 Initial thoughts on life in China |
AfricaAntarcticaAsiaCentral America CaribbeanEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaOceaniaSouth AmericaOceans and SeasTravel Blogs by tandck:
Hello Everyone!
We have been here for a week, and we are really enjoying everything. We hope we can keep our blog going consistently so people can see what we are up to, but sometimes things are not accessible online here (like Facebook right now), so if there's no posting for a while, you'll know why.
It's hard to know where to begin describing our time so far, but we have been sampling local food - yes, even those street vendors travelers are always warned about. It's delicious, so who can resist? Our school has set us up really nicely with all kinds of information about our new city and what it has to offer and how to get around, so we have been getting supplies for our new apartment (brand new!) and recovering from a seriously long flight this week. We've taken time in the mornings to explore and the city has many beautiful parks and fun local markets. Anyone who is not Chinese here is a novelty because there are so few of us, so we get stared at A LOT. It's really friendly though, and as soon as we smile and say "Ni hao!" people are usually startled,
First night in China
Having dinner with our new colleagues from AIAN. Lots of cool foods - Thomas tried the jelly fish, I couldn't do it. :)
We wanted to take some photos and post them so you can see where we live. Enjoy, and we'll post again later!
10 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
Add Comment
All Comments
August 17th 2009 - Angela: Yay!
Glad you made it safe over there. Thanks for sharing the pics. It looks like you will definitely be having an adventure!
August 17th 2009 - Chen: So cool!
Wow it's so cool to see the pictures! They all look awesome! The sign in WC is hilarious... lol
August 17th 2009 - Mark Jeffery: Sounds Like a good start.
What a beautiful place. So much green and obviously a lot of water. Your apartment looks spacious and new! Sounds like you are settling in quickly. When do classes start? Do they do an inservice like the US? Thanks again for the blog it really helps to get a better understanding of your new life. Mark
August 17th 2009 - Lynn: Great to hear from you!
Hi Carlan and Thomas! Sounds like both of you are having a good time in China. The pictures are wonderful! Toby and I have been busy harvesting mint for a farmer friend of Toby's. I have been running the mint still. Keep up the updates and have fun!!
August 19th 2009 - Sheila Sullivan: We miss you!
I am so proud of you and proud that I know you, Carlan Kephart. You are a very strong woman and I think you have done a remarkable job of rising to a challenge. Make the most of it. Stay in touch. This is a great blog.
Miss ya' sista'...Sheila
August 21st 2009 - Mindy Kephart: Great choice
I think you made a great choice.. How fun, and so very exciting to do this while you are young, and not tied down to house and small children.. Food looks great, and your apartment looks very nice.. You hve been busy since you got there.. The blog is terrific.. This will be so much fun for you and for those back home.. Glad you made it safely.. Enjoy..
August 22nd 2009 - Mitchell K.: Glad to hear it.
Glad to hear you guys are enjoying it there. Sounds fun, and looking forwards to hearing more about the area.
August 23rd 2009 - Dixie Retton: China
Thomas and Carlan, I have wanted to visit China all my life. I guess you will have to do it for me! Your Blog is great, will be checking it out often. Thanks for the pictures. Love, Grandma Dixie
August 26th 2009 - Mary Cramer: Wonderful!
Carlan and Thomas, Great to see your blog and hear about your new life in China, what a wonderful adventure! Take care & I look forward to keeping up with all of your blogs. Mary
October 12th 2009 - Kimberly D. Kephart: fabulous!
Your apt. is HUGE looking! Holy Moly! And, yes it does look better now with your plants and doodaws and knicknacks and such. You two sure are cuper! kimi xo
All Comments
Spicy Chinese restaurant
This is our director's favorite restaurant, and it is wonderful! The dishes just kept on coming - this one is fish.
Ningbo
This is a little trip to "the Bund" in Ningbo. There's a Starbucks here where we rested in some air conditioning.
Ningbo
Cobblestone streets. This was outside of a little Irish pub where we had burgers and fries - nice!
Sign in men's bathroom
Thomas couldn't resist taking this one. Using the urinal properly is important here!
View from living room
I took this photo after a massive thunder storm/rain shower. The sky had cleared enough to see the hills/mountains.
Our apartments - Li Ren Garden
This is taken from a little bridge - the storm was just over, so the water is high and more muddy than usual.
New Bike
Our first goal was to get bikes so we could be more mobile. Here's Thomas with his - it was custom made in two days, and a fabulous deal.
Sweet bike helmet!
Here's Carlan at one of the many parks looking swell in the very necessary bike helmet for the streets of China.
Older part of the city
This is a good picture of how the new and the old are right next to each other here - people washing clothes in the river, fishing, etc.
Cute little girls
These girls were so excited to see us across the street - they kept yelling "Hello, hello!" and dancing around.
10 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
August 17th 2009 - Angela: Yay!
Glad you made it safe over there. Thanks for sharing the pics. It looks like you will definitely be having an adventure!
August 17th 2009 - Chen: So cool!
Wow it's so cool to see the pictures! They all look awesome! The sign in WC is hilarious... lol
August 17th 2009 - Mark Jeffery: Sounds Like a good start.
What a beautiful place. So much green and obviously a lot of water. Your apartment looks spacious and new! Sounds like you are settling in quickly. When do classes start? Do they do an inservice like the US? Thanks again for the blog it really helps to get a better understanding of your new life. Mark
August 17th 2009 - Lynn: Great to hear from you!
Hi Carlan and Thomas! Sounds like both of you are having a good time in China. The pictures are wonderful! Toby and I have been busy harvesting mint for a farmer friend of Toby's. I have been running the mint still. Keep up the updates and have fun!!
August 19th 2009 - Sheila Sullivan: We miss you!
I am so proud of you and proud that I know you, Carlan Kephart. You are a very strong woman and I think you have done a remarkable job of rising to a challenge. Make the most of it. Stay in touch. This is a great blog.
Miss ya' sista'...Sheila
August 21st 2009 - Mindy Kephart: Great choice
I think you made a great choice.. How fun, and so very exciting to do this while you are young, and not tied down to house and small children.. Food looks great, and your apartment looks very nice.. You hve been busy since you got there.. The blog is terrific.. This will be so much fun for you and for those back home.. Glad you made it safely.. Enjoy..
August 22nd 2009 - Mitchell K.: Glad to hear it.
Glad to hear you guys are enjoying it there. Sounds fun, and looking forwards to hearing more about the area.
August 23rd 2009 - Dixie Retton: China
Thomas and Carlan, I have wanted to visit China all my life. I guess you will have to do it for me! Your Blog is great, will be checking it out often. Thanks for the pictures. Love, Grandma Dixie
August 26th 2009 - Mary Cramer: Wonderful!
Carlan and Thomas, Great to see your blog and hear about your new life in China, what a wonderful adventure! Take care & I look forward to keeping up with all of your blogs. Mary
October 12th 2009 - Kimberly D. Kephart: fabulous!
Your apt. is HUGE looking! Holy Moly! And, yes it does look better now with your plants and doodaws and knicknacks and such. You two sure are cuper! kimi xo
All Comments
China's Flag
Map of China
Travel Blogs by tandck:
Copyright notice.
The text and photos of this article remain the copyright of the Author (Thomas and Carlan Kephart). Under no circumstances should the photos or text be used without the express written permission of the Author (Thomas and Carlan Kephart). If you wish to use or publish photos or text from this article - please
Contact Thomas and Carlan Kephart.