Church in China

The thing I love the most about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is how constant it is. No matter where you go, the church is always there and the principals are always the same. 

I am truly lucky to be so close to a branch here. Most cities have to skype in. We take the metro for about an hour and then attend church in a hotel. The branch is MAYBE a third of what my ward at home is. Maybe. It's mostly singles here in China for study abroad or ILP or China Horizons. There are a few families and I am in awe of their faith to move their family to China. 

The rules of church here are a little frustrating. Our church is illegal here so we have to be careful with everything we do. We are on good terms with the Chinese government but they always have their eyes on us. We can't preach or even talk about the gospel. We aren't allowed to attend church with any native Chinese, although they are members. It's so frustrating because I see the lives that people lead here, the smoking, the drinking and everything else. 

 One teacher here even asked why we are so pure. We can't say anything and I wish so badly I could. 

However, I know that the Lord has a plan. Everything will happen in its time and we just need to trust in him and have faith that these wonderful people will have the gospel eventually. And they will! Because the worth of souls is great and they are no exception. 

I am so grateful for America. I'm grateful for the freedom of religion. I can't believe I ever complained when my church building was changed from the one on the corner to the one across the intersection. I love the gospel and I love all of you!!

-Taylor Janae 

UPDATE

A lot has happened since the yellow mountains and none of it really fits into a category so this is just a quick update! 

After we got home, we began teaching again. And the first day back was teacher appreciation day. Finally I'm on the other end of it!! First they gave us a free lunch. 

It looked like this. 

To answer your question, yes I felt very appreciated. My first graders did give me a box of dove chocolates so that made up for the fish (which was looking at me, might I add). 

We headed to Shanghai last weekend for a district conference and a Young Single Adult session accompanied with a dance. Now don't get me wrong, I agree that YSA is a great program, I just don't particularly like it. I thought China would be my escape, BUT NO. #YSA4lyfe

The coolest part of the past week was definitely the Confucius Temple in downtown Nanjing. The Yangtze river runs right through the heart. We took a boat tour around which was amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone who visits my city. It had performances done by ladies dressed up in authentic Chinese attire and saxophone players and beautiful lights!! Picture the jungle cruise at DisneyLand only way better. 

Why isn't America constantly lit up like this? I don't know!

After the boat tour we did some street shopping. Let me tell you, the t-shirts here are killer. They sort of just put words on shirts thinking its cool because its American. 

For example:

(^seriously contemplated buying this shirt. I would just wear it on my bad days so people will know that I know that they know I'm breaking out and that life goes past the pimple.)

If I could capture my happiest moment here, it would be this one.

The day I made it to dinner early enough to get the good noodles!!!!

Honestly, when I'm not craving pizza and tia roses here, I crave noodles and this made me so happy!!!! 

More random moments:

^My 7th grade boys!

^"I am the great stone dragon"-mushu from mulan

^Me and ash contemplating modeling for the knock of nike

Overall, I'm still adjusting and still loving China! Being here and experiencing this new country only builds my enthusiasm for traveling. And for a progress report, when I got here I didn't even know how to use chopsticks and now I'm pro! I guess it helps being forced but whatever, it's cool. 

Good night, good morning, good afternoon to you where ever you may be!

-Taylor Janae

   

Yellow Mountains With Yellow People

This past weekend we ventured to the city of Huang Shan to visit the yellow mountains. 

We began with a horrible overnight train ride. Apparently in China, you can buy stand by tickets and when people don't show up you can take their seats. There were people standing EVERYWHERE! For the whole dang six hours too. While on the train, we met some english speaking friends and let me tell you, when one person squeezes into the bubble that is white people, they all just watch. They just stare at everyone and eavesdrop on a conversation they cannot even understand. Its funny. We got to our hostel at midnight and checked in. Now, if you have ever stayed in one, they are known for being pretty dingy, but we got this!

It's a really low quality picture, but this place was top notch. We went to bed and the next day we just wandered around "Old Town" which is exactly what I imagined China would be like. Quaint, cobble stone roads, pagodas on every turn, it was magical!! We shopped and ate and had a really really really good time. 

Yes, that would be kissing fish pedicures!

Sunday Morning we woke up nice and early to begin our trek to the yellow mountains. Two hours, two bus rides and about two million dollars later, we began our hike. 

I thought this sign was hilarious. You cant really see it well here but one notice they gave you said this

"Attention! Bad weather probably make you in danger." 

I love how awkwardly everything translates here. 

These stairs may look fun. They don't even look that steep. But after a solid 5 miles, they aren't so fun! Literally, the ENTIRE hike was stairs. Although my thighs were in fire and I thought I might fall over, and it was the hardest workout ever..... how could I not love it after seeing these views?

 ^This is Bethany, she's cute and so awesome. 

Yes I am very aware I look nasty but I have never sweat this much in my life so cut a girl some slack. These pictures don't even do the Yellow mountains justice, sorry about that. We took a gondola down so that we wouldn't miss our bus.

B is scared of heights. 

Once we got down to the base, we had to find the bus to get back to our hostel. Unaware that the 20 yuan we paid earlier in the day was a one way, we all ran completely out of money and barely made it home. The stress was real at that point but I'm grateful for experiences like this that help me learn and grow. For instance:

1. Never go to the Yellow Mountains, or frankly anywhere, on a Chinese Holiday. I swear the whole population was hiking with us. 

2. The Chinese have no common laws. If someone cuts you in line you must push them out of the way. 

3. Always bring way more money than you believe it will cost, and then some. Chinese people have no shame in ripping the innocent foreigners off. 

4. God is real, how else could China be so beautiful?

In conclusion, I would like everyone's input on my theory which is, God created the mountains in China on the first day and was procrastinating with Arizona. Unable to make Arizona beautiful on the 7th day because he was supposed to rest, he crammed an all nighter, gave us the sunsets and just left the rest. 

On a happy note, my mom and sister come to visit in 3 weeks from today, can I get a Whooyahh!!!!!!

-Taylor Janae

Ain't No School Of Rock

This week may hit the books as the hardest week of my life. Adjusting to this asian culture, trying to force fead myself their Chinese food, and learning to be an english teacher is emotionally and physically exhausting. But I already have so much love for the children, its hard to stay down!

My school is beautiful no?

Seriously, the most beautiful grounds I have ever seen. So this facility is the most prestigious of Nanjing and their graduated students go to colleges all around the world. It's a boarding school so most kids only go home on the weekends. They probably don't even care though because these guys are hard core. I mean class starts at 7 am and ends at 9:40 pm kind of hard core. But that's why asians are smarter than the rest of us. 

The thing I love the most (besides the teaching of course) is the school garden. 

 Honestly, how cute and authentic asian is that??

The place is full of all types of berries and vegetables and anything else you can think of. 

Oh yeah, they also have goats. You can just walk up to them too, I don't know why but I find that so bizarre. According to faculty, kids love to go their during their free time and also when they say they are going to the bathroom. 

Here are just some more pictures of the grounds. 

(Does this remind anyone else of the Joseph Smith statue at the MTC)

ITS SO PRETTY!

So Here are some pics of our big classroom

We thought we did a pretty good job.

I teach three 25 minute classes of 1st graders a day. If this week has taught me anything, its that I love kids, but teaching is freaking hard!! 

AND now its time to meet the loves of my life...

I like to think I'm as cool as a teacher as Jack Black. But this ain't no school of rock. 

And my wonderful homeroom aka THE MOST ADORABLE KIDS!

And then this girl because it's just the typical asian pose

Although there is a very thick, hard brick wall as a language barrier, I enjoy my made up sign language with them and CANNOT wait until they are able to carry conversations with me. 

To sum up this post, I love China, and China loves me back 

Ps- I found this baby at a pharmacy. She gave me kisses and didn't want me to put her down. I was tempted to run away with her. Maybe next time. 

-Taylor Janae