Off to see the world!

Okay really just off to see Western China but hey to most here that is the extent of the world. I’ll be away from a computer for the next 15 days so no guilt trips for not updating! June 30: Qingdao → Xi’an July3: Xi’an → Chengdu July 4: Leshan July 5: Chendu → Lahasa

Yentai – Day 2

Sunday we drove to Yentai. The tour guide had scheduled a tour of the Wine Museum. I opted out and went to the Municipal Museum with a few others instead. The drive from Penglai to Yentai was rather interesting. It is a wine area and as you pass the vineyards every so often you see

Penglai – Day 1

Qingdao University often does weekend trips for their foreign teachers. This last trip they were kind enough to open it up to anyone interested. Penlai is on the North side of the Shandong Penisula. It is a city steeped in Chinese lore, this is the spot from which the Eight Immortals departed. As I’ve tried

SKYPE – the cure to Homesickness

Skype has revolutionized living abroad. I remember feeling cut off and isolated from my family while in Argentina. We could IM but it just wasn’t the same, video quality was bad and the sound was always distorted, and that was only on a good day. Skype, don’t get me wrong has it’s quirks but it

Some sound advice . . .

As I was searching around I-to-I’s Chalkboard (a network site for teachers through their program to mingle and share ideas) I came across a blog written by another teacher here in China. I thought the advice was truly inspiring so have posted a link. Now if I could just memorize, strive for and live each of

I’mmm Back!

Kelly and I landed safely in China yesterday. After 36 hours traveling I was relieved to finally get back to my apartment and pile my bags in the entry way, mind you half are still sprawled there as I dug through to get out the few things I needed.  My trip home was worth all

A wonderland of ice and lights

After we were thawed out and rested up we bundled up once again and headed out for the evening. As directions to the Ice Festival were rather hard to come by and even more difficult to decipher we opted to just take a taxi. Of the entire trip this was our only real hiccup but

Snow, Ice & Russians!

Can I just say, I love traveling with Bonnie we were up and out the door by 8am. On the train we had listed, crosschecked and plotted our two days in Harbin. Our list included: Saint Sophia (Eastern Orthodox Church) Snow Park International Ice Festival Pedestrian Shopping Street an authentic Russian Meal   Before leaving the

The Land of Ice and Ice!

Well if anyone asks where the Ice Queen lives, it’s Harbin, China. Somehow I got in my mind  I was up for going to the coldest place in China. Bonnie was more than happy for a travel buddy so we began planning. Harbin is in the northern most province of China and is known for

Off Again

Okay okay I know, I lied, sorry. I said I’d have my blog caught up before I left for Harbin but that just didn’t happen. I leave in an hour and lets face it I’m just too long winded to finish the 6 posts sitting in my draft box. So another week will pass before