Pictures

Here are the links to some of my pictures from China:

China: A Year in Review
and
Beijing, Xi'an, and Sichuan

Update

I realize I promised an update after I returned home. It’s been two months, so here you go:

I am adjusting well to being back in America, though I am still unemployed and going stir crazy during the day with nothing to occupy me. Things, however, are looking up. I have an interview tomorrow afternoon for Kaplan Tutoring, and the following day at Banana Republic. I am also planning to return to school next summer to get my teaching credential to teach elementary school (my students this past year have scared me off from teaching middle school!). Currently, I am quenching my thirst for knowledge by taking a sign language class at the local community college - also, I was hoping to meet some new friends. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that half my class would be freshly out of high school STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. Oh well, at least I’m learning a new language.

In terms of China, there are things I miss about it: cheap (and delicious) food, great public transportation, my own apartment, a steady income (even if it was only ~$350/month), the opportunities to travel, and, most of the time, on an individual basis, my students. Just kidding, I love my students. Even if they did drive me crazy.

From trying new foods (or not...I don’t care what you say, there’s no way I am going to put congealed pig’s blood in my mouth, or chew on a chicken foot. Sorry, but no thanks.) to getting lost in a city where I can’t understand anyone and end up getting half my hair chopped off to climbing the Great Wall or enduring a three day horse trek (if I never get on a horse again, it will be too soon), my year in China was an adventure. It was full of ups and downs. There were good days and bad days. Days where I set out to explore the city, and days where I stayed inside all day watching bootlegged copies of the newest movie releases. There were days where there was no where else I’d rather be, and days when I’d rather be anywhere else. China was fun, exciting, frustrating, dirty, interesting, boring, exhausting, overwhelming, amazing, and life changing all rolled into one.

I still can’t believe it’s over. Pictures from this year’s batch of teachers are starting to pop up on Facebook, and as I look at them, I’m not sure what I feel. A little bit of jealousy, some sadness, and even a little relief that my year is over and I now get to share in their experience from the comfort of my air-conditioned, carpeted, oven-having home. :-)