Hi Family!

Sorry for never looking at this and never writing... often it is more of a pain than it is worth, as the Internet doesn't like blogger so much and it is hard to open and often impossible to post... Today, though, it is great. :) It's really nice to see pictures of everyone.

Things here are going well. I just took finals and officially finished my first semester! YAY! I ranked 4th in my class of 18... not bad! :) My Chinese is coming along... most of the time slower than I would like... but nonetheless coming. I will consider it a great accomplishment if I can actually speak Chinese fluently one day!

Next semester begins March 1st. Between now and then I will be taking off to visit a friend in Heidelberg, Germany and another in Moscow, Russia. I am looking forward to my trip. Billy is stuck in Beijing working. I will be gone about 10 days. It will be delightful to be back in the land of white people. If I just don't open my mouth, people will not know I am a foreigner! YAY! :)

I guess it is getting a little easier being a spectical every day, but I am still not loving it. I should be flattered, but find it difficult to be so. Just the other day I was sitting on the subway and this girl and guy began to take numerous photos of me (the worst part was that they it didn't cross their mind that I might actually notice this!)... I rested my hand on my face, as if to be tired and turned sideways...but they didn't stop. Finally, in the rude Chinese manner that I am learning, I looked straight at them and put my hands in front of my face. They then got slightly embarrassed and stopped. I guess some people could be flattered and feel like a celebrity... I think it is more like being a freak show... and I hate it. The little kids who stare or wave, are cute. The adults who do so, annoy me to no end! :)

Other things I am adjusting to. Billy commented recently that I seem to be liking Chinese food a lot more. I think it is true, my tastebuds are adjusting... although the longer we are here, the more scary it is to hear stories about the food. Recently in the news there have been several major scandals of different companies selling food that is NOT what it says... bottled water that is just tap water (full of lead), oil that is recycled cooking oil and cancerogenic, baby formula with no substance and lots of cheap chemicals (causing hundreds of children to grow incredibly large heads and get really skinny), etc. etc. There are lots of regulations here about everything. However, none of them are ever followed. This is why the pollution is OUT OF CONTROL and why people die everyday from eating fake stuff. I think (honestly) the government doesn't enforce these things, because it is another sort of population control. It works; people literally die from all the fake stuff we eat. Sad. Soooo.... how long do I want to live in China??? hmmmm... :) I truly believe that your life is shortened every year you live in Beijing. We will see how long I last. :) Anyone want to come visit!?!?! he he....

Well... maybe I will try to post pictures another time.

Thinking of you all...
Tami