Missing everyone - from Beijing

Yeah, I agree. This was an awesome idea and I'm surprised no one thought of it earlier.

Awww, little Sofia is getting so big now, going to school and everything else I'm missing. You need to post some pictures, Di, especially when you drop her off on her first day at school. And I forgot you guys were going to Vegas and I'm missing it AGAIN! BOOOOOOOO to that! Just promise me you wont fall asleep facedown on the bathroom floor at whatever hotel lobby bathroom you were in, or let someone suck your toes after eating chicken wings at Hooters after you've walked barefoot down the strip - that's just not hygenic. Give a kiss to the bartenders at Carnival Court for me, though, and you better win that booty shaking contest again.

Things have been good here. I have really been enjoying myself, actually trying to learn the language now, hanging out and exploring different parts of the city on the weekends, making pretty good money for doing almost nothing. Oh except I did get pissed off at some of my classes yesterday and said "fuck" in class. It happens. But yeah, Beijing is a great city, and I really do wish you guys could come visit sometime. And you actually may have more time than until July to visit me. I'm actually considering staying here another year...

I know, I know. I'm a California girl at heart and you guys are my home. But I dunno. I actually have been looking for jobs around here (and Hong Kong, which is also awesome in a different way) and the opportunities are just great here for foreign teachers...not to mention the economy back home is so crappy that finding a teaching job in another district would be damn near impossible for me. So I've just been applying everywhere. Gonna call LAUSD to see if I would still have my old job, or if I could take another year off, and I'm gonna look into SD schools too. Just spreading a wide net and see what I catch, who will have me.

But I do miss you all. My parents are sending me a package from home which I should get sometime next week. I should have asked you to drop some things over at my house for them to send, because you know what I miss? The music. I remember coming back from Argentina and hearing that song that Arlene claims to be hers and hearing the lyrics "Rodney King, beat it like a cop" and thinking, "wow, I miss the US." So I want some new music to put on my IPOD and dance around in my apartment to! FYI, they really love to play Akon in the clubs here. Like, all the time.

Ok, going out to dinner now. I need to send a more private email to you all, but I'll do that when I get back.