May 10, 2016

Dear Mom and everyone else, Nimen hao! Here is the long-awaited email. Well, I don't know if you were waiting for it, but I was anxious to write it, and I haven't been able to. Last week was a four-day school week, which is really the only consolation for going back after a three-day weekend. But, it wasn't too hard of a week. Or, if it was, I'm used to it by now, so it doesn't bother me. Amelia spends very little time in the apartment, so I spend a lot of time alone in the evenings. To keep from going crazy, last week I went for a walk every night. I got to bed later as a result, so now I'm tired all the time, but I had fun exploring. One night, I came upon a dance performance on a street next to my school. And, of course, they were all impressed by the white girl in the crowd. But, tonight I've decided to stay home and relax and get things done. The weather is still crazy. Mom, don't ever come to Suzhou at this time of year. You will die. Last week was so muggy! I couldn't help but imagine you here, complaining. The one night last week that Amelia was actually home for a little while before leaving again, we were talking about how our mothers are both the same when it comes to heat. She jokingly said, "My mum and your mum can go on holiday together. To Antarctica. We'll go to Spain." But then, it rains a lot, too, and cools down a lot. Yesterday I wore a sweater and a jacket. It makes me so happy to feel the rain on my face, and I try to imagine the smell of wet sage brush, and Ally and me going outside and dancing in it. It really wasn't too exciting of a week, but the weekend was interesting. It was another rainy Saturday. (Big surprise.) Also the air pollution was supposedly really high. But, I can't sit inside all day. I just can't. Conference weekend was a killer, and I can't do that again. I have to get out and go somewhere. I've been wanting to find Stone Lake, which is only about a half hour's walk from my house, so I went there. There were hardly any people there, except for a group that stopped to get their pictures with me. Other than that, it was quiet and peaceful, and the sight of the willows by the side of the lake in the rain made it feel a bit like a fairy tale setting. There is some nice, old building with a nice courtyard that probably has some kind of historical significance, and I found the entrance seven minutes before the guards closed it, but I walked through it a little. It felt like something from a ghost story on that particular day, but I'm sure it's really nice on a bright, sunny day when there are other people there. Across the lake, there's the entrance to Shangfangshan Park, which has a giant golden Buddha and a pagoda. I didn't go in there. It costs forty kuai, and it will have to wait until after payday, but I know where it is, now. After finding that, I was trying to find how to get back into the park by the lake, so I turned down a little side road and ended up in what seemed like a secluded little farming village from another time. It was nice to look at, but the few people who I saw there didn't seem very welcoming. They stopped what they were doing to stare at me as I passed, as if to say, "What the heck is she doing here?" I was thinking, "Don't mind me. I ended up here by accident. I'm literally just passing through to find how to get the heck out of here. Don't hurt me." (They wouldn't have hurt me, I'm sure, but it was still awkward.) Then, I eventually found the way back to the park and meandered on my way home. I'll admit, it was nice to have that humbling experience after all those people who act like I'm a celebrity. Also, I learned just how close to the edge of town I really am. Sunday was beautiful. Not only was it another spiritual feast in church, but after church, the Swopes invited me, along with three others, to eat dinner at their house. We had hamburgers and hot dogs. Brother Swope was trying to get his new grill to work, but in the end, they just gave up and cooked in the kitchen, because the Chinese charcoal was too slow. When the fire was just right, we roasted marshmallows on the balcony and made s'mores. It wasn't the same, especially since there were no real Graham crackers, but it was fun. We sat and talked about lots of different things, and Heather Swope and Joan gave me the visiting teaching message. For the first time since I've been here, it felt like a real Sunday. I mean, I've kept the Sabbath day holy, but it's not the same when you have to spend Sunday afternoons by yourself, and dinner is leftovers. I've been so blessed in America to be able to be surrounded by friends and family where we could enjoy the Sabbath together, and I was finally able to feel like that again. I feel so much more strengthened for the week now. This week is already almost half over. Time flies so quickly! Then, I'll blink again, and it will be Friday, and time for another weekend. This week hasn't been very exciting so far. I've started another two-week cycle, so I'm getting through more writer's block and lesson planning, and whatnot. But, so far, so good. Monday night was our weekly Chinese lesson. Mr. Wang always teaches us a Chinese song when we start to get tired. So far, the only one I'm actually able to sing is "Tian Mimi," but it's always fun. At least, I have fun. I guess that's it. Today I saw the most gorgeous butterfly. Seriously, I have never seen a butterfly like that one. I needed to take a walk in the garden outside, because being in the office all day makes me so sleepy, and I saw it flying around. He wasn't camera shy at all! And on the way home, I bought a snack that tasted really nice, although I suspect it may have been dog meat. (I really hope not. Scoop would never forgive me!) Other than that, nothing exciting really happened today, and that's not always a bad thing. I hope your Mothers' Day was nice. I though of you, and drew a moose and ElastiGirl on my Sacrament program in honor of you. I'm glad you got to talk to Rachel. Mom, thanks for the WeChat message. It made my day. I love you, and more importantly, God loves you. He knows you and your frustrations and your joys, and He is always mindful of you. Don't be afraid to accept help when you need it. We're all mortal, and we all depend on each other. (Sorry to go all sappy on you there, but it's true.) I had better go now, and get things done, so I can get to bed early for once. Love, Chelsey<3 hpaich on