Wo de qing ren

My Husband

Valentines Day was last week, but I still want to say why I think my husband is so great!

We met on the track and cross-country team so long ago. We actually first met in 2002! He was this crazy fun guy (still is) and when we married we thought we were the same person. Probably because we loved to run, and ate, slept, and drank running every hour of every day. The more time that passes we realize just how very different we both are, but we complement each other in so many different ways. He loves life, and lives each day to the fullest. He has taught me a lot about that. He always has something to laugh about, and likes to make others laugh. He is a very optimistic person. He is an extremely hard worker. He is always pushing himself to greater heights in everything he does, and pushes me to do the same. He speaks Chinese well and is not afraid to fight for a taxi! He won't be walked over! He speaks out for the truth, even if it means others will think less of him. He isn't afraid of what others think of him. Sometimes he dances this crazy dance whenever no one is looking, and has vowed to share it with no one but me even though I hope to catch it on camera one of these days. Whenever he hears Shakira, or Beyonce, or Black Eyed Peas, or any other hip hop or upbeat music, he'll automatically start groovin' to the beat-no matter the location. He loves Karaoke and if anyone is ever up for it-there's no question for him, he will go. He loves a party, and friends, and being with friends at parties, and there's never a time he won't want to go. He is really smart and is a quick thinker. He can write a paper, or a talk, or a presentation in under an hour! I spent my entire college career writing papers and could never write a paper that quick. Still can't. We still run together. He treats me as his equal. He loves his nieces and nephews and loves spending time with his family. He calls his parents often to check up on them. He always calls to check up on me or just to say hi at least a few times throughout the day. He is excited for our new baby. I think he'll be a great dad.

Thanks TP for being the best and making life so fun!

Prego my Eggo!

Pop Quiz: which of these two people is four months along and which is about 10 weeks along?

Answer: subject #2 is the one who is actually pregnant. Subject #1 is in the process of growing a new resting spot for a can of coke and the remote (and yes, subject #1 is wearing subject #2's shirt for this photo shoot so they requested that their face not be shown and to remain anonymous).

Lots o' photos of Nanjing and Shanghai

This is the Shanghai subway at rush hour. If you get claustrophobic around crowds of people, this isn't the place for you... Karaoke during the break! You should have seen Taylor shake it during 'Baby Got Back'. It was comparable to MTV rappers girlfriends!

An alleyway in the city.

During our New Years Break in Nanjing, many of the sidewalks we came across had trees in the center of the sidewalk, so it was sometimes difficult to navigate through. Where did we walk then, you ask??? The road... along with all the traffic.

I once heard that Shanghai's National Flag is their underwear, flying and waving strong and proud out of all the apartment windows and balconys.

Photos

Hanging on hangers from a bamboo pole outside a window somewhere in Shanghai: pork and beef, then onto the leg of something, and onto some sort of fish. Below are beef sticks Taylor loves to buy on the streets. Let's hope the meat hasn't come from the hangers above...

From Nanjing: Halfway up the tremendous mountain stairs to Sun Yet Sen Mausoleum.

Woah! What a climb!

Goal accomplished.

At the top! Too bad we couldn't take pictures inside the mausoleum. It was pretty amazing. Thanks for the hat Ben! It was well used during this cold week.

Part of the wall surrounding Nanjing that's still left standing.

This is the Mexican Restaurant that was closed for New Years, but they opened just for us when we wanted lunch. Can you tell it's empty. There were no waiters or waitresses of course, they were on break. Who let us in then? I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine. We think she was the maid...

If you zoom in on this sign, it clearly says the restaurant will be closed until after the New Year.

Rape of Nanjing

For our mini vacation to the city of Nanjing, we went to this awesome memorial TP has been wanting to see ever since reading THE RAPE OF NANKING. In 1937 the Japanese Army burst into Nanjing, which was the capital of China at this time, brutally raping, torturing, and murdering over 300,000 Chinese and, I read that this number is higher than those who died from the blasts of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. They built this memorial right on the spot where they found mass layers of graves from this event. I find it interesting that I never knew a thing about any of this before moving to China. There is so much I don't know about this culturally rich country. Inside the museum we learned the stories of many who had lived through this and what they saw, some who had survived when they should have died, stories from some Chinese soldiers, and even some from the Japanese soldiers, and we also learned of those foreigners who were in Nanjing at this time and some who didn't flee, but set up houses of refuge, and hospital homes to treat those who had been injured. It was really quite fascinating to hear their stories.

This statue is of Irish Chang, the author of THE RAPE OF NANKING: THE FORGOTTEN HOLOCAUST OF WORLD WAR II.

This represents all the footprints of those who died.

These are the actual mass graves. If you look closely you can actually see at least 4 different layers.

Upon exiting there is a statue which reads PEACE.

Nanjing University

With our week of vacation we went to the city of Nanjing. We wanted to see Nanjing University, especially the law library of Nanjing University, especially a plaque on the wall inside the law library of Nanjing University. TP's grandpa is a retired attorney, 95 years old, and he started his law business a long time ago in the small city of Blackfoot, Idaho. Recently he donated all his law books to BYU, who works closely with Nanjing University and sends students over for a flagship program. BYU sent those books over to the Law Library of Nanjing University, where they sit today, along with a plaque to recognize and thank TP's grandpa. Unfortunately, because of the holiday, the buildings were all closed and we weren't able to see this plaque, and we weren't even supposed to be able to go into any buildings at all, but the security guard had compassion on us when he heard our story and he allowed us to go to the 10th floor and take a peek inside.

The beautiful campus of Nanjing University.

I think this is Dumbledore, the wizard from Harry Potter.

The Law Library is on the 10th floor.

welcoming the god of fortune

Shanghai welcoming the god of fortune.

Not your typical New Years

Chinese New Year is nothing like the U.S. The New Year is based off the lunar calendar which is why they celebrate it near the end of January. Their New Year festivities last an entire week where all offices are closed, most restaurants, and people literally light fireworks the entire week long. There are two major firework shows where the entire city is one large smoke bomb: New Years, where they light fireworks to scare off the evil spirits, and 4 days later when they welcome the god of fortune. The pictures below mark the beginning of the New Year celebration which started last Sunday. We partied at a friends till the early morning hours, and were awoken fresh at 9:00 AM to the blasts of fireworks which continued throughout the day. I woke up thinking the city had been attacked in war. The only major firework shows I have ever witnessed have been July 4 and July 24 in the U.S. where only certain officials were allowed to light so many fireworks, and the fire department was near on hand just in case... Not so in China! They sell all sorts of fireworks on the street to whoever wants, and you can light them anywhere, anytime throughout the week. TP had the most fun lighting firecrackers and throwing them in narrow dark alleys, in garbage cans with the lids closed so the top would blow off, off our balcony, and my favorite was when he helped two elderly women hang firecrackers from the trees.

I loved the fact that since Shanghai consists of mostly high rises, when the large fireworks exploded they were on eye level!

For some reason someone thought it would be funny to light a large firework off the balcony of the 18th floor WHILE HOLDING IT?? It was extremely exciting...especially since no one got hurt...except the guy lighting it. He lit it, turned away, and after the initial blast he turned to look back with mouth wide open in awe, thinking it was over, just when the second blast occurred and schrapnel flew into his open mouth, hit his uvula, and immediately it swelled and bled a little. This is what that first picture on the post belongs to.

Christmas Photo 2008

FAMILY CHRISTMAS PHOTO 2008

Thanks Larah for these great pictures! They turned out great!