Grade 11
Our school (like most international schools in China) has a "Discover China" week where every grade goes on a trip to somewhere in China to, well, "Discover China". In 11th grade we went to Guizhou, the poorest province in China, and it was one of the most AMAZING experiences of my life. We spent the majority of the week digging a rice patty. Literally building it with our own hands and old tools that had to be constantly repaired by some of the village members. It was hard work, and compared to the grade 12 trip to Hainan (the beach) it may seem like a horrible experience, But it wasn't. It was one of the best experiences of my life. The people of the village lived such a simple and meager life. But they were so happy! Their community leader had even died right before we got there, and the funeral procession was while we were there, but they didn't let that get to them! They were such a fantastic example that you don't need money to be happy. Do what you love, and surround you with people you love, and you will live a happy life. And I just loved being out there working. I'm obviously not a very active person, but I don't mind getting dirty, and I love to feel like I'm helping out. I like to make people happy, and I felt like this was a good opportunity for that. What we did during that week would have taken a group a farmers the better part of a month to build.
Theatre:
I ended up with a lead in the school's production of Kiss me Kate! It was funny because Tiana was Kate, and I was Bianca. Meaning that she played my older sister. I realized this was the first ever school musical I've been in. For a series of reasons (some my fault, while others out of my control) It's just never worked out for me to be in a school musical before! I've been in quite a few musicals at community theatres, but never at school! So that was a really exciting experience for me! It was an amazingly fun experience, and I think that I grew a lot. It definitely pushed me, especially vocally!
I participated in ISTA (International School Theatre Association), and also the first international trip for the school! We went to Jeju Island Korea. It was such a beautiful place, and the perfect setting for the theme, which was "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare. It was a little crazy because there was even a shipwreck right before we got there, and for those of you who don't know "The Tempest", basically none of it would have happened if it weren't for a shipwreck at the beginning. We portrayed the major themes of the play through a more interpretive style of theatre. It was an interesting experience for me because I've never done much like it (like much of the theatre I've done since moving here). We all had different workshop groups, and learned about different types of theatre. I can't even remember what mine was, but it was an asian movement kind of workshop. So basically we portrayed the conflict of the people of the island with those shipwrecked on it through movement, but it wasn't a dance. It's hard to explain but it was really exciting.
I attended an arts festival, and of course I took all of the drama workshops, and surprisingly enough a dubstep dance workshop because I had a free slot. I think that aside from Shakespeare festival in Utah, this is the best school trip I've been on for drama. Even though He'll never read this, I just have to thank the director Mr. Smith for it all! If I end up directing (which I plan on doing at some point), he is one of the directors I've had which I aspire to be like. He pushed us, and expected so much out of us. he had so much energy and passion. That festival was so inspirational to me, I definitely confirmed that going into theatre is the right thing for me. We just acted all day for 4 days, and I was so happy.
I competed with the wonderful Erika in the duet acting devision of Speech and Debate. We had a wonderful experience rehearsing and competing made all the sweeter by winning first place.
I directed my first show, and dang was it a lot of work! Compared to Lone Peak, the drama department here is severely lacking because the program is a lot newer, the student body is smaller, so it's hard to get people who are interested, and other things like that. But it has grown a ton just since I've been here! I wanted to help build it up by directing my own show, but I didn't realize how much work it would be! I am definitely so glad that I did it though, it made me realize that not only do I want to direct, but I could actually do it. I think it was a good experience to have before college. But really I couldn't have done it without my fantastic cast.
Trips:
For Christmas we went back to Utah, which was fantastic! It was so great to be able to see my beloved state, friends, and family. I was reminded how much I missed and loved the place. I think leaving after Christmas break was harder than moving to China in many ways, but easier in ways like I knew people in China, it wasn't a new scary thing like moving there was.
We went to England for Chinese New Years. I've ALWAYS wanted to go to England so you can guess that I was more than thrilled. I was on cloud nine the whole week, and I'm going to live there one day. Not for a long time, but it will happen. We saw the Globe theatre, Shakespeare's house and grave, Phantom of the Opera, a Police Box (sadly I never ran into the Doctor), and obviously things like buckingham palace, Big Ben, the London Bridge, The London Eye, etc. We went on both a Harry Potter, and Jack the Ripper tour. Both of which were extremely interesting. I just love the atmosphere of London. parts of it feel like you've traveled back in time. There are sections with new high-tech buildings, but large portions of it is just old buildings. It's beautiful.
Summer
Well Liam was born right towards the end of the school year! He's the cutest chub ever! It was soo weird having a new baby in the family at first, but now I couldn't imagine it any other way. But the timing of him being born meant that we only got to go to Utah for two weeks because of visa stuff.
In a way it was good we had to stay in China, even though the summers are unbearably hot and humid (like 100+ practically every day), because we were able to meet the new Mormon family that moved here over the summer. Yes you read right! A new Mormon family! With kids our age and everything (17 year old boy, 15 year old girl, and 14 year old boy). We were instant friends and do practically everything together now.
When we did go back to Utah it was fantastic! I loved being able to see all my friends! Especially Cheyenne who wasn't able to come to Utah over winter break. I spent the first week going on college trips with Cheyenne, and spending time with friends and family. The second week I went to girls camp, and I'm so glad I was able to go. It was both my first and last time being a YCL because of moving to China the summer before. I think it was easily my favorite girls camp. It was crazy though, even though Utah is one of my favorite places in the world, I was completely ok going back to China. None of the overly emotional desire to stay in Utah. But of course I'm still so happy to go back when I graduate!
When we did go back to Utah it was fantastic! I loved being able to see all my friends! Especially Cheyenne who wasn't able to come to Utah over winter break. I spent the first week going on college trips with Cheyenne, and spending time with friends and family. The second week I went to girls camp, and I'm so glad I was able to go. It was both my first and last time being a YCL because of moving to China the summer before. I think it was easily my favorite girls camp. It was crazy though, even though Utah is one of my favorite places in the world, I was completely ok going back to China. None of the overly emotional desire to stay in Utah. But of course I'm still so happy to go back when I graduate!
Grade 12 (up to now)
Grade 12 has been soo busy! Unlike in the states where 12th grade is usually the easiest year, here it's the hardest. By far. But it will be so rewarding when it's all over.
For Discover China week we went to Hainan, and I was able to check surfing and hiking through a rainforest off my bucket list! It was so nice to be able to just relax and play on the beach, and just have a break from our studies.
I competed in Speech and Debate again this year, but not only in Duet Acting, but also in Debate, and Oral interpretation. Ben and I competed together with a scene from Richard III in duet acting, and I feel we did fantastic, but sadly we didn't place. All those who did were from my school though, so that's ok! Debate we didn't even make it past the first round, but I wasn't expecting much from that. and Oral interp, I ended the first round in first pace, but ended up getting third overall. I was happy with my performance in all the categories but I really wish I could have placed better in at least duet acting and oral interp. I think it was a huge eye opener that I can't get complacent. I tend to get prideful when I'm doing really good in life (like I was in drama last year), and I think God needs to remind me I'm not all that and a bag of chips sometimes. This being one of those times.
I competed in Speech and Debate again this year, but not only in Duet Acting, but also in Debate, and Oral interpretation. Ben and I competed together with a scene from Richard III in duet acting, and I feel we did fantastic, but sadly we didn't place. All those who did were from my school though, so that's ok! Debate we didn't even make it past the first round, but I wasn't expecting much from that. and Oral interp, I ended the first round in first pace, but ended up getting third overall. I was happy with my performance in all the categories but I really wish I could have placed better in at least duet acting and oral interp. I think it was a huge eye opener that I can't get complacent. I tend to get prideful when I'm doing really good in life (like I was in drama last year), and I think God needs to remind me I'm not all that and a bag of chips sometimes. This being one of those times.
I was in the School production of "The Willow Pattern" Which is supposed to be a Chinese proverb, but it's written by some British lady. It's basically like a Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet. The script wasn't that great, but the makeup costumes, scenery/lighting, and of course the actors made up for it, and I think we had a pretty great play! It was fun to do something different!
For Christmas break we went to Australia for a week, then spent the other two weeks here in China. It was really great but really different at the same time! Before we went to Australia I didn't really have that strong of a desire to go, other than to add a continent to my list, but I after going, I absolutely love it! It was one of the oddest experiences having it be Summer and Christmas at the same time!! I don't think that is something I could ever get used to! I also turn 18 in Australia! How many people (aside from Aussies of course) can say they turned 18 in Australia!? I've now had my birthday on a different continent every year for the past three years. It was so nice to be able to just lounge on the beach! We tried our hands at surfing, and even though I didn't do great in Hainan, I did way better there. But Trevon was pro! He got up practically every time! Though most of Australia was fantastic, it wasn't all fun and games. For instance, I got a tick while I was there, and my dad, mom, and I got so dehydrated when we went to the zoo that we threw up... those were both experiences for sure. I had a major panic attack when I got the tick. I got it the day after I turned 18, and for those of you who don't know, I have a bit of Peter Pan syndrome. So I was (and still am) pretty bummed about being 18, and then on top of that I got a tick, which my dad flushed down the toilet. For those of you who don't know, if you get bit by a tick which has lyme disease, and you keep the tick they can actually treat you, and you don't get lyme disease. So I basically spent the day wallowing in self pity because I had no idea how I'd survive in the real world... If I didn't die from Lyme disease yet. But don't worry, it's over a month later, and I'm fit as a fiddle! I'll spare you most the details about throwing up, but basically we went to the zoo the hottest day we were there, and forgot water, we bought some halfway through the day, but it was already too late. Then on the bus ride home, I threw up... lets just say there was a hole in the bag, and it was NOT pretty!
Actual Christmas and New Years was so much fun, but so different than it usually is! We spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve with the Ferneys, and we definitely made the most of it. I just love those people soo much, when you get us together, we can make anything fun. I do miss all of the old traditions, but we were able to carry a lot of those on, or at least variations of them, and we made some new traditions. It's just crazy how much life can change in one year. Yes, we were living in China last year, but we went back home for the break, so other than the fact that everyone just wanted to hear about China, and we were obsessing over all the American stuff, it wasn't that different than a normal Christmas. but this year was really a time for me to just see how much things have changed. There are some aspects of my life that are completely different than what they were last year, even somethings that meant the world to me, and I never thought they'd change, but they have, and I'm completely ok with that. I've realized that's what life is. I think this change is fantastic. I've changed and grown so much as a person, and I absolutely love it. I would not change a single experience I've had in my life, both the good and the bad. Because like it talks about in 2 Nephi chapter 2, you've got to have opposition in everything. You can't know the good without the bad. I can honestly say that everything that has happened since I moved to China, has proven that to be true. That has been one of my favorite chapters of scripture since I moved to China. It really is just great to read when you are struggling with any sort of challenge :)
All in all, I've just had an amazing experience! In addition to all of the cool places I've traveled to, I've also gone to see a lot of cool things in china, just around Nanjing, and also other places in China, like when we went to see the terra-cotta warriors! I just wish I would have blogged more over the past year an a half, not only so you all could know what's going on, but just so I could have a more accurate record of everything that has happened. I sure hope that I'll blog more, but I'm making no promises! I hope you have had as good year and a half as I have!
