We came back to reality today as the four day Tomb-Sweeping Holiday ended. Every year on the 15th day from the Spring Equinox, the Chinese honor their ancestors by (literally) sweeping their tombs, offering food, and burning replicated luxuries such as money or designer bags. It's a big deal here, and in the surrounding countries as well. We took the time off of school to … [Read more...] about Four Days of Fun

Not much has happened this week besides school and work. It is so fun to work with the Chinese students and watch them learn and correct their grammar mistakes before you tell them to. They are always so willing to learn, and it has actually made me reflect on my own grammar skills. I will tell them to change something and they will say, "Why?" I never realized that I didn't … [Read more...] about In a World of Pure Imagination

I absolutely hated living out of a suitcase, so saying that I was excited to finally fly to Dalian is an understatement. I walked into the Beijing airport with my over packed suitcases and a smile, but little did I know that I was missing one thing: my cell phone. Panic began to set in as I frantically searched through my backpack, hoping it was somehow in there. Unfortunately, … [Read more...] about Dalian: Our Home Away From Home

Two weeks ago I boarded an airplane and flew fourteen hours away from everything I have ever known: my family, my friends, even my language. The moment that we started descending into Beijing and I saw the Great Wall from the sky is the moment that I knew I made the right decision. During our stay in Beijing, we visited the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Summer Palace, the Olympic … [Read more...] about Just a Small Town Girl, Living in… China