新年快乐

New Year, New Endings, New Beginnings

Well, we have done it! You should be congratulated: You have made it through yet another year of your life, making it safely through 365 days around the sun, spinning at over 1,000 miles per hour... That is a feat in and of itself and (if nothing else happened to you this past year) you should be proud! 

Yes, technically 2014 ended and 2015 began over two months ago, HOWEVER in China, they like to do things a little different and today (yesterday now that I'm posting it) was the official start of 2015 in the lunar calendar. So, we bid a fond farewell to my year--the Year of the Horse--and we enter into the Year of the Sheep (or goat or ram... I've heard three different names all day today). 

Were you born in 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, or 2003? Then you are a sheep. Sheep are generous, just and kind, and easily touched by other people's misfortunes. They are artists, and are creative. If something goes especially wrong in their careers or other aspects of life, they will become very sentimental and pessimistic, even world weary. 

If you're a sheep, here is some fun tidbits that you might want to remember if this is your year! Your lucky numbers are 3, 4, and 9. Your lucky colors are red, green, and purple. Your lucky flowers are carnation, primrose, and Alice Flower (I don't know where they come up with these things). And a word of caution: your unlucky numbers are 6, 7, and 8 and your unlucky colors are gold, brown, and black... Use this information as needed...

Most of this information I'm sure you already know from the oh so lovely place mats at Chinese buffets but the Chinese zodiac and astrological signs are deeply engrained into the Chinese culture so when it is your year, it is a very special time. 

Your year is a very special time for you--it is meant to be a lucky year. Whether you believe in "luck" or not does not matter--the Chinese love to talk about luck and if it's your year, it's always fun to get to play along. Want to enhance your luck? Try to wear red every single day. Supposedly, your year is already a lucky time for you but if you manage to wear red every day, you just add to your luck. Most people get red underpants for Christmas (it's true!) but I settled on a red bracelet I wore everyday last year and it worked out pretty well... I landed myself a man!! ;-)

Christmas 2012, Olivia got her red undies!!

 I've never actually gotten to spend a Chinese New Year in China (ain't that such a shame?!?)-- in 2012 I missed it by a few weeks, last year I was traveling in Nepal and Malaysia (I think I might have actually been flying back into the country on the new year) and this year I spent it at Roswell Cancer Institute (they did order Chinese food though which made me smile). HOWEVER, you can be darn sure the holiday is filled with eating, drinking, giving money in red envelopes, and fireworks (just like every day in China at 3am). My students have compared it to our Christmas celebrations (with fireworks because it is China and a holiday is incomplete without them). Over the years it has begun to make it's way over to America where we see red paper lanterns, pictures and decorations of the annual animal, and (if you're lucky) you might snag some Chinese goodies (I made sure to eat green tea oreos in honor of the holiday).

With the coming and going of a new (lunar) year, it is always fitting to talk about endings-beginnings. 2014 ends and 2015 begins. The year of the Horse ends and the year of the Sheep begins. It seems fitting that Adam's surprise trip to America came to an end on the new year and he began his last semester in China (the poor guy has been there for three years now). We got to celebrate our last Valentine's Day together before our wedding. And now, we have our final hurtle to overcome--5 months of separation. This is the definition of a long distance relationship with us living in completely different hemispheres (so be aware that if I see you complain that "so and so lives an hour away" or you "haven't seen so and so in a week" I will glare at you through my computer screen)! It is the end of many things but it is also the beginning of even more exciting new things! A wedding! Potential jobs! Babies being born (good god, not mine)! And Henry getting the snot kicked out of him!

We got to celebrate Valentine's Day together (for the first time!!), got to go to a Sabres game (they lost), and I got my engagement ring (it's gorgeous)!

Another thing that is coming to an end before I had planned is my time in China. After being home and seeing what my family has had to go through for the last six months while I was away, I have decided that I just cannot hop back on a plane and go back to China. Adam and I have talked about it and I'm in America to stay... My China adventure is over. It's a bit sad--I wish I could feel like I had more closure but I don't and that's okay... That's life. I know that I am needed here right now. One door closes and another opens. So my adventures in China are over (for now), I will be home until my wedding this summer, and then my husband (crazy to write that down) and I will be winging our way to a new exciting adventure together... When we know where we end up, I'll be sure to share it here with you!

Here's a postcard from the past:

 It is sad to see my adventures in China end... Thank you for going on them with me! I hope you enjoyed celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival and climbing the Himalaya and Yellow Mountains; I hope you loved my students as much as I did and I hope you had fun on the adventure with me. Thank you for joining me. Thank you for reading. Thank you.

Let's see where life takes us next!! Wide Eyed Wanderer will keep on wandering...

Until Next Time,

Amanda

The American Adventure: Minnesota

I had managed to keep my arrival in America a secret from my brother, graduation was a huge success, the 4th of July was filled with food, family, and fun, and after 10 days of being apart, it was time to reunite with Adam in a part of the country I had never been to before--the Midwest!!

I have been actively traveling for over 10 years now. I have been all over Europe, the Caribbean, and eastern Asia. I have been up and down the East coast and even visited the West coast once...  but for some reason I had never made it to the middle of the country; the closest I got was waving down to it as I flew over. It had been sort of a nonentity--I never really paid much attention to that part of the country, not really having any deep desire to get there (no offense). So when I started dating Adam, I got to know a bit more about the Midwest (even though I still struggle with labeling them all on the map correctly), and I soon learned that I would be traveling there.

With a bit of drama in regards to my flight (add Southwest to my "I will never give you my business and fly with you ever again" list), I got in about eight hours later than originally planned... ah the joys of travel. I looked down as I flew over the Twin Cities (not Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, but Minneapolis and St. Paul) and started spotting all the lakes--now I know that the name, "Land of Lakes" is not too far off!! I got ready for a whole lot of cheese, cheeriness, and "You betcha"s: I was in Minnesota, home of the Vikings, cheese curds, and the Minnesota nice (which makes us New Yorkers look like such jerks)!!

What are some things to do in Minnesota, you ask? Plenty, don't'cha know!!

#1. The Spam Museum

Don't lie--that Monty Python song is stuck in your head now. Spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, WONDERFUL SPAM! WONDERFUL SPAM!

Now, I will admit, I am not the biggest fan of spam. Unless it is a hot dog (judge away), I don't really like the idea of meat from an unknown part of an animal, chopped up, and smushed back together into a new shape. Spam is the poster child of that. My brother LOVES spam (he eats it raw sometimes) and I got into the habit of eating it in China because it was one of the only ways to actually get a substantial piece of meat (sad, I know...). However, spam was invented in Minnesota (don't'cha know!) by a man who had moved there from Buffalo (cool beans!).

Enough of the history lesson! Spam was invented in Minnesota, I was in Minnesota, therefore I had to go to the museum. The air smells like hot dogs and the building has that classic yellow and blue all throughout. You learn the history of Hormel and spam. You look at the impacts during World War II. You see how different cultures and cooking styles use spam. You can take the Spam Exam. You can practice putting together a can of spam. And (best of all), you can get free samples. Is it silly? Yes. Is it kitschy? Definitely. Did I thoroughly enjoy myself? You betcha!

#2. The Jucy Lucy

I had heard tales of this burger for months leading up to my trip to Minnesota. A burger filled with melted cheese. How could you not love the sound of that? I tried a lot of different foods (real cheese curds that squeak, the butter burger, and cheese and meat EVERYWHERE) but the Jucy Lucy was probably my favorite thing.

We went to Newt's in Rochester, MN, home of the original Jucy Lucy. Not even bothering to look at the menu, Adam and I both ordered the Jucy Lucy and when it came, it was one of the most beautiful burgers I have ever laid eyes on (the best one probably at Slim's in Hangzhou after having not seen a burger in 10 months). Adam's advice: Cut the burger in half so you don't bite into it and have molten cheese shoot down the back of your throat. The cheese just oozes everywhere, getting all over the bun and the fries. It is ooey, gooey happiness on a bun... and I miss it so much.

#3. Red Wing big boot

I have never heard of it but I also know absolutely nothing  about shoes but apparently, the little town of Red Wing, Minnesota is known for making shoes (expensive shoes if you ask me!). Adam understands my love for kitsch and so he made it his mission to find the big boot in Red Wing. We actually stumbled upon it by accident and I stood in all the boot's kitschy glory.

While in Red Wing, we also found the Uffda shop. "Uffda" is a word that I had never heard of prior to going to China last year. Then, I heard my Adam and Other Adam say it over and over and over again. I finally learned that it basically means, "Oh my gosh," or even, "Holy $h!t." It is such a fun part of the Midwest culture, there is actually shops that sell Uffda merchandise... and I wanted to buy something. I ended up with an Uffda sweatshirt (which I have not taken off since then since this summer feels more like October) and a headband from Adam to keep my ears warm when we adventure to Harbin next January.

#4. Lark Toys

Yes, it is a toy store. Yes, it is awesome. We actually passes it on the highway and made a U-turn to check it out. I wish I had been seven because this place is huge and it is awesome. They have books, a science section, sports, shells, dolls.

They also have a hat section:

A puppet section:

 And llamas:

Awesome.

#5. Whitewater Fire Tower

I love hiking. In China, there is a lack of locations and opportunities to hike (and when you do find one, it is crowded, on a road or paved sidewalk, in highly manicured nature). So when Adam took me to the White Water State Park to climb the old fire tower to look out over the whole park, I was a happy Amanda. It got cold, the wind had started to blow, and the clouds seemed to threaten rain so Adam and I quickly made our way up to the top of the hill and then made the terrifying climb up the fire tower to the very windy top. What a gorgeous view!!

#6. Lake Harriet Elf House

This was something that I had put on my bucket list a few years ago but in my mind I thought to myself, "When am I ever going to get to the elf house... Why on Earth would I go to Minneapolis?" So I definitely think it is a funny twist of fate that I met someone who lives about an hour from the elf house. When I started making the plans with Adam to come visit him and his family, the only request I had was to find that darn elf house!

I brought a small letter that I had written with me with a self addressed and stamped envelope to leave at the elf house, Adam tried to find directions online, and we actually found it within two minutes of walking around Lake Harriet!

It is a tree right between the bike path and walking path with a collection of flowers planted around the base of the trunk. It has a small, functioning door at the base just filled with letters. I was thrilled that we found it so easily!!! I left my letter behind and crossed it off My Life List (#223).

The coolest part of the whole thing was that a few weeks later when I was back in Buffalo, I actually got a response letter!! It wasn't even a simple sample letter that they send out to everyone--it specifically answered the questions I asked in my letter. So cool!! If you ever find yourself in Minneapolis, I would HIGHLY recommend leaving a letter at the Lake Harriet Elf House.

#7. The Sculpture Garden (AKA: The Big Spoon)

For some reason, a giant spoon with a cherry on it is practically the symbol of Minneapolis. I. DON'T. KNOW. WHY. I had my freshman classes choose American cities to report on and one group chose Minneapolis... and they kept showing that darn spoon. When Adam was showing me photos of what we could see in the city, I kept seeing that darn spoon. So even though I'm not a huge art girl, I wanted to see that darn spoon. Then, and only then, could I say that I had been to Minneapolis.

#8. The Mall of America

I'm not a huge mall person (always brings back awful memories of one of my first dates... ::cringe::) so if I ever have to go to the mall, I am in and out ASAP. But I have heard so much about the Mall of America and not checking it out would be like going to Orlando and not stopping by to see the Mouse (kind of the same...). So we wandered around the mall, checking out the food court, the American Girl Doll store (sorry Adam), board game stores, the Disney Store, LEGOLAND, and the amusement park.

We visited every part of the mall (except for the aquarium) and we did it all in three hours... LIKE A BOSS!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

On top of these crazy adventures, Adam and I also made a road trip to Wisconsin for a wedding and a visit to see Other Adam and DH. Along the way, we stopped at every cheese market that we passed and bought so much cheese... too much cheese (if that is even a thing). If that is not the definition of the Midwest, I don't know what is!

I had gotten a glimpse of life in the nice, old Midwest... now it was Adam's turn to have a go in the wild and crazy New York!!

Until Next Time,
Amanda

SURPRISE!

It has been absolute TORTURE! But I can now run around outside, I can yell out the window, or climb a mountain and shout it from the peak:

I AM IN A M E R I C A ! !

That's right folks! My original plan of staying in China nonstop for the two years of my employment has been cut in half with a short break from the chaos that is China (just think back to this post). Why? When? How long have I had to keep this a secret? WHY was it a secret?

Well... back during Spring Festival while I was in Nepal I was missing Adam a lot and I was homesick, so my mom and I came up with the plan for me to come home at the end of the semester--I could visit with my family, not be alone in China (which would have been awful), hangout with Adam and get to meet his family, and (the main reason) to be at Jed's graduation. I feel like I have missed so much of his life--I moved out of the house when he was 12 years old and I have missed sharing things with him like Homecoming, soccer games, swim meets, musicals, and now holidays like birthdays and Christmas. I had just missed his Eagle Scout ceremony, so I knew I definitely wanted to be there to support him on the day of another great accomplishment of his. But it wasn't enough for me to just go to his graduation--I wanted him to think that I was in another country--on another continent.

The only people who knew (or were supposed to know) were my parents and my aunt and uncle... Of course, no one can keep secrets and a few people shared with me that they knew that I was America bound.

This was what my cousin, Ashley, sent me just 1 week ago... Seems like forever ago now!

I had my own countdown going...

 It was like this great something--this fantasy that lingered at the end of my semester. My classes ended. I finished my grades. I said goodbye to all of my friends. I packed up my books (boy, are they heavy!). I cleaned my apartment. I packed my two suitcases. I IMPATIENTLY waited for the 26th to come. {Seriously, it was torture having been completely done with everything nearly three weeks earlier}.

For the first time in forever, I didn't wait until the day before to pack!!

But finally the day arrived and we made our way from Hangzhou to Shanghai (in the rain), we got onto our 14 hour flight, waited in line at customs forever, eventually found our luggage and then ran into the arms of my parents (well... I did that, Adam didn't).

It was great to be back in a familiar place with people that I know love me and are happy to see me! I camped out at my Aunt and Uncle's in order to hide from Jed (the hope was that he still had no idea that I was coming) until Saturday morning when I arrived at the high school, was quickly ushered backstage in the auditorium by some of the teachers and I waited impatiently back there for graduation to start.

Jed was winning a scholarship and I was working with the leader of the school's foundation board. I learned that I wasn't just giving Jed his award, I was helping to present it! I quickly came up with something short and sweet to say (no one likes anyone long winded at graduation).

The leader of the foundation board was on stage, explaining what the scholarship was for and then he added, "For the first winner, I have a special guest from far away to help present it." I stepped out from where I was hiding behind a wall of teachers that were strategically placed.

I quickly explained that I had just arrived from China and then announced that my brother won the scholarship.

Waiting for him to come down from the back row was torture! The minute he hit the stage, he ran up to me and just lifted me up in his arms with tears in both our eyes.

MISSION: Accomplished! He had no idea!!

I am so proud of him. All my life he has been my little baby brother. I always wanted to protect him, show him new things. He would be the one to follow me and my friends around when he was little. He was the adorable little kid playing Oliver Twist in Oliver! He's my brother. He's my friend. He's my baby brother. He's such a wonderful young man. I could not be more proud of him.

The WooGull cousins reunited!! I missed these crazy peeps!

I am going to try and fit in as much 'Merica as I can while I am away from China. I'll be here for about 5 weeks, visiting family, celebrating holidays, and visiting parts of the country I've never been to before. I cannot wait to see friends and family that I haven't been able to see in the last 10 months, eat as much food that I can't get in China as I can, buy books, and just spend time with my parents and Jed. I am so happy to be home even if it is for a little while... Let's hope our paths cross sometime this summer!

Until Next Time,
Amanda