Venturing to the Middle Kingdom

I am pretty much beyond excited to say that ... I'm going to China in April! Brad's leave finally came through and while there is still some red tape to cut through regarding visas and other such things, we are all set and booked to see:

Beijing


Xian


and Shanghai


As you know from my New Years Goals post, I had really hoped we'd get to see China this year, and whelp, looks like it's really going to happen!

Actually panning a trip to China makes me think about a book my sister gave me to read a while ago. Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven is a book about two girlfriends who set out to explore the world, starting with China. This book is totally amazing, I totally recommend it and love it.


3 cities. 8 days. Tons of flights and traveling. It will be so amazing!

A Must Read About Japan

For Valentines Day my wonderful sister sent me Japanland: A Year in Search of Wa. I immediately dug into this witty, entertaining travelogue about a woman who spends a year in Japan, trying to find wa - or harmony, and all of her adventures along the way. I haven't finished the book quite yet, but already I know that it is a book I will recommend to anyone curious about this country and it's interesting people. This book sheds light on the Japaneses iron clad morals and values system that guides their day to day behavior and actions. Sometimes living here can make me what to pull my hair out, but reading this book really helps me to understand the deep rooted cultural differences and has made me stop and think about how I act, speak to and interact with my host country. And it has made me really want to buckle down with my Japanese language studying. This book is full of laughs, adventures and culture and I am so so so very glad my sister sent this to me! I recommend it to anyone wanting to know about, interested or even thinking about visiting this modern, but very traditional country.

It's that time again

True Blood time that is! Season 3 just started and I just watched the first episode. Boots is away right now and he very kindly bought me season 2 before he left, which I hadn't seen yet. I had True Blood marathons and fed my school girl crush on Eric by rewinding and re watching scenes with him in it. I loved season 2 and season 3 is off to a great start. I'm not sure who I have to thank for getting me into the Sookie Stackhouse series, but I ripped through those 9 books super fast, they felt like such an indulgence, a guilty pleasure and were when I would spend days at a time just reading reading reading. I recently heard that book 10 is out, but I haven't ordered it yet. I read all the Twilight books, went though withdrawal when I was done, but then I found the Sookie series and then my sister let me borrow the first 3 Ann Rice Vampire Chronicles because she wanted me to read a "real" vampire book. I'm all about it.

I love to read, which is wonderful because I hated it as a kid and my mom used to have to bribe me to read. I love going to the library, which is where I get most of my books. I hardly ever buy them. Most of the books I do own were given to me and were either given to a friend or were put into storage before our move here because of the weight restriction, but three books that are by my bed at all times (no, they aren't vampire books) are: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, suggested to me by my sister who was on her way to Rome. I've read this book so many times to laugh, feel uplifted, and brave. Another is The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. My best friend gave it to me on my birthday 4 years ago, wrote in the inside cover and marked her favorite parts throughout the book making it one of my treasures. It is coffee stained, worn, and well read. It means something different to me every time I read it. And The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Gibran's book was my Mom's, she got it on her birthday in 1967, and she gave it to me right before I left for Japan and it has traveled with me everywhere ever since. I love the frayed and worn book cover and yellowing pages almost as much as the words on them. It is small enough to tuck inside my purse and just knowing that it is there close to my heart makes me feel closer to my family, safe and calm. I like having it there to always bring me back to center, to remind me of the importance of family, love and kindness. My dad read "On Marriage" from this book at our wedding ceremony and my Mom put a little dried rose between the "On Love" pages years ago.

I love having 3 books on stand by that I know I can count on, but I'm always looking for book suggestions, so let me know what your favorite is!

And... because I can't resist. Team Eric or team Bill? Team Edward or team Jacob? HA! Love it.