Made it back,,.

Ah, I thought I'd let you know that I made it back ok! On the way back home we saw lots of evidence of a bad storm - many broken trees and power lines! Once again I was 'stuck' with a crazy driver during the last leg of the trip - we hit a guard rail protecting us from going down into a ravine and we just about killed a motorcyclist. Owh how adventurous life is here...

I am glad to be back even though I missed the few most important days of the Chinese New Year. However, all my friends were still around so we've been able to spend this entire week together (1 will leave to go back to college today - the others will be soon to follow). I was still able to have somewhat of a traditional Spring Festival meal with Karen's family and I also witnessed rituals of making sacrifices (food, money etc.), bowing down to ancestors, and scaring away evil spirits with fire crackers at a tomb of Karen's boyfriend's grandfather.

Karen and her boyfriend's family burning hell money before scaring away the evil spirits with fire crackers.

Karen bowing down in front of her boyfriend's grandfather's grave.

In China, it is tradition for older family members to give money to the younger ones at Spring Festival time. Karen's parents saved me an envelope of brand new (yes, that's also part of the tradition) cash. Yup, I truly do feel like family when I am there.

Envelope with brand new cash from Karen's parents.

I was so surprised to come home to water and power. For the last week I have listened to HUGE generators that have been set up in large tents all over town (a glorious sound it was!). Some areas of town had no power at all, others were on a 3 day rotation (3 days on, 3 days off), yet others had power only in the evenings, but I was one of the ones who had power 24/7 this entire last week. Wow...I was feeling a bit over-prepared for a while there. However, my power has been off for about the last 24 hours (internet seems to work still but running on the power of my computer's battery). It's a whole different life - using only candles and flashlights past 7pm. Haha, it will sure train me to go to bed earlier! We've been notified that after the 21st of February the power supply will be a lot more unstable so I guess this is just a start. At least I didn't invest in flashlights, candles, and hot water bottles (I can still boil my water because my stove runs off propane) for nothing.

Last, I have been told I will start teaching again beginning of March. Until then I hope to do some lesson planning, visit student's home villages, and since it sounds like I will have enough time - I might read a book or 2.

Well, I'm off - time to re-fill my hot water bottles with hot water again. Just thought I'd let you know I am alive and well.