Exploring Guzhen!

Fireworks from the new year are 

strewn all over the city.

Since the flood I haven't had the chance to take any pictures because I lost my camera. But we have been having loads of fun getting to know our city better. I LOVE it here in Guzhen! Four months is definitely not long enough to see everything. This city... its made for me. Its small enough that I can really get to know the people here, but big enough that there is always something to do. 

Some neighborhood women taking 

the kids home from school.

    Almost every day we walk to the local plaza for groceries. Yesterday as we took this walk, I realized how many friends we have made since being here. On our walk we pass by our favorite noodle place and all the girls come out waiving and smiling. There is one girl that works there... she has the BIGGEST smile I have ever seen. She is my favorite. She is about 4 feet tall and the most precious thing you have ever seen. Every time I see her she just lights up. SO smiley. I love it.

Katie, Me, Alice (our awesome coordinator we spend 

most of our time with), Roxann, and Stevie.

Then as we keep walking we pass our favorite palm readers. They sit on the street and tell you your future. (In chinese of coarse) But whenever I walk by I sit down, grab their palm and proceed to tell them, (with very very VERY limited chinese), what I see for them in this life. Hahaha. They crack up every time and always try to offer me whatever food they are eating at the time. We wave at our friends at the mechanic shop. They always ask us if we are eating. To which our reply is most often, "yes." We are American. They think its all we do. Then we walk by the most fabulously dressed chinese men at our favorite hair salon. The girls usually stop by once a week to get "washy-washy." For one american dollar they massage your head, wash, and style your hair. They love our hair because its a different color. They will spend so much extra time playing with our hair and listening to music with us. Its a fun, cheap thing to do and we have made such good friends with them. 

One day I was looking around and not 

paying attention, as usual, 

and I fell into a hole in the ground! 

I got some awesome China juice 

all over my clothes. It was great!

Then after a ways we finally get to my pineapple lady. There are several carts on the corner selling fruit. But this one lady... she's so adorable and always remembers my chinese name. She knows I will buy a pineapple EVERY time I walk by. She always tries to give me a discount by throwing in a few peanuts in my bag. Sweetest lady ever. Its people like her that remind me why I came back. Why I never want to leave. 

Incense from a nearby temple. 

This old man always invites us to come pray 

with him on Sundays. He's so adorable.

It would be impossible to write about every person we see on our short little walk to the market. But just know that its a walk filled with friends and smiles. I am so grateful for the small town feel here. I really feel like Guzhen is officially home to me now. The people here are so amazing and I am so grateful for the many friends I have made and look forward to the ones we are bound to make in the future.

My prayers are with the people in Japan. Our kids have been doing earthquake drills. It has everyone here a little frazzled but I am sure we will be safe. I love you all. I miss you family!