More from day one in the village...

Well, I'm back! Finally! Hopefully I'm back for good. :-)

So, I've got some more pictures to share from the first day in the village. I've actually got lots of photos to share, but I figure I can break each day into a different post & make it easier on myself.

Now that I'm home, I'm having really mixed feelings. Of course I'm glad to be back & be with my family. I am. It's just that I'm really sad knowing there's a good chance that was my last trip to China. With my parents moving home next year, I don't know that I'll ever get back there. You know how people say that when you're on vacation or in a different country, there comes a point when you're ready to be home? Well...I never felt that. And, you'd think I would since things are so different there. I was ready to be with my family, of course, but I never tired of the country.

Before I went, I had a list of wants. A long list. I obsessed about making sure I looked okay when I went out. I mean, not any more than the average person...probably less actually, but still...I cared. A lot. After visiting the villages, well, and just Kunming actually, I came home uninterested in shopping much. (And, I LIKE to shop.) All the camera gear on my list...it doesn't seem so dire anymore that I get it. Whatever. I care a little less about my appearance. I do care, for sure. But, I mean, it was kind of liberating being somewhere that it just doesn't matter like it does here. I haven't been blow drying my hair. I haven't made a point of NOT doing it...it's just...I don't know. It's like, when I got home, when the plane landed...it hit me like a ton of bricks. Driving home, looking around... I kinda felt ashamed. We really have it all here. Oftentimes too much. And, yet, I find myself wanting more!?! What is that!?! How ungrateful. So, yeah, I appreciate the perspective the trip has given me. And, I'm already ashamed that it probably won't take long for me to forget and revert to my old more, more, more ways. We'll see...

Looking back...visiting the village is definitely my most favorite part of the trip. I mean, how could it not be!?! So, here are a few more pictures from the first day.

Here are these two cuties, again. This is from when they first spotted us. They were up on the roof of their home (I assume) and were peaking over the little wall.



This is the rooftop of Julie's home. I just thought it was so interesting, and I LOVED the moss. The whole roof is like this!
And a couple of Julie's parents:
I think this next one of Julie's mom has quickly become one of my favorites from the day. I turned around to find her standing here looking out over the village and onto the surrounding land. Do you think she knows how amazing it all is? How could she not, right!?! I keep telling myself that she's just admiring the beauty of the world around her.
I caught this sneaky little guy peeking at us from a neighboring home. He was pretty cute. A little shy, too. :-)
Just one I liked of the dog. Haha!
Julie's mom in the kitchen washing dishes.


So, yeah...that's it for now. I've got lots lined up to share another day, but I still have some post processing to do, as well. Thanks for looking, and thanks for all the super nice comments you guys have been leaving. I'm feeling like a rockstar! Ha!

I have one last little thing to share. And, well, I hope it doesn't cheapen this post any. I debated about whether or not to share this here, but I just love it, so what the heck!?! Ha!

Okay, so, many of you may know about my love for old school Michael Jackson. (Haven't I mentioned it here before!?!) I know, I know. I've heard all the terrible things about him. Yes, he's an absolute freak of nature. Yes, yes, yes...I know. BUT. But I love his old stuff anyway, particularly Billie Jean. And, well, I've always loved the Thriller dance. I know. I'm a dork. I should be embarrassed, and I should never admit that to anyone. Yet, here I am admitting it to the whole world. :-) I don't care, though. It ROCKS! So, imagine how happy it made me to stumble upon this video:

Some of you may have already seen this. For those that haven't, this video was shot in a prison in the Philippines. They have the inmates doing choreographed dances for exercise. Oh my...I think this is just too stinkin' funny. They're ROCKIN' the Thriller dance! Maybe I shouldn't have posted this, but oh well.

That's all for now...