Thoughts on Life and Living
“Welcome to my Christmas wonderland.”
Not sure I am ever going to show up in the pages of the Martha Stewart magazine or “Southern Living”, but I do like decorating for Christmas. Here is my latest creation in my apartment.
Don’t worry, I know it is quite the eye sore. [Read more…]
As I said in my larger post this weekend, this was my 12th Thanksgiving in Asia. Pretty amazing to think about.
Though I knew that I would be in Asia “long-term”, I don’t think I could have conceived of still being here in Asia in 2013 when I arrived in August 1999.
Anyway, it was an amazing Thanksgiving here. I definitely missed home, BUT I do love the people I get to do life with here.
In summary, the dinner was great. The location was perfect. The fellowship was even better.
The location was at the “home” of a group of five local American students. They were able to get a great deal on a HUGE apartment. It was the perfect place for a large Thanksgiving dinner.
This picture was taken of the two rooms we had tables spread out in. My particular favorite was of the “kids table” you see there in the lower picture!
(This post part of my Instagram(able) Asia! pics.)
We FINALLY have pizza in this little corner of East Asia!
As I type this post, I am sitting in a coffee house about 1/2 mile from my apartment. I tell you this seemingly mundane detail, as this is not in fact a mundane detail. You see, it has not always been this way for my life here in Asia.
When I arrived in August 1999 to live here “long-term”, there was almost no “western food” in this area of Asia. There were tea houses, hotpot restaurants, and dinning establishments which featured the meats of the day in cages on the sidewalks out front.
“Flat Stanley and my attempt to look like a NYC cop.”
Here’s the deal with this pic.
First, “Flat Stanley” is a program most kids do today in school. Virtually all of my eight nieces and nephews have done it. Right now, [Read more…]
“When jumping over fire, I suggest borrowing Scott Littlepage’s motorcycle first.”
One of the few “hobbies” I have over here in Asia is motorcycle riding. Great fun and good fellowship with the other four friends who own them.
This particular time, we had a ton of stuff we needed to burn. Instead of doing something normal or responsible with this process, we decided to take it to an infill construction site where we often ride.
We set the stuff on fire and took turns jumping the burning pile of garbage. In this pic, I had borrowed Scott Littlepage’s motorcycle. He was a good sport about it!
Admittedly juvenile and a little risky, it was a fun way to unwind, take my mind off things, and laugh a ton with friends.