Aside from it being New Year's Eve this weekend, my days have been overall relaxing and uneventful (a good thing). I have gotten into the habit of reading nightly, which helps keep my thoughts from straying to all the people, places, and things I miss from home. I've finished three books in the last five days, a feat even I am proud of. Since I've graduated from Villanova, I have had this love-hate relationship with reading for pleasure. I think now that I'm so far away, I've gotten over that and started to love books again. The ease of the iPad, the Nook app, and the gift certificates for downloading books has increased my desire to read dramatically, along with many good suggestions for titles that have come my way. Oh, and the Shenyang Book Club. That, too, would encourage my reading. :P
I spent New Year's Eve partying with the BFF (my fellow OMS), her husband, and a number of other friends from the Consulate. Everyone brought over a bottle of wine or champagne, and we toasted the New Year in style. After some dancing, Rock Band, and chatting, I called the night as it was and headed back to my apartment to sleep away most of Sunday. The combination of a skimpy pre-party meal and super-sweet Chinese champagne probably wasn't the best, but no one said life lessons stop after you leave college, right?
I had fully recuperated by Monday and spent the early part of the day with BFF and the husband again, walking around town to see some parks and recreation, specifically Zhong Shan Gong Yuan (中山公园 - middle mountain park) and the small but delightful ice sculpture garden they had erected there. Nothing in comparison to Harbin, the home of the internationally-recognized Ice & Snow Festival, but enough to put smiles on our faces. The best decision of the day? To ride the ice luge on inflatable tubes. For about $1.50, we treked up a mini-mountain made of ice cubes and slid our way down. My happiness couldn't have been greater!
As I said before, nothing spectacular happened, no huge fireworks ceremonies, no crazy nights on the town. Really, it's the casual atmosphere that I'm learning to enjoy as I get more comfortable in Shenyang. I remind myself daily that a) it could be colder b) it will get warmer c) the people make all the difference. I won't lie and say that I don't miss everyone from home IMMENSELY, but I'm getting more in tune with my surroundings. Eating enough food is still a challenge, but compared to the last time I was in China, my range of food options has improved dramatically beyond bananas and pb&j. I have a lot of things planned: cooking classes, grocery shopping with locals, walking excursions town, Chinese lessons; that should help me feel more connected to this place I'm calling home. I'm looking forward to it all!
Until next time.
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