Back to blogging.

It is been a long time since I have blogged. Almost 8 months. I'm going to restart blogging weekly!

See you later this week for a more interesting post!

I'll be blogging on things like China, Chinese culture, travel posts, recipes, cooking adventures, friends, updates and more!

I'm in the Philippines!

On the back of a Jeepney!

Helped out with cleaning feet so 200 kids could get new shoes from TOMS.

TOMS Shoes

Update & Sushi Night!

I've been so blessed with God's love this week. I can feel His real living love for me more than I ever have. I'm always happy that I feel like this!

So, to get to the point of this little blog post, I went to have sushi with my friend Cassie from Shenzhen and her friend Xiaoguo. We had lots of fun and I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. Best sushi house I've been to in China and not expensive either!

So, I'm doing great and I am loving the Lord! Eat your sushi!

Shenzhen

I'm in Shenzhen for the time being. I'm here studying for 3 months.


This is a picture of Shenzhen I took. It reminds me of home because of the blue skies and trees.

Being so close to Hong Kong, SZ has many foreigners and non-native SZ people. You can find almost anything you want, foreign wise. It is amazing. Such a different from Chongqing. SZ is a nice vacation from CQ but I still miss CQ.

Recipe for Cream of Mushroom Soup in China!

I'm not a big fan of cream of mushroom soup but this is so good that I had to share it. You might wonder how the h&h substitute tastes and added milk mixtures but it turns out great each time.

Cooking

Dice up the mushrooms and onions. Put butter into into a saucepan and wait until hot then add the mushrooms and onions. Cook stirring the mixture for about 2 minutes or just before the butter starts to burn. Put aside.

Place the remaining butter into the saucepan, cook until melted, and add the flour. Cook until all the butter and flour are combined and then continue to cook for 2-3 minutes. Pour in the h&h slowly while continually stirring. Add the mushrooms, onions, and season with salt and white pepper. Remember to not let the mixture boil or the milk will curdle. Add your desired toppings (Parmesan, garnishes, and so on) and you're done!

Ingredients

250 grams of fresh button mushrooms (I just use the standard Chinese mushrooms)
1/4 c. of butter
2 tbsps. of finely chopped white onion (if you don't like it you don't have to use it)
4 c. of half-and-half mix (equal amounts: 2 cups milk and  2 cups cream)
-Because half-and-half is hard to find in China all you need to do is this. Melt one tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and once melted pour in 1 cup of milk. This makes 1 cup substitute of h&h. Make 2 cups of h&h substitute to make two cups "cream" and you're good.
2-3 tbsps. of flour (depending on how thick you want your soup)
salt (to taste)
white pepper (to taste)

Makes 4 bowls of soup.

I hope you enjoy the soup and the little soup icon can I made to represent this dish! :)

Kong Fu Panda 2 | 功夫熊猫二

I just saw KongFu Panda 2 in theaters! Loved it.. despite the fact all my Korean friend were tell me I look like Po the big bellied panda. I appreciated that, oh yes.

How do normal (low-class) Chinese people do it? It costs 55 RMB or about $8.55 to see this movie in China! Man, I can't believe how much I paid for this movie. Think about it like I do..

Breakfast: 3-5 RMB
Lunch: 10 RMB
Dinner: 15 RMB
Bottle of Coke: 3 RMB
Monthly Internet Fee: 100 RMB
T-Shirt: anywhere from 20-150 RMB

Movie Ticket: 55 RMB

I spent 55 RMB on a movie ticket that allowed me to sit in a theater for 2 hours and laugh. Wow!

P.S. Put money aside and go see it.

A Whole New World

I bet you have heard the song.. It is from the Disney movie: Aladdin's, A Whole New World! How does this relate to China? Don't worry it does. Whilst living in China certain things seem to be lost. Free Internet, free thinking, and connection to the world you thought you'd always be connected with.

Being over 8,000 miles from home.. I haven't been able to learn the new slangs, songs, see the new movies, know who or what is happening, and so on.. This sadly includes the death of my grandpa Schlarb. He was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer about two weeks ago and died last Thursday. I still don't believe it. I live this far away.. nothing is familiar and I can't seem to understand this. I live in A WHOLE NEW WORLD.. This doesn't mean that this world is new but it is a whole new (as in a large foreign place to be adventured) world. Because I don't see my family face to face crying and I wasn't at the funeral.. it is hard to understand and even believe this happened.

I want to take the time to write it out. Grandpa, I love you. I will always love you. See you in Heaven and I know you are proud of me. I hope you can see me through the Chongqing fog down here in China! I'm not sad in some ways but very happy to know my grandpa is rejoicing with Jesus. I think one thing that you taught me was to always do what I want to do and not to let others convince me otherwise. You liked all these weird shows, movies, crossword puzzles, no dressing on your salad, and you were proud of it. I'll be the man I want to be through God and glorify Him just like you did. :)