My return to Inner Mongolia came at the end of February 2012, I stayed there for just under a week. My trip from Shanghai to Hohhot was rather uneventful once I switched airports with the help of our translator. When I returned to Shanghai I had to switch airports alone, but it was relatively easy once again as I have an extremely good memory and most people in those airports are able to speak English. (That’s a lot better than struggling in my broken Mandarin. Ha.)

When I came to Huheahote, or Hohhot, it was not as cold as it was in the previous year. Temperatures didn’t get colder than 15 degrees Farenheit the whole time I was there, if I remember correctly. Usually the temperatures stayed in the 30s.

I was greeted at the airport by my best friends in Inner Mongolia, who proceeded to once again give me one of the most memorable weeks of my life. You can read more about this in my China report, which is in the post below. Here are a few photos from my trip to one of my most favorite places on Earth.

Members of Mongolian rock band ZUUL play around before their performance in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia in February 2012.

The Mongolian rock band ZUUL prepares to perform for a "small" birthday party in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

Ooenur, who plays the horse head fiddle in Mongolian traditional rock band ZUUL, poses backstage before a performance.

Lee Wu Ben sings during ZUUL's performance in February 2012 in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

Band members of ZUUL always give a fervent performance, such as this one in February 2012.

Children record the performance of the rock band ZUUL in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, in February 2012.

Sashaya and a fellow member of the Mongolian rock band ZUUL sing in February 2012 in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

Here are a few more photos from the middle of the trip to China.

If you would like to have a copy of my account of my three weeks in China, go here http://soulbeliefs.com/china-2012-account/  If you have questions, email me at 2waylookinglass@gmail.com .

Someone got married.

Praise.

Wuxi. I did some great shopping here, with the help of a new friend.

The fortune teller of Hefei.

The Hug.

The table heaved.

It happened unexpectedly. I had enough money to go and suddenly I had a round-trip flight from Nashville to Shanghai on United Airlines. I thought I wouldn’t be able to keep my promise to my family in China and visit them at the beginning of 2012. Now, I’ve learned that faith can go a long way — even faith of a mustard seed.

For their safety, I won’t say much. But just know that underground family ch__chs do exist, and they are gaining popularity in the mainland. After all, the government controls Communion, Baptism, and all the most holy rites of Christianity…would you feel comfortable with that?

During my three weeks on the mainland, I saw many interesting sights, ate tons of interesting food…you name it, I did it. (Except go to the Great Wall.)

After two weeks, I separated from the rest of the group and headed to the north.

I did enjoy my first time visiting the KTV with friends in Inner Mongolia. We had a ball singing and dancing. I also enjoyed hearing Mongolian music and watching my friends play on the horse head fiddle.

If you’d like to have a full-scale , unedited-for-the-government account of my 3-week journey in China, shoot me an email at 2waylookinglass@Gmail.com .

Somewhere in Jiangsu Province, China, Christians are praising the Lord.

And more food.The table heaved.

It’s always a relief to be back home in Bowling Green, Ky.

The Christmas Season was in full swing AND it was time for my college graduation. I graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in news-edtiorial journalism (and a minor in biology) on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. It didn’t feel real until I was walking the line and then had a nice conversation with WKU President Gary Ransdell. Dr. Ransdell had told me to make sure he knew who I was that day, since I’d interviewed him for the Herald and Talisman several times (be it on the phone or email). Some people joked that I held up the line — but I really feel that President Ransdell really does care for the students. Even the ones with the crazy antics at the end of the line…

Mr. A., that is, professor Robert (Bob) Adams, has been my mentor, friend, adviser, and professor since my freshman year at WKU. At the beginning of my sophomore year, I started reporting for the Talisman and the College Heights Herald. He has been director of Student Publications (thus bearing a building in his name) for a long time, and will retire at the end of April 2012. I hope he can always be a help and mentor for journalism students even though he's retiring. Thanks Mr. A.!

My cousin, Amber, studying at Spencer’s Coffeehouse during Finals Week.

Mom receiving gifts on her birthday. That's my brother sitting next to her.

Dad, in his part-time Pizza Hut uniform, lights Gabe’s 15th birthday candles. Dad had to leave right after Gabriel’s party because he has a weekend part-time job to help make ends meet.

Graduation at WKU. I’m toward the right-hand corner in the front, waving my Red Towel with everyone else. We had just turned our tassels. Photo by Gabriel Waggoner.

One of my favorite people and I at one of my favorite places–Barnes and Noble Booksellers.
Courtesy of my white iPod Touch.

My best friends, David Yon and Alana Thomas, on New Year's Eve 2011.

Flying over Taiwan on the way home.

My classmate and friend Laura Haggard in front of the Hong Kong skyline.

The iMedia video team at work in the Shangri-La Hotel in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is definitely Asia’s World City. I’ve been to China several times, and I’ve seen a few large cities. But Hong Kong is probably the most unique. There’s a definite Westernization that comes from it being a former British colony. For example, the people of Hong Kong drive on the opposite side of the road than mainland China does. It’s much like how one would drive in the UK or in the Bahamas or any place that still holds tight to its British roots. But that’s not to say that Hong Kong isn’t Chinese, because it definitely is. Yet there’s a certain Freedom in Hong Kong that is lacking in mainland China. You can check your Facebook and Twitter there without hindrance, unlike in the mainland. Hong Kong has special freedoms as it is a special administrative region of China. Many of the people speak English, too. So if you’re afraid to venture into the mainland right away, Hong Kong is a good, safe place to start. And, you only need a passport to go to Hong Kong (if you’re American, at least) while if you go to the mainland you must have a visa.

The Face-Changing dance at the Jumbo Floating Deck Restaurant.

Here we were greeted with some 11 courses of the best of Hong Kong’s food.

Julian Assange of WikiLeaks made a Skype call to us.

Rialda Zukic (Bowling Green Daily News), me, Laura Haggard (WWHR-FM) and Alexis Gonzalez-Lopez (Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer) on our last day working at the GEN summit.

I was a part of the WKU iMedia team that went to Hong Kong for the Global Editors Network’s NEWS! 2011 World Summit. We were hired to cover the conference and run the social media, the website, conduct interviews, and so on. You can check out our work here:

http://www.NEWS2011.org  

Here’s a video created by some of my classmates that explains our role at the Summit: http://vimeo.com/westernimedia/hk

From Nashville I flew to Chicago on Black Friday. Then we all met up in ChiTown Airport (you know it as O’Hare International Airport) and we were on our way to Hong Kong.
And on the way, we were blessed to view the beautiful ice and snow of the Bering Strait and northern Russia. Then, our first greeting in Hong Kong was in French. Ha!

Flying toward Russia

In June 2011 I made a 10 day trip to California to stay with a friend and visit family. I spent over a week in Santa Cruz, Calif., a place I quickly fell in love with. All photos by Tabitha Waggoner.

Naif Al-Baiji has loved playing soccer as early as he can remember, he says. Back in Saudi Arabia, he dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player. But, after his father died, his older brother encouraged him to pursue his education. So, Al-Baiji is studying electrical engineering at Western Kentucky University. In his spare time he enjoys playing soccer with his friends and smoking hookah. These photos were taken at the Lovers Lane Soccer Complex in Bowling Green, Ky., in March 2011. All photos by Tabitha Waggoner.