Looking back at the past four and a half months, two thoughts cross my Mind. The first is: I can hardly believe how fast the first half of my stay, five months, is almost over! Yet with that being said, my second thought is: Do I really still have five more months left? These two completely contradicting thoughts have characterized my stay here in almost every way possible, for--as the old cliche` goes--there have been plenty of ups and downs.

As soon as I arrived in Changzhou, I immediately wanted to get on a plan and go back home. Its really easy to sit on the sofa in your natural home in your natural country and count down the days you have left before you leave somewhere. However, once the countdown stops, things begin to get increasingly more complicated. I loved the idea of going to China--a far of place filled with mystery and enchantment--and I couldn't wait to get here. When I first arrive, though, I was terrified. I suddenly got the horrible feeling of missing home--even though I had only been gone for five days--and everything that was normal in my life. Gradually the feelings subsided, and now that I've been here for so long, I've realized that nothing is quite normal in this world....nothing is black and white anymore. In fact, being in China has taught me that this world exhibits more colors than a rainbow! I have learned so many new things, and I've met so many new people, that I am able to see that everything is different--and often exciting. Even in a country that has everything dictated by a central authority, I have found people to be fairly inviting and willing to share their world; this was something that I definitely wasn't expecting. By learning the language and culture of this place, two things that go hand-in-hand, I have gotten a better appreciation for all that is here.

Before you get ready to shout to the world about my enlightenment and join me on my journey, I should also let you know that this place isn't exactly a land of milk and honey. The school that I'm at has probably been the hardest thing to deal with. People here have extremely bad organizational skills, so it's very hard to get things done quickly and ahead of time. I also feel like a second-class citizen; there is definitely racial discrimination here: my office is four walls (probably asbestos-ridden) that a crumbling with a fan that is about to fall from the ceiling and a light that doesn't work, my teachers will miss classes because any small thing that comes up automatically receives priority over teaching me, I was given a computer that's as large as an elephant, as old as a fossil and as slow as a tortoise glued to the floor, and many promises that have been made are not kept.

Due to all this coupled with my intensifying urge to see my natural family and friends again, I've been thinking a lot about giving up on my journey and going home. While I have ultimately decided against it, the idea to get on a plane in a couple weeks and head home sure has been tempting. However, I believe that God has brought me here for a reason; I feel as though the Chinese people are supposed to teach me something in return for something I teach them. I'm not exactly sure what those things are yet, so I know I must see this journey to its natural completion. Besides, my host-family (except occasionally my host-brother who tends to annoy me with his habits) has been amazing! They have taught me so much, and now it is my turn to repay the favor! As I stated in the preamble of this message, there has been a lot of good and a lot of bad in my experience so far. Knowing that half of my time here is now over is giving me new energy to conquer the day. And while it is reassuring to know that I will be back to my natural-home soon, it's going to be hard to leave my second home here...

Best Wishes Forever and Always,
Jonathan A. Miller
乔 纳 森 a.k.a  乔 乔

Monday, October 17, 2011
Just as I did one month ago, I mark today, the two-month anniversary of my leaving home with sadness and a longing for everything that is familiar to me. How the time has flown, though! It seems as though it was just yesterday that I marked one-month after my departure and the day before that that I marked one-month until my departure. Yet with all of these milestones, culminating in the fact that 1-5 of my journey here is already over, I feel as though the time. day-by-day, is going slow. Things are becoming increasingly frustrating with school, so each day is getting to be just another to be rid of.
Naturally, today has been a wellspring of emotions. I had a lot of strange but oddly pleasant dreams last night about my home, family and friends, making going through today even more difficult. Right now I just want to be with my friends and family and have them tell me that everything is alright.--The embrace of those around you is something to be truly cherished when you're sad and lonely. When I get sad like this, I take comfort in the fact that the first 1/5 of my journey has gone by relatively fast, so the remaining 4/5 may also.
Don't assume that I am completely distraught, though; I'm not sad all of the time. My family here is very nice and accommodating to me. Whenever I am invited out, my family is always willing to let me go out and enjoy time with friends and teachers. Weeknights can get boring when I have no homework and my host-brother has tons, but my host-parents usually try to help me occupy my time. While life is by no means like home, it is starting to be something that I can genuinely call mine...
Signed: A Restless Wanderer,

October 24, 2011
**Disclaimer: Things have gotten much better after I complained about not getting the classes I deserve, but I still think that it is appropriate to share with you what I was thinking at the time:
Ugh!!! I am so aggravated with this Chinese school right now! It doesn't even deserve to be called a school--more of a mindless institution of crumbling buildings with no value. Back home, I get 30 classes a week. Here, even though everyone else gets 40 classes a week, I get 25. Things are made even worse when I miss five to ten classes a week due to teachers not showing up or having to teach a different class. With "school" approaching its third month, I have had enough!
I've even gone as far as contacting the Hosting Coordinator of AFS-China (her contact info is the only one that I have). She was extremely nice and helpful. She contacted my city's AFS branch which in turn contacted my "school." The school, however just gave blatantly idiotic excuses. Among them is that the teachers are too busy planning for the 10th anniversary of the school (big deal!). Others were that it's my responsibility to figure out when my teachers won't be in class and make a new time (aren't they supposed to be the teachers?).
This is not the experience that I signed up for or that others graciously helped fund. I am really considering asking to change schools. If not, I seriously think my mind will turn to mush.
Signed: Frustrated Forever,

Monday, October 31, 2011
I had a really great time with my host-family this weekend. On Saturday, my host-father and I went to the flower market to get some plants for my office. My hopes were that I could get a bonsai, but I couldn't decide which to get. We left with out getting much of anything--just a few ferns and hyacinth bulbs. Due to our indecisiveness, we arrived home for lunch late--everyone else had already eaten and had left the house.
After we ate, one of my host-mother's colleagues wanted to take me to the Taihu Electronic Music Festival that was at a nearby amusement park. The music, along with the obnoxious beer-chugging American DJ was absolutely horrible. Thus, we just walked around the amusement park. It was themed in the style of World of Warcraft, so I didn't find it very interesting. The disappointment was continued even further because we only rode one stomach-churning roller coaster--the only ride that we went on.
Sunday saw the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the school. The performances were really nice aesthetically, but all of the singing and instrument-playing was fake. The school wanted me to lip-sinch and pretend to play the guitar, but I decided that it would be better for me to disappoint everyone by not doing the performance verses lying to myself and others by doing it. My name was still put up on the big screen to announce my performance (they didn't change the board), so I felt rather guilty. In the end, though, I decided that it was for the best.
Once the event was done, my host-family and I went for lunch and then to a coffee/tea house. We spent a few hours there by snacking, sipping and playing card games. I really like spending time together in that atmosphere, so I cherished every moment. We left in order to go to a small farm that one of my host-mother's colleagues owns. They grew a lot of squash, so we gathered enough to fill the back of the trunk of our car. Sweet potatoes and bok choy were also part of our bounty.
...This brings me to the present, as so you are now up-to-date on everything that's going on!

Friday, November 11, 2011 Happy 11-11-11! To celebrate, I went to Shanghai yesterday because I didn't have any classes due to midterm exams.--I absolutely loved the city! Due to the fact that it is so large (about 23 million people), there was definately a cosmopolitan feel to it. Walking down the streets felt like walking down any large American city...The architecture, food, music and feel were all the same. Foreigners were walking around everywhere, including American, British, French, Spanish, Italian,etc...People were from all over!
We didn't go to many places, but the sites we saw were amazing: People's Park, The Bund and Pudong. While I personally think that the new parts of Shanghai are ugly, it was nice to see so much activity, construction or otherwsie, in a single city. The main reason that we didn't go many palaces was because it was rather cloudy out, and we could only stay from 10:30 to 5:30. Nevertheless, I had a lot of good first-time experiences, including riding a high speed train (cutting what would have been over a two hour ride by more than half) and using the subway (a very convenient way to get around such a busy city).
I really wish that I could live there instead of Changzhou.--There's just so much more to do! God choose this place for me though, so I'll try to make the most of it.

Saturday, September 17, 2011
Well...it has been one month now since I got on the plane bound for Minneapolis (while my luggage got on the one bound for Cincinnati). I sometimes feel like saying: "it's already been a month!" while at other times I feel like saying: "it's only been a month?" Today has been very hard because of the anniversary and a collection of other things--my marching band back home has their first competition today, and my host-family and I went shopping at one of the supermarkets (something I loved doing with my mom).
Thus, today has been filled with many tears that came out dry as I tried to hide my sadness. I am spending exactly ten months away from my family, my ticket home being marked for June 17. One month has passed, leaving nine more to go--saying it like that makes it seem as though time has flown by!
Missing people and familiar things is starting to get easier knowing that, by the Grace of God, I will see them all soon. What I am probably missing the most right now is the little things that we all take for granted--the way my clothes are folded and the fresh smell they have after being washed, the way my bed feels after a long day, the feeling of a sense of belonging whenever I would walk through the front door of my house, the way a smile from a stranger in the hallway will completely change your day, and most of all, the warm-feeling that I have in my heart when my parents say, "I love you," before I go to bed or school. I think that, while we all may try to deny it, most of us don't regard those things as something special in our lives. However, speaking from experience, these things should be cherished for as long as possible. As the old saying goes: 'You never realize how much you love something until it is gone.' While life here is certainly starting to get easier and better, it will never be just like home...

Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Time to talk about what school life is like now that my final schedule is set: I'm not taking a lot of classes, and most of the ones that I am taking are by myself. I have three Calligraphy classes every week, but I haven't accomplished much in them so far. My skills are quite bad right now, but I'm trying to persevere. Another "traditionally Chinese" class that I have is Kongfu. Due to having it, which I'm assuming will fulfill my P.E. credit back home, I will probably be getting rid of my P.E. class here (It's extremely boring!). Math and English are my only core classes that I have. Math is by myself with a teacher who knows a little English. It's been hard for her to figure out what I'm supposed to learn, but I think we're starting to make some progress. English is my only class with students (besides drawing, but we don't do much in that class), so that is my main interaction time.
My Chinese is coming along fairly well--I know 27 characters, including my new Chinese name: Mi (like "Me") Liang. I have ten classes every week (classes are 45 mins. each) with two different teachers. One teaches me (for six classes) the basics of the structure of the language and the characters. The other teaches me how to make conversation with others; we mainly just practice talking . It's nice having my own two private teachers to help me learn the language; it makes me feel very important! ha ha
The rest of my time is spent in my office in "self-study." I have more some days that others. On Tuesdays, for example, I have it from 10:30 to 3:25 with lunch in the middle. It's very hard to find a way to spend five hours of time, but luckily, I (only I) am allowed to go off-campus. Thus, for today, I took a walk to the nearby McDonald's in order to get some Western-food into me. It wasn't very noisy, so I read a book as I ate. The experience was nice--the food was very much like home, and it was a very relaxing setting (Well...as relaxing as a fast-food restaurant can be.). That trip only took an hour, though. I'll probably do this on most Tuesdays: take a bus to somewhere downtown and just enjoy the city.

Monday, September 26, 2011
Yesterday was a really great day with the family. The local Volkswagen dealership organized a trip for some of its customers (I'm told a lot of dealers do this) to Da Shi ("Big Stone") Mountain in Liyang. It took a while to get there, but the place was absolutely breath-taking--a lake with mountains (more like large hills) on three sides that had fruit trees and tea growing on each of the slopes. It was one of those places that you could visit a million times and always take a different path. I'll send pictures soon since it is hard to describe and probably hard to visualize.
After that was all done and we got back home, my host-father, host-brother and I stayed outside and took turns playing catch. I think this was the first time that I've played baseball/catch since I got glasses, and I'm am pleased to say that I was much better now that I could actually see the ball. Something felt very right about having a ball and glove in my hand--I'll have to get a new glove once I get back to the States.
To end the day, we went to a really great restaurant--and it happened to be run by the organizers of our earlier trip! The food was delicious. I got to have my first bowl of egg drop soup (Finally!), so I was very happy. I tried everything--including the shrimp and calamari. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be; it was just too chewy.

Friday, October 7, 2011
Today is the last day of our week-long vacation due to National Day (Oct. 1) and the Double-Ninth Festival (Oct. 5).--We have to go to school tomorrow and Sunday because of the vacation, which really stinks. The time has been nice, but we haven't done much; my host-brother had too much homework.
On Saturday, we went to the wedding of my host-father's colleague, and then we later went to a dinner-party with my host-father's side of the family. The wedding was nice. There aren't any set traditions, so some things were of Chinese origin, and some things were from the West--including "Here Comes the Bride." Food is the biggest party of Chinese life, so there was tons (literally) of it--some good, some bad. They even had shrimp that was nearly the size of my head! (I was too scared to try it.)
As for the dinner-party, the food was even better, and the family was really friendly. Only my immediate family knows English, but that didn't stop everyone from trying to talk to me. They were all fascinated by me and would become ecstatic even when I would simply say ni hao (hello)! In return, everyone would all try to say hello to me in English. The oldest member of the family was the great grandmother. She seemed really sweet, but she being so old and frail (She was only four feet tall at the most!).--She seemed to be "with it," though. Once we were finished with dinner, half of us decided to walk through the nearby park next to Tianning Temple. If there's one thing that the Chinese know how to do well more than anything else, it's designing beautiful parks. They are always laid out perfectly, giving the best views of everything you want to see; it was absolutely gorgeous!
Wednesday was the only other day with some excitement (partly because I just got over a bad three-day cold). I meet one of my Chinese teachers and a student of hers that she teaches privately for lunch. She choose a Thai-styled restaurant which had great food--I finally had my first spring roll! I really enjoyed the live music, too. The group would go around to each table and play/sing a song. They knew some English ones, so they sang one for me; it was really great!
...And that brings me up to this point! These slow days give me a lot of time to think--sometimes a good thing, sometimes a bad thing. Today became especially hard because I skyped with my parents this morning. It's very hard to be away from them, but it's even harder knowing how much they would love it here.--I wish they could go through this journey with me.
Best Wishes Always,
Jonathan A. Miller

Thursday, September 1, 2011, 1:10 PM
I'm at school right now. Currently, we are in a 45 minute "do homework or sleep" period. I don't have any homework, and I am not used to sleeping during school--this makes for a very boring period. At least there is silence, though; I find listening to all of the classes taught in Chinese even more boring.
At the start of the day, beginning at approximately 7:00 (early, I now), the students practiced their English by reading a simple story. After that was read about five times, an actual class began. I am not quite sure what it was, so I just twiddled my thumbs for the whole period. Next, we went outside to usual Changzhou weather--hot--for a lovely assembly/flag-raising ceremony (if you haven't sensed it by now, "lovely" was used sarcastically ;) ). After the ceremony, we had astronomy, English, study-time and lunch...which brings me up to now! English has definately been my favorite class, but it's not just because I was able to understand everything--the teacher is really cool! He hails from Halifax, Canada, and he has a slight Italian accent. He's been teaching here for only three years, but he's been all over China--and the world! I have a small "study" office right next to his, so that should make the school-year interesting.

***

Once the rest period was over, we had biology, what I was told was politics and gym. I must take gym before I graduate, but I'm not sure whether I want to go through the mindless drills here or back home. The excercise was unfamiliar to me, so I watched from the side. Then, we got to have another lovely, hour-long, all Chinese assembly out in the yard. If the teachers weren't watching us every second, I probably would have gone to sleep...and now I must do that--for another day begins tomorrow...Ya!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Another day now begins--bright and early! Getting up at 6:00 doesn't really affect me, since that is when I would get up back home; the hard things are starting school at 7:00 and, if like yesterday, ending at 5:00. Things are made even harder because I do not neccessarily like school right now. They are having me be in the regular classes with a group of students (Senior 1 first, then Senior 2) in order to "experience what Chinese school is really like." After that, I will be able to pick my own classes. I don't understand why the time must be so long. Since I can't understand anything, I'm not really gaining anything from the experience (except a deep appreciation for my Western-education back home). Things are very boring right now. Compared to anything that I have ever experienced, this is the most void of life; there is hardly any spirit or soul in the students. They are very immature for their age, which makes things even harder to deal with...The high schoolers at how American kids act in...probably sixth grade; yes...it's that bad.

***

Today, for the most part, has been equally as boring as yesterday. The English teacher had me go with him to the Senior 2 (higher grade) class with him, marking the only highlight of the day. That class knows more English, making it more fun to talk with them; I miss talking for pure pleasure instead of as a chore. Other new classes of the day included math, chemistry and what I think was physics (I'm not sure, though). Coming as a high-ranking student from my school (not trying to brag), it is hard to just sit in the back of the room and not know what in the world is going on. I guess we'll just have to see how this whole "chinese school-thing" ends up working out...

August 23， 2011

》》You know you're in China when。。。the bike lanes are big enough to fit at least one car down。
Meal-time is really awkward since the grandparents don't speak any English。Saying, “I'm full，“ in Chinese is my top priority in regards to meal-time conversation。 I love the Chinese hospitality， but I can only eat so much。 Right now, the only way I can indicate that I　ａｍ　ｆｕｌｌ　ｉｓ　ｂｙ　ｒｕｂｂｉｎｇ　ｍｙ　ｓｔｏｍａｃｈ！　Ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｏｌｕｎｔｅｅｒｓ　ｉｎ　Ｂｅｉｊｉｎｇ　ｊｏｋｅｄ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈａｔ　ＡＦＳ　ａｌｓｏ　ｓｔａｎｄｓ　ｆｏｒ　＂Ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　Ｆａｔ　Ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔ；＂　I　ａｍ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｔｒｙｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｍａｋｅ　ｓｕｒｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈａｔ　ｄｏｅｓ　ｎｏｔ　ｈａｐｐｅｎ！
Ｌｕｃｋｉｌｙ，　ｔｈｅ　ｇｒａｎｄｐａ，　ｓｏｎ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｒｏｄｅ　ｂｉｋｅｓ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ａｒｋ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｌｕｎｃｈ－－Ｉｔ　ｇｏｔ　ｍｅ　ｏｕｔ　ｏｆ　ｆｉｎｉｓｈｉｎｇ　ｍｙ　ｆｏｏｄ，　ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｅｘｃｅｒｃｉｓｅ！　Ｔｈｅ　ｐａｒｋ　ｗａｓ　ｂｅａｕｔｉｆｕｌ！　Ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｃｅ　ｗａｓ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｌａｒｇｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍａｎｙ　ｐａｔｈｓ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｓｍａｌｌ　ｌａｋｅ．　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｒｅ　ａｌｓｏ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｎｉｃｅ－ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇｓ　ｂｅｉｎｇ　ｂｕｉｌｔ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｒｋ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｎｏｗ，　ｓｏ　Ｉ＇ｍ　ｈｏｐｉｎｇ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉwill be able to see them once they are finished.
School starts in a week. The days are going by very slow--too slow--right now, so I can't wait for school to begin. I'm quite sure if that's a good thing to be thinking or a bad one...at least Iｗｉｌｌ　ｈａｖｅ　ｌｅｓｓ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｉｎｋ！　＝）　Ｉ　ｋｅｅｐ　ｔｈｉｎｋｉｎｇ　ｏｆ　ｍｙ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ　ａｎｄ　ｆａｍｉｌｙ；　Ｉwish Iｃｏｕｌｄ　ｆｉｇｕｒｅ　ｏｕｔ　ｈｏｗ　ｔｏ　ｃａｌｌ　ｔｈｅｍ！

Ｗｅｄｎｅｓｄａｙ，　Ａｕｇｕｓｔ　２４，　２０１１

＞＞Ｙｏｕ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｙｏｕ＇ｒｅ　ｉｎ　Ｃｈｉｎａ　ｗｈｅｎ．．．ｂａｄｍｉｔｔｅｎ　ｉｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｎａｍｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｇａｍｅ！
Ｔｏｄａｙ　Ｉ went to Yan's (my host-brother--pronounced Ian) badmitten class. We took two buses to get there and one home--all for a little less than $0.50. I'm not sure how much the buses are in the States, but I thought it was a very good price! ...Ｉ　ｐｌａｙｅｄ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｂｉｔ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｒａｃｔｉｃｅ．　Ｉdid pretty good, so I　ｈｏｐｅ　Ｙａｎ　ｗａｓｎ＇ｔ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｅａｓｙ　ｍｅ．　Ｆｏｒ　ｂｅｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｔｉｍｅ，　ｍｏｒｅ　ｏｒ　ｌｅｓｓ，　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉhave played badmitten, I was fiarly proud of myself.
When we got home, a girl who Yan called his sister （I'm pretty sure he meant cousin） was there。 Lunch was just about ready， so we all ate。  A word about the food： since I'm in the south， we eat rice more than noodles。 What usually happens is you get a bowl of plain rice or what I would consider rice-oatmeal （or poridge）。 Then you take from the communal plates on the table。 You can either directly eat the food， or you can put it in the rice。The food is really good。。。which I am very happy about。 What has been the strangest thing so far is that they serve fish whole （head， tail， bones and all）！ I told them that I never had fish like that before， so they popped out a can of tuna--I didn't tell them that I never ate it like that either， though。 haha
Whenever I try to clean up the table， the grandmother stops me。 I keep trying， though， so maybe she will let me help eventually。

Thursday， August 25， 2011

It's been a week since my adventure has started； I'm not sure if I should say, "already a week," or "only a week。” ：-/
Ever since I was able to talk with my mom， I’ve felt a lot better。 I know that I probably shouldn't call again， but I might call just to make sure they are alright--I heard that there was an earthquake in the United States。。。maybe I'll just send an e-mail.
Anyway， the adjusting is getting easier。 My host-mother wanted me to show her how to make cookies last night， so we had a really fun time。 It was amusing to see her use the mixer for the first time--the dry ingredients flew everywhere！ haha I took some pictures so you all can be amused！
I am starting to find it to be extremely hard to find things to do to pass the time。 I find myself  reading my Bible more often than I ever have。 The family has given me some books to read， but I disagree with a lot of the philosophy of the author. Solitaire has become my bestfriend, but that can get boring after a while. There are still five days till school starts...I'm beginning to pray that they go fast. It's not that I'm unhappy; I'm just bored. :-/

Friday, August 26, 2011

A LOT has happened today. First, my host-father and Iｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　Ｔｉａｎｍｉｎｇ　（ｓｐ？）　Ｔｅｍｐｌｅ，　ｔｈｅ　ｔａｌｌｅｓｔ　Ｂｕｄｄｈｉｓｔ　ｔｅｍｐｌｅ　ｉｎ　ａｔ　ｌｅａｓｔ　Ｓｏｕｔｈｅａｓｔ　Ａｓｉａ．　Ｓｅｅｉｎｇ　ｉｔ，　Ｉhad mixed emotions. On one hand, the natural beauty of the complex was breath-taking. However, it was also very sad to see how much time and money has been devoted to false gods--it made me want to cry. There was so many gold-covered statues and precious stones covering every inch of the place. My camera died halfway through, so I didn't get very many pictures. =(
After that, we walked through the adjacent park and had some tea. Once we were done, we met up with my host-mother and -brother and went to KFC for lunch。 I've already eaten there once at the train station in Beijing， so it wasn't a very worth-while experience。 Sandwiches are promoted a lot there； that's what I have gotten both times。 They taste really good， and they make me think about home。
After going into a few shops （including one that had a French horn that I played for my family）， we went to the dinosaur-themed amusement park。 They had some pretty good rides。 I wasn't so keen on trying some of them， but my host-family convinced me to--I didn't know that trying new things included thrill rides！ haha We bought some pictures of us on the rides， so maybe I'll be able to show you guys those。
What I thought was one of the more interesting things about the park is that they kept playing Harry Potter music。 You would think that if they were going to take a movie's soundtrack that they pick Jurassic Park！
Besides the language and missing people back home， I'm starting to forget that I am even in a different country； it‘s starting to feel slightly like home。。。

Sunday, August 28， 2011

There's actually been a lot going on the past few days。 We went to the lotus garden-park （liked) and then the animation festival (didn't like) yesterday. Today, Yan and I went to see Cars 2--in Chinese。 From what I saw， it seemed like a good movie！Anyway， with so much going on， I am really missing doing things with my family：
-I miss the loving embrace of my mother's arms when I am sad。
-I miss my dad coming home from work and telling us about every little thing that happened that day。
-I even miss my brothers yelling at me when I get on their nerves。
Everything seems so far away now--and I don't like it。 I don't know if I can make it here a year； I want to be with my family and friends。 I know that God， my friends and my family are all telling me that this is where I'm meant to be， but my heart keeps telling me to get on the next plane bound for home。 This is going be one very hard year。。。

An Aching Man，
Jonathan A. Miller

August 17, 2011, 7:00 AM, Central Standard Time

Well...things have already been off to a rough start. I got my stuff together a lot slower that Iｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｈａｖｅ，　ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ　ｓｏｍｅｗｈａｔ　ｌａｔｅ．　Ｕｎｆｏｒｔｕｎａｔｅｌｙ，　Ｉ　ｍｉｓｓｅｄ　ｍｙ　ｐｌａｎｅ　ｔｏ　Ｃｉｎｃｉｎｎａｔｉ　ｂｙ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｗｏ　ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ！　Ｌｕｃｋｉｌｙ，　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｎ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｇａｔｅ　ｗａｓ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｓｗｉｔｃｈ　ｍｅ　ｏｎ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｌｉｇｈｔ　ｔｏ　Ｍｉｎｎｅａｎａｐｏｌｉｓ．．．Ｉ　ｇｏｔ　ｈｅｒｅ　ａｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　６：３０，　ＣＳＴ．　Ｍｙ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｆｌｙｉｎｇ　ｗａｓｎ＇ｔ　ｔｏｏ　ｂａｄ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｃｏｏｌ　ｔｏ　ｆｌｙ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｌｏｕｄｓ，　ａｎｄ　ｗｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｅ　Ｍｉｓｓｉｓｓｉｐｐｉ　Ｒｉｖｅｒ　ｏｎ　ｏｕｒ　ｗａｙ　ｄｏｗｎ！　．．．Ｔｉｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｔｏ　ＬＡ！

Ａｕｇｕｓｔ　２０，　２０１１，　９：００　ＰＭ，　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　Ｓｔａｎｄａｒｄ　Ｔｉｍｅ

Ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｈａｓ　ｈａｐｐｅｎｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｓｔ　ｃｏｕｐｌｅ　ｏｆ　ｄａｙｓ．　Ｗｅ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｇｏｔ　ｂａｃｋ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｃｌｉｍｂｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　Ｇｒｅａｔ　Ｗａｌｌ　ｏｆ　Ｃｈｉｎａ－－ｍｏｒｅ　ｏｎ　ｔｈａｔ　ｌａｔｅｒ．　Ｉ　ａｒｒｉｖｅｄ　ｉｎ　Ｌｏｓ　Ａｎｇｅｌｅｓ　ａｔ　９：１５　ＡＭ．　Ｍｙ　ｂａｇｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｅｎｒｏｕｔｅ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｃｉｎｃｉｎｎａｔｉ，　ｓｏ　Ｉ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｏｔｅｌ　ａｎｄ　ｗａｉｔ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｂａｃｋ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ　ｏｎｃｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｎｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｉｎ．　Ｉleft the hotel at about 10:30 and got back at 12:30.
After we ate, we started the orientation. There were a lot of cool people there; we had the kids who were going to Japan, too. Things were interesting...but I just wanted to get to China! haha
We got up at 2:30 and left for the airport at 3:30. The baggage check at LA was actually shorter than in Grand Rapids--Iｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｓｕｒｐｒｉｓｅｄ！　Ｔｈｅ　ｆｌｉｇｈｔ　ｗａｓ　ｓｈｏｒｔ－－４５　ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ．　Ｓａｎ　Ｆｒａｎｃｉｓｃｏ　ｗａｓ　ｆｕｎ　ｏｎｃｅ　ｗｅ　ａｌｌ　（１１　ｏｆ　us）　ｇｏｔ　ｓｅｔｔｌｅｄ　in。　We　ｈａｄ　ｔｈｒｅｅ　ｈｏｕｒｓ，　ｓｏ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｏｆ　us　in　ｔｈｅ　ｇｒｏｕｐ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｅａｃｈ　other！　I　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｌｉｋｅｄ　ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ。。。We　ｗｅｒｅ　ｆｒｏｍ　ａｌｌ　ｏｖｅｒ－－Houston　ｔｏ　St.　Paul，　Brooklyn　ｔｏ　Portland。
The　flight　ｔｏ　China　ｗａｓ　alright；it　ｗａｓ　very　ｌｏｎｇ－－１２　Hours！　My　ｃａｍｅｒａ　ｄｉｅｄ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ａｗａｙ，　ｓｏ　I　ｏｎｌｙ　ｇｏｔ　ｏｎｅ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Pacific.　（Sorry!)　It's　ｗａｓ　ａｌｒｉｇｈｔ，　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ。。。ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｅｗａｒｄｓ　ｍａｄｅ　us　ｋｅｅｐ　ｏｕｒ　ｗｉｎｄｏｗ　ｂｌｉｎｄｓ　ｃｌｏｓｅｄ　（ｔｈｅｙ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　mean！　ｈａｈａ）．

Ａｕｇｕｓｔ　２１，　２０１１

Ｃｈｉｎａ　ｈａｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｇｒｅａｔ！　Ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ　ｗａｓ　ｍａｇｎｉｆｉｃｅｎｔ－－ｂｅａｕｔｉｆｕｌ　ａｎｄ　ＨＵＧＥ！　Ｉ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｋｎｏｗ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｎｏｗ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｒｅ　ｍａｎｙ　ｎａｔｉｏｎａｌｉｔｉｅｓ　ｈｅｒｅ．．．ｓｏ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｈａｒｄ　ｔｏ　ｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｃａｔｅ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｕｎｉｖｅｒｓａｌ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ，　ａｌｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ｉｔ　ｍａｙ　ｂｅ　ｃｌｉｃｈｅ｀，　ａｒｅ　ａ　ｗａｖｅ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｓｍｉｌｅ！　＝）
Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｗｅ　ａｔｅ　ｓｕｐｐｅｒ，　ｗｅ　ｄｉｄｎ＇ｔ　ｄｏ　ｍｕｃｈ．　Ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｌｌ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　ｔｉｒｅｄ　（Ｉ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｓｌｅｐｔ　ａｎ　ｈｏｕｒ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｎｅ），　ｓｏ　ｗｅ，　ｍｏｒｅ　ｏｒ　ｌｅｓｓ，　ｗｅｎｔ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｔｏ　ｂｅｄ．
Ｏｎ　Ｓａｔｕｒｄａｙ，　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｓｌｅｅｐ　ｉｎ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｂｉｔ－－ｂｒｅａｋｆａｓｔ　ｗａｓ　ａｔ　７：００.　Ｉdidn't sleep very well, off-and-on, so Ｉ　ｅｎｄｅｄ　ｕｐ　ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ　ｕｐ　ａｔ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ　５：１５.　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｓｍａｌｌ　ｏｒｉｅｎｔａｔｉｏｎ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｂｒｅａｋｆａｓｔ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ａｌｌ　ｇｏｔ　ｒｅａｄｙ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｅ　Ｇｒｅａｔ　Ｗａｌｌ！　Ｉ　ｄｉｄｎ＇ｔ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｗｅ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｉｔ，　ｓｏ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｃｏｏｌ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｄｉｄ．　Ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　ｕｓ　ｒａｃｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　＂ｔｏｐ，＂　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｏｆ　ｆｕｎ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　８５　ｄｅｇｒｅｅｓ，　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ，　ｓｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙ　ｗａｓ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ｈａｒｄ！　ｈａｈａ
Ｔｈｅ　ｖｉｅｗｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｄｅｆｉｎａｔｅｌｙ　ｗｏｒｔｈ　ｉｔ，　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ－－ｔｈｅ　ｗａｌｌ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｕｎｔａｉｎｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｓｐｅｃｔａｃｕｌａｒ！　Ｗｅ　ｄｉｄｎ＇ｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｌｅｆｔ，　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ，　ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏ　ｈｅａｄ　ｂａｃｋ　ｄｏｗｎ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ａｗａｙ－－ｔｈａｔ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｃｈａｌｌｅｎｇｅ，　ｔｏｏ！　
Ｏｎｃｅ　ｗｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｄｏｗｎ，　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ａ　ｒｅｓｔａｕｒａｎｔ．　Ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｆｏｏｄ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｂｅｔｔｅｒ　ｔｈａｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｏｔｅｌ＇ｓ，　ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ａｌｌ　ａｔｅ　ａ　ｌｏｔ！　Ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｐｌｅａｓｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｅｇｕｌａｒ　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　ｆｏｏｄ！　ｈａｈａ

Ａｕｇｕｓｔ　２２，　２０１１

Ｉ　ａｍ　ｉｎ　Ｃｈａｎｇｚｈｏｕ　ｎｏｗ．　Ｗｅ　ｌｅｆｔ　Ｓｕｎｄａｙ　ｎｉｇｈｔ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｈａｖｉｎｇ　ａ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｄａｙ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ－－Ｉ＇ｍ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｍｉｓｓ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａｎｓ　Ｉmet.
The train was a sleeper-train, so there wasn't much room. There were two bunkbeds that were three high。 I got the middle, which didn't make things any better. The train ride was from 7:30 PMｔｏ　７：３０　ＡＭ－－ｔｏｏ　ｌｏｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　ｍｙ　ｌｉｋｉｎｇ！
Ｍｙ　ｈｏｓｔ　ｆａｔｈｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｂｒｏｔｈｅｒ　ｍｅｔ　ｍｅ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｉｏｎ．　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｍｙ　ｂａｇｓ，　ｍａｋｉｎｇ　ｍｅ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｕｓｅｌｅｓｓ，　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｂｅｉｎｇ　ｎｉｃｅ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｑｕｉｃｋ　ｒｉｄｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ａｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　Ｉ　ｍｅｔ　ｍｙ　ｈｏｓｔ－ｍｏｔｈｅｒ，　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｄｏｇ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｒａｎｄｐａｒｅｎｔｓ．　Ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｓｅｅｍｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｎｉｃｅ．．．Ｉjust feel awekward right now. :-/ We have had breakfast and lunch so far, and my host-brother and I played a game on the computer. He seems very nice...we've tried talking to each other a bit so far.
I really miss my family, though. This “in China for a year” thing is really starting to sink in Since I had to leave so quickly，I didn't really have a proper goodbye with my family--that's been really hard。 I love them all so much， so it‘s going to be hard to be away for so long。
Before I go, I'd like to make things positive and say that Iｔｈｉｎｋ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｎｉａｔｕｒｅ　ｓｃｈｎａｕｚｅｒ　ａｎｄ　Ｉhave really hit it off! haha

Goodbye All

Hey Everyone! Well...This is it; it's finally time for me to be headed out. I created a video for this post, so I hope you like it...I'm sorry that I kept going on of the shot/effect! haha Enjoy...and see you in a year!!!

(FREAKY PICTURE!! haha)



Forever and Always,
Jonathan A. Miller