Less to Write about from this side of the ocean

I have been back in America for almost three weeks now and I find that I really don't know what to blog about. It is definitely weird to be back, but I don't necessarily feel like I am experiencing "culture shock". Things about American culture do not bother me now any more than they did three years ago. So what I am going through now is more like life-style shock and transition frustration (just like what I went through the two summers I spent at home during college). I have been a free spirit, traveling and doing things on my own, for 3 years (if you don't count college), and now I am back living with my parents. I also really miss city life. I miss walking downstairs (or taking the elevator) and being surrounded by people, riding the bus and meeting new people, buying fruit and vegetables from streetside vendors, and walking a lot.
Before I came back, I knew that Plano has a high Asian population, but wow! Plano has a high Asian population. I know of four Asian markets within a twenty minute drive from my house, and they are mostly Chinese! There are also a lot of new Thai, Indian, and Vietnamese places. I am still working on how to build relationships with some of these Chinese speakers.
One last thing. Though I may not be working with Chinese right now, I am tutoring four Korean kids. It is a pretty good job before starting back to school.

The back of my shirt says "Foreigner Goes". I thought it was an appropriate shirt for the occasion. My Chinese friends thought it was really funny!

A few friends came with me to the airport to send me off. It is the Chinese way. I rented a van so that they could all come with me. Several of my closest friends could not come because of school conflict. The two pictured above work in my building and we frequently ate dinner together.

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go..."- I thought about that song a lot this week. It was crazy getting everything I needed packed into three suitcases (60kg in all) and then getting rid of everything else, while at the same time saying goodbye to all of my friends and giving final lessons. It was such a blessed week though and so full of joy. This is in my apartment right before I left.

La Mian

This morning at 7 I went to the Muslim noodle place down the street to learn how to make pulled-noodles. The night before I had asked them how to make it, and after they figured out that I wasn't trying to become competition for them, they sold me the special ingredient and then invited me for a special private lesson (I am going to miss being foreign and special). So first the guy poured out a pile of flour on the table and added a little bit of salt. 2nd, make a crater in the flour and pour water in the middle. 3rd, get mix the flour around with the water for a long time, fluffing it, patting it, massaging it... 4th spread the doughy flour out across the table and sprinkle water over the top. 5th, knead some more, and keep kneading and adding water until it is mostly ok. 6th mix together water and the special ingredient (I haven't figured out what this special ingredient is yet, but the word is Peng Hui, directly meaning "fluffy ash". The purpose of this ingredient is to make the dough elasticky. 7th sprinkle fluffy ash (just a little) over the dough, then sprinkle the water+ fluffy ash mixture over the top and knead until it is the proper consistency. I realize that perhaps this is a little boring, it was actually kind of a monotonous process, but then came the fun part, pulling the noodles. And guess what, he asked me if I wanted to do it! They make it look so easy. In fact, one book I read said that it is an art. The guy told me it took him ten days to learn how to do it, but he is sure I can get it in 5. This was truly MAWL in action (for those of you who do not know what that means, Model, Assist, Watch, and Leave). He was such a patient and encouraging trainer. This will be one of my first cooking projects when I get back to America. If successful, I will have a La Mian party and invite my friends over. Sorry no picture, perhaps I will take one before I leave.

Last Trip

I just returned from my last trip to the Asian countryside (at least this go around). It didn't really hit me until I was on the common bus driving up the mountain. It was cold and rainy outside as we wound through the mountains and along the jade river. Reddish-orange flowered trees sporadically lined the river and it made me cry. Wow! It is so beautiful. I never lost that awe and wonder at seeing the God's magnificent creation. What a breath-taking place I have been privileged to travel in for the past two and a half years. I am so going to miss those lush emerald mountains and all that goes with them: fresh air, star-lit skies, hospitable villagers, corn porridge, little old women smoking pipes, pantsless children, telling stories, the reactions of those who hear the stories, rickety bus rides....I am sure that I will think of more things as I am cramped in the city in America. I suppose I will have to let myself escape to the countryside every once in a while.