Recently Rachel, Maddie, Mom, and I took the Vanderarks (a family that came to visit us with two girls the ages of Rahel and myself) to JiXian.  JiXian is a small village right next to a section of the Great Wall, two hours from Tianjin, it is also the location of a Ropes Course that was constructed by LDI, our company, for the use of team building for either TIS students or groups of Chinese kids.  I have only visited this village one time before, and at that time was able to do only a part of the Ropes Course, because it was still under construction.  However on my visit this time we were allowed to do the whole Course.  I was so excited and a bit apprehensive on the part of my caste.  However once I got up there my caste didn't hinder me at all!  I had tons of fun maneuvering around the Course and challenging myself with really stomach wrenching parts of the Course.  My favorite activity was one where all you could stand on was one thin cable and then to steady yourself you had to hold on to hanging ropes and shimmy your way from one to another until you reach the other end.  I not only enjoying the Ropes Course itself, but being so high up gave a great view of the pretty scenery around the Course!  I had an exciting and fun filled time on the Ropes Course and I am very thankful that I got the opportunity!

Call my crazy, but believe it or not this year is the first time I've been to the Forbidden City.  I've always wanted to see it, but it's not like we visit Beijing every weekend.  So when my  grandparents came to visit I finally had an excuse to go see it.  Though it was hot that day I was thankful that it was still breezy, and the Forbidden City was not too crowded either.  I found it so interesting to see all the separate throne rooms and walk in the many court yards of the palace.  Most of the palace had been restored, however you could still see the original artwork of some building, which made the whole experience even more interesting!  I really enjoyed visiting the Forbidden City and I think I will always find the it a mysterious and excited place to see here in China!  

It was my first Sunday out of school and I was, of course, so excited to start my summer vacation.  Michael, Rachel and Dad went sight seeing in Hong Kong with our grandparents who came to visit, so Maddie, Mom and I decided to bike to church.  After church we stopped by Emart to pick up some lunch and Bubble Tea before heading home.  On the way to church mom had biked Megan and I rode on the electric bike, but on the way back I convinced mom to let me ride Megan because she was tired.  Well, as I maneuvered around a big dirt truck I lost control of the bike and hit the curb.  The Bubble Teas were crushed and spilled, and I was not in a much better shape.  Megan thankfully came out of it with hardly a scratch. I, on the other hand, had two bleeding knees, a scraped up foot, and (later discovered) a fractured wrist.  What a way to start your summer!   Though showering, swimming, opening water bottles, doing cart-wheels, etc. etc. are all much harder with a bulky caste, I am thankful that it was only a 'hair line' fracture and that I didn't break my leg or something else.

Recently Rachel, Maddie, Mom, and I took the Vander Arks (a family that came to visit us with two girls the ages of Rachel and myself) to JiXian.  JiXian is a small village right next to a section of the Great Wall, two hours from Tianjin, it is also the location of a Ropes Course that was constructed by LDi for the use of team building for either TIS students or groups of business professionals.  I have only visited this village one time before, and at that time was able to do only a part of the Ropes Course, because it was still under construction.  However, on my visit this time we were allowed to do the whole Course.  I was so excited and a bit apprehensive with my arm in a cast.  However, once I got up there my cast didn’t hinder me at all!  I had tons of fun maneuvering around the elements and challenging myself with really stomach-wrenching parts of the Course.  My favorite activity was one where all you had to stand on one thin cable and then to steady yourself you had to hold on to hanging ropes and shimmy your way from one to another until you reach the other end.  I not only enjoying the Ropes Course itself, but being so high up gave a great view of the beautiful scenery around the Course!  I had an exciting and fun filled time on the Ropes Course and I am very thankful that I got the opportunity!

This year's Spring Trip seemed to come up so fast! I look forward to this week all year and then in the last days before the trip I'm too busy to even think about it!  This year the 9th grade class went to YunNan, the Southwest part of China.  It was a really amazing trip!  The scenery in YunNan was breathtaking!  I also had a really fun time playing with all my friends.  I thought it was one of the most uniting Spring Trips I've been on!  One of my favorite parts of the trip was the 6 hour hike around the Tiger Leaping Gorge (yes I said SIX hour hike).  We started the hike at mid day, the hottest time.  And for awhile we walked on a hot black asphalt road that winded on the edge of the gorge.  Then the real hike began… It was hot and dusty and some times I wondered if I'd just fall over and faint, but I didn't.  That's a blessing in itself 😉   However, once I got to half way point and the trek start going down hill I had a much more fun time!  There was one part of the hike where we had to cross a small waterfall by hopping from stone to stone to avoid having wet tennis shoes!  And when we finally finished the hike it was becoming evening and the air was cool and refreshing.  I might not have thought so in the beginning, but now I believe that hike was my favorite part of the trip! 

Henna has become a favorite hobby of mine since I tried it in my 7th grade art class.  I love the intricate designs, fragrant smell, and orangery color tattoo of the henna.  I am always eager to practice on people to improve my skills.  When I signed up to do Henna at our school's Christmas Bazaar I didn't know how many "henna fans" we actually had at our school.  I was literally doing henna nonstop for 4 hours!  Since it was such a big hit, the activity director at our school asked me to do henna at TIS's 25th Anniversary celebration.  I knew that I might possibly be flocked again, and I was right.  Once I sat down at the table I did get up until the ceremonies stared two to three hours later!  Though I was very tired after wards I still enjoyed the experience and practice.

Call my crazy, but believe it or not this year is the first time I’ve been to the Forbidden City.  I’ve always wanted to see it, but it’s not like we visit Beijing every weekend.  So when my  grandparents came to visit I finally had an excuse to go see it.  Though it was hot that day I was thankful that it was still breezy, and the Forbidden City was not too crowded either.  I found it so interesting to see all the separate throne rooms and walk in the many court yards of the palace.  Most of the palace had been restored, however you could still see the original artwork of some building, which made the whole experience even more interesting!  I really enjoyed visiting the Forbidden City and I think I will always find the it a mysterious and excited place to see here in China!  

Tianjin holds one of the world’s tallest Ferris wheels, the Tianjin Eye.  This is another touristy attraction that I have not visited until this summer, and I don’t even have distance as an excuse this time.  I went with my grandparents and cousin and took a boat ride down the HaiHe river that runs through Tianjin.  Then we walked over to the Tianjin Eye, which is, notably, one of the only Ferris wheels that straddles water in the world.   A whole rotation on the Eye takes 30 minutes.  It was a very pleasurable ride; there was air conditioning and it could hold our whole party of eight.  The view at the top of the Eye was breathtaking, though a bit scary!  I am glad I had the opportunity to go, and I had a great time talking and laughing with my grandparents and cousin!

Tianjin holds one of the world’s tallest Ferris wheels, the Tianjin Eye.  This is another touristy attraction that I have not visited until this summer, and I don’t even have distance as an excuse this time.  I went with my grandparents and cousin and took a boat ride down the HaiHe river that runs through Tianjin.  Then we walked over to the Tianjin Eye, which is, notably, one of the only Ferris wheels that straddles water.   A whole rotation on the Eye takes 30 minutes.  It was a very pleasurable ride; there was air conditioning and it could hold our whole party of eight.  The view at the top of the Eye was breathtaking, though a bit scary!  I am glad I had the opportunity to go, and I had a great time talking and laughing with my grandparents and cousin!

It was my first Sunday out of school and I was, of course, so excited to start my summer vacation.  Michael, Rachel and Dad went sight seeing in Hong Kong with our grandparents who came to visit, so Maddie, Mom and I decided to bike to church.  After church we stopped by Emart to pick up some lunch and Bubble Tea before heading home.  On the way to church mom had biked Megan and I rode on the electric bike, but on the way back I convinced mom to let me ride Megan because she was tired.  Well, as I maneuvered around a big dirt truck I lost control of the bike and hit the curb.  The Bubble Teas were crushed and spilled, and I was not in a much better shape.  Megan thankfully came out of it with hardly a scratch. I, on the other hand, had two bleeding knees, a scraped up foot, and (later discovered) a fractured wrist.  What a way to start your summer!   Though showering, swimming, opening water bottles, doing cart-wheels, etc. etc. are all much harder with a bulky cast, I am thankful that it was only a ‘hair line’ fracture and that I didn’t break my leg or something else.