Thoughts

My thoughts this week have been really focused on friends and family. I have been getting a little homesick with Thanksgiving nearing. Skype has helped this a lot. My friends now have skype.. so I get to video call them frequently and my parents now too. So it's helping. I still miss hugs a whole lot.

I have had friends requesting certain thought requests.. and this has been heavy on my heart. It pains me to hear the troubles that we endure in this life. The things that we are put through.. but I know it's all to make us stronger. It's all for a reason and that's comforting. I see situations and the good that came out of them and it cheers my heart, but then I see where it's all headed and it hurts again. I just wish I could hug and comfort and make it all better. I never have the right words or advice.. but I try. It just all sounds so cliche to me.

Today we went to a big sale downtown. I got a backpackers backpack for 30 US dollars. This will come in handy when I am traveling for 6 weeks in January. We are going to visit family in Thailand and Cambodia. It's going to be wonderful to be there to encourage them and see the work there. Then we will head north to Harbin (almost Russia) for the ice festival. I only want to stay an hour to take a picture.. i'm not looking forward to becoming an exhibit when I freeze into a block of ice. Then to Beijing or Shanghai for our winter retreat. We'll see.

I know I'm rambling a lot. I can't really keep a continuous thought. That's what China will do to you. It turns you ADD and unable to focus. I think it has to do with not speaking Chinese. In America you hear your language and focus on conversation. Here I don't have to focus. I don't know what you're talking about.. so I just space out until I'm motioned at to do something. Nice huh...

Other thoughts.. It's cold here. I'm wishing I had brought my pea coat.. really I just want to go home and get another suitcase. But I'm fine and I'm going to get a coat made probably. A warm one. Teaching is going well.. I've been a little sick so I'm exhausted. I'm going to spend Thanksgiving with the Americans here and then some of us are going to Central China to visit a bunch of Americans for a big dinner. I will get to see all of my Harding peeps.. and I'm excited. Tomorrow we are going to Nanjing to visit some Harding peeps too. I'm happy to get a change of scenery and people. They have Burger King.. and H&M and Ikea.

I will blog about Nanjing when I get back. It's one of the most cultural cities in China.. read about it. It's amazing. Nanjing/Nanking.