On Believing in Yourself

This story goes back a few years to when I went to Israel on Birthright with Israel Outdoors.  Unlike most people, I did not have a life-changing Israel experience. I don't know if I'd even classify it as a great experience. I actually left feeling less confident in myself and felt so alienated from Judaism that I didn't re-join the Jewish community until last spring. This is not something that I often share because there were several causes for it and I don't think it's necessarily a productive conversation, but I definitely had a tough time.

One of the real sticking points of my trip was the sunrise climb up Masada. We left at something like 5 in the morning to be on the top of the mountain for the sunrise. I was on a hiking trip, which I was assurred was not very tough, and this hike in particular was "very easy." Well, not to me it wasn't.  I wasn't in the best shape and I was wearing the wrong shoes. I didn't make it for the sunrise, and I caused two others {the ones who had to wait with me} to miss it also. Although one of them was trying to reassure me, her words of, "well, I guess we're gonna miss it," just made it so much worse. After that experience, I swore I would never go hiking again.

{Sunrise NOT from the top of Masada}

Clearly, I didn't stick to that, but all summer I've been self-conscious of being the "slow one." I'm a slow-and-steady hiker at the best of times, and I was very nervous that if I went on a sunrise hike, we just wouldn't make it, and it would be my fault. But, as I did some hiking, I noticed that I wasn't really holding anyone back, that I was more fit and we always made it to where we said we were going. I also realized that I am NOT the person that I was 5 years ago, and that I had changed not only in my abilities, but also because I no longer allow people to make me feel inferior.

{Yoga near the Matterhorn}

 So, one morning, a friend and I hiked to the top of a mountain for the sunrise. It was a glorious, clear day, and the mountains were simply breathtaking.

{Looking towards Niesen}

{Lohner, Nunnihorn and Wildstrubel at sunrise}

In honor of believing in myself and conquering fears, I greeted the sunrise.

Don't let your past determine your future.

Embracing New Adventures

Do you remember about 3 years ago {three years!!} when I was debating whether I wanted to come work in China, or if I wanted to take a dream job at home? Obviously, I came to China, and have had so many fun experiences. But, it became clear to me that I needed something else.
 

This was especially so after I led a few adventure trips with a local start-up company. I was so happy and relaxed after those trips and it was clear to me that I was ready to move on. However, I am a firm believer in making plans, saving, and waiting for the right opportunity to come along.

Finally, it did. I just left my job in China for a short-term, amazing, volunteer opportunity in Switzerland. Yes, Switzerland! I am excited, nervous, apprehensive, but ready to conquer something new.

Saying goodbye was difficult, one of the more difficult things I have done in awhile. I'll miss the friends and spectacular folks I have met in China, and can't being to tell you what an impact they have made on my life. Currently, I'm traveling before I head to Zurich. Look for those posts soon!

Hello new adventures!

Hong Kong: Big Buddha

Since I get to go to Hong Kong a lot, I try and space out my tourist-y visits over the course of each time I go. Sometimes I go to buy Western clothes or food, and sometimes, I just need a break from the mainland. But, one time in December, I went to see Big Buddha.

Y'all. He was so cool. You have to take a cable car called Ngong Ping 360 to get to Ngong Ping village and then walk from there and you have the option of a glass bottomed cable car {highly recommend}. It's a cute little touristy "town" with all kinds of things to buy (including Starbucks and Subway) and it's about a 5-10 minute walk to Buddha.

There is also a monastery nearby that will sell you lunch.

Enjoy!

Guangzhou

In my excitement to post about places like Hong Kong and Qingyuan, I've been remiss in not telling you about the city I live in. Guangzhou is a big, bustling city that reminds me a lot of Houston. It has the same weather, the same types of sprawl, and is serious about it's ice {hallelujah, ice water is not a weird thing here}.

On the other hand, it's crowded. So many people everywhere, all the time. I went to my favorite hot pot restaurant on a Sunday night at 9pm. 2 hour wait. WHAT?! Who are all these people and why aren't they in bed?

Seriously though, this city has a lot to offer. It's the unique position of sharing a border with "the West." During the Boxer Rebellion and Cultural Revolution, many people escaped through Canton {Guangzhou/Guandong} to Hong Kong. Many people here speak at least 3 languages: Mandarin, Cantonese and English. The local food is what you might expect if you've only ever had Americanized Chinese food: sweet and sour pork or chicken, steamed vegetables, dumplings, egg drop soup, etc. I personally prefer 北京菜 or 四川菜 {Beijing or Sichuan food} but it's fun to have super easily available dim sum that is also reliably delicious.

One of the most iconic structures in GZ is the Canton TV Tower. It lights up like a rainbow at night, and can be seen almost anywhere in the city. I happen to live very close to it and the city center, so there is a lot for me to see an do.

Enjoy some pictures of my city. Despite how big it is, there are plenty of scenic spots, parks, and pagodas!

{The Guangzhou Tower viewed from a busy market}

{Pearl River New Town on a blue sky day}

{Chigang Pagoda. I see this everyday when I bike to work}.

What do you love about where you live?

Hong Kong

One of the reasons I chose to re-locate to Guangzhou is because of the proximity to both Hong Kong and other Southeast Asian countries. I'll get to see parts of the world which were difficult for me to see when I was in Tianjin.

I'll be honest: I'm not really a fan of Guangzhou. It's bigger and busier than Tianjin and I feel like I have NO personal space. Despite my loathing of big and busy cities {and I moved to China? I know}, Hong Kong is one of my very favorite places. The character just oozes out of every building there. It truly is east meets west, and I think, what most westerners first picture when they think of "what China is."

I went for the first time with my friend Olivia, from Tianjin. It was wonderful. Western manners, lots of English, and Chinese food. I had a fantastic time and have already been back several times.

Some highlights from my first three trips: Victoria Peak {gorgeous}, Disneyland, a ropes course, the JCC, and shopping. Lots of shopping. Y'all, I can't get enough of this place.

What are your favorite places?

Last Days in Tianjin

I've been turning over this post in my head for days. Would I write it? Would I be able to? Would I remember to take enough pictures or be able to put how I feel about this city into this space? I've been pretty vague about my life here. I share a lot of adventures but not a lot about my personal life and work. Part of that is because, despite writing on this blog, I am a private person. I prefer to really control the information I put on the internet as much as I can. I'm not one of those passive-aggressive Facebook status-updaters and I don't really share my struggles electronically.

But, a lot has happened to me in Tianjin. I've made friends, I've lost them. Work was a battle ground, for awhile. I worked very hard for a promotion, then got it, but it didn't make me as happy as I thought it would {see above with work being a battle ground}. Being far away from my family has been hard for many reasons {illness, death, etc.} and I've thought many, many times of just coming home. I kept hanging on, though, because some of the best people I've ever met live here. I have had some crazy fun nights  and I have grown more as a person here than I have anywhere in a long time.

And then, the decision to leave Tianjin was made for me by my company. I've moved to Guangzhou. When I first heard the news, I was OK with it for awhile, and excited for a new adventure. Then, suddenly, the idea of leaving was overwhelming. Time was slipping away and I realized that I might not see some of my favorite people for a long time, if ever again. Being an expat is not for the feint of heart, and especially not in a place like China where people come and go so frequently.

But, I also realized that I could preserve these memories and tuck them away. And that, in this age of easy travel {by train, by bus, by plane} that it really isn't goodbye. It's 再见 {zai jian}, which means, roughly "until we meet again." So, here are some pictures from my last few days and weeks in Tianjin.

Good memories!

Qingdao: The Brewery

Since I have come to China, I have come to really appreciate beer. The third-spaces for expats tend to be pubs {I've been hanging out with Brits and Irishmen too much!} and beer is usually fairly cheap and readily available. And, believe it or not, there are a fair amount of local breweries around, especially in cities with a large foreign/cosmopolitan influence.

One of the first cities to have an independent brewery was Qingdao {yes, Tsingtao}. Tsingtao hasn't been a a little independent German brewery in a long time, but I was very interested in going to see it and the city of Qingdao herself. The Olympic Sailing competition was held there in 2008, and I'd heard many good things about how nice the city is. So, I treated myself to a weekend away for my 28th birthday!

Qingdao is all about it's beer. You can buy cheap, "raw" {unfiltered} beer in little baggies from kegs that come straight from the production floor. I decided to take a tour first, and then wander around and find some lunch. I'm glad I went. There was a lot of historical information about the history of the brewery {it was owned and operated by Asahi during the Japanese occupation for example, and didn't start mass production and export until the 90's} and you got two free samples of beer from the factory.

This is a fountain in the outside courtyard of the museum. Reception, the museum itself, and parts of the old and new facilities are located in different buildings.

One of the old machines. I don't remember what it did, but it looked cool. And, that manequin guy was creepily life-like.

Another view from outside. Who doesn't like inflatable beer cans on their roof?

The wall of beer from all over the world. I looked valiantly for anything that looked "local" like Shiner, or Buffalo Bayou or St. Arnolds. Nada. Sad face.

Qingdao is also famous for it's spicy clams, so after I was done with my tour, I treated myself to a beer and a plate of them. The weather was warm and breezy, the beer was cool {ish...China is a bit spotty about cold beverages} and the clams were delicious. It was a good day. Have you been on any tours lately?

Beijing: Lama Temple

You remember when I went to Shanghai a few months ago? Well, I flew in and out of Beijing for that, and on the way home, stopped to see a friend in Beijing. When she was at work, I knocked this guy off my Beijing Bucket List.

The Lama Temple is a working Mongolian-Tibetan Buddhist temple located in the Yonghegong area in northeast Beijing {for the record, Yonghegong is Chinese for "Lama Temple"}. This temple is fairly old; construction on it began in the late 1600's. And, a rare thing in China, it survived the Cultural Revolution due to the intervention of a government official.

The day I was there it was chilly and crisp, and only a little bit hazy. There were some visitors, but not enough to make the experience a hassle. At the entrance to the main part of the temple grounds, visitors can receive a free bundle of incense.

In all, it was a fun little excursion on the way to meet my friend for coffee and a pulled pork sandwich. What excursions have you been on lately?

Shanghai: The Bund

One of the most famous things about Shanghai is The Bund and the view you get of the skyline from the promenade. I didn't spend a lot of time here, but the time I did spend was pretty memorable and full of photo opportunities.

My first full day in Shanghai I went in the evening after wandering over from People's Park and Nanjing Lu. In China, there is always a crowd, but I saw a massive one and decided to follow it. It was a nice sight to walk to, and I got some wonderful pictures of some of the old European buildings as well as the new skyline on the opposite side of the river. 

After taking in this gorgeous display and generally enjoying being near the river, I met up with some friends and went to the {almost} top of the building that looks like a bottle opener. Friends, I am not scared of heights, but I got a little woozy when I got out of the elevator at the 100th floor. No pictures of that {sorry!) due to a dead phone, but just look at the skyline: it's not even the tallest building!

And, of course, I'm including a few daytime pictures {as always, ignore the flyaway hair, hmm?}.