HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!

O – to the M- to the G!!!!

I have been here for 4 weeks. What better way to celebrate my One Month ShanghaiVersary then with a trip to the China Art Museum and KOOZA (https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/kooza) a Cirque Du Soleil show?!?! The perfect way! 

It has been a busy 4 weeks. Landed in Shanghai and hit the ground running. We had an immediate to do list for work, we have been ‘Onboarding (as they call it)/Training’ and observing classes since our arrival. I have moved out of Holiday Inn Express (where I stayed where I first arrived) and into my own apartment. I have made some great friends because of the beauty of social networking, attended ‘Game Night’ a couple times with friends, went to Disneyland, tried a ton of local food, caught a show today, celebrated Shanghai Black Fashion Week, and I am finally adjusted to the time change. I probably was about a week ago, but I feel fully adjusted now. 

I live in China yall! I know yall know that, but every day this past week I have said those words out loud! Some things will always take some getting use to – but for the most part – this life in Shanghai, is not too shabby! 

Just stopping by to say hello to you all. Let you know that I am still smiling and doing well! Disney has been good to me so far. I had my Visa interview today. Still finishing up this Visa process. My Visa will be switched to a residence permit within the next two weeks. That clears me to travel as I please outside of China while I am employed here and to legally teach. A tourist visa and/or the Z-Visa I arrived here with would not allow me to leave and return to the country multiple times so we have to switch our visas to residence permits. 

 

….its been a struggle finding hot coco…. oh the little things you miss from home! i think they know me at Starbucks now!!!!

 

So I aint complaining yall!!! I could complain, but what good would that do??? A Twisted Root burger would be nice — but I’m making it.

There are definitely daily adjustments – but I am happy and so thankful for this opportunity/experience! I am smiling. I am still rooted deeply in JOY!!! (–IF I COULD JUST GET SOME KRYSTAL’S HOT SAUCE–)

And….its Thanksgiving! At least it is in Shanghai. It is Thursday AM here. My Pandora notification just said ‘Dinner Jazz’ – Hosting-Toasting-Roasting- I don’t have concrete plans yet … so strange not being home with the family, but new experiences ahead!

Updated albums with new pictures coming in the next few days 

          Until next time yall!!!! 

                    Stay Thankful!!!! 

….oh i wanted to tell yall…. i went for a run…. but i ran so far and not around the block or in a line that i was lost… it was kind of pitiful because the street names were familiar to me but i didn’t know the end of the street I was on … so what did i do? I took the metro home…i was only one stop from home but that’s a long run when you don’t know where you are and you are racing the clock for work! haha! i’ll just go to the track behind my apartment next time….  holla!

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NOTE: PayPal is still open. You can always support financially:

godschile7@yahoo.com-Karla Gurley

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I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY!

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJoy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy #BlackGirlInShanghai

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*

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