First 100 Days

In the United States the media makes a big deal out of a presidents first 100 days in office. Recently, President Trump met his 100 day milestone. It made me stop and reflect on my upcoming 100 days back in America.
My transition home hasn't been as easy or smooth as one would imagine. I was returning to my home country. Where I lived for thirty years of my life. It should be easy, it would be exciting, although some aspects have been easy and exciting, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. I've experienced reverse culture shock, disappointment and being overwhelmed.
Reverse Culture shock is happens because the culture someone is entering is different from what a person was used to. In my case, American culture is different than Chinese culture. Added to that, American culture has changed since I left (i.e. man buns, the infighting among different races, political ideologies, etc.). There have been many times I've had to ask my mom and or best friend to explain things (why is America now called Merica?!). I've had to relearn things, such as: when someone says let's do lunch, we don't plan out a day to meet, but it's actually an American way of being polite.  In many ways I have had to relearn things that were second nature to me. I find that as time passes, I am more and more ingrained into my culture.
I have been disappointed in the relationships I have with people I knew previous to my move. I  kept in contact with friends while I was away and we moved back into our house. So I know most of my neighbors and people we attend church with. I was surprised that my previous friendships haven't just picked up where they've left off. True, we are all busy and it's hard to get together.  I think I've changed and so relationships have changed too. I  have been a bit disappointed that people haven't been interested in my China experience. They haven't asked me questions, or if I talk about it I can tell from their body language they aren't interested. So I don't talk about China much. This is sad and frustrating to me because this experience has shaped and changed me. In the pursuit of being authentic and getting to know people, I want to share that. I know that it's not that people don't care, I think they just can't relate to my experiences. I think back to when a returning LDS missionary would come home, I never asked them questions, or about their experience. Now, I've come to realize how important it is to let returning missionaries and anyone returning from abroad speak about their experiences. I have come up with a list of questions to ask a returned missionary or ex-patriot that I wish people had asked me.  Friendship is like dating, sometimes you have to meet a lot of people until you find someone you really want to spend time with.
Life in America is overwhelming. In China I had a few choices at the supermarket. In America there are dozens of choices of apples, let alone other fruit vegies, types of milk, etc. etc. It took a while to go to the grocery store and do all of our shopping without being overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices.
When we moved home we needed to buy new carpet, furniture and two new cars and we had to buy it fast! There were so many big decisions to make and of course my husband I had differing opinions. It was overwhelming and took a lot of will power on both our parts to rationally make decisions without losing our tempers with each other.
Life is busier here. In China I cleaned, shopped and went to see sites and still had "me time". Here it seems like I am always busy shopping, doing errands, cleaning, running kids to activities and play dates. I have really tried to do everything with intent. So my new mantra is: 1. does it bring me joy? 2. does it show love? 3. Is there an eternal purpose to it? If it's something optional, and doesn't meet these requirements, I've found the liberating courage to drop it.
Every day I acclimate more and more. I have learned I need to be patient with people and situations around me and in turn I hope they are patient with me as I go through this process.

Bruneau Dunes State Park

Bruneau Dunes State Park has the tallest freestanding sand dunes in North America, with the highest reaching 470 feet. Surprisingly, the mosquitoes were horrendous. 

Questions to ask Re patriots and missionaries

When someone moves back to their home country or come home from a mission they have so much they want to tell you! Sometimes it is hard to know what to ask so I've compiled a list of questions.

• What was most surprising about the place you lived?
• What was your favorite food?
• What was your least favorite food?
• What were the bathrooms like?
• What were the churches/wards like?
• What do you miss the most?
• Tell me about the utilities. How did you pay them? Were they always on?
• What was the healthcare/dental care like?
• Could you find toiletries such as deodorant and toothpaste at the store?
• Did you make friends with any locals? Who was your best friend?
• What is the funniest thing that happened to you?
• What did you learn from your experience?
• How did they do their laundry? How was it different than the US?
• What do you wish you had done different?
• What do you now value that you never valued before?
• How was church services alike or different?
• Did they have a library?
• What did you do for entertainment?
• How much did food cost?
• What behaviors, etc. were unacceptable or acceptable in the host country that aren't acceptable in your home country?
• What was a typical day like for you and your family?
• Have any of your core beliefs been challenged or stretched?
• How big was the average house? How were houses alike and different than your home country
• What were the supermarkets like?
• How have you transformed from this experience?
• What were bathrooms like?
• How did you get around?/What was transportation like?
• What was your favorite/least favorite smell
• What are some local sayings/slang?
• What was the scariest thing that happened?
• Did you witness any miracles?
• What did you and your family like least/most about the experience?
• What was your kids school like?
• What was school lunch like?
• What do you appreciate most about the culture you were living in?
• What was security like?
• Would you live in that place again?
• What advice do you have for someone moving to _______________________?
• How has your experience helped you appreciate your home culture?

Provo City Center Temple

We had the honor of going to a sealing of our friends in the Provo City Center Temple. It was the first time I had been in this temple. It was announced in 2011 and completed in January 2016. It was built on the site of the old burned Provo Tabernacle.
It was truly beautiful. The interior reminded us of a castle we had visited in Germany.

Lucky Peak Rooster Tail

Lucky Peak dam is a dam on the Boise River located eight miles southeast of Boise, Idaho.  It was constructed in the 1950s with the purpose of flood control with irrigation as its secondary purpose. The dam also generates hydroelectric power.
Because the area has so much water this year, for two days water was let out in what is called the rooster tail. This does not produce electricity but was marvelous to witness.

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho USA

Shoshone Falls is affectionately called the Niagara of the West because of it's size and volume of water that comes through it. It boasts of a 212 foot drop and has a width of 900 feet. The Snake River feeds Shoshone Falls and continues as the largest tributary to the Columbia River. The falls is at its peak from April through July. The winter of 2016/2017 had record breaking snow in Idaho so the falls were overflowing in capacity when we went. It was just beautiful.
Shoshone Falls was an important fishing and trading place for Native Americans and started to become a tourist attraction in as early as 1860.

Taiwan

On our way home we stopped by Taiwan so Mr. Kungfuyankee could show us Taiwan, where he served his LDS mission.
It was a beautiful country. It reminded me of a ghetto California, which my husband found offensive. It has the climate of California, an Asian influence but was very western, the people were nice and food was fabulous.
Night markets were unlike any I have been in. They sold a few souvenirs but mostly sold food and had cheap carnival games.
Taiwan is what China could have and should have been if the communist government hadn't taken over and stolen it's riches and citizens hope. I hope that one day China can enjoy the beautiful blue skies, freedom and prosperity Taiwan enjoys.

Looking from the Chiang Kai Sheck Memorial Hall

Taipei LDS Temple

Chi-ih K'an Lou Fort built around 1286 AD

Mountains near Taichung

Buddhist Temple. Temples in Taiwan are on every

street. They are beautiful and ornate

In China and Taiwan dragons are benevolent

Pacific Ocean near Taichung

 We drove along sheer cliffs. The 

view was breathtaking 

Chiang Kai Sheck Memorial

Pearl Harbor

During my layover in Honolulu I took a bus to Pearl Harbor. The site was quiet and reverent. The majesty of the United States fleet still present. 

On the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941 Japan attacked the American navy which was situated in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor. The Japanese wanted to cripple the US navy so they could conquer Asia undeterred. 

In total, 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 were wounded at Pearl Harbor. It also marked America's entrance to WWII.

The USS Arizona Memorial is built over the wreckage of the USS Arizona where 1, 177 crewmen died. 

9 quarts of oil still leaks from the USS Arizona

every day.

23 sets of brothers died on the USS Arizona

Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai is known as the "garden island" because of the jungles that cover most of the island. Some famous movies filmed in Kauai include: Jurrasic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Hook, King Kong and about 50 other movies.

Usually the weather is rainy in January, but we lucked out and had clear skies and 80 degree Fahrenheit temperatures.

By our hotel was the Kaneiolouma Cultural Restoration project, which is a project excavating and preserving a Hawaiian village built in the 1400s.

 Poipu Beach

Kaneiolouma Cultural Restoration project

Kaneiolouma Cultural Restoration project

Baby monk seals are endangered and protected

The Waimei Canyon is ten foot canyon. When

we went up it was cloudy so the picture isn't the best

Waimei Canyon

Krabi is located on Thailand's south western coast and is recognizable by it's angular limestone cliffs, mangrove forests and 130 outlying islands. 

Around 2000 people died as a result of the 2004, Tsunami.  We loved the relaxed atmosphere, delicious (and cheap) food, blue skies and being together. 

 Stilt houses on the Krabi River 

Waterfall in Khao Phanom Bencha

National Park

Buddhist Temple

Little houses built into the cliffs

This baby elephant is 7

years old

Crazy moth. 

Blue crab. We also saw mudskippers and

serpent sea stars

Floating village and fishery. 

 We went from blue sky to crazy rain within

a matter of minutes.

Transportation: Getting around is easy. Taxis, tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis are everywhere to be found. We used them at the airport and to get around Krabi. 

Visa- No visa required for US citizens, just bring your passport. 

Activities - We were advised to not book anything beforehand. It ended up being good advice as the weather might have an impact on your schedule. Every 20 feet on the streets you can book tours. Check around for the best price. Some places will include the National Park fees in the price, some don't. It's good to ask.  

• Island Tours - We did (2) day tours to Phi Phi Islands and 4 Islands (snorkeling, swimming, beach hopping)
• Rent a private boat - For 3000 baht (100 USD) we had our own longtail boat and driver. He took us fishing, snorkeling, swimming, and lunch on a private beach. They will go wherever you want to go. 
• ATVs -  They charge by the hour (~750 baht/hour). We went on a two hour tour that ended up being closer to 4 hours. Included swimming in a river that was from a natural spring. 
• Elephant Riding - There are several different elephant tours available. We paid a little extra for an elephant ride that was through a river and next to a national park. We ended up going into the park later in the day to swim in a waterfall. It was a day package for around $50/person. 
• Beaches - There are a lot of different beaches. Our hotel was in Ao Nang. From Ao Nang, you can take the longtail boats to nearby beaches. Railay Beach is about a 10 minutes boat ride away and only accessible by boats. It's probably the best beach in Krabi with good sand and great views. You can rent canoes on the beach and take them around exploring the different caves and nearby beaches. 
• Cooking Class - I did a 5 hour cooking class with Mama Ya  I cooked up around 10 dishes and had a lot of fun. 
• Krabi Weekend Market - There is an outdoor food and souvenier market Fri, Sat, Sun nights in downtown Krabi. About 20 minutes from Ao Nang. 
• Fishing farm - We visited a fishing farm on the Krabi river. They show off their various fish (including a puffer fish). They have a restaurant there that looked good, but we didn't have time to eat. 
• Mangroves - We wanted to check out the mangroves, but we tried going during low tide and the boats couldn't make it in. Worth a try if you go during high tide. 
• Tailors - My husband had some shirts custom made. 100% cotton shirts are around $30/each. If you like cotton/poly, they are around $20/each. Tailors are available all over Ao Nang. 
• Massages - Cheap Thai massages on every corner. 200 baht ($6) for an hour massage during the day, 300 ($9) baht at night when it is busier. 
• There are a lot more tours available. Check out the travel websites and travel centers in Krabi for more info. 

Restaurants - Lots of good options if you like Thai, Italian, or Indian. Check out Trip Advisor to see the reviews. 

Currency Exchange - The Krabi airport had a very reasonable exchange rate right outside the area where you pick up luggage. There are ATMs and currency exchanges on every corner in Ao Nang.