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