New Year

While most of you have already celebrated the holidays and passed into the new year, China is still looking forward to that wonderful event. Actually January 1st is observed, with many people having days off from work; but the BIG celebration falls on and around February 18th this year. The Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar and so varies from year to year (though always falling some time in January or February). It represents the coming of spring, thus the name "Spring Festival." Students get at least a month off from school and there is much shopping, traveling, returning home, special meals, and giving and receiving of "hong baos" (red envelopes containing money which are given to children). Did I mention there'll be lots of rapid popping firecrackers and, certain nights, beautiful fireworks? Right before the new year is also a good time for weddings. The coming year will be the year of the pig. So it is easy to find cartoon renderings of cute pigs dressed in Chinese outfits and holding out the character "Fu" for blessing throughout the city. Pig stuffed animals are everywhere and also golden pig statues and figurines. My understanding is that to have a baby born in this year of the pig is very fortunate, because it is also the year of the element gold. This only happens every 60 years. So this baby will be the "golden pig" of wealth and prosperity to your family. China may be in for a baby boom:) After all, babies are precious treasures and gifts from heaven.

Josh's China Thoughts - Spring 2006

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Hey, this is Josh. I am 11 years old and I live in China. I thought you would like to know about my life here. Every day I get up and do school work until 1:00-3:00P.M. When I am done, I normally rollerblade or do something else outside. Then I like to play PS2 or something on the internet until dinner. Finally I like to watch a movie or read until my bedtime. That is mostly what I do.
This is my apartment complex...















Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Living in Two Countries

My favorite things to eat in America are:
*chicken quesidilla's and hard tacos from Taco Bell
*Cici's pizza
*subs from Subway
*Little Debbie's

My favorite things to eat in China are:
*iron plate beef
*spicy chicken and peanuts
*spicy cold noodles in soy sauce
*over the bridge noodles
*hot pot

My favorite thing to do in America is laser tag.

My favorite things to do in China are play playstation and sword fight with my friends.

Some things I can do in America that I can't do in China are laser tag, go to the lake, see my relatives and friends there.

Some things I can do in China that I can't do in America are eat REAL Chinese food, rollerblade almost everywhere, see friends here, and buy cheap games.

One thing I miss from America is friends.

One thing I miss from China when I am in America is Chinese food.

One thing I don't like about living in America is everything's expensive.


Wednesday, March 08, 2006



MeiMei is my dog. Her name means "Little Sister." She is so cute. When we first got her, she weighed less than a pound and she looked like a ball of fluff. She came from the Dog Market. She was born December 28th. She got sick on her first Easter. Mom and I took her to the vet, and they had to put her on an IV. After a month she got better. We took her to America last year. She flew with the luggage from China to Thailand, then she got to fly in the cabin after that. She had to take Benadryl to go to sleep during the flights. She thought America was paradise because of the squirrels, all the people that came to visit her, and the snow. MeiMei is laying right here beside me. She likes to make her spot by digging at the covers. Now she looks like a little lamb. She begs for food all the time and barks a lot. But we love her.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

When I have a break from school, I like to play with Legos. I like to build "Star Wars" Legos. Recently I rebuilt a Lego B-Wing. I also like to build castles and siege weapons. In China, it's hard to find real Legos that fit together well. Most of my Legos were gifts from America. The real sets we do find here are very expensive, except for individual Bionicles. Some times we also buy them in Thailand if we are visiting there. Even though they're hard to get, my brothers and I have lots of Legos to play with. We make up all sorts of battles, characters, and quests.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006



Last night my family, a friend, and I went to eat at a restaurant called the Teipenyaki Restaurant. To get there my brother and I rollerbladed and the others walked there. At this restaurant they cook the food in front of you on a flat grill. Our favorite dishes to get are squid, zucchini, and mushrooms.



The food is good but the rooms are smoke filled because before they cook it they pour oil on the grill and set it on fire. And one of the best things is it's very close to our house.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Guess what! I got in to my international school! Before this I could not get in because my class was full, but this week someone is leaving. I am so excited to be able to see my friends again. I cannot wait to be back! I have to go and take a math test Friday to be sure I haven't missed anything, and then I should start on Monday.

Closings

As you have probably noticed we decided to close down Josh's Blog. He is back in the international school now (7th grade), very much the teenager in the best sense, but not doing a lot of outside writing. I will transfer some of his previous posts to mine, and will attempt to start posting again. I think I need an outlet to write and I hope it will be a blessing to you.