Celebrating My Birthday!

So my birthday was March 28 (Sunday)! However, on Friday night Jane, Krista, and I had planned to have a girls night together. So, when Krista got home from work that evening we rode our bikes to Jane's house.

I parked my bike and went to knock on the door. When Jane opened it, I noticed the lights were off. I just figured they were off because her daughter was already sleeping. Let me remind you... I was standing in the door way.

As I took a step into the house and started to take my shoes off, I quickly noticed someone standing on the balcony in the dark. I literally freaked out and ran for the door. I was out the door so fast and almost out of the building. Then I heard a group of people scream "SURPRISE!"

After the fear left, then the tears came because I was laughing so hard, as was everyone else. If you've ever stayed at my house before, you know I don't do well with people walking up behind me and not knowing it (I literally jump). Also, its sad to admit, but I'm also afraid of the dark sometimes (I've have some pretty funny stories from the past because of this).

Little did I know, Krista had stolen my phone the night before and called all my friends and invited them to Jane's house.

This is when K tried to take a picture of me being surprised... but I was already out the door!

This is the part where I was trying to get my breath back after sprinting out the door, and then crying because I was laughing so hard after I realized what had happened

My 姐姐 (older sister) and friends

K has this amazing gift of making cakes! And she knew which was my favorite! She's amazing! It was such a wonderful night and I was completely surprised. So thankful for my friends here!


The Second Part (Which took place on Sunday night):

This year is my 本命年！ Its the year of the Tiger, which is my year - 1986!

When it comes to celebrating birthdays here, the tradition is whosoever birthday it is they treat their friends out to dinner! I took some of my closest friends out to celebrate and eat Hot Pot (one of my favorites)!

Tradition is... you always have to eat 面 noddles on your birthday! Once the 老板 restaurant owner found out it was my birthday the first thing they brought me was this bowl of noodles.

Friends!

All of us!

Putting the veggies and raw meat into the pot

Love these girls!

Jane and Krista (the two who collaborated together for the surprise party on Friday night)

The amazing Chinese cake! It was so good!

Again, just so thankful for my friends here and getting to celebrate with them!

Earthquake in Qinghai

For the people that contacted me through email, call, or skype - thanks for the prayers and concerns! A few days ago, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Qinghai (which neighbors Tibet) at 7:49am. We were not effected by it in my city.

The biggest concerns are still trying to rescue people from the rubble and getting supplies there. Its estimated that over 15,000 homes were flattened and thousands of people left in the cold. Temperatures are well below freezing (this time last year Rach and I took a weekend trip to Qinghai, I know that its freezing there right now). Thankfully the government and organizations are working fast to provide aid.

This morning, China Daily (our main newspaper here) stated: "The 7.1-magnitude quake which struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu Wednesday morning has left at least 1,706 dead, 256 missing and 12,128 injured."

A girl just pulled out from the rubble and rescued after 52 hours

Ninety-seven percent of Yushu's population is ethnic Tibetan, and state media said that 500 interpreters were being sent to aid rescuers to help with translating. All the articles I've read, says before the aid workers arrived, that the Tibetan monks were already fast at work rescuing people.

homes and buildings collapsed

Searching

A boy rescued

Thousands left with no homes and looking for family members

Rescue workers

Please continue to be praying for the people that were affected by this earthquake here and the workers still working to assist and rescue people. Because of the earthquake that hit Sichuan, the recent disasters around the world, and now this earthquake in Qinghai... its left a lot of people scared. Lately all the conversations I've had with friends are talking about this. Please be praying for them.

Fireworks!

元宵节！Yuan2 Xiao1 Jie2! Lantern Festival! The last day of the Chinese New Year Celebrations! Lighting off paper lanterns and lots of 热闹　(noise, commotion, and fun).

Everyone took to the streets and celebrated!

the sellers

The cops

This is right above my apartment building

Little kids playing with fireworks!

Everyone watching!

Even grandpas in line waiting to buy fireworks

Fireworks bouncing off the buildings

On my way to class every morning...

These are the things I see every morning on my way to class

Guys waiting for work.... using their carts to transport stuff

The intersection near my house

Can get your shoes cleaned for just a few kuai on the street

Motor Karts and motorcycles used for taxis

Where I get my breakfast in the mornings, a great cup of jiu1 -a porridge mixture of black beans, rice, millet, and red beans!

Bus stop.... where you can ride a motorcycle, bus, or motor cart

Crosswalk to school

Double decker bus

Shopkeeper making jiu1 in the morning