新年快乐！

Ok, so it's a little late for a New Year's post....but, happy new year all the same! I know I am grateful for a reminder that a fresh start is always possible, ptl!

I had grand plans for New Year's Eve (just like last year), that involved karaoke and glow bracelets...but when midnight struck, I found myself at a friend's house watching "2012" and snacking. We didn't notice when midnight struck...anticlimactic, but a good new year celebration nonetheless....good company!

A big part of celebrating a new year for me is not so much about making resolutions (which usually get broken), as much as reflecting on the past year and visualizing what things I want to grow in for next year.

This year was...confusing, messy, beautiful, exciting, terrifying...all kinds of things. I'm guessing that your year may have been as well.

2012...I can already count blessings that have happened or are to come....I'm looking forward to growing in relationships with friends here....to mending mistakes that I've made and allowing God to heal hurts, both suffered and self-inflicted. I will get to see more of the world...visit new places, meet new people, and have new enlightening conversations.

I'm hoping this year I will cry more, and allow myself to acutely feel emotions again. I hope I will grow closer to God. I hope I will really extend kindness to my friends here, even when I feel irritated or overwhelmed by cultural stresses.

Of course, I have thought of a few practical things I want to grow in too...the usual study goals, language improvement techniques to try, studies to do, etc.

What about you friends? What were the highlights of your past year and what are things you are looking forward to in the next year?

Happy New Year! Welcome 2011!

It's been a big year for me....I did move to China after all. So, thought I would do a run-down of the year (well, since I moved to China)...before that a lot of my year was about making the decision to move here and preparing (and freaking out a little bit).

July

Moved to China

Visited Hong Kong (I wasn't a huge fan...it was too crowded)

Taught at an English Camp

Visited Xilinhot and witnessed a Mongolian Nadaam Festival (also where the kissing with a Mongolian cowboy occured...see my post entitled "A Romance on the Plains with Michael Jackson")

August

Bought Jay Chou concert tickets and became his biggest fan

My friend Tiara visited

Registered for school, and had an eventful health exam which included me passing out

September

Started school

Went to the Jay Chou concert

Hosted my first murder mystery party

Met a demon-possessed woman
Experienced poverty week, where I lived on less than 5 kuai a day

Visited the mountains outside the city limits and saw the remains of the Great Wall

Visited Baotou

October

Visited Chengdu, and the pandas

Visited Shanghai and saw the site of the first Communist Party Congress, and saw the World Expo

Celebrated my first Halloween in China (and appeared as Lady Gaga)

November

Celebrated my first Thanksgiving away from home

Visited my dear friend Silvia in Beijing

Saw Harry Potter!!

December

Had my first freak-out moment with local friends...it bonded us a lot

Got to know my classmates better over Korean food, Christmas parties, and a musical meal!

Things I Am Looking Forward To In 2011:
Visiting Beijing again

Vacationing in Thailand during the school break (well, I'm going to meetings and working for part of it...but it will be nice to be doing that in warm weather)

Seeing The Green Hornet (Jay Chou speaking English....so cute!)

Visiting Taiwan

Developing relationships with local friends more!