Forbidden Palace

We went to the Forbidden Palace a little over a week ago. It was very interesting. Did you now that in the earlier Dynasties their concubinces were buried alive with the dead Emperor. That's devotion..NOT!!! The pictures here are taken from a Pagoda outside the Forbidden Palace that one of the Emperors had built, mountain it's on and all. He wanted to be able to go there and look over his Palace. When the Farmers invaded the Palace he went there and hid. He later snuck back into the Palace killed his 6 year old daughter, snuck back out to the Pagoda and hung himself, al this, so they wouldn't be captured.

The Great Wall

We went to The Great Wall recently for a ConocoPhillips clean up day. They donated a sizable amount to maintain a park that has a trail leading right up to the Wall. The trail was pretty empty but the Wall was Packed with people. It seems we keep going places on holidays. It was some holiday where the younger people take their Elders to climb mountains...Hence: everyone in Beijng, it seemed, was at the Wall. We went before the clean up and climbed up the wall pretty far. Here are some pictures.

Olympic Center

We took that Subway to the Olympic Center. It was also very crowded. It's been here awhile now people... It was the holiday though so everyone was in Beijing from out in the country and other smaller cities. Here are a few pictures.

subway

We'll see if this picture shows up.

Subway

We took the Subway a few weeks ago for the first time. It happened to be a holiday and it was soooo packed. I don't like the Subway!!! This picture is before it got real crowded!!

Hey, everybody :)

I have finally gotten it to where I can get to my Blog from China...whoot whoot!!

I'll see what I can do about catching up on here.

I'm an American

Subject: I'm an American

I am an American Mom.  I grew up in Idaho on a cattle ranch.  My father was up before the sun and many times still out after the sun went down.  I am the youngest of five.  When I was still a toddler my mother went to nursing school, in order to be able to help support my father and the ranch.  We didn't have a lot, but I don't remember feeling like we didn't.  My mother worked nights as a nurse and my father worked the ranch during the day.  I can't say I remember ever thinking, "when I grow up I'm going to be rich and have more than my parents had.  I'm going to be able to give my children more".  We were happy!  
I did grow up, I got married and I had my own children.  The first few years of my married life were tough financially.  My husband was in college, playing football, tutoring, and I was pregnant!  He worked so hard to provide for us, for me, what we needed.  That's the American way!  Everything wasn't handed to us.  We had to earn it!  
Our children are grown now.  They grew up doing the usual American things.  Football, basketball, swimming, track, piano, academic competitions, and video games.  They mowed lawns, took out trash, shoveled the drive way, babysat, had part time jobs and went onto college and marriage.  We taught them to love their country and God who created it.  To appreciate what they have and to be happy with what they have.  I don't mean to settle for what they have, be it great or little, but to be happy! Live for the moments you are in.
When did America change?..  When did it become so important to have "things" that we started spending money we dont have? When did it become ok to just sit back and let those who "have" provide for those who "haven't"?  When did the taxes we pay start providing a living for people who aren't even American's?  Don't get me wrong...I have no problem with helping the those truly in need.  I have a problem providing for those who refuse to provide for themselves and especially those who have never even paid taxes!  
To me a Welfare system should be just like what we did with our children.  You need money for a bike...I've got just the job for you!  That bike was taken care of and appreciated way more than if it had just been given to them.  We've become a "Free Society".  Why work for some thing you can get for free.  I've been living in Beijing for three weeks now, my husband will be working on a project here for awhile.  I find it fascinating that with the millions of people here that there is No Welfare! The government pays people to do all kinds of jobs though!  There are people out sweeping the streets, trimming bushes, ect.  These people have self respect.  They recycle everything here.  There are so many people riding around on three wheeled bicycles stacked with hundreds of pounds of cardboard and anything else that recycles to take to the recycling centers at the end of the day.  That's how many of the poor people make money.  I remember when I was pregnant with my first child we would walk for miles collecting soda cans to take in to the recycling center. We needed the money...it was an honest way to get a few extra bucks.
If we want to get back to where we were about 30 or more years ago, we need to start remembering what it was.  We need to start teaching our children and grandchildren not only the value of a dollar, but they they have value and something to offer.  It all begins at home people!  If we sit around and just complain about everything we don't like....our children and grandchildren will do the same thing.  It's time to stand up for what we believe in!  To let everyone one who will hear know that we are One Nation Under God and it is in that God That We Trust.  We truly live in a Land of Promise that has become a Land of False Promises!  We can't just wait for someone else to do something about it.  Make a stand, be heard, support those who run for office that you believe in, heck... Run for office yourself!  If you want someone to do the dishes, you can leave them in the sink for a week or two...or you can just do them yourself.  This country was founded by those who stood up and took action.  What will you do?  Will you be heard, will you participate, will you vote?
I Am an American...I believe in America...But I'm not so intellectually challenged that I can't see that she is in big trouble.  Let's get back what we hold to be so important...Our Freedom...something our Forefathers fought and died for.  That Freedom that so many young men and women are fighting for today!!  May God Bless Us in our endeavors to Re-take Back America.       
Sent from Julie's IPad

MisAdventures of Julie

Subject: MisAdventures of Julie

This morning I got up at 8:00, talked to family on the phone for an hour or so, went down for breakfast (today was pancake day), had my usual omelet, watermelon, juice, milk and PANCAKES :)  I took my IPad so I could read my book and containers to fill to take some stuff up for lunch.  Today the had rice noodles with mushrooms and a spicy sauce to put over them.  I also grabbed my usual watermelon, a few mini apples and some sliced cucumbers and green and yellow peppers.  Usually I fill a drink containers with juice but I didn't drink yesterdays.  Why do I tell you this..you might wonder.  I tell you this because it is my routine here in Beijing.  I usually go workout before breakfast but today I had an appointment at the Police station.  I was suppose to have an interview about my residence permit.
My driver picked me up at 12:20 to take me to see the PO PO HAHA...  It took 50 minutes in traffic to get there and the interview consisted of a lady handing them my information, I signed something, they took a picture through the glass window and the lady I met that was taking care of my paperwork said,"that's it, you go now"  I was like "really, that's the important interview?"  Oh well...I had the driver take me to Dragonfly next.  Got a killer massage...seriously it hurt so bad I thought I would die, but I stuck it out.  I have a few bruises!!!!  These people are serious!!!  I had a 2 hour foot and body massage...it cost the equivalent of about $40 American dollars!!!! Crazy right?  I bought a card you put money on and get 30 percent off all services, they gave me a certificate for a free 2 hour massage!!!  I like this place.  This will be my Tuesday afternoon routine.  My friend Sherri, I went on that outing with her last week, she has a lady that comes to her place once a week and gives her a 2 hour all over body massage for $15 American!  I'm working on getting that set up for Thursday afternoons!! :)  What a life....
This morning I laid on the guest bed and talked on the phone to family while they changed my sheets, cleaned my bathrooms, vacuumed, mopped, changed out all the towels, and filled up all the toilet paper holders.  The only thing I can complain about is he switched spots with my shampoo and conditioner when he cleaned my shower.  I seriously washed my hair three times and didn't understand why it wasn't lathering.  I figured it out finally when I put conditioner on my hair and it lathered up!!  haha...just call me Blondie :) Who am I kidding...I'm not complaining...I just switched them back to their rightful spots :)  This major cleaning occurs ever Tuesday and Friday.  The other weekdays they come in and straighten things up, wipe counters and take out trash.  Some afternoons I just wash a glass in the sink to feel useful!!!!! haha

Sent from Julie's IPad

Smiles are Universal :)

Subject: Smiles are Universal :)

I ventured out on my own today.  There is a supermarket that is pretty easy to find and not too far.  Just out the front doors, take a right, walk walk walk, take a left, walk walk walk, cross a busy (crazy street) and there I was.  They don't speak any English there, everything is in Chinese, but some things have 1 or 2 English words on them :) I was able to find containers of gum, I know this because the one English word on it was Wrigleys.  They also have different pictures of fruit on each...I think I got strawberry and a spearmint.  
It is very strange going out among the people here...I mean, I just don't fit in!  Not only am I white, but I'm sooo much taller than almost everyone and I'm BLONDE!!!  I get a lot of "LOOKS" and a lot of "Im not really looking at you looks".  Nothing like being a fish out of water haha!
I found bags of cashews and other nuts.  I knew what those were so I got some! :) I bought a pink backpack to pack stuff around in.  It's very nice.  I was a little nervous when I went through the checkout.  The gentleman rang my stuff up while I loaded it into my bag that I brought...you have to bring your own bags everywhere!  Then he said something and I kinda just stRess at him...I thought I had made his trip without a hitch, I thought he would say how much in numbers.  He said them in Chinese! There are even regular numbers ( you know, like 1 2 3 ) on the signs by the merchandise....I was thinking what to do...hand him what I thought it might be, but I hadn't kept track!!  I proceeded to lean over the counter to see if it showed numbers on the screen...to my relief it did...I get out the money, hand it to him and wait for my change.  I stead of getting me my change he starts saying something in Chinese and is pointing at the screen....I finally realize that he want to know if I have change!!  I'm thinking "Look Dude, I have know idea what each coin is even worth and I think I have maybe one coin in my pocket and I don't even know what it is".  I'm shaking my head...No, and he finally makes change for me.  I'm doing good to know what the value of regular bills are, now I have a few that are probably worth one penny!!!  I think there are some even worth a half cent!!  Well I made it back home ok with my nuts and gum...I may be accumulating a lot of nuts and gum!!  
I got a cell phone recently, it's a huge process to do anything like that here.  Our driver took us to a "little" place with heavy strips of plastic covering the entrance.  We parted it and entered a "huge". Department/electronic store.  Like a giant Sears.  I got my "pink" phone but not after a lot of hassle.  Our drive came in a took care of it all for us, but Darron and to show his passport and produce a business card ( he has some that are all in Chinese).  Our driver had to show his Chinese Citizen ID and talk to them for a long time before he got a credit card looking thing that we had to take to another desk in the store to pay then take that receipt back where we started, then they went somewhere "far away" to get the phone.  I think we finally got out of there about an hour or more later.  They really do things differently here, ha!
Yesterday we found out that we are not going to get the rest of our clothes, personal stuff, stuff we bought that you can't find here, ect., till late December or maybe even January or February!  Something about ConocoPhillips business permit needing renewed and that can't be done till Mid December.  China won't let our stuff into the country until after that.  The jokes just keep coming haha!  I have exactly 3 skirts for church and 5 pants, 4 being capri's....it gets cold here.  Not sure what we'll do about this one......we'll just keep pitting those cherries one at a time!
Oh, yay, the smile thing.  Andy gave me a shirt for my birthday that says," I smile because I have no idea what I'm doing". That has never been more true!  I have found though that if I smile at the people here enough, they always seem to crack a smile back....sometimes even burst out laughing.  IF THEY COULD ONLY READ MY SHIRT!!!  
Sent from Julie's IPad