Christmas in October- AKA I Love My Friends and Family

Here's the deal. We're going to pretend that I haven't sucked at blogging lately. Deal? K, good.

I left off with my beating that I paid way too much for in Guilin. To be honest, I really didn't do much in Guilin. We crammed SO much into Yangshuo that I felt pretty dead most of the time. Until nighttime, of course, where I always found plenty of energy to go out dancing with my awesome group. We made some of the best memories just being out in the town until probably way too late in the night.

We flew home from Guilin because there were no train tickets. This is both a blessing and a curse. That 23 hour train ride was nearly enough to send me over the edge. I will never complain about any other travel arrangement ever again. While it was nice to be back in Changzhou in 1.5 hours instead of 26 (the 23 hour train ride started in Shanghai which is 3 hours away), I was bitter about having to shell out $100 USD for that plane ticket. Ah well, what's done is done.

The airport is on the other side of the city from where we live, of course. Of course it was also 3 am and there were no busses running. The only option? To take a taxi that went up one kuai for every .3 kilometers traveled. Usually they go up one kuai for every kilometer traveled. After paying 133 kuai for that stupid cab and being dropped off at the school, I noticed a large box in the security office as we were passing through the gate. What happened next is really a blur, but I ran inside very quickly to see if it was mine. Oh, the joy I felt when I saw my mother's handwriting! I literally screamed and danced in a circle. These security guards no doubt think I'm quite far off my rocker. And it got even better! I not only had one package, but I had 3! Both of my moms and my friend McKenzie are super, awesome, amazing people.

I paid Paul five kuai to carry the big box up to my room- don't forget I live on the fifth floor and it was a 45 pound package- where I attacked those boxes with a pair of scissors. There's no telling what my roommate thinks of me. I was so, so excited. I really just can't explain. I opened the box and got a whiff of fall. Sounds really lame and cliche but it's true. I just smelled home- cinnamon, campfire, sugar cookies. The candles my mom put in there are probably to blame, but still. I lost it. I'm not sure if I've ever gone from one emotion to the next so fast before in my life, but it happened.

I have more Halloween decorations and food than I know what to do with, and I LOVE it! My kids are going to be so excited for all the goodies that my mommy packed for them :) I'm currently burning a candle scented "falling leaves and spice" and it's possible I might become slightly inebriated.

My wonderful stepmom, Michelle, also sent me a package! With a full package of Oreos- dangerous move, right there- goldfish crackers in individual packages that will be fabulous to take with me on the go, an adorable Halloween t-shirt, and a cup with a lid and straw that's reusable, and Easy Mac (which is my favorite).

And there's Miss McKenzie. She sent me the movie Steel Magnolias. It is my favorite movie of all time, and it just so happens that her and I were together the very first time I saw it. Correct me if I'm wrong, Kenz, but I'm pretty sure it was actually the first time we ever hung out just me and you. I love this girl so much and I admire her for her never-ending strength and courage. She's an awesome role model and I hope that if I ever have any daughters, that they are just like her. Strong, resilient, beautiful, good-hearted- what's not to love about this lady?!

Please excuse the fact that I had taken nasty to a different level in these photos. It was 3:30 am and I had been travelling all day. Anyways, here's me with my presents!!!

I had barely opened the card when I bursted into tears. 

The pile from one of my mommies :)

McKenzie is the best :)

Another pile from another mommy :) They're just the greatest!