Bye 2012

       CRAZY!!!!! After tomorrow, we will arrive 2013! After tomorrow, REALLY only one week in this cute town (Silver City, New Mexico). Two weeks ago, I was thinking what I should plan to do in this town. But now it has been more than half way through. :( Time never lets you know it flies!

       Even though I didn't do so much things like my friends did in California or in Florida. However, they didn't do what I am doing either. To be frank, I really enjoy the life here, relaxing, getting spoiled, and not thinking about school.

       This week, Dr. Murphy, who is Eric's friend, are visiting from Chicago. They went to China together and had a great time in China. He told me that the food over there was the thing he loved most. I do too. Haha. Eric and I went to Tucson airport to pick him up. The road trip back and forth to the airport was nice. You can see the obvious changes between two states. More mountains in Tucson. AND SAGUARO!!

      I like saguaro (that's why I hugged them) and those palm trees over there. Even though I am not sure why they have palm trees there, those made me think I was in Hawaii. Eric and I went to Trader Joe's to get some yummy stuff. Eric and Jo have been teaching me simple way to cook delicious food. I appreciate it so much. They might figure out that I would live on chips and cokes when I am in nursing school and get lazy to cook at all. :P

     
       Since Dr. Murphy was here, we went hiking for a couple of days. The first hike was at the City of Rocks (picture on right), where I fell first time this two-year hiking. Ouch. Yes, it did hurt. I shouldn't have hiked up a huge rock and jumped. I never fell at the trip to Southwest and trip to Rocky Mountains. Well, it just happens. It is not a shame anyway. :P Our second hike was pretty easy. We went to Gila Cliff Dwelling (Picture below). It was so cool to see where the Native Indians lived. It is about 700 hundred years old and above 7000 feet. The caves are very tiny. I wonder how people lived there! They must be so skinny and little then.

   
      Today I didn't go hiking with them but staying home with Jo. We talked for a long time, which was so good! I love talking to her and getting to know her more. :) We went to a local restaurant for sushi tonight. It was pretty good. I have been having so many first-time things since I came here. I had the yellow package mustard, which I didn't actually have a pack of mustard in my sandwich. This is kind of a big change. I have never known that I would like the yellow mustard. I thought it was so gross because of the color. OK...I confess, it is because of the color I had never had that. :P 

       In China, it is not common to find the mustard, cheese, butter, or something you think it is very normal. So I am just getting to like butter on the bread, butter and salt on the corn, melted cheese, or a slice of just cheese. I can't believe that I did eat them! AND how could I miss them?! That's ridiculous! Now what I need to deal with is how I can get those stuff when I go back to China. I am pretty sure there are some in some stores, but not sure where. We will see. I will definitely post them when I find some while I am in my own country. :) 

       Actually I haven't started my Health Assessment that I brought. Shame on me. Even though I really want to move into the dorms and explore a new life experience, I am not too excited for being all-nighter. 

       Tomorrow we will have dinner at a nice place. Gosh, I forget the name again!!!!! It is so me. Today I finally remember the Italian icecream store, Alotta, after people talk about this again, again, and again. Their iceream is so darn good!!
(Picture on the left is the Alotta store. Looks yummy, doesn't it? :P)

       Gonna finish Life of Pi before I leave for Illinois and get the nursing stuff started, hope so. :P
       Learned to how to play chess at the Javalina coffee shop after hiking with Eric and Dr. Murphy. It was fun. It is kind of like Chinese chess too. I think everything in this world is some sort of similar everywhere. The rule how to play Chinese chess is kind of similar to American chess. Dumplings from China, Germany, or whoever has dumplings, are similar. It just tastes differently. Ha :P But the concepts are pretty close.. 

       Actually I stopped for Eric's popcorn and Psych so I don't really know what I was going to write and what was in my mind. I will dig it out sometime. 

       Good night people. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!