Chinese New Year: Part Un

Oh man, already into April and I haven't posted since January! Since then my mom and brother have both been here, I've booked a flight to Australia that coming up in less than a week and Chris and Cassidy have booked their flights out here! But, I digress. Let's start from the beginning! In China, holidays are a little different. There is Spring Festival... where we get 2 weeks off for Chinese New Year (most schools get a little over a month) and there is Fall Festival... where we get 2 weeks off for the Harvest Moon Festival (like Spring Festival, schools get nearly a month off). That's it. Well, I got April 4th off for Tomb Sweeping Day... Anyways, my mom flew out to spend some time out here over Chinese New Year. Countless pictures. Amazing memories. Lets just see if I can keep them in order. First day in Guangzhou we did a lot of walking and talking, I took her to the flower markets that were going on and we got some pretty mild food. To bed early, then I took her and showed her where I work and we got...quite lost... in a park near my work (they are MASSIVE here).

Decorations outside of my apartment for Chinese New Year

More Chinese New Year Decorations

Decorations outside of the Flower Market we went to

Flower Market

Origami stars I saw at the Flower Market. 

Chinese New Year Decorations at the Park we got ridiculously lost in...

Terrible Mom and Me selfie!

Advert safety! (don't get in the nasty water!)

Mini Quad Bungee Tramps!

It was a very pretty park to get lost in, though!

The next day it was off to Xi'an to see the Terra Cotta Warriors, had to be up reasonably early to meet up with our tour guide Kimi, who I mistakenly assumed would be female. Oops. Anyways, he did a great job, we got to see the recreated warriors, the museum, where they are actually working on recovering them and the shop where they make replicas and such. I just had to buy the archer... super cool. My mom got a neat dragon from the adjoined shop. I was in charge of the cameras so, unfortunately, right now my mom has the majority of the amazing pictures taken but here's what I captured:

Lobby of the hotel in Xi'an

Year of the Monkey!

 
 

These were where the uncovered the different types of housing and communities they built, as well as some artifacts and other remains.

 

 

Bampo Site was discovered in 1953 and excavated a large area from 1954-1957. This is the first time we fully know a Neolithic settlement comparatively in China. Bampo Site was exhibited openly in 1958. (Keeping in mind this is translated from Chinese, sometimes there just aren't translations that work.)

Some of the remains and recreations of how their communities were built. 

 I suck at panoramas, and these pictures simply don't do what we saw justice, but enjoy, nonetheless!

I can not even explain to you how impressive amazing this experience was. A German scientist brought with him back to Germany over 800 ears of these soldiers and found that not a single one of them was the exact same. Not only is not a single one a replica but many of them were based on the strongest, best looking, and in other ways the best soldiers of that time. If you plan to travel to China, while Beijing is amazing (and the next stop on your virtual tour of my Chinese New Year adventure) Xi'an is an absolute must.

The smog was kinda terrible. This is Xi'an still

"White Porcelain Head of A Foreigner" These were found in one of the princesses tombs with her....

 The day after the Terra Cotta Warriors, we had a plane to catch that evening to Beijing. So, we decided to visit one of the most reputable museums in that part of the country. It was Chinese New Year so it was insanely busy. I got some damn good street food outside though and the stuff (that was translated to English) was really cool and interesting. :)

This was outside of the hotel where we were waiting for the bus to take us to the airport. Thought it was cool.

Part Un: Mom's first day in Guangzhou, days 2 & 3 in Xi'an.

Don't Stop Believing

I know, I am very very behind. I haven't posted about my visit and travel vacation with my mom, or the time spent with my brother, or anything from daily life in China. But, today, I have something much heavier in my head and on my heart. I learned today that I lost someone very dear to me. I'll never get to tell him how much I truly care about him nor will I get to be stumped by his genius. The last time we even spoke on the phone was almost exactly a year ago. A conversation that ended in tears because of what we had gone through and the emotions it mixed up after six months. I never stopped caring about him and never stopped thinking about him, but now I won't get the chance to tell him. Looking back at Facebook posts has made me so happy that I did get to spend the time with him that I got. But, I am saddened that the last two attempts he made to see me were thwarted by life. I'd like to think he knows how much I cared, I got to hear from his brother that he still spoke highly of me. And recently at that. Our last conversation, on Facebook, he told me he would come check out my car to see what needed fixed when I got home. That's six months from now. Six months that I would have waited to see his smiling face again. Looking at what else needed fixed on my car after the last time he worked on it. I don't regret coming to China, that was my destiny, a dream I needed to live. But, as I sit here in my apartment in China I'm reminded of what I'm missing back home, I'm reminded that my people won't, in fact, always be there. Not because they choose to leave but because the universe has its own plans. I was happy to hear that his family doesn't plan on burying my friend in some box in the ground, because he wouldn't like to be contained like that, and anyone who knew him would absolutely agree with that. I am sad that I won't get to celebrate the wonderful parts of his life with his family. In this tragedy, I have realized the family I do have here. While losing someone is different to everyone, it does invite a certain camaraderie among those who have, I was not among those until now. My heart aches for his family. My heart hurts because I'll never get to see him again. I am truly blessed to have known such an amazing person. But, damn it, it was too soon. I'll never be able to sing (or listen to) Don't Stop Believing, Friends in Low Places, Baby Got Back, Sweet Caroline, or other popular karaoke songs without being reminded of him. We recently talked about how it was a reminder of one another, a much joked about thing during our relationship, because we both suffered the horrors of hosting karaoke, and having to endure those songs being belted beautifully and being slaughtered by drunks. We both admitted that every time we heard them, we still had to listen, because the originals, were the originals and they weren't bad songs, they were common for a reason. It might sting and it will be a struggle but it is something that I'll always have to remember him by, and that, that does make me happy. The world will not be the same without you, and you will always be in my heart. I love you, Brady.

Various Guangzhou Adventures and the Company Party

We decided to go on a walk in the rain. I'd say it was a beautiful success. This the park nearest to our apartments. The street is right there but it's easily forgotten when surrounded by such lush, green nature. In December, no less...

We wandered our way over to Grandview Mall, this is their "aquarium." In the most technical sense of the word...

It was very small and I felt bad for the turtles and the big shark that looked stuck in the corner. 

Strange, insanely expensive cow statues.

In our center we like to do LP appreciation things. Because our LP's (Learning Partner--our Chinese co-teachers) are amazing people who work their butts off to make our lives easier and to provide excellent parent care. We took them to get foot massages. The foot massages here include massaging most of your body. It was amazing. Lycia (my current LP) was whining in "pain" most of the time but almost immediately wanted to do it again! Girl...you crazy. This is the group photo after the massages. <3

My center manager, Sammi
She told the big boss that I'm the favorite FT because I came to a Chinese movie. Yeah, she convinced me to go to a Chinese movie. "Haley, we're going to a movie, are you coming?" "Sammi, I just heard you tell Sharday that it's in Chinese." "Yeah, it is." "I don't know Chinese... are there going to be subtitles." "Oh, I don't know, but you don't need them!" "Sammi, how am I supposed to know what's going on if there are no subtitles." "You can SEE it!" "Okay, fine."
Yup, I went to my first Chinese movie, thankfully there were subtitles. I'm sitting next to Rene and while it's doing the credits in the beginning, she goes,"there's English!" Thanks, Rene, I might have otherwise missed that.... A little later I get a text from Sammi, "there are English subtitles!" Thanks, Sammi...wasn't sure that was English... lol. It wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. One of the main characters was actually pretty good looking so bonus! Keeping in mind, I wasn't the only FT to go to the movie but for some reason it's made me one of Sammi's favorite people. I'll take it!
This photo is from the company Christmas party that the lovely Brianne put together and I got to host trivia for!

Smile, me, Mike making his face fat?, and Stephanie

Brianne, me, and Smile

KTV happened after the company party... woot karaoke. 

Yeah, I apparently take selfies now. This my adorable LP Lycia.

My number one Brit, Josh

Goofy

Got roped into Ladies Night by Eva and Joyce. I therefore roped Drew into Ladies Night. Ladies night here is free drinks (of their choosing...their choosing was gin and tonic so I was a happy girl) alllll night. Also, clubs here don't close, last call doesn't exist.

We're hot

Drew, me, my love Eva, and Joyce

Me, my other favorite Brit, and this random dude Drew decided to pull into our picture! 

Yeah... super pic.... errmmmm... maybe I shouldn't post these on my blog... hahahaha

New Years Eve was interesting, we tried taking the metro to bar street in Liede (another section of Guangzhou, cause Guangzhou is MASSIVE). The metro was shut down at 2 of the stops we were attempting to get to... we didn't know this til it took us too far. So we backtracked and decided to walk (getting a taxi would have been 1. nearly impossible and 2. would have taken longer because of traffic). 40 minutes later we get to bar street where it's nearly impossible to get anywhere because EVERYWHERE is packed and it's already 10:30. We got a beer at one of the places with a table, midnight hit, we cheers'ed and went on the search of another bar after I found 2 other friends of mine. We found this bar Capone that had just opened that night. Organized chaos? But, they had this. People around us went crazy. Antwan and Seth went first and I was like damn! Random people taking pictures of them. My turn... some guy started holding sign for me, one of the Chinese girls taking pictures of the other 2 jumped in some photos with me. I'm sad I got no pictures of that but the literally pushed Antwan to the back to get pictures so he didn't get any in time. Still funny situation and a hilarious picture. It's just too bad they don't have a We Chat cause then I might actually see some of the photos!

 And now, the next thing to look forward to is that my mom's ticket to China is booked and I am oh so very very excited! I am so glad that my parents are in a position to be able to come visit me! I know so many people that go the entire time without getting to see their family. I can't imagine going that long, my mom is coming to visit me in February, my brother is trying for Spring Break in March, my dad is looking to come visit, too, and another good friend in April. I miss my sister like crazy but as soon as I'm home she can take it out with wax on my eyebrows! hehehe..
Sorry this is so crazy long! I'll try not go so long without posting again! Life in China is crazy. I'm loving my friends/family and the adventures I am lucky enough to be part of.