Back for Year Three!

Hi everyone! I'm back in Wuhan for year 3! I've made it a goal to be better at updating my blog, so here we go :)
I had a great 2 1/2 months back home. I got to spend a lot of time with friends and family. I even got to catch up with some friends I haven't seen in years! There were some friends I didn't get to see that I wish I could have seen, and other friends and family who I wish I could have spent more time with, but all in all, it was a great summer. And.... I get to see many of them again for Steve and Katie's wedding...woot-woot!!!!
 Summer in the States ended with the Commissioning service in Stillwater, MN.  It was so great to be with so many people eager to serve in China and even more who are willing to support those of us who go!

New and Old FoC teachers

Mom, Steve, and Katie came :)

After commissioning, I stayed up in the Cities area since Mom and Dad had school that week. Jess and I flew out of Minneapolis with a layover in Chicago.  Our long flight to Shanghai was amazing! We each at our own little TV screens so we could watch whatever we wanted! They even had "The Hunger Games".  I sat next to the mascot from the Memphis Grizzlies.  He was on his way to China to do some performances and autograph signings.  He won mascot of the year last year. I should have asked for his autograph......
We got back to Wuhan around 7:30 PM Friday.  CJ, a friend from Sundays, picked us up at the airport. We got back to our apartments around 9. It was great coming back to an apartment that was already all set up. 
The next couple days were busy with getting over jet lag, unpacking, meeting up with friends, Sunday at Dingziqiao, catching up with more friends...... lots of fun stuff :)

My Sunday buddy Bruce!! Watching "Larry Boy and the Bad Apple"

Jess and I have taken up running in the morning since we were getting up early from the time change.  We've actually done a pretty good job of sticking to it.  It helps that we don't have school/studies going on yet so we have lots of time. We're hoping the habit sticks all year....or at least until it gets really cold.
Last year Andrea had a pet rabbit named Romulus (Rom for short). Since she is back in America, I have adopted Rom.  So far he's been a very good roommate.  He randomly chews on stuff, like the base of my fan, but so far he hasn't gotten into any big trouble.  Last night, he followed me around the apartment. He followed me in and out of the kitchen, and then when I went to sit on the window seat, he jumped up and joined me. It was cute :)

Fun story: Last night Brian, Kelsey, Jessica, Olli, Olli's friend, and I went to an outdoor basketball court to play basketball.  The way they play at this court, is 3-on-3, make it/take it, first to 5 wins, winner stays.  When it was finally our turn to play, the three guys played first. They won, so we got to play again.  Brian let me play for him. Now, in China, girls don't usually play sports and if they do, they don't usually play with boys. So, when I went out there, there were many laughs from the sidelines and nobody wanted to guard/be guarded by the girl.  I felt the need to prove myself, and prove myself I did.  In the first 5 seconds of playing I slipped and fell on my tuckus.  I blame worn out shoes.  Many people laughed. I laughed. The guy I was guarding rolled his eyes.  We did end up winning the game. I got better, I even scored a point.  The rest of the night we rotated in and out so we could all play.  Jess got a round of applause for a nice pick-and-roll. Most of the boys wouldn't touch us and some of them even backed away if we got to close to them. Apparently somebody told them we had cooties......

   

Tomorrow we pick up the newbies from the airport! Jess and I made our midtown boys signs:

Tomorrow we also move things from the Zhongnan apartment to the boys' new apartment, which is early in the morning, which means it's time for bed.  Hope everyone has a good holiday weekend!

Until next time..... His will be done.