Red Lanterns Spotted

I am so glad Chinese New Year is coming. I have come to love this time of year, because of this celebration. I was waiting desperately to see the red lanterns put up in the trees. Actually feeling sad, because last year they put them up earlier. Was wondering if they were going to put them up again. But I saw some red lanterns in trees. Yeah! They are starting to decorate the city for the new year. This year it is the year of the Tiger. New Year falls on February 14 later than last year. China goes by a lunar calendar unlike the west. Most early civilizations went by lunar calendars. It wasn't until the Roman Empire that our western calendar was developed. For some reason the Chinese New Year is starting to feel more like a new year to me then in January. I love China so much in all it's traditions.

Playing Children

Sometimes I wish I had a video of when these children play. They are so cute and funny and creative. My two boys have made light savers out of leggos and are happily playing, pretending they are Luke and Darthvader. All the girls are now getting along and have created a Jaguar Cheeta Cheerleading Club. They have a whole routine with cartwheels and lifts. It is impressive. Their group interaction is awesome. It's amazing when you realize all these children are from other countries. Children just want to play and have fun.

Exploding Toilets

Ok so I  have no idea what is going on, but my toilets are exploding.  I come home from school and both bathroom floors have raw sewage and the smell is horrendous.  Yesterday I cleaned it up and thought I'd taken care of it, but today I come home and again both toilets look like a bomb went off.  And I'm not the bomb.  Seriously I only use one toilet and I've never had toilet problems in this apartment.  There is construction going on next to me where my bathroom is and I think that this has interfered with the plumbing.  Anyways I feel like a crazy, desperate woman trying to get any Chinese person to come help me.  Of course like they always do they think I'm funny and laugh and me and don't know how to take me.  But then when they come into my apartment they gag and look very serious, but then they run away. I'm laughing as I write this, because it has been rather funny.  This is the kindof crap that happens in China.  Literally!!!!

Philipinels and My Coptic Aussie Friend

The Philipines were beautiful.  I'd like to explore some of there 7,100 odd islands they have.  We were greeted to dancing and drumming when we sailed into port.  I took an excursion to see the Taal Volcano.  Not much happening in volcano land, but further south one volcano in the Philipines was blowing up.  On this excursion I made a new friend.  He was Coptic living in Australia.  I had no idea what coptic meant.  He told me he was born in Egypt, but not a Muslim, a Christian.  Coptics are Egyptian born Christians.  I thought that was cool.  He told me how he grew up persecuted by the Muslims.  But he has a deep love for Jesus.  Amazing stories he told.

GoTrusted Commercial

Since last May my blog was blocked by the government.  The government also decided to block youtube and facebook.  I found a way to get around the Great Fire Wall.  It does cost $5/month.  To me this shows that power really lies in the hands of those who can afford it, but that's for another discussion.  Anyways I would encourage anyone who thinks someone might be spying on their computer to GoTrusted.  If you are concerned about someone stealing your identity then get GoTrusted.

Gunshots or Fireworks

So last night I was awoken by what sounded like gunshots.  After this sound there were men yelling and people screaming and I heard the sound of a siren.  This was a very disturbing way to wake up at 3:00am.  I wasn't sure what to do.  I have seen in the local paper lately about a murderer, but this murderer did not have a gun he used a knife.  However, Chinese people do not have guns.  It's against the law.  The only guns I have seen are on armored cars and guards who transfer money from bank to bank.  There is a bank close by to my apartment.  I was almost going to call another teacher to see if they had heard what I heard, but then thought well it is close to the Chinese New Year and people usually light fireworks at this time.  Usually not at 3am, but perhaps that's why people were yelling and shouting, because it is rude to do that so early or late. 

I have been a little more on edge, because I was robbed in a train station over the Christmas break. I'm fine and I still have my passport.  I only lost money.  Our school is also on high alert, because children are being kidnapped and held for ransom, but sadly once the ransom is paid the children are killed.  More crime starts around the Chinese New Year, because people want to go home to their families and most people living in Dongguan are migrants.

Also my thoughts about last night make me realize why the government is so concerned about another revolution.  It could happen.  A switch could flip in the minds of the people and then they are a mob, because there are so many of them.  Oh China my heart hurts for you.

Costa Cruise

So I went on my first cruise ever.  It was amazing.  I would highly recommend cruising.  It is not just for old people.  Yes the majority of people are older who cruise, but it's cause they are retired and have lots of time and money on their hands.  So I traveled around the South China sea with Costa.  Costa is an Italian cruise company.  Most of the people on this ship were from Europe or Australia.  I was the token American.  Every announcement on the ship would take like 5 minutes, because it had to be read in 5-7 different languages.  The picture is of the ship in Hong Kong harbor.  It was an exciting sight to come walking from the subway stop through the crowds of Christmas shoppers to see this ship waiting for me.  I was so happy.  However, finding out how to get on the ship was more of a challenge, but I eventually got on.

The Shampoo Subway Stopthou

So as I'm coming down from China into Hong Kong I take the subway.  I accidentally got a little lost in the subway when I was on my way to go on my cruise around South East ASia.  It was good that I got lost though, because I found the shampoo subway stop.  I thought that was so funny.  Going on a subway with luggage is not fun.