Don't You Remember?

Wow, it's been about 10 months since I have posted on this blog. So why haven't I posted in a while and why am I back now?

I started this blog as a way to track my "adventure to the east" and keep friends and family informed incase I could never use facebook again (gasp!). I thought people would be interested in an adventure (that was adventive...I honestly forgot what that meant and had to look it up in a dictionary just now - it means not native or not fully established into) and the more accustomed I became to living in Baoding, China, the less interesting I thought others would find my life. Because, here's what happened...China no longer became a mysterious distant land of dragons and communism, China became my second home. After phase 1 of culture shock faded away, I started to feel like a normal Baodinger. I go to the bank to get money, I go to the post office to mail boxes home, and I go to the grocery store to buy food. Now don't get me wrong, I still find and will always find China mysterious in it's own way and I can never feel like I blend in here when kids ride by on their bikes yelling "HELLO!!!" to the tall, white man. I guess I just felt like I had less crazy stories to relate back to America, but that is wrong! Every day here is still it's own adventure and that's why I love living here.

So, why I am posting again? I think it's due to the fireworks I can hear outside my window every few minutes. It is almost the Spring Festival in China. It is better known as the Chinese New Year and February 3rd begins the year of the rabbit. That is MY animal! Therefore, I will wear red underwear and red socks to ring in the new year with some good luck. The Spring Festival means the beginning of a new year in China. Thinking of a new year always makes me think back to everything I did and everything that happened to me the preceeding year.

I met up with the MCLA Spring Break trip in Beijing and Shanghai. I accompanied Emily and her mom when Nancy visited Beijing and Baoding. I cheered on Emily and our other friends in a 10K in Beijing. I went home after being away for the longest time in my life. I can no longer brag that I have never thrown up due to alcohol (thanks to Mike's bachelor party!). I was the best man at my only brother's wedding. I traveled to Boston with my amazing friends. I went back to Boston with my amazing parents. I taught a 3rd semester of college classes. I saw the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an. I spent a week in Korea eating delicious food.

I hope that last paragraph doesn't come off sounding like I am bragging about my year...

I try to believe each new year is better than the last. If this is the case, I can never worry about getting older because I just know my life will get better and better! And I believe that 2011, the year of the rabbit, will somehow be even better than 2010.

I already have something to look forward to. My parents are coming to China!!! The first week in April, I will be my parents' tour guide in Beijing and then get to show them my 2nd home in Baoding. I am thrilled to be able to go to the Great Wall of China with them (3 of the Wahls on the Great Wall!) but I am actually most excited to show them my apartment, my friends, my favorite restaurants, and my students! About a month after they leave, I will actually run in the 10K that I watched last year. Wish me luck...

I titled this post "Don't You Remember?" for an obvious reason but also because I am currently listening to Don't You Remember by Adele. It is on her new CD entitled 21. It's been on repeat for about a week.

So, enjoy the new year! If you are a rabbit (born in 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951) then don't forget your red socks and red underwear! Set off some fireworks! Eat some dumplings!

I hope you take this time to remember how amazing the past year of your life was and know it gets better ever year. Love you all! 新年快乐！

p.s. I just write and don't think about what I'm writing and don't proofread it so if there are any typos please don't be angry.