West Lake

These pictures are from the West Lake National Park. It's got a shrine, a pagoda, a silly winding bridge across the lake and a Taoist temple on the other side.

exploring my new home

So I have officially made it to China. I’m in Huizhou. I am really enjoying it so far. My coworkers and my students are all really nice. Seems like it’s going to be a great year. More on that later. For now, here are a few pictures from the exotic animals market.

Look out China, here I come!

I'm going to teach and live in China next. I'll be at Thames School of Languages in Huizhou. It's a small city near Hong Kong. My post starts in May so I'll go there May 1. There will be about 20 other foreigners working at the school. I will live in a dorm/apartment with them. There seems to be lots of support, both socially and professionally with the school. It doesn't pay well, but I plan to like it anyway. Vietnam will just have to wait until next year...

UPDATE: blog and future

At this point, I have finished uploading pics and stories from my Euro-adventure. (YAY!) I have finally added photos to the Sevilla section. (Gramma: on the right of the screen, click the arrow next to February. Then wait while it adjusts, then go down and click on the titles under February where it mentions Seville to go to those pages). Also, there are now descriptions and pictures from Portugal (Lisbon and Sintra) and Paris.

An update on the future: I have officially been denied the position I was applying for in Japan. I’m ok with it. I only wanted to go there because Lindsey was going there. I just wish they hadn’t bothered my references.

I’ve been talking to a recruiter (including 2 recent interviews) about going to Vietnam—Ho Chi Mihn City. That’s my top choice but they’re taking forevvvvver. Yesterday, I had an interview with a kindergarten in Bangkok, Thailand. The interviewer seemed to think it was a sure thing that the principal would approve me and they’d send me a formal acceptance letter soon. Also, I had an interview last weekend with a school in China. They said I was their best candidate so far but they had more interviews. They’ll choose by Monday. Tomorrow, I have another interview with a job I’m more interested in in China. It’s a British-run school in South East China. They really seem to know their stuff. I also exchanged extensive emails with another school in China.

So I have 5 jobs that I’m working at. It seems excessive, maybe, but it’s hard to know who will really pull through with an offer. I’d like to have a choice in the end on which one I want, not just go because some school is willing to take me. Whatever happens, it looks like I’ll be going to Asia again for another year starting next month. Hopefully the perfect thing will work out soon.

Megan

After I got home, little Megan's tumor started to get worse. On Tuesday, it oozed bits from its interior. I felt like a nurse when my mom and I cleaned them up. She was still so chipper, but we knew this meant it was time. Exactly a week after I got home-- on Wednesday, Megan had to be put down. Even up to going onto the table, she was energetic and gave kisses and ate treats. She was always a happy little dog.
I've been thinking back to some of the best Megan memories (most also involve Steve). Lots of them are of Megan being naughty. One of the first really involved ME being naughty. My mom would walk Steve to school to get Natalie and I would stay home with Megan and have my snack. Well Megan looked rather sad on the floor so I let her sit at the table and eat treats off of a plate! Sometimes we'd come around a corner when she was little and find her standing on the table.


Megan was very tolerant. She used to let us dress her up. She got all sorts of outfits. She was a mermaid and a popstar. She would just act like jello as we moved her limbs to cloth her and generally participated for the associated photo-shoot. This earned her lots of accessories (compared to Steve's single collar since puppyhood). She got a purple sweater and later a pink one. She got a pink collar with rhinestones and a pink one with polka dots.
She also got loads of nicknames: Maemae, Moomoo, Meggy, Peggy, Peggers, Mini, Princess... I'm sure there are more.
On Megan and Steve's birthdays, we'd throw them mini-parties. We made them crowns out of construction paper and dressed them up and fed them hamburgers from Burger King. On Christmas, they got wet food which they woofed down and stank of for a while afterward.
A couple of times, we took Megan and/or Steve to my neighbor's yard when they weren't home. They had a pool and we made the dogs try swimming. They didn't like it and swam to us and clawed to be picked up. One time, Megan saw the neighbor's dog across the pool and ran straight toward her, neglecting the pool in between. She fell straight in.
We also made them try out skate boarding in the hall. Both dogs had to take a turn sitting on the skateboard and getting a little push. Megan could ride halfway down the hall!


Megan loved to have balls and bones and toys. She didn't love for Steve to have them. SHE wanted it all. She was very protective.
Megan's little coat was somehow installed backwards. The fluffy undercoat was on the outside so she was the softest dog in the world.
We gave them baths in the backyard a few times and gave them haircuts in the hall. Steve would squirm and run away but Megan was more cooperative.
One time, she got to taste frosting and I guess it stuck in her mouth becuase she kept licking the air and it showed us exactly how long her GIANT tongue really was.
Megan always loved using that tongue too, for kissing her people. She had difficulty knowing when to stop. We joked her tongue was like sandpaper by the time she quit! Near the end, the tumor made kisses uncomfortable, but she still gave them out occassionally or nosed us in almost the same motion.
One of the main things that I will always remember is Megan bounding across the yard. She seeemed to bounce and run simultaneously toward squirrels and birds and... the back fence. She had the sillies bark. It sounded more like a chicken, almost muffled.


The best thing about Megan was that she would just sit on the sofa with us for hours. She loved her people and we loved her (still do). Megan's been a part of my life for the majority of it. She was going on 15 and I'm going on 24. She was like my sister and I'm just not sure what to do without her.

coming home

Wednesday morning, I woke up before 5 so I could be on the first subway train at5:30. I got some funny looks over my giant suitcase. I had to transfer to get to the right stop and literally walk straight onto the train. When we got to the final metro stop, I followed another girl with a suitcase through the dark to a booth. I didn't realize there was a whole troupe behind us. After I bought my ticket, I turned around and saw a line of at least 30 people behind us. My bus left in 5 minutes. I hurried over and loaded my suitcase on. I slept most of the ride.
The Beauvais airport was smaller than Little Rock! I was stunned. My suitcase was a tiny bit too heavy so I moved some stuff to my backpack. You're only allowed 15 kilos on ryanair. My flight left close to on time. In Dublin, I collected my bags and then turned them in again to Aer Lingus. I went outside just to breathe some real air and then went to the food court. I had breakfast-- a bagel with freaky "cream cheese" in chunks and then paniced. My boarding card said the gate closed in about 1/2 an hour! I grabbed a sandwhich and hurried off to security.
I bought a book and some candy and hurried to the gate. Really? The gate closes more than an hour before departure? Yes. Turns out that US customs is in the Irish airport. They ask you stupid questions on this end and then make you sit and wait for an hour+. I was not happy. There weren't any stores, just chairs and a vending machine. I bought a beuno and tried to get a second, but it got stuck. I figured if I got a third, the stuck one and the next one would come. The machine ATE my money. I had no more coins so I basically paid 3 times the normal price for one bar! That certainly didn't help my mood.
They finally started to board the plane. The line stopped moving when I got to the front for about 15 minutes. Is this a joke? WHY? When they finally let us through, they patted everyone down and RE-checked everyone's bag. They found my knitting needles and wanted to throw them away. The woman who patted me down tried to rip them out of my project. NO!! I started to cry so they let me keep them. They gave them to a crew member on board to return to me later.
The girl who got them gave them to someone else and told me the row in front of me had 4 empty seats and I could lay across them to sleep. Great! After the doors had been closed, my knitting was handed to me. The girl said they're so strict! and seemed to think it was ridiculous as well. I slept lots but magically woke up just in time for the lunch meal. When I arrived in Chicago, I was surprised how little I had to do to recheck my bag. I had to find it but then only wheel it about 50 feet.
I took the tram to my terminal and then went through security again. Then I had about 3 hours to wait. My laptop was almost out of battery so I didn't pay the $6.00 to get internet. My flight was delayed 20 minutes then 40. I paniced. What if it gets delayed more? What if it gets cancelled? What if I have to wait until morning? I couldn't handle it. I got change to use a pay phone and call mom. I needed to be soothed. However, the pay phone didn't work. It told me mom's phone and dad's work were invalid numbers. No they aren't! A man had apparently seen my frusteration and came over to give me his iphone to use. I did. I only felt a tiny bit better afterward.
There was another flight leaving RIGHT then to San Francisco. I asked if I could get on there but the ladies sort of ignored me, saying it was a different route. No it isn't! It's a plane going West to the Bay Area! I just need to go HOME!!!!! I had dinner then hovered by my gate until its sign for San Jose disappeared. Excuse em?! The gate had moved so I did too.
The flight was delayed another 20 minutes then 15. By the time they boarded us, it was starting to snow. OH NO! I flashed on the idea of being stuck for the night all over again. They had to wait for some sort of spray to deter teh snow but we did take off.
I did finally get to San Jose. Mom and Dad were there dutifully waiting for me. THey love me a lot to come all the way out here in the middle of the night to collect me.
We got home about 29 and a half hours after I'd left my hotel in Paris. What an excruciating day! Steve and Megan were their adorable selves, but already older than when I'd last seen them. Poor things. I was glad to be home and didn't know if my bed was cozy or not I slept so hard.

Tues a Paris

I got up early and went to the lobby to check my email. I found out I can’t add bags after check-in. I went across the street to the post office. I had most of the conversation en francais! I was very proud of myself.
I went to MacDo for breakfast and had a chocolate muffin and orange juice. I was rather impressed with the chic modern décor inside! A guy made a kiss-face at me and said something… cherie to me. Bleh!





I took the metro to the Arc de Triomph. When I came out of the subway, it was ridiculously sunny so I rooted around in my bag for my sunglasses. A guy came over to ask if I knew how to get to the middle and when I said I though probably you had to go under the street, he started to walk away, but then turned saying, “you coming?” I followed. Together, we made our way to the center of the roundabout, right under the Arc. He was from Seattle but lived in London. After we took our share of photos and returned to the outside of the circle, I ditched him. He was going to the Eiffel Tower and I was not trying to go there 2 days in a row. Also, I wouldn’t be walking if I was. I was a little sad to see my new companion go, though, really.









I strolled the Champs-Elysee. I looked for “Les Grands Magasins” but essentially failed to find them.
I saw Natalie’s store, Monoprix and went in. Aude had said her mother liked it and couldn’t imagine why Natalie did. I could see it. They have clothes and office supplies and food! What’s not to love? It’s FRENCH!
I got to a park at the end of the shops and asked a man in a newsstand about les grands magazins. He sent me back the way I’d come. I passed them? Clearly, I’d expected something more… something… better.








I had my lunch in a small restaurant. It was chicken risotto. It was pretty delish.
I then took the metro to Monmarte. It’s the cute part of town where they filmed Amelie. I felt like I’d finally arrived in Paris! There were loads of cute little buildings on lots of cute little streets. I stood in a square looking at my map for a while and then decided to just… MOVE! I was looking for Sacre Coeur and couldn’t see which way was up. I ended up at the funicular right in front of it, luckily. I took the funicular. When there is an option not to walk, I take it!!








I looked out over the city from the patio in front of the church. I wondered where the Eiffel Tower was, knowing it SHOULD be out there somewhere! The clouds were concealing it.









I went inside of the big white church and was surprised that its signature central dome had NOTHING in its interior! What kind of fancy church is this?! It had nice gothic arches, as I’ve come to expect. Most of the chapels were like little stone houses with a dude on top, presumably a saint or someone important.
I really wished cameras were allowed when I spotted the cleaner standing on top of one of the chapel tables. It looked so disrespectful and down-right comical!
After a tour around the back of the main altar, I took a seat in one of the back pews. I sat down just to sit! I needed a break. I got a postcard in the shop on the side and if I ever find it, you'll see it here.
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Out front, I waited for someone to ask to take my photo. I have realized that often, an Asian person is better. From Korea, I learned that many Asian people are obsessed with photos of themselves, just like I am. They work hard on composition. Like yesterday at the Eiffel Tower: a blond woman cropped off the top of the tower in my photo and the Asian man I asked next handed back my camera with a bow, saying “check!” I did check and it was a perfect photo.





Then I decided to wander around the side of the church. I found the entry for the dome and crypt. I really just wanted to go to the crypt, but paid my way into both. There was a machine and a turnstile issuing tickets!







About 20 steps up, I realized that this was THE worst idea ever! Like I wasn’t already tired! Like my legs didn’t already hurt! I don’t WANT to climb a bjillion (300) steps!





There was a nice view from top though. Oh THERE’s the Eiffel tower! I thought. The sun had come out just long enough for it to peek out.























Then I went down dozens of OTHER stairs to the crypt. It was sincerely creepy. I gave a woman a fright. I was looking at a little display case of bones? And she came around a corner and I surprised her. She nearly screamed. It was wonderful.








Then I walked around Monmarte. I found the photo everyone must take of the artists’ easels in front of buildings in front of the Sacre Coeur dome.








I found a windmill and a cinema and all of the cute shops we learned about in school—the boulangerie, the charcuterie, the fromagerie…


















I knew I was hoping to wander in the direction of the Moulin Rouge. It was nearby, apparently, but where? I happened to pop out of the neighborhood onto a main street NEXT to it. I recognized “uge” on its sign as I neared it.



It is surrounded by sex shops and scandal. I felt a little uncomfortable so I got back on the metro and went to the Victor Hugo stop, thinking I’d walk back to the movie theater. I’d hoped to have more verve for my last day, thinking I’d get to the Musee d’Orsay today as well. That got cut in the morning. I just was mentally ready to go HOME.
I found a really popular patisserie. I had a crumble—a dessert with streusel and fruit. I also got a pain au chocolate for le matin.







I walked to the movie theater and quickly discovered the Arc de Triomph has a confusing circle on it and the theater was further down Champs Elysee than I’d thought! I finally got to the theater, minute before Valentine’s Day was to start. I got to the front and was told I was at the wrong theater. My movie was across the street at the theater with the LONG line.
A woman tried to ask me if she also had to stand in line if she’d gotten advanced tickets. I told her I had no idea, I was American!
The restroom was INSIDE the theater like in the room where the movie plays! I almost cried in the first few minutes of the movie, just seeing AMERICA!! And hearing Michael Franti. I thought it was a good movie, a little like Love Actually in its collection of interwoven stories and the general theme.
Then I went to my own neighborhood *(Aude’s friends wouldn’t visit her near where I am when she lived there—apparently it’s sketchy). I went to the grocery store for snacks and sodas.
Then I went to MacDo to get Chicken Nuggets. I took them to my hotel, thinking I’d eat in the privacy of my room. Two men were waiting when I arrived—the receptionist and the one I’d giggled over the receptionist’s snoring with. Really they were just smoking, but they both beamed at me. My laughing buddy said Salut! Apparently we’re friends. The receptionist came in to give me my key and said I had it. Um, no. I don’t. I gave it in this morning. (thinking: it’s LOST?!) He found the spare after searching around the desk area not-too-carefully. We went up to my floor and he tried every key on the ring to no avail. I just stood there and watched. Then he said I should go back to the lobby. But I want to be on the other side of this door! I want to be resting and eating my nuggets in peace! I want to be relaxing! Ok.
I waited and the key was found in the break room. The housekeeper was blamed for its disappearance.
I got my computer and went back downstairs to go online briefly. I had to tell Aude I wasn’t coming to her parents’ house (which I’m sure she knew since it was so late). She had a suggestion for how I should go to the airport. Great! It was a bus from the metro straight to Beauvais. I didn’t have to take a train in between! With that, off to bed for a short few hours’ sleep!