Hey! Hey Mark! It's good to hear from you! I am still adjusting the the culture shock, but so far all is good. I am having a hard time dealing with bugs and them biting me. That is the hardest part so far. I have started tutoring the kids, they pretty much started me the day after I arrived. It's really fun and challenging, and the kids are really cute. How is everything with you?
Hey Erin! Glad to hear you are liking China! You need to post pictures so we know what your environment looks like!
For the 4th of July, me, Mark and Ally went kayaking down the provo river in the afternoon and then we went to the Murray fireworks. I had never been to Murray fireworks, but it had a live band and a pretty good firework show. It lasted quite a long time!
We went through a hot streak of 100+ degree weather for awhile, but it rained right before the 4th and started cooling down this weekend. (thank goodness).
Very interesting about your poo situation! LOL! Well, to be even, I have a poo story for you. (mighta told this your last night here, can\'t remember) I JUST painted my living room and both bathrooms about a month ago. Well the other day i was giving Ally a bath and when I walked into the main bathroom (which i hardly ever use except to give Ally a bath) I noticed some dark smudge streaks all down the wall near the toilet paper holder. Looked like Ally was fingerpainting or something on my newly painted walls so i called Ally into the bathroom (this is while the tub was filling with water so Ally wasn\'t in there yet) and I pointed to the mess on the wall. \"what is this? Did you do this?\" I ask. Ally looked down to the floor guiltily and shrugged her shoulders. I asked again. Another shrug. I start to get angry and demand to know what is on the wall. She finally said sheepishly \"poo\". I freak out. \"WHY IS THERE POO ALL OVER THE WALL???\". She said, \"I got some on my finger\".
Oh, so i guess the logical thing to do in a 5 yr olds mind is to wipe and smear it all over the wall instead of grabbing the toilet paper you are smearing all AROUND next to. Oh, I was very mad and I made Ally clean it up. Ha.
Yo yo! Hey April! Good to hear from you!
I am trying to get in the habit of carrying a camera and taking as many pictures as possible, I have never been a big picture taker.
I definitely missed the fireworks this year, it's one of the things I look forward to every summer. Murray park always does good fireworks and they usually have several different food vendors, did they have that?
lol...I remember you telling me the Ally poop story. After you hear that story your heart kind of melts doesn't it? I can't imagine what she was thinking and her problem solving skills. At 5 years old their problem solving skills aren't the best, don't be too hard on her! At least she kept the poo in the bathroom! lol...haha.
The toilets are really disgusting. I walked in one today and there was runny poo all over. Also, the stalls don't have toilet paper, so you have to always carry some. I learned this the hard way!
I thought Mark was moving or something? Did he decide not to? I hope everything is going well there.
Thanks again for responding, it was really nice to hear from you! I always like to hear your stories, it seems like you always have weird shit happening to you. I will talk to you soon!
Hey Ewwin! Hey chic, glad to hear you made it safe :-) Asia is a beautiful place...good to hear you like where you\'re living too.
Oh yeah...the public restrooms sound just like the one\'s in Vietnam, the hideous squatty potties...lol!
Your mom came over yesterday & we got skype set up, so we\'ll have to plan a time to chat on that soon.
Take lots of pictures & take care. Talk to you soon!
Love, Lisa, Andy, & Odin (woof!)
Hey Sista! Hey Sista! It is really nice to hear from you!
The squatters and the bugs are the hardest things to adjust to here! The bugs are awful, especially the mosquitos. I have about 80 bites on me, so I look like I have some sort of skin disease...lol...
My mom told me that she was at your house on Saturday. I am glad that you got Skype up and going. My username is erin.woodmancy2. I would love to talk to you and Andy. I was sorry to hear that I probably missed one of the best UFC cards there has been in awhile. I hate Silva and have always wanted to see him get knocked out and I MISSED IT!
How everything with you guys? How is work going? Are you doing good with you gluten free diet? It's pretty much impossible to do the gluten free thing in China! They use soy sauce and flour in almost anything. The fruit is really tasty here, especially the peaches and pears!
Any baby news yet? Are ya still trying?
Keep in touch on here! I wanna hear from you guys! I miss ya!
Erin
It is so nice out in the backyard, it rained last night so it is cool. We went to Lisa and John\'s yesterday, it was fun, I even went swimming. Emma got in the water with me but she didn\'t like it too much, she is also scared of the fireworks so I had to put her in the car. Kelly an I are going out to dinner for his birthday later today.
Sounds like a real culture shock over there but what an opportunity!
Talk to you soon, love you.
Hi Mom! I am glad to see that you are on here! It's good to hear from you!
Sounds like you guys had fun out to Lisa's on Friday, I bet it was nice to go swimming and enjoy the fireworks.
I don't remember Emma being afraid of the fireworks last year, I think I remember taking her to the firework show in Cottonwood Heights last year and she was fine. Maybe it's because I wasn't there :)
Biggest culture shock is the toilets and the bugs, I am having a hard time adjusting to both.
How are you doing? Getting ready for Fish Lake?
I will be on Skype around 8am-10am your time.
Love you, Erin
Mark Tolman
non-member comment
Sounds like your having great experience! Sounds like you're dealing with the culture shock very well. Have you started your tutoring?