The guy on the left is a Canadian who plays for a local basketball team and the smiley girl in the back is a teacher I work with (Julie). Tongzhou's police department was introducing a new campaign for foreigners and Julie, Martha & I were asked to go to a photo shoot for local media and for new signs and brochures. It even made BCCSC's website, here's the
link :)

and Sherry & I had a great time! Met many nice people who were on the tour with us. We went to see the Terracotta Warriors (amazing) and a pottery village called Chen Lu (an incredibly bumpy ride up the mountains, and the landscape & village were so beautiful)! See more pictures here.

When Mike & I are back together and have time, we're going to Xi'an to see these places together, they were spectacular.

I'm seeing so much of China, the history, the beauty & enjoying the little moments, but I wish Mike was experiencing this too. His life in Shenzhen is much different than mine in Beijing. We'll be together December 8th, not long now :)

I'm so excited to share this news! My best friend is getting married! Willard proposed to Cathy on Remembrance Day in Ottawa on Parliament Hill. I'm so happy for them :)

Cathy told me yesterday on MSN messenger...I couldn't get my microphone to work, so she typed the entire story to me, lol! I was at work, crying at my desk the whole time...I couldn't contain myself, so I called her long-distance from China on my cell to tell her "wheeeee!" and that I loved her. Then I went all over the office, telling everyone!

Happy engagement to them! Cathy says the wedding will be in the fall of 2007 and she wants me to be matron of honour :) Moey!

On Saturday, our usual group of four (me, Dad, Martha & Bryant) decided to venture out in the wee hours of the morning to see the flag-raising at Tian'anmen Square. We arrived just before 6 am, sunrise wasn't until 6:57 am, and we managed to get a good place in line.

There were more than 100 people waiting there before us. A police van kept us in line across from the square in front of the Great Hall of the People. We were then escorted over to Tian'anmen in an enormous chain...many, many people!

It was freezing before sunrise, but I'm glad we did it. The sky was beautiful, and the ceremony was meaningful to all of the people there. :)

for more pictures, visit my space, like always :)

Bryant, Martha, Dad & I took a day trip to this village outside of Beijing(it's about 500 years old). It took about two hours to get there, but I'm so glad we went...such a special place!



We wandered up & around the little alleyways for hours, and I took pictures of everything...this little village had so many textures and features, I filled my camera's memory card...128 pictures :)

My favorite picture is of the marigolds on a doorway: Someone before me had picked three marigolds and slipped them into the lock on a door...it was so lovely to see the shot of color on the browns & grays of the little house. I stopped to take a picture and a bee landed on one of the flowers. I took the photo, hoping it would be a nice one to capture the moment...and I really think it's the most beautiful picture I've ever taken.




You can see more pictures from Chuan Di Xia at my space.