Yet again it seems as though I've become rather lax in updating my blog. A thousand apologies...my life isn't really the most interesting thing in the world, in my opinion. Especially now that I'm home from China. It seems to be back to the way its almost always been, which doesn't constitute as an interesting read in my book. But that's just me. I've been told I ought to update more frequently.

Currently, I'm in the process of having my papers to go on a mission for the LDS church processed. I'm waiting to talk to the stake president, for those of you who are interested. I have the papers all filled out and done, and before too much longer, I'll get that much-anticipated envelope telling me where I'll be spending a year and a half. I probably won't be able to update my blog during that year and a half, coincidentally, so I guess my loyal readers will have to wait significantly longer than a month to hear how things are going. Maybe I'll have my mom post my letters on my blog or something, though. Something to think about.

I work as a substitute teacher for the Granite School District. Some days go better than others. I'm glad I have a source of income right now...a lot of people I know are still looking for a job. Silly economy. You know, I think that if the media weren't emphasizing it as much as they are, it wouldn't get to be so bad...a lot of it is panic on the part of everyone. Still, it has to be scary when you've got loads of bills to pay and you're out of work. Hopefully it won't be as bad a recession as the Great Depression...though, part of me wonders if perhaps it wouldn't be too bad. After seeing the Chinese people make a living with the very little they have, I've wondered if we have too much here. I mean, practically all of my students were cheerful. The people around Xiangtan were happy. And they didn't need a new car or a beautiful house with a sprawling lawn to be so. They have very little in China. Most don't have air conditioners or heaters, and practically everybody lives in an apartment. Most of my students only had two or three outfits, which they kept clean and tidy (for the most part) as they tried to better themselves.

The economy in China is worse, in some ways. Finding a job in your chosen profession is very difficult due to the vast number of applicants. My students are worried about finding jobs when they graduate next year. And for good reason--employers ask potential employees to include their height, weight, age, gender, and even a photograph of them with their resume. That's right. Employers will often choose workers based on how they look, which is why when you go to an upscale restaurant or store, everyone looks beautiful. Many of my students will end up working retail seven days a week. Some might end up pushing around garbage carts. The government does mandate a certain number of jobs for each business to give more people the opportunity to work, which is good. But that leads to boredom--sometimes when Jeff and I went to the store during the middle of the week, we'd be followed by five or six sales associates looking for something to do more than straightening stock.

Anyway, one lesson I've learned is that I really can make do with less. I don't need new clothes every year. I don't need brand names. I don't need a car. I don't need a new video game, or movies, or anything like that. All I really need is food, shelter, and a way to express myself. Everything else I have just happen to be blessings--my computer, my soft bed, carpet, stoves, books, movies, television, cookies, candy, my own room, a western-style toilet... The list is very long. I am grateful to live in the land of plenty. I just think that sometimes we take it for granted. And though the recession is a terrible thing, and lots of Americans are out of jobs looking for ways to make ends meet, at least they'll have a little extra time to spend with the thing that really matters--family. The Chinese generally have remarkably close-knit families. I wish more American families were that way. Some of the students I've seen while substituting clearly need more guidance at home.

Right. So, that turned out to be a rather serious post. I'm working on creating a new section of my site detailing my thoughts of China. I'll post when I've finished--there will be pictures you haven't seen as well as some of my crazy thoughts.

Labels: China, family, jobs, recession