Christmas- China edition 2011

Christmas season has come and man did it go by quickly. I thought my homesickness would get really bad the day of Christmas-- I was wrong. I received a lot of presents and cards in the mail! Shout out to my parentals and family, The Wilker family, the Menke family, the Moreno family and to grandma turner! I appreciate it and I know there are still some more coming, so if you are not on the list...just means I did not receive it yet! It made Christmas a lot better and it was fun to open up all the gifts! I have been so blessed by emails, comments, gifts, cards. So blessed. Thank you.

The true homesickness did not come until after my Christmas technically ended and everyone back home had started the day. I was up pretty much the whole night talking to people and really bummed that I was not home. I eventually got over it, but it didn't help that it was a rough night.

Our Christmas break started on Thursday night celebrating our friend Elsa's 23rd birthday, with work people. We made her bread and cheese "grilled cheese" it is her favorite now. I introduced her to it and sometimes regret--how many times she wants to eat it. haha but here is a pic of all of us. We made christmas cards and had a good night laughing!

On Friday being Christmas day at school. They had Christine dress up as santa and give out candy to all the kids. It was hilarious! here is a photo!

On Christmas Eve, I got to sleep in a bit which was so nice and needed. Christine and I went to take some of our coworkers kids and kids I teach, ice skating! it was so much fun and was exciting for everyone! We ice skated for around 3 hours and then we went and made Christmas cards with some of the kids for an hour, it was a great way to spend Christmas eve!!

Christine and I then headed out for Christmas dinner at the Futian Kitcken (where we had thanksgiving dinner) we were not let down! I would even say this was better than the thanksgiving dinner! it was so good!

after dinner we headed down to Lohu where you can go shopping and barter like crazy, so we started some really, super late shopping for the people at work. We walked away with some gifts for ourselves and sort of slacked on gifts for others, but it got done! I got new Toms and sunglasses--perfect for traveling :P

Christmas day was a really good day, I woke up super early and skyped with my mom and sister and opened up all my presents--which was fun and nice. I got some new clothes which were needed pretty badly!! Woke up pretty late again, I felt like a sleep deprived person--it was needed badly.

Jessica, Christine and Elsa came over and we made Broccoli Cheddar soup and watched Home alone! it turned out fantastic and it was fun watching the movie on Christmas day! We spent the day laughing and just enjoying each others company and giving presents to each other. Later that night we went down to church and got to see Jessica who was one of the main stars! she sang hark the harold angel's sing and it was fantastic! she did a really good job and I was super proud of her!!

Here is a link to the Facebook video of her singing!!

it didn't help that she had to wear this epic outfit! I laughed when I first saw it but it fit so well! It was a great show...we saw the beginning and the birth, they did a wonderful job. I liked that everything was in Chinese and I still knew what was happening and was able to figure out what they were saying, with the small, small amount of Chinese I know. I really enjoyed it and the conversations that followed with the people we went with. These last 2 weeks or so have been what I thought was going to happen while here. It has been a great feeling and it just feels really right. I hope the questions and excitement stay!

I have had the last two days off and it has been wonderful! doing my own thing at my own time and not being sick. Can't go wrong there! it was a much needed break. I don't think you all realize how spoiled we are in America with break time for Thanksgiving and then Christmas...these kids go straight till mid January. It is SO exhausting!

I leave for my winter holiday soon and will have about a month of traveling and then my friend comes to visit. I am really looking forward to all of this time off from work! It is needed and I hope I can keep away the sickness that I keep getting, stays away. It just has all been pretty epic lately and I hope it continues. The packing has begun!

Highs:
the talks that came with the service
Spending the holiday with friends
getting to Skype home
the gifts I have received

Lows:
homesickness that came with the holiday

Prayer requests:
the people I was able to talk to that they keep asking questions!
packing goes smoothly and that I don't forget anything!
Restful nights of sleep these next few days


with love,

Ashley

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you, all the way from China!!

today I spent time with Jessica, Christine and our friend Elsa. We attempted in making Broccoli and Cheddar soup and we succeeded and it was delicious! We also watched Home Alone :) it was a good day spent with friends laughing and enjoying our time together. I got to Skype home and open up Christmas presents which was the greatest thing ever! I love Skype.

We are off to a service right now, where Jessica will be singing in the show!

I hope you all enjoy your time with family and loved ones. Remember the true reason for this season and let it overfill your hearts with love and joy!

Sending tons and tons of love from China!

Ashley

4 Months

All I can update right now is that it has been 4 months. It has been good and bad and had its ups and downs.

Teaching and talking about Christmas has been the most rewarding thing I have done here yet.

I will update next week about everything we did for Christmas and about my first Christmas not at home. Prayers that we are not too homesick this weekend would be the best thing you could do for us!

Merry Christmas to all of you. Thank you for the gifts and the love being sent this way, I don't know how I will be able to repay you all. It has been the biggest blessing. I love you all so much! I hope you all have a wonderful time with family and friends as you celebrate the Reason for the season!

My Christmas tree this year! :D

with love,

Ashley

Joy

My sickness is still lingering in my life. I believe the infection is gone, won't know for sure till tomorrow. It feels good to have better health, I almost forgot what it felt like--sad.

Things are hectic and crazy more than ever at work with the end of the semester coming up. I taught three open classes today, that were successful! They all really liked how I was engaged with the students and the the kids were interested in what I was teaching. I would say the teachers like me and now understand how I teach--hopefully. I enjoyed it, it was fun and exciting to have them in the classroom and have them interact as well.

I have a Christmas lesson to do and some english festival stuff next week that will keep me busy, but will be exciting to share my view of Christmas. I have been getting random cards and packages in the mail from home, thank you to all who have sent something. You have NO IDEA how much I appreciate it. It has been such a blessing to realize you haven't been forgotten even 11,000 miles away. I have been full of happy tears, thank you. I love you all!

I struggle over the thought of not being home with family during the holiday season, but know that they are going to have a wonderful time with everyone. I am excited to receive the Christmas present from the parentals and family, it makes this a lot easier. It is also helpful to remember the true meaning behind CHRISTmas and to not dwell in things. To be happy and joyful for all that has been done for me. To let it strengthen me and to continue to be a flame to the light that I have become to the people I interact with daily. I have been working on finding the joy in each day and the joy in each month. I was told to find things to look forward to. I have been working very hard in actually seeing all the joy in my life and not just dwelling in things I can't change. I hope I can continue to be strong and joyful for everyone! Joy Joy Joy! reminded of the song O' come O' come Emmanuel, the music is such a joy to hear this time of year :D

if anything the kids joy should be contagious, they are full of it! oh and of germs too...I am slowly becoming even more of a germ freak and might be living in a bubble in the near future ;)

I have been going out more, to different restaurants and stores. I like the idea of meeting new people only if they are here for a visit. It is nice to be in contact with people that are just stopping by for a visit before they get to their new location. I like meeting and talking with people from other cultures! I ate at the best cheeseburger joint in Shenzhen...it's true it was the best. I am in love with the mexican food place, which will probably steal all my money by the time I leave here. I had an obsession with mexican food back home, it has followed. :) I don't mind it!

I leave for Bali/Vietnam soon and I am excited for that, counting down the days for a new adventure. A new culture and new people to meet and become friends with, it will be refreshing in so many ways! Please pray for all the prep that needs to be done for these two trips and that everything goes smoothly!

Highs:
Successfully doing 3 open classes in one day. win.
emails and Skype time with people I love, always a high
getting packages, letters and a ton of love from home.
not feeling as sick anymore! hopefully the infection is gone

Lows:
tired from being sick.
Trying to get everything done.
not connecting well with certain people at work.

with love,

Ashley

it's starting to look a lot like Christmas

I have been busy non stop and of course I caught a cold -- my luck. I have one month until I am sitting on the beach in Bali or at least sitting at a coffee shop reading a book and not worrying about classes. I have had some crazy travel plan changes, some I was very upset about. I have dealt with it all and have figured out where I will be going now. I will be spending a good time with my good friend Mary! which is more than exciting! and when I arrive back in China my good friend Krystal is going to be visiting that week! FOR MY BIRTHDAY! excitement?! yes. But I am turning 23...why does that number have to look so ugly? Starting to feel like an old woman -- yes I know it is still young!

I went to the hospital today to get some blood work done and found out I have a lovely infection but don't worry it is curable and I should be ok in about 5 days. So please keep praying for that as I get better and start to feel better.

I have to teach 3 open classes, which means the head teachers will all be sitting in! I am nervous but feel confident. I think my teaching has improved a lot over the last 3 months, I just hope the kids pay attention. I feel like discipline issues are still there and I don't know how to get them to respect me the way they should. I'm working on it though. That is where most of my stress is going, how to get the kids to listen...they treat my class like break time and let's do other work time. It's exhausting and is probably what lead to the sickness!

We found a Mexican Cantina where we go get 4 tacos for about 4 U.S dollars. They are delicious and I look forward to Tuesday's so much now! It is time to introduce our friends to a foreign food to them and it makes it fun. A "home" food for me and a way to talk and build a community with the workers and the friends we invite with us.

The last few weeks of teaching are upon us, we are going to have a English Festival at school where Christine and I have to do announcements, sing songs and host an english corner for the students. We also have to dress as Santa....we have not decided who it is going to be yet, but with my luck -- it will be me.

Everywhere I go, I am seeing Christmas trees and lights and everything that is comforting. I have yet to go out and get a tree, but it is on my weekend list of things to do! I have finished all my Christmas shopping and plan on sending out presents :) It has been nice, I hope that homesickness does not get bad. We have plans for an eventful Christmas break which is three days for us. Jessica is singing in a choir and a local restaurant is doing dinner! We also plan to go to Hong Kong so we can see all the lights and the bay lit up, we hear it is best during Christmas time!

this was up at the local mall :)



Highs: Christmas being out

Lows: getting sick, infection
missing home

with love,

Ashley

Tis the season

Christmas is my favorite holiday, the one I look forward to 365 days a year. The minute I can put everything else away and bring out the Christmas decorations. I spend the day after Thanksgiving every year putting up Christmas lights. This is the first year I am not out in my front yard shocking myself with broken light bulbs and screaming or running around on the roof trying to get the lights to stay up--while running out of staples.

I sit in the office at work writing you a blog while laughing to myself at all the dumb moments I had growing up that involved Christmas. How can one not get excited about this season?! The weather is cooler, you can sit by the fireplace, you can read great books and drink hot chocolate. (Something I wish I could do right now but it is still hot here and I have no fireplace so I must adjust!) Everything about this holiday is peaceful, yes there is crazy shopping involved but its gifts for people you love, there is no stress when you are buying for people you love--they either love it or they don't and hopefully the just pretend if they don't.

All of this is great but I can't help but be reminded that HE is the reason for the season. Everyone gets absorbed into the shopping and the presents and they forget why we are celebrating this. So excited to get to see a different culture experiences during this holiday, one that doesn't think the same way as I do. It will probably be a struggle but it will be a very exciting adventure that I am glad I get to witness.

I am thankful for so much and yet sometimes I get this mind set of everything is "not good enough" how am I to judge if it is good enough or not? He gives us just what we need, good or bad. We sit and wonder why things are too hard, but really nothing is too hard--just have to be strong enough to overcome it. Overcome your fears this season, don't be afraid to press on in the hard stuff right now--its going to be amazing on the other side.

I came to write a blog about music and started talking about other things! fail. I want to just give a music review and think that everyone should listen to A Very She & Him Christmas

It is top notch and definitely making it seem like it is the holidays. Zooey Deschanel's voice just brings Christmas alive in her songs! I love the deep, rustic, old feeling the songs have and you can't beat the harmony. Of course I have about 1,000 other songs on this playlist but theirs is standing out. So everyone should check it out :D

So I leave you with some things to think about. What is stopping you from doing what you love this season? How can you overcome the hardships that are placed in front of you? How are you going to change things to make everything focused on Him. I dare you to take the leap you have been too scared about taking.

Remember to smile and share His love this season. Be a light.


Highs:
skyping into the Thanksgiving dinners back home
good talks with friends back home
having a Thanksgiving meal!

Lows:
Homesickness was pretty bad this week
getting over some kind of bug
my moms friend passed away today, it definitely upset me. RIP Kathleen. you will be missed.


Prayer requests:
That my parents can adjust with my dad moving soon.
That you are all at peace this holiday season and enjoy the time with your loved ones, never take it for granted.
That I can get through this holiday season and not be too upset or depressed over it. 2 holidays down 1 more to go.

with love,

Ashley

3 months

It is official I have lived in China for three whole months. That is the longest I have ever been out of the country, which is weird but cool at the same time. I have been learning a lot about myself and what my strengths and weaknesses are and what a daily schedule should look like. I am calling this first semester of teaching the "practice round" am I taking too much on? are the kids learning anything? am I good teacher? that kid is driving me nuts! all daily thoughts that go on. Most of them are true and I am working on changing a lot of things. I find that the closer to the end of the semester comes the more I start to debrief and see what were great things and what was just horrible and how I can make the second semester better!

Some things I have done this past week have been fun and interesting and definitely have to do with my future. I don't know where I am going in the future or what road I should take but I have a lot to think about! I will be partnering with the Concordia International School in Shenzhen to help with a summer camp that more Concordia University, Irvine students will get to come and teach at! I am excited to be given such a job and hope I can live up to the standards that they have. I am excited to see what happens with this group and most definitely excited to show them this city!!

I also have been busy with teaching different things and figuring out what would be best for the students. Right now we are learning about directions and how to give them and how to ask for them, which is surprisingly really hard to teach...who would of thunk it...but it is fun watching them try and struggle and then have that boost of confidence when it is correct. I have been enjoying having them work on their own maps and saying what each building is and where it is located on the street. It is almost like an arts and craft time with english thrown in! It is different then most of the lessons I have been teaching and it has been a nice break!

It has been really rough knowing that the holidays are coming up and it has been really hard knowing that one is coming up in 2 days for me. I was told by my fellow expats thanksgiving is not the hard one, because they don't celebrate it here...it is Christmas that is tough. So I am taking it day by day and praying about it and hoping I can get through this time of year without missing home too much. It pretty much sucks and is something I try my hardest not to dwell in. We found out that a local restaurant that caters to foreigners and especially Americans is putting together a Thanksgiving dinner. So Christine, Jessica and myself are going to go and see who we meet and enjoy a meal together. I am so thankful for that opportunity and really look forward to it!

I was given a chance last week to have a family dinner with my friends Christine, Rebecca and Jessica. Christine had brought back tortillas and so we made tacos and had fresh salsa! It was pretty epic and was soooo nice to have some mexican food again. It was quite delicious!!!

I have been sick the past couple of days and have been dealing with the "sore throat of death" most of my illnesses I add death next to the name just for fun. I took the day off school and relaxed and that was the first time I have been home all day in probably 3 weeks. Even though I was sick it was so nice.

The one thing that added to the homesickness of three months was this very nice man to wear an In-n-out shirt....Some would say I am obsessed with it, I would say its not that bad...but I was definitely homesick after that and I called him out on it! I told him "how dare you wear that shirt in China!" I was glad he was not offended by it hahaha I was pretty rude!

That is what I have been up to these past few days and have of course been super busy. 3 months. great. sucky. depressing. amazing. fantastic. He is good in all things and in all places.

Highs:
good food
good talks
good friends
Skype dates

lows:
missing people back home
missing family
missing the best friend
missing thanksgiving...

Prayer request for my future and what is being offered and what might happen. Also pray for the sore throat I have come down with, I hope that it goes away soon.

with love,

Ashley

10 things I have learned

As I sit here I write to you angry, exhausted and busy...I am drained. I took time this weekend to spend time in my room, sleeping, watching movies and relaxing. I thought I could be prepared for the busy week ahead, but no sleep continued. Here I get made fun of because I like to go to bed at 9--sleep is important to me. I have come to find in my almost three months here that people don't go to sleep till 12 and wake up at 6, how do they do it? I was told its because they drink so much tea...I still don't get how they are not exhausted.

I try and keep up with everyone and go to the activities the teachers want me to go to, but lately it has been draining me more and more. I kept thinking what and why am I getting so drained. I have come to the conclusion that it is hard when you are not properly "fed" I miss going to my favorite place on Sundays...I miss the music...I miss listening...I miss being renewed. It has been so hard to not have that, and I look back and see how I would take it all for granted and how I wish I could find that strong community here. It is what I am seeking. I struggle daily, exhausted I wake up, exhausted I fall asleep. I continue to stay strong but there are days like today where it just kind of sucks...

I was walking home last night and thought what are the top ten things I have learned since being here..good and bad..so I am going to share them with you:

1. Mandarin Chinese is not as hard as you think, speaking is hard but understanding..not so bad.
2. I can cross the street with no fear and at any time, even when there is a car driving really fast towards me...sometimes you just got to do it or you will never make it to the other side. (something I will miss when I am stateside again)
3. Teaching is really hard...all you teachers I know out there...I LOVE YOU and am SO proud of you! Keep up the good work, it is a hard thing to do.
4. Being late is on time
5. People will stare at you no matter where you are, so just stare back, maybe it will spark a conversation :)
6. I like noodles way more than I thought...where I live they eat lots of rice, I am told daily I live in the wrong part of China...oops :/
7. It is fun living alone, but I miss my roommates from Parkwood in Irvine.
8. The importance of still being actively involved in family and friends lives as much as I can.
9. Time differences suck as do 11,000 miles of distance between you and the people you love.
10. Making contacts is one of the most important things I have done here and have been able to share a lot that way...its been amazing!


I hope this post is not seen as depressing--that is not what I intended it to be. I wanted to share what I have been thinking as well as what I have been up to.

I got to see Mary again in Hong Kong and that was really really good for me, talking and just having fun for one solid night was just what the doctor ordered. I enjoy getting to talk to my friends either through Skype or in person..I consider Skype in person now and treat the person like they are standing in the room with me. But I forget how important friendships are to me, I put you guys on a high pedestal and sometimes I am too loyal but I would do anything for any of you and I hope you know that and I am proud to call you all my friends.

This week I have some meetings planned for future jobs, activities and life things. Please keep me in your prayers that things go well and that He is guiding me in the direction He wants me to go in. Also pray that myself and the other people I know living abroad can find peace in not being home as the holidays start to come...I know a lot of us that talk are having a hard time not going to be home for thanksgiving...so prayers would be great!!

Highs:
Hong Kong to see Mary
Getting to sleep in this weekend
My apartment is much cleaner

Lows:
exhausted
Missing family and friends a lot right now


with love,

Ashley

Have no fear of the unknown

Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that He is with you. In all things. Some words to live by--realize its all you can do. Everyday I ask myself how did I end up in China--what is going on. I then remember the constant late night talks with my friends, aching to be abroad again, falling in love with the places and people I had met. The way I have impacted these lives, the joy they get from a simple hello, the bond that is formed when you help someone--His joy in all I do. I have been thinking of ways to improve what I am doing, getting more involved, in all I do. I know that one year in China will benefit the people here and if I stay longer it will continue the good. I have made life long friends here and I have made life long friends in other countries, the bond of a friendship formed over traveling, nothing compares to that. So how does one feed the love for travel and the love of helping others?

I have been thinking of ways to better my time here, ways to impact these people more. I have started Chinese lessons, I have been working on communicating with the people that can't understand me. I even frequent the same restaurants or milk tea shops to get to know the employees! I want to change the lives of everyone I talk to. I know that this is a hard thing to do but I want to at least bring a smile to their faces--as they watch me speak horrible chinese.

I have had a chance to even go abroad again while here, the travel bug has not been tamed and I have my next adventure ready! I will be going back to India for two weeks and then to Vietnam for three weeks. My excitement level is through the roof, to go back to the first country that stole my heart and to have my heart stolen by a new one. I am excited to bring joy and find joy in these countries and find those life-long friendships with the people I meet. Most people ask me "aren't you scared to go to these countries?" my answer is simple, what fear does there need to be when I have the best intentions and that I have Him by my side. I know to be safe, don't think I am not safe, but I love traveling and I want to see this world...all of it. Last time I checked I still had a lot of countries to visit :)

I can't wait to go and walk up to the doors I once saw in India like this one at Shanti Dan.

and what is most exciting is going to see a roommate from college and see what she is doing in Vietnam and getting to do some volunteer work with her! We had dreams about seeing each other in our new "homes" and it is becoming a reality. Who would think that one of my closest friends would end up in South Asia too. I am full of joy by the experiences I have had here and so excited about what is going to happen.

I am eager to see what He has in store for me while I travel. To see something I once did and how it has changed and how it will impact me the second time around. I thought to myself I could go back home to the states, but at the moment I won't know where home will be...I can't travel to Southern California and my parents already be moved and not see them or go to Washington and not visit my friends down in California. I am trying this whole Big Kid Life out for this year, a time to get a way and to figure me out. My friend told me I would probably not be completely satisfied if I went back to the states and encouraged me to travel...so that is my intentions.

I don't know what is going to happen for me here in China, where I will be next year. Maybe my current school, maybe not. I don't know what the plans are, they are unknown...all I can do is trust and pray and that I will do my best in whatever obstacles happen and be joyful in all things.

I just want to leave you, the reader with something. I encourage you to Walk into the unknown right now, take the step you have been avoiding and see what happens...it's scary but amazing all at the same time.

With love,

Ashley


Highs:
just everything feeling good right now
Getting to spend last weakened in Hong Kong and meet some amazing people and get to have amazing talks.
My apartment is getting some style :) (pics to come soon)

Lows:
Exhaustion...something about China just makes me tired!
figuring out lesson plans...getting stuck in HK for 4 days without a computer really through my week off.
Christine being gone this week back in the states for a family thing. Please pray for her and her family

He knows what He is doing

This week has been stressful, exhausting and ridiculous. Christine and I decided we would put on different events for the students on each holiday. The only logical way to break it down would be that each grade would celebrate a certain holiday-halloween being the 3rd and 4th graders. Genius idea and everyone was excited, just had poor communication-it doesn't help a language barrier as well. In all honesty this probably would of never happened if Christine did not do an awesome job at setting stuff up and planning...I helped but she rocked it! We had to teach the teachers what each game was and the concept before hand and hoped they would be able to teach the students. We had a pretty small amount of candy for 320 kids...yes 320 kids! We had the typical games of bobbing for apples, bean bag throw, mummy wrap and a cake walk and the kids all seemed to enjoy it! The scary part was when candy was involved...it was probably the most terrifying thing ever to have a group of 50 little kids swarm at you and scream trick or treat as they try and rip the bag out of your hands! Warning: Don't give children candy...horrible idea haha Here are some pics from the event!

Being mobbed for candy

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with the girls. Girls from Jessica's school and my school got together to go to Dafen-an art district and to the movies! It was fun getting to hang out with my current coworkers and then hanging out with the girls I had met this summer. I ended up buying a piece of art for my living room, that I have fallen in love with...the colors are great!

But most of the afternoon was just walking around and catching up and talking about different paintings-super relaxing! one of my favorite pictures from the day!

The biggest thing I want to write about today is just for support and prayers as I struggle and my family struggles with moving. My parents are relocating to Seattle, Washington for my dads job...something that scared me and made me really anxious but talking to my mom settled that yesterday. She said "if you can move to China, then I can move two states north." Who thought I could be that kind of inspiration in someones life. I always have heard talk about moving since the 6th grade and telling my dad he was dumb, it was not going to happen. Well this time it happened 10 years later it finally is happening. In all honestly I am stoked for them, a time to start fresh and make new friends and escape the socal heat...my moms first experience with snow...it will be humorous in so many ways! I definitely am scared and sad to say goodbye to a house, that I won't get to say goodbye to-since I am in China. So prayers as they transition into this new life and that everyone finds peace in this situation. Pray for my friend who is renting out my room that she can stay there as long as possible and that she can find somewhere to move to-within price range and there be peace in that decision.

I was reminded that He knows what He is doing something I need to keep in mind and something I need to focus on. I want to continue to remember the reason why I am here and continue to be the light to everyone I encounter. I need to realize I am here for a reason and not back home...no matter how badly I want to be home, He has me here for a reason, and I hope that I keep doing what I think those things are. All of this stuff is happening for a reason and He knows what He is doing.

Prayer Requests:

I am most definitely worried about a lot back home and it makes the days hard..so prayers that I can find peace in this as well.

I have to go into Hong Kong tomorrow to get my visa fixed, hopefully it all works out and that I can get it in the day.

That I can be the best teacher that I can be right now, sometimes I feel like the kids are not learning anything


with love,

Ashley

Friends and Hong Kong

First before I tell you my adventures...I was leaving my apartment to go to Hong Kong and I saw this...

Everyone in Los Angeles always complained about the smog....they should stop complaining haha this is so much worse!!!

and now the story...

I got word before I even left to live in China that one of my best friends Mary would be coming to Hong Kong in October and we made it our mission to see each other. This mission was completed with 3 days spent together talking and catching up about our experiences of living abroad, something I was overwhelmed with joy by. It all started with Christine and I telling Mary we would meet her at the bay 7:45/8 sharp...mind you we did not have cell phones on both ends, so it was just a promise that I will be there by that time and you better be there too...it took us a 45 minute immigration check into Hong Kong (best time yet...awesome!) We rushed to get to Mary and ended up being about 30 minutes late..luckily she stuck around and waited for us which was a blessing!

We ended up eating pizza on a bench on some random street and spent the night catching up and talking about our adventures...hers is in Vietnam and mine is in China, as you know. It felt really good to get together again after it being several months since we even lived together, it felt like normal and it was fun joking around and giving each other a hard time. Who would of thought 5 years ago that I would have so many friends living abroad and myself even living abroad! so crazy how life plans change and where you end up :D HE IS SO GOOD! I can't say it enough!

We spent the next two nights just relaxing! We stayed at the YMCA...it was pretty great and it was called the Harbor View.

It did not disappoint

We also got to eat at my favorite places and have some delicious Italian food! I had the best Ravioli I have ever had...I felt like a food critic, getting the best to eat. I found this place with the China team this summer-where we all fell in love with it, I had to return! Just as good the second time around :)

On Sunday I went to a service at the YMCA and was once again fed and felt so good about His work in my life that I am doing for others. I may have my doubts, but I need to learn to not dwell in them..His plan is greater and better and I have the ultimate prize. I am just trying to be the light to this world that I have been called to be. I really enjoyed this opportunity to sing and listen and be around so many people. It felt really really really good.

Mary and I had to split ways in a sad farewell but we had to take a picture before she left! We needed proof for everyone that we actually saw each other :D

After this weekend I have been refreshed in so many ways and getting to see Mary was the cherry on top of the ice-cream. It got me even more excited about my visit to Vietnam in January to see her!!

This week is planning for an epic halloween party for our 3rd and 4th graders...stay tuned for the next post about it :D

Highs: Hong Kong in general
Being fed again.
Seeing Him in all situations, being blessed by so much.

Lows:
visa issues.
really tired
I really need to clean my apartment :)


Prayer Requests:
Continuing to stay in peace about all situations
staying in the word
focusing on the relationships surrounding me
Being able to stay connected with the people back home (like you, the reader of this!) I miss everyone a lot!

with love all the way from China,
Ashley

busy bee

I have been busy, really busy. I have been doing a lot of teaching and helping Christine getting situated, its a lot of fun. Some would call me a busy bee. I have been trying to re-haul all of my classes, focus on really connecting with the students.

This week I wanted to think of the best way to get the kids excited-super excited. I thought what is something that all these kids happen to have in common and then it clicked! Traveling-and I clearly have that in common with them. So the next few weeks we are working on English around-the-world. I figured we can talk about those countries and then I can give them different phrases that might be helpful when they travel, or at least how to say the things they already say but in proper form! I don't know this might seem lame, but I am excited haha I taught some of it today and it went over really well!

I have been busy with those power points, its quite fun working on them! I love adding effects and random things haha...now I am trying to buy a controller so I can walk around the room instead of being stuck on the computer keyboard pushing buttons!

Christine has been here for 2 weeks and is doing well and its really nice having her here! I have been much more active with going places and starting to feel like the old Ashley. I finally have done an intense cleaning of the bathroom, it had been a few weeks...lets just say all of Christines cleaning sparked this in me hahaha

We got to eat on a pirate ship on top of a hotel, crazy right?! so amazing and great food! we also have had omelet sandwiches...I have been trying all kinds of food and some of it is good, some not so good but thats normal :P I am enjoying the flavors of China...if only I could cook it in my apartment!

I am really looking forward to this weekend! I get to see one of my roomies from my last semester of college MARY ETTNER! in Hong Kong. She is living in Vietnam and will be in Hong Kong and I am so excited to see her and for all the talking and laughs we will be having! I have been counting down for this weekend and am super excited. We are also going to attempt at Disneyland Hong Kong for their halloween set up...hopefully we can!!

ooooh and we started Chinese lessons, lets see if we can work on this language and become some what fluent. I am excited and hope they work and I can really learn Mandarin, I really want to know how to talk to people. One thing you should all know about China is a lot of people don't know english! Like 95%. I got to adapt and I am excited to do so. :D and after lessons Christine and Jessica and I are going to have our own "shout" which is going to be epic, I hope...I know we won't be let down! I am just excited to dive into the word with them!

Overall everything is going well and I am staying busy! Working pretty much non stop, prayers that I can stay focused and do my best here.

Highs:
Staying in the word
Staying active
Around-the-world lesson plan
Getting to see Mary soon

Lows:
Exhausted
Figuring out stuff with the school

Prayers that I am fully committed to everyone here and that I can be the light that I know I can be. I am excited for some of the things that are happening and I hope I can continue doing His work in all things. Staying in the word and focused.

with love,

Ashley

traveling through Guangxi

I just got back from traveling a week through Guangxi Province, a beautiful place. I set off on a Saturday night with my two friends Christine and Jessica for an 11 hour bus ride. A sleeper bus to be exact, supposed to be much more comfortable-granted it was, but I still got claustrophobic. We arrived at 7:30 in the morning to a beautiful little city where we found Fish Mountain

Now this mountain seemed like it would be the best place to brush our teeth, wash our faces and get ready for the day-since there were no other places to do it after an 11 hour bus ride. We waited about an hour before we were met up with some friends we know in town. We got into a small van, not realizing it would be a 5 hour drive...lets say I slept the whole way to our location. But we ended up going to Sanjiang which is a beautiful area, no sounds of honking, traffic, or people yelling. It was a certain peace- a peace I had been searching for these last few weeks. I got to see mountains and green grass and even rain that felt fresh and re-energized me for the adventures of the week to come. I woke up Monday and had a good me and Him sesh that was exactly what I needed, journaled and really thought about what my purpose is here. I took a picture of the view from the balcony as I did this, it was too beautiful to not share!

Our adventure ended there with street music and a local ethnic group festival. I enjoyed it all and was excited to where I might be going next! We were headed to Wesley's hometown in Ma Ping. We were met with rain, and lots of it and the people were amazing. We got to meet his parents, grandma and uncle and get to spend a couple meals with them. It was nice to really see how one lives in the China Country side. I loved it and love that family, they will always hold a place in my heart.

Top: Wesley, Christine, Wesley's mom, Wesley's Dad, Wesley's Brother and me!
Bottom: Jessica, Wesley's grandma, and Great Uncle

I was also reunited with my beloved game of Mahjong!!!! It had been a month and a half since I had played...I am so glad I got my fix!

I was known in this small town (one street) as the American who knows how to play Mahjong and knows how to win. I instantly became a celebrity and am proud of it! :D

We were in Guilin after that where I got sick and just stayed in the hostel and walked around when I could. I really loved the area and it was beautiful, just very cold and rainy! My favorite Hostel now is the Wada Hostel. They had delicious local tea, and dvd players in the room to keep my sick self occupied. Definitely a win and I had fun talking to the staff and people staying there. Great Lonely Planet pick!

Overall a great trip and a great experience to get to go home and experience a Chinese family. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed it even with being sick and catching a cold! I give Guilin, Ma Ping and San Jiang all an A! I have been really blessed with the people I have and continue to meet here. I can't wait for the next adventure He leads me on!


Highs:
Unforgettable trip.
Rain.
Good tea.
Christine being here!

Lows:
having a cold
exhausted


Prayer requests:
Just enough strength to get through this 7 day work week.
That the cold goes away and that I am back to normal health.
That I start getting better sleep, not feeling rested when I wake up.

I love you all and I am praying for you!

Ashley

as long as you lock the door

I was at my favorite place to go on a Sunday yesterday and I had to use the restroom. I asked one of the guys there and he said you can use either restroom "as long as you lock the door" it made me giggle. He did not know how to say they were combined bathrooms and not one for men and women, lets just say I made sure the door was locked!

If any of you know me, which I hope you do-since you are reading this blog; you know that I am one of the most emotional people on the planet. Being emotional I have found in my 22 years of life as a blessing and a curse, lately it has been more a curse. So I sit here with the past weeks of emotions behind me, some good, some bad. I had a friend recently send this to me, while we were talking and I found it encouraging...I hope it does the same for you.
"you can't be strong.
He gives strength.
He gives joy.
He is our rock
our refuge...a place of security.
he, only He can satisfy.
it's not wrong to feel lonely or however you feel..that is real. Take it to Him.
Be vulnerable, transparent and honest with Him."

It was a good slap in the face, a moment to rely solely on Him. That it is ok to have feelings but to not let feelings get in the way of what is most important in my life. To not focus on earthly things that make me upset-to focus on what is above and to come and how I can do a better job with doing what I can while I am here. I found that instead of giving it to Him I have been looking and searching for it from people in my life, I need to set my boundaries again. I need to learn what is ok and what is not ok, I thought I had things figured out but I am slowly learning I don't.

I first before I go into what adventures I have been on would like to apologize to the people back home that I have put pressure on. I know that is unfair to you and that it is not something you need to be dealing with. I thank you all for your friendship and your encouragement and you are all encouraging, even if you think you are not.

On to what I have been up to. A whole lot of work! but I have been going off on little adventures by myself slowly learning what is at each metro stop and what is fun. This weekend I spent a lot of time to myself and just wandering around trying to figure things out. I did a lot of praying. I even treated myself to Dairy Queen, where after I realized I was next to a movie theater...I love movies so what would be best then to see a movie! the only american film was captain america and I had already seen it, so no movie! I thought to see a Chinese film but the times were off and I did not want to wait around for 2 hours for the next showing.

I walked over to book city where I bought my new favorite book! I am currently in the process of learning Chinese and bought a lovely textbook to help me along my way. Maybe I can have a conversation with someone in the near future? :)

Sunday started with the normal 8 am- 45 minute subway ride to visit Jessica. I listened to a podcast and my favorite kind of music for a Sunday! hoping I would be able to sing some later in the day when we arrived at my favorite place on Sundays! I got to eat at my favorite noodle place at community seating where 6 Chinese people were just staring at us but did not know much english to talk with us...another hint that I need to learn the language quicker! But we decided to head on our new weekly adventure that we have on Sundays...lets find the building! in Mei Lin!

this is what happened on our adventure to Mei Lin this week:

We got on the bus that everyone has told us will take us there, thinking we were good....we were so very wrong! after 2 bus changes (we were kicked off the first one to get on the same bus number, just different bus) We ended up somewhere very very far away from where we were supposed to be and it was most definitely the outskirts of Shenzhen. It was an area that was poor and had dirt roads in some areas. We walked around for over an hour trying to find the nearest highway in the rain while laughing and wondering why this had happened to us, again. We actually arrived the earliest we have on any previous sunday...thanks to the taxi driver and the 60RMB later! We arrived in time for singing. If you have heard me sing, I apologize! my voice was not meant to sing, it is horrible but I can not get enough of singing songs of praise. It was good to be there for that and has encouraged me even more to make sure I am on time and not 20 minutes late! hopefully we figure out these buses because its getting rough and expensive! :)

But once we broke off into our study groups I was hit with something I was not expecting, questions! and lots of them wanting to know more and starving for information. I really enjoyed giving answers and helping them see where it was in the book that they were looking for things. I felt really at peace and felt like I was doing some good. I felt at that moment peace I have not felt yet here in China. Kinda like I was supposed to be there...what I had been searching for. I am excited for what is next.

I also came across this randomly while reading and it definitely hit home with what I am feeling. Enjoy!
‎"I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water...I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."

This has become long enough...I will end it here I hope you made it this far in reading it.

Highs:
Sunday

Lows:
The way I have been treating the people that are closest in my life.

Prayer Requests
To always go to Him first.
Stomach, is not agreeing with me lately...yay upset tummys
Peace
Patience
That I am getting enough rest
That I will be able to answer questions that the people ask me.


I love and miss you all

Ashley

one month in China.

To be honest with you, I have been sort of dreading this blog post. I don't really want to accept that it has been a month. It has been the best month and the absolute worst month. A lot has happened and it has been quite eventful, but I can't help but miss home :(

Homesickness strikes again and I have it every day, sometimes I have "good" days and sometimes I have "bad" days...it is strange to wake up every morning to wondering if it will be good or bad. I pray every morning that it is going to be a good day, that I will be strong enough to be the best person for this community, the best teacher, the best daughter and the best friend that I can be, all while some of these things having a gap of 10,000 miles. I have days where I think I am doing a horrible job for both back home and here, but something I try and fix everyday and something I pray will get better.

I love my classes, but they can be a pain, I am grateful that there are only 40 students! I would be dead if there were more!!! I have some great students and I have some that are not so great, a normal classroom! I have been having fun with them though, they seem to be enjoying my classes.

I have gotten close to some families around here and been interacting with them, it is nice to have some kind of family life around and getting to interact with them. I am excited to have people I can call friends here :D

This last weekend I got to see my friends the Geiss family, I met them in Nepal last summer. They were in Hong Kong for a Nepali conference and of course me being so close, I went right over to visit them! It was a much needed relaxing break, I feel as sometimes it becomes a little claustrophobic being here and its nice to run away. We got to Hong Kong pretty late and decided to just sit and visit and talk and that was a lot of fun! the next day was the day of hunting down all over Hong Kong and visiting! We went to Victoria Bay, ate some food, went to a few book shops and just got to interact with each other, it was a lot of fun and it was great to see them. I missed them a lot!

Today I met up with another girl from America and went to dinner and that was a lot of fun, it's always nice to meet people that are going through the same stuff that you are. It was bad sushi but a good talk and fun at an electronics store after haha!

Other than that nothing has really changed too much, I am dealing with a lot from back home that I won't discuss on here, but just pray for that. Pray for peace for me and to be better at patience, and also pray for that when it comes to my family. That there is a plan with the situation that has been handed to us, that they find where they are exactly needed. I have been struggling a lot and have had many days where I just wanted to get on the next flight to California. I am hoping it goes away soon, but it does not seem like it is going to leave me anytime soon. :/

Highs:
Hong Kong and getting to see the Geiss Family!
Skyping my parents more.

Lows:
The stuff going on back home.
Missing friends and not getting to Skype as much.
Homesickness.
Exhaustion.


Prayer Requests:
That I continue to stay in the word and ready daily.
That I can get used to my schedule and not be so exhausted.
I can not be so homesick...it really puts a damper on your day to day activities.
Keep loving these kids and people I interact with
Patience.

I miss and love you all.

with love,

Ashley

p.s sorry this blog post was such a downer, hopefully the next one is better :)

long four day weekend adventure

So little did I know that Teacher's day was going to be Saturday and that there was a national holiday on Monday, so that meant a four day weekend!

All I wanted to do this weekend was sleep, sleep sounded better than anything else. I think my body finally finished its transition to China time...but that was hard to get.

my adventure started friday with me asking at work if someone could take me to get a massage....little did I know that meant going to a resort place, getting a full body and a foot massage...sounds great? not so great when its 9pm and you do not get home till 1:30 am it was a rough night and it did not help that I was meeting friends at 9 am to go to a local theme park! The theme park is called Happy Valley where you have "Happy Times"



Happy Valley was fun but exhausting..I went with Jessica and our friend from work and luckily I did not feel bad for being soooooo tired, they were both the same! so we did not go on many rides, but enjoyed lunch and walking around talking. I really am exciting to be spending more time with our friend and the opportunities that are being opened up right now!

This picture is of us being dressed up in traditional clothing :P

after happy valley we walked around some and headed back to my apartment where I showed them my area and took them to the delicious Vietnamese food place near my house, seriously delicious and yes I was guilty of eating there 5 times in a week and a half...I don't plan on slowing down either, its delicious! if any of you visit, I will be taking you there!

Sunday, Jessica and I tutored 6 four year olds and whoa was that exciting, they are so cute and it will definitely make me look forward to Sundays! in love with them all already lol and then we were off to find the place we go to on Sundays it was our first time trying to get there by ourselves and we had no luck and got lost! so we will attempt next weekend to find it, wish us luck! we ended up going to a book store and I went for some Pizza Hut I was craving it and Dairy Queen....I know you can all be upset I went for western food, but I wanted it!

Sunday night I got to tutor two kids that are amazing...They are from two families and I love them already, I really enjoy these families and hope to hang out with them more, they already want to take me hiking in a couple weekends!! There is a lot of great talks with them and the kids are awesome, it really is amazing. I want to continue to tutor and hang out with them as much as I can this year.


Monday i got to walk around and see some people lighting lanterns and just enjoying family time, with the celebration of the mid-autumn festival, it made me miss home a lot :/ but I got to Skype people at home and that was really great, its nice to get in contact with people about once a week, it really helps me get through the weeks.

Here is a picture of the city and some lanterns in the background!



this coming weekend I get to go to Hong Kong to visit my favorite people from Nepal and I am so excited so please pray for safe travels there and that we have an amazing conversation and just have fun with the time we get to spend together!

everything is going well, classes are busy, tutoring is busy...I am loving the kids, they get loud sometimes but that is ok, it is expected they are kiddos. They all like me or at least that is what the teachers are telling me :)

I like where I am working, still working on my hours and how much is expected of me to just sit in the office, because right now I sit in the office 5 hours before I do anything and that is really taking a lot out of me and I have things to do but if it is expected for me to do later things, I would like to just be able to come in a little later then 7:30....

I am doing well, missing home though but that is ok and not expecting it to go away anytime soon. I miss you all and wish you were here and wish that I was there, I thank everyone for the emails and comments and everything you have been giving me to help me do a better job here. so encouraging and I really enjoy it. I love you guys.

Highs:
some talks I had with people I am meeting here
He is showing me so much more every day and I love it
Skyping with some friends back home

Lows:
Missing everyone back home
being tired



Prayer Requests:
That I can figure out my schedule
I can be the light to the people who are asking questions
I stay in the word and focused on Him
that I continue to do my best to glorify him

I love you all and miss you terribly

Ashley

sometimes I forget that I am not Chinese...

I have officially been in China for about two weeks, I am a day early in saying this...but close enough. I still have my days where I see people from a distance talking and my instinct is to think they are speaking english, they are not. I get lots of stares and people looking at me like I am crazy for doing what they do. Everyone I meet asks me why I am here, their responses are always shocked ones when I tell them why I am here and what I love about Shenzhen. I do a lot of walking, a lot might be an understatement. I walk 95% of the time and the other 5% of the time is spent taking the metro and occasionally a taxi (but that is only if I get lost.) The stares I get...I forget why someone would be staring at me, because I am different and I am doing everything that someone who is a native, sees as normal for themselves, not me. But I am learning that the looks just come with me being here, I don't expect them to change or for them to stop, I am enjoying it, all I can do right now is keep smiling. I can't wait until I can learn more Chinese and then really scare the people that stare because I am a foreigner! maybe they will accept me as a "native" that looks different for this next year!

So I still have terrible homesickness but it is nothing compared to the first week, that week I thought I was going to be back in the states in no time and was not enjoying anything about being in China again. I have adjusted and I am slowly enjoying what I am doing and embracing any and all situations. My strength is in Him and I am constantly reminded of that and put him first in all situations and have been trying my hardest to constantly be in the word and to be talking to our Father. It is the one thing that gets me up in the morning and gets me through my day and I love closing my day before bed in His word. I am constantly amazed and all of his wonder and grace and love that he has for us. My strength lies in him and I have seen that time and time again, especially in these last two weeks and I love it.

I got to go to the Chinese Christian Church in Shenzhen (a state registered church) and attend their new foreign service, which was quite a story. I really enjoyed what the two leaders are trying to do and I hope I can be there helping them start a community that the church has asked them to do. I met three other foreigners there who are helping them and really got to talk to them and enjoy their company and I hope that I can help them in any way possible. So I am going to attend for a few weeks and see what they might want me to do or see if there is anything for me to do. I am excited to hopefully build a community with them!

The week has been busy, had my first classes! they went really well and felt really natural and I love the kids already! they asked questions and I showed them pictures of me and family and friends and just my life in general and they really enjoyed that! I even gave them a little bit of homework :) such a mean teacher, I know... :D Work is tough I have 10 hour days with 5 hours of them sitting at the office, so I am working on reading and keeping myself busy. Lessons are done for a few weeks already, its all just a lot of sitting!! but school is going well, just trying to get used to the 6:30 am wake up call. and not to oversleep! I teach 3 classes a day in the afternoon mon, tue, wed and fri and on Thursday I have a after school program where we can do whatever we want, just have to make sure we are practicing english! I am excited for that to start, in a few weeks.

the exciting thing this weekend was going to a work banquet to celebrate Teacher's day! I won a rice cooker! and I got to meet a lot of other foreign teachers and watch a show and watch my teachers and the teachers from this summer go up and sing and dance, it was a really fun night. It did not end there though we went to KTV (Karaoke) after for 3 hours! I thought I was going to die! but the school accepted me as a colleague that night! lots of singing and laughing but I did not get home till 1 in the morning...I feel like an old person now, wanting to be in bed by 8!

I also have been given the opportunity to help some students with english that are friends, so it is kind of like babysitting, but doing it in english. Jess and I will take on 6 four year olds next weekend, I am STOKED! and I have some other opportunities with other kids as well, just trying to figure out times and such. These kids make my heart very happy, their smiles just make me want to hang out with them all the time lol but I can't, I need to make sure I am making time for myself and to be fed by Him and stay in the word and have my day of rest! so staying focused on that but helping as many as I can without being worn out! I can do it!

everything is going well, enjoying who I am meeting and what I have been doing, I miss home very very very much but I am dealing with it and living in the now and embracing the situations I am being handed right now. I know that He is there with me and has many reasons for me to be here and I am just trying to listen and be patient and figure out what exactly I should be doing, without wearing myself out.

I thank you for your constant encouragement, without them I would still be a mess.

I love you all

Ashley

High of the week: Mastering the subway system and meeting the foreigners at the church.

Low of the week: being really tired and still being super homesick (I am hoping that can become a healthy homesick in the future, if that even exists!)


Prayer Requests:
Be able to survive 10 hour work days, its hard.
That I can be intentional in the communities that I am in.
That I can figure out how to cook!
Continue to be in the word and praying for you all back home.
that I don't become overworked.

the crazy adventure He is taking me on

About three months ago I set off on a new adventure, an unknown adventure, but an exciting adventure. Myself and ten other people set off to come and teach english in China, I had no idea what I was doing, but fell in love with this country and the people that are here, enough to come back and teach.

10,248 miles away from everyone I love and everything I considered safe, and according to google maps a 37 day kayak ride back to America, I doubt that, but who knows :P I thought I was mentally preparing myself all of my senior year for this chance to take a job abroad and teach english for a year, I just want to tell you, whoever you are reading this, there is no preparing for the whirlwind adventure of moving abroad. I thought I would be able to say goodbye, be able to call China "home", it has almost been one week and I am still dealing with those goodbyes, and slowly making my new apartment home in. I eagerly await emails and stories from friends back home, while trying to do everything through out my day, staying connected is one of my goals for this year.

yes I am that many miles away, but still encouraging my friends and family through Him, every chance I get, is all I want to do. Encouraging them and encouraging the people I am surrounded by, helping everyone I can with what He has given me. I was reminded of a verse a week ago, something I took to heart, something I plan on doing all year long. "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” something to live by and strive for with His help and guidance to share his word with everyone.

My adventure in China started with a sorrowful goodbye at LAX with family and close friends (who are family) Jessica my friend is also teaching here, about 20 minutes at the middle school-I taught at this summer. It has been nothing but wonderful to have a fellow sister in Christ and friend here with me. I have had many good cries since before I even left, worrying about people back home, nervous for what lies ahead, where God is taking me, a scary adventure that awaits. We arrived and landed in Shenzhen with no one to pick us up from the airport, the adventure started there, getting to my apartment at 2 in the morning in China, exhausted and sad. We did it! but oh was it exhausting!

Everything has been going okay, my school has not really updated me too much expect for the last day, it made my homesickness worse, I had two days where I was ready to buy my ticket back to America. But the parentals always told me once you have committed yourself to something you have to stick with it, so there is no going back...I must push forward and there is only one person who can help me along that way and that is Him and I am learning every day how much I need to trust him and let him take the wheel.

Some adventures I have had are buying a subway pass, buying a cell phone sim card, setting up a Chinese bank account, all these big kid adventures, all in Chinese of course.

I am slowly starting to understand some of the language, or at least what someone is trying to say to me, I am hoping to find someone to teach me the language soon. That way I can become a little more independent and actually know what someone might be asking me!!

I also was able to visit the school from this summer and visit all of my friends, bittersweet to see them, I missed the China team from CUI but it was nice to see familiar faces in China, friends that will be in my life for a long time.

the adventure continues with this week planning lessons! I got my office spot today and will be making it more home with pictures and other things of home, things to remind me to keep on going. The other fellow teachers were nothing but sweet to me, encouraging and really excited for me to be there, I hope I can deliver whatever they might be expecting. I am excited to get to know each of them.

Thank you for the prayers, the support, the messages, the comments, and the love. I can never tell you how grateful I am.

I love you all.

Ashley

Prayer Requests
That I find peace-where I am and with not being there for events in my family and friends life back home during this year.
Apartment gets set up and I make it more like home, it will help with the transition.
That I can be able to show the light.
Staying in the word daily, and praying, not falling asleep or just not doing it in the morning or at night.
That I can find a good middle ground with contacting back home and knowing my limits of when is too much or when I am not doing it enough.

a new life milestone

So I just received my Bachelors Degree in History :D a huge accomplishment and I am still shocked that I could finish it in four years, even after transferring schools. I know that this was a huge accomplishment and thought it deserved a blog with some pictures.

As for what is next, I leave for China soon where I will be teaching english! I am hoping to get a job in China and continue doing work there for at least a year, my life has become addicted to traveling and I can't wait for the next adventure God has planned for me. I am going to eventually go to graduate school but in what? I have no idea, but I hope that traveling and working different jobs will help guide me in what I want to do for "the rest of my life" or at least for what I will do for a certain part of my life, I have a hard time believing I will be able to settle down for very long. :)

Here are some pictures from graduation, pray for my trip to China and pray that my friends who are all going to different places in the world and in life, that they do what they love and share God's word every chance they get! I know that there are some amazing people going out into this "real world" and are going to do amazing things! I can't wait to do what I can, to make a difference!

China town. Little Italy and Broadway ooooh and a nun

Today was a whirlwind literally! windy like crazy and 29 degrees towards the end :/ freezing!

I started my morning by going to China town and sort of embracing the culture and it was great! It made me much more excited about going to China. I got to bargain and have people harass me and it reminded me of India and made me miss it much more! here are some pictures from China town




after china town i headed over to little italy and st marks place where was a retro place. it was really cool to see all these places and see the people in their element it was very cool. i was sad that the day could not last longer.


after all that i went to Rockefeller center, grand central terminal, NBC head quarters. after all of that I went to St. Patricks and it was BEAUTIFUL the best looking church i have probably ever been too! it was great and i loved it. while i was walking away i ran into a nun (and if you know me i am fascinated by nuns and i get excited) but i controlled myself and did not talk to her. she talked to me. haha she went to hs at the school i coached swim at a couple years back and so we had a lot of things in common from back home it was really cool and random. God definitely knows how to show up randomly :) buttttt we walked like 6 blocks about mission work and her becoming a nun and she got to meet mother Teresa! and so we talked about her and all of the things that i find so amazing. she lives in a convent in NY and has been a nun for 18 years. she works specifically with single mothers with new borns and helps them out during those first few months. she was seriously amazing and then her and I got to pray together and she showed me around her chapel and the convent. it was really cool and such a random experience but i loved it!






at the end of the night I saw a show on Broadway. called Rain: a Tribute to the Beatles. excellent. I recommend it to everyone. it was a lot of fun and the closest I will ever be to a Beatles concert!



tomorrow is my last day in NYC. sad to leave but excited to be back home and plan the next adventure

with much love,
Ashley