Blog Archive

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Today is up to you

With the economy the way it is, employers have the pleasure of taking their time to interview the masses of candidates for the one or two positions open. Usually taking the highest qualified that will receive the pay of an entry rate position. For those of us who are thankful for a current job, however, still struggle with not being happy with our position. Welcome to life. We need to learn to be happy where we are when we are there; it’s called living in the present.  We always say when life gives you lemons make lemonade that statement goes for those who say it too. You have to make the most out of what you have today and hope for something tomorrow. Rely in God and trust him that he will grow you and that anything you may be going through isn’t as bad as the person down the road. Lend a helping hand to those around you and you will see the difference it makes in your life.

Instead of texting face down when walking places, lift your head up and smile to those around  you and talk to the humans around you instead of being so plugged into your phone that you can’t even see those in front of your face. If you haven’t seen the movie Wall-e I suggest you do, it has a very valid point about today’s society and where it is headed. We are becoming a society that is so busy being busy we don’t make time for the things that really matter. It is up to us to make a difference and it is up to us to treat those around us like humans not like a piece of concrete that doesn’t interact. It seems like we interact with a kiosk more that we do with other people.  Yes it cuts down on the hustle and bustle of having to talk but what if that person was you behind the counter. Self checkout didn’t come along until I was a kid, I reflected on this last night, how foreign it was to check myself out at the grocery store. It felt like pretend.
 Also cell phones didn’t come along until I was kid either. My dad had a bag phone that he took in his truck to work. It wasn't a play toy for me, in fact all my sister and I could do was pretend we were calling on it…why because that’s all the phone did. I grew up in the era when the game snake on the nokia was the most entertaining/the only game on the phone! Those of us born in the 80’s and before have been constantly changing with technology since we were kids.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0aUQLIPdtg8#!

While technology has been ever changing, we have been changing too, however I think that the way we change is what is defining the world we live in and we didn’t even notice.  86% of mobile internet users are using their phone while watching TV! 61% of the mobile use is on games. Read more. http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/2011-mobile-statistics-stats-facts-marketing-infographic/

The more time we spend updating our status or retweeting information is time we would spend interacting with other people when we were kids. You see where I am going. Now this generation that grew up with bag phones are the parents to kids who have all these devices that do more than make a phone call. From a young age these kids are getting mommy and daddy’s iphone and are playing games instead of interacting with those around them. They are not learning social skills they will need in the future, and the parents are encouraging this behavior so they don’t have to teach their child discipline and how to spend time with others instead parents want their kids to sit still and be quiet so they pacify the kid with the iphone or hand held game.
Recently I have realized this has become a huge issue, even at this Christmas we had a rule no cell phones! So we could spend time together, but guess what. The second we were finished eating, those lazy people who didn’t want to help clean went into the other room and sat down and started playing their games and texting each other across the room. Those of us cleaning were interacting and talking, the other room was silent. What a great Christmas family time. Obviously I being one of the youngest couldn’t do much of anything about them being antisocial so I stayed in the kitchen talking with family and interacting and having a good time while I have family around me.

People cut the cord and get off your phone, look up and realize people, actual humans are around you. Act like you care until you really do. Make a difference and get involved by setting you phone down on silent. It’s rude and you are doing you and others a disservice when you are glued to your phone/ipad.
We need to start re-teaching kids; they need to know how to make phones not just how to use them. Kids still need the basic functions of interacting with others to be creative.  It’s up to our generation to make the difference.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Good things take time

I have had a lot of time to think here lately.  I have realized that things in life are really made up of lists and whether or not you get to accomplish finishing your list is dependent upon many things like how many hours you have in the day and how determined you really are and something else always ends up happening that ultimately distracts you which in turn postpones things till tomorrow... Anyways back to the topic of lists… What is on your list? Are you going to accomplish these things? Do you want to include people with the things on your list?
Recently I have made some lists from favorite movies, old TV shows and bucket lists I have pretty much exhausted the list making…
Things I want to be/do:
1.       Traveling Photographer
2.       Be happy
3.       Make a difference in people’s life
4.       Go to Ripley’s Believe it or Not
5.       Get a good full time job
6.       Go to Alaska/ Antarctica
Of course this isn’t a complete list but it’s a look into what I want to do/be.


P.S. I just now am starting a part time job at bath and body works today is my last day of training, hopefully I will be able to find something else that will be full time soon so that I can get benefits and a salary pay.  But bath and body works for now. Better than nothing. J
Love
-Emma

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Guess who's back, back again!?! :)

Yes I am referencing an Eminem song... :)

Well I've been back for a while now. I am going to post pictures soon on facebook from China!!!!

As of right now I am still trying to look and find a job..... there is a job fair at DBU this Thursday so I will be going to that. Hopefully it will turn out great! It is a part time job fair so nothing that is full time. I'll take what I can get...for now. I have however been entertaining that idea of working for myself but I don't quite know what I would do. I like to do some many things I think that if I do something that I enjoy for a hobby then it won't be a hobby aka fun anymore. I need to pray more about what it is that I will be doing in the next few months. I know that God will provide for me, I just need to trust in him and let him provide for me.

Last night I went to DBU for a visit. It was the first day of school for the kiddos. They had a concert with a guy from American Idol and Dave Barnes. They were both really good! And Kudos to all of those who put it on b/c it looked and sounded great and I know it was blazzin' hot yesterday.

I went by my old town home and saw brit and briley, it was great but so short...since I was illegally parked because there was ZERO parking!!! It felt weird to say goodnight and not walk upstairs to go to sleep. I miss my 4A girls! They are the best!!

Well I am going to work on getting my act together so that I can find a J-O-B soon!

If you want to talk to me or grab a bite and catch up then just give me a call! :)

-Love Emma

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Today was an interesting day

So Today a group of us went to the Hutong area, which is the old part of Beijing where the government doesn't allow people to build up tall buildings. I took lots of pictures I wish I could have done more exploring but to be honest after walking about 6 miles in my sperrys I was ready to head back. We looked around and bought some stuff at the shops. It is pretty funny how many people our group can make laugh. We are some pretty funny Americans!! :) We sing on the subway and ask to drive the bike with seats behind it just for fun and the biker guys get a good laugh at us hiking our leg over the tall rail to drive the bike! :) Oh and then did I mention that everybody stares at us here like we are famous or something! So of course being true Texans we wave and see who will wave back! :) We have kind of made it into a game we call it sweet or sour, and whoever gets the most sweets WINS! Shockingly enough it is really hard to get people to wave back! Some people will look at you and realize that you are waving at them, they half smile and then get this look on their face like something is wrong. LOL People just don't wave here, they aren't that friendly :).

It has been nice to see the change in people that we have been around. When we first got here the people that worked at the hotel and in the supermarket downstairs would not smile and they seemed to hate their lives, but after 30 days of us coming in and smiling and doing our best to talk to them, they have warmed up to our group. The lady who is like a guard would sit at her chair in the hotel lobby and her job was to monitor the people who would come through the supermarket into the hotel and make sure they weren't strangers to SMIC. Anyways now she smiles at me before I even can make eye contact with her. I love it! and the people who work at the supermarket are the same way, there was this older woman who is the cashier, she was a though cookie but we finally got her.

While I have been typing this blog the power went out in my hotel room, so finally this guy came to fix it and he has gone somewhere in the ceiling... I hear noise but IDK!!! :/

So back to today. We ate at KFC for lunch it was good to have some American food! But before eating I went to go wash my hands and use the restroom...aka a squaty-potty... As I walk into the stall the cleaning woman walks in with me!! So I step out and let her mop and what not, then as I wait another lady comes in and wacks me with the door!! And I motion that she should wait outside the door because the waiting area for the toilet inside is 2'x3' and she ignores me...So then the cleaning lady walks out and I walk in and as I am finished and opening the stall door this girl busts in before I could even step out! SOOO WEIRDDD!!! :0


I am going a little backwards but that is me, :) I wanted to touch on Friday before I go. Friday was the BEST DAY!!!
We had our class play and the kids did soooo good!!! And at the end of the play me, my roomie Amy, Amber, Katelyn and Andrew all did the cupid shuffle and we went into the crowd and grabbed two people, then 10 seconds after that all of our classes were on stage doing the dance! It was the best way to go out! The parents loved it and the kids loved it! They will always remember having a good ending! :) I was sooooooo happy!!!! :)

K well I am going to eat dinner, the guy fixed the power and now I can get some packing done.
love
--Emma

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Almost There!!!

Well I only have a few days left and I will be back in America. My time in China has been fun, I can't believe that I am Teacher Emily!! The kids are so funny, hearing them speak Chinese is hilarious! They are all talking right now in the back of the room and it is sooooo funny!! All in Chinese!! It is like they are plotting something but then they burst into a silly game and all along they were picking who would be IT. LOL!!! 

I am soooo sleepy!!! I can't wait to get home and this time next week be in my own bed!!! ahhhhh yes!!!

We have been practicing our play today so far today has been a little better than yesterday. :) 
I think I am going to play musical chairs with them this afternoon they like it!

We are also going to make our costumes too!! :)

One of the pictures I took yesterday was of the sunset it was awesome! It reminded me of Texas!! 

And yes I did climb up the ladder thing with the kids! LOL Im still a Kid!

Well this is a short blog due to the fact I have stuff to do and all the kids are back inside and we are about to start class again. I'll see you soon!

-Emma
 


 

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Week 3 Already!!!

Okay so this is week three and I only have 1.5 weeks left. The kids are showing progress but man I had no idea that being a teacher was so much. I have been planning my lessons this week the night/day before I teach them to the students. This weekend was really busy!! I had a great time at the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven! It was foggy/muggy when we went to these places so the pictures are not exactly what I had expected them to be...that's just the photographer in me, but I had fun and I sweat soooo much!! It was overcast and is rained a little bit, but not bad. The experience to have climbed the Great Wall was awesome! I went to the 4th tower and let me tell you we were high up! It was so steep, coming down was actually more scary than going up. There were tons and tons of people! Oh and people were running up and down the Wall. Some of the steps were like 3 inches high and others were 1.5 feet! so it was really inconsistent. Some of the group went even further they went to the 10th tower, they were climbing for a solid 3+ hours...



I went to get my hair washed last night at this salon by the grocery store called merry mart. Its only $3 and it lasts for 1.5-2 hours. They wash and massage your head and then rinse and massage your head, then massage your neck and shoulders, and then your arms and hands. Then finally they blow dry your hair and the guy last night spent forever styling my hair and curling it with the brush and blow dryer!



I think this weekend we are going to go shopping at the market and get some cool stuff. I am choosing to skip out on the acrobatic show this Thursday night because it will cost $120 yen and we all know what happened last time I went to the "Opera." I'm not down with getting gypped out of money I could spend on things from the market that will hopefully last longer. Hopefully. :)



This week i don't have a theme for the kids. I am reading to them and working on conversation and throwing in some compound words. I am so proud to have made it this far. My kids listen to me, they get a little crazy but what kid doesn't sometimes. I love getting to teach them, and they know whose boss. I observed a class today while the teacher was teaching and I have to say I feel good about the way my kids act even on their bad days. There really are only 2/3 kids that I have to get onto about stuff the rest really want to learn. I really think the skittle at the end of the day helps them to remember that I am not a mean old teacher ;) and that I really like that they are in my class.

These pictures are from this weekend. I took some at the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and The Great Wall. Will my TA is in one of the pics with me.

Well I got to go my kids are about to walk in the door I hope you enjoy these pictures!! :)

love-emily
 






 
 
 

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Train Crash

Hey y'all!
It's Kristen (Emily's sister)/ guest blogger. haha
Emily skyped me tonight and wanted me to put a post on here to let everyone know that she is OK! There was a train crash and derailing in China today. She was no where near the crash, thank goodness! Below is the link to the story about the crash...so very sad.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china-train-20110724,0,7852907.story

Emma is off to the GREAT WALL today and really looking forward to seeing it and taking tons of pictures (of course ;))

I'm so proud of her for taking this opportunity to go to China, it really is a once in a lifetime chance. I know she loves any comments on the blog and emails she gets from y'all, she isn't always able to respond back because the internet is spotty and slow at times. I do know she loves hearing from back home though :)
Y'all take care!
~Kristen