so close

3 more sleeps.
1 more class.
6 hours + of driving
1 flight
61 hours

I AM COUNTING DOWN.

Paul

As the date gets closer and closer I feel like I am loving him more and more. Only 12 more sleeps.

Isn't he cute?

The Final Countdown

I have never been big on counting down to things. Christmas, maybe. And even then not until about a week before, and I count how many sleeps, not how many days. So, when people ask me (in really high-pitched excited voices) "How many days until your wedding!!!?" I simply say "uhhhhhhhh ... about a month?"

So today, Paul and I were talking and I got excited when he announced that there is less than 4 weeks until we get married. Then we decided to figure out how many days there were until our wedding. "Okay, so what day is it today?" "The 27th" "No, isn't it the 28th?" "Oh yeah, no wait" "Okay, Sunday was the 25th" "Oh right, so Monday the 26th" "Tuesday the 27th" "Wednesday the 28th" "Is today Wednesday?" "Yeah" "Okay so it is the 28th" "Right" "Okay, so what were we trying to do?" "Count down to our wedding" "Oh Yeah" "And we're getting married on the 21st" "Duh" "So that's at least 21 days" "Uh huh" "Plus, 31-28" "Okay, so that's ... " "When was the last time you took a math class?" "Uh, high school, but seriously, we can do simple subtraction" "Okay so 3 days in October, and 21 in November" "That's 24" "24 days until we get married!" "Wow, that was hard" ...

YES!

I love registering for classes. I found out today that I could see the BYU class schedules and have spent the last 3 hours (in addition to 2 hours at work) perusing all of the classes, making tentative schedules and coordinating with Paul. I love it. Registering is probably my favorite part of school. :D

PS

I am getting the travel bug again. Annie's going to London next semester and I am jealous. And Dr. C/Don/D. Chap is my ELANG teacher this semester and always mentions our study abroad 2 summers ago. AND I met a Chinese guy at work and he was so nice and friendly. AND my roommate is taking Chinese. AND I just looked at pictures from China and just plain miss it. So yeah, I have the travel bug.

Feeling Bloggy

So this weekend I again realized that I am NOT a morning person. I hate waking up early and if I do I am tired until mid-afternoon. Then, even though I woke up really early, I don't want to go to bed when it comes time. I'd rather stay up and do all of the things that I can't justify doing during the day when I feel like I should be productive. These are things like blogging, looking at my photographers pictures, looking at wedding cakes, playing games, making lists, perusing other peoples' wedding photos to get ideas, etc. And tonight is one of those nights.

So what to blog about? Oh wait, duh ... W. E. D. D. I. N. G.

Plans are going really well. I have my dress, I have my invitations ready to be addressed and sent out, I have a reception venue, I have a photographer, I have a hair appointment, I have plane tickets and I'm going home next weekend, I have a mother at home who is basically doing all of the reception decorating and details, and a mother-in-law-to-be and sister-in-law-to-be taking care of everything that needs to be done in Boise, I have a honeymoon planned, I have registered for gifts, I have an apartment to move into, I have Paul.

Speaking of Paul, I never actually gave any details about our story. Done.

How we met:
Paul and I met last September (2008). We had a class together and we sat in the same general area (in the back, of course). Paul remembers that on the first day of class he noticed my hair. I remember stealing his seat (in the back row) a few classes later. We got to talking during class and eventually made a deal that whoever did worse on the next test should owe the other person ice cream. Days of flirting went by until finally Paul suggested hanging out on Halloween. The "hang out" date flopped when Paul's friends decided to watch a movie instead of going out, and he called me to apologize. I reminded him that he owed me ice cream and asked if he could take me out the next day. He agreed, and voila.

Dating:
After a few dates Paul and I were "official". We fell fast for each other cuz we're just so darn compatible! After school got out in December, Paul came to Oregon to visit me. Then I visited Provo before I left for China. And we talked on the phone every day. 3 months in China were rough, and I think we broke up before I left, but I guess not because we talked everyday and called each other boyfriend and girlfriend. I got sent home early, so Paul got to come visit me in Portland before he left for Kiev for a month. Even after all the distance and time apart, we had become closer and fell more in love. awwwwww. Once Paul got back from Kiev, it was a matter of visits and phone calls until July.

How we got engaged:
Paul came to Oregon for the Ragnar Relay in July. We had a blast and shortly after we drove to Paul's home in Boise on our way back to Provo. This is where is happened. One day (July 31st) we decided to go to the mall because I had a gift card that was about to expire. As we walked through we kept seeing jewelry stores. We had already talked about getting engaged and I had told Paul that I wanted him to pick out the ring, but wondered if he didn't need a little help and encouragement. So, we went into Zales for a bit and I answered all of Paul's many questions. Being the curious girl that I am, I asked him later if he had ever been into any of those stores. Not being able to keep ANY secrets, he told me he had. After some friendly prying I figured out that he already had a ring! And that he had been trying to trick me into thinking that he didn't so I would be surprised. tsk tsk. Anyways, that did it for Paul and he knew that he had to ask me that night. We drove up to Bogus Basin to go star gazing. We got there just as the sun was going down and hiked a little up the trail to watch the sun set. All the while, Paul was being as cute as ever. Once it got dark we grabbed the guitar and went to watch the stars. It was a beautiful place. I suspected he would ask, but when we were both yawning and it was getting cold, I sighed and guessed that it wasn't happening that night. We walked back to the car, and put the guitar in the back. As I was about to close the door Paul stopped me. "Can I ask you a question?" And there he went, down on his knee. I was so excited and made him get up to give me a hug! Of course I said yes. He is the best thing ever.

So there you go. Like I said, the plans are going really well. It was nice to have all of August to get everything under control and now everything is falling into place. I get excited about every little thing related to my wedding. eek!

All right, so that was officially dumb of me to stay up. I have a HUGE list of things to do and a busy day tomorrow. Oh well.

The Rock

And yes, he picked it out himself :D

Engaged

Paul and I met in our historical-comparative linguistics class last fall.

I asked him out.

We fell in love.

Now we are engaged.

The end.

Addendum

During the race we campaigned for Homecoming, an award given out to the most spirited, most energetic, most friendly, best dressed, and overall RADDEST team in the whole race.

We found out yesterday ...

WE WON!!!!

Ragnar Relay

This is long overdue, but at least I'm posting it now!

Me, Annie, Jess (my brother's girlfriend) and Paul (my fiance -- future blog post in progress) and 8 other enthusiastic crazy people ran the Ragnar Relay - Northwest Passage at the end of July. Our team name (found by a team member on a blog) was Steve Prefontaine is Oregon's Jim Morrison, or SPOM (spawm) or SPOJM (spo-jum).

It was a crazy trip. We arrived at our team captain's ex-step-father's house the night before the race and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Samish Bay.

Van 2 started in the afternoon. I was runner 9, so I went 3rd in van 2. The first leg was rough. 6.2 miles in the heat. But I made it, slapped the sweaty bracelet on Jess, and cheered on the rest of the van as they finished their first legs.

We tried to sleep while we were "inactive", but that didn't really work.

My next leg was at 3:00 am. I was lucky and had a short 2.7 mile leg. It was on a lovely running trail and bordered the lake. Then I ran into a deserted small town (very charming), and then through pretty residential streets. I was pumped during Jess's leg (endorphins?) but then fell asleep in the back of the van while Annie and Paul finished their second legs. Sorry guys!

We showered and slept about 2 hours at the hotel and then, BAM, Van 2 was active once again!

My last leg was a grueling 6.8 miles in the mid-day heat. I swear it was 90 degrees. About half-way through the leg, all I could see ahead of me was a long stretch of pavement and vans that weren't mine. I must have looked really tired (I was) because other racers offered me water and cold sponges. It was such a relief to finally jog up to my van and get some encouragement for the last few miles of my leg. Lucky for me the last mile was straight downhill (I love downhill) and I picked up some speed to finish out my portion of the race. Woohoo!

Eventually, we met Paul at the finish line and put the medals around our necks. We did it!

Then we had to drive 4 hours home.

I asked Paul if he had fun, and he told me to ask him in a couple of days. This relay was not easy! But I will definitely do it again if I get the chance. I mean seriously, have you seen the outfits??

Halfie

Yes! Despite arriving 20 minutes late, Annie and I successfully completed a half marathon on the 4th of July. We got medals at the finish line; now we really feel like champions!

"Where are you coming from?" "Canada."

Last week I went to Canada with my family to visit my grandparents.

We always love going to Waterton National Park to hike. On one hike we crossed the Alberta/BC border.

Here's the fam at Forum Falls! :)

Dad and Mom and me at Cameron Falls ... classic.

Annie, Dad, and I hiked the shoreline of Waterton Lake. We took a boat down to the end of the lake and crossed into the USA (we even had to show our passports). During the hike we crossed back into Canada. Annie and I are making peace across the border.

I am a citizen of the USA and Canada so I was SO happy when I got to be in both countries at once!!

RUN!

I've mentioned in some previous posts that I'm going to be running a relay this summer with Annie. We are doing the Ragnar Relay: Northwest Passage, which stretches 187 miles from Blaine to Langely, WA. The relay is in a month and I have been in training for a few.
Last month, as part of the training, Annie and I did the Starlight Run 5k in Portland. The run preceded the Starlight Parade which signifies the beginning of the annual Portland Rose Festival. Most everyone dresses up in funky/hippie/wild/Oregonian costumes and runs for fun. We put on matching BYU t-shirts and had a good time.

I am definitely not the faster runner but I was pleased with my first 5k (and with my first number and the free t-shirt). We have continued training this month and yesterday we ran for 100 minutes! Woohoo. Sound like fun? Let me tell you, I am even more enthusiastic about the half marathon we are running on the 4th of July.
Happy running!

Had things gone as planned ...

... I would be headed to Shanghai today, getting ready for my return home. I would be missing these crazy kids already ... probably just as much as I miss them now.

99 signs you've been in China too long ...

1. You walk backwards instead of forwards around the track.
2. Basketball and ping pong are your favorite sports.
3. Your body no longer accepts dairy products.
4. You finally decide to eat at McDonalds to put some solids into your body.
5. You have grown used to the picture quality of pirated DVDs.
6. You find yourself "getting back to nature" in a park that contains nothing but concrete, a giant revolutionary statue, and pigeons.
7. All white people look the same to you.
8. Other foreigners seem foreign to you.
9. You like the smell of the bus.
10. You find yourself exiting a major highway ... on your bike.
11. People with bright white teeth look frightening to you.
12. You no longer need tissues to blow your nose.
13. You find western toilets uncomfortable.
14. You throw your used toilet paper in the basket.
15. Squatting becomes your favorite position, anytime, anywhere.
16. You developed an acquired taste for any Orion product.
17. It's OK to throw laundry/sheets/blankets out the window to dry.
18. You are not surprised to see your tap water run dark brown.
19. You are not surprised to see 85-year old ladies pulling tons of garbage up the streets on a bicycle.
20. You use the word "Ayyiieeaaahh" every few sentences to convey surprise, pleasure, pain or anger.
21. You eat a kebab on the street and don’t actually know what kind of meat it is.
22. You believe that the cure for all ailments is to drink more water.
23. You think that a $7 shirt is a rip-off.
24. You offer to sell your own watch to a $2 Rolex street vendor, to fend him off.
25. You think you should wear nylons with your Nikes, stilettos or sandals in the summer, instead of cotton ones.
26. You are no longer flinching every few seconds in a Taxi ride.
27. You chew on "ducks blood" like a fatty piece of beef.
28. You have no reservations about spitting sun flower seeds on a restaurant floor.
29. You start reaching for a piece of fish with your chop sticks and don't even notice the fish looking back at you.
30. Walking across the street, against the light, and in and out of traffic is a piece of cake.
31. Your brand new bicycle only cost you $20.
32. You accept the fact that the bathroom sink "doesn't work" and just use the kitchen sink instead.
33. You relish the thought of Pizza Hut, but only go on special occasions.
34. You go to Carrefour to shop.
35. When you go to the toilet you start bringing your own toilet paper.
36. You can pick up any type of food using just your chopsticks, including peanuts, and never want to use a fork again.
37. You blow your nose or spit on the restaurant floor (of course after making a loud hocking noise).
38. You no longer wait in line, but go immediately to the front.
39. It becomes exciting to see if you can get on the elevator before anyone can get off.
40. It is no longer surprising that the only decision made at a meeting is the time and venue for the next meeting.
41. You can shake your hands almost perfectly dry before wiping them on your trousers.
42. You have developed an uncontrollable urge to follow people carrying small flags.
43. You are not surprised when three men with a ladder show up to change a light bulb.
44. You throw your trash out the window of your house, your car, or the bus you are on.
45. You honk your horn at people because they are in your way as you drive down the sidewalk.
46. You regularly fumble for five minutes to find 10 jiao despite 10 people waiting in line behind you.
47. You ride around on your bicycle ringing a bell for some unknown reason.
48. You get your first case of bronchitis and you have never smoked a cigarette in your life.
49. The idea of seeing how this place will look at Expo 2010 and the Olympics actually appeals to you.
50. You have a pinky fingernail an inch long.
51. You stop shaving your armpits.
52. You see one foreign person eating pineapple (or whatever) and say "Yes, all foreign people like pineapple”.
53. In the rain, you spot a vacant taxi which is 10 minutes away and you have already planned how you are going to jump out with great enthusiasm in the road, elbow everyone else trying to claim it, and wave your hands everywhere in a 'look at me I'm a goal keeper' kind of fashion.
54. You start picking at other people's dinner plates before they even offer you a taste.
55. You have absolutely no sense of traffic rules.
56. Chinese fashion starts looking hip.
57. You think Yangzhou is a nice place for a holiday.
58. You think squat toilets are more sensible than western style toilets.
59. You start wearing long thermal underwear on October 1st no matter what the temperature is.
60. You stop wearing long thermal underwear on May 1st no matter what the temperature is.
61. You develop a liking for corn flavored ice cream.
62. Someone doesn't stare at you and you wonder why.
63. You see three people on a motorcycle and figure there's room for two more.
64. There are more things strapped to your bicycle than you would ever put in your car.
65. Fireworks and firecrackers don't wake you up.
66. You wear out your vehicle's horn before its brakes.
67. Chinese remakes of Western songs sound better than the originals.
68. You get homesick for Chinese food when away from China.
69. Metal scaffolding at construction sites seems much more dangerous than bamboo scaffolding.
70. You don't recognize a bowl of chicken soup unless there are feet and a head in it.
71. You (men) roll your shirt up to your nipples.
72. You wear the exact same outfit as your boyfriend on vacation and make him carry your purse.
73. Drilling on the walls in the wee small hours in the morning is considered acceptable behavior.
74. You compiled a 3-page list of weird English first names that Chinese people of your acquaintance have chosen for themselves.
75. You always get a seat on a bus.
76. You cannot say a number without making the appropriate hand sign.
77. You eat at exactly the same time every day.
78. You start enjoying the taste of the "meat flavor" chips.
79. You haven't eaten anything baked in months.
80. Grown men and women often say hello to you, and when you reply they run away giggling.
81. You see nothing wrong with standing on a white stripe in the middle of a highway while cars whiz past you at 90kph.
82. You don't blink an eye when a complete stranger wants to take a photo of you with his family.
83. You drink warm sodas and find them refreshing.
84. You buy a movie that hasn't been released theatrically yet at home.
85. A trim at the barber involves two washes, a scalp massage, a neck and shoulder massage, and a crowd of onlookers.
86. You can open and hull sunflower seeds with your tongue.
87. You eat cake with a toothpick sized fork.
88. You convince yourself that it doesn't matter how dirty the cooks' hands are, cooking will fix it.
89. If there are only 4 screaming children running around the classroom, you consider it a good primary class.
90. You see two men holding hands and think nothing of it.
91. You've got a pre-paid ticket with a booked seat for a soft-seat train but you still run like mad to make sure you get it.
92. Everyone wants to be your friend.
93. You tell people you don't understand, so they write it for you - in Chinese.
94. Groups of people find it fascinating to watch you buy an orange at a fruit market.
95. A hike up a mountain calls for a plastic grocery bag full of junk food.
96. Only five minutes of prep time for an unannounced class no longer fazes you.
97. You feel SOO happy when you see blue sky!
98. You want to bargain at every store you go to.
99. You start asking white people to be in your pictures.

Goodbye China

A few days before we left for Beijing there was an accident involving one of the kids at my school. The issue was unresolved when we left, and when we came back it became more serious. Considering the legal system in China and the situation at the school it was possible that we foreign teachers might be at risk or in danger. On Thursday night, ILP informed us, with 8 hours notice, that we would be sent home. The school was unaware of this decision, so we had to leave at 5 am, with no goodbyes, 6 weeks before we were expected home. I arrived home on Friday night. It was rough to have to leave so unexpectedly, and I miss China like crazy. I loved the Chinese people, the food, the shopping, the kids, the teachers, my friends, the weather, the driving, being famous, traveling, teaching, running, talking and listening, the programs. I learned so much. It was an unforgettable experience.

Beijing

When we arrived in Beijing we decided to first stop at the famous Olympic Sites: the bird's nest and the water cube! It was very cool to walk around the track on which, only a few months ago, the Olympians raced!

The next day we went to Tiantan, AKA the Temple of Heaven. In the park we saw a lot of performers, dancers, and vendors. The temple is where past emperors would come once a year to pray for a good harvest and offer sacrifice.

That night we ventured onto the Beijing metro (one of the best, in my opinion) and found the night food market. I tried a rice mixture in a pineapple, and avoided eating anything that looked like an organ or was a whole dead animal. A few girls ate scorpion. YUM! I love China.

The next day we visited THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA! We went to Badaling. It was super crowded at the beginning, so we met some interesting Chinese people. Chelsea and I pushed through the crowds and ended up hiking the whole section.

Next stop was Tian'anmen Square. We saw Mao's dead body and wandered the square before heading into the Forbidden City, which is so big!!

We spent the next morning at the Summer Palace. There is a lovely lake, so we decided to rent paddle boats and enjoy the scenery. It was a fun place to relax and explore.

On our last day in Beijing we took a trip up to a park which overlooks the forbidden city. It was an awesome view and a beautiful day! My shirt says "I love Beijing!", and I do!

One of the funnest parts of Beijing was the shopping. I don't think I will ever forget the Chinese sales peoples. "Lady! Watchu want? Shoes? Watch Bag? For you beautiful lady, I give cheapest price. No joking". We spent 2 long afternoons at markets bargaining for our gifts and souvenirs.

I can easily say this was my favorite vacation!! I'm so happy that I got to go!

I'm leaving, on a jet plane

wait ... on an overnight train I mean.

Tonight we are leaving for Beijing. This is a 6-day vacation and I am so excited! I'm going to stand on the Great Wall of China ... what are you doing this weekend?

Mom's takin' us to the ...

That's right! The Zoo! Today we spent about 3 hours at the local zoo, which turns out to be only a 10 minute bus ride from the school. It was a pretty big zoo. The most impressive thing to me was how close you could get to the animals; sometimes it was a little scary!!