What a difference a year makes!

The year of the Ox.
January 25th, 2009 came about two weeks after we moved here.
We felt extremely isolated in a foreign country.

The year of the Tiger.


This year, we feel very settled and comfortable in our home. I can truly call this home now.


Feelings of loneliness were overwhelming at times. We hadn't really made any close friends yet, true relationships take some time.



We have made some very close friends who we know we will keep in touch with for many years to come. Our friendships are rich, and deep.


We were freezing cold (heat and hot water inconsistent) and when we walked outside we almost cried.

We are warm when we are inside our condo (thank God!), and we are not hit by the frigid air with a shock or tears.


Speaking Chinese was limited to hello, goodbye and please and thank you. Well, I could try a few other phrases, but my American accent was so strong the Chinese couldn't understand me.

I can have a conversation about a number of things besides the weather. I have a lot of fun when communicating and have had some pretty interesting conversations.



The list of every day occurrences shocked us continually...Now, not shocked in the least

Almost getting spit on while walking down the street-Doesn’t make me almost puke now
Honking every 10 seconds-I don’t even jump
Fireworks at all hours of the day and night-Can sleep through, no problem.
Seeing people pee in public-Gross, but nothing new
Parking on sidewalks-Nothing strange here

We were making the most of it, but I must admit it was "grin and bear it" and try not to cry too often.

As I look back on the year I feel amazed and so very blessed. We have seen more than I ever dreamed of, the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, Shanghai, Beijing and The Great Wall of China. We have been to Okinawa, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima in Japan.

There are things about living here that I will truly miss.