Oh. Just the GREAT WALL of China!

I really really love this. The food is AMAZING. We get cheated in America. American Chinese is sooooo nasty and greasy and probably full of preservatives. Here it's fresh and whole and just FREAKING delicious. The noodles. i can't even describe. Just amazing.

Yesterday we went to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City which was pretty cool. It was just exciting to see all the people and happy they are. I couldn't stop smiling. Seriously. And it's like we're celebrities because people just come and ask to take pictures with you all the time. Or they'll just nonchalantly take pictures of you without asking. So. It's hilarious!!! Nice self esteem boost. 

And they get super excited whenever we talk in CHinese to them. Which is basically just "hello" or "thank you" But I've learned some other phrases! THe Great Wall was freaking awesome today too. The Chinese are so funny. I love them. I'll tell you stories later. But I have some pitchas for ya!

This is our street! It's so great. It's just so…chill. 

People are just doing whatever they please. 

Like, these two ladies that were probably mom's age were playing badminton together. It was cute. 

And cute dogs EVERYWHERE. They're just kinda dirty.

FOund this cute little donkey on the hike up to the Great Wall.

 (Twenty minutes of going up stairs. It. Was. TORTURE.) It was adorable and it was nibbling on my hand. 

DOn't worry, I kissed it. And I"m still alive. I was just so overcome with love for it.

Oh. Just the Great Wall of CHina. ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD.

There ya go. I have loads more pictures but. You can't see theeeeem. Yet....more later.

Beijing Arrival Tour 2012

Ni Hao! We've ARRIVED!

So we arrived in China…I don't even know when. A few hours ago? We had to get baggage and exchange our moneys and stuff. Seriously, you guys. I am loving this. I can't stop smiling. I'm not sure if it will ever hit me. When we got into China, we went through Beijing which is like any other city but just a little more colorful and more shiny and more diverse in architecture. Our hostel is in this thing (I can't remember what it's called in Chinese) but it's like cool because it has all the family shops and these tiny alley ways that we had to go through in order to get to our hostel. And our hostel is the bomb. A lot nicer than I was expecting. But now I know why they don't want us to drink the tap water. :/ I was brushing my teeth and halfway through the water turned yellow. Gaaaross. The Chinese have this light about them. I can already tell. Like our stewardesses were so sweet and accommodating. I'm just so happy! And I have some pretty funny stories already. Like when I couldn't understand the stewardess on the plane so I ended up eating this Korean dish. But it turned out to be quite yummy! Or. Get this. I'm scrunched up against this Chinese man writing this because our lobby is the only place with internet access. So we're all on the couch. Fun fun! 

I've flown a total of 16 hours today. Woof. I'm tired. But I had to email you before I went to bed in my rock of a mattress. Which is fine. This is amazing you guys, it still hasn't REALLY hit me that I'm in China. I just feel like I'm in any other place on earth. So far. Hahaha we'll see how I feel tomorrow. I'm just really tired. Cool story! So me and my new-found friend, Jennifer (who lives in DUBAI!!), we were sitting on the bus trying to say the Chinese phrases in our little hand book. We asked this Chinese guy if we were saying it right and he helped us and then he said he could understand us! I"m starting to pick up some words. And I think I finally understand how to read the tones. It's just the characters that will be hard. But I hope I can get it down! I can't really think because I'm so tired so .... more later! 

JOURNEY.

"I wish that was me."--Dad, as he proceeds to play his air-guitar. I wish to be just as well-versed in music as he is.  He's been to so many concerts, it's INSANE.

Journey started playing....and then it was pure MAGIC.

When the lights go down in the City
And the sun shines on the bay
Do I want to be there in my City
Ooh, ooh

THIS CONCERT. Was so awesome. Not only was the music phenomenal, the people were quite a site. Just picture a bunch of 40-50 year olds in various old band shirts from the good old days. And a lot of beer. My dad is the best for taking me. And despite his tone-deafness, he really belongs in a band.

my new dream?

TO BE A STORM CHASER. Actually....I'd probably scream and possibly pee. But it might be worth it. Especially after watching this.

18 days. 18 DAYS!?!!!

HI. I'm sorry I haven't written about my life in ages. There's been so much to do this past month and I've just been crunched for time. So many people I wanna be with and so many things I wanna do. I turned 19! Probably the best birthday to ever happen for ANYONE. I'd say it was a good 4-day celebration, at least. What did it consist of? Olympics, Lebanese burgers, Band of Horses, Star Wars, karaoke, sushi, getting asked to go to a bar in SLC (no, thank you, SIR.), the zoo, s'mores, family, friends, friends and more friends. I love them. I really have been blessed with the best people in my life. And I'm super upset because I brought my camera and took LOADS of pictures but then my memory card wasn't in there. Blasted memory card. So just try and picture in your minds all the magic that's been happening.

Here's some magic that just happened yesterday! And it's documented because it is especially special. Katie and I got to share this special day with our friend/cousin Sofie, going to the temple. It was her first time going for 5 years. I look up to her and her example so much. She loves God so much and she has so much devotion for Him. She is always trying to be a better Daughter of God and I hope one day I can have the faith that she does. Also, I miss hanging with my girl Katie. We've been best friends since the Pre-mortal Life. She is one of the strongest people I know. She's gone through the most difficult of trials and I know one day she will rise triumphant because of her strong heart and faith in God. Such a special day!

I have so much love for them!


So. I leave for China in 18 days. Hence the freak-out in my blog title. EIGHTEEN DAYS. Honestly, I feel so good. I'm just excited to explore and meet people and learn and grow and become even more cultured (prreeeetty much my main goal in life, among other things). More and more reasons keep coming up of why I need to do this. I found this picture and I'm quite positive it's in the school I'll be teaching in, Wurulun. SO PUMPED. I love this Earth.

So just picture me as the teacher and a little less pregnant and little less Asian. (Is that politically correct for me to say?) THESE KIDS ARE ADORABLE.

THIS. My friends. Is the school I'll be teaching at. I think. Snazzy and PINK. So I spy a planetarium?