Cleaning & More Closure

Over the past months I have been cleaning out my apartment so that it wouldn’t be such a huge project at the end when school is busy. I can’t believe how much ‘stuff’ I have collected in my 7 years here. I have given so many clothes away and just junk items. (Got to love finding those ‘odd’ Christmas presents from students that I couldn’t bear to throw away but have been in some random box because they serve no use.) This Saturday the movers with Sante Fe (cue music from Newsies …) will show up and pack a lot of my wooden furniture, plates, guitar, and books. I’m so thankful to be able to hire them to do this. My evenings this week have been filled with last times with friends including school events and a birthday party at Happy Valley (a theme park a scooter ride away). This is our closest location with foreign restaurants including Starbucks and Pizza Hut – it’s a nice treat for a break from Chinese food. Speaking of, I have been eating as much Chinese as I can before I leave. My favorite dishes of very spicy green beans and spicy chicken & peanuts have been an almost everyday meal.