Giving Back In Your Honor

It is not an exaggeration to say I would not have made it through my Peace Corps experience without the support of folks back home. So many people did so much for me. I'm putting together this week care packages for Thanksgiving/Christmas for some folks over in China; it means a lot for me to be able to give back for all the kindness shown towards me. It's so fun picking stuff out, knowing it'll be a treat for them. Thanks again to everyone who supported me, with packages and warm thoughts and kind words. I'm paying it forward in your honor.

I Adore....

I've had a week and a half now to adjust to being home again (albeit temporarily-- a week and a half of leave to go!). I adore so many things about being home. Here is a short list:

1. My family. I got to spend time over the last week with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My cousins and I were raised to be close, and I love them so much. The hardest part is seeing how downhill my grandmother's health has gone. Dementia is terribly sad. It's tragic we can become so lost in our own mind. I know many of you have also gone through this with someone you love, and you know how sad it is.

2. Bathtubs. I love hot baths, and I have been indulging myself frequently!

3. Indoor heat and instantaneous hot water. What a treat!

4. Clothing in my size; I forgot I'd ever fit into clothes sold on the rack again. I've been enjoying trying on summer dresses and finding cute, simple things to take back with me for my last summer in the furnace of Chongqing.

5. Hummus and greek yogurt, and other assorted foods from this part of the world. Salsa and corn tortillas and cheese (together or separately). So delicious.

6. I like this song, and I can hear it on VH1 all morning long.

7. Sunshine! I'll never take it for granted again.

8. No Great Firewall to block the internet. And that's all I'm going to say about this.

Mixed blessings:

1. Quiet time. Boy, it sure is quiet here. It's quiet in my house, it's quiet in my car, it's quiet in the store and in the restaurant, and there's nobody on the street at all. It's nice, but...it's also a little disconcerting how easy it is to avoid other human beings here. Chaos can be a nice reminder you're alive and a part of humanity.

2. American junk food is delicious. I'm trying to indulge in tiny bites and small doses. It's possible to lose your taste for fake fat and sugar, but it's also possible to get it back! Lime tortilla chips, you are my weakness.

3. Elevators. Buildings in China don't have elevators unless they are over 8 stories. All those stairs keeps your legs and butt in good shape. I already feel like I'm going soft. I take the stairs as often as possible, but there are only three stairs to my front door. I miss the four flights I have to walk up to my apartment several times a day.

4. I don't really care for driving. It's convenient, but gosh, you really have to pay attention! I like being able to get on a bus and zone out for an hour.

Things that I the opposite of adore...

1. I miss my students. I can't wait to see them again. I know I have said this before, but I am going to spend the rest of my life thinking about them and hoping they are okay. They have sent me little messages by email, and they are so cute.

2. I miss my Chongqing boys. And R. This is a small taste of what will happen in July when I leave for good, and it makes me sad. And the guy I adore in China? I still adore him. At least now I know it wasn't the choggles!

3. I kinda miss my hard China bed. I got used to it, and now this softer bed is giving me backaches.

4. I miss my electric tea kettle. I'm definitely going to have to invest in one of those when I return for good.

Perhaps the biggest lesson I have learned in China is just how adaptable we are. It's a blessing to be adaptable, but it means leaving things behind when you move on. I'm still learning how to do that.

Nipple Pops and Lemonade

I saw this candy at the checkout and had to buy it. It is a very correct translation of what this object is meant to be! I like how in English, we pretend it's something other than nipple candy. (It's a bit blurry, sorry, but it says 'Funny Nipple Pop'.)

Sugar is an interesting phenomenon here. Candy and sweet desserts aren't too plentiful, and I've noticed the Chinese don't have much of a sweet-tooth when it comes to food, but, they LOVE syrupy, sweet drinks. I'm constantly watering down juices and drinks. Diet sodas are not big sellers here, but full strength is very popular. It's an interesting switch from Western taste buds, which in my experience like sweets but not so much the syrupy, sugary drinks.

Here is the recipe for Chinese lemonade: hot water, 3-4 rock sugar lumps, a few slices of fresh lemon, and some dried red currants. It's very pretty in the glass and very refreshing. I've been told here that cold water on a hot day is bad for you, it upsets your spleen and stomach. So even in hot weather, you shouldn't drink really cold water. I'm getting used to hot tea/water even on a hot day.

Silicone Wonders and Cupcake Holders

Silicone is fast becoming one of my all time favorite substances. It makes your boobs look good*, it helps you run really far , and now it can bake cupcakes!

My friend L. sent me these silicone cupcake holders, along with a brownie mix (and a few other treats). They can withstand up to 500F and are reusable, so I'll be able to use them in my little toaster oven. No more expensive disposable tins needed!  What a thoughtful friend.

*No, mine aren't silicone, but sometimes I wish they were.

Coffee and Chocolate = Bliss

If they sell 'coffee and chocolate chip' Chips Ahoy cookies where you live, you should buy some and eat them right away. You're welcome.