a few pics of my city

for those of you who don't have Facebook:

my apartment complex :)

my apt. building

view from my bedroom

Tianjin highway

Cantonese dish-- the bird on the left is pigeon

new roomies (Irene and Carrie) enjoying our delicious meal of fried lamb-stuffed egg rolls, cashew chicken, and garlic broccoli

fabric market

Tianjin taxi

TV Tower

settling

Tomorrow marks my one week of being in China. We've been so busy with shopping trips and other outings that it feels like I've been here longer. Not a bad thing, though. I love it here.

I know I'm still honeymoon-ing, and that I'm bound to have stress-filled days and bad-China days, but I'm so happy to be back in China. I don't think that will wear off :)

So what have I been up to this past week? Here's a rundown:

• met up with some of the returning staff for meals--we are being well taken care of!
• enjoyed some ah-mazing Chinese food...so good!!
• took a day trip to the IKEA in Beijing
• unpacked and (sort of) organized my room
• took a tour of TIS and got to peek in my classroom
• got my Korean fix by going to E-mart and had some not-the-best-but-good-enough bibimbap at a local restaurant
• had a roomie-day with Carrie and Irene, which included buying a DVD player, buying Nutella and Dr. Pepper at the Good Friend Store (an international mart), doing some kick-butt yoga, and watching Rocketman
• was asked to have my picture taken with a Chinese girl while shopping at Carrefour--I think they liked my curls. 

Tomorrow a group of us will be going to the fabric market. Should be a good time. I'm hoping to post some pictures this weekend so be on the lookout for those! 

oh the places you'll go

Chilling at the Seattle airport waiting for my connecting flight to Beijing. My adventure begins...

For those of you not in the loop, I'm on my way to Tianjin, China to teach third grade at an international school for the next two years (most likely more). I am so excited about and overwhelmed by this new season. So much uncertainty, but that's not always a bad thing. I know that He has some pretty big things in store these next few years. I'm excited to see how things unfold and to be able to share them with y'all. 

Unfortunately, given the country I'm going to, I won't be able to be as open about my work or faith as I was in Korea. Just a heads up that I'll need y'all to be sensitive about what you say to me as well, not only on here but through emails, Skype and Facebook. Please don't let that hinder you from asking questions or keeping up with me! I still plan on sharing as much of my life as I'm able, and I most definitely want to know what's going on with everyone back home--wherever home is and whatever continent you're on :) 

I can't make any promises that I'll be a better blogger than I was in Korea, but keep checking back for updates. Hopefully they won't be so few and far between. Until then.