像片 (xiàngpiàn) - Photograph

Since receiving my first Lisa Frank diary (with lock and key!) in second grade, I've started a number of diaries, journals, tumblrs, blogs, etc. throughout my life...but rarely finish them. I've only ever succeeded in filling an entire journal cover to cover once or twice. You can usually find me happily scribbling away about my mundane life and observations and feelings or whatever for a couple of weeks or months at a time until real life comes along and hits me in the face... 

That being said, I won't let this one die! Though I've spent the past four days or so studying for my Chinese exam, writing my public health paper, and preparing for our week-long break, here's my attempt to revive this thing before my friends and I take off on our vacation to the Yellow Mountains, the Thousand Island Lake, and Hangzhou tomorrow morning. These are supposedly some of the most scenic locations in all of China - very excited to finally take in some fresh air!

Cue photo montage (aka a depository of some interesting photos I've taken thus far that I've been meaning to share but couldn't quite fit into an overarching theme).

Spread at the super swanky hotpot restaurant in Wudaokou. I had fun with the sauces!

Grace made a friend while doing some shopping at Lotus, aka Chinese Wal-Mart.

Can you spot the owl in the jumble of souvenirs? XOXΩ ;)

AT LAST! We found cheese (and an open bar...) at
the Northwestern Alumni Reception.

Prof G chatting up some travelers from rural China at the Forbidden City.

A very brief glimpse into the nightlife in Beijing (Muse, a club in Sanlitun).

The menu for Grandma's Kitchen, the "American Comfort Food" restaurant
where we celebrated July 4th. Please read the description for "Bacon Burger Dog."

We found a camel happily chilling at the base of the Great Wall of China.

Oh, yes! I forgot to mention that I'm actually here to study public health in China.
Here's some proof that we're actually doing work towards our 2 credits :P

Professor Gu would never lead us astray with his trusty purple flags.

These gigantic statues guarded the Buddha and temple. They do a pretty good job.

And finally, an obligatory "Look ma, I'm in China!" photo :)

About a month ago, I noted that I'm the world's worst packer. Though I've learned a lot in the nearly four weeks that I've been in China, some things never change.... Less than 8 hours until we depart for our trip and I've yet to pack a single thing! Oops.