Happy Year of the Pig!In general my life has been somewhat of a rollercoaster lately. In many ways I feel adrift, tossed about in a proverbial sea of doubts and confusion. My everyday life has a certain rhythm to it but the big picture is very fuzzy. I know that I need to leave my job in the next few months but I have no idea what I want to/should be doing. I don't where my life is going. This is both unsettling and exciting. On one hand I feel overwhelmingly incompetent...not about anything in particular, just incompetent in the business of living life. On the other hand though, I have this beautiful hope from God that whispers to me that I can't do anything without him and that that's not weird and to just stay in his presence and everything will come into alignment.
So that's where I am as I come into the new year...Chinese New Year...
Yesterday, in honor of the New Year, Zhang Zhou Ping invited me over for dumplings in the dormitories where she lives. The dormitory, which is very rustic and cramped, is especially for hotel staff members. I've worked in an office located in the hotel since August and Zhang Zhou Ping and I have become good friends. She made me the most amazing jiaozi. It was fun to do something special and traditional on New Year's Day. I felt really loved and honored that she would invite me over.
One picture is a view to the street. This is the neighborhood where I work so I'm constantly in this section of the city, called XiZhimen. As you can see, the streets are very empty because of New Years'. Underneath the egg-shaped building (top-left corner) is the subway station. I take the subway north, to another area of the city called WuDaoKou where i live.
Aside #1 - Does anyone have sites they recommend for uploading photos/videos? Now that I finally replaced my camera, I'm curious.
Aside #2 - I know the title of the above book sounds super cheesy but, believe me, it is really, really good.
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