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
Your home is beautiful! I love it! And Watson is oh so cute and little! I like how the only pictures of you two are so random! Is that icecream you are eating muffin? How did you get the painting? Last time I was at home it was still there! I am glad you guys like it though :) Love you and miss you both so very much! *HUGS*
ReplyDeleteThank you! HAHAHA! I know our photos are so random. The randomness of China is rubbing off on us! I am eating peanut flavored crushed ice amazingness! Its soo good! But the mango one is better. I can't wait for you to come visit so we can take you to all the great places here - we got foot massages by blind people the other weekend and it was soooo wonderful! They can really SEE with their hands! Oh and Mom sent the painting. We were so happy to get it.
DeleteI am soooo pleased by these photos! They say more than a thousand words! Though I would also love some more photos of Asi and Niyaz's lovely faces!!! Hint!!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAWWW thank you! More is coming soon! Don't you worry! :)
DeleteCozy! It is interesting to me how your mirror like floors are as shiney as marble. What is the lifespan of your beautifully patterned turtles? You and Niyaz could be parents for a very long time... Seeing behind the portal of your home makes me gladsome!What are you going to post next? Don't make us wait so long. Wishing yous peace, joy, delight, laughter and exhultation!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Asad! What a sweet comment! Yeah, the floors are 'wood' tile. Really shiny! I think we will be having our turtles for quite a while - that is, if we take proper care of them. :)Who knows what we will write about next? But I promise we will write soon! You really need to come visit us, I think you'd love it here! LOVE YOU!
DeleteEEK! Your apartment looks so homey and cozy and wonderful! And your babies are SO CUTE!!! Love you both!
ReplyDeleteYay photos! Your home looks so warm and cozy. The turtles are totes adorbs (and the names made me smile). I'm glad you guys are settling in well, now if only we could have a mailing address. *ahem* :D
ReplyDeleteI see an electric Oil-Filled Space Heater in your Living Room. Does your apartment have Central Heat and Air Conditioning? Do you move the Space Heater from room to room depending on the need?
ReplyDeleteJohnK
Our apartment has central heating - our floors are heated - but they turn it off in the middle of March. Since no one was living in our apartment before us, the floor heating hadn't been turned on. So we really needed the space heater. Luckily we have an electric blanket in the bedroom so we normally leave the space heater in the living room. But the weather is getting warmer now! YAY! :)
DeleteI love your home!!! It looks so comfy, and chic! Do you ever let your turtles roam the house? lol... if you're scared of losing them around the house, you could probably attach a helium balloon to it... haha!
ReplyDeleteSending my love :) Sarah M.
How come you haven't posted any more things? This is my only way of knowing what you are doing since we are failing as sisters in the communication department! WAH
ReplyDelete