Its getting colder here too

Hello all!
I'm not dead contrary to popular blogging belief, although i did feel close to it this morning...I woke up this morning and threw up in my trash can. Not fun. I think i ate something that did not agree with my stomach last night. I was pretty embarrassed and didn't really know how to tell my aiyi (literally translates into aunt, but is also the standard name to call a woman who is slightly older then you but not your mothers age.) My house has an aiyi who helps my nainai (fathers mother) cook and clean and take care of my meimei (younger sister). She was so sweet and helped me clean it up right away, she also made sure i took some medicine and and slept all afternoon. At night my nainai made me soup! I never eat with the family because we're not allowed to, because we dont give the family stipend money for food. But tonight she made me the most amazing soup that was made from red and yellow beans, black rice and some other things. She told me i wasnt allowed to eat oily food or I would feel sick again. Its times like this I LOVE living with a family. Even if they do live really far away. I feel all better now, and I sat down and answered ALL of my emails finally.
Get this! I may be able to interview a dickinson applicant! She lives in China and is applying to Dickinson:) My friend JP got to interview a different girl and said that its a really neat process. Im also celebrating Thanksgiving with JiJi Jones and her family and some family friends. All of the other Dickinson students are going to a texas restraunt which is hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner and sounds really fun, but I think meeting JiJis family and her friends and learning about how life is for foriegners in China will be even more interesting.
Also, its getting quite nippy here. Today was really nice with a high of 55, but nights are brutal. I am thinking about buying another sweater. I think it would be a very wise investment. I am SO glad i asked for my UGG boots!
As for finances. I am not going to Europe and I am not going to Japan:( The plan right now is for me to travel with 3 friends down the coast of China and into Vietnam for the month, with will be about 1500 dollars we think, but nothing has been settles completely. Going to Japan would have been extremely costly and a little out of my budget even if i didnt go anywere else. And Europe is always expensive. But, with my current plan I am completely set moneywise and have no more financial worries, so there is always a silver lining.
Tomorrow im meeting with a new chinese friend I just met in the Cafateria on thursay, and then Sunday night the Dickinson Kids are going to Gao Laoshi's house for dinner. Next week I also have 2 big midterms. no fun. And thats all ive got so far.
happy almost Thanksgiving!
A.