Dude, talk about culture shock coming back to China... who would have known. I guess it has been a while since I've been back to my city... like about a month in Thailand. Anyways, so the other day I went to the bank to go put more money on the bus card and I didn't understand why this lady who was working but on the phone was ignoring to help me.  She just waved her hand to go away... so I'm like... ok... so I went to another window and then that lady says some stuff that I wasn't understanding and sends me back to the same lady.  The first lady then gets mad at me and points to a sign and tells me to READ it... little does she know how poor my Chinese reading abilities are... if it's not a menu or a children's book, then I can't really read much. But I figure it out when I saw the numbers "8:00-12:00" It was 1:00 pm when I went to the bank. I'm back in China.

Another culture shock thing... haha I have been going to internet bars to check my email and all that since I don't have it in my apartment yet... so right now the girl at the front tells me to put my ID number in... uhh "what ID number?" and I'm trying to tell her that I was not born in China... but it took a while for her to finally listen to me... so I could explain it to her... duuude. I'm back in China.

SO, I really was going through culture shock when I first got back here. I guess I wasn't prepared cuz I didn't think it would be a big deal... I knew I was coming back to China. I guess it must have been a combination of things because I came back here by myself and it was not like what I had been used to for the past month. So the first night I was back I was just questioning why I was here and how much I want to be at home with my parents and my friends in the States.... I thought I was such a loser and a failure cuz I wanted to give up and just go back to what I was comfortable and familiar with. I don't know... my parents called me a few hours later after my breakdown and it was just nice to have them reassure me that I'm ok...and that it's normal and to just keep going. It's great to see how much our relationship has grown because I cherish their words to me and find so much comfort in their love and support.

So, all in all, I'm ok now... I'm slowly readjusting back into the life here and... it's really not that bad. I guess I just miss different things but it's ok... I have great opportunities and experiences here that need to be had = ).

 Anyways, life is good... China is great

I'm still alive... sorry for those who actually keep up on my xanga to see if I'm still alive... but I am.

I am in currently in Kunming and just got back from Thailand. I love Kunming because it reminds me so much of California =)... because of the weather... the sun is out but there is a cool breeze. It's so true that you never know what you have until it's not there... and being away from California has definitely made me appreciate the little things that California has to offer... like the weather, the diversity of foods and people. Anyways, I got a whole lot of sun in Thailand even though I was swimming in sun block everyday. I definitely got some color =)...

I'm at an internet bar here and it's funny because everyone is playing some computer game... I don't know if it's starcraft or whatever game it is... but everyone is playing that game... just an observation.

Well, life is funny because China seems more like home now... I was excited to come back and just to be in the culture again. I am thankful for where I am at in my life. I think I'm being reminded of how short life is and to just take advantage of every opportunity I get and to appreciate and just be content with whatever stage of life I'm in.

ok.. I have two stories... and they all involve things that would probably gross people out or something... but if you don't want to hear about them... stop reading.

ok story number 1: Diana is a dork... my good friend Abby is pregnant! 12 weeks to be exact and when she came back from the doctor's, she was telling me about it. It was all exciting to know that she's 12 weeks and her husband added that the size of the sac was however big... and then smart Diana says, "OH!... so it's a boy!" and then everyone around or in the conversation just looks at me like i'm stupid and then it hits me of what i said... hahaha.. it's great to be me.

story number 2... so i went bra shopping ... and I don't know if the lady just wanted commission off of me, but when I was trying on different bras, she knocked on the door and wanted to come in. So ... I'm like ok... and then when she's in the changing room with me... she proceeds to help me try on the different bras I chose and readjusts things around .... yeah.... it was quite an experience but I'm glad that I'm comfortable with my body that it wasn't as weird for me as it would be... I guess you had to be there to appreciate my story... I thought it was funny.

Ok... about two weeks almost over in Chiang Mai. ...OHHH and I rode an elephant! =) my childhood dream has been completed! when I was a kid, Alice, my brother and her brother went to Marine World and we were going to ride on the elephant but I guess I got scared and chickened out of it.. but then when I saw Alice and our brothers riding the elephant.. I told my parents I wasn't scared anymore but they said it was too late... boo... but my dreams have been fullfilled and I can die now. 

Random thoughts...but I hope to put some pictures on this thing soon. I miss everyone at home!... you know who you are... so if you want something from Thailand that I can get you... you better email me.

i love my mommy and daddy