I am so very happy to be done with intensives as of today! Assssaaa! I even had a "coffee drink" today in celebration. LeAnn said I shouldn't drink coffee anymore because it makes me "jittery" -- of course it did! I don't mind a little caffeine every now and then, though. Happy dances for sections of intensives being over throughout the day ensued. :)
Now my schedule is going back to normal, not 9 classes a day or being at the school for 12 hours, and especially not waking up at the crack of dawn! I can enjoy the rest of the summer sun before work now instead of being trapped inside, smushing my nose up against dirty windows to catch glimpses of the hot, muggy,
glorious sunshine.
Hmm, went to Shanghai, China with LeAnn and Alex for the long weekend which was interesting and fun. Pictures still to come, intensives consumes me soul to sole for a month straight!
I am now faced with about 10 weeks left before I depart and head back to the homeland. How did that happen? I need to plan plan plan my weeks and weekends, as well as begin to figure out home-oriented story titles, such as "Where will Jesse Work in January?" and "Who Should Jesse go Visit in Which States?".
Friends are leaving, birthdays are occurring, so I've been attending gatherings with what thinly-stretched energy and pieced-together time I have had. Austin is off to Thailand for a month then headed home, Neal is gone and back in Canada. LeAnn extended her stay 1 month and Alex extended hers past mine, and Karen will still be local so I'll still have some smiles left to enjoy. I've been missing all sorts of weddings back in the states so it makes me feel a bit wonky. Miss you all.
I miss home. I don't believe I've ever felt homesickness until I came here. It really does ring true for "home is where the heart is" because my heart has already been given over to my family and friends that I love so very dearly. It will be good to be back home where I won't feel so emotionally starved. It's rough being alone in a foreign country, so I advise all those that are able and willing to give it a try...just don't expect it to be all daisies and sunshine. SK2K9 has really shown me that though I am an ambitious, assertive, stubborn, creative, and experience-hungry person, I really do have my limitations when it comes to fam and friends. I love them so very much! So, when my contract is up here I will be ready to head back home and pick up life back home by the reins. It will certainly be rough with the economy, job search, and trying to rekindle some friendships that may have dwindled a bit since I've been gone and out of touch for so long, but I'm up for the challenge!
I have not finished editing my China pictures due to the all-encompassing intensives but will leave some Shanghai-teasers on here for you! :)
Big Buddha At A Temple
Outside The Dali Exhibit
Rainy Afternoon In People's Park
Fruit-seller On The Main Strip
2 Wheels Are Better Than 4
Our Hostel in Shanghai
White Jade
Shanghai History Museum
Shanghai History Museum
People's Park
Shanghai History Museum
Shanghai Strip
Funny faces with Christine
Best Mexican food in Seoul
Ridiculous Footwear
Walking to Work
Dr. Fish Going to Town
Prickly Street Vendor Wares
At Miki's Birthday with LeAnn
Out my Window
Outside The Dali Exhibit
Rainy Afternoon In People's Park
Fruit-seller On The Main Strip
2 Wheels Are Better Than 4
Goofy me!
My handsome Squish!
Musicians with some really interesting instruments
Modeling the "traditional Malay foot wash" :D
Riding the train together into Kuala Lumpur!
Eating some yummy dinner together
One of the twin towers! Soooo tall!
Our first night in Kuala Lumpur!
A pretty fountain I really liked...then found out it lit up and changed colors at night! Win!
Squish and I
The beach at our resort. Love!
Peacock friend! They wandered all over the resort and were so pretty, babies and all!
Serenity
I found a pretty flower up at the lighthouse and was then intent on making it stick in my hair!
Sweaty, lovely love. :)
The view at the lighthouse--phew, what a view after the hike! I was not prepared to hike through the jungle that day but I'm so glad we did!
Having fun in the pretty pool!
In the gardens :)
Handsome Squish in the gardens!
Crabby friend on the beach!
Pretty
Peacock friend! Imagine my surprise the first time this happened!
Our chalet over the water, soooo cool!
A little peak at our resort, sooo beautiful!
