Tonight, I was reminded that I need to be writing more. And, I agreed. One of my family members told me that she checked up on my writings almost everyday when I was in Japan, and since coming to China, I haven't written as much. I'm not exactly sure the reason for my lack of writing, but after she told me this tonight, I got excited to write again. So, maybe this will be my new years resolution. I enjoy writing and I want to share my experiences with people, and I love to document my travels in any way I can. Maybe China itself just distracted me this past year. Maybe other things took up my time. Maybe from time to time, I just lost sight of things.
I was really excited tonight to hear that people are really reading this thing. This will be my quiet motivation when I sit down to write. Thank you.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
alberta mountains
There is something so calming about being in the mountains of Alberta. Being away has made me love the mountains all the more, and appreciate the majesty of their peaks. My family always used to come here for camping and hiking, I even worked here for a summer while in university. Its refreshing to return here, and to be reminded that these mountains are still the same, and yet, so much more commanding. I'm just sitting on my bed of our hotel this morning, looking out the window and seeing a mountain silhouette with a perfectly blue sky. I've missed this.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Today I was at the dentist's office for my yearly check up at home in St.Albert. In between teeth examining and cleaning, my hygenist was so eager to ask me about China. Her and I exchanged stories about places we had been and places we want to go. She reminded me of the excitement I feel about the experiences I'm having, living abroad. It was like we had known each other in another life or something, we could barely keep up with each other as we were talking.
When I was home for Christmas last year, the same thing happened to me when I was developing my photos from Japan. A complete stranger was so excited to see my pictures and ask me questions.
As we were talking today, I felt free to just share about my experiences openly. Sometimes, when I talk about China I find I have to hold myself back a little. I have learned that there are some people who will show a genuine interest, and others who just don't. Then, there are those who don't know how to respond. I know this isn't an experience that people have every day. But, it is my experience. I own it. Even when I hear myself say it, it sounds strange. But, this is me and I love my life, and I'm learning to share it with those who want to hear, and those who I want to hear from.
My dental hygenist today told me she was really proud of me, in a sense, for doing what I'm doing. For being brave enough to travel on my own, to see a new way of life and to challenge myself. All this coming from a person I just met. And my dental hygenist at that!
I'm so glad that living away is lending itself to refreshing conversations like the one I had today.
Being home again is filled with so many emotions. I'm just trying to keep up with them all.
When I was home for Christmas last year, the same thing happened to me when I was developing my photos from Japan. A complete stranger was so excited to see my pictures and ask me questions.
As we were talking today, I felt free to just share about my experiences openly. Sometimes, when I talk about China I find I have to hold myself back a little. I have learned that there are some people who will show a genuine interest, and others who just don't. Then, there are those who don't know how to respond. I know this isn't an experience that people have every day. But, it is my experience. I own it. Even when I hear myself say it, it sounds strange. But, this is me and I love my life, and I'm learning to share it with those who want to hear, and those who I want to hear from.
My dental hygenist today told me she was really proud of me, in a sense, for doing what I'm doing. For being brave enough to travel on my own, to see a new way of life and to challenge myself. All this coming from a person I just met. And my dental hygenist at that!
I'm so glad that living away is lending itself to refreshing conversations like the one I had today.
Being home again is filled with so many emotions. I'm just trying to keep up with them all.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
before going home...
As I have just under 5 days left before I go home, its really difficult to put into words what I am feeling. This past year, I have noticed that I have not updated this blog as often as I had hoped. Only feeling the need to write when I thought necessary. Some thoughts I just could not keep up with.
This time of year is always a time of seasons changing, new things beginning and others ending. With these changes comes excitement, some anxiety and trying to remind myself to keep my eyes open. As I am 26 now, I never thought I would be in China, having adventures, travelling, seeing and learning new things. And, I love it.
I think this is what it feels like to hold life by the hand, knowing that its this intimate journey that takes place. Learning my weaknesses and strengths, growing into myself and loving where I am. I'm anxious to be going home, in a way, because life has transformed in a way. The world has become more real than I ever could have imagined. More scary. More exciting. More adventurous. More beautiful. More strange. More...majestic. I never know what each day will bring.
Sometimes it can be scary to stare life in the face. You begin to see it for what it is, and it sees you for who you are. Living in China has given me so many lessons about life I think. I was talking with my mom on the phone the other day and we were saying...why do I put myself through all this drama? Living in a foreign country, when I don't speak a good portion of the language, dealing with cultural differences, attempting to calm down my crazy landlady, trying to deal problems that I would probably never encounter otherwise and finally, being away from my friends and family for long periods of time. Here is a secret: I wonder about these same things all the time. And I get alot of "You are so brave to be doing what you are doing."
Here is the conclusion I have come to: I am not really that brave. In fact, I think God is continually teaching me to depend on Him, in a very tangible way. I've realized that I can't do anything without Him beside me. I feel that I can't ever take anything for granted again. Everything from the clothes on my back, to the bed I sleep in.
Life really is this precious thing. I think travelling helps me to see this more clearly. As I look back at my pictures from this past year in China, I've been to some beautiful places and done some worthwhile things. I've seen the mountains of Yangshou, walked along the streets of the ancient town of Lijiang, heard the minority music of Yunnan province, visited a monk's room, seen the bright lights of Hong Kong, walked along the Great Wall, swam in the south China Sea, and rode a motorcycle in Vietnam. And the best part...is that my time in China isn't over. Its just changing, shifting now. There is something about this country that has me hooked. And this curiosity cannot just be satisfied in just a short time.
The next part of my journey here will be moving to the north of China, to Beijing! I can't even begin to imagine how life will continue to unfold this next year. All I know is, I am ready to go home for a few weeks to see the people I love the most. Wow. It has been almost a year....
This time of year is always a time of seasons changing, new things beginning and others ending. With these changes comes excitement, some anxiety and trying to remind myself to keep my eyes open. As I am 26 now, I never thought I would be in China, having adventures, travelling, seeing and learning new things. And, I love it.
I think this is what it feels like to hold life by the hand, knowing that its this intimate journey that takes place. Learning my weaknesses and strengths, growing into myself and loving where I am. I'm anxious to be going home, in a way, because life has transformed in a way. The world has become more real than I ever could have imagined. More scary. More exciting. More adventurous. More beautiful. More strange. More...majestic. I never know what each day will bring.
Sometimes it can be scary to stare life in the face. You begin to see it for what it is, and it sees you for who you are. Living in China has given me so many lessons about life I think. I was talking with my mom on the phone the other day and we were saying...why do I put myself through all this drama? Living in a foreign country, when I don't speak a good portion of the language, dealing with cultural differences, attempting to calm down my crazy landlady, trying to deal problems that I would probably never encounter otherwise and finally, being away from my friends and family for long periods of time. Here is a secret: I wonder about these same things all the time. And I get alot of "You are so brave to be doing what you are doing."
Here is the conclusion I have come to: I am not really that brave. In fact, I think God is continually teaching me to depend on Him, in a very tangible way. I've realized that I can't do anything without Him beside me. I feel that I can't ever take anything for granted again. Everything from the clothes on my back, to the bed I sleep in.
Life really is this precious thing. I think travelling helps me to see this more clearly. As I look back at my pictures from this past year in China, I've been to some beautiful places and done some worthwhile things. I've seen the mountains of Yangshou, walked along the streets of the ancient town of Lijiang, heard the minority music of Yunnan province, visited a monk's room, seen the bright lights of Hong Kong, walked along the Great Wall, swam in the south China Sea, and rode a motorcycle in Vietnam. And the best part...is that my time in China isn't over. Its just changing, shifting now. There is something about this country that has me hooked. And this curiosity cannot just be satisfied in just a short time.
The next part of my journey here will be moving to the north of China, to Beijing! I can't even begin to imagine how life will continue to unfold this next year. All I know is, I am ready to go home for a few weeks to see the people I love the most. Wow. It has been almost a year....
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