i need to fall.

everybody falls in harbin at least once because the ground is pretty much ice when it's not snowing.

slippery, muddy, bumpy, cold ICE.

i have yet to experience "the fall" but i've come SO close to it every time i go outside (which is not very often haha). i almost want to force the fall to get it over with and not be afraid to fall, but that would be wrong. every time i slip, my heart stops... and having your heart stop all the time is not fun. it's like your walking in constant fear. i imagine i'll probably fall during the most perfectous (yes, i just made up a word) moment- when i'm wearing my best khaki teacher pants, then they rip like a pair split pants, in front of a handsome lad, with children laughing at me, and then i break my head open or something.

anyways this blog is purely random thoughts of my everyday outdoor walking life here :) too bad i won't have an opportunity to fall these next 5 weeks as i travel to places that are 90 degrees warmer. weird.

here's some pictures from harbin the past week :)
it was pretty cool to watch this mean machine clear the 3 layered icy road

some of us at the 12th ice snow world (what's harbin's famous for :))

so cool :)

daisy and emma next to a random ice sculpture.. they're everywhere!

an area outside of our campus where kids play this whipper slapper top thing, it's a good way to get your anger out. haha

ice sculpting extravangza!

the past 3 days at our university there was a ice sculpting competition (i like to call it an extravaganza haha) with several professional teams, including 10 other countries represented, sculpting something!

one of my students was a volunteer to translate for them and get them tea and water.. it was might cold and a lot of work but they all look awesome! i stayed outside for about an hour and my toes were frozen, cheeks were glazed pink afterward, and i was absolutely COLD. i don't know how they did it... maybe it was the snowboarding pants that help.. anyways, it was so cold AND so cool :)

pictures don't do justice but it's better than nothin!

day 1 of the sculpting

day 3 of the sculpting.. pretty good!

see the little model in front? crazy!

i wanted to try to go on top.. but chickened out last minute because i didn't want to ruin their sculpture or fall haha

with team japan and a few chinese students helpers :)