YES, NOT NO!

On the 23^rd of January this year, I wrote a blog post on my bucket list for China. Number 6 on that list was “Say yes more!” (If you want to read my bucket list post, the link is here). Since being here and before coming here, I realised that the best way to make the most of my time in Chengdu, is to stop saying no to things, and start appreciating the fact that very soon I will be on my way back to the U.K. and I do not want to have any regrets about missed opportunities. As such, I have been doing things that I would NEVER normally do! 

I have spoken about this in previous posts, but I have been trying food I would normally stay away from. If one of my friends takes me out for dinner, I don’t even ask what I am about to put in my mouth anymore! I am still not 100% comfortable with the amount of spice that Sichuan province offers, but I can definitely handle more than when I first arrived here. Because of this new attitude towards food and just saying yes to what is offered to me, I have tried some of the most delicious food I have ever had in my life! The Chinese food in China and the Chinese food in England just do not compare!

You will see from the cover photo of this post, that I finally got a tattoo; a boat on my wrist, which was quite a spontaneous decision. I chose a boat because my dad used to go sailing a lot and he has been such a supportive and encouraging voice while I have been in China and with basically everything I have ever done! If you know me well, you will know that I have a very low pain threshold, so this was VERY painful for me! I am proud of myself for saying yes to my initial decision to get it done, I was very close to changing my mind! It’s healing well and I love it more and more each time I look at it! 

A few weeks ago, the students in my school had a singing competition, at which I was asked to be one of the judges. It was a wonderful evening, and it was great to see the students who are such hard workers, just having fun with their teachers! At the end of the show, I was asked to sing! Now normally, I would run away from this request as fast I could, but I thought about how fun it would be for the students to see their foreign teacher letting her hair down a bit! So, I did, and despite crippling nerves and an inability to stop shaking, I really enjoyed it! Singing in front of 100+ people is not something I ever thought I would be doing as a teacher, but I am so glad I did it. And I am not as bad a singer as I thought! 

As small as these things may be, they are helping to make my time in China one of the best years of my life! Yes, I know that may sound a little silly, but I say no to a lot and normally seclude myself which stops me from enjoying anything! 

I am excited to see what the next 7 months bring! 

B x