykHu1Nrjny4dsv0fJzjfPO1s8LAnl1bSDa6hPdAS0scvLUL3pKwj_WUhcmJESpDYOOO8-qflAbAmg6RwOakAU4Gjpv1iruZ9GREH21pjhpaRoUGh8095P0DfU/s320/lobby.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our impressive front lobby</td></tr>
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In the old Peter Hall, we have our much
loved or much despised (depending on who you ask) dining hall. Here
we get three meals each day-- some Western foods: waffles, parmesan
chicken, and even Mexican are served on regular basis. We also get
lots of Chinese dishes and, of course, rice. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgQvfC02TwsvWpLg-PuIQqX2YGFyPA58hNJK5ru1y0wS_Gbxpdh65x5JnQ0LWSWrQB_VuKBTfEctSZlL7rraTth4koi8wAD8yS7zSOM_kEhG2LEa0gyBX3_6PDxBDzWGA7kbPhfiHLVc/s1600/buffet.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgQvfC02TwsvWpLg-PuIQqX2YGFyPA58hNJK5ru1y0wS_Gbxpdh65x5JnQ0LWSWrQB_VuKBTfEctSZlL7rraTth4koi8wAD8yS7zSOM_kEhG2LEa0gyBX3_6PDxBDzWGA7kbPhfiHLVc/s320/buffet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our typical Monday buffet dinner of Chinese foods and a macaroni dish </td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you venture up to the 5<sup>th</sup>
floor (elevators are for the weak), and go all the way down the hall,
you will find the best flat in the building-- ours! Our home has
definitely been a work in progress, but we feel very settled and at
home in our little one bedroom, one office, and one living room
apartment. We painted, moved furniture, and bought appliances,
pillows, and plants all this year to make our place feel more cosy.<br />
<br />Before pictures: <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWCbeV4VbdAKQBBO6GbxAMuQXEXxyR3s_goEi2CNnF2SWOo_EvwTjycyW50bemVbvo9_4EscBIHLBZauqVikOu4fY9y3sPJKk1CB5GaAeGIHiAKoh6cP4RhnrzlWeCr72GiErpmL7_C8/s1600/old+living+room.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWCbeV4VbdAKQBBO6GbxAMuQXEXxyR3s_goEi2CNnF2SWOo_EvwTjycyW50bemVbvo9_4EscBIHLBZauqVikOu4fY9y3sPJKk1CB5GaAeGIHiAKoh6cP4RhnrzlWeCr72GiErpmL7_C8/s320/old+living+room.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our jaundice yellow, sparse living room/front room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnUblr4O2mg4JbaqUKpwGe_DmxwhB1qCUJP6QGIEhSOs-ml_eYjhTk4Kzc5JjNPE601klyjTe0oR3os3dkAnCBe4fIkBfAIPgjNq93WMhQTk9H8yPFtQcxSmvnn3mm07NIDBTYxymtok/s1600/photo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnUblr4O2mg4JbaqUKpwGe_DmxwhB1qCUJP6QGIEhSOs-ml_eYjhTk4Kzc5JjNPE601klyjTe0oR3os3dkAnCBe4fIkBfAIPgjNq93WMhQTk9H8yPFtQcxSmvnn3mm07NIDBTYxymtok/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our backroom that served as an office and laundry drying room (and sock art display)</td></tr>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMcJPfkab2RHLpN-7nBEP28Oz9Yt5gvgvrVNDKQAWPpsCduupoXIZLKdopszqvsrfyDKN7E6wPRMM0P9jHIFfUmeLwMxlrpIiD1i8sfytlHLwUrsQvSymx4BlO28xsaPwCIZr7HJY3mU/s320/IMG_0426.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our kitchen before the sprucing and my beloved toaster oven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMv5jct2ZSfN0yjnfQTSlGNSqOhbVTQhJpM611RO2NWFj4Fu_C7oVC59yX8Gx-2fuUMX6UW5_h1Ewi_1H6ni4zcP6FoM0v7h8g6b43O18r5odiq5O7V_NobspczeNRnhPDpNut-kTP978/s1600/IMG_0423.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMv5jct2ZSfN0yjnfQTSlGNSqOhbVTQhJpM611RO2NWFj4Fu_C7oVC59yX8Gx-2fuUMX6UW5_h1Ewi_1H6ni4zcP6FoM0v7h8g6b43O18r5odiq5O7V_NobspczeNRnhPDpNut-kTP978/s320/IMG_0423.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bedroom-- complete with a large, Chinese king sized bed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrsynIc_25BJQx4pTg8jGOoRZmYIjOVcBdjhFFoYHpo-RImFN309vMdBo_pG4Lxsb-EC2N3Gf2DF7PALWSjQnkzrTPvX41oIRBrIr2XD7v4rcGMrQ4qY2FmsEwBO4c1GG7PWc3P3c-6s/s1600/IMG_0425.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrsynIc_25BJQx4pTg8jGOoRZmYIjOVcBdjhFFoYHpo-RImFN309vMdBo_pG4Lxsb-EC2N3Gf2DF7PALWSjQnkzrTPvX41oIRBrIr2XD7v4rcGMrQ4qY2FmsEwBO4c1GG7PWc3P3c-6s/s320/IMG_0425.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bathroom-- no squatty, thankfully!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The after pictures!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKC5HZUVi8i6j3ZrLxP2QtG5HxG5xLMIKSm3mGnf_HIaS8-dzFhLpqiRVm0LLihFBqSAVSr35eGB8k1rtKgYmntnr_CuxFwIcnQBjNUQGVhMmM9z-tSwZl0_zzBUCo5rOk2rXTPtsGAc/s320/ben+at+desk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our lovely front entry and office</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpm7os6Cn8Hf2q_0sO_vfz384pIjRo8zs2i9Zq59wuYW_jcmI6gi6HvFMM0fU9Ei2XB4_kJYswR5jJqECAENYeDg5a1yvcIBzHm2KHORF0X-wGcU-APTBfgM__fIMNY7Ix-9waLmmUGY/s1600/office.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpm7os6Cn8Hf2q_0sO_vfz384pIjRo8zs2i9Zq59wuYW_jcmI6gi6HvFMM0fU9Ei2XB4_kJYswR5jJqECAENYeDg5a1yvcIBzHm2KHORF0X-wGcU-APTBfgM__fIMNY7Ix-9waLmmUGY/s320/office.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben spends a lot of his time at his desk!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ik1O2iWZzulnu5B8F5aWNc9pDoeuM_tK873-Z-LXSS5K9YYXXDaieiJesupDuU2WwgTUCdLR4OMlL6-NIGRt7zqXIeqHFOYYyDKfK8hEDP5yDSKU22kWz7xQS4WQan6teSYYW6e7tG8/s1600/living+room.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ik1O2iWZzulnu5B8F5aWNc9pDoeuM_tK873-Z-LXSS5K9YYXXDaieiJesupDuU2WwgTUCdLR4OMlL6-NIGRt7zqXIeqHFOYYyDKfK8hEDP5yDSKU22kWz7xQS4WQan6teSYYW6e7tG8/s320/living+room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bright and blue living room!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFNoQw8rq_7G8XXtkg_WlRiidpKsgtVAf5W94HR8vRlzngjiYg7RLRQKd5cnJtYbhwROuC8DmJbYB73MOyJveIMC085PGRpaEcD16OMRYBHKqLwNcJdwXOTYRSLT-zE9g8sdAkdcVIzE/s1600/living+room+table.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFNoQw8rq_7G8XXtkg_WlRiidpKsgtVAf5W94HR8vRlzngjiYg7RLRQKd5cnJtYbhwROuC8DmJbYB73MOyJveIMC085PGRpaEcD16OMRYBHKqLwNcJdwXOTYRSLT-zE9g8sdAkdcVIzE/s320/living+room+table.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It also doubles as my office and our entertainment room!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We love having our students and friends
over, and with our little hot plate and toaster oven, we've even
managed to turn out some pretty spectacular meals! Homemade pizza,
fajitas, and all different kinds of soups are only some of the things
we've made during our time here. Cooking in China is definitely a
challenge, but I enjoy hunting for available/substitutable
ingredients, figuring out temperamental stoves and ovens, and cooking
things like breads and chicken stock completely <span style="font-style: normal;">from
scratch. </span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMqj6uHgbyI86MIc0xBjtF9KjQSZ1qBCBzOmFFzn4t6LxaOnu5ivp6rffsNaOraN-djOcmqJ-6_1dnIcXO-3ft5jz3pdhxIGbDjq2xFAmDAuVZ3BoIMKT2vBuMmdShkRepfOxJFtSneg/s1600/kitchen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMqj6uHgbyI86MIc0xBjtF9KjQSZ1qBCBzOmFFzn4t6LxaOnu5ivp6rffsNaOraN-djOcmqJ-6_1dnIcXO-3ft5jz3pdhxIGbDjq2xFAmDAuVZ3BoIMKT2vBuMmdShkRepfOxJFtSneg/s320/kitchen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our microscopic, but functional kitchen/hallway </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjost__4vlTlwy_BhEXPsFXafkNY40oCZMUdKg_rAVQsue5BGw35leIKN51FDKbL0S86u20fKQt86hRtx6tk1YIhcNxcg4Z8_985cFBjCzlhmxfqIqqfrvk8qO9AKmp5XBYAe89dvzEoAo/s1600/yummy+food.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjost__4vlTlwy_BhEXPsFXafkNY40oCZMUdKg_rAVQsue5BGw35leIKN51FDKbL0S86u20fKQt86hRtx6tk1YIhcNxcg4Z8_985cFBjCzlhmxfqIqqfrvk8qO9AKmp5XBYAe89dvzEoAo/s320/yummy+food.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">omelet with cheese and avocado, roasted potatoes, apples, kiwi, and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> homemade muffin from Lucy! <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Plus hazelnut coffee and sriracha! </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well, that about completes our grand
Peter Hall tour! Hope you enjoyed it, and if there is anything else
you are curious about life here, please let us know!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-70483627882217578292013-03-18T16:23:00.003-07:002013-03-19T00:50:25.592-07:00Working Hard, Playing Hard, Eating Hard<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMexCEO0QNfS_oPoQXWn72ht_DJVhpM4XnDKjIEokpstnXZmpXGUgrOhiMxOCA_61fEiG8Rj79q5bgPoxqJcwjiRUnJwLgB4n1lW9Kh7jC6UQRVjMaSAhJeKINBOQ4hHpJLl4344rNno/s1600/257700_10200145131167328_27516120_o.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTwIgb5BosljgG7IhTGcvoeUT9IZ_iL74tuYkOjKEBFsBdiZhUn3o8K8x5zITjp4nstKhc2f7b8oxM1Y05D28pCaFhBCwhizcyDROp7O8rU6fGx9-fX8XQlWsHB2Vx8vEUBenzPQIHfw/s1600/893015_10200838496581030_81877056_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTwIgb5BosljgG7IhTGcvoeUT9IZ_iL74tuYkOjKEBFsBdiZhUn3o8K8x5zITjp4nstKhc2f7b8oxM1Y05D28pCaFhBCwhizcyDROp7O8rU6fGx9-fX8XQlWsHB2Vx8vEUBenzPQIHfw/s320/893015_10200838496581030_81877056_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Happy St. Paddy's Day! photo credit: Nancy Nan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
So now you know that we are staying and
a little about why we are staying, we want to share a little bit more
about how great Sias University and the foreign community is here.
There are about 120 teachers and some administrators from all around
American and the world who are working at Sias.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdH6c1rnnDiGXXL_m3mLiAmjQNhIT7Vo1btAAU-Q2D3o45RN4t3oH1C1iTEsOn-QqjKPNkFZzEchdOJpYY5kXB7Ok4cT8M6VzOlu2ykhnrBoCTzdxl7AIBARRrpEyI3NVbYV3c245KDpk/s1600/893023_10200838499581105_31302909_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdH6c1rnnDiGXXL_m3mLiAmjQNhIT7Vo1btAAU-Q2D3o45RN4t3oH1C1iTEsOn-QqjKPNkFZzEchdOJpYY5kXB7Ok4cT8M6VzOlu2ykhnrBoCTzdxl7AIBARRrpEyI3NVbYV3c245KDpk/s320/893023_10200838499581105_31302909_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Homemade Peppermint Patties! MMMM by Nancy Nan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Even though we all have different
backgrounds, beliefs, and accents, we manage to all rally together a
few times a year to share our love of delicious baked treats! Years
ago some genius/saint had the brilliant idea to host a bake sale
filled with foods that we miss dearly to raise money for a wonderful
orphanage outreach organization called Bring Me Hope.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UD926DWFqXtGr0h8MAbWpqFhKyndELmlqCY7J1dCiPeldEZcqIvDvedPZiqh9fX7SOILTjkt5sW_K_CH4CMqRwB30sAxsQZ-8o4jEbT2F8W4eURI3WC6ndN7dDl2NnPfdwL2ML4kSuQ/s1600/887416_10200838491180895_943533105_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UD926DWFqXtGr0h8MAbWpqFhKyndELmlqCY7J1dCiPeldEZcqIvDvedPZiqh9fX7SOILTjkt5sW_K_CH4CMqRwB30sAxsQZ-8o4jEbT2F8W4eURI3WC6ndN7dDl2NnPfdwL2ML4kSuQ/s400/887416_10200838491180895_943533105_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The awesome servers (can you spot the cute, bearded leprechaun?)<br />
by Nancy Nan <br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiYBW2Q_TSPr2TpXNXhwq9Wat6mvuQKKzsiST4ICK3FvKlJD6fijxSFF4Ycc72SjfkEFeUAYz1chkdUTtjaSVbvZbu0Q6URlLFLl9Za6jF-WvAkCwGIP6PbQou4-5ZxQbmTlAzkh0lmA/s1600/487688_10200839349362349_2057834466_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiYBW2Q_TSPr2TpXNXhwq9Wat6mvuQKKzsiST4ICK3FvKlJD6fijxSFF4Ycc72SjfkEFeUAYz1chkdUTtjaSVbvZbu0Q6URlLFLl9Za6jF-WvAkCwGIP6PbQou4-5ZxQbmTlAzkh0lmA/s320/487688_10200839349362349_2057834466_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The family that makes it all happen each year<br />
by Nancy Nan </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Each year around Thanksgiving,
Christmas, and St. Patrick's Day, a large group of dedicated,
talented people get together to create a feast with the most
scrumptious delights our homesick taste buds have tasted. They even
festively decorate our conference room so we can enjoy our spicy
pumpkin donuts, decadent mint chocolate fudge, or lime green lemon
bars in a homey setting. Knowing all the proceeds are going to a good
cause always helps set the frugally and/or calorically minded people
at ease (heavens knows I don't suffer from either case...though maybe
I should!).</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FThPwBX61OnECxrjFsP1XH09U2kZWTbMJ_nuExdvHRifj-baOnCL9OfU6AKLknQXFW74Y96ccYAfmVXg7lyFrXSpCcFhnxnPqXq4VZzRKsg9EexjDkxl3KPUh6oYDhSfQfBltk43OfY/s1600/208201_10200839348562329_1954030773_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FThPwBX61OnECxrjFsP1XH09U2kZWTbMJ_nuExdvHRifj-baOnCL9OfU6AKLknQXFW74Y96ccYAfmVXg7lyFrXSpCcFhnxnPqXq4VZzRKsg9EexjDkxl3KPUh6oYDhSfQfBltk43OfY/s320/208201_10200839348562329_1954030773_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The silent auction with my stout heart cake<br />
by Nancy Nan </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
It is also an excellent opportunity to
invite our Chinese students and friends for a literal taste of
Western culture. They even seem to enjoy our very sweet (to them)
cakes and cookies. Our latest bake sale, Ben and I attempted some
pear and chocolate scones (which were an utter failure unfit for the
general public) and a rich chocolate Guinness stout cake and shamrock
leaves. Thankfully, the cake and leaves were a hit among the faculty,
and good times were had by all. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMexCEO0QNfS_oPoQXWn72ht_DJVhpM4XnDKjIEokpstnXZmpXGUgrOhiMxOCA_61fEiG8Rj79q5bgPoxqJcwjiRUnJwLgB4n1lW9Kh7jC6UQRVjMaSAhJeKINBOQ4hHpJLl4344rNno/s1600/257700_10200145131167328_27516120_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMexCEO0QNfS_oPoQXWn72ht_DJVhpM4XnDKjIEokpstnXZmpXGUgrOhiMxOCA_61fEiG8Rj79q5bgPoxqJcwjiRUnJwLgB4n1lW9Kh7jC6UQRVjMaSAhJeKINBOQ4hHpJLl4344rNno/s320/257700_10200145131167328_27516120_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of our good friends experiencing Christmas<br />
by Nancy Nan </td></tr>
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Till next time! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MPerIJCgTPENrWP8BIBmeQczyd1L6wyjf1J8BumjAHNu7oG691T5E8m60SQjZRPy0cl-oTs2SadCkY7YzLr3Gp8fQgydGZr9I2z-KthEZ8U0J9rTGrzs6lvw25E9AquNukmqWtf6b3g/s1600/love.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MPerIJCgTPENrWP8BIBmeQczyd1L6wyjf1J8BumjAHNu7oG691T5E8m60SQjZRPy0cl-oTs2SadCkY7YzLr3Gp8fQgydGZr9I2z-KthEZ8U0J9rTGrzs6lvw25E9AquNukmqWtf6b3g/s320/love.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love you and miss you all!<br />
by Nancy Nan </td></tr>
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Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-8648385991175866322013-03-14T02:09:00.000-07:002013-03-14T03:39:30.100-07:00Back to China and Lovin' It!<br />
Today marks the end of our third week back at Sias International University teaching Oral English for Spring semester. Upon our return to China, both Rachel and I were dreading the thought of coming back to work. We had just returned from laid-back Thailand and bustling Hong Kong and were already brainstorming where we could travel over summer and even next winter. The thought of having to go back to work after a near two month paid vacation was almost tragic. It's not that we didn't want to be responsible adults and go back to work, but we were still in vacation mode. The thought of sitting on the beach and sipping coconut juice from a freshly chopped coconut seemed infinitely more appealing. Crossing paths with reality was a little difficult at first.<br />
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Lacking motivation seemed not only bad for us but also for our students. Some things that contributed to the lack of motivation were that we had just left the lush jungles and beaches of Thailand, where we were able to breath fresh air and eat fresh everything in 75 degree and sunny weather, and were now back to Xinzheng where 35 degrees was considered warm and the skies were gray and the sun and stars nonexistent. We were wondering if this was a sign from above that maybe we just weren't supposed to be here for longer than a year. Maybe we were supposed to go back home or look for jobs in other countries. This is what consumed our thoughts for the full week of being back before classes started.<br />
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All faculty were given till March 17th to notify the school of their intent to either stay for another year or leave at the end of the school year. After considering all pros and cons and weighing other options, we decided to wait until the last few days to make the final decision.<br />
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The decision was definitely hard to make, considering we had a few really heavily polluted days. Anthropogenic emissions of PM 2.5 and PM 10 are major contributors of the gloom in China. Locals raking leaves, branches and dirt into a pile and incinerating the pile is a daily practice here. Many villages don't have trash pickup services, so the only thing left is to incinerate all rubbish. This also adds to the local pollution. Considering we would have lungs of an addicted smoker upon our return to America was rather scary to Rachel and me. This was one of the biggest reasons we didn't want to be here. Here are a few pictures so you can see what it's like. There are nice days in China too, but it's definitely not common. I will post some next time.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR04jU8kkBreUCP5itpcM8yI-zdjHJmU7nMa8Z-ixL-6FgTHxVQY_rCtBvzcqfh37-zJ2WWyQQ2pom7WeCpSntF_Afe9H41YOstwBRWQHotvtLtOmIvbndYyiHwhbU0N2mZqqgXxS8D8/s1600/share.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR04jU8kkBreUCP5itpcM8yI-zdjHJmU7nMa8Z-ixL-6FgTHxVQY_rCtBvzcqfh37-zJ2WWyQQ2pom7WeCpSntF_Afe9H41YOstwBRWQHotvtLtOmIvbndYyiHwhbU0N2mZqqgXxS8D8/s1600/share.jpg" height="640" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Air Quality Index of our city vs. AQI of Beijing<br />
on one of our more polluted days.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G7BkAKTIdQCmaDQC1GuZOewReQ161jdetTYyyRN0wNv8wzNELTMAtYoGIHEr9wjqTbqjHYeOZlkBFlVIbOeZujBS6ka9yuX_YFMRyuPB8m5CZb3ZhzZn1wYu0W_Xo0kP-mH271t5mH8/s1600/IMG_1564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G7BkAKTIdQCmaDQC1GuZOewReQ161jdetTYyyRN0wNv8wzNELTMAtYoGIHEr9wjqTbqjHYeOZlkBFlVIbOeZujBS6ka9yuX_YFMRyuPB8m5CZb3ZhzZn1wYu0W_Xo0kP-mH271t5mH8/s1600/IMG_1564.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view outside our bedroom window on a relatively clean day (AQI: ~200).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wgeynxpml5HNolEdu45dtHarSzqT4H06e8yH_fyBrPAlFH6-ZJkT632mqXroTITqCiQ9OrbEYJbiPhJirgpA3sruqau40ur6QObnf6KvzJUdirsUdo88USuQRzmdGJNUEH2SA16-Uk4/s1600/IMG_1715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wgeynxpml5HNolEdu45dtHarSzqT4H06e8yH_fyBrPAlFH6-ZJkT632mqXroTITqCiQ9OrbEYJbiPhJirgpA3sruqau40ur6QObnf6KvzJUdirsUdo88USuQRzmdGJNUEH2SA16-Uk4/s1600/IMG_1715.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view outside our bedroom window on a pretty bad day (AQI: ~400). </td></tr>
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That was all until we got through the first day of teaching. Even though the pollution was still abundant, after teaching for four hours on our first day, I felt a renewed joy and passion to stay in China. I know life here can be tough sometimes but where wouldn't it be? Things are no where near perfect here, but where is it perfect? We truly have a renewed excitement to be in China and feel our time here is far from over. Even though teaching Oral English is not our passion--I for one would love to teach numbers--we do indeed love and enjoy the students we work with. Not to mention, spring is on its way and we can already feel the warm days ahead of us...that's always a plus.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">We have a great community of teachers and students at Sias University. This is one of the few schools that has such an open campus. Students and foreign teachers here have the great opportunity of hanging out and getting to know each other whenever they please. These cultural exchanges are probably some of the most rewarding things one can experience from working abroad. Most of our students are so eager to meet with us to help them with their oral english and talk life that we have to be very strategic in planning meeting times. Being able to encourage students to be independent thinkers and help answer the tough questions of life has been a huge reward. </span><br />
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Many are the reasons we have decided to stay another year. Even though we miss our family and friends, we know this is where we're supposed to be right now. We are excited to see how much our relationships grow with our students and our new friends here.<br />
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Even though this post did not discuss much about our wonderful travels, it would be impossible to even mention Thailand and not post some green pictures. With that said, here you go:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDvT4rdWzhGEZg9zFACcKAyTNAgSldcj2WGbo1_x8u9c6Xjc4g4n66zveQFp8bsIA9l3PmZ3QY88DcSmqZ-yz-fg5qs9iqMkvm3sfHeRCljCgNqlTFCWlRANC_wGgau1XQLQZtebUW_E/s1600/IMG_2447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDvT4rdWzhGEZg9zFACcKAyTNAgSldcj2WGbo1_x8u9c6Xjc4g4n66zveQFp8bsIA9l3PmZ3QY88DcSmqZ-yz-fg5qs9iqMkvm3sfHeRCljCgNqlTFCWlRANC_wGgau1XQLQZtebUW_E/s1600/IMG_2447.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phuket, Thailand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKIVoyd25t6DGA0MvccZBT5a3whyphenhyphenxIfhLJ6E6u4Y7KjAIQpmuN8ez8Akj40x5Uzv_tuELyOIVAU8PXtcV2e4RxKA6SYY4d2586YhSR_I5J9jLljrhOq0H6J3qsY2QHcRnH47PCYZOl8s/s1600/IMG_2058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKIVoyd25t6DGA0MvccZBT5a3whyphenhyphenxIfhLJ6E6u4Y7KjAIQpmuN8ez8Akj40x5Uzv_tuELyOIVAU8PXtcV2e4RxKA6SYY4d2586YhSR_I5J9jLljrhOq0H6J3qsY2QHcRnH47PCYZOl8s/s1600/IMG_2058.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koh Samui, Thailand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9M7wYXspcF0Jimu4ND4zwIWyBKZqj6FtkDhO5X1sljoMSkrZBQhs4sS1FsIwMzVJbTSSzeeOxponfRMd_XlWa1QdcryCPpW6Ak0OjN0nHjVLEBcvuL0re_rTRE8fXV3M3TvOSC_y2ZI/s1600/IMG_2051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9M7wYXspcF0Jimu4ND4zwIWyBKZqj6FtkDhO5X1sljoMSkrZBQhs4sS1FsIwMzVJbTSSzeeOxponfRMd_XlWa1QdcryCPpW6Ak0OjN0nHjVLEBcvuL0re_rTRE8fXV3M3TvOSC_y2ZI/s1600/IMG_2051.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koh Samui, Thailand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzq49dbzKoptx0wES_nmtWwx1sB3LaD_11iO3pMO4kD0Bem6JAGPYtoUnm-jnt9VcIoY7-gjjdV-mGyNO7BU_WrOZSJP0_-rrMFQU9U2lMSXBAIxDpLqy-2df2BOcvJZ79Zag2MhNSWb8/s1600/IMG_2088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzq49dbzKoptx0wES_nmtWwx1sB3LaD_11iO3pMO4kD0Bem6JAGPYtoUnm-jnt9VcIoY7-gjjdV-mGyNO7BU_WrOZSJP0_-rrMFQU9U2lMSXBAIxDpLqy-2df2BOcvJZ79Zag2MhNSWb8/s1600/IMG_2088.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phuket, Thailand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KWtGAvZbfoSJIz_uC8DgYUiWJNWsq8f9EXJ3dq9ZOJe2y6yKO3hfH1hNbXHeTw9L9oCPdW14WXjRLfZjwPHtz2HOy8KvgzE8UXJuP1Ak_3se0JGkCZZH1OATfeg1Q7MF-CDOKYYnQ5M/s1600/IMG_2269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KWtGAvZbfoSJIz_uC8DgYUiWJNWsq8f9EXJ3dq9ZOJe2y6yKO3hfH1hNbXHeTw9L9oCPdW14WXjRLfZjwPHtz2HOy8KvgzE8UXJuP1Ak_3se0JGkCZZH1OATfeg1Q7MF-CDOKYYnQ5M/s1600/IMG_2269.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Naiyang Beach, Phuket, Thailand </td></tr>
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Thank you for reading and thinking of us. We do miss everyone more than words can say.<br />
<br />
Blessings,<br />
Ben<br />
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P.s. Loads of pictures coming SOON!!!Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-1103799809582973732013-01-01T03:34:00.000-08:002013-01-01T03:34:15.617-08:00Kaifeng'ing It Up!<br />
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China is filled with history. Everywhere you go you will stumble upon history that has made China the place it is today. Kaifeng is one of the history stops we made during our times off from teaching. </div>
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Kaifeng, deemed as one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China, was founded as such in 364 B.C-- then known as Daliang and later as Bian, Dongjing, Bianjing and then some more depending on who conquered who. </div>
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Presently, Kaifeng is filled with many reconstructed buildings and parks to retell the story of many different dynasties of life, death, and culture. The buildings we see today were supposedly rebuilt in 1843, according to the reliable, most magnificent internet source: Wikipedia. One hundred fifty years ago is actually thought of by locals as "not very long ago" since China has thousands and thousands of years of history. If Kaifeng wasn't destroyed and rebuilt during and after war, respectively, then floods did the job. The first flood was caused by the Ming army in the mid-1600's by diverting the Yellow River, and the second we can blame mother nature for. After so much destruction and reconstruction, the history books have survived and imitations and replications from the 1800's, thus far, have been preserved.</div>
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Rachel and I have been blessed with a friend here in Sias that took us to Kaifeng and gave us a tour. From Xinzheng (our town) to famous Kaifeng was only a one hour bus ride and cost 20 yuan ($3.18) a person.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn3EXSlp6HLooOlaJca0f5bdb1Hna4IAosnb78CidhCC2skpjdqVqGTuYUc9DnO-pZd52_rXQWag3d3OS2QYmq-_2SoXlN2DjBkqEAORJJ6P2QkNflF78DQRLCjSxQNUbnLRn-b6FWyY/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn3EXSlp6HLooOlaJca0f5bdb1Hna4IAosnb78CidhCC2skpjdqVqGTuYUc9DnO-pZd52_rXQWag3d3OS2QYmq-_2SoXlN2DjBkqEAORJJ6P2QkNflF78DQRLCjSxQNUbnLRn-b6FWyY/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kaifeng being such a touristy town, travelers are greeted by many tuk-tuk drivers hoping to taxi travelers to their desired destinations upon arrival. Tuk-tuks are a common mode of transportation in our town, too, but they aren't quite so royal looking as these.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZl9I-mDQXC-pCTQqdRR-gTbk91t5OAPlfv2O3IVTK1JkddIWlzwSz1UQgex7aR0QaI3-O8nWiUXDfAbdX20bcnRO4YFDtySpQOwm1JaKO-voMNv0nmOMWbWywJZb3oN9SzX3342Y230/s1600/IMG_1114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZl9I-mDQXC-pCTQqdRR-gTbk91t5OAPlfv2O3IVTK1JkddIWlzwSz1UQgex7aR0QaI3-O8nWiUXDfAbdX20bcnRO4YFDtySpQOwm1JaKO-voMNv0nmOMWbWywJZb3oN9SzX3342Y230/s1600/IMG_1114.JPG" height="288" width="320" /></a></div>
Our first stop was at the famous Xiangguo Temple. Originally constructed in year 555 and rebuilt several times over the years, Xiangguo Temple became an international Buddhism center, attracting many foreigners and great monks. The current structure and layout were built and arranged mainly during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Xiangguo Temple is now widely known as one of China's most famous Buddhist Temples.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-u5xc2hk0UvgpqByxhhZbpuV4-VistbdvuFPVnB3md6lQ-r22-aSgcFmQbR5CX8l8EnViWq2RLMV3fF4FfY0mvKmSvyrD2OizsPIFn9RF2qXjzItujbmsZhAYTbleA9UzZHyZ9RLQyb4/s1600/IMG_1116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-u5xc2hk0UvgpqByxhhZbpuV4-VistbdvuFPVnB3md6lQ-r22-aSgcFmQbR5CX8l8EnViWq2RLMV3fF4FfY0mvKmSvyrD2OizsPIFn9RF2qXjzItujbmsZhAYTbleA9UzZHyZ9RLQyb4/s1600/IMG_1116.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Xiangguo Temple</td></tr>
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One of the first things seen upon entering is the magnificent Bell Tower. Inside this building is a bronze bell weighing 5,000 kilograms and can be heard from all over town. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMIR0KxVhN-skumFwMpkhP4r1-I1NbXDV7XNgcHtvWQ3vKCh6qsm9ilI-LwU1dOsEoZNNrC-YUaqljshZTILBI8qDEhhqJAv7QcnHRBk0P68iC2gffokbxqlhpD08LN35IGvm6ubaQRI/s1600/SAM_1298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMIR0KxVhN-skumFwMpkhP4r1-I1NbXDV7XNgcHtvWQ3vKCh6qsm9ilI-LwU1dOsEoZNNrC-YUaqljshZTILBI8qDEhhqJAv7QcnHRBk0P68iC2gffokbxqlhpD08LN35IGvm6ubaQRI/s1600/SAM_1298.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bell Tower</td></tr>
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The rest of the temple is filled with Buddhas and other statues revered and worshiped by many locals and visitors from all over the country.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyyqkVqgx63c3jsTl3hqMvjy3vkBL36nwGx7x0uKJs8iWjr3saMNAqcnVIXXUGysyZ0I0Fp74pzw-J9xvPUgBG9u5LLYTUPSR_l5Vc_x0LbehEHd5vFDtiiUUEc6AnbBLTuOmfkpJZgc/s1600/IMG_1130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyyqkVqgx63c3jsTl3hqMvjy3vkBL36nwGx7x0uKJs8iWjr3saMNAqcnVIXXUGysyZ0I0Fp74pzw-J9xvPUgBG9u5LLYTUPSR_l5Vc_x0LbehEHd5vFDtiiUUEc6AnbBLTuOmfkpJZgc/s1600/IMG_1130.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many Buddhas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon made from styrofoam and flowers. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its supposed to be a peacock! :)</td></tr>
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Kaifeng is also famous for it's well known and the city's most beautiful event: the Chrysanthemum Fair. The best time to visit this town is known to be in the September and October months because of this event. All over town, one can see many different colors and species of Chrysanthemum, the city flower. Unfortunately, we went in November; the flowers were not as vibrant as they would have been a month ago. Nonetheless, they were quite gorgeous and still full of life. Even though I wont be posting all the pictures I took of the flowers, I will put up a post of just flowers soon for people that are into that (like my sister, Becky).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to see a million flowers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the world of Chrysanthemums</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel, trying her best to fit in ;)</td></tr>
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During the latter part of the day, we went to Dragon Pavilion Park. This is the most famous and largest scenic spot in Kaifeng and is a must see. In Dragon Pavilion Park, one can see a huge imperial palace complex built during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279). Some have even said this is somewhat like Beijing's Forbidden City but on a much smaller scale.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Entrance to the grand Dragon Pavilion</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love how much detail goes into these buildings. They look so simple in some ways and so complicated in others.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of the park from atop the Dragon Pavilion</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and another one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel and I being silly</td></tr>
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For lunch, Annie, Rachel, and I went to a restaurant to try the famous Kaifeng baozi! I would never expect a dish in China to remind me of my mother's cooking but this one hit the spot. These amazing dumplings were very comparable (at least for the moment) to the Georgian dumplings my mom makes called khinkali. Baozi are steamed, however, and khinkali are boiled. Both are filled with ground-meat and soup. My, oh my, are they delicious.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful city comes to life.</td></tr>
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Another appealing feature of Kaifeng is its famous night market. Upon dusk, hundreds of locals open their food stands and begin selling their foods right on the street. The less adventurous westerners have more been known to eat at restaurants. Locals, on the other hand, make their way from surrounding towns to enjoy a meal with family in a nice atmosphere.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grub? Seafood? Crab? Clam? We have it all!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OlKc3HpFUtfgq9jIMvXQtcyP-IX6T3pYgRwGc4icTLsmK6DkZw5F1OzMpyQYo7s4wwzCLyjM87rDtuHnA2AAK5Ja1BEGHiDe_4lQLK57IhPdYZbO8L0oJxWQkBA0-DVxaE7x-wYanFQ/s1600/IMG_1317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OlKc3HpFUtfgq9jIMvXQtcyP-IX6T3pYgRwGc4icTLsmK6DkZw5F1OzMpyQYo7s4wwzCLyjM87rDtuHnA2AAK5Ja1BEGHiDe_4lQLK57IhPdYZbO8L0oJxWQkBA0-DVxaE7x-wYanFQ/s1600/IMG_1317.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miniature Lobster</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rabbit anyone?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese cheetos sans the cheese?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiAx2oCtLwe_SWRPks1991k4UMCu2t9LcJ8gls_UwE5WbFzEiZJuvVrujaOuv1-CVZoHEPCGmwJlXdjBfL-EF2qa2xwr4xradZN7fS4UrfDvWIYSYNClyAwurRh3KtoCtcknepaT7vmc/s1600/IMG_1321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiAx2oCtLwe_SWRPks1991k4UMCu2t9LcJ8gls_UwE5WbFzEiZJuvVrujaOuv1-CVZoHEPCGmwJlXdjBfL-EF2qa2xwr4xradZN7fS4UrfDvWIYSYNClyAwurRh3KtoCtcknepaT7vmc/s1600/IMG_1321.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How vegetables look so much more appealing than meats lately :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mystery meats. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfvtkCT9olI19SsoLe8DWvVwCRVpGRIrLan-I_lTIaiHDlDeqTF32visaJC3swEcq1W5K-jXE_GPkdSBt-TzCyIkFhQiscE-xkMYeTu7Gj0qxcXAufo2emPv65phYwxi-Zx-60Ktn7bo/s1600/IMG_1325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfvtkCT9olI19SsoLe8DWvVwCRVpGRIrLan-I_lTIaiHDlDeqTF32visaJC3swEcq1W5K-jXE_GPkdSBt-TzCyIkFhQiscE-xkMYeTu7Gj0qxcXAufo2emPv65phYwxi-Zx-60Ktn7bo/s1600/IMG_1325.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crepe-like thin breads for delicious egg wraps. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_2eYgMRdL2FLhoqGiA3EoMyOuZ677DizjbuyqKGlZRuxcGtoiUXBTR10qksyVk_EEHxiBCYmYOjjxatdEcyOOJhunRC1lljixT0Fh7-W3QIbo9AmnwGWgb31TASxsBfp4jkWZ1sSUzc/s1600/IMG_1326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_2eYgMRdL2FLhoqGiA3EoMyOuZ677DizjbuyqKGlZRuxcGtoiUXBTR10qksyVk_EEHxiBCYmYOjjxatdEcyOOJhunRC1lljixT0Fh7-W3QIbo9AmnwGWgb31TASxsBfp4jkWZ1sSUzc/s1600/IMG_1326.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Live fish in a half-full mighty muddy bucket. </td></tr>
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Well, this will probably do it for now. Thanks for going on a virtual tour of Kaifeng with me! Hope you enjoyed reading this and looking at the pictures. </div>
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This was certainly only a small part of what we saw and experienced in Kaifeng. To the adventure minded, I highly recommend checking this place out.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Happy New Year!</div>
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-Ben</div>
Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-11226911263953896642012-12-07T06:31:00.000-08:002012-12-07T06:34:54.845-08:00Students AddendumSee I told you that another post was coming soon!<br />
I just remembered a story that I wanted to add to the "<a href="http://benchelvidmaryan.blogspot.com/2012/12/students-say-and-do-darndest-things.html" target="_blank"><i>Students</i></a>" post, so I suppose I'll just make a new post of it. <br />
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A few weeks ago, I caught a pretty bad cold [see the <i>hatred illness</i> text reference in previous post] and struggled with intense bouts of coughing and nose-blowing for over a week. Still I managed to get through classes with lots of tea and cough drops. However, during my last class of the day, after about 5 1/2 hours of teaching, I ran out of tea. I thought I could make do with some cough drops (which is always fun to try to teach with one in my mouth) and letting my students give some practice speeches. <br />
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While listening to one of these speeches, a monster of a coughing attack came rising up my lungs. After futilely trying to suppress it, I ran out of the class into the nearby bathroom and proceeded to cough nonstop for about 2 minutes. A concerned student brought me some water which helped, but I could barely speak. My nose was running and my eyes were watering uncontrollably. <br />
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I managed to get back to class and croaked to my students that class was over five minutes early. The look on my students' faces was one of absolute worry and pity. Many of them brought me tissues on their way out and told me to feel better. Some stayed as I was packing up, and I apologized for this bad cold. They seemed a bit surprised and very concerned. <br />
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After arriving at home, Ben came in a few minutes later and immediately wanted to know if I was alright. I said yes, but I just had a coughing attack in class.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hssdzGVvzZSSP0zsXaR5wPNCly3ZnfipWtK-7VLyiE9kSwC4vzRrKQEKL7WQ4tQUJ6OJrVGrNOgKA8pAFGfmQy5142KJ1h_nFifwERwqII2W4nr8L03th3BGS0E4wRfMBMf6RtP1pfo/s1600/coughing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hssdzGVvzZSSP0zsXaR5wPNCly3ZnfipWtK-7VLyiE9kSwC4vzRrKQEKL7WQ4tQUJ6OJrVGrNOgKA8pAFGfmQy5142KJ1h_nFifwERwqII2W4nr8L03th3BGS0E4wRfMBMf6RtP1pfo/s1600/coughing.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My face was a compilation of the picture above and below...only less cute.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VWN7rz4FIVCjBKP63uruQZ-CVAp4wqOJOBzQRNVFlB_mzRMrkEesVh1lao3r_oWTE9XBWIm6Guhrs7m1-WXXRUwzjpnUZRipBqnIoEV-wgAvvr96PtYNONVYjdeBhP5waMrhccpLpyE/s1600/1url.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VWN7rz4FIVCjBKP63uruQZ-CVAp4wqOJOBzQRNVFlB_mzRMrkEesVh1lao3r_oWTE9XBWIm6Guhrs7m1-WXXRUwzjpnUZRipBqnIoEV-wgAvvr96PtYNONVYjdeBhP5waMrhccpLpyE/s1600/1url.jpg" /></a></div>
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He replied, "Oh! A couple of your students ran into my class exclaiming that Rachel is crying and to come quick!" <br />
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Hearing this news almost brought on another coughing/crying episode. I could not believe that my students thought the tears on my face were from crying not the explosive coughing! Apparently many thought that I was homesick or something and got emotional and had to leave. Of course, the erroneous version spread like wildfire and the next day after running into some of Ben's students on the bus from an entirely different class, they asked how I was doing because they heard I started crying yesterday. <br />
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This story does have a happy ending (no, reading about how Rachel humiliated herself does not <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlA4H5chO9tGtTK8HzVSAKkUMOm6hSEFtAvMGjS680RlcJhrLry6Jj3QA64dCn2QCxroVLSiVx4he5ExqbasYh6ztLLpWhXhn9pSOynD-ybvrV2QojK2SfIxhZu069DMYIkEpQ8REsklE/s1600/2012-11-26+15.26.28.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlA4H5chO9tGtTK8HzVSAKkUMOm6hSEFtAvMGjS680RlcJhrLry6Jj3QA64dCn2QCxroVLSiVx4he5ExqbasYh6ztLLpWhXhn9pSOynD-ybvrV2QojK2SfIxhZu069DMYIkEpQ8REsklE/s1600/2012-11-26+15.26.28.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magical (and cheap) Chinese medicine</td></tr>
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count as a happy ending). Some of my wonderful students who stayed after class and discovered the truth took me to the school clinic to get some medicine for the cough. A quick <br />
consultation and 30 rmb ($5) later, I left with more drugs than I have ever owned in my life. Most were herbal remedies and not too scary looking. And though I did not take the recommended 38+ pills a day (I think I got down 4 max), after about two days I felt dramatically better. By the time Monday classes began, I could confidently teach without worrying my students that I am nearing an emotional breakdown...this time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-K8XGfTYsIJWWyt1Cy01YVV8Yapsx3C1KmheTxyHrcqLfUvZlA00GvE8Q9rSJnD1auj5ldUaQAqCw0fZwHS5hN93L0jv4HUqlJXnsBpiKkIPBuWTu3Cr5ZCogcmxpIyFs_XOXvTCpFk/s1600/2012-11-29+13.43.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-K8XGfTYsIJWWyt1Cy01YVV8Yapsx3C1KmheTxyHrcqLfUvZlA00GvE8Q9rSJnD1auj5ldUaQAqCw0fZwHS5hN93L0jv4HUqlJXnsBpiKkIPBuWTu3Cr5ZCogcmxpIyFs_XOXvTCpFk/s1600/2012-11-29+13.43.17.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps I need to wear more clothes like this adorable Chinese dog! Sweet tips :)</td></tr>
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<br />Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-26278186013705692172012-12-06T06:03:00.000-08:002012-12-06T06:07:04.066-08:00Students Say and Do the Darndest Things!<br />
Wow, it has been a long time since we've last posted. Lots has happened to us, and we will try our best to catch you up on the highlights and spare you from the not-so-pleasant parts.<br />
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This post is mostly dedicated our students-- all 400+ of them between the two of us. They bring us so much joy, laughter, and yes, sometimes frustration. Truly, they teach us just as much as we do, them; learning firsthand about culture, food, language, relationships through these 19 and 20-year-olds has been wonderfully enlightening.<br />
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One of our favorite quirks about our students is their English names that most of them chose for themselves last year. Most of them have normal names like Mark, Tiffany, and Lori. But there is always one or two kids in our classes that may be trying too hard to emulate some Hollywood celebrities' kids' names.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPURqPbdZ2kBOzVSFDWaVyRFPl4HdYQcomvvEWoEqKjn37Rdj-i79iEGpy_v3Ghk2jIWouBtYdI03rBOoVBSYr77CihTazrvYG1OMxRiq2RMKAaGld7yJwGkGLrnRLfLtRBOAos1q3fQ/s1600/Baby-Blue-Ivy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPURqPbdZ2kBOzVSFDWaVyRFPl4HdYQcomvvEWoEqKjn37Rdj-i79iEGpy_v3Ghk2jIWouBtYdI03rBOoVBSYr77CihTazrvYG1OMxRiq2RMKAaGld7yJwGkGLrnRLfLtRBOAos1q3fQ/s320/Baby-Blue-Ivy.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">We don't have a Blue Ivy, one of our friends' student's name is Blue Goat! </td></tr>
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For example, we have a Cookie, Brain, Bunny, Barraatt, Wytte, Jezebel, Nokia, Bieber, Pluto, Nemo, and Deal. We don't know why most of them choose their names, but it is always a bit amusing to compare unusual names with the other teachers. One has best friends with the name of Coca and Cola, and we all have a [not] surprising number of Bryants and Jeremys.<br />
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Our students love to send us the most touching and inadvertently funny texts and im messages to us.<br />
Here is just a sampling of the texts they have sent:<br />
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<li> Hey, the weather is low temperature today! It turns cold. Need to wear more clothes! Sweet tips :)</li>
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<li>Good bye, Rachel! Hope you and your lover Ben will have a good night. </li>
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<li>Dear Teacher, I am Mary. Please wear warming! Care yourself. I love you. Thank you. </li>
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- T: Yes, I am so sad to hear that [you will not be going home for Christmas]. But I think it is so happiness together with Ben for you<br />
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- Me: Oh don't be sad, we will be fine! Yes, Ben and I are excited to spend our first Christmas together<br />
- T: Yes. I think so. The power of love is great.</div>
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<ul>
<li>I am so thankful for good friends like you, too! I hope my sweet words can help you feel comfortable and joyful, and then you can forget the hatred illness! </li>
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Another interesting (and much appreciated) quirk of teaching is the number of food related gifts we receive. Giving apples to a teacher is not an antiqued tradition-- I received almost two dozen of the juiciest and most delicious apples from one of my students recently.<br />
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We have also received kilos of pomellos (giant grapefruit), bananas, and even purple yams. We have some of the most kindhearted and generous students, and we are so thankful for the opportunity to teach them. [Shameless plug: hiring for Sias University is beginning soon! If you are interested in a life changing and rewarding experience, send me an email or fb!].<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O7ixdPblucLIV3X6-fvhgMzOclfV9UBmYa76qFoRlInVJBy_pZPSPUucLrttC5WzDAa-gu7Oa9BP3_f2gftNnNUUNY4Cb92nRzyevTDhhFNADp-uMyJL9NU1h8yl4MI1cadacSBu0zU/s1600/IMG_1580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O7ixdPblucLIV3X6-fvhgMzOclfV9UBmYa76qFoRlInVJBy_pZPSPUucLrttC5WzDAa-gu7Oa9BP3_f2gftNnNUUNY4Cb92nRzyevTDhhFNADp-uMyJL9NU1h8yl4MI1cadacSBu0zU/s320/IMG_1580.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Just some of the yams given to us</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaHaWU_i0ANOCU8pk17l-N5a_bMVe4KFhEMQIHlbKrbh4KzvWGjgOwnTIYFYa-0FH0jjby10EH56y-D5tb615WDwGU2DqLM_4Q9HwoAxc24kmxA9gx93Mr7CRYZTeb-5l9ljHlaaQBpY/s1600/url.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaHaWU_i0ANOCU8pk17l-N5a_bMVe4KFhEMQIHlbKrbh4KzvWGjgOwnTIYFYa-0FH0jjby10EH56y-D5tb615WDwGU2DqLM_4Q9HwoAxc24kmxA9gx93Mr7CRYZTeb-5l9ljHlaaQBpY/s320/url.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The inside! Such purple-y goodness!</td></tr>
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Speaking of thankfulness and food, Thanksgiving was such a special and fun time for us. We began with an intense tournament of flag football with the other foreign faculty, followed by a barrage of students from our classes giving us cards thanking us for being their teacher, and then a massively delicious feast that left us catatonic for hours. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjHfluA4imDDc4HhPgw77gNE-tJFcZVIsgQk1gJNCw1PAf0T9En12EMizQpIrXOl1rjWYJyrvK8o-kcjvWjN4brXexVdkWD5Gkd9Upf_JwRsl4fdUJj0wXWSiJtmyAgnYKR9svM3aJY0/s1600/12914_633132800338_1783394009_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjHfluA4imDDc4HhPgw77gNE-tJFcZVIsgQk1gJNCw1PAf0T9En12EMizQpIrXOl1rjWYJyrvK8o-kcjvWjN4brXexVdkWD5Gkd9Upf_JwRsl4fdUJj0wXWSiJtmyAgnYKR9svM3aJY0/s320/12914_633132800338_1783394009_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Not messing around!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMSBxwXyg27_gUDbMyVmjCjP_jA0NY4eV4ejF9n_QEIJt0aDQjTrooz8dvELmqAg_rLzGH9lXhOvClAmY86Oo91RTK-ntTZnrc5vVDSS0BAngN1qDjWEciD5z_xDJOr9NWU3Cgk_q_Yw/s1600/396707_10151337005977495_654622214_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMSBxwXyg27_gUDbMyVmjCjP_jA0NY4eV4ejF9n_QEIJt0aDQjTrooz8dvELmqAg_rLzGH9lXhOvClAmY86Oo91RTK-ntTZnrc5vVDSS0BAngN1qDjWEciD5z_xDJOr9NWU3Cgk_q_Yw/s320/396707_10151337005977495_654622214_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Ugh, the ONLY time Ben's guy caught the ball!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJFj97RcB9qyODpRlt74-777ctOnLk6bSMWGjBl46bdXBpercqpQ6mwGuE78xECNLQfj8EmXRcjNdKejVzBJZtSolMjfwL-eQThjXyYyetEKsSLCWYVFKQ46Rbmd_hAMFDEaMVtiTMI8/s1600/IMG_1581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJFj97RcB9qyODpRlt74-777ctOnLk6bSMWGjBl46bdXBpercqpQ6mwGuE78xECNLQfj8EmXRcjNdKejVzBJZtSolMjfwL-eQThjXyYyetEKsSLCWYVFKQ46Rbmd_hAMFDEaMVtiTMI8/s320/IMG_1581.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Some of our many Thanksgiving cards <3</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-VmMQZ4xrbK-JVfufLXs0ifVVqxJ4jprJFDwmBmYAQCIuAQyf96yoHz2GCgjCLye05W5piDhtMvayYe6FjCWuyItJlRwiakX2NYcMqxB-HMF4m3YpysGJNlHTpGnXN-2hrUSHCb3sS0/s1600/406914_4963758088062_1633469341_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-VmMQZ4xrbK-JVfufLXs0ifVVqxJ4jprJFDwmBmYAQCIuAQyf96yoHz2GCgjCLye05W5piDhtMvayYe6FjCWuyItJlRwiakX2NYcMqxB-HMF4m3YpysGJNlHTpGnXN-2hrUSHCb3sS0/s320/406914_4963758088062_1633469341_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The beautiful Thanksgiving banquet</td></tr>
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Ok, that's all (as my students say). Care yourself, my dear friends and family. I love you!<br />
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Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-47611765642896678122012-10-25T19:51:00.000-07:002012-10-26T01:31:30.356-07:00A Tale of Two "Homes"<br />
<div class="p1">
Since I now have lived here almost two full months, I feel fully qualified to do an in-depth comparison of China and the last place foreign country I really felt at home, Kazakhstan.</div>
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<h3>
Sentimental Similarities</h3>
<h4>
1. I get scolded for not wearing warm enough clothing by concerned older woman.</h4>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Now that the weather is getting colder, I have found that, similar to Kazakhstan, the Warm Clothing Patrol (WCP) is out in full force. Thousands if not millions of slightly older woman whose official jobs range from the tea shop owner to the street sweeper have taken it upon themselves to berate any person they deem to not be dressed warm enough. Even if the sun is shining or I have just come back from a run, I invariably get asked in a concerned yet scolding tone where is my jacket! </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1EFD-x8b2w4nQgPUG5m_d1BmuTnLhl2yduTR1WsspNxM1FMBKE0U4V1WF23aA7F7Kjn-6sUVPkC-wRFfvum1xfRJJkollTECjEk9HTZob54H9BpZAzIj3CZVI3DrKO5NINLRQ0eoMcA/s1600/UC3nqIyiSSnIql217sUhA5y-YiY0cRYoh_IcGvoKGVI.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1EFD-x8b2w4nQgPUG5m_d1BmuTnLhl2yduTR1WsspNxM1FMBKE0U4V1WF23aA7F7Kjn-6sUVPkC-wRFfvum1xfRJJkollTECjEk9HTZob54H9BpZAzIj3CZVI3DrKO5NINLRQ0eoMcA/s320/UC3nqIyiSSnIql217sUhA5y-YiY0cRYoh_IcGvoKGVI.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how Ben and I feel when people tell us how to dress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4>
2. The shops and restaurants play 80s and 90s pop music that nobody in the West listens to anymore. </h4>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>I love listening to songs that I have not heard anywhere but Russia and Kazakhstan on the streets here! I honestly believe that developing countries are solely responsible for keeping aging US, UK, and Aussie pop stars fed and clothed these days (provided that people actually buy the copies legally....ha).</div>
<div class="p1">
The kids are also obsessed with all things Michael (yes, they are on a first name basis with Michael Jackson. If I ask my students to think of a celebrity, I can usually guess it in three tries without any hints: Kobe [Bryant], Michael, or Yao Ming. </div>
<div class="p1">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YH7e1NY6zEytaf2A3ttwsBPd0nWOP-nDyKloYRDrGXUigJgh1elxNbn_jXSuXkS1rJJc0Oziif-7oRhDKV-dnj6m97Azm523FFArtBvC1IkThQNqUqzizs6ocpH39Z_IkxDUX6_DXEM/s1600/MV5BMTEyMDUxMDg5NDReQTJeQWpwZ15BbWU3MDg0MTQ0Mjg@._V1._SY314_CR3,0,214,314_.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YH7e1NY6zEytaf2A3ttwsBPd0nWOP-nDyKloYRDrGXUigJgh1elxNbn_jXSuXkS1rJJc0Oziif-7oRhDKV-dnj6m97Azm523FFArtBvC1IkThQNqUqzizs6ocpH39Z_IkxDUX6_DXEM/s200/MV5BMTEyMDUxMDg5NDReQTJeQWpwZ15BbWU3MDg0MTQ0Mjg@._V1._SY314_CR3,0,214,314_.jpeg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBA6bWhfRHRiYvQp90JZkgJbb0wKoIvbhTjkniDSP0bWdbNfCwUdGZ3TBX8oy1De40r2204DmBd-yGtq9LcERxnPlDGjJ7NY5UI9MJVMJUsfxt1fcZvhSmIHSh3_vCSqcHmMieNZIXV4/s1600/180px-Yao_Ming_Interview.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBA6bWhfRHRiYvQp90JZkgJbb0wKoIvbhTjkniDSP0bWdbNfCwUdGZ3TBX8oy1De40r2204DmBd-yGtq9LcERxnPlDGjJ7NY5UI9MJVMJUsfxt1fcZvhSmIHSh3_vCSqcHmMieNZIXV4/s200/180px-Yao_Ming_Interview.jpeg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLY3RJ5ghZrca6Km4KdpO_J_75y4GT_3J0sDQn-H25GAhUG1ylEVDfb9NneJ0KpaGC3eLFqUCoOy_s2vYcEwWDL33-AK1TGRSsGnGILsrp9hCaQhV3gFwQXCb8L9PZkeQLYCZZ3sbZb_8/s1600/170px-Michael_Jackson_Cannescropped.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLY3RJ5ghZrca6Km4KdpO_J_75y4GT_3J0sDQn-H25GAhUG1ylEVDfb9NneJ0KpaGC3eLFqUCoOy_s2vYcEwWDL33-AK1TGRSsGnGILsrp9hCaQhV3gFwQXCb8L9PZkeQLYCZZ3sbZb_8/s200/170px-Michael_Jackson_Cannescropped.jpeg" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only God knows...</td></tr>
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<h4>
3. The smells are markedly similar in both of my "homes." </h4>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Only in certain special places on earth does your nose pick up the unique combination of car exhaust, cigarette smoke, b.o., and greasy foods on the streets with the occasional whiff of sewage. Autumn here similarly brings the familiar burning crops like many rual parts in Kaz, and I hear we can look forward to oh-so-comforting smell of coal burning to heat homes in the winter.</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Despite the snarkiness, I do (mostly) enjoy the variety of smells here. America seems largely devoid of odors of any kind. Or we rely so heavily on the artificial sprays and scents like deodorant, febreze®, glade®, and candles (seriously, I feel like every 3rd commercial on TV deals with some sort of fake odor "freshener") that one would think we perpetually live in field of lilacs or something.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGKqbxkNTUBPQZ8-zFa0olxug-bMqDfQQnPKXtR7JhBplKoY9C5c_FddnNHY2BFF7w67hCHrIdgFTMVxyIHMIXW9gRC9ICzwa0JxsKo4VxbFmas2e70eq_8_zhJS56-0Arc33fiQLYWU/s1600/febreze-demotivational-poster-1235159832.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGKqbxkNTUBPQZ8-zFa0olxug-bMqDfQQnPKXtR7JhBplKoY9C5c_FddnNHY2BFF7w67hCHrIdgFTMVxyIHMIXW9gRC9ICzwa0JxsKo4VxbFmas2e70eq_8_zhJS56-0Arc33fiQLYWU/s320/febreze-demotivational-poster-1235159832.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Drastic Differences</h3>
<h4>
1. Trying to learn languages in each place.</h4>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Obviously, the languages (Russian and Mandarin) are very different from each other, but I was not fully prepared for how difficult it would be for me to communicate or even get around. I think I learned how to read in Russian in under a week (oh, my young brain), so even though I had no clue what words meant, I could sound them out and remember them for next time. Since I am a visual learner, this worked out great, and I gradually improved my speaking and listening skills. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3L3X-IxVmZtN3BxsJPQC2XRL2sdPLS9brmdt2zuDrjy49UOhR3fEF_YI3rZfYZDBwuuqGZJhgYgJGOAsYncEhLSz1ykESGgTt3yY0PBZoVLYibLCchU_co-CCrVbhv_tHjRVaDvOT4-M/s1600/255527_10100271363362641_1031762231_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3L3X-IxVmZtN3BxsJPQC2XRL2sdPLS9brmdt2zuDrjy49UOhR3fEF_YI3rZfYZDBwuuqGZJhgYgJGOAsYncEhLSz1ykESGgTt3yY0PBZoVLYibLCchU_co-CCrVbhv_tHjRVaDvOT4-M/s320/255527_10100271363362641_1031762231_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some beautiful (fake) foliage (from Jan Beal)</td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>However, with about 80,000 Chinese characters in existence, I will probably never be able to read Chinese character with much (any) fluency. Thus, I have been struggling to remember any words at all especially with the correct tones for each sound. Thankfully most students know how to write pinyin, which is a weird romanization of Chinese characters, so that has been helping some. For example, instead of writing my name like 瑞秋, I can cheat and write it like this <i>Rui Qiu</i>. This, believe it or not, when pronounced correctly, sounds similar to Rachel and means Good fortune Autumn :) </div>
<div class="p1">
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<h4>
2. The joys and challenges of ex-paticity.</h4>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>As many expats already know, being white often brings stares, shouts, photographs, and even marriage proposals from strangers. However, I was very lucky in Kaz because I was mostly able to pass myself off as a short, slightly dull-witted Russian and rarely draw any attention to myself. Sadly, this blissful anonymity is gone, and whenever we venture off campus, we are greeted with stares, stage whispers of Lǎowài (foreigner), and more photographs than I care to think about (seriously, what do the Chinese do with the millions of photographs of weird, lost-looking white people? </div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>In addition to our conspicuousness, we are also treated like celebrities or fauxlebrities as I like to call us. This means not only are we stopped for pictures whenever we go out, we also get some pretty cool swag. For example, a month ago, we all got invited to attend the Governor's National Day Banquet, and this weekend, we got free tickets to see the<span class="s1"> <a href="http://www.deyin-taiji.com/class-times/icalrepeat.detail/2012/10/20/7169/-/the-9th-zheng-zhou-international-martial-arts-festival-"><span class="s2"><b>The 9th Zheng Zhou International Martial Arts </b></span><span class="s3"><b>Festival</b></span></a></span><span class="s4"><b> </b>Opening Ceremony, which was spectacular. The tickets are normally very pricy, and the kung fu performances were some of the best I have ever seen. With thousands of performers (including pigeons) and athletes from almost 100 countries, we were super impressed. Although not quite Beijing Opening Ceremony calibre, it was at least as good as Salt Lake's! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You all better watch this because it took me 2 hours to upload!</span></div>
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<div class="p1">
<b>3. The local and un-local food</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="p1">
I was not prepared for the drastically different food we would be experiencing on a daily basis here. It was only when we moved to China that I realized how much my diet consisted of cheese, bread, and salads. My, did we pick the wrong place to move! Not only is cheese very expensive and difficult to buy (don't worry, the withdraw symptoms are mostly gone) but so is cereal and many other "staples" like tortillas, hummus, and did I mention cheese. Fortunately our foreign faculty cafeteria provides us with peanut butter and homemade bread, so our weight loss hasn't been <i>too </i>dramatic. I do miss a lot more home-y food than I thought I would, and my stomach isn't always sure how to handle the rather greasy, meat-y foods they provide us. </div>
<div class="p1">
In Kazakhstan, cheeses, milk (from the lowfat 3.5% to the delicious 10%), ice creams, cereals and so much more was just a quick taxi ride away! In addition, the flavors of the local foods were much more "Western." On the other hand, whether it's banana toothpaste or green tea Oreos, mostly everything we buy here is just a little strange. I guess we will just have to get used to it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu46-IRbrfSgC71KTP0_JXX7i-ZKbEFQfEobinee0fVgwHCy97HMoCXE7QigQ0Pyn27jCpx8gLFjhbYCujCXI3QBJWLuQPOrZwVjOSH-cc8VQbLg0L2jmEKpKz1InxPqG2kFFW09oSWI/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu46-IRbrfSgC71KTP0_JXX7i-ZKbEFQfEobinee0fVgwHCy97HMoCXE7QigQ0Pyn27jCpx8gLFjhbYCujCXI3QBJWLuQPOrZwVjOSH-cc8VQbLg0L2jmEKpKz1InxPqG2kFFW09oSWI/s320/IMG_0492.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The food here is generally super delicious though!</td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
Ok, people from Kazakhstan, am I remembering things correctly or romanticizing things a bit? Granted, I haven't been back in about 4 years, so feel free to comment on any discrepancies or just add your $0.02!</div>
Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-39180459100817634672012-10-06T07:10:00.003-07:002012-10-06T07:49:20.897-07:00Wacky Cakes, Extravagant Teas, and Everything Else<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Is your birthday coming up? Maybe a special occasion?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6a_9__4f9nel5n52zk7mNBeYWiZsoDTdRG2QvJjSpHHpy-swQxkFznY1l0kY_JNq975ePbEclggBCZkL3IqaDhRFQ0qKrfyeExTeBN0cXJzt8d4492HH06pWO0FqlqQOoOGZdfrVKss/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6a_9__4f9nel5n52zk7mNBeYWiZsoDTdRG2QvJjSpHHpy-swQxkFznY1l0kY_JNq975ePbEclggBCZkL3IqaDhRFQ0qKrfyeExTeBN0cXJzt8d4492HH06pWO0FqlqQOoOGZdfrVKss/s320/IMG_0516.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Why not special order one of these extraordinary, exquisite, and possibly slightly awkward fish cakes? Despite its ornate fishy look, it is supposed to be quite the pleasing, luscious dessert. Please don't fight over who gets the slice with the delicate fish-rider. :) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JZxOq6WmZmFB9lGizFw1n2OsGMEWMXlIbkjwfFxA7MEvkOX3zdc5ygPXdW31k45vk5Y68I1wpNkhWOCsZpROtUIZtEN3uHw8goCvhUDDOAWsoM2GGZy0pEJeaPBvKunbMlaB81TQT8o/s1600/IMG_0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JZxOq6WmZmFB9lGizFw1n2OsGMEWMXlIbkjwfFxA7MEvkOX3zdc5ygPXdW31k45vk5Y68I1wpNkhWOCsZpROtUIZtEN3uHw8goCvhUDDOAWsoM2GGZy0pEJeaPBvKunbMlaB81TQT8o/s320/IMG_0518.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My lovely wife. (Click to read fine print.)</i></td></tr>
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Husbands: Forgot it was your anniversary? Forgot to get her something? Need to make it up to her? <br />
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Why not start with gifting her with a delightfully flaky Super Wife Cake? You know she'll love being called a "super wife"! Gents, they really do deserve the title! I know mine does!<br />
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And then there is the decorative Chinese Mooncake! Last Saturday was Mid-Autumn
Festival here in China. One of the ways this holiday is celebrated is
by getting together with friends and family and eating delicious mooncakes. They come in many different flavors from meat to sweet egg to nuts and fruits and even beans-- have I convinced you yet? As
much as Rachel and I loved them they were dense
enough to be too much for one person to consume. Don't tell anybody, but majority of our students dislike mooncakes; so, I might not be telling the whole truth about how much "we" loved them...just sayin'. I'm sure when we are older we will love them for reals! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxMm65-1cOeL0RLMQ8tw1GZ-PkgA4trGDMF2lWeMJ7EYdO_bVhzXXBW0YGLYK1p0OM5l1Xs6LiW6kvsol7zU0GIUweGmkjEl9Im8FeoJl_CTRwtwSeCUwTbFICSLAMNtzYQ4MaGgtYaU/s1600/IMG_0649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxMm65-1cOeL0RLMQ8tw1GZ-PkgA4trGDMF2lWeMJ7EYdO_bVhzXXBW0YGLYK1p0OM5l1Xs6LiW6kvsol7zU0GIUweGmkjEl9Im8FeoJl_CTRwtwSeCUwTbFICSLAMNtzYQ4MaGgtYaU/s400/IMG_0649.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friend of ours bought us four boxes of these.<br />
We had no clue what to do with 16 mooncakes-- paperweights maybe?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl76__FnvTmm0wsjBykdHuvvzUfwun3_PXzZlfDGJT_r6IYAu7H-XYRIzRM1DndiLuJX0KzBkeYu3I_iGtLfmzyEQxjVzWLYuxImCKsPnLMhNPsMF2VfCxA1HQjZUZ4PSMYqQL0URnEX0/s1600/IMG_0650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl76__FnvTmm0wsjBykdHuvvzUfwun3_PXzZlfDGJT_r6IYAu7H-XYRIzRM1DndiLuJX0KzBkeYu3I_iGtLfmzyEQxjVzWLYuxImCKsPnLMhNPsMF2VfCxA1HQjZUZ4PSMYqQL0URnEX0/s320/IMG_0650.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying my very first Chinese Mooncake!</td></tr>
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During the week long Mid-Autumn and National Day holiday, Rachel and I, along with other foreigners, went to the famous Muslim quarter (also called Islamic Street) in Xi'an, Shaanxi province (post coming soon). One of the fascinating things about this place was all the stunning tea one could buy.<br />
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<i>(Bz Herms...this one's for you, my friend. Miss ya, pal.)</i><br />
One kind we bought was the stunning Blooming Jasmine Flower Tea. One may relieve headaches and indigestion by drinking this and also avoid wrinkles and blemishes by applying its leaves. Best of both worlds, no? <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMcE9HLJ9yqWBOW3hHo3Ext1ZgM8LNM1BZKdZ8AVJClb9raN461k7YHvvtu8yDPOaZSa872TGquIkUAqy6s9OXoe9NQbxpzh4a2J4JZQgT2hN6F3GQTGUNkDkqN9GCWUM3QS40f8cgzM/s1600/IMG_1009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMcE9HLJ9yqWBOW3hHo3Ext1ZgM8LNM1BZKdZ8AVJClb9raN461k7YHvvtu8yDPOaZSa872TGquIkUAqy6s9OXoe9NQbxpzh4a2J4JZQgT2hN6F3GQTGUNkDkqN9GCWUM3QS40f8cgzM/s320/IMG_1009.JPG" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starts out as a ball...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTboENKLALrBz28xVau7dY6Ry3WUyppMuNYnQ3tF7A6kAdASEm3VpxQknLE9slP-oFHQZ3t6GoUbDscmx6P0hdZN08S2dpYImG0KEFeAxq6dIJGs2patKebIYEq5t3eRnKnKFpNhyA-HQ/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTboENKLALrBz28xVau7dY6Ry3WUyppMuNYnQ3tF7A6kAdASEm3VpxQknLE9slP-oFHQZ3t6GoUbDscmx6P0hdZN08S2dpYImG0KEFeAxq6dIJGs2patKebIYEq5t3eRnKnKFpNhyA-HQ/s320/IMG_1010.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...slowly begins to blossom...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFFsPy6sApEsnfkDx9qS_wm8Obzw8GRUZzoDcB-FxXiLQdh0rSZfz1jMBp5r1QQUAfqHXYkP1kB3M7MI4drse3WJDJ1evGL-IptoDEapDprXxPKeHl3qlpS8EBUG0P6XoDtxFHQGFFy8/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFFsPy6sApEsnfkDx9qS_wm8Obzw8GRUZzoDcB-FxXiLQdh0rSZfz1jMBp5r1QQUAfqHXYkP1kB3M7MI4drse3WJDJ1evGL-IptoDEapDprXxPKeHl3qlpS8EBUG0P6XoDtxFHQGFFy8/s320/IMG_1017.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...into a beautiful, fragrant flower!</td></tr>
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You can buy these flower balls for a whopping 5 yuan...or $0.79 USD. It'll be enough tea for you and five of your best friends to sip on (and once they leave, you can give yourself a rather cheap facial)! </div>
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Lastly, you may be wondering what we eat here in China. </div>
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To my surprise, we haven't really seen any of the Chinese food here (in Henan province) that
we would typically eat back home. </div>
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Here are a few pictures of what we eat here. Some are fancy and others are not so fancy. Most restaurants we have been to are family style. All platters are meant to be shared between 4-6 people. </div>
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Also, so far in China, we have not been able to get a cold glass of water with our meals. Culturally speaking, hot water is highly preferred over cold water. Cold water will get you sick, didn't you know? </div>
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This is something I hadn't ever seen before:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbjTczumoXpTcpzM1gwuJi6vQq8Cd3ZxHKAftJO1JzsJmuhiQUEvQLNNV2gGCUl4GlR4JWSqZDvmSQ87CBK62JVZncZTvAMUEtzo0G0mOSifzaFqrZDWul6kWAiPb5VMzdGHVlvqypWo/s1600/IMG_0684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbjTczumoXpTcpzM1gwuJi6vQq8Cd3ZxHKAftJO1JzsJmuhiQUEvQLNNV2gGCUl4GlR4JWSqZDvmSQ87CBK62JVZncZTvAMUEtzo0G0mOSifzaFqrZDWul6kWAiPb5VMzdGHVlvqypWo/s320/IMG_0684.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy Crab. </td></tr>
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Dumplings galore... </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hcr_MoPMj991eQkNftfoRExB7vtjlqUULt3yV25MsuY6Cl5omSr4DsFkwij8S-_DtUI6PtWNscRbndOULQt1oCyOAdaQ1Mdwj9aazICOBLqhQt8lL7RfZsyoaYQX3xlRnYFJsdyCzsw/s1600/IMG_0437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hcr_MoPMj991eQkNftfoRExB7vtjlqUULt3yV25MsuY6Cl5omSr4DsFkwij8S-_DtUI6PtWNscRbndOULQt1oCyOAdaQ1Mdwj9aazICOBLqhQt8lL7RfZsyoaYQX3xlRnYFJsdyCzsw/s320/IMG_0437.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dumplings! All this for $3.80 (USD).</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9IH7ZC9sx5l6gbp722IRNXfeaC4AZCQEMQHiVBXaZ65azS4CjVsiwNtt6-tdpatLz-IGVU-y5RltkmF3rxIO3b153Go_Zevjb7wBbrMCqyF6O3WnJgoE1VCtY0t0OEwBRaTovQA5jtc/s320/IMG_0439.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love our <i>jiaozi</i> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUcP-cBtRWC08x7E5E_jtdwmo9ao4j4RxPlwxlfjadjybsGgNllkuOZdrMwy7Ps9cb4yowJIHagVr0-11lbpX5fCyE82q_thoTIKnapkTQK86knUuetczBJKe6vqfmoNi9sYBMDvmCKU/s320/IMG_0691.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seafood (octopus?) Dumplings </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp84wTxtzo89EGxVC4toveGODLkrbtSI-tTXB5bbg04-qscPNuNTdS1jE08yeogmBt3mHCjcOWdXjWkWpElnFamFv9KqPOPPfF8xGZifbsKDGSysq5d2gpC2VRZo05oBi1YwBGQ1IubcE/s320/IMG_0690.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="296" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hope this wasn't a Lion Dumpling we just ate!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFAVraK6ZV81WbgKrh3vWAHciClx81wMTG58m_NJKTok-r4lAQ2pEqnb1xQ2B3CXvlQXyj4Ny5QIvsgXj-dZQCLMDO52cDaTdhEg6JFdtDfD2jvu9xZSvF3KgMDLcCZaspegIKx8cfgs/s320/IMG_0688.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veggie Dumplings</td></tr>
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Free meals at our foreign teacher's cafeteria...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YCURzF4xCnPPYgRwikzzALQGlBKROsOem09TOC7RzqAaz4dzOnNi45dcJqT4fEOlFi9YK3M89PfA7Rq4U5yAIVSgegZCWC8FuFk8VpUpzQOppDcB_EoqFi6ZR6vXLWi2NTm5RBPv420/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YCURzF4xCnPPYgRwikzzALQGlBKROsOem09TOC7RzqAaz4dzOnNi45dcJqT4fEOlFi9YK3M89PfA7Rq4U5yAIVSgegZCWC8FuFk8VpUpzQOppDcB_EoqFi6ZR6vXLWi2NTm5RBPv420/s320/IMG_0452.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biannual treat for Sias foreign teachers. Loaded with all sorts of western treats!</td></tr>
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Local restaurants...<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigs0XqaOJ13r2BZrcfk-xAYBK8qP57ZCJsYYaby_53-ZsJyCPGa2ymzqKzQLRifdabDPd6BJ1Jb0sqCoV1kLz7sFG1lXS8c8TIo118_DtlyIwatHqq7zD8JRGVf1cBRc-TGc-JNS3heRg/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigs0XqaOJ13r2BZrcfk-xAYBK8qP57ZCJsYYaby_53-ZsJyCPGa2ymzqKzQLRifdabDPd6BJ1Jb0sqCoV1kLz7sFG1lXS8c8TIo118_DtlyIwatHqq7zD8JRGVf1cBRc-TGc-JNS3heRg/s320/IMG_0492.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3Rqfz9n2WV1RoGLRQiWPfAtJjstWtcU3vvXvWGj_gKOpQAXrbsTHss0DhMb7rA9JphqgBGSMOqTeb8jI43cFY1ooqtt1Hibaj8pwrPnJSW7SNs8UmOv_kK1RMzl5T4Zl7bpDKf5lv6Y/s1600/IMG_0627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3Rqfz9n2WV1RoGLRQiWPfAtJjstWtcU3vvXvWGj_gKOpQAXrbsTHss0DhMb7rA9JphqgBGSMOqTeb8jI43cFY1ooqtt1Hibaj8pwrPnJSW7SNs8UmOv_kK1RMzl5T4Zl7bpDKf5lv6Y/s320/IMG_0627.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You make a wrap with these ingredients-- like a Chinese taco</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv-VgzMZMXw6B0CxhGvknr8RxeW2TcO0Cs5GZEWlTBvjsYQP7jZEqZcYmtRysyChK5_Cw-9ZBLFleESemeuTRMeSrSnnHpRoaHyc7q8rwYE97ewqxTsg1OdmwbGkDy8XZIoEqjNZWeug/s1600/IMG_0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv-VgzMZMXw6B0CxhGvknr8RxeW2TcO0Cs5GZEWlTBvjsYQP7jZEqZcYmtRysyChK5_Cw-9ZBLFleESemeuTRMeSrSnnHpRoaHyc7q8rwYE97ewqxTsg1OdmwbGkDy8XZIoEqjNZWeug/s320/IMG_0634.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grilled peppers...quite hot</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGck97EWhDETHjaWv4sF40Y4tpSMCk_G6qWu_AdHM7G9WIHj-wMXMl2kRTNb0XEayXSiYkVogYseFapuv506yO-bzddg4yzEONczhOGmNQ_RMJEaQPByED_9kMp0_KFl2cODpxaXno14/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGck97EWhDETHjaWv4sF40Y4tpSMCk_G6qWu_AdHM7G9WIHj-wMXMl2kRTNb0XEayXSiYkVogYseFapuv506yO-bzddg4yzEONczhOGmNQ_RMJEaQPByED_9kMp0_KFl2cODpxaXno14/s320/IMG_0635.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grilled green beans and asparagus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70w_PHCaAhxPsf0adPDm9vJ6uNQVtFwNEOkc5I4hKVeFJeo4CQ7wtKlVmL9EiM7TnF19tYEOflbPKDFUeZZCGli6dZ_WHjHVyYSW8MiQT4ohxpnOcg-mceaZu_1tqY48tYboYJ9q9UhA/s1600/IMG_0639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70w_PHCaAhxPsf0adPDm9vJ6uNQVtFwNEOkc5I4hKVeFJeo4CQ7wtKlVmL9EiM7TnF19tYEOflbPKDFUeZZCGli6dZ_WHjHVyYSW8MiQT4ohxpnOcg-mceaZu_1tqY48tYboYJ9q9UhA/s320/IMG_0639.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken with a flower! </td></tr>
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Western restaurants...<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJY0z_srI8mSaf_RRvvIC4KFsSI1OP23LbA7qHkTlwlUyxJ39DtHqA6WPyx3JaQAvWtCGeR1T9J-KtBoQ-eA1c9-Ol45N3kSWKY1htRL0inV3HLBMfmNCSY55rdhOwkmi0oH0fDx7_5A/s320/IMG_0531.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pizza Hut in China does not equal Pizza Hut in America (expensive + weird cheese)!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwq47wzJKCv4U-b1dS9eBBRAD_212FSi-HPe8dJHXNwRQx8iYtYzkIcKg-cI2dBnc-WjHnCTSgXJrZp9lnSe_jzcoSWlBZJbtqmEbfHfrI5ZRmkuEXI3KoF8sHMi3M1Kt22e0FdfxcW8/s200/IMG_0785.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="171" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a common practice in the USA but very popular in China </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHS1Yn7T5CAmVk_JxgJLEoFJfQcQV6ZrBT88F85U_Y58fzIPRd6Fb4wQN71dCOuPEX2-RKNz3as-8wQKvlHMZuQ7sKRW77SMsP2gcGD72f-CBLYdJZu3llQjeoevTKeuf7iuRZLhKnuw/s400/IMG_0784.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Life tastes better with KFC</i>" -according to some Ming dynasty warriors!!</td></tr>
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Fine dining...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWs9YVqXpiJdBzS3oTKfEgJKqvBfMG4XJqqf7rOyM2tFpbCoiNGKbghZyyZU1PHxrLa19_1K1duvTbxq4fI8JciHFJUnYYWrSEYmbNgTiHt4pnHsId_2pmBlrW4od7uR7nMMRpzhU_s8/s1600/IMG_0998.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWs9YVqXpiJdBzS3oTKfEgJKqvBfMG4XJqqf7rOyM2tFpbCoiNGKbghZyyZU1PHxrLa19_1K1duvTbxq4fI8JciHFJUnYYWrSEYmbNgTiHt4pnHsId_2pmBlrW4od7uR7nMMRpzhU_s8/s320/IMG_0998.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tofu, mushrooms, and bok choy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4IVX4y36K3vIAmNTy8D8oXTGKIwEuEdiWBzBpYlXhl5sqpFVSJ6ECey2KF3Mi995bjt96zhqs_QU5VGYbsyllGUDoelBOTzeCb1bavUBhw0fART_p7SGEnBwKTtaaOxgLiOi7YyJmL0/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4IVX4y36K3vIAmNTy8D8oXTGKIwEuEdiWBzBpYlXhl5sqpFVSJ6ECey2KF3Mi995bjt96zhqs_QU5VGYbsyllGUDoelBOTzeCb1bavUBhw0fART_p7SGEnBwKTtaaOxgLiOi7YyJmL0/s320/IMG_0993.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotus Salad...has quickly become one of our favorites</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQI_geqshyrauUL6n4YAYj4bF7Di2Rr7zs0H-ftbefogQKLWnIG6KSuP55wdhDk5YCNUzbskLR1IR-sUtvaHZwlh1lQkP_5tuHaybvIcpO3C5kZPLKF5-0DPg9PvhdIJgzLdBQyfD1SIY/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQI_geqshyrauUL6n4YAYj4bF7Di2Rr7zs0H-ftbefogQKLWnIG6KSuP55wdhDk5YCNUzbskLR1IR-sUtvaHZwlh1lQkP_5tuHaybvIcpO3C5kZPLKF5-0DPg9PvhdIJgzLdBQyfD1SIY/s320/IMG_0994.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presentation like this is very rare</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpjbpSdFgNCaoD3opD1EG6LxgKBaWxn4bU3S2E8a7gpLdltG9_a52EqV6l5f6p43GnZDLsaV5GhSbFlpSJoK25D334b_joA8Jk-cAt9d7ZI0jZdPqSFuXdKLVn28A8-9-ShYMvviMsNU/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpjbpSdFgNCaoD3opD1EG6LxgKBaWxn4bU3S2E8a7gpLdltG9_a52EqV6l5f6p43GnZDLsaV5GhSbFlpSJoK25D334b_joA8Jk-cAt9d7ZI0jZdPqSFuXdKLVn28A8-9-ShYMvviMsNU/s320/IMG_0996.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left side of a chicken. See the head?</td></tr>
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I hope you enjoyed reading this food post. As you can probably tell, we are really enjoying our stay in China.<br />
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Look forward to a post on "Street Food" in the near future. You don't want to miss it!<br />
<br />
Blessings,<br />
Benjamin<br />
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<span id="goog_1010316479"></span><span id="goog_1010316480"></span>Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-80644636500332089272012-09-19T04:13:00.001-07:002012-09-19T04:25:21.322-07:00 Department of Transportation<ul>
<li><span style="text-align: center;">50 flights of stairs we climb every day to get to our 5th floor apartment and 5th and 4th floor classrooms</span></li>
<li>7 minute walking commute we endure each day to work</li>
<li>1 hour bus ride to ZZ (the capital of Henan)</li>
<li>1 kai ($0.15) to rent a bike for an hour</li>
<li>3 kai ($0.45) for an hourly moped rental</li>
<li>0 dollars we have spend on gas so far</li>
</ul>
As you can see from the numbers above, we have it pretty nice here, transportation-wise. We have a free, mandatory stairmaster that we use multiple times a day to get to our apartment, classrooms, and dining hall. Already our calves are growing so massive that I'm getting worried that I might have to get more flared jeans because my skinny jeans will be too small!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVbuiCW4UY3MnoyAW4RMOylw8bXRWpnB_HCvZFFVXl9S9DiEw3T2w7oQEqziPnYFbA3MGoZq-3vAJTitrJhuh_ggSoUKK7MfcaZ16w4FRDNj2k-5duN-vLK_FDeuK3jaZjCVFLjvkrKE/s1600/DSCN2526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVbuiCW4UY3MnoyAW4RMOylw8bXRWpnB_HCvZFFVXl9S9DiEw3T2w7oQEqziPnYFbA3MGoZq-3vAJTitrJhuh_ggSoUKK7MfcaZ16w4FRDNj2k-5duN-vLK_FDeuK3jaZjCVFLjvkrKE/s400/DSCN2526.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working up a sweat on our way to teaching</td></tr>
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Our brutal seven minute commute each morning and afternoon is spoiling us so much that any sort of commute back home (like our 20 and 50 minute ones before) makes us wonder how we ever survived it...and how we'll ever be able to go back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6CH5lU2FfqHq4hcmBn3PnUaJETqIN9yQY0f5NLeYT8y3yA4FQg1FNLyLFciFM344ksq4vOoiU-qK-WyICeDHX2iCtq6hpXJ_5w47Vhyzw2tjnETZjkobtwBExjC_umaP5y4p8kvyrBc/s1600/DSCN2561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6CH5lU2FfqHq4hcmBn3PnUaJETqIN9yQY0f5NLeYT8y3yA4FQg1FNLyLFciFM344ksq4vOoiU-qK-WyICeDHX2iCtq6hpXJ_5w47Vhyzw2tjnETZjkobtwBExjC_umaP5y4p8kvyrBc/s400/DSCN2561.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our many "stairmasters" (aka classrooms)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since we don't have cars, we never spend a kai (pronounced like kwai...like if a person from Boston said, "Don't be a kwai baby.") on gasoline. I can honestly say I don't miss my car one bit or the traffic, insurance, oil changes, etc. Alternate modes of transportation include the city buses (1 kai), taxis and rickshaws (3-8), and my personal favorites: bikes and mopeds!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGaiT0xv4RL-MQYPczbaw8MXow2ipYxlXCLEkFrd1MESgCWDzLAIkgjLLApzaLS5XpohM6u8OM3RajAqxV_QGZj3XMMxNFKxutp4ApDMhQDbbzQL8mSl10xqm5sO3bW3YZVTlX5qovZg/s1600/DSCN2664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGaiT0xv4RL-MQYPczbaw8MXow2ipYxlXCLEkFrd1MESgCWDzLAIkgjLLApzaLS5XpohM6u8OM3RajAqxV_QGZj3XMMxNFKxutp4ApDMhQDbbzQL8mSl10xqm5sO3bW3YZVTlX5qovZg/s400/DSCN2664.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Biking buddies...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5-jIKmPHFBefCY2r_4Ag4hyphenhyphen-NpRn4uisRTkYW6CqSr8T1fTOCKkODSD0-NmCNDxKaJ0RcsvMCMj-n2tCN6CT7t7Y3HfDbbVrfSa6ncMUfRL0K8DGjOlyl3QfmNxPh_5-6_2AqHeQG8Q/s1600/DSCN2667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5-jIKmPHFBefCY2r_4Ag4hyphenhyphen-NpRn4uisRTkYW6CqSr8T1fTOCKkODSD0-NmCNDxKaJ0RcsvMCMj-n2tCN6CT7t7Y3HfDbbVrfSa6ncMUfRL0K8DGjOlyl3QfmNxPh_5-6_2AqHeQG8Q/s400/DSCN2667.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A river runs through it...sadly no Brad Pitt though</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzILC98Ugas_NfTcnuKlEQV143IlaFQukMTiDq5VIK89UvsPT3yrdrZ7wVB9N3ZtvOvSfO5esd6eoJPEj_oxKfPqFv4jiIG0Lb073OnGZmAE1bJSXGhG2QTc6BEwyR0RK56R4GcY9Nbug/s1600/IMG_0419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzILC98Ugas_NfTcnuKlEQV143IlaFQukMTiDq5VIK89UvsPT3yrdrZ7wVB9N3ZtvOvSfO5esd6eoJPEj_oxKfPqFv4jiIG0Lb073OnGZmAE1bJSXGhG2QTc6BEwyR0RK56R4GcY9Nbug/s400/IMG_0419.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ben is either very excited or very surprised</div>
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For less than a dollar, you can spend a throughly enjoyable (and only occasionally life-threatening) hour or so riding around the city or countryside here. It is a perfect way to see the sights, do some shopping, or just get some "fresh" air.<br />
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<tr><td><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYHqatvF_nuVFT0xShKtDXEtAhDOPo4fllHnJOKr4sLzCeT0egtUD07sIJCrBvT64Y99KUm3ZSCq99ZoGmg6pO9StR4sHZqBKfS_9XAp882WZy_sfio1EWAryt244kOru16XA01O7yuI/s400/7981308791_903a3a4eee_b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Sweet upgrade! 35 kph, baby!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYHqatvF_nuVFT0xShKtDXEtAhDOPo4fllHnJOKr4sLzCeT0egtUD07sIJCrBvT64Y99KUm3ZSCq99ZoGmg6pO9StR4sHZqBKfS_9XAp882WZy_sfio1EWAryt244kOru16XA01O7yuI/s1600/7981308791_903a3a4eee_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYHqatvF_nuVFT0xShKtDXEtAhDOPo4fllHnJOKr4sLzCeT0egtUD07sIJCrBvT64Y99KUm3ZSCq99ZoGmg6pO9StR4sHZqBKfS_9XAp882WZy_sfio1EWAryt244kOru16XA01O7yuI/s1600/7981308791_903a3a4eee_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVU7gALoyh7Y1dL_0N8T4_Fnp47M3eLDY_j_6DV9EbEIqMgUuibyQAQ-sLCanMHctzRvB1D2MppvaATtQjF0lWumcpHcGgVYBeS9mSoqPOK2QTok-vJ00gS6hB3OPG1Z_DiSjTMixQaVw/s1600/7981309321_008b9ecd0b_b(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVU7gALoyh7Y1dL_0N8T4_Fnp47M3eLDY_j_6DV9EbEIqMgUuibyQAQ-sLCanMHctzRvB1D2MppvaATtQjF0lWumcpHcGgVYBeS9mSoqPOK2QTok-vJ00gS6hB3OPG1Z_DiSjTMixQaVw/s400/7981309321_008b9ecd0b_b(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">I got the faster one, naturally</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm70z7t3iUHhA9B9IRHn8I9y-5Bg0XrByXC2UFGGEW03M-1DbgjHAuzJvBUnOzxKwzhvEfFWD0vZMOhWexr4n8my0E7SZBQDvsYi22IL-G7zyu-R7G-Hsq4KVHUpqOJTaDvjacQTf8hU/s1600/7981312098_b3b72ec5b8_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm70z7t3iUHhA9B9IRHn8I9y-5Bg0XrByXC2UFGGEW03M-1DbgjHAuzJvBUnOzxKwzhvEfFWD0vZMOhWexr4n8my0E7SZBQDvsYi22IL-G7zyu-R7G-Hsq4KVHUpqOJTaDvjacQTf8hU/s400/7981312098_b3b72ec5b8_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Off-roading fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The ZZ weekly shopping bus was the last transportation vehicle we have experienced here. On Saturday, Sias provides a bus for the foreign faculty to take into the populous capital city an hour away. There we were able to deplete our bank accounts at the Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Walmart, Ikea (!), and other Western shops.<br />
<br />
Ben and I skipped the Sbux but hit the Walmart and Ikea pretty hard. We bought a number of things for our apartment: a blanket, pillows, picture frames, candles, and much more. Slowly our place is looking more and more like somebody actually lives there (but who that somebody is, we aren't quite sure yet....).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbMgc-PylTkuAXUfP2hfv9JKh_R1LJR25Ul6OIiCiCUN2yM-SP2gFmALvRWOYRuOiT2haf4SRnVDrmUPkYqcrnYYhn_Fl4e9DDToL39SpBE8uPazXrVgAai0Nl38Kk7Bq52Z4k8iUehQ/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbMgc-PylTkuAXUfP2hfv9JKh_R1LJR25Ul6OIiCiCUN2yM-SP2gFmALvRWOYRuOiT2haf4SRnVDrmUPkYqcrnYYhn_Fl4e9DDToL39SpBE8uPazXrVgAai0Nl38Kk7Bq52Z4k8iUehQ/s400/IMG_0528.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese Walmart-- the people aren't as fat, but strangeness still abounds</td></tr>
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The Walmart is very Chinesified with fresh sting rays and dried ducks in the deli section because of course in America they would be deep fried. Even their "Great Value" brand had items we've never heard of before like beef granules. [For an entertaining list of other Chinese Walmart items, click <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/16-products-they-only-sell-at-chinese-walmarts" target="_blank">here</a>. Ben really wanted to buy #16...seriously].<br />
<br />
The ZZ Ikea was also a very different place but for another reason-- instead of being a giant, orderly, labyrinth-like warehouse, it was a tiny, crowed upstairs apartment...literally. The place was crammed with all things Swedish, which was a welcome departure from the flashy Chinese-style designs and fabrics. But sadly, the prices and the fact that it felt like we were in a Scandinavian hoarder's home made it difficult to shop.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixx3WhMTq8JFpEr-1vswB12tJsvfHDA6le3sQkOLE8TQKYfIlCQQ0K6bAEGg9kfdmb5ZXWHcVB64a0C0Z5xHN5e6ad-XTh3ixV9U3VitPxGgSos50HuaaFfYh9t_xHU0MVJGNzR_3ngC4/s1600/IMG_0533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixx3WhMTq8JFpEr-1vswB12tJsvfHDA6le3sQkOLE8TQKYfIlCQQ0K6bAEGg9kfdmb5ZXWHcVB64a0C0Z5xHN5e6ad-XTh3ixV9U3VitPxGgSos50HuaaFfYh9t_xHU0MVJGNzR_3ngC4/s400/IMG_0533.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The world's tiniest Ikea. How I miss Sweden!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Overall, we had a fun, productive day, but when the bus picked us up at 4 pm, we were beat. Usually my shopping-stamina doesn't last more than an hour or two, so this was quite strenuous to say the least. However, I do anticipate us taking advantage of the bus trip in the future; ZZ has a Home Depot, Metro (like a Costco), a bowling alley, and massive DVD store. But until our energy levels and bank account have recovered, we just might have more low-key weekends here.<br />
<br />
That's all for now!<br />
Love,<br />
RachelBenchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-15150014828587962342012-09-06T19:44:00.002-07:002012-09-06T19:44:28.323-07:00Stolen Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello friends and family!</div>
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Ben promised pictures yesterday, and I have some! These are "stolen" from my fellow Sias teachers, but we will be posting a few of our own soon. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these glimpses into our beautiful campus and city. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fk_6X4EoTYt-oXIqtyi8kpLISLT7AGTWkd_OkKZJTtoj-aJ_Ahxv4PnOa_7IVsBmHsuZooivUSdv_R2K96wPJdecCh0WvIb1HfVBfpwowuU1hvqdmjL-WpxDlbBh_JTyXTd-asugOsw/s1600/314926_10100999564930755_1875631815_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fk_6X4EoTYt-oXIqtyi8kpLISLT7AGTWkd_OkKZJTtoj-aJ_Ahxv4PnOa_7IVsBmHsuZooivUSdv_R2K96wPJdecCh0WvIb1HfVBfpwowuU1hvqdmjL-WpxDlbBh_JTyXTd-asugOsw/s400/314926_10100999564930755_1875631815_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the lotus garden, river, and bridge just off campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA0AkMDqjwJdZilyErDxPjCcP8Li_zSfGdPjLO7l2lnsSTNsF3FyaF0KbJ3rvpNCRbqHV0Sp93IUwDslSVGI6fX5d-wR5dzlUn4QC_1UL41Pds9AM_sUSZ_t7AW6LO1GHLPMTXqXtNtk/s1600/422739_10101014967648585_408655465_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA0AkMDqjwJdZilyErDxPjCcP8Li_zSfGdPjLO7l2lnsSTNsF3FyaF0KbJ3rvpNCRbqHV0Sp93IUwDslSVGI6fX5d-wR5dzlUn4QC_1UL41Pds9AM_sUSZ_t7AW6LO1GHLPMTXqXtNtk/s400/422739_10101014967648585_408655465_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this pagoda is in the middle of campus and the only structure here that existed before Sias was built </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJBLazBllmbKM55_C06XKmZjXZjpgj53XxgSPAwfpMEK1a2Kggg6ZSB7Pfbss172kTfGKffqPonZtjJz4LHgffPNOEHIDjIAmg14p6XnDpys8bRy45U9VUfX2dgfzRWyqdk4iGq9s_kY/s1600/423575_10101014967483915_1101565730_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJBLazBllmbKM55_C06XKmZjXZjpgj53XxgSPAwfpMEK1a2Kggg6ZSB7Pfbss172kTfGKffqPonZtjJz4LHgffPNOEHIDjIAmg14p6XnDpys8bRy45U9VUfX2dgfzRWyqdk4iGq9s_kY/s400/423575_10101014967483915_1101565730_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freshman military training! They make look intimidating now, but normally they are dressed in frilly dresses and skirts </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MfC6VoxXJcfKHTE71pQnoYuVllXUVLx4_qojQzAbcM6xCOSW8j5U-upqsEZGWBmaHZOMQP9RAi7BgdhvgVESAoYLJ1mPcm2gHVp_0-6wjkTLCAipFoK1difcew9nLzNNf0_XiSCQoao/s1600/481138_10101014967583715_1196092430_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MfC6VoxXJcfKHTE71pQnoYuVllXUVLx4_qojQzAbcM6xCOSW8j5U-upqsEZGWBmaHZOMQP9RAi7BgdhvgVESAoYLJ1mPcm2gHVp_0-6wjkTLCAipFoK1difcew9nLzNNf0_XiSCQoao/s400/481138_10101014967583715_1196092430_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every freshman in China must complete one month of military training</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQeE4ypxi7IFpzmUQTHtnA8RRFXj1_cSUhxitnVHSvkYaXl0BN5hQbwoC31zvOoC716svYUk1B9tL5oJ2u5rV8vnAJycK72_LPz8TUnkqrzD9AXfoNrMkuHVo4_nZd1lai_PyE58vgSE/s1600/549656_10101014967603675_1823727188_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQeE4ypxi7IFpzmUQTHtnA8RRFXj1_cSUhxitnVHSvkYaXl0BN5hQbwoC31zvOoC716svYUk1B9tL5oJ2u5rV8vnAJycK72_LPz8TUnkqrzD9AXfoNrMkuHVo4_nZd1lai_PyE58vgSE/s400/549656_10101014967603675_1823727188_n.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marching along the "Kremlin." C<em style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">транный!</em> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rcMLipwjBaMfgbTqv9OyTExqDGAs5w4AfYCA_wvN1Ak0FTpMtamTzsHonH21CYHYc8ZxWfx8mlgxsanM7RVtWMFiNqLzNZerlGOELUIqSifwFJHJpVcDcWLiBVHEQ2wD8lysXE0ABpM/s1600/527029_10101010459862225_1705499486_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rcMLipwjBaMfgbTqv9OyTExqDGAs5w4AfYCA_wvN1Ak0FTpMtamTzsHonH21CYHYc8ZxWfx8mlgxsanM7RVtWMFiNqLzNZerlGOELUIqSifwFJHJpVcDcWLiBVHEQ2wD8lysXE0ABpM/s400/527029_10101010459862225_1705499486_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fountains and a beautifully rare sunny day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeB__JQ8gbRg91G_k2aUVZxQM3F342QMVH9PrzASvymEryN0pAeVFFWvicaTuZDxbBLLGKN_SqTwV-plD_opGrHtRcPLoiA5ZXpeStvUKNquimSbBv6AgOp3UL689R0hG-vWDjPLJrnM/s1600/531111_10100999565564485_569794766_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeB__JQ8gbRg91G_k2aUVZxQM3F342QMVH9PrzASvymEryN0pAeVFFWvicaTuZDxbBLLGKN_SqTwV-plD_opGrHtRcPLoiA5ZXpeStvUKNquimSbBv6AgOp3UL689R0hG-vWDjPLJrnM/s320/531111_10100999565564485_569794766_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sting ray, anyone? The Chinese say they eat all moving things except for vehicles and planes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJe2q07jkUlqIQbI1rrjP6fA4ZanjpfXrx21ZMJHpaJZ-MdkH592643RERphfYD45bH9oLUcTYet9bM2gW-ChubQIAavJJqL23BvgrSqmvpxmQZ6ahcHMT-bM9x2UDPIHW5b-TSDHJyeI/s1600/7917855578_030e401919_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJe2q07jkUlqIQbI1rrjP6fA4ZanjpfXrx21ZMJHpaJZ-MdkH592643RERphfYD45bH9oLUcTYet9bM2gW-ChubQIAavJJqL23BvgrSqmvpxmQZ6ahcHMT-bM9x2UDPIHW5b-TSDHJyeI/s400/7917855578_030e401919_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fountains and flowered SIAS by the Italian Square</td></tr>
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Ok, that is all for now! I still have much more to show you: European and German street, "Tiananmen Square," and so much more!<br />
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<br />Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-78589964928020824762012-09-05T23:56:00.000-07:002012-09-08T09:33:25.032-07:00Arrived and Settled<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello friends and family! Sorry it has taken so long to update you all. We are finally settled and have overcome two weeks filled with meeting after meeting plus 18 hours per week of teaching. Rachel and I have about 400 students between the both of us. Luckily, we have a short day on Thursdays and don't teach on Fridays! Woohoo! Time to explore! :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allow me to backtrack a little, though....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday 25th of August, we flew out of SFO at 650pm and arrived at LAX around 8:14pm. This felt like the most unnecessary flight since we flew out of LAX a few hours later and flew right over SFO (where we originally started) and THEN proceeded towards China. On a positive note, it was really great seeing my sister, Leya, before getting to China. She drove 45 minutes to get to LAX on her day off to see us off and treated us to our last dinner in America (for the time being).</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wcHbeOmjRWt9caCxDQR8Ck5QQUlojc99MSVOp4kA0qnVlbA_Q5JVPZoyapl67bP3tVlArpem6qV4yymemaDL3Aq9UWJg9HRsYyn_PbUN6_b1_x0s_LGQu0sZeRSAwoj_wxrINBC-gaI/s1600/2012-08-25+21.01.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wcHbeOmjRWt9caCxDQR8Ck5QQUlojc99MSVOp4kA0qnVlbA_Q5JVPZoyapl67bP3tVlArpem6qV4yymemaDL3Aq9UWJg9HRsYyn_PbUN6_b1_x0s_LGQu0sZeRSAwoj_wxrINBC-gaI/s400/2012-08-25+21.01.48.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fifteen hours later, we touched down in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><em style="font-style: normal;">Guangzhou</em><em style="font-style: normal;"> and shortly there after took a two hour flight to Zhengzhou. I will spare you the details of our long agonizing flight -- its not worth mentioning how many crying babies there were on our plane. But there! Now you know what it must have been like!</em></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Around 10:30am, we touched down and were able to quickly find our luggage. We are very grateful to have the wonderful returning teachers and cultural students pick us up and save us the trouble of finding our own ride to the university.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Upon arrival, we were immediately shown our apartment. It was a little covered in dust all over and in major need of a paint job. On top of that, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">we had really dark and old, broken down furniture. Also, our shower drain was clogged and the shower head didn't work. Oh, one more thing, our AC pipe had been leaking onto the hardwood floor and has all been warped now. Hey, it all sounds bad. But at least we weren't the unit that literally got flooded when a big pipe burst. Those poor guys had it a lot worse than we did. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, we made peace with our new life and standard of living. Then, one beautifully smoggy morning, we came down from our 5th floor apartment to see the lobby of our building lined with brand new WHITE furniture! Thank you, Lord, our apartment wasn't going to be so bad after all. :) We were one of the lucky ones that got brand new Ikea-esque furniture. Pictures of our apartment will be posted soon; hopefully, right after we paint the peeling bright yellow walls. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mlb2ehM1_BiX8Uo7Kd90xVtyGIZnCLjZvKs1AlBSAHMx6N-WoS6ZFiyKfj-WrWdC9wU37UQKVR7vi4sGLrb3PXbVexnN5Tn5NUxE27CjtFkZjgHmiCEP302gbe-W3kZF1Dsq0wxBC4s/s1600/284847_570613935947_1110039429_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mlb2ehM1_BiX8Uo7Kd90xVtyGIZnCLjZvKs1AlBSAHMx6N-WoS6ZFiyKfj-WrWdC9wU37UQKVR7vi4sGLrb3PXbVexnN5Tn5NUxE27CjtFkZjgHmiCEP302gbe-W3kZF1Dsq0wxBC4s/s320/284847_570613935947_1110039429_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Its a shame you can't see the view from our bedroom<br />
window. Yes, this is how smoggy it gets here<br />
on a normal day. Please send us some<br />
of the fresh air you are breathing<br />
as you read this. Thanks! :)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">As I mentioned earlier, Rachel and I have been very busy with teaching classes and going to meetings every single day. It has definitely been a little exhausting. The humidity and heavy local pollution hasn't really helped either. With that said, we have been adjusting just fine. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">We have both even gone on runs by ourselves already. What an awesome way to explore!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> We both know we are called and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">meant to be here. Hence, we are quite happy and very thankful to be here. . </span></span></div><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Thank you for thinking of us and reading this blog. Sorry if it gets a little dry sometimes. I hope to share with family and friends the things we are going through and the lessons we are learning.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">More pictures will be coming very soon! I promise!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">-</span>本杰明 (aka, Benjamin)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</div>Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392779901724223926.post-16330535186599426712012-08-16T11:01:00.001-07:002012-08-16T11:01:31.338-07:00Delays...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYAtuTM51HupSI7M4-PwffPqkLssU8WYEc3sMlROCUjBweoeNq_RRrBd5w6zHshxq9pE7re5iELWX3Ty2fSC0_sLjBBdlm5rjiQ_AJYqa3ZFcnwC_qrVWgKZ2W_r9ahGkb1fxVSX2HH4/s1600/flight+delays" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYAtuTM51HupSI7M4-PwffPqkLssU8WYEc3sMlROCUjBweoeNq_RRrBd5w6zHshxq9pE7re5iELWX3Ty2fSC0_sLjBBdlm5rjiQ_AJYqa3ZFcnwC_qrVWgKZ2W_r9ahGkb1fxVSX2HH4/s320/flight+delays" width="320" /></a></div>
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As many of you know by now, our scheduled departure date of August 15th is not going to happen. Just when we started to get emotionally ready to leave and begin packing up, we received an email saying Ben's visa is not ready yet and will not be ready for at least two weeks.<br />
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We were not thrilled to say the least. All of our anticipation and excitement that we would be leaving on Wednesday was gone. Instead, we were left frustrated and wondering why the process is taking so long when we had sent in all our paperwork months ago.<br />
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Regardless, it was out of our hands, so all we could do was try to be patient and enjoy these extra few days in the States. However, it is hard to not think about what we are missing as most of the teachers fly out this week: training, meeting everyone, getting settled, recovering from jet lag, etc. In the mean time, I am trying to learn to just appreciate this extra time and not worry too much about being delayed.<br />
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Proverbs 13:12 says, "<span class="text Prov-13-12" id="en-NIV-16760">Hope deferred makes the heart sick,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-13-12">but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." </span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-13-12">So even though my heart is a little "sick," I know that our Father's timing is perfect, and this is just another reminder that worrying and stressing instead of trusting in Him will only bring further hardships. It is still good to hope and plan, but I'm trying to keep an open and trusting attitude at the same time.</span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-13-12">Whether in traveling or life in general, we should always expect delays. And we need to be ready to make the most of it like getting massages at a spa, going to SF and the beach, and eating lots of good food with friends and family.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuEbz1fiys2MpK1FOpRJgV9rwzcJbZi-XgEegXto7sdy2ymY9YQt_gw8_d5NuvSNrm5q6Dhyphenhyphenx4v9o7pjmPEL7jzwOv8DtyhvGdBuzQIbkIVX3YAujAuzSOkfalMvlG_GyNFl8C3PctNI/s1600/expect-delays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuEbz1fiys2MpK1FOpRJgV9rwzcJbZi-XgEegXto7sdy2ymY9YQt_gw8_d5NuvSNrm5q6Dhyphenhyphenx4v9o7pjmPEL7jzwOv8DtyhvGdBuzQIbkIVX3YAujAuzSOkfalMvlG_GyNFl8C3PctNI/s320/expect-delays.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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...Our next scheduled departure is August 25th! Hopefully!<br />
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-Rachel<br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-13-12"></span></span>Benchel Vidmaryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13100727969826703962noreply@blogger.com1