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