this is insanity!

I'm starting to wonder if beginning Insanity workouts was a good idea before leaving for Shanghai. Day 3, here we go go!

Of course it is! I better feel and look awesome by the time I start the next semester. Happy New Years, everyone.

Today is Sunday!

Today, the taxi driver Ellie and I had was so excited to have foreigners in his car that he called his friend while we were driving just to tell him. We really had a fun conversation with the guy. He was so excited to learn that I "come from two countries" -- China and Vietnam. He wouldn't believe me when I told him I am an American because he said I looked Asian... Well, yes. He also really liked my hair and said that the short hair on the left side and long hair on the right was "beautiful." As we were nearing our destination he started talking about the guy on the phone and said that he was the same age as me. He asked me if I could be his friend's girlfriend but I said, No, I can't. I have a German boyfriend. I thought it'd be fun to make something up :P Probably one of the funniest taxi rides I've ever had.

It's almost Christmas! A bit sad to be away from home but mostly too distracted by all my assignments and exams I have this week. Stressing out a bit but should be all good.

The student I am tutoring is making such progress, I'm so happy! It's seriously so awesome when he remembers things I've taught him. This past week his parents took me out to dinner with some other friends of theirs and we had delicious Sichuan style food. Seriously such a blessing to have them in my life. Working and teaching in China was exactly what I wanted to do since before I even left the States!

Made new friends from Madagascar today at my church. Actually, a lot of people from Madagascar live here in Nanchang and I'm pretty sure all of them were at service today and sang beautiful Christmas songs. One of the guys came up to me and asked me to jam out with him and his friends sometime and worship together. Heck yes! He's got a wonderful voice and I'm pretty positive about asking him to help me lead worship next weekend.

Anyway, I'm running on 3 units of electricity right now. Thankfully, the last 20 units I've had has lasted me the entire weekend, just in time for me to pay the bill tomorrow morning. I was so relieved I was able to continue using my internet and write most of my 2500 word paper on Saturday even in the freezing cold. I'm going to use it to the very end!

So I'm off to bed. Another odd post but I figure I should try to be more consistent.

Until next time,
 Lizzy


 

Raving cravings

  It's not even cool how much I've been craving Chipotle since I've been here in China. I am craving some serious Mexican food right now. Luckily, there's an American-owned "Mexican" restaurant in town that can satisfy these gosh-forsaken cravings but alas, I'm still a poor Chinese college student on a budget (And by that I mean a meal shouldn't exceed more than $5)!

  Anyway, I know I've been absolutely terrible with updating this blog. I'll try to make it a weekly thing (said that last time and it's been about two months since my last post). The semester is rapidly coming to an end so many of us are finally being studious and preparing for finals exams, papers, and presentations. Not to mention it's almost Christmas! Some of us will be traveling about while others like myself will hang around Nanchang and do our own thing. I feel like dressing up and eating Indian. That's right, we have Indian food here and it's not half bad :)

If it seems like all I'm thinking about right now is food, well, you're right because I'm pretty hungry right now.

Um, what else? I have about 8 weeks off for the winter semester! If you think that's insane I should also add that I have no place to stay during that time! Crazy, exciting, a little scary but I think I'll be spending that time traveling around China via train. Should be awesome and exhausting but I'm stoked. Backpacking through China for a month or so then hopefully finding a place to stay and working a bit some way, some how. Fingers crossed.

Tonight my student's parents have invited me to dinner with them and their colleague. Looking forward to that but not sure how to return the favor! My student better be fluent in English by the time I leave, I guess!

So, this was an odd post but I'm slowly transitioning into working on my first paper of the semester.
Hope you all are enjoying your Winter Break, staying warm, drinking lots of hot chocolate, getting fat, spending time with your family and friends, and loving the life the F*ther as given us :)

Love, peace, honor and all the good stuff,
Lizzy