Since moving overseas I've learned that...

... different is not better or worse, but just different.

...people are proud of where they are from, and that most would not trade their current citizenship for an American passport, regardless of what many Americans may think.

... people can live well on $100 a month.

...ANYTHING can be transported via bicycle. Yes, anything.

... massages are WAY overpriced in America!

..."tipping” is really only expected in America. Or a 5 star hotel.

...leaving a tip at a restaurant may result in you being chased down on the street in order to be reimbursed the money you “forgot”.

... life goes on if you don’t own a car.

...the rest of the world has WAY better public transportation than Texas!

...owning a dishwasher and clothes dryer are really unnecessary, luxury items.

...not much is more personally rewarding than saying something in another language and being understood.

... people are people no matter who or where they are. There’s no reason to think of yourself as better than anyone else.

...eggs don’t have to be refrigerated.

...once you’ve mastered the technique, chopsticks are way easier to use than a fork and knife for certain things!

...Skype is the best communication tool EVER!

...anything can be delivered… for free… if you only ask.

...a moped can comfortably accommodate a family of five Chinese.

...babies can be toilet trained by the time they are one month old.

...whether you live 90 miles or 9000 miles away, you end up talking to friends and family about the same amount.

...tea can cure anything from the common cold to a mother’s delivery complications.

... in the words of Mark Twain, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”

...by stepping outside of your comfort zone you learn more about yourself than you do about others.

...it is vital to depend on your brothers and sisters around the globe.

...you don’t have to have a lot of money to travel, just a good pair of walking shoes.

... public squat toilets are more desirable than public “sit down” toilets… at least when they’re dirty.

... it’s good to be thankful for what you have, but to also know that other people don’t necessarily envy you for your possessions.

...we tend to “travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people [we] ignore at home.” Dagobert Runes

Kung Fu Fighting!

I guess my writing got put on hold as life caught up with me for a little while. Rex and I spent some time fighting off a mystery illness and then I spent a week doing nothing but grading and figuring out what I was going to type in for report cards. So not a whole lot of interesting stuff there.

We spent our second Turkey Day in a row working and away from family. It definitely does not really feel like Thanksgiving without broccoli rice casserole and that yummy turkey gravy made by mom! Rex and I were eating burgers at JJ's Texas Bar and Grill the weekend before Thanksgiving and Josh (one of the "J's" in JJ's), good ol' Texas boy from Kyle, Texas, came up and told us that he would be doing fried turkeys with "all the fixin's" if we'd like to come out for Thanksgiving. We were totally sold (and spent the whole week looking forward to the turkey).

Josh did not disappoint! The food was delicious and there was even pumpkin and pecan pie a la mode! We did have to bypass Yvonne's potluck dinner to enjoy the JJ's festivities... but what would I have brought to a potluck anyway? Burnt spaghetti?

Christmas shopping has begun! This is always tough in China. There are so many things that could be considered really cool to people back home who never see Chinese stuff, but I think I've been a bit desensitized. It's hard to know what to buy anyone anymore, and it seems that when you do get an idea it's something that requires special handling.

Riding the ferry from Xiamen Island to Gulong Yu Island...

that is Xiamen Island business district in the background.

First stop for shopping: Gulong Yu Island. Gulong Yu has a history of being an international island for hundreds of years. Although it now fully belongs to China, many old consulate buildings can still be seen among the unique architecture of the island. There are also a couple of beautiful churches and many music stores. Gulong Yu Island is now known for it's many pianos and famous composers who studied here.

Dairy Queen on Gulong Yu Island... just like home!

The few things we have found have been fun to bargain for! I think I enjoy the art much more than my husband, but he plays a good devil's advocate! We've pissed off many a market-stall lady by bargaining her down so low that she "makes no money" which I don't for a second believe. In Beijing this past summer, one lady got so mad at me for trying to get her t-shirts down from 150RMB to 20RMB that she called Rex a "stupid man" and threw a shirt at us as we walked away. She didn't seem to care much for my explanation about buying t-shirts all the time in Guangzhou for 20RMB each... although in the end she "would have" sold hers to us for 25, but we didn't appreciate her attitude and walked =) It's all about the bargaining experience.

Probably our biggest news is the addition of Kung Fu class to our weekly routine. This originated as Ian's idea and Rex was reeled in. After the first class (and Rex was told to go home and practice) I got my butt kicked so badly just trying to follow along with what Rex could remember from the class that I decided to join in the next time.

Not only am I getting one of the best workouts I've had since high school athletics (I think I will be in a state of perpetual soreness), I'm learning a bit of Chinese culture while I'm at it. Mr. Yang speaks wonderful English but is very Chinese in his ways and beliefs. He spends time each class explaining to us the beliefs, customs, and ways of the Chinese. Many of these beliefs are integrated into the theory of their martial arts. I'm composing a collection of notes that I will post as an entry once more complete. It's interesting stuff, and a lot of it is hard to swallow! You can almost see some of China's "old ways" coming out when he speaks about martial arts... intriguing.

We spent some time exploring a new area this weekend. Just like always in China, adventures and surprises around each and every corner. I wish I could film a typical afternoon walk just to give you an inkling.

Walking around Xiamen... the old amongst the new.