Hi friends!  Just wanted to let ya'll know I arrived safely in New York this morning...  Quite an uneventful flight (though I did get a free upgrade to first class! )  When I got to our apt, the door was firmly jammed so Matt (linshuang's boyfriend) helped 'nudge' it a bit... which resulted in the superintendent coming over later (oops!)

Haven't done too much...  just unpacked what I could (since most of my stuff is still somewhere between SF and NYC on a truck) and passed out the rest of the day in my sleeping bag.  Not too much going on in my head - sad of course to leave California...  Adrienne & Jerry's wedding was *beautiful*...  and I'm excited for my first day of work tomorrow (except for the 6am wakeup time *ouch*.)  At least Lily (my undergrad kraft buddy in crime) and I will be commuting to work together =)  Will there be a big Kraft basket of goodies waiting at my desk? 

Pictures from the wedding...  (I didn't take too many so if anyone else has pictures, pls do send them to me! yating.yu@gmail.com muchos gracias)

A few of the Agape girls

Two hot hot bridesmaids!  Jessica & Amy 

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Shen.  'Nuf said.

Is he really college-bound?

Hmm....  Couldn't sleep and didn't know why  because I know I'm tired (didn't sleep on the flight from China on Sunday and I only caught 3 hours on the red eye last night to NYC...) but I just remembered I'm supposed to have jet lag so perhaps that why...  Of course there's a million things I should be doing (such as return emails, but instead... I picture post.)

From China's 'Venice-like' Zhuo Zhuang village/city...

Ooh! Watch 'Superman Returns' if you can.  My cousin & I killing time at the theater...

Currently staying at the Hyatt, but personally I like the Shanghai "Heng Shang" hotel better... and not just because of this

My little helper...  Rachel

Rachel & her twin brothers Arthur & Adrian going at it:

Home!  haha, this is a classic picture for Ya1 & Ya2.... Yaluen trying the Mentos & Diet Coke experiment... (= failed... we suspect it's because the Mentos were 'Mint Mentos' instead of the original? until next time...)

And New York...

Random Hillary Duff sighting (haha, I stumbled upon seeing her but there were many people pushing & shoving to get closer to 'HILLLARRYYYYY')

Potentially my new apartment...  !!  Hopefully it'll work out.  Upper East Side.  I was so deliriously tired last night I asked the taxi driver to take me back to any random book store near Grand Central last night... I just wanted to crawl into bed. ^.^

Just a few more days with Penn and TIP friends (yay!)... then California again.   My mom expressed it well - i'm simply a battery that needs to get 'recharged' every now and then ;) 

Dear,friends

 This is Rachel. Yating's cousin, I am 7 years old. I am Yating's  helper. I will tell you about our day. This morning  we went to the beach.  We had Dim Sum for lunch.  I don't really like Dim Sum but I had a great time with Yating jiejie. I then took a nap while my mom and Yating went shopping. When I woke up I went to Stanley plaza withYating and my mom. We ate dinner there.  And this was our day!

Love, Yating and Rachel !

The beach by our home:

Our restaurant:

Stanley Market:

This may be the best summer I've ever had....  Undescribable and I only have a few minutes to babble.

Last few days in Shanghai...  AMAZING!  Shanghai is so beautiful (dare I say it?  possibly more beautiful than many American cities.)  Family is an astounding thing ,despite being near strangers, my time with my uncles/family here has been so blessed. 

Prior to that...  Tianjin pictures.  TIP-ers I miss ya!  It's been SO quiet without everyone. ;)  It was tough saying good bye at the airport. Hope everyone's doing well - safe n' sound back at home (or about to be anyway.) 

Beijing:

What does this look like?!? Eeps ;)  (Suspect it's eel though it certainly looks like "what must not be named =P)  I ate a little bit of it though! 

Feast at Stella's courtesy of Stella, Yoko, and Summer (and Stella's family...  soo lavish!)

Bball women's champs.  (we were tall/knew how to play though...  >_< unfair advantage) 

If this looks like Jack/Rose from Titanic.  You are correct!  Class J ROCKED at the talent show =D

TIP-ers.  Miss you guys!  It's too quiet with you.  Looking fwd to the next time I'm in China !! =)  (currently status : about to fly out to HK.

A glorious 24 hours...  Because...

My uncle, Andrew, whom I haven't seen in 5 or 6 years visited me in Tianjin, met all my students (he's now a celebrity with them  Ted  told me "Wow! When you see him, you know he is a big boss!"), and took me to the company factory in TEDA.. while having a "few" business meetings on the side

and...  my students (with Andy's encouragement. Thank you Andy!) surprised with an awesome banner after I missed class today to spend time with my uncle.  They treated Andy and I to a feast of Chinese delights tonight.  Mmm, delicious. 

I feel so blessed by those around me. 

Pictures from the last 24 hours...   

(My uncle's second from the left.  The other people are his business associates.  This is by the Tianjin seaport which is undergoing major construction...)

Class J at dinner tonight

Dinner antics...

i