tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014459133026472362024-03-19T05:42:49.300-07:00Making Way for the Positive DayJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-71957790685229682572013-12-18T05:09:00.001-08:002013-12-18T05:19:24.292-08:00yellow.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Say hello to the Yellow Mountains! Talk about gorgeous. Talk about unique. Talk about God's perfect artistry. This was the #1 place that I didn't want to miss out seeing before heading back to the land of red, white, and blue, so Janny and I went last minute this past weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">China has taught me so many things about myself- it's brought out the best, and it's brought out the worst. Just like these glorious mountains, China has chiseled the clumsy Julie Dumas of the past into a more defined, articulated girl of the present. One of the things China has shown me however is my slight fear of heights... never knew I had it, but apparently it's in full force. From an old bridge suspended over the Yandang Mountains to the 100 floor observatory in Shanghai and this cable car taking me up to the Yellow Mountains, I've had my fair share of heebie jeebies here in China.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Come everyone, and make an appointment with the views. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I'll show you why China has grabbed ahold of the part of my heart where beauty resides....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So these two pictures pretty much define the past 5 months of my life. If you're not Asian, you're automatically a superstar when you come to China just because you look different. Yes, these are 2 of the fan clubs that I picked up on this trip. It's crazy how excited these people get when they see a foreigner... I don't understand it... This group on the bottom had Janny and I do a photoshoot with their company flag. Pretty funny stuff. This is just one of the dozen group pictures that we took haha. Oh Chinese people... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's so strange that this adventure is coming to a close here in just under 2 weeks. From the Yellow Mountains to all of my "yellow" friends, I've caught the "yellow fever" big time. I know that my arrival back in the States plus the factor of time will try to cure me of this fever, but they have no chance. I'm forever dedicated to this love. I love these people, I love everything they are about, I love their knowledge of Christ's love despite their drought of the actual teachings of Him. These people know what's up. They've definitely shown me what's up as they have taken me in and loved me over the course of my adventures here in China. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh China, how I love you.</span></div>
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<br />Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-80309885943935696032013-12-09T02:09:00.001-08:002013-12-09T02:09:30.440-08:00suzhou.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Suzhou is so gorgeous. Check out some of my pictures from the weekend!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Haha these boys wanted pictures with us. You always feel like a superstar in China, it's great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">CHRISTMAS IN CHINA! Apparently Suzhou is not lacking in holiday cheer like my city is...</span></div>
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<br />Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-76443582506453568162013-12-08T08:34:00.002-08:002013-12-08T08:34:13.956-08:00hostel love.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I'm officially in love.... with hostels. The moment I saw our hostel when we arrived, I could feel my obnoxious excitement building inside of me. I always know when the insane excitement is coming on and I know that it will eventually be out of control, but I really just cannot help it when I'm surrounded by pure magic like this hostel. We traveled to Suzhou this weekend and spent our 2 days exploring gardens, being celebrities, eating dumplings galore, shopping, and making friends at this hipster hostel. Check out the amazing vibe of this place! Seriously, if you are traveling, I totally recommend doing it the hostel way. And being a spendy 35元 a night (a whole $6), they have yet to disappoint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Just some Chinese guys singing covers of Jason Mraz and such. The translations were hilarious, but dang, were they good! With videos of helliskiing playing behind them, the vibe was so sweet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our new friends Chris and Cody, some of the coolest Chinese I've met so far. Their English was perfect, their taste in music, books and movies top notch, and their friendship the best around. We spent Saturday night hanging out with them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pictures of Suzhou to come!</span></div>
Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-20571173803307092512013-12-06T05:35:00.001-08:002013-12-06T05:50:50.294-08:00trimmings. <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tis the season for broken heaters, a country full of Buddhists, and smog days rather than snow days! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mmm smog, beautiful smog. I don't think this is the kind of "white Christmas" everyone dreams of... nonetheless, schools across the country canceled classes today giving students a "smog day" rather than the traditional "snow day." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's definitely an interesting holiday this year as I spend it away from my family... but not only am I away from my family, I'm away from a culture that celebrates Christ and all that he has lovingly done for us. Without Christ, there is no Christmas. But do not be sad everyone! Christmas cheer has been brought to Yangzhong! With the day starting off white as smog, I figured it was a perfect way to kick off the holiday season...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We pulled out the dusty tree leftover from past teachers and decorated away while eating homemade pizza, banana bread, and apple cider. Yes that is a random combination, but you need to realize that China is THE MOST random country in this world. Here in China weird is normal and normal is weird. Just how it is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yes everyone, you can still decorate a Christmas tree when you're livin' the ghetto life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And thanks to the ghost of teachers past, we have had Christmas decorations up since we arrived in August! I'm just so amazed that they had the patience, and time, to cut out EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. LETTER. SNOWFLAKE. REINDEER. ORNAMENT. MUSIC NOTE. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">A very </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">merry </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">kickoff </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">to the Christmas season happened</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> in Yangzhong today. I hope everyone at home is having a magical one as well, and staying cozy as you cherish your time spending it with your families. I love China. I love Christmas. I love can openers and how they keep you from having to stab a can of tomato paste open with a butter knife in order to make pizza. I love daisies trimming my tree. I love Yangzhong. I love my family, and I love making way for the positive day.</span></div>
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Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-71628055698806312472013-12-02T07:20:00.001-08:002013-12-02T07:57:01.556-08:00nǐ hǎo, december.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And so the last month of China begins... I'm taken aback at how fast life goes, about how sweet moments become to you, about how strange change is. I'm scared to enter the real world again, scared to return home and feel like China was a dream. Life is so surreal. With the gift giving season approaching, I plan on wrapping up my present of China that God has given me, and keeping it tucked away to unwrap slowly as the rest of my life unfolds upon my arrival back to reality. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">China, I love you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hello December. </span></div>
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<br />Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-63100807774599440782013-11-17T04:13:00.001-08:002013-12-02T07:57:43.927-08:00ghetto.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Moving to China has brought on many many changes. Of course there are the language differences, the food differences, and the weather differences, but one thing I didn't think much of when setting out on my journey to the Mainland was my living situation. My apartment is G.H.E.T.T.O. With a ghetto apartment comes along a ghetto lifestyle, and to prove my point, I will let you know that as I write this post, I am consuming a peach cobbler that I made in a RICE COOKER, yes a rice cooker... and yes, I am eating it with chopsticks. A lack of kitchen appliances will do that to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here is a sneak peak into my daily life in China, along with the many "ghetto" things that I have had to adapt to. I know that I'm making a joke out of all this right now, but I also very much realize how insanely blessed I am. I've seen some very very tough situations here, ones that I never would have imagined, and I am so greatful for those things that I do have that others only dream of having. I have a family at home giving me 100% support, an apartment with heat during these fall months, and a knowledge of the gospel. I am so blessed, I very much realize that. With that said, here is a typical day in China for Julie Dumas...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I arise from my bed that is litterally a board. I'm not just saying that because it's a hard bed that is difficult to catch a good night's rest on, it really is a board. No mattress, just some nice, solid wood :) Then I pick out a teaching outfit for the day! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After I have my outfit picked out and eat my daily dose of oatmeal, I head off to teach these kiddos...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsROKcineTJ3C0lgTrsT07GG1IbngGf3u0_NgMyQ7zJDBrUyzZo7E80g0efuFKn454MMSSyw9K-xExdXnjA04QCY-CUgLvRuhRH0A0JyMgKEBHZK5QBKwYlsZjrywSFaQ5vWY_jIEs_Jpa/s1600/cobb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsROKcineTJ3C0lgTrsT07GG1IbngGf3u0_NgMyQ7zJDBrUyzZo7E80g0efuFKn454MMSSyw9K-xExdXnjA04QCY-CUgLvRuhRH0A0JyMgKEBHZK5QBKwYlsZjrywSFaQ5vWY_jIEs_Jpa/s400/cobb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you're not an English teacher however, you might spend your Chinese morning working out at the "gym"...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-M9_WGF-jkJSfHeGag1Rx_yBHSL23L5X9GCgK6MZhaQazobdKSQSX8HxBnV75ihSehCRpIvDIfyMQqZzdYTuAMwrSU0TpJ2AHcu6e1hOGFO_yd1jW7c4ga8qu6SbIk_rtPqNFFZi0rCr/s1600/bob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-M9_WGF-jkJSfHeGag1Rx_yBHSL23L5X9GCgK6MZhaQazobdKSQSX8HxBnV75ihSehCRpIvDIfyMQqZzdYTuAMwrSU0TpJ2AHcu6e1hOGFO_yd1jW7c4ga8qu6SbIk_rtPqNFFZi0rCr/s400/bob.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Then it's time for lunch! Chicken feet, tofu, or pig's blood anyone? And I thought American cafeteria food was interesting...</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki6vgCAGA8QGlm5y8JdTCEUFnjGNNYQQ0ZIa7GpcCv4-H3fz5Qzp2BlVIh8M3XH6dnuVNXIHJooGFDmXpJ_c_bkCd4O5cBR4k2NFnHJoyQAkC3sOUoQzTTDka_Obb9tanM-lj2aIqaWHB/s400/lunchh.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After lunch is nap time. Everyone at the school takes a nap! It's glorious, I don't know why America hasn't picked up on that vital part of education yet...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After nap time, I might do some laundry and hang it on my TV to dry...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Or I might catch a lizard in my room. (Notice the bars on my door. Um....) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKteGId9xrbqQJ3qn2kRZTMqd07teBlC7fawhCyqCTqAlj_QYvj6iA3hdl4IfLXZqnlB6OcKHTxR5zRXASMs6C34Li48zoA71KqR8UqmBs3IObVoU8rXrJJjHUH5bj7Eab4rB2wQBwuUK/s1600/lizard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKteGId9xrbqQJ3qn2kRZTMqd07teBlC7fawhCyqCTqAlj_QYvj6iA3hdl4IfLXZqnlB6OcKHTxR5zRXASMs6C34Li48zoA71KqR8UqmBs3IObVoU8rXrJJjHUH5bj7Eab4rB2wQBwuUK/s320/lizard.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia797eZlfAuvrTOeuGQTVXVQKcYByJXfCCmivf_dWkFBLtyJbuDbjg4bKqi2IvgBHq3V2lRcV7-AJV8N9hn5reUbNsZMe-wzQYEfuEfQ-Qa4aoPWZ58tsDqvE81MJ8N8C3_9Jzbp4zQ-X8/s1600/lizardd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia797eZlfAuvrTOeuGQTVXVQKcYByJXfCCmivf_dWkFBLtyJbuDbjg4bKqi2IvgBHq3V2lRcV7-AJV8N9hn5reUbNsZMe-wzQYEfuEfQ-Qa4aoPWZ58tsDqvE81MJ8N8C3_9Jzbp4zQ-X8/s200/lizardd.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Or I might survive a typhoon.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIac0slVy1UcCtlfAHQ13vayIdYtiJEEyWZfSIm1K3SoHsIngdqcfgJiYko5bJmWu3F4FGtHoL_p9Unzo1duBi4W0ErJZrUQdHHLhcH65lG3kWSymuV8U9yBtw67H2Q6fQWzbZRcy7sAr/s1600/typhoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIac0slVy1UcCtlfAHQ13vayIdYtiJEEyWZfSIm1K3SoHsIngdqcfgJiYko5bJmWu3F4FGtHoL_p9Unzo1duBi4W0ErJZrUQdHHLhcH65lG3kWSymuV8U9yBtw67H2Q6fQWzbZRcy7sAr/s640/typhoon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now it's time for dinner in my "kitchen." You'll usually find me eating some beloved dumplings and drinking banana milk because it really doesn't get much better than that! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Fd40HY9OQoMjQjKM1e5UrH01MHNwHScR0K_BMOVcmdSH8jZWV84TJt3qD4AMM5hMRisZfZvBL17jmflU2cw2MPwdIZYZrSR7Mk_Z_mDyILDwLgqFwDeHWAcaswfxAe1-6vM_YzJx_PtV/s1600/food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Fd40HY9OQoMjQjKM1e5UrH01MHNwHScR0K_BMOVcmdSH8jZWV84TJt3qD4AMM5hMRisZfZvBL17jmflU2cw2MPwdIZYZrSR7Mk_Z_mDyILDwLgqFwDeHWAcaswfxAe1-6vM_YzJx_PtV/s640/food.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The kitchen...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I'm not going to lie, it's going to be way nice to return home to a normal kitchen where I can drink out of the tap and not worry about cockroaches getting into my food. Or to return home where I know that I will have a mattress to sleep on or a western toilet (ya, didn't include a picture of my squater toilet but you better believe I have one!) Oh China, what an adventure you have been! From lizards to typhoons to rice cookers and squaters, this is definitely one of those "experiences of a lifetime."</span></div>
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<br />Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-45274674167894496772013-11-14T02:38:00.001-08:002013-12-02T07:58:01.617-08:00me.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I awoke suddenly yesterday as I distinctly felt a pit drop in my stomach. I was confused as to what it could be from, but I have come to a conclusion as I have analyzed my discomfort. Since yesterday I have been struggling with the fact that China has soooooo much to offer ME. Every day is a new experience handed to me to bless me, to help me grow and change, to show me love. And yet, everyday, I come up empty handed with nothing to give back. Before I came to China, I had imagined it as a sort of humanitarian project where I could bless children and this rapidly changing country, but as I have been living here for the last few months, I have seen how extremely wrong I was. Oh silly me! I was SO wrong! China has changed ME, China has blessed ME, China has taught ME and loved Me and inspired ME. I feel like China has offered ME everything, and I have offered it nothing. As always, words will always fall short of what I am truly feeling, but I hope you can catch a glimpse of the sadness that I am experiencing from this thought. I look into my student's smiling eyes everyday, feasting on the endless amount of love that they so happily and easily give me. I see their childish bodies wiggle with excitement, or watch as their tiny hands make their way up to their lips in order to blow me a kiss, or feel as my entire body gets wrapped up in a mass of Asian children hugging me, and I can barely hold back tears as I realize how much I have learned to love. Why am I the teacher here? These kids are the true teachers as they teach me amazing lessons of how easy it is to love so genuinely, so organically. Somehow these kids have unlocked a chamber of my heart that I never even knew was there. I hope all of you realize the position I am in. I am sitting anxiously on the edge of my chair, trying to grab the passion that is so filling inside of my body, but struggle to do so as it is too large to pull out. The passionate love that I have for these perfect souls is unexplainable. I really just can't do it, I can't tell you. I'm sorry, I have tried, but I really just can't do it. I can't tell you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I hurt as I analyze the love that these kids have planted and nourished inside of me, nourished so well that the roots have buried themselves into the deepest parts of me that there is no way to ever dig them out. I hurt as I see how much they have done for me, and realize that I have come up so short in offering them equal amounts of what they have given me. I love them so much, and yet, I feel incapable of giving them the love that they deserve. It makes me hurt. I feel like I am just here in China teaching kids pointless phrases such as "how are you" and "thank you" of which they already know. I feel like I am here to just give them 45 minutes of free time from their strenuous school day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What am I even doing here? Why did I move to China for half a year if I have nothing to give? What was I thinking?</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0iMzJ9RaU7c0m5VeVMl5F8ORh24ZKaDrJlw2kAr7D2FyROgiVEmC8GtwjeA6jpu931S5-yUzQ5vVazXv59SWUrPTXmUJIOHw1CepV0QF1MDEZ1JP7el_2fBgXRpnElz9Q10rnwcqUVoj/s640/socute.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01WSzHt3RGmxy5D1vxbDfpvm9p9naa0gUV8KsR_V2NiGar0p5WmfjF_cezCf4EjbKx4xk5lRtzls1dzBQOn8Ykb2QJ-kqyt63UUCTatbZhyphenhyphenY1Q2aOqR48P14YhY20zpvUyphccm9WQcB6/s1600/hallllll2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01WSzHt3RGmxy5D1vxbDfpvm9p9naa0gUV8KsR_V2NiGar0p5WmfjF_cezCf4EjbKx4xk5lRtzls1dzBQOn8Ykb2QJ-kqyt63UUCTatbZhyphenhyphenY1Q2aOqR48P14YhY20zpvUyphccm9WQcB6/s640/hallllll2.jpg" width="640" /></a><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4pqhhUXvyFpUbE9ifYlOzxDZBmmhsd_9OtOsSTVGY-C_e85fYGafyGx7C9hf4gqy98hAABLFF0K4QHktIBJtmT0kL7xBzv0RI9sCESN5_ndjELXLdjBMoQCNS_QBoIHHp_xmcAmmH5vZ/s640/lily.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I really had no idea what I was getting myself into when I came here. My perception was so wrong. China has been the hardest thing I have ever done. I have experience true fear and had my eyes opened in ways I never imagined or ever thought that I wanted. I have had so many experiences where I had to put my pride aside and just learn to move on. Along with extreme hardships however, come enormous rewards. I can testify of this everyday as I walk through the hallways and feel the energy from these children. These children make everything worth it- the sacrifices of leaving everything familiar at home, the hardships of coming here by yourself without a friend to fall back upon, the fear that presents itself in a foreign land. These kids are WORTH IT. I just hope with everything that I have that I can return the love that they so freely give me everyday. I don't want China to be so full of ME ME ME. My goal for these last 2 months is to make it about the love between US, the love that I can give THEM, and the love that I can show them from GOD.</span></div>
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Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-70938261534954955452013-11-12T00:11:00.002-08:002013-12-02T07:58:27.499-08:00overexcitement burst.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">So I've started to realize something about myself while I've been here in China. I'm not sure if I've gained it here, or if it has always been a part of me and China is just now showing it to me, but I have realized that I have this bizarre case of overexcitement. Like, if you thought I got excited about things before, you should see how I am now. I just get so excited about the simplest things and then my whole world gets rocked by its' own excitement. </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I am so weird. But really, like I'll eat something yummy, or see some cool architecture, or hear music in the street, and all my insides get wacked out because they are so excited. I'll eat a big plate of pulled noodles and jump around for an hour with how happy my world is because my stomach is so happy. I'll jump for joy when I see sweet potatoes being baked by a street vendor, or when I open my 15 foot high curtains to let the morning China sunlight flood my room. I find myself saying that everyday, is the best day ever. I guess that's a good thing though, to have everyday be the best day ever, right? </span>I seriously love it here so much. So so so so so so so so so so so so so so so much. Like I just think about how much, and then I love it even more.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So this past weekend I tagged along with Sadie and Sarah (two sisters that are teaching in my city) on their weekend getaway to Shanghai. So here's where my explanation of overexcitement comes in- the BEST part about this trip, the part that added to my strange case of excitement more than what is probably healthy, was where we stayed…. We stayed in this youth hostel that was seriously, PERFECT. The vibe, the colors, the wood, the lighting, all of the foreign people, the design, the music, the flowers, the book exchange, the breakfast nook in our room, the bike parked so perfectly in the hallway that made you believe that it was just part of the decor… I am in love! The way that I get excited about these things just more fully shows to myself that interior design is what I want to do. I want to move people with their surroundings the way that I was moved by staying in that hostel. I want to develop strange cases of excitement in the world as a whole. It's amazing how powerful our surroundings can be, how much they can make or break you. Usually our hotels are just somewhere to sleep, but this hostel, for 50 yuan (so about 8 US dollars) was the best part of my trip. Take a look, but be aware that my camera doesn't do it justice. I wish everyday that my mind and eyes were a camera, so that I could share my world with the world.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I forgot my passport...oops! So the clerk upgraded us to the "Luxury Room" for the first night in order to sneak me in. Super nice of him, and super glad that I forgot my passport because this room was amazing! If you know me, then you will know that I have an obsession with wood. This room fed my love quite nicely. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Um, YES. Look at this little nook on the side of our room! If this isn't perfection then I don't know what is. I spent the morning writing postcards here as I watched Shanghai wake up through my window.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our location couldn't have been more perfect either. Street food, fruit stands, and street entertainers galore! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I love this world. I love what it has to teach me as I realize how much I have to learn. I've decided that traveling is maybe a risky thing to get yourself into because if you try it once, you need to try it twice, then three times, and on and on and on. Traveling is addicting. This world is addicting. I'm obsessed with the music of languages that I can't understand and with foods that I've never seen. I'm amazed at the way that each corner of the world is painted with colors that make it unique to itself. Seriously, out of every place that I've been just in China, each has a feel of its' own. Just thinking about all of the places that I could go next gets my excitement meter shooting through the roof. It's bad, it really is. Maybe someday I will learn to control my excitement, but as of now, I'm choosing to let it be free as I fall more deeply in love with this planet each day. </span><br />
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<br />Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-50467494324807308372013-11-05T21:25:00.003-08:002013-12-02T08:03:09.136-08:00surrender yourself to the beats.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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As I clasped the tiny, tan hand of
a small Chinese girl with jet-black hair, and skipped clumsily through the
overused sand of Shengsi Island just off the coast of Mainland China, my smile
experienced a growth spurt that would go down in History. Accompanied by the
other 7 foreign English teachers and the hundreds of Chinese just getting away for
the long weekend, that night the beach was a celebration of new friends and
surrendering ourselves to the beats of “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham! The
joy that was bursting from my insides can only be explained by a higher
language than the many that currently reside on this planet. As I joined in
dancing, I felt as if I were joining in something bigger than just an evening. I
was joining in a gathering of the world, a gathering of happiness between
cultures, a gathering of growth, and a gathering of everything in my past that
had lead me to that exact moment of joy.
Whenever we started a new move, everyone joined along with the most
sincere sense of curiosity and excitement. Whenever we took a new breath to
energize our next skip or twirl, a photo was snapped by one of the many
exuberant onlookers. The moment was perfect- barefoot, sun setting, lanterns
creeping into the sky, 90’s music following the lead of the lanterns, a cool
breeze, and dancing after a full day of beach play. The greatest feature of the
night however was the communion of two completely different cultures, surrendering
themselves to the beats of not only the music, but the beats of joyous life. It
was perfect. Everything was perfect. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As I have gotten older, finding
myself taking the expected steps of moving out, heading off to college, struggling
to copy my mother’s homemade meals in an apartment of my own and so on, I have
realized how much of a party life is. Not a YOLO, BYOB kind of party, but a
dance party. It’s the kind of dance party where there is no RSVP because
everyone is invited. It’s the kind of dance party where timid boys are forced
to go by their concerned mothers, but end up asking the pretty girls to dance
by the end of the night. It’s the kind of dance party where the shy girls
finally build up the courage to wear their favorite spinny dress to match the
bow in their hair, and somehow find themselves in the center of the dance
circle, only to be the star of the show along with her well-spun dress. It’s
the kind of dance party where everyone gets to leave with one of the many
balloons left over from the decorations, giving them vivid nostalgia of when
they were younger. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In life we have two choices; to
surrender yourself to the beats, or to refrain from letting the music carry
you. When you have the opportunity to dance, dance. When you have the opportunity
to return a smile, smile. When you don’t get accepted into your dream school,
embrace it. When
you get the opportunity to teach English in China, teach! When a tune is turned
up on the beach of Shengsi Island, surrender yourself to the beats in a
movement of cultural union. If you don’t surrender to the natural rhythm that
life possesses, you will miss out on amazing experiences, unimaginable growth,
and memories that will change your life. I have learned to not get frustrated
when a song comes on that I don’t like, but to find the few notes in it that I
can enjoy. This is what I believe. I believe that the only way we can be happy
in our life, the only way we can feel accomplished, the only way to feel true
peace, is to surrender yourself to the beats- the beats of life. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Some pictures of our trip to Shengsi Island...<br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-78317141651953449112013-10-15T09:23:00.003-07:002013-12-02T08:03:24.671-08:00yangzhong zoo.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to the grocery store in China, where the "garts" are free, you can pet the animals, and drink banana milk for dayzzzz. One thing about China that is just the greatest is the fact that you can go just about anywhere, and find entertainment and excitement at any corner, for instance, the grocery store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First stop is picking up your "gart". You gotta love English translations. They seem to spell it right everywhere else in the store, just couldn't settle on which spelling they like to make them all consistent. It's fine with me though, I love a good smile every time I enter :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've come to refer to this wonderful place as the Zoo, rather than the grocery store, because you literally can find a dozen live animals, just ready to scoop up and bring home for dinner! Appetizing, I know. So yes, welcome to the Yangzhong Zoo. I know it seems uneventful, but if you are ever in China, one of the attractions you need to make sure not to miss is the grocery store. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the advertizing too. You probably should just follow the labels though. If you look at the food before you purchase it, you'll probably return home empty handed due to the lack of attractiveness. Most of the "fresh vegetables" have seen better days. You'll be better off just heading next door to the millions of fruit stands that line every street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this is banana milk... and I love it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I don't say this enough, then I just need to remind all of you again that I LOVE CHINA. Seriously, every day is a new adventure, every step is a mystery. I love the grocery store. I love all of the stares that I get to satisfy with a 你好 (Ni Hao). I love Banana Milk and dumplings and Vinegar and steamed buns. I love open-bike taxis home, an over the top, genuine cheezy smile from the guard at my gate as I walk into my sanctuary known as Yangzhong Foreign Language Primary School. I love the gardens I walk through on the way to my room, the 3 flickers it takes for the lights in my room to finally decide to turn on, and my ghetto dorm where I get to dream each night about the adventures waiting for me the next day. It's always a positive day here in Yangzhong.</span></div>
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<br />Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-34942202574229581672013-09-28T22:53:00.001-07:002013-12-02T08:27:23.687-08:00technology.<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not going to lie, being in China is the hardest thing I have ever done. It's so hard. It's so scary. I don't think I have ever experienced real fear until I set foot in China. I have felt things that I have never felt before. Although I had to teach today, and couldn't make it to church to get my energy for the week that only seems to come from that 4 hour journey to my beloved preaching of the Gospel, I am feeling so blessed to have been able to watch the Relief Society Broadcast all the way in China. It couldn't have been more perfect. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">"God's love is always there, whether I deserve it or not, God's love is always there." -Thomas S. Monson</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The government tries to push God away from this country, but I have never felt closer to Him. Happy sunday and thank you latter day technology!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides, look who I got to play with today. I loved that the broadcast gave me a new perspective to view my kids with. They are all so great. I'm thankful that I get to be here to bring them some of God's love. I hope they can feel it from me as much as I feel it from them.</span></div>
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Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-46248912487119016542013-09-10T08:26:00.002-07:002013-09-10T08:26:34.166-07:00sunflower.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This weekend I got a new dress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it makes me happy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it's a positive day.</span></div>
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Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-46322927974631170642013-09-08T09:14:00.001-07:002013-12-02T08:27:41.356-08:00a boy named happy.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I met a woman that changed my life. She has a son named Happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I have come to realize that in our lives, we have things happen to us each day that are extremely small, unnoticeable, seemingly meaningless, that are however, crucial to the sculpting of who we are to be. Each choice we make, each place we go, person we associate with, thought we think, virtually everything that we do is shaping us. It is shaping you for the better, or for the worse. Today I was introduced to a little moment that was important to me. So I am writing this post for my own sake, so that I can look back on it and remember that the little moments are the crucial moments. I had a little moment today over here in China. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To start off, this weekend Janny, Heidi and I (the other English teachers living at my school) traveled to Nanjing for church. We headed out nice and early on Saturday to get the most out of this weekend. We live a good 4 hour commute from Nanjing which is where church is held, giving lots of time to soak in all the scenery of the journey, or to take a nice nap. On the way there, I foolishly closed myself off from the Chinese man next to me and just booked my ticket to slumber for the entire trip. After arriving at our destination, I realized how dumb that was of me to not say a word to him for the entire trip. I'm only in China for 4 months, this is going to be what I make it. Hindering a conversation like I did was not in my plan for what I wanted to get out of these 4 months. So on the way back home Sunday evening, I reminded myself to make way for the positive day, put my "I'm a white person, with blue eyes, who speaks in 18 weeks of Chinese 101 vocabulary language" pride behind me, and pulled out my totally American flavored "Ni hao" Chinese greeting from my mouth. The woman instantly lit up, and started speaking in almost perfect English to me! Wow, that is a first. I think her English is the best that I've come across yet, which any English at all is extremely rare in my rural, modest city. We talked and talked, laughing at our pronunciations of each other's languages, ooo-ing and aw-ing at each other's family traditions, and learning from each of our cultured backgrounds. I seriously was loving this bus ride so much. We talked of each other's families, she was excited to find out that mine included a HUGE number of 4 children, haha oh China:) I then asked what her son's name was, and she said with the biggest smile on her face, "Happy!" I instantly loved this woman so much. Seriously, that is the best name I have ever heard. Here in China, lots of people have "English names" which are usually very far from what we would consider a normal name... Orange, Diamond, Hraay, Glory, Bruce Lee.... just to name a few of my favorites, but Happy? Now THAT is a name. She said she named him that because the biggest thing she wants for him is to be happy in wherever he finds himself in life. I was just having the biggest love burst for this woman. My words, like always, will never accurately be able to express my thoughts, but I hope you can get a sneak peak of some of them. The little moment that I have come to cherish from today came next. We were talking about why I am here in China, why I am living in a "tourist insignificant"city, why I have thrown myself into a culture where I am blind to most of it because of such a large language barrier. The only reason I could come up with is because I'm crazy, but she said it was because I'm brave. She said that she wants her son to be just like me when he grows up- to be brave, to earn open eyes and an open heart through humbling himself through people who are not like him, to find joy on rainy days like this one, and to live up to his inspiring name: to be Happy in everything he does. Wow, what do you say to that? All I could say was thank you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I was totally humbled by the woman I met on the bus today. Ever since she said that, I have had the strongest desire to try and be better in everything I do, because you never know who might be affected by who you are. I feel a responsibility to Happy, although I will never meet him. I want to live up to the role model that his mother thinks I am. I want to have open eyes, an open heart, a joyous mind, and a name as perfect as his. I want to be just like Happy, the boy that taught me to be thankful for those little moments. I love China, I love Happy, I love the woman on the bus, I love traveling to church, and I love the opportunity we have to change each day of our lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some pictures from my trip to Nanjing this weekend.</span></div>
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Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-27801640623112332672013-09-02T06:06:00.001-07:002013-09-02T08:02:48.294-07:00squinty eyes.<br />
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Wow, my mind hurts with thinking about where to start in explaining everything that has happened over these last two weeks. It’s impossible for anyone to understand the memories I have made, the love I have felt, the experiences I have had, the friends I have made, the things I have seen, the humbling that has come over me. It’s like a mission, you want everyone to know what you have felt and learned, you want everyone to understand the memories you have made, but no one ever will, they just can’t, because they haven’t lived it. I wish so badly that all of you were here at my side experiencing this crazy adventure with me so that I could share this new love I have gained with all of you, so that I can share with you my fears, my nervousness, my tears. So I can share with you my happiness, my extreme excitement, my joys, my change of heart. I want you to feel everything I am feeling, I want you to feel the friendship with Christ that I have kindled, I want you to listen to my thoughts. Maybe someday, but right now my heart is just so eager to release everything that it has inside of itself, but it’s impossible to do so. I think that is the hardest part about being here, is my yearning for everyone else to know what I am going through, and realizing that they never ever will.</div>
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Alright, so China…. I have NO IDEA WHERE TO START OR WHAT TO TELL YOU ALL. IT’S IMPOSSIBLEEEEEEEEE. Ughhhhhhh. Ok so I will do my very best to give you a quick recap of everything that has happened in the past 2 weaks-ish… I've seen poverty that I never could have imagined, I have seen how insanely blessed I am, I have smelt smells I never knew existed (and never hoped to know haha), tried foods that I never knew were foods…. seen some of the most influential locations in our world's history, met the most beautifully spirited people, and seriously been changed just in the two weeks that I have been here. I am a completely different person than the one that left Idaho 2 weeks ago. I feel like I have grown so much, become so independent, become more brave than I ever though I could become. At the same time, I feel that I have become younger, smaller, I feel very lost here in the most populated country, getting lost in the madness, and wondering how there is a plan for ever single person here on this earth. I don’t think you can gain a sense of how insanely many people there are in this world until you come to China. You feel so small here, it’s very scary, I have never felt this. I hope you can grasp the things I am trying to tell you, I feel so bad that my words will forever fall short of describing these organic feelings inside of me. They are very contrasting feelings though, ones of intense fear and a sense of losing identity, and ones of realizing the power that I have through Christ and a completely new view and appreciation for life and this world. I can't even imagine how much I will grow in the next 4 months looking back on how much I have grown in these last 2 weeks. To go along with my words on fear, I need to share with you a scripture that was shared at church yesterday that has really helped me to feel comfort (church yesterday is a whole story in itself, anyways). The Gospel become soooo much more real when you are living in a world where it is strictly forbidden. The gospel has become my best friend here, because it is the ONLY familiar friend that exists here. The Gospel has always been important to me, but I can’t even how extremely important and VITAL it NEEDS to be when you move to China. If you leave the gospel behind in America like you have left everything else behind, then haha you are seriously dead meat. There is no survival in that case. Anyways, the scripture is D&C 122:7. There are so many things here that scare me, so many things that are way bigger than you, so many things out of your control, so many restraints, so many new ways of life, so much misunderstanding with the language barrier, you feel very scared. After reading this scripture I sat back and analyzed my situation. I thought to myself, “Julie, have the very jaws of Hell opened after thee?” No, they definitely have not, despite everything here that has gone wrong, and hangs over my mind in fear of what could go wrong, none of them are even close to anything that that scripture describes. And even if they were, it would be just fine, because those things (this is my favorite part) are all for my experience. Haha I seriously love that. All of these scary/new/big things that I am going through are just good things to give me experience:) I will be JUST FINE. Also, one of the head guys in the program who lives in Nanjing shared this in his testimony, “The worth of souls is great in the sight of God. It’s silly to think that the Lord doesn’t have a plan for all of His Chinese children. He has it under control. It’s going to be ok. I have a hard time struggling with the pain that I am unable to share the Gospel with these people that I love so much, but that is the wrong attitude. It’s going to be ok for China, it’s going to be ok for me, it’s going to be OK. “Men are that they might have joy.”” I really loved what he said. I thought it was awesome.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Alright, so maybe you want to know some actual events that have gone on over here in the Mainland, rather than just all of my thoughts. I will do my best to cram in as much as I can and to share with you some of my favorites. Here are a few things I have learned: Christ can find himself into any country, no matter the government, I have learned that having a home the size of a car is more common than not. These people sell beautiful arrays of homemade goods and fruits out on the street, but if you look deeper into their stores, you realize that there are antique bunk beds along with their whole life's possessions draped in the back. These people spend their whole lives selling from morning to night, and living in these hole-in-the-wall homes/stores. It's insane. I just can't even describe what it has done to me. I have learned that if you want to feel like you are popular, haha just head on over to China. EVERYBODY stares at you, EVERYBODY tells you that you are beautiful, EVERYBODY wants a picture of you, EVERYBODY wants a picture of their child (because they all only have one child) with you, EVERYBODY wants to practice their English with you, mostly just children on that last one though. The younger generation are the ones that know English, it’s really cool actually. I’ve learned why the country of China is so successful, it’s because they give ZERO of their money to their people, they are unimaginably poor. I have learned that the “taxis” that are on the back of an old man’s run down bike are all around, the best way to go. They are the most peaceful ride in town, are the cheapest, and you help them that much more with their life’s income. I love those “taxis”. I have learned what it means to sacrifice in order to attend church on Sundays. Yesterday I traveled from my city, Yangzhong, to Nanjing in order to attend church. Just go ahead and guess how long it took me to get to church… you are probably wrong. I left at 5:30 AM in order to take a taxi, 2.5 hour long bus ride, another bus, and a subway to make it 5 minutes early for 10 o'clock church. When the whole day was done, I left my apartment at 5:30 in the morning, and returned back to it at 5:30 at night. It was an amazing experience. It made church that much more great. I have to go to church each Sunday here. I don’t think I will make it if I don’t. I have no idea how I managed to go that far and find my way to church in a completely new country where I don’t speak the language. I have learned that once you look past the dirt and smog that covers this country, it is absolutely gorgeous. Beijing resembles, at least to me (and just about 50 times the size) Boise. It’s a beautiful country. It is so so so green, has beautiful buildings that are so rich with architecture covering it’s aged soil, is full of people that have been through more than I ever will, and a language that is an art in itself. I have learned that fireworks can be launched at every hour of the day, and ARE launched at every hour of the day. I have perfected my squats beings as the only way to relieve natures call is to do simply that, use a squatter toilet! Yay. I have learned that bathrooms here don’t provide toilet paper, soap, or towels, so make sure to bring toilet paper, and DO NOT flush it down the toilet, it doesn’t work out too well… I have learned that EVERYTHING in America is overpriced. I just spent 2 weeks in one of the largest cities in the world, that trumps New York, and with buying souvenirs and everything, only used about 200 equivalent in American money. I have learned that there is not one bad driver in the US, NO ONE drives like a Chinese person. If you want to feel like your life is about to end during every second, then hop in a car in China, you won’t understand that statement until you have experienced it for yourself. I have learned that the phrase ‘public bathrooms’ really does mean ‘public bathroom’, people just go wherever they want! I have learned that you won’t survive in China if you are a picky eater, and if you manage to barely survive, then you will manage to annoy the heck out of Julie Dumas. If someone puts food in front of you, you eat it. I have learned that you do not sit on any sidewalks, curbs, or anything to that design. You will be eaten alive by disease infected bugs, or else you will be sitting where someone has peed. I have learned that spitting in public is only an inappropriate gesture in America. I have learned that the entire population of China is obsessed with karaoke. I have learned how truly great the Great Wall is. I have learned that China is literally, a world in itself. The people here are unaware of what is going on in the rest of the world, are unaware of a lot of the history that they have been built upon, are unaware of who Mao actually is and what he actually did, they totally idolize him here. I have learned that squinty eyes that become even squintier with a smile will make any day a happy one. I have learned that my life will never ever be the same. I have learned that I am a completely different person than I ever thought I was. I have learned that life is NOT THAT HARD. If you have been raised as I have in a beautiful environment of warmth and prosperity, and find yourself complaining, then DON’T. You will never go through what these people go through. I have learned to love more. Learned to suck it up more. Learn to smile more, because it might be the only smile people here will see that day, I have learned that no matter how greasy your face is, no matter how big your sweat marks are, no matter how smelly you are, no matter how unwashed your hair is, you are still stunningly beautiful to the entire population of China, and that’s a lot of people. I have learned to learn, to be open, to not judge, to observe, to capture that moment, you know which moment I'm talking about, every moment. I have learned that I forgot what cigarette smoke smells like, I really can't tell what does and doesn’t smell like smoke anymore, maybe because everything does. I have also realized one thing, one very big thing- I have realized that I have only been here 2 weeks and that I still have 4 months left, oh the changes of my being that are to come, bring it on. </div>
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I love life, I love the Chinese people, I love eating with chopsticks, I love separating myself from the luxuries of the 1st world, I love dumplings, I love riding on makeshift "taxis" I love squinty eyes, and I love China! <o:p></o:p></div>
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P.S. to anyone that made it all the way to the end of this thing- I totally ate a snake, a scorpion, and a seahorse. The seahorse was the hardest to struggle down my throat haha. I have the best videos ever of it. So invigorating, such a rush. </div>
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Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-66362838739361795672013-01-08T19:08:00.002-08:002013-01-08T19:08:37.874-08:00flakey.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week has been a bit flakey-in two ways. I'm having a hard time relying on my dreams and aspirations do to the fact that I'm back at home, the place that I kissed goodbye when I was ready to head out to my wanderlust journey, but also, it snowed... a lot. Boise at large is one big snowflake. The next three months at large are one big flake. I feel like coming home just puts my dreams on hold, and that there is really nothing here that I can use to progress in life. I think this post is more for myself to remind this slightly discouraged Julie that the "Positive Day" is closer than I think, it could be tomorrow, it could even be today. I just need to quit living in that negative way, and make way for the positive day. Right now I am trying to focus on the "make way" part. I hope that we can all notice the beautiful details that each day presents, and turn a flakey day into a snowflakey day. Happy snow day Boise!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But instead she's out trying to catch snowflakes.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Today holds so much contrast...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHOIwzmFFr92H6lvvFwLXL2BLy3itbWMT1H0AznonYjfR9pDI0NPIBaSlnQR0x9kZnBL24Jm5FXdC6LUl3Re500rukDV6zfILANLnVyMjW464I1MsQKmyZdmo2Kq1F2qATFy5dPWfKbwr/s1600/2013-01-08+036+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHOIwzmFFr92H6lvvFwLXL2BLy3itbWMT1H0AznonYjfR9pDI0NPIBaSlnQR0x9kZnBL24Jm5FXdC6LUl3Re500rukDV6zfILANLnVyMjW464I1MsQKmyZdmo2Kq1F2qATFy5dPWfKbwr/s640/2013-01-08+036+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">... just try taking a closer look... </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">...it might change your perspective. It's up to you how you choose to deal with that contrast. </span></td></tr>
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Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-14054263867867428742012-10-06T16:18:00.001-07:002013-09-02T06:17:46.976-07:00blessed.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last year I traveled the world, last month I parted with some best friends only to make new ones here in Rexburg, last week my roommate wrote me a letter that made me happy, last night Abby Baire made me laugh, this morning the prophet invited me to go on a mission. Today I am blessed. Every little smile each day just reminds me of everything that I'm blessed with. With the cozyness that I felt in my heart because of conference today, it put me in the perfect mindset to sit down and remember the girl that's inside of me, the potential that I'm blessed with, and the choices in my near future that I will have the opportunity to make. Do I take the internship in DC? Do I do the study abroad to Jerusalem? Do I be a Girls State councilor? Do I be an EFY councilor? Do I continue to focus on dating and marriage? Or do I go on a mission? I'm not sure which way my life will take me, but whatever it is, I'm excited. As for now though, I'll just continue to live it up here in Rexy with my new best friends Lindsey, Maddie, Kara, Abby, and Cheyanne. I'm one blessed girl. I love them. Today is makin' way for the positive day.</span><br />
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<br />Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-87709570298477930152012-06-19T01:35:00.002-07:002012-06-19T01:35:59.761-07:00big girl.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today i felt like a big girl. I've been thinking differently about my life, being in this new environment and all, and i'm realizing what is most important to me. It feels so indescribably good to shake off the dirt from the years of growing up, and realizing that today, I am who I want to be. Today I can become that person I dream of. Today I am a big girl. Today I am in the world. Today I can become what i will be out of this world. Today I am making way for the positive day. Living away from home opens up your mind, and helps you to see what you believe for yourself, not just what the walls of your home surrounding you your whole life have forced into your mind. I'm thankful for those walls though, because now that they are taken down, i am able to see how beautiful they were. I love my family and the walls that they reside in. I love my dog and the happiness that she teaches me. I love my life and the experiences that it brings to me each and every day. How beautiful.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-39777010651254128372012-05-06T15:14:00.001-07:002012-05-06T15:14:31.386-07:00nothing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have nothing to say right now, except that I have ten days left of highschool, forever, I love my dog with all my heart, I'm so excited to live by Cameron and Krystal this summer, I'm so excited to visit Carsen and Bree in California this summer, I'm so excited to go the the Shins concert in Colorado in a couple weeks, I CANNOT wait to see Emily and Elyse, I'm so excited to room with my Girl's State bff Krystal at BYU-I, I'm excited to give my senior talk in church next week, it's warm outside, I'm so happy with my senior pictures, I got the glorious priviledge of watching Nacho Libre last night, and..... I'm makin way for the positive day. But like I said, I have nothing to say right now.</span></div>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-66866021742588516582012-04-03T21:44:00.000-07:002012-04-03T21:44:19.846-07:00pay off.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">Ok, so I'm gonna brag a little.... I just was notified that I got a music scholarship to Dixie!!!! Wow. I'm a happy girl! All the practicing and dumb scales and studies have literally 'payed off' haha. Thank you Dixie State for boosting my confidence and revealing my future.Today is a positive day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/DKC-lRhvdNY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Preston Tiegs showed me this video and I thought it was hilarious. To add to the spirit of cello love I decided to post it here for you all to see.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwV7NPuTuzuXN684umuNGqG6e5CBDbg-U0yuCJEGK5ml0k6zxnsJtExZVQd_0kpdWgjpZX96-ceeC_fLEoXtOmh0ITOOfnjRtVk0xPBauN9XkkF-0Enf00UyNdQIXGBL0tj1Y2VOVtY0A3/s1600/IMG_8420picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwV7NPuTuzuXN684umuNGqG6e5CBDbg-U0yuCJEGK5ml0k6zxnsJtExZVQd_0kpdWgjpZX96-ceeC_fLEoXtOmh0ITOOfnjRtVk0xPBauN9XkkF-0Enf00UyNdQIXGBL0tj1Y2VOVtY0A3/s640/IMG_8420picnik.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></div>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-51263640521774231022012-03-15T21:25:00.000-07:002012-03-15T21:25:40.893-07:00Momentos.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FJku5nxMOuY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We watched this at mission prep a couple weeks ago and I was just blown away. Be thankful for those moments that take your breath away, but more importantly, recognize those moments. Don't look over them. Life is jammed pack with "momentos", every second is a moment. Don't let moments pass away without thoroughly feeling the joy from them. Life is too sweet to do that, too intricate. I'm truly intrigued by the moments of my life. Make today your positive day.</span></div>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-15909203342491281852012-02-28T22:42:00.000-08:002012-02-28T22:42:40.848-08:00Julie's Jewels.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm the featured blogger this week at Again Consignments blog! These pics were for it. Check it out!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONkhnTFU5IvyLaBF7zLedbXPDtVHfokW7fZkxm-cNnZ9a0AI11QTz5y2AEvbyWvFyWYaMb1yyAtOd68XJ-xoLBzAvz1g6C0kf_E7tkrUhfvkoYw8JJx9qZa0W1hIe3uj5jEOONS2FimYG/s1600/IMG_7844+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONkhnTFU5IvyLaBF7zLedbXPDtVHfokW7fZkxm-cNnZ9a0AI11QTz5y2AEvbyWvFyWYaMb1yyAtOd68XJ-xoLBzAvz1g6C0kf_E7tkrUhfvkoYw8JJx9qZa0W1hIe3uj5jEOONS2FimYG/s400/IMG_7844+copy.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/AVvXsEizpK650EaJb74EDk-CVBhdJahRAP67_RHDisdDmRRqmL0XNS5k-3wdHNxtq1y0iPId_bQJvd2K74zZFS4SS4mPrnd89wcefvVFhV4mur2gmDygIaVYX3TvPfEmpuPhd6YWW_Wbwlvv_mtG/s1600/IMG_7884+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpK650EaJb74EDk-CVBhdJahRAP67_RHDisdDmRRqmL0XNS5k-3wdHNxtq1y0iPId_bQJvd2K74zZFS4SS4mPrnd89wcefvVFhV4mur2gmDygIaVYX3TvPfEmpuPhd6YWW_Wbwlvv_mtG/s400/IMG_7884+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://www.againclothing.com/">Again Consignment</a></div>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-37331650214646060562012-02-14T21:02:00.000-08:002012-02-14T21:02:15.313-08:00winter formal.<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This year for winter formal I decided to ask Sean Pinder…. Sean is quite the character… one time when I took him home from mission prep this is what he said while getting out of my car... he said, “Julie, I’m sorry that we didn’t take this opportunity to make out.” Another time Sean just came up to me and said, “Julie, remember when you were a freshman and ugly?” I was instantly stunned and then decided to ask what that made me now. His response was, “freakin hot!” I asked what happened between now and then and he said estrogen. What a strange creature Sean is. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Because of his strangeness, the day was A BLAST.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to dinner at Fork in downtown Boise, with Sean making it clear and known that he hated it. Then we went to Aspen leaf and laughed our heads off. Then we headed to the dance and grooved our booties and then ended the night bowling in all of our wonderful formal attire. It was SUCH a fun night. The other couples in our group were Tanner and Clara and Alyssa and Clay. </span></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><img height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzhi7Mqls7G2r9XZzhKaxd8FrGj8ATJvLOXtzBvPmeI6wNJwmvN7sYT9EwG1DGORkC3nETKuAh2W5VgQ39UXy5WPR9W_lTEGugxnlGRRdJYNcjOhXKncSSY0Hs22E4a9ktgjDSSdQrJde/s400/10+copy.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 371px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 558px;" width="96" />Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-74841914941272867442012-01-30T18:35:00.000-08:002012-01-30T18:35:13.360-08:00bargain.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> I'm a bargain shopper, through and through. Whenever I find a good deal I'm all over it, and I would say that I'm pretty dang good at it. Pretty much every single one of my outfits comes from </span><a href="http://www.againclothing.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">again consignment clothing boutique</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> in Eagle. It's also where I work, which is like a creative haven for me. I love it! Usually my outfits come off of the $3 rack. Some people would find that embarrassing, but I'm pretty proud of my successful treasure hunting skills. This outfit? 10 buckaroos.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJBOZ9WMLGecL5B7mpgf-DA716RlByNjyJNuNYs2WOa50ZcMwzug2WOnfkdtampRGPPw4zH6Y-5FgXyaKk0FfRWTklxwIzYX0QRCAWWFxpD_R7RrzPyEdREP4F9r9SSpduJpann4C4pKv/s1600/IMG_7581+copysmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJBOZ9WMLGecL5B7mpgf-DA716RlByNjyJNuNYs2WOa50ZcMwzug2WOnfkdtampRGPPw4zH6Y-5FgXyaKk0FfRWTklxwIzYX0QRCAWWFxpD_R7RrzPyEdREP4F9r9SSpduJpann4C4pKv/s640/IMG_7581+copysmall.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My all leather boots? $7.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR9wnDlv1gz9DtGXyuqOzEMwOGB8E_Apk4Q7Z_9-2XkdBa8XxeZMsGE75Or53kbu4x1IWXIlqwh447xrLPQ0FbiJEnKL2r9yeewmWiZfY_On47Ie8gf9CjmafCC_piLKEZ19OvQZpu_A6/s1600/IMG_7569+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR9wnDlv1gz9DtGXyuqOzEMwOGB8E_Apk4Q7Z_9-2XkdBa8XxeZMsGE75Or53kbu4x1IWXIlqwh447xrLPQ0FbiJEnKL2r9yeewmWiZfY_On47Ie8gf9CjmafCC_piLKEZ19OvQZpu_A6/s640/IMG_7569+copy.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The sweater? $1.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLZ_uSgULZRAfBGGArEoc9hVgtMWaN_TDqCSmvRID_vKJBLF8fwyy7oipbTImmyq4XudxVrGqxcDF3UZ88oQiL2CCqKlMIoDyR1ad0qzwjWXcyc3-i9J6WteBSoSLuzgx9UDKQkUmQTrQ/s1600/IMG_7567+copsmally.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLZ_uSgULZRAfBGGArEoc9hVgtMWaN_TDqCSmvRID_vKJBLF8fwyy7oipbTImmyq4XudxVrGqxcDF3UZ88oQiL2CCqKlMIoDyR1ad0qzwjWXcyc3-i9J6WteBSoSLuzgx9UDKQkUmQTrQ/s640/IMG_7567+copsmally.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-80775491421118194042012-01-28T10:10:00.000-08:002012-01-28T10:10:23.637-08:00old happiness.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11EuVFu5x74GxHq4iNoir3QCDwW8W2eyhYwppW1i1KyZ3ulAvEGFD135yyGI9fqZPK-ogrFd4L-nSiQ9iOEvrhukccrRWB_pnGDWohVgV77iP9vr7HG6M5SJlWFXAVvsa7cYoijaX2tWS/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11EuVFu5x74GxHq4iNoir3QCDwW8W2eyhYwppW1i1KyZ3ulAvEGFD135yyGI9fqZPK-ogrFd4L-nSiQ9iOEvrhukccrRWB_pnGDWohVgV77iP9vr7HG6M5SJlWFXAVvsa7cYoijaX2tWS/s1600/Picture1.jpg" /></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/AVvXsEhAUfKumF7FLstgIt7FD04I12Vu0juMjpR-k82N57hADtJlsSMDpG3ywCiZL2pgeFEf07NXe7KCqw-SGSn5tTb5E5X_4v5x8-13rCPLGU_AMwoWPVvBdkXwi0AcNUXfW_VW9YUYmwCxlPBp/s1600/Picture3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUfKumF7FLstgIt7FD04I12Vu0juMjpR-k82N57hADtJlsSMDpG3ywCiZL2pgeFEf07NXe7KCqw-SGSn5tTb5E5X_4v5x8-13rCPLGU_AMwoWPVvBdkXwi0AcNUXfW_VW9YUYmwCxlPBp/s640/Picture3.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICKbWY2imLpvcjoLYrtp2D6OPcLmijDQ3WbEbZEc8cOegyV6Jb7pD0yc0Q9hhNkhN3HUm3LIom2iYWtZsgUAltdxSnN8m52EHWTCUEFJDgk7doqVeRqJarCcBRsCQqI0I0uFd-5I2d34R/s1600/Picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICKbWY2imLpvcjoLYrtp2D6OPcLmijDQ3WbEbZEc8cOegyV6Jb7pD0yc0Q9hhNkhN3HUm3LIom2iYWtZsgUAltdxSnN8m52EHWTCUEFJDgk7doqVeRqJarCcBRsCQqI0I0uFd-5I2d34R/s640/Picture4.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My friend Alyssa had an assignment to mimic another photographer's work for her photography class. Being the beautiful dancer that she is, she chose to mimic the </span><a href="http://ballerinaproject.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ballerina project</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, of which you should totally check out because the pictures are AMAZING. Anyways, she asked me to be her model! I haven't put my point shoes on since Sophomore year so it felt so so good to bring back my long lost love of dance. Even just being able to put my shoes on was an instant rush of joy. I can't wait to take some classes again in college!</span></div>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01319461210101484104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701445913302647236.post-71531338407173124942012-01-20T10:52:00.000-08:002012-01-20T10:52:18.831-08:00oh brother.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today I get to see two of my brothers. And my sister in-laws. I'm so excited, I can't even stand it..... counting down the hours!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaUIC-DFFT2yUPaeXEN4lrv6V67rLMeQdl4jRq30rNblGDn64PajXBf6KE6_5toIZyo4WynfguvxS1A1uDzoT_ck6TLCRwTIWss2iMkGHuzsEF-NH8n7wjlWC3rajJ8aFdh3hIFUZ2F53/s1600/IMG_7021+copypicknic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaUIC-DFFT2yUPaeXEN4lrv6V67rLMeQdl4jRq30rNblGDn64PajXBf6KE6_5toIZyo4WynfguvxS1A1uDzoT_ck6TLCRwTIWss2iMkGHuzsEF-NH8n7wjlWC3rajJ8aFdh3hIFUZ2F53/s640/IMG_7021+copypicknic.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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