Now for some updates: Well, Naw-Ruz came and went and we had a lovely celebration with the friends in Dalian-complete with a delicious all you can eat Chinese buffet! We moved in to our new apartment (pictures below), we hired an AMAZING ayi, we bought two baby turtles* :), we survived preparing, administering and marking midterms and we are now looking forward to May Holiday when we will head to Tianjin and Beijing for relaxation, family time and touristy stuff.
There is so much we could say and tell. We will post soon with anecdotes from teaching but for now we will just share a few pictures of our new HOME! How sweet it feels to have a home. Our first home together! A cozy, happy home of our own waiting to be blessed by visits from all of YOU - our dear ones from around the world.
“My home is the home of peace. My home is the home of joy and delight. My home is the home of laughter and exultation. Whosoever enters through the portals of this home, must go out with gladsome heart.” -'Abdu'l-Baha
Welcome to our home!
Our living room.
View of Jinshitan from our apartment.
Our building looks like the one to the right, but taller.
Our building looks like the one to the right, but taller.
View from the living room window looking towards the kitchen.
Our heating has been turned off, thus the space heater.
Our heating has been turned off, thus the space heater.
Tea pot and tea storage area!
Our room.
Another view of our room. We love our painting, Zarrin!
*Jinshitan has a Saturday morning market where all the surrounding farmers and vendors come to sell their wares. A few weekends ago we went to explore and when I was looking at plants, Niyaz found the turtle guy! Ever since I met him, Niyaz has talked about wanting a baby turtle - a baby sea turtle to be precise. But I don't think its quite legal to own one of those... Luckily the turtles he found were fresh water turtles. Before I had time to look away from the plants, Niyaz had made a deal and purchased two turtles, a tank and turtle food. Now we have two babies which we've named Sherlock and Watson. They are teeny tiny and oh so cute! Sherlock just mopes about and hides under rocks but Watson is a little explorer. We kinda like him the best (we sound like horrible parents).
Getting plants (and turtles) really made it feel homey.
We think he's trying to migrate south or something...
Watson.
Watson waving.
Watson again. Sherlock is in hiding as usual.
Niyaz in Dalian. I centered that perfectly. :)
Asiyih eating. ;-)
Sending you love and hugs from Dalian! Zai jian!
-The Two Tigers
