My Changsha~ The Tijuana of China - mychangsha

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Me & Jen
Jen is from Santa Clara, so we represent the bay! This is us waiting for our flight from LAX to Hong Kong.

Freshening Up in the HK Airport Bathroom
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Bathroom Make Over
Yep that's my yoga mat and hello kitty holder

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We have a connection
Finally at the airport we can connect to the internet! So we all skype!

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We have 12 hours here at the airport
so we P-L-A-Y!

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I <3 HK
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On the bus to our hotel
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That's Jay behind us...
Jay was in my practicum group too.

Warmly Welcome the Volunteers of WorldTeach!
Warmly Welcome the Volunteers of WorldTeach! This is the sign at the front of the school. Everyday the volunteers come here for our orientation. We get here around 8 a.m. and leave around

Table Representions
This table has something from every volunteer to represent him/herself. I brought my visualization board. On the first day of orientation we had to say where we are from and how the object we brought represented ourself. My fellow volunteers oohed and awed. 

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Love your life, look out for fires
There are many wonderful signs in English and Chinese all around Changsha!

This is in my hotel room
A lovely reminder to those staying in our hotel. The funny thing is if you go on the 3rd floor there is a brothel. Hmm....

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Little Lion/Dragons everywhere
Almost every entrance to every store has these little guardian dragons/lion/dogs.  One of the volunteers told me that each statue represents different things. For example there are some that have a baby in it's mouth, she said that meant women entered through this door, not men. Also, some have balls in their mouth, she said, that meant the owner wanted to greet/protect prosperity and luck. I'm not sure if this is accurate? 

Grandfathers Salon
This is a little friend that I made at a place called Grandfathers Salon.  Grandfathers Salon is a classroom/class to practice English. 

Group Shot @ Grandfathers Salon
So when I arrived to this class, the kids starting clapping. Some kids even started to take photos. I stopped and looked behind me to see who they were clapping for. Turns out it was me they were clapping for. For the first time I think I can imagine what it feels like for someone famous. Here in Changsha, being a foreigner is like being a celebrity. It's really weird. 

In the middle of this picture we are foreigners
Starting with Anne Marie, I forgot this guys name, Zak, Elena, Me, Hana.

See 3 years olds are self sufficent
This kid is capable of getting his own water to clean up! That's what I'm talking about no need for a Nanny....

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Sometimes it takes just one...
This red basket has plastic bottles because I started this movement at lunch! Before everyone would put their bottles in the trash but now they don't! Awesomeness...

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Everybody was....
This is a Chinese Kung Fu teacher showing us some moves.

Kung FU...


Fighting...


HuH!


HuH!
I'm so coordinated!

My Group
Me, Melissa, Sarah, Lucy, Heather, Jenny is behind the camera!

We're lost!
And there's Jenny!

The wheels on the bus
go round and round

Me & Lucy
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This is for Roshan
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It's funny because
We were screaming congrats and this was just a wedding photo shoot to sell dresses!

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I <3 Rule #3
I have to remind myself about that when it comes to my Mandarin!

Class Consequences
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Natasha & Me
Together we defend what we will teach the kids about Africa!

Josie & Allen
Basically this is our relationship. He is an alpha male and I'm an alpha female, LOL.

Jay & Me
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Diane & Me
This is during our teaching practicum week! Actually our last day of class :(

Power Points
So my group decided to take our students around the world in one week. On the last day we traveled to Asia. We told our students all week that they would present China to us, the teachers. We split the students into four groups and to our surprise they made power point presentations. Totally unexpected!

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Teacher Allen
Allen taught English in Africa w/ the Peace Corps. Diane and I would laugh at his African accent while teaching our Chinese students. 

Unique foods to Changsha
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Raising the bar
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the knife to cut the cake
snapped in half :(

Because our students were great!
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Oh Tom...
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This is Cathy
Super sweet and totally reminds me of the girl from Rush Hour...

Josie, Leo, Carlos
We gave Leo his English name :)

This is Robert
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Teacher Josie and the girls
Hey we all have glasses!

Name tags and stickers
We would reward our students with stickers when they followed rules/participated in class. On the last day we had a prize for the student with the most stickers!

Teachers in the back students in the front
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Some of our kids in our classroom
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Me & Brian
The star of my Chinese music video. Brian is very funny.

Heather & Arvin
Arvin claims he doesn't smile in pics...

We are veggies
Elise and me are vegetarians, we're cool, LOL. 

Emily & Katie
Oh wait I forgot Katie is a vegetarian too! 

Sean & Dana Cook
Elise and I were teasing Sean because he claims he's a chef and so into cooking but we reminded him the first day of orientation we had to bring something to explain about ourselves and he brought Easy Mac! Right a lot skills to make that!

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This is Courtney
She's on the computer looking at our teacher's photo website. Our teacher is also a photographer she has photo shows and contributes her earnings to a charity she started for minority groups in China.  

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Jessen Chops!
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Dave and Lorriane
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Self Portrait
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Micheala, Emily, Katie
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Time to eat!
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My skit partner Heather
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I <3 her
Danahh my Mandarin Teacher.

Level 1 Mandarin Tigers
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Meow...
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Emily
Mandarin is easy for her! Lucky!

Women dancing in the park
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OMG there's a bunny
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I want to be like trees...
Grounded yet able to bend with the breeze...

This is Melissa
Such a wonderful roommate :)

Cherish plants and lives
Around this wonderful big park that kind of reminds me of Golden Gate Park back home live these signs...

Word.
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To the left to the left
Diane... you should have told me to look the other way!

Dancing in the park
On our photo scavenger hunt we were supposed to get a photo dancing in the park with the locals. Silly boys!

As many as we can
Pictures with famous Chinese leaders. But where are the women?

A pic w/ something Western
Above us is Mc Donalds.

Walking on "Walking Street"
This is Walking Street located in the heart of Changsha. It is like seven blocks filled with many stores to shop. It is like Union Square in SF. Next to walking street is "Snack Street" and "Bar Street" you get it...

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Are you Hindu?
Man in photo: Woman, woman, are you hindu? 

Stinky Tofu
It's Changsha's number one snack. It does stink but it's not so bad.

Delicious Fruits
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This meat smelled so good...
But too bad I'm practing being a veggie eater.

Allen & Brian
Eating stinky tofu.

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Not something I see everyday in the States
We had to get a photo of food we don't see everyday.

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My turn!
Stinky tofu...

inside Micky D's
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My new boy friend in China
he's hot.

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A newspaper in English
because everything, I mean everything is in Chinese characters.

Environmental Protection
Love our homeland

Practice what you preach
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This is the school...
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playing
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Looking up through the roof...
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This is at a store
Apparently, this little store within a big store is called Mexican because everything in it is made of leather. I'm not sure about this.

Josie & Jen
Although I'm practicing being a vegetarian, I did go out and eat crawfish, crab, and frog. It was delicious. And a first for me, well not frog or crab. 

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Derek, Kid Singer, Chrystal
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Confused with the menu
Thank god we had Jen. To her right is Micah and my roomie Melissa. 

Arvin, Me, and Crawfish
Yum Yum

We're messy
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Big o' bowl of Crab
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Mosquitos <3 Me
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Dance off pants off party
This is Allen and he loves to take off his pants. We had this party in his room. I had on clothes under my robe but he did not. Yikes!

West Side
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Pink slippers
One pair belongs to Allen, the other to me.

That's not my name...
Everyone singing.

Party Animals
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WOrd.
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At the park
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Makeshift tents?
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Jay & Allen
One photo we had to take for our photo scavenger hunt. 

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Take a daring photo...
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Sick!
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I'm a grandma so I need Redbull
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This is Shawn
I always tease him because he passed out when we had to get our medical exams and before we went out he had a nose bleed. Poor guy.

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This is Jolie she's from Chicago
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This is a performer in the club
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This is Dave he's from N.Y.
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This is Allen working the pole at the club...
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Josie, Katie, Diane
We were ditched because the other Americans we were with got kicked out of the club for bringing in beer! We still had a good time though...

Me, my Mandarin Teacher Dana, Loraine
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Me, Alayna, Melissa, Chrystal
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TRI-POD
We called ourselves this durning teaching practicum.

this is bonnie
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my hotel roommate melissa
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me and elise
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me and heather
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Victoria & Me
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roy josie shawn
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Selling paint for your home
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KFC and they deliver
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this is the character for the internet
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where they place ads on the bus
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Just a little incision
Ads on the bus located right in front of you while you are seated.

Means Hello in Mandarin
Ni sounds like Knee...

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Breakfast of Orientation Champions
Around $1.50 USD

Anything is Possible
Indeed!

Thanks for the reminder
Everyday the hotel would remind us what day it was!

Two Tigers.m4v

Changsha Wish.m4v

I went on a field trip to the river with local Changsha Hunan University students. At the river walk you can find performers, dancers, and people out enjoying the night when it is a little cooler here. Enjoy!

Chinese Music Video Group 2.m4v

So on our "day off" we had to complete a photo scavenger hunt. In addition to photos we had to create a Chinese Music Video. I was the camera woman and editor :) The music was contributed from a man who was sitting with a very loud speaker. All of the people in the video are volunteer/teachers in my practicum group. 

 

August 2-24, 2009

I’ve been out of the loop this I know. For the past three weeks, the title of my journal entry has been my life. I’m wrapping up this WorldTeach Orientation and moving into my apartment. In less than one week I will begin teaching.

 

Some reflection.

 

Well, Asia and I have a unique connection. In 2007, the day before I left to Thailand I spent my whole day at the passport office, packed with other Americans, we were all experiencing the same delay. All of us had to rush out to get an additional set of photos. Every time I look at my passport it’s a reminder of my experience, the first time I left the States. Coincidentally, on this China trip, I had another passport issue. I forgot it at the house.  My sister and I couldn’t believe it. We had to drive back to get it. I was an hour late to the airport and missed the “Meet and Greet.” It was okay, being the extrovert that I am, with my extra free time, our flight had been delayed, I introduced myself to everyone.

 

There is another connection I have to share. When my Peace Corp site was cut due to the “Economic Crisis,” I went to visit my dear friend, Wendy. She mentioned that her friend’s son was teaching in a program abroad and she’d get back to me with more details.

 

I found WorldTeach on my own and told her about it via email. She replied to me including the same organization. Ahhh a connection! I felt better knowing someone who knew someone else who’d gone through this program. I felt even better when Wendy, emailed me introducing me to Phil. He was also participating in the China Program! When I met Phil, at LAX on my personal meet and greet, it was nice to put a face to a name. Phil and I ended up having seats right next to one another on our flight too.

 

When we arrived to the Hong Kong airport we were given $50 vouchers for our delay and for not having headphones on our flight. We also had a very long lay over waiting to go to Changsha but we had the Internet along with access to Blogger, Twitter, and Facebook, which I do not have anymore. Sad.

 

Arriving to Changsha.

When we got off the plane the WorldTeach staff greeted us, “Hello Josephina.” They were so happy to meet me. It felt strange but comforting, they recognized me from my photos as well as reading/memorizing my file. After we got onto buses to the hotel, I was able to see my new neighborhood. It turns out I was only ten minutes away from my school.

 

In the hotel lobby we received our room keys and I then met my roommate for the next month, Melissa. She lives in Big Bear California. Melissa is a poster girl for R.E.I.

I really enjoyed having her as a roommate.

 

Week One:

Our first day of orientation was intense. Rise and shine up and early Melissa and I took a run around the park. Well, Melissa had just finished a marathon before we arrived in China, so it was more like she went for the run and I jogged.

 

The park we went to is called Martyr’s Park. It is beautiful and totally reminds me of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. I find it unique because there is an abundance of community. I truly admire the diversity in the age groups dwelling here. People come together and dance, mediate, walk, in the mornings and evenings. One day I will be tempted to join the dancing groups, most likely the salsa/samba group.

 

My Orientation schedule included: TEFL theory, Mandarin Lessons, Cultural Class, and WorldTeach practicalities. We had an hour break for lunch and dinner. After dinner we had two options. One, we could meet up with local Hunan University students to show us around the city. Two, we could participate in Grandfathers salon. This is how I would spend everyday 8a.m.- 9 p.m.

 

Grandfather’s Salon

One evening after dinner, I chose to participate at Grandfather’s Salon. This is a classroom devoted to English speaking/activities. I was the first volunteer to arrive to the classroom. When I walked immediately sixty students applauded. I stopped and turned around to see who they were clapping for? It was for me, it took me a second to realize this and it made me feel funny inside. I couldn’t wait for other volunteers to arrive.

 

When they did we were put into groups and sat with the students. They were so excited to practice their English with a native speaker. The students in my group played a game with me. In a circle someone closes his or her eyes and claps, the other people pass around a paper. When the clapping stops the person with the paper has to sing. The first person to sing was ME! I pleaded, “No thanks, really I’m not a good singer, I will hurt your ears.” The girls in the group chanted, “Don’t be shy give it a try.”  So I sang “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” 

 

After the group activity the whole class had a competition, the Foreigners versus the Chinese. They would perform something, a song or skit, and then we had to. We did things like the YMCA dance, I said my ABC’s backwards, silly things like this.

 

Hunan University Student Tours

One night we went out to the River walk. Where people go to walk and watch performances: opera, music, dancing, etc. People also go just to hang out, relax, play card games, and such because it is cooler by the water. The video I included on the home page, has my group making Chinese Paper Art. You make a wish and send it into the sky. After the River walk we went to snack street, a street filled with lots of food vendors and restaurants, to of course have snacks. We went to a buffet style restaurant, where carts are brought to your table with different little dishes and you pick.

 

Cultural Observation

The first Sunday here we had a personal morning so Melissa, a few other volunteers, and I did yoga in the park. I have to admit it was a bit distracting hearing camera shutters while I remained in silence, eyes closed, and sending out my vibrations of love. However, all the attention was worth it, we had one woman participating with us. I also tried “hooping” for the first time. Chrystal, a volunteer with us is in a hula-hooping group and she taught me some moves. Very fun!

 

In the afternoon we had to do a cultural observation. My group went to the train station. I didn’t realize it then but we walked right by my house. We would later have to present in our Cultural Class, what we observed. Here’s a summation of the presentation.

 

It was fun we got lost, we found a park, and we went shopping.

 

The train station is busy. There is a place designated to buy tickets on the outside. There are many buses/taxis, places to eat including Mc Donalds and KFC.

 

On the way home we found a park. We thought there was a wedding, we were shouting congratulations in Chinese, but it turns out it was only a photo shoot.

 

I almost died laughing when we found this hidden shopping center. This place was packed with so many small stores inside. I went to get an ice cream. One of my group members, Lucy, bought a dress and told us that she didn’t bring enough money to by it but the woman sold it to her any way. We asked her where the shop was but the woman had closed it. When these little stores are closed it looks like a garage. My other group member Jenny was sad, she wanted to get a dress from the same store. Out of nowhere the shop owner comes running at us screaming. We all thought, “Oh shit, the owner probably went to get someone to tell them my group member stole her dress.” But it turns out the owner went on a break and found us talking in front of her store, she just wanted to open it again so we could all shop. We were all laughing. Especially because of the dressing rooms because it is a small door that you have to crawl into. Jenny would poke her head out asking for our advice it was so funny.

 

Week Two

Pretty much the same schedule, our mornings were filled with TEFL workshops, WT practicalities/Cultural Class, and our Mandarin lessons were canceled because it was time to put that TEFL theory from week one into practice. We had Practicum!

 

Practicum

I was in a group with five other volunteers: Alan, Brian, Diane, Jay, and Natasha. In the afternoon we began teaching. Three classes per day were taught individually, last period three of us taught as a group.  Each class was about forty-five minutes and we had about thirty students.

 

My practicum group decided to have a theme for our week. “Going around the World,” we taught the students about the seven different continents and did various activities to improve their oral English. The last day of Class we teach the students about Asia and the last period we would have the students make a presentation about China.

 

We definitely had super star students and some students who couldn’t communicate with us at all. Our last day of class was a success. To our surprise our students came with Power Point Presentations. We also had cake to celebrate our week. And we gave out awards based on who earned the most stickers.

 

When I reflect back on all of this, I think what I contributed to my group was the idea of challenging ourselves as teachers to become aware of what messages we send to our students. From the small things, like the visuals we use in our Power Points, to the bigger things like challenging stereotypes with gender/culture. I was really happy to have a wonderful group of teachers and expressed this a lot. I was happy that Alan threw some infamous “pants off dance off parties in his hotel room” which allowed me to distress and laugh from that week of teaching. Practicum really helped me. Teaching this week increased me confidence for sure.

 

Okay, let me take a break from Orientation stuff to talk about other Changsha topics.

 

Hunan Food

In three words: Spicy, Greasy, Delicious.

 

The locals are amazed with me, my tolerance to the spiciness. It is nice to share with them the similarities with my culture. The same ingredients although prepared differently: garlic, onion, cilantro, lemon, cumin, chili/peppers. On the topic of food, I’ve been practicing being a vegetarian here.  It’s pretty easy, Hunan food has many wonderful vegetable meals: cauliflower with whole cloves of garlic, Chinese broccoli, green beans, cabbage, this sugary corn dish, and everything is of course spicy. I just have to watch my MSG in take; I cannot get a kidney stone here. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, easy to do because it’s so hot here.

 

 

Globalization

One day when we went on a field trip to a store called “Metro” which looks like Ikea, but inside resembles a Costco, I found many items from home. They have a teeny tiny Mexican section, tortillas/chips are seven U.S. dollars, lucky for me I am able to make what I like and won’t have to purchase it here.

 

And get ready for this! A package of two avocadoes is eleven U.S. dollars because they are imported. With the sticker shock and mold, I will definitely have to wait until I get home to devour my loves. I do not have a lot of diary, which I was prepared for and nothing wheat! No wheat bread/tortillas or brown rice, which defeats my “I’m on a mission to be a diabetic by thirty” plan. Just kidding.

 

I do have a super Walmart, Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut, Subway, Papa Johns, KFC. However, these fast food places do have little twists for the locals and are super expensive. For example if you want to take someone on a date, take them to Pizza Hut. Seriously.

 

It is funny because I have acclimated to the money I use here, which is seven to the dollar, so when I have to pay something that is normally what I would pay in the U.S. it seems outrageous.

 

I’ve also been lucky enough to have some authentic food cooked for me from Mandarin teacher, Dana’s house. Not to mention there are plenty of little noodle shops too and tons of street stands where I can get a meal for around one U.S.D.

 

Changsha at a glance

It reminds me of Las Vegas. There are many high-rise building with tons of lights and people smoke everywhere here.

 

Oh, so our hotel is located about ten minutes from the center of the city. The center of the city has three main streets: walking street, snack street, bar street. Walking street is about three to five blocks, a place to buy clothes along with lots of other retail stores for shopping. Earlier I mentioned Snack Street. And Bar Street, well has lots of bars and some clubs. We’ve gone out to the clubs here, two called, Soho and Song&Song, they are just like clubs in U.S. except more techno style music and always, they always have performers. The clubs remain open until the sun comes up! And don’t sneak in outside alcohol because you’ll get kicked out, some people learned the hard way. Singing is big here, there are places to karaoke, a popular place is KTV. They have private rooms to sing, there is one of these in S.F. too.

 

Also there are a lot of mosquitoes. I HATE, HATE, HATE mosquitoes! I’ve been a buffet for those bastards! I’ve done everything one can to not be a victim!

 

Everything is super cheap here too. There are lots of pirated movies and TV series… bus rides are cheap, cab rides all very cheap.

 

Sometimes there are funky smells and always pollution.

 

Certain things remind me of other places I’ve traveled to… but Changsha is cooler than expected.

 

Now some people seem to think I have my own Diva/Jennifer Lopez moments. But here I get a personal glimpse into what that life would be like. I didn’t think it would be like this for me but everywhere I go people stare at me. People want to take and do take pictures of me. People want me to hold their babies too, which I don’t mind. This is all because I am a foreigner.

 

The first thing I am asked is if I’m Indian or Hindu. Then I tell them I’m from America, they shake their heads puzzled, and then I tell them I am Mexican.

 

Identity Politics

I found out during one of my Chinese Culture class during a Race/Diversity Panel that the Chinese have these stereotypes about Mexicans: poor, dark, and the food is similar to Hunan food. They have heard Mexican food is delicious although no one here has tried it. I find myself in interesting conversations expanding on these stereotypes and discussing the root causes of them.

 

Even though I have my J-Lo moments here, when I go out with White people I am suddenly not the center of attention, which is almost preferred. I’m also in a unique position because I empathize with the American Born Chinese and Asian Volunteers here. I am able to share with them what it feels like to be in a place where all of a sudden you aren’t, fill in the blank, enough. “Why can’t you speak Chinese? What do you mean when you say you’re American.” I explain to the other volunteers my experience in the U.S. when I am approached with the same questions, my inabilities to identify with the stereotypes, being Mexican enough, and how I handle those sometimes-hostile attitudes.

 

In a small group a question was asked, “Why do Chinese women strive to be white?” A Chinese teacher explained it is the same reason why women in America want to be tan as she points to me. I had to explain that women do not want to Mexican, like me. I shared my opinion, what it means to be tan in America.

 

I also loved my conversations about Culture Shock, with one of my Field Directors, Teresa. I express to her that after learning who coined this phrase my desire to expand and coin a new phase. How non-whites experience and deal with culture shock. “Hey maybe my Graduate Thesis,” we laugh.

 

I realize with my participation here, I provide a different perspective, another dynamic on what it means to be American. I learn to find comfort and further accept the one and only me. 

 

 

Back to orientation…

 

Week 3

Our final week we went over what to expect when arriving to our sites. I will have a very funny entry next month for you to read because everything they prepared us for and more has been what I’ve experienced… We talked about our experiences during Practicum. We watched our Photo Scavenger Hunt and celebrated the winners.

 

Mandarin Classes

We went back to studying Mandarin. While learning Mandarin I’ve started to speak more Spanish. It is crazy and I have no idea why I mix the two languages and why I’m starting to think in Spanish all of a sudden but it is funny.

 

My Mandarin class was hilarious! Going to class was one of my favorite parts of orientation. My teacher Dana is so wonderful. She was telling the class that Changsha girls are called “Spicy Girls” I told her me too, LOL.  I spent most of my time in Mandarin class laughing.

 

During the last week we were invited to our teacher’s house for dinner. While hanging out we were able to see Dana’s photographs. She takes photos of minority groups in China and donates all of the proceeds to help them. I am thankful to have met her. On the last day of class we had Chinese performances. You can see all of the photos and the video of our performance on the home page.

 

The finale

The last night we had a banquet to finish up orientation and went out dancing the whole night. The next morning we all separated to go to our schools. I was picked up by my liaison Kevin and the Dean of my department.

 

This was my first month. Welcome to my Changsha.

 

 

6/27/2010 8:30:41 PM - 003012991994
I love you!

1/26/2010 11:33:23 AM - 003012991994
Hey JO! i love you and miss you tons!! Hope all is well and I will email soon. Just wanted to give your guestbOok my blessing as well ;) <3 muah xOxO

12/26/2009 6:46:50 AM - 003010788936
merry christmas & happy new year!missing you much & enjoying your updates,you deserve everything the world has to offer, god bless you & keep you safe, with all our love, nana antonia & grandpa tony

11/15/2009 3:38:48 PM - 002082328158
hi my darling josie!
love the pics, it all looks so amazing.
well this is my photography account that i'm writting you through, i dont know how the hell to add you on here, but i'll also write you through my regular account since i have multiple pages set up, and it'll help keep you updated with my life as well. miss you and i'm so proud of you!!!!

Andrea

11/8/2009 4:33:45 PM - 002066452235
Josie-

I'm lovin your November photos so far! You look gorgeous in that green top with the eye shadow to match. Glowing!

I want to hear more about the ferris wheel!

Jules

10/19/2009 4:52:08 AM - 002084522445
love it!
my shutterfly is chrysp.shutterfly.com, I'll put up what i've got too :)

10/8/2009 8:35:24 PM - 002091788324
Hey my beautiful sister! i miss you lots and love looking at your pictures. I saw your e-mail about that ticket my freind was gunna hook me up with...is no bueno anymore. :( i soooo wanna see you! and think about you all the time. i know, i know i need to get skype but i just never go on the comp. we will chat it up soon though.:) hope your having the time of your life! and dont forget to meet some cuties! hahaha:)love you talk to you soon! xoxo <3

10/5/2009 6:22:36 PM - 002066452235
Hey big! Guess who is moving to Taiwan on October 24th? I got a lot of job offers abroad, but none in SF, so I think the universe wants me to finally pursue my dreams! I'll be living in Chiayi City, next to hot springs, Mt. Alishan and the Jade Mountains-- so when you get some time off, you should absolutely come visit :) I get some time off and I would like to travel during that time, -- I was thinking maybe Indonesia or Japan, depending on my finances :)

I love and miss you and hope that maybe, just maybe, I'll be seeing you soon :) I'll certainly be calling you more because we'll be in similar time zones :) And I'm sure I'll need some advice from someone I trust who has done this before. I am so proud of you-- you are truly someone I look up to and part of what inspired me to just do it and move abroad :)

I love you!
Your Little

9/24/2009 12:06:51 AM - 002089753250
Josie,
I am here with your mom and we could not be more proud and happy for you! This is a once in a lifetime journey; enjoy every moment! We love you very much and we are so happy we are able to see your journey. Have fun and you look beautiful!
Love you bunches,
Mom and Aunty Krista
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

9/22/2009 7:05:30 AM - 000099777321
Josie! Hey how are you? my sister sent me your link. Can't believe your in china, that's crazy and so far away! It looks like your having an incredible experience.

9/19/2009 5:44:59 PM - 002088981089
I am just so proud of you Josie!
Your Aunt Sabrina
In Ozark MO now!