Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain

Just about one year ago, I was getting ready and organized to set out on an adventure of a lifetime. People would ask me, “Why are you going to China? What makes you want to move there?” My response, “Why not?” It was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up and I knew the experience would make it all worth it, and it has.  I always wanted to live in a foreign country, experience a new culture and have the opportunity to travel.  This past year, I did exactly that. It was hard at times, especially the beginning.  Learning about the culture, getting lost almost everywhere I went, meeting new people and missing my family. When living in a foreign country, nothing is easy, but you learn to cope. My experience was wonderful, sometimes stressful or confusing, usually tiring, but always enjoyable!

Every holiday I had, I traveled. I traveled to Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Macau, Hong Kong, and many areas throughout China. I did not waste a minute. I was always exploring something new. 

Here are some highlights of my traveling adventures.   

Japan-October 2012

Harbin, Xi'an, Bejing, China-December 2012

Hong Kong Trips

Cambodia-February 2013

Thailand-February 2013

All around Guangzhou

Shannon Scott-My favorite Canadian!!

Living in China taught me a lot.  It taught me to see things from a different perspective.  One year ago, when I left China, I had nothing to lose and nothing holding me back. I have gained so much from my experience abroad and will take all that I learned with me.

My favorite travel quotes that helped inspire my whole journey.

 

 

On to the next Chapter...... 

Yangshou

My last day of school was July 3rd. It was so nice to be done with school and be on summer vacation. My friend Katie was visiting, so we went on a few adventures.

We went to Yanshou, which is in the Guangxi Province.  We took the train on Wednesday night to Yanshou. Did 2 days of exploring then took the sleeper bus back on Friday night.  The trip was short and sweet! Here are some pictures!

Katie on the sleeper train

The wonderful bathroom on the train.  You pee right on the tracks!

Li River Cruise

They forced us to wear the life vest.

Rooftop view

Early morning before the sun was up.

About 6am, quiet city streets

Long Haired Village. All the ladies in the village have hair between 1.5 and 2 meters in length.  It is hard to see but the lady in pink and black has her hair rapped around her head.

Bamboo rice and chicken

Rice fields

What it looks like in the fall time compared to summer time.

Sleeper Bus. The bus had about 30 beds in it.

Soon to be California Bound

Well the last couple of months have been busy.  I have taken every opportunity possible to explore Guangzhou and spend more time with friends before I head home.  I got in some last minute shopping for souvenirs, ate at all my favorite restaurants, packing all my belongings and finishing the last days of school.

Here are some pictures of random things I have been doing the past few months.

Weekend trip to Macau. Standing in front of the Venetian Hotel.

Exploring Guangzhou

Eating at our favorite Western food restaurant, Elements Fresh!

Took Chinese lessons for about 4 months, my Chinese teacher on the right.

Hong Kong cemetery

Hong Kong

Fish market in Hong Kong

Apartment buildings in my neighborhood.

Wet market, where I do my shopping. So fresh and cheap!

There was a fire at a fabric factory. The view of it from my classroom.

Backstreet Boys Concert in Guangzhou!

Pearl Market

The awesome pearl lady making my necklaces.

City streets. Some dude sleeping in a wheel barrel.

Guangzhou soccer game!

I have a friend coming to visit and will be picking her up at the airport tonight. We will do a bit of traveling and I will be heading home in 12 days!!! That's all for now.

 

Humid Hot Rainy Weather

The weather lately has been interesting.  In August, I was always complaining about the weather and the hot humidity.  I would step outside and instantly start sweating.  It was hard to get use to.  People kept saying, "just wait until April and May.  It just gets worse!!" Me, "worse, what could be worse than this??"

It is now April, and it is worse than August.  The past few weeks have been really hot humid and wet.  It mainly rains at night, which is good. The humidity is what makes it the worst.  Nothing ever dries.  My laundry takes days to dry, and I usually have to have my AC on so it dries out.  At school, the tile floors are slippery that they roll out huge carpet pieces so people do not slip.  My students think it is hilarious to glide across the floors.  Even the paper in my classroom is damp and sticks together.

The type of weather here is not something I am use to.  We never have this humidity in California.  When I thought it was humid, it never compared to this.  The one plus side to the rain, is it clears out all the smog.

The pictures below, my friend took from her balcony.  The one on the left is a really smoggy hot humid day.  The photo on the right is a beautiful blue sky in Alberta, Canada (where my friend is from) There will be weeks at a time when you do not see blue skies in China.  Sometimes, you won't even see the sun!!  I am looking forward to coming home and seeing the beautiful California skies and sun.

Smoggy China vs. Alberta, Canada

Smoggy Monday vs Clear Thursday

The picture above, my friend also took.  The one on the left is a smoggy day, and the other is a clear day.  What a difference!!