This may fall on deaf ears...

But judging from the blog tracker, some of you still check in from time to time and it gives me the warm fuzzies to know that you're still here.

So the big question goes without saying, where have I been? Oh, I've been a lot of places... still having a ball exploring every little nook and cranny of Beijing while from time to time escaping the big city to go on a grander adventure. I've been to Xi'an to see the terra-cotta warriors and I've slept on the great wall again. I traveled south to the beach where I set foot in the Pacific for the first time in my life and north to cliffs that overlook an amazing river that I would have given anything to set foot in.

Yes, I'm having fun but no, I haven't been enjoying life so much that I completely neglected my blog. I'm not that busy!

In the words of a famous southerner, "What happened was...." ...the government blocked access to Blogger at the beginning of the year, round about the last time you heard from me. Seems they're weary about what all you freethinking westerners might put into the minds of the innocent young folk here. Especially given that the 20th anniversary of the big Tienanmen Square you-know-what was coming up.

It wasn't nice, but at least I had Facebook to keep in touch with. That was until July, when the Uighurs started rioting in XinJiang. The government wanted to contain the flow of information about what was happening so they banned Facebook too. They shut off cell phone reception in XinJiang so people there couldn't tell everyone what was really going on. Who knows what actually happened, the news is all lies and half-truths I'm sure.

That's when I discovered what a proxy server is. It took a while to find one that actually works, even the one I have now is almost more trouble than what it's worth... but hey, at least I can log on! What a mess.

Democracy might not be a perfect institution, but at least nobody's controlling your internet access!

More stories later about my run-ins with communism.

I'll be back!

Jackie

Spring is sneaking into China...

and I'm a horrible blogger. But really, to be honest with you, my life isn't all that exciting these days! You haven't missed much. The cold windy winter has made it difficult to enjoy much other than work and closed in evenings cooking with Chris and watching American T.V.

But, alas, spring has sprung and life is becoming interesting again.

Chris and I spent the entire day yesterday looking for a new apartment. The agents here seem determined to stick us in the slums. My camera was dead or I'd have pictures for you. We're looking for a place in Wu Dao Kou, the part of the city choc-full of colleges, universities, and students. Living in Haidian has been a rather boring experience, so we're ready to move to where some of the action is.

So I've been thinking about doing some freelance tutoring work and I met with a college professor yesterday who needs a tutor for his 9 year old son... turns out he teaches Chinese Philosophy and Religious Studies here at one of the nicer universities. He told me it's entirely possible for me to audit some classes, so its time to get crackin' on my Chinese! Just for the fun of it I might work on getting my master's out here so, this might be a good start!

Nothing else really going on these days. Jason laid outta work last week so we could go "mountain climbing." It was the first and only hot/warm day this year. I took the kite that my student Darcy gave me (BEST gift ever, by the way) but it wasn't windy.

We went to the friendship pavillion. Too bad we didn't have time to check out the Memory Woods for Guerillas. I'm sure it was awesome.

Ever since Chris showed me the macro setting, I've been taking pictures of bugs.

I love my kite!

This is a warrior goddess that we found at the top of the mountain.

Literal translation: Mountain Mouth. "Way Out" sounds better than "Ex it" I suppose!

When in China...

I told you I've eaten worse things. Yep, I ate a silkworm cocoon. It wasn't that bad.

Random pictures that never made it into a blog.

Spring festival hit: stuffed poo. I don't get it!

Cathy is my Chinese momma! She takes good care of me AND she loves my stuffing.

Chris 是我的爱！

Getting in touch with my capricorn roots. You know, my Chinese horoscope is also the goat. I get a double dose of pragmatism!

This is how we roll. My ride is sooo much more fuel effecient than yours!

A night at the Beijing Actors Workshop where we watched I Hearte Shakespere.

Squid, YUMMY! Just wait... I've eaten stranger things... but I have to get the picture from Chris!

Where did the time go?

So here we are, six months have gone by... in a flash! I knew in the beginning that it wouldn't be enough time, I just needed to get my feet wet before making a commitment. With that being said, I've decided to stay another year.

Beijing is my home now. I'm learning Chinese every day but unfortunately my life just isn't as interesting as it was when I arrived, so I apologize that my blogs are so few and far between. I just don't have much to write about! Maybe when the weather warms up I'll go on more adventures but for right now I'm just working and studying.

It did finally snow in Beijing last week. Follow this link to an interesting article about our "blizzard."

My house in the snow!


The lovliest pair of snowmen ever! Jason says, it's a snow-woman, don't you see she has a baby!
I love her watermelon eyes... and the baby is wearing a Corona box hat. I love it!


The mall parking lot... all those little piles of snow were man made... hmmm, just like the snow storm.

I take the best pictures of Chris!

I'm Back!

Yes, it's been a while! Chinese New Year is officially over, and boy was it a busy two weeks!

My best friend Beth came to visit and words can't say how happy I was to have her here. We toured the entire city!

On New Year's Eve, Julia invited us to her house to make dumplings.

Then we had a massive feast!

This is Julia's family: Her husband, father in law, mother in law, sister in law, Beth, and I.

We had lunch one day at RBT. They have SWINGS!

The water cube refused to change colors for Beth :O( But we still had fun!

About twenty of us rocked out at KTV, my new favorite past-time!

The sky decided to be yucky for our day at the summer palace.

Isn't this neat? I wish I knew what it said.

The view from the top of the summer palace.

Beth and I went downtown to the Lama Temple. It was closed but this man from the restaurant we ate at insisted we go with him to the Confucius Temple. He even paid for our ticket. It was an awesome opportunity to practice my Chinese.

We went to Houhai and I introduced Beth to my favorite sweet treat. Fresh candied strawberries - yum!

On New Year's Day we went to Ditan park for the temple festival. It was so crowded we didn't stay very long. But we did catch a dragon dance.

I wish I had good pictures of the fireworks but pictures just can't capture the pandemonium of 14 straight days of fireworks. They were being set off on every street corner all day and most of the night. It was insane!!!

哈尔滨 Harbin

Last weekend a group of us went to Harbin. We went to Harbin Disney on Ice, a snow sculpture park, the ice city, and the siberian tiger park. It was great fun and I felt like a kid again!

Happy "Niu" Year!!!

今年快乐！

Happy Chinese New Year！！！

看我！

我的电脑说中文。

你好我的中国朋友！

Harbin

I'm taking an overnight train to this place this weekend. I'm soooo excited about the ice and snow festival!!!

I'm pretty sure I'll be staying in a hostel for the first time... Unfortunately, I can't help but think of Hostel and want a hotel!

It's going to be COLD! Yesterday I bought all the necessary gear... snow boots, ear muffs, warm and fuzzy hat, North Fake jacket... well, actually, I'm not convinced it's a fake. It's really nice and has down feathers inside. I got it laughably cheap and it's three sizes too big but I will be WARM in the -16 C to -25 C weather we're expecting.

If you know me, you know I love cold and snow, I can't wait!!!

Temple of Heaven

Friday we went to the Temple of Heaven.

The sky was deliciously blue.

Inside the temple of prayer for good harvest.

The temple of prayer for rain. It is surrounded by an "echo wall" which was pretty neat. You face the wall and speak and people can hear you on the opposite side.

As always, I am fascinated by rooftop design. Below is a "fairy" riding a "chicken." I don't know what it means but I love it!

Then at the end of the day, everyone at Real Life threw me a surprise birthday party. My staff and students are the best! They gave me cake, red wine, and loads of cool presents... It made my day!

Karaoke Time!

Despite a handful of invites, I've been putting off going to KTV for months. I decided to take my students up on their offer to go for New Year's. (Thanks to Jason who got us a room and paid for it all!)

I LOVE to sing.... but I'm a closet singer. With a limited vocal range to beat all!

But last night I gave in and had a blast singing random songs by Britney Spears and John Denver. My grandmother would be so pleased to know I did not pass the mic when invited to sing Take Me Home Country Roads! (Sorry Grandma, no video!)

I really am a horrible singer! But everyone was so nice and just said I "need a little practice." We'll see!


Michelle teaching me how to use the karaoke machine.

This is my OMG I'm so embarrassed face.

Oh, here it is again.

And again!
On my right, Julia. She works with me and I love her very much! She's an awesome singer!