County Fairs and slobbering dogs.

I've been home since July 26th, that seems like so long ago.  I left when it was cold and returned when it was cold because Minnesota has decided that it no longer believes in spring or summer.  I spent several days with my parents because I am unemployed and an adult. I am an unemployed adult who just returned from living on a goddamn island.  I guess I can't say it is all that bad.  I went back and asked about getting back my position as an advocate at the job I voluntarily left so that I could go abroad and unfortunately they could not hold it for me, which makes since considering it is a homeless shelter and they are constantly in need of employees..except now..when I want a job again.

I was told that I was clearly at the top of the list for the job but when the spot becomes open again they have to open it up to the public as well, which I understand. I just really don't want to have to look for a new job because I really loved the job and I definitely want to go back to it if at all possible.

I have been cold since they day I returned from Guam...not that I want to experience China heat because that was the worst, but being warm would be nice to experience before having to deal with winter.  The group that I went to Guam with ended up on the University of Guam's Undergraduate Catalog.  I'm not even a student there anymore.  Kind of neat though, it was a great trip and I am so glad that I was able to have the opportunity to go.

I was able to go to the cities and see my niece for her third birthday and that was exciting, her birthdays are always fun and I like seeing my family too, no photos though because we have a pretty strict policy on not posting photos of small children in our family on the internet.  As far as I know there is no policy regarding my posting of this:

Went back to Fargo for just a few days to bring back my clothes and all the junk I brought home with me before I left. I can't believe how much I had to bring home, I locked up my place a couple weeks before I left so I had to bring a lot of my stuff home so I had stuff while I was at my parents. I called Ali when I was home and she came over and we made some gluten free homemade pizza and cleaned up my place and threw out a lot of crap I was just hanging onto.  I also decided at some point to use the bathroom because that is what people have to do after drinking water and fluids and stuff..and my toilet was moldy.  Not just like a spot, but the entire seat was covered in mold and the bowl had mold in it as well.  What a lovely welcome home from my apartment.  A little bleach took care of that.

   Baby Levi keeping a watchful eye on the oven

 Friends..what are they good for?

 Thanks Empire, this is much classier than the carving that says "Shave that Bearded Clam!"

Went to Battle Lake to see one of my favorite professors and spend the day with her and a friend of mine.  This photo succinctly sums up the entire day:

We ate at Zorbaz in Otter Tail and discussed the disgusting and sexist hiring "policy" that appears to be in place.  None of the servers appear to be over 18 and it is very homogenous in appearance...mildly creepy.  I would love to see the hiring requirements.  Went to the Zorbaz on the lake in Alexandria and it was exactly the same....so I guess a career in waitressing is not an option for me.

I haven't really done much since I have had an incredibly short summer since I was in China and Guam.  I was able to get to the Douglas County Fair which is an annual summer tradition in which Becky and I lose money playing bingo and violently barf for the remainder of the evening after eating deep fried food and pounds of cheese curds.

Oh, and goats:

The county fair is always an excellent time.

Let's talk about how good I am with children, shall we?

Living on the edge of a double rainbow of happiness here on the farm...

Working on a project:

Not finished yet, still have to paint the inside cream and highlight the etchings on the front.  Should be pretty good looking by the time I'm all done.  Just have to finish it.  Finishing up the windows and getting a new living room set and I'll be all done with everything in my new place...weird that it is still basically new since I haven't lived there for 7 months.

Cake mix from Baby Levi's birthday cupcake.

It's been a relaxing last few weeks, now I just have one more week left before school starts and I am excited but also bummed.  I spent almost all of my summer being awesome on Guam instead of being awesome in Fargo with my friends.  But you can't beat this:

A goodbye is never painful unless you're never going to say hello again.

This is SO embarrassing, ha.  I don't know if it even makes sense.

I am, by all accounts, not a sentimental person. I am not the person that gives small tokens or gifts, or even cards.  It is not because I am selfish, it is simply because I am not wired that way.  Sentiments are lost on me at times and sometimes I wonder if maybe I do have Asperger's..it would definitely explain a lot of the awkwardness that occurs in my life but it would not account for the love that I truly feel for people or the emotions that I do have that on some occasions actually happen.

I am a private person, but I am willing to tell my stories if people ask or are interested.
I am willing to get to know others, but I would rather observe the world around me than really be a part of it.  
I am better at watching than participating.

I left so much of my private world behind when I chose to come to Guam and I was thrown into a world that did not agree with me and I struggled enormously with the repercussions of what happens when I do not have privacy, or the peace that my mind needs.  After a couple of months that could only be described as the absolute worst that I have ever endured, I made the decision to go to China  to study Mandarin and learn about Chinese culture.  It was an exploration of my confidence and my ability to be surrounding by people I barely knew and have all of my peace taken away from me.  I am not good with people.  I am easily irritated, annoyed, and selfish to the point of abandoning the purpose of what is to be done.  I suppose I did make some memories, ones that will always be important to me.

My certificate...not sure that I completed the class so much on my own, ha.

The lunch that we got after receiving our certificates.. delicious, as Chinese food so often is.

A photo of  Eric taking a photo of us, ha.

My two amazing tutors who told me I just need to have confidence in my ability to learn a new language.

Shane and I with our tutors...Shane was a fantastic partner and way more advanced than I was at Chinese.

Cassie, as adorable as ever.

Dr. Sun who so kindly invited us into his home and made us a wonderful dinner of dumplings and chicken.

Happy times!

Daisy! She thought I was 19, I love her so much for that... she said it was my spirit, so bubbly and happy.

Joanna, such a wonderful person and so sad.  No more tears Joanna, we will all meet again!

My Maggie, such a wonderful and amazing person. I will miss her so much!

Beep! Beep!

We gave them I love Guam passport covers, and they were sparkly and pink..so of course we had to give on to him..ha.

Stop being so skinny and then maybe the shirt would fit.

So serious.

The Wolf Pack.

Hanging out in the Hong Kong airport....for five or so hours.

Eric and I found the Hong Kong Disneyland Store in the airport and they had a Golden Mickey display.. yay!

I realized a lot on this trip, that despite my increasing insecurities about myself, my body, and my age, I am happy and it is truly important to me to make other people around me happy at all times.  I also crave peace and privacy. In fact, I demand it..my body and my mind need it so much that I easily get lost in every day activities when I don't have the ability to get lost in my own world when I am alone.

I also learned a handful of important things while in China:

Men WILL shove you into garbage cans, push you with their briefcases, and generally have no remorse for their shoving you into inanimate objects in their quest to get on the ferry, the subway, or moving about in Disneyland.

Small children will also shove you down stairwells if you don't speed it up.

Old ladies will also demand that you move quickly by pushing you out of their way with their umbrella.

Don't EVER leave home without an umbrella. EVER.

It is really hot in China and then it rains, and it is still hot.

People are really nice when you have a chance to speak to them.

Do NOT smile at the customs agents.

If you ask what is good on a menu, they will tell  you "Everything."

The food is delicious.

Street markets are super fun.

Speak Chinese and make your life a whole lot easier.

Mostly everything is super shiny and bright unless you are in the mountains or at a street market.

Pandas are a national treasure and deserve to be treated as such. Love the pandas and they will love you back.

So. Clean.  Even in the street markets and the alleys, so clean.  They even have trash receptacles for doggy waste.  People in Macau and Hong Kong LOVE their dogs...I approve.

There wasn't a whole lot of culture shock..I mean I guess I don't really know what culture shock is.  I'm a fairly reasonable human being who understands that there is a world outside of the USA! USA! USA! but I will not get over the pushing and shoving, but you get that in New York, which is probably why I don't like New York.  Busy, busy, busy-ness isn't exactly my cup of tea.  I like to move slowly...as slowly as possible and in light to moderate heat.

Like the title says, a goodbye is never painful unless you're never going to say hello again.  There is never any good when one has to say goodbye, but we will all have the memories of what we left behind in China.  I may not have given sentiments of my gratitude, but what I can give to you are the words of my gratitude and the lasting impression that you have all made on me.