Year In Review: A to Z

As another year churns to an end (despite the darn Mayan calendar), reflection is inevitable. Unashamedly, 2012 was a great year for us. We visited nine countries. We are living our dream of being an expat in a foreign land. A bread machine revolutionized our life. We reconnected with friends and family across the globe. Our chopstick skills are amazing.

For the past couple of years I have created a year in review photo collage. This year I am borrowing an end of the year idea from a blog that I follow (with a few question changes and photos interspersed because I love looking through them again.) It seems a fitting tribute since 2012 was truly a travel year for us.

A: Age you made your first international trip.

Eleven years ago this month, I stepped into China and international travel for the first time.

B: Best (foreign) beer your have had and where.

I do not drink, so I asked the beer connoisseur in my life--Zach. He says compared to the Tsingtao, the Tiger beer, and other Chinese and SE Asian knock off beers, the Kilkenny he drank while in Hong Kong was (by proxy) the best.

C: Cuisine (Favorite)

We practically starved in Egypt, yet my favorite cuisine moment happened while in Luxor. By this time we had learned to collect food items as we saw them rather than look when we were hungry. When we reached our hotel after a long evening stroll, we had modge podged together falafel sandwiches, feta, olives and hot pita. It was the grandest picnic on a hotel bedspread.

E: Event that you experienced that made you say 'Wow.'

First was the Karnack Temple in Luxor. It was everything we imagined Egypt to be and more. The stone papyrus reeds were breathtaking.

The second was Angkor Wat. I had an idea what to expect, but Zach did not, so when we paid the admission fee he was flabbergasted at the price. However, once we came into view of the first ruin, his jaw dropped and the audible 'oh wow' was worth every dollar.

F: Favorite mode of transportation

I love the tuk tuks in Thailand. Really any open cart, whether it be a moto in Vietnam or a sanmo in China, is my cup of tea.

G: Greatest feeling while traveling.

At 5am, we sat at a port awaiting our jetboat to Koh Tao and I was reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Coincidentally, as Professor Pierre Aronnax was poetically describing the dawning of the day at sea, I looked up from my Nook to watch it happen. It was poignant. It was beautiful. It was another moment that reminded me that for all the headaches and mishaps, travel is worth it. 

H: Hottest place I have traveled to this year. 

We live in a very hot place. 

I: Incredible service you have experienced and where.

Stores and restaurants in Dahab were hurting for patrons, which was disheartening, yet made for some excellent bargaining power. One night we decided to eat along the waterfront, which is typically expensive but the bosses were practically giving away food in hopes of luring business. We settled on one and settled beside the fiery brazier. The food was excellent. The service impeccable, especially since we expected a grudging attitude, and the boss went out of his way to ensure that we lingered long after our meal by providing a power source so that I could blog and work on the newsletter.

J: Journey that took you the longest. 

Luxor to Dahab. It was a twelve hour overnight bus to Cairo, where in the wee hours of the morning we got on the first bus to Dahab. What was supposed to be a five to six hour journey turned into another twelve hour stint due to Bedouin protests and the bus driver have a bit of road rage with a neon green Geo Metro.

K: Keepsake from your travels.

We collect some type of artwork from every country we visit. Zach collects either a football jersey or scarf from every country we visit.

L: Let down sight. Why and where?

We were extremely excited to add the Mayan ruins to our running tally of ancient civilization ruins visited in 2012. The Mayan ruins at Tulum were a let down. The setting was exquisite, but after spending time among the great Egyptian pyramids and exploring the nooks and crannies of Angkor Wat, the roped off chunks of rocks at Tulum were a let down. 

M: Moment where you (re)fell in love with travel.

Angkor Wat was astonishing. It was a day of constant oohs, ahhs and gasps of unbelief. It was a reminder that some things are beyond storytelling and have to been seen firsthand. 

N: Nicest hotel you stayed in this year. 

When couchsurfing failed us, the Ovolo in Hong Kong was the poshest sanctuary. We did not know how luxurious it would actually be by the description on Agoda. We were desperate and went with the cheapest we could find.

O: Obsession. What are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?

I do not realize it at the time, but when reviewing photos, I find that I love snapping hallways or windows. Zach has remarked on this fact more than once.

P: Party of the year.

Over the summer we had a lot of parties--planned and unplanned. However, the best was the Weisser wedding. Not only did we get to celebrate the marriage of two fabulous people, but it was an amazing way to delve back into life in the Northwest for a stint.

Q: Quirkiest attraction you have visited and where.

Retracing the steps of Larry Gets Lost in Portland, we visited the Church of Elvis. In the words of Kaden, "It's silly, Mei Mei." I had to agree.


R: Recommended sight, event or experience.

Cambodia. We still talk about how much it amazed us.

S: Splurge. Something you have no problem forking over for a while traveling.

Western food. If I do not make, we do not get to eat anything that resembles western food in China.

T: Touristy thing you have done.

The Carvival ports on our cruise were the most touristy place we visited. They were a cheap facade of what lay beyond the secured gates.

U: Unforgettable travel memory

The key word is family.

First: Actually seeing our families after two years.
  

 

Second: Though Vietnam was less than what we had hoped (it still pains us), the look on Ms. To's face upon two familiar foreigners knocking on her door was priceless. She was speechless and we greatly value the time we spent with her and part of the family for an afternoon in her hometown. 

V: Visit to a historical site

After visiting many wineries and breweries, we felt it was only right to add bourbon distilleries to the list since we are originally from Kentucky. It was a most educational day, and it has been remarkable how many conversations about bourbon and its origins I have had since the tour of Jim Beam and Makers Mark. 

W: Wildest moment

We babysat a girl and survived.

X: eXecllent view and from where

I cannot choose only one. The farmlands of Kentucky, anywhere that is in front of my canoe, the majestic Mt. Hood and the rice fields of China are all views that make me stop and sigh with contentment.


 Y: Your hardest moment while traveling

Technically I was not traveling but the hardest moment of the year was being told that my Mammaw had died. My last grandparent. I was on the other side of the world. I could not get home for the funeral. I could not hug nor grieve with my family. For all the excitement of travel, it was a time that reminded me that being away from family is a sacrifice and really hard at times.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where.

The Timbers Army is ruthless, barmy and delightful.

Dashed Hopes

Our immediate excitement was abundant, but upon closer inspection our hopes of warm burritos, tortilla chips, sour cream and quesadillas were dashed. Apparently, Mexican in China means men and women handbags. Drats.

New Tree Additions

 

Since our first Christmas, Zach and I secretly stash a new ornament on the Christmas tree for each other. We never know when or where it will be put on and we have no idea what it looks like. We have some great memories surrounding this tradition. We decided to continue our annual hunt on this side of the globe, though it has become a bit trickier to find ornaments and even easier to spot on our small tree. Yet, it is still fun. This year was no different, as I ended up with an adorable mushroom and I created an ornament for Zach out of Chinese beer tops. 

Through the years we have decided to expand the ornament giving to children in our life, as my mom decided when I was born to give me an annual ornament so that when I married or got my own house, I would not have a bare tree. I am so thankful for her foresight. 

Of course Kaden is one of our recipients, though he has decided to give us an ornament in return. For the second year, he sent us two new soccer themed ornaments. Uncle Zach got a soccer ball, I received a large T...which stands for Timbers.

Overwhelmed with Goodies

Once again, obnoxious knocking interrupted our slumber. Our disgruntlement quickly became giddiness upon receiving another package from the states. I had only expected a french press, but the contents were much, much more than that. We were overwhelmed and felt so blessed once again that people would take time to purchase, assemble and mail things as simple as chocolate chips and easy mac to give us a little taste of the mother country. 

Busy Christmas

Twas the day before Christmas and we found ourselves alongside two Russians, a Nigerian, a Canadian, two Chinese, three Americans and an adorable 16 month old to enjoy the holiday.

Once again, Marshal opened his home to the eclectic westerners and prepared a wonderful spread. We spent the afternoon enjoying appetizers, which culminated with a pasta dinner of lasagna and yummy alfredo.

Upon returning home from Xiashan, we found that Santa had visited our doorstep! We had candy, apples and cards bearing well wishes from different students. Completely unexpected, yet they made Christmas Eve a bit more special.

Christmas morning dawned sunny and warm, and per the Banker morning tradition, we had brunch. I had been hoarding a blueberry muffin mix since our return from the states and since we had received snowman cupcake holders in a care package, I was able to finally make them.

Since Christmas is not a celebrated holiday in this part of the world, Zach's final exam was scheduled for the afternoon. It was a bummer, but we were grateful that it was only two hours of the day instead of an entire day of teaching. Once it was completed, we spent the rest of the day watching Christmas movies and being lazy.

That evening I walked down front to play Santa Claus for the village children. They are so funny and add a lot of laughter to our life, so I had created a goody bag for them with western style sweets. To my surprise and delight, most of them had somehow acquired a Santa hat and were eager to show the foreigner.

Christmas looks and feels completely different in China, but giggles of children on Christmas are just magical no matter where you are in the world.

Beautiful Translation

Over the past year and a half, I have constantly been stashing Chinese vocabulary in my brain--everything from mango to Earth. Some make sense, others do not. Some follow a pattern, others not so much. During the last Chinese lesson of the semester, my teacher was teaching me various Christmas phrases. When she told me Christmas Eve is 'ping an ye' meaning safe night, I got tears in my eyes. For all the frustrating weird mistranslations that happen, it seems someone in the Chinese word creation department got it right.

Ping an ye. Safe night.

The most beautiful translation I have ever heard.

Post Festivity Recovery Ride

We slept until 12:30pm.

It was definitely a food and festivity coma.

It was a sluggish early afternoon start, but by the time Barbara called asking if we wanted to join her on a late afternoon ride, we were ready to do something.

We jaunted across the bridge for a spin around the oyster farms of Donghai Dao -- a beautiful, different sort of farmland. The weather has been flip flopping over the past couple of days and today was cool with crisp air and sun breaks. It was just right to admire the scenery, enjoy time with a co-worker and recover from food overload.

As the sun sank beneath the tranquil water and the temperature began to dip with it, both Barbara and I remarked that today was a day that reminded us how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful spot in the world.

Merry Foreigner Christmas

A downside to working in another country, especially a Communist one, is that Christmas is NOT on the holiday list, therefore not a day off. Granted the eight weeks we get off for Spring Festival is more than we would ever get off for Christmas, so we do not raise too much fuss about the western holiday. Nonetheless, there is the twinge that something is just not right as we trot off to give an exam while the majority of the world is opening gifts and eating tons of extravagant foods.

Since Christmas falls on a Tuesday this year, we foreigners banded together to celebrate the season a few days early. Secret Santas were drawn. The smells wafting around the building were tantalizing and stomachs were growling. At precisely 12:30pm, our apartment became the hub of all Christmas activities. Every time we have a massive get together, I am always astonished at what awesomeness can be created in the middle of nowhere.

For six hours we ate, laughed, talked, ate, opened presents, ate, laughed and finally rolled our fatter selves out the door. Most of us shifted to Rob and Yvonne's to play games late into the night, though Zach and I took an evening constitutional before round two of festivities in an effort to not feel so stuffed.

Far from familiar surroundings, family and dear friends, we are an eclectic bunch at GDOU, but we are excellent at celebrating together.

Today

Today was the last class of the semester.

Today was a beautiful tropical day where I laid outside in a swimsuit.

Today I hugged my husband and congratulated him in completing another semester, as well as reminded him that he needs a haircut.

Today I spent a lot of time in the kitchen.

Today I giggled, chatted and played with at least ten village children while I ate dinner in tent city.

Today I ate tang yuan for it is the winter solstice. 

Today I rearranged the apartment to accommodate nine foreign teachers and a heap of scrumptious food.

Tomorrow, Christmas festivities begin.

The Decorations that Keep on Giving

Another jaunt into town to meet our new Foreign Affairs Officer, as well as exchange money for our travels to come, allowed us to see more Christmas decorations around the downtown area. We have decided that someone somewhere either had an amazing deal or an extra large delivery of saxophone-toting, hip-swinging Santa. He is everywhere.

During our supermarket stroll, the gingerbread house caused a double take and a lot of giggles. First, it was the first gingerbread house we have ever seen here. Second, it looked as though pitiful wax figure Santa and his workshop had been mugged. The door was busted down, the fence ransacked and the random things stuck to the side, we feel, were an artistic rendition of an egging.

End of the World Advice

Descending the steps after class the other day, we were accosted by a group wanting us to give advice if the world was actually going to end on Friday. It was a fun idea and we agreed to share our sage advice in the case of an impending apocalypse.

For the record, I had written mine with Zach in mind, as I thought we were to do a joint effort. Had I known it was to be my sole opinion, it would have been much wittier and sarcastic.

Tree Quilt

After finishing my batik quilt, I went through quilting withdrawal. I truly did not realize how much I valued and enjoyed having a quilt in the hoop. In my quilt funk, I was plotting what I could do next when I received a request from a friend. Ironically, I had been thinking of creating one for her anyway, so she just made the process easier. This weekend I strolled the fabric market, selected the materials and now have something to do between grading tests.

Behemoth Basil

I smuggled seeds into the country because I desperately wanted fresh herbs. Beyond Chinese leeks and cilantro (or coriander in these parts), China is devoid of fresh herbs. Thankfully I went from famine to fortune, the basil flourished and is huge. As for the dill, rosemary and mint, they are still very young and very slowly working their way into the world.

Outside

It was a day that just beckoned to be enjoyed--warm temperatures, radiant sunshine and blue skies. After a morning jaunt into town for morning tea with a friend, we practically ran inside upon returning to campus to grab necessities and ran out again to take up post in front of our apartment--Zach in his hammock and I on my beach towel, basking in the sun.