I'm home!!!

Hello all . . . Just wanted to give you an update . . . So I arrived safe and sound in Hong Kong last night. I had an interesting trip to get to China but I made it. I flew from Atlanta to San Francisco and waited what I thought would have been 3 hours turned out to be 5 hours!! UGHH!! Yeah a 5 hour lay over really stinks but OH WELL. Then I get to Hong Kong after flying for 14 hours another UGHH but it's all good. Got to watch TV on my own television which was kind of cool. On the back of each head rest is a personal television that you can also play games on too.

So I get to Hong Kong as I said before and my flight was supposed to land at 6:40 PM but due to the long lay over we did not land until an hour later. Then you go through customs much like in the states. Then you go through them again....not sure about the doubling up process but its cool. Then you have to get your bags. Well normally that is not such a problem but it took FOREVER. So I got all three heavy suitcases, my carry-on and my purse/bag and went out to greet/find my husband. He was in the process of having me paged it took that long. So because the long delay and arrival we had to hoof it to a taxi because China borders were closing soon. So Dylan has his friend Paul with us and Paul is Chinese but only speaks Mandarin (I think or Cantonese) either way it wasn't what the driver spoke. So Dylan had to call his boss to translate where we needed to go. By the way the drivers in Hong Kong only drive on the wrong side of the car and road too. Kind of weird but again COOL. So we finally make it to Shenzhen's border which is China. Go through their customs too. Had to tell the customs agent that I was a visitor visiting some friends of mine. And I was admitted entrance to China.

We then all found another taxi and this one took us to our apartment. Dylan had to pull up the directions on his phone to show the taxi driver. Then the driver got lost . . . eeek. But again Dylan's boss Rick saved the day and explained to the driver where to go. Paul helped us lug all of my luggage upstairs to the 31st floor. Can I say and AMEN to elevators and escalators. After we walked in the apartment I saw Lucy for the first time. She must have really bonded with Dylan because she didn't remember me for the longest time and is still acting funny. So Dylan calls his boss again to see if he wants to hang out including Dylan's other friend who lives here and recently married a Chinese girl who is super sweet. His name is Marshall and used to live in GA but moved to China for business and got married. We went to eat (at 10PM which is not uncommon) at a place that is above the KFC but is not KFC. I know weird. We had some good stuff then we decided to go and have a massage. Yeah a massage!! I think it was 11 PM when we decided to go. I had a my feet soaking in a barrel with milk and rose petals. Neat. Then I got the best massage which was soooo needed after lugging the luggage around like some crazy person.

Today Dylan and I went to a neat restaurant and I had Chow MeFun which is rice noodles with pork. They serve hot tea like how they serve water in the states. When you sit down out comes the boiling hot tea. It comes out hot because of the bad water but the bad things are killed when it is boiled so its all good. Then we took a taxi to the Wal-Mart. I was so mad I forgot the camera. It was a sight to say the least. You walk in and you are on the bottom floor which mainly consists of food. Then you grab a buggy and take it on this weird escalator. We were looking for me some towels because Dylan only had one for him and one for the dog. We also found a small wastebasket, a deodorizer for the bathroom (don't ask) and some other necessities for the place. Dylan was supposed to go out when we got back to work on a project while I stayed home and unpacked but he told me it was going to be shorter and he wanted to show me his office so we took Lucy this time (our dog) all over the place and to his office. Its so weird being able to take the dog in stores and in a large corporate building and no one saying anything about it. On the way back from his office we ran into my new boss who was riding his bike around the local area. He's pretty tall and white so you can't miss him. Which by the way on a different note is funny because people stare at Dylan and I all the time. There aren't a lot of white people here in China so we stick out. It's funny. So my boss invited me to a Brazilian restaurant on Friday for the staff at the school including the cleaning staff which totals to 190 members at the school I am teaching at. Beat that at your school. Not the number of staff but the idea of going to a nice restaurant and being paid for by the school. UNHEARD OF!!

So I finally unpacked EVERYTHING and it all fits. We are going to IKEA tomorrow to look for some small furniture to put in the guest room, a basket for my dirty clothes, and maybe something to put my shoes in. As for now Dylan is asleep at 7:30 PM on the couch in the dark with the dog on the other side and I am in the bedroom blogging. We are going out tonight (possibly) for drinks with Marshall and his wife Hongsha (I know I botched it up but it is exactly how it sounds). Oh and the weather here is really muggy so it is best advised to shower at least twice a day if not three times. I might be asking you to mail me some more Burt's Beeswax body soap. However, the shower will have to wait due to us washing the towels and "line drying" them. Yeah no dryer but nature's dryer. MMMM smells good huh??

Hope this finds your thoroughly entertained. Best to you all . . .
Amanda and Dylan

And so the final hours remain . . .

Oh dear . . . such bittersweet endings upon us all. As I make my last few calls, eat my last few meals, and share some last minutes of advice from loved ones and awesome friends, I am reminded of how sad this truly is.

My suitcases (that would be three) are packed and my carry-on is stuffed. I wanted to take this time to try and absorb what all is going on in my head.

Good news is that I sold the car. YEAH!!! I think I did it right too but I guess we will find out sooner or later. Hopefully for the good.

So back to the thoughts . . . I am so blessed to have so many friends who care so much about me and a wonderful mother-in-law who has supported me fully and let me stay with her these past few months. She is so much more than a mother in law but a second mother, best friend and wonderful advice giver. She has shown me the word happiness and being joyful at the smallest miracles such as a flower that is one of God's many gifts. I am so blessed to have worked with so many awesome colleagues even though their first impression was definitely not the last one they have of me. As quoted by one of my students this year "I love her because she is CRAZY" and that I am and I am proud to be. Life is too short to sit around and wait for it to bite you on the butt you got to go after it. Never let someone tell you, you can't. If you want it bad enough you'll get it if it means that much to you. If not well then its not worth your time nor energy. I believe that about this trip to China.

Along with my colleagues I have made many friends along the way...Debby Coughlin my very first parapro during my student teaching who saved my butt more than I can count on, Nancy Ragan who showed me the true importance of being organized and a true friend who could laugh with you when a child brings in Viagra your first year of teaching, Lori for all the laughs we had together and who showed me that God comes when we need him the most, Nancy Harris (Hammond or Samples) who gave me a chance to prove the kind of teacher I knew I could be and wanted to be and for believing in me, Joyce Fico for being an wonderful and dear friend to me and accepting my nutso side with open arms and giving me encouragement to reach my dreams, Lindsey Lancaster for making me laugh, smile, and realize I have a crappy memory (love ya girl), Olivia Harbin and husband for many laughs along the way and for encouraging my green side to come out a smidge bit more, Christi for listening to my issues with life and for being a wonderful caring person who also helps me with my chocolate issues, My awesome grade levels in both kindergarten and second grade for helping me learn the ropes and to show me with open arms how to be a success when working with Suwanee's finest, Helen Cain for being my mentor who always lends a helping hand and shows how it is done and has a great positive disposition about herself despite what she will say, The office staff for saving my hiney many times or giving me a heads up every now and then when I needed it. If I have not said your name do not get ticked or girly on me. You know what you did and if you want to email me and I will make an add on.

My family is becoming a family again too. As I look back on how I got to the place where I am now I look back at my foundation. My mom and dad are the greatest despite our ups and downs. There is no doubt in my mind they will love me till the day I die. By showing me their love and right from wrong I am giving them credit to the person I am today...An American CRAZY teacher who is following her dream to China.

Along with adding credits to who I am, I am giving most of my credit to my wonderful and dear husband who has supported me in all I take on and believes that God is in control of this miracle as much as I do and wants to do miraculous things with us in China or wherever he may move us. We owe so much to our church family especially The Chen's, The Dukes, Pastor Duke and his wife Ellen, The Roman's, and the various others who have supported us since the day we stepped in and said "Hi".

So see this is not an easy step to take. But it is important to do and to grow and learn as an individual in this game called LIFE. Taking risks never hurts but the wonderment of "What if" will always haunt you. The world is a big place and being complacent in life is not what God had intended. So we are out to seek the world and find out what all there is to offer here. This is not our permanent home here on Earth but I would feel naive if I had not experienced as much as I could in the time I was given here.

I challenge you all to "move" in your life. Not so much the physical move but do something that is outside of the box for you at least once a week or month. Discovering new things is discovering you.

Always,
Amanda Blankenship
(I see Dylan in less than 3 days and I am ecstatic) wish me well and keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Only 11 Days and Counting . . .

Gosh with all of this VISA junk, I am so glad I got mine sooner than later. So only 11 days to go. There are so many mixed emotions going through my head these days. I am trying to end the school year this upcoming week with my kids and I have been catching myself crying periodically in the past few weeks. Also my colleagues are amazing and I cannot believe I have to leave my "Suwanee Elementary" family behind. It's kind of like when I went off to college and leaving one chapter and starting a new (well sort of).

As for now Dylan is moving mountains over in China these days and is finding creative and innovative ways to do so. He is so cute in talking techno talk to me. Being a teacher it is not so easy at times to follow along but I know it is good. Lucy the dog is still loving China as so I have been told.

I am trying to sell a car, tie off loose ends such as going through the storage unit looking for my diplomas (dear God that one was an adventure). My wonderful mother in law went with me and we laughed said a few words and then heaved and hoed a few more boxes around. We finally found them as she kept saying in a drawer. If only I had listened to her the first time.

I am getting more excited as the days draw nearer. Not looking forward to the long plane ride but I am sure it will be an adventure to say the least. Been downsizing the clothes again getting rid of a few things. Just found out they make clothes that are tailored to you and your body type. It only cost Dylan $15 USD for him to get a pair of pants made for him. I can't wait. I am going to try and see if I can get my wedding dress made over there. (Yes I am married but we are having a ceremony later on which does require the need for a wedding dress). Hey if I can get it to fit me that's half the battle there.

Well blessings and wishes to you all,
Amanda :)