Daydream Believer (6a)

7:00 AM - I'm up. I'm out of bed. I'm waking Laura up. It's here! Today has finally come! Let's go downstairs!

7:20 AM - I reach the breakfast area to find some others already awake. Miao, my wedding planner, is the first one to greet me. "Let's go to the site for today...it rained yesterday and we need a rain plan for today!" We walk to the area where our ceremony and reception are planned to be - both outdoors. I hmm and haw about what to do. A second, third, fourth, tenth opinion is needed.

7:40 AM - I join several others for breakfast and people keep coming - I guess I'm not the only one who can't sleep in today! But what about Haike? No signs of him yet... At breakfast I recruit everyone to help me - where to have the ceremony? Reception? Outside - trust that it won't rain? Or move it inside to be on the safe side?

8:15 AM - Another trip to the ceremony and reception site, this time with about eight others so that we can put our heads together. We look at two different options for moving inside. I decide - I want the ceremony outside, come rain or shine. Let's move the reception in - no bugs, air conditioning and protection if it does rain. (It didn't, by the way, but moving the reception inside was still the best idea - it was perfect!)

8:45 AM - WHERE is Haike? Still sleeping? Emilie hatches an idea. "Lets wake Haike up and throw him in the pool! We'll tell him it's an American tradition!" We all agree! Zhao Bin goes to find a sleepy Haike and as soon as he emerges he is hoisted up and carried to the pool - he didn't fight it, just said, "No! No! No!" the whole way. Kristi reminds me...check his pockets! Get his phone! Close call. Haike goes in. I go in with no struggle...it's my destiny. Emilie goes in - her idea, it can't be avoided! Next, willingly and not being thrown, come my mom, Dietrich and Laura. Fully clothed party in the pool! :)







9:00 AM - The bridesmaids and the moms go to find the Thai "hair artist" who will do their hair for the day. I fill Haike in on the change of plans for the reception, then join the hair party.





11:00 AM - Those who have finished their hair come to my room and Emilie, assisted by Beth, gets started on my hair. Miao enters the room in 20 minute intervals, checking on the progress. She starts to get worried when she thinks we're running out of time - no need to worry - we're right on schedule! :) Before we start my hair, though, Emilie shows me videos from my college roommates, the sisters who know me better than anyone in the world, who couldn't be there. Em and I have a sob-fest and the day continues with love filling my heart. Thank you ladies...it was so amazing to see those videos at that moment!!

Noon - Lunch arrives in our room, along with those lip-smacking pineapple shakes from the night before!

1:30 PM - My hair is done! Thank you Emilie and Beth!!!





1:45 PM - Time to start make-up! Shoot...Miao was right, we ARE running out of time!



2:20 PM - The room is getting more and more crowded...Lizzy, our flower girl is here. My mom and Yiqi have come. The photographer is running around. I need to get my dress on! Emilie and Beth help me with the back, a corset-type dress, while different bridesmaids take turns holding my arms to keep me from falling over backwards while some major tugging is happening behind me. The dress is on!







Now, let's see... Shoes. Check.



Rings. Check.



Bracelet. Check.



Earrings. Check.



Meanwhile, Haike gets ready in another room...



3:00 PM - Everyone's ready! Someone, at some point, chose a place for Haike and I to meet once we were ready. I wait for him in anticipation...what will he think? Am I beautiful? It is such a perfect moment - Haike comes and we finally get to spend a moment together, preparing for this so-important day. We are ready. We are at peace in this moment. We are eager.





3:30 PM - Group photos start. We walk all around the resort - to one pool, to a swing, to another pool, to the bridge, to the playground, to the main building. All the while, Lindsey follows close behind holding the back of my impossibly-long dress. Laura comes prepared with my powder and lipstick which the bridesmaids help me to apply when the heat of the day becomes overwhelming. Our Chinese friends are never too far; taking pictures and singing songs. Our two photographers and one videographer are everywhere at once...they capture the most beautiful moments of the day.















Pipe cleaners in the bouquets - I love this!



Our beautiful flower girl, Lizzy...



5:18 PM - The ceremony begins.

We Interrupt This Broadcast...

...for a public service announcement.

Want to study English? Want to improve your oral English so that you can find a job with a foreign company and get promoted quickly? Want to sit face-to-face with one of our 10 English-speaking teachers? Then, Lucky International English Center is the place for you!





Not only are these pictures used on the sides of buses throughout Tianjin, but also on LED screens and in movie theatres around the city!

Now, we return you to our wedding celebration highlights broadcast...

Days of Wine and Roses (5c)

The last big event before the day that we'd all gathered for was upon us - a ritual that all women must go through before they get married. A ritual that a woman's best friends and family use to embarrass her, pamper her, shower her with love. A ritual that THIS woman was ready to skip but a ritual that this woman embraced when she heard about all of the work her bridal party was doing to make it happen. A ritual that says, "You're special. We're going to celebrate you. Just like you celebrated us. Just like you will celebrate us in the future." A ritual...a must...a tradition...

This was no wild and crazy bachelorette party, which most of you know never would have suited me! We used the resort's "Le Spa" and Cindy, Lindsey, Laura, Beth and Emilie, along with my wedding planners and the resort staff, transformed the spa into a dream world! When we entered, we chose our nail colors and the pedicures and manicures began! There were at least 7 nail stylists there to help all of the 17 ladies who came to the party. We shuffled from room to room getting our nails done and checking on the progress of everyone else's with exclamations of "oooh's and aaahh's" echoing off the walls. Of course, I got to wear this lovely crown and ring...



While we got our nails done, we listened to a mix that Lindsey had made just for this occasion and we snacked on lip-smacking, girl's night out-kinda treats! See a few of them below...





There was even a strawberry cheesecake/pudding dessert that was named after me!



And the drinks...



Then came the presents! I'm not going to tell you in detail what I received but I will tell you this... My 7-year-old flower girl was helping me by giving me each gift when I was ready for it and near the end of the present opening, she came up to me and whispered in my ear..."You're sure getting a lot of night gowns..." Hehehe!!!

We played some games and then wrapped up the bachelorette party as the moths started to come in and dive bomb us! It was so fun and it was cool that we were able to include everyone that was there - even my grandma came along! :)

Seeing as it's not Chinese tradition to have a bachelor/bachelorette party, Haike's friends didn't know to plan one so I asked some of the Americans to help out. Haike, Dietrich and a couple of Haike's Chinese friends ended up playing cards, watching the World Cup and drinking beer - not too bad, I suppose. ;)

Friday I'm in Love (5b)

Friday's rehearsal was practice, practice, practice and hot, Hot, HOT! The sun was shining and we were starting to get worried..."what if it is this hot tomorrow???" At the time of the rehearsal we were planning on the ceremony and reception both to be outside, assuming it wasn't raining.

We ran through the basic outline of the ceremony two times, working mostly on walking in and out and where to stand, when to move, etc. We had a lot of different elements to work into the ceremony so there were quite a few details to hammer out. The best part was watching our bridesmaids and grooms-people connect! We'd made arrangements ahead of time about who would walk with who and it turned out perfectly!! They looked great! There was a lot of coaching coming from the American side because, not only had the Chinese side never been in a Western-style wedding, but they had never been to one, they only knew what they'd seen in American movies. So all of those things that us Americans think of as common sense...how to walk in, how to escort a lady, how and where to stand, we had to be sure to explain so they weren't left in the dark. It was so interesting...I'm such a detail person and I truly thought that I'd planned for everything that might pop up in the ceremony but there were so many things that I just didn't anticipate and most of them were cultural - it was so amazing to see it all come together and to see everyone contribute to making it happen. Thanks wedding party...you were the BEST that I could have ever asked for!! :)

Zhao Bin (one of our officiants) coaching the groom's side on how/where to stand...



Telling Haike, "after Shannon hugs her dad, you should shake his hand..."



Practice walking in...



After the rehearsal, we took lots of pictures! Here's a few:

Our two officiants, Cindy and Zhao Bin. Actually, they are not ordained because we didn't get legally married in Thailand, we just went through the motions. (We were already legally married in China...tee hee!) Cindy and ZB are our amazing friends from China, the two who know us best as a couple and who coached us through a lot of the questions and concerns we had as an intercultural couple (they both have American spouses.) It was so special for us that they officiated the ceremony...Cindy in English and ZB in Chinese...their messages fit us like a glove and it was truly an unforgettable part of the celebration.



Family...



My STUNNING bridesmaids...my sisters...Emilie, Laura, Lindsey and Beth. I LOVE YOU!!!!



Haike and I -- I mentioned that the day before, Haike went golfing and got significantly darker. The entire day whenever we stood next to each other we were both yelping..."UGH!! I'm SOOOO white!" "UGH UGH! I'm SOOOO dark!"



After the rehearsal and a lot of urging from my wedding planner to "decide on a rain plan!" we went back to the main lobby of the resort and sat down to our beautifully, fine-tuned to the last detail, rehearsal dinner. We invited all of our guests to this and we feasted on yummy Thai food prepared by the resort. Seriously, going to Thailand for the celebration was the best decision I've EVER made and hiring my wedding planner was the second best decision. It was so nice not having to worry about all of the small details like what we would eat, how it would be decorated, flowers, etc, etc. All of this was already done - menu set, ceremony and reception beautifully decorated, flowers arranged and all without the stress placed upon my shoulders. Hallelujah! I'd recommend it to anyone in a second!

One of our favorite things from the rehearsal dinner, and something that we repeatedly ordered again over the next several days, was the resort's pineapple shakes...so refreshing, soooo good!!



Part 3 - Bachelorette party!

Oh, Happy Day (5a)

I've decided that for Friday and Saturday I am going to split the posts into 3 parts for each day...this will cut back on how loooong the posts will be otherwise, and will also be more manageable for me! So, I'll try to get them up ASAP - enjoy!!

Early, and I mean eaarrrrly, Friday morning the golfers - my dad, Uncle Mike and Haike - took off for one of Chiang Mai's best courses. I don't know too much about the trip except that it was Haike's first time golfing and at one point his caddy pointed at him and said, "more practice." I also know that he came back with a new nickname from my dad and Mike...Tiger Woods. AND that it was hot, hot, hot and they came back pink, pink, pink! Whoops! (I've mentioned in previous blogs that Chinese people will do anything to be whiter, not darker SO this golf trip led to a series of whitening face masks for Haike over the next day so that he wouldn't be too dark for the wedding!)

A few hours later 11 of us ladies (and Dietrich :) were gathering to get to our 1/2-day Thai cooking class when another van load of people pulled up. Haike's Chinese friends and co-workers had made it! I quickly welcomed Theresa, Amy, Dabi, Jingjing, Herbert, Chai and Wang Ying, apologizing to them that we had to leave and urging them to get settled and make themselves at home! Then, off to learn the specialties that we'd been feasting on all week!

Our first stop was at a local market where our guide showed us the differences between the most commonly used kinds of rice, a large assortment of vegetables and how to make coconut juice from a fresh coconut. She let us wander around the market for a while, a novelty to most of the Americans but just everyday life for Yiqi and I! I just prayed that some of them stayed away from the meat and fish area!!! :) Kristi had an unexpected surprise when she asked for a Pepsi and got handed a plastic bag full of Pepsi with a straw sticking out the top! Hahaha!



Our next stop was the cooking school. We got our aprons on, our individual cooking stations ready and glanced through our free cookbooks! We also learned that we would be making 4 dishes - Thai Hot and Sour Prawn Soup (with our without coconut cream), Green Curry with Chicken, Steamed Banana Cake and - what was it - some kind of Stir-Fried Chicken with Ginger?? I forget...

Preparing to cook...



For each dish that we made, we first went into an air-conditioned (heavenly air-conditioned!) room to learn how to make it. Our guides led us through each dish step-by-step while we watched in the helpfully placed mirror on the ceiling...see below. Then, we went back outside to our stations, each of us chanting little tunes in our heads to remember the order - "One spoon of this, half a spoon of that...chop, smash, cut, cook. What's the order again?" We cooked, ate and then prepared some more!



Lindsey and I with our soup...



Overall, the morning was great fun! We learned how to make some fancy dishes, if only they can be replicated back home! Our guides were fun, too, and the morning passed by extremely quickly.

The one last thing I should mention before the next post...when we got back to the resort, the golfers had also just arrived. Haike was getting some lunch and as he sat at the table, one of those little geckos decided to jump from the table to his stomach and crawl up his chest! Haha! I wish I could have seen it...I guess he just grabbed it and threw it off. I'm not sure I would have been so calm...

Part 2 of Friday - rehearsal!

One Fine Day (4)

The Thursday of "wedding week" brought with it the arrival of many, many guests! Although originally Haike and I had planned to go on a day-trip to Chiang Mai's Doi Ithanon National Park and the highest point in Thailand, we chose to stay back at the resort so that we could be there to greet our guests and help them settle in.

The first arrivals came right after breakfast - Haike's parents and my Chinese sister, Yiqi. They were tired and hungry so we got them moved into their rooms then enjoyed breakfast together. It was so interesting to watch Haike's parents because they were experiencing a lot of firsts: first time on a plane (for his mom), first time out of China, first time at a nice resort, first time having people take care of THEM, first time to have a truly relaxing vacation...we saw throughout the week the ways in which Haike's mom really broke out of her shell and let loose - it was amazing!!

Around lunchtime another van load of people pulled up - my dad, stepmom, uncle and grandma!! And shortly after them my friend Cindy and her daughter, our flower girl, Lizzy arrived. We had a big lunch together and much like the first group of Americans to arrive two days before, these Americans went right into vacation-mode. It was so great! Swimsuits on, book and sunglasses in hand and, for my dad and uncle, they broke out the cards and their marathon game of Rummy began. There was a lot of relaxing and chatting that afternoon, just savoring the fact that this dream was coming true.

Around 5:30 PM the Doi Ithanon group returned and the reunions and/or meet and greets began. When my mom and Haike's mom saw each other, they pretty much ran to embrace and immediately started chatting in their own languages, "How are you? It's so nice to see you! You look great! How was your trip?" It's amazing...they were somewhat answering each other's questions and saying the same things without truly comprehending. I guess it just goes to show that there truly are universal languages...emotions, body language, expressions. JOY.

That night we pushed together two long tables and all ate together...one big, international family! It was great fun. I think most of our entertainment came, though, when the sun set and the geckos came out. They didn't come too close to us but they covered the walls near the tables where we ate outside. Some of them were huge and we watched with fascination as they gulped down moth after moth, delighting in their dinner as we did in ours!

Later that night some more friends, Zhao Bin and Leslie along with their baby, Eden, arrived. Haike and I waited for them then hit the sack to prepare for day 5 - rehearsal day!

Below are a few pictures that the Doi Ithanon group took - beautiful!!!

One Day I'll Fly Away (3)

But not today!

Today I'm just going to take you on a whirlwind recap of a crazy jumping, soaring, flying, bouncing, screeching, leaping, whooping, pummeling adventure through the rainforest!

Early Wednesday morning the 10 of us who had already arrived at Belle Villa arose for a quick breakfast and then piled into a van that would take us for an hour+ journey to another outskirt area of Chiang Mai. It was a bumpy, steep and death-defying ride where a couple of us (the Ingleby sisters) almost lost our breakfast that we'd so hurriedly eaten. When we arrived, we gulped in the fresh air and glanced around at what would be our adventure for the day. We were ready (and a little nervous) to go on the Amazing Race-featured Flight of the Gibbon. In other words, '18 platforms of high-flying, zip-lining fun!' www.treetopasia.com

Our guides started out by introducing themselves and making us sign a waiver that said if our lives ended by falling thousands of feet to the ground or all of the bones in our bodies were crushed into sawdust by running into a tree - then we can't blame or sue them. Okay, so I'm exaggerating a little bit but now you know how my acrophobic mind was interpreting the document!

We got all suited up...ready to go!



When we got to the first platform my hands were trembling, I was so scared. In fact, I was T-T-T-TERRIFIED. It helped that I could sit down in the harness and hold on for dear life. My family and friends, though...amazing! They were fearless! They were bounding off of platforms without even holding on, just doing nosedives into mid-air, trusting that cable would bounce them back up. Unbelievable! I think they loved every second of it. Me, on the other hand, what I realized is that my fear of heights is much worse than I thought! It didn't help that the guides knew I was the most afraid in the group, so they tortured me - holding on to the strap on my back, letting me dangle above nothingness for what seemed a lifetime, acting like they were going to push me off the platform before I was ready - so mean. I felt like I was back in middle school, trying to stay clear of the bullies! Even my cries of, "Please be nice! I'm getting married in 4 days!!!" didn't seem to work! Haha...they had a GREAT day with me. :)



Part of the platforms were regular zip-lines, part was rapelling where they just lower you straight down and there were a few wobbly bridges. Pictured below is the longest zip-line.



And below here is the highest suspension...



Haike about halfway through one of the zip-lines:



And, finally, safe and sound back on the ground!



After our hours of insanity :) in the trees, we had a Thai lunch and then were taken to another area with a waterfall and a trail to hike up next to it.

We got back to our resort in time for a shower and dinner then most people dispersed to their rooms for the evening... Emilie, some of the other girls, and I went to my room, though, to do practice hair for the wedding ceremony!! It was so fun to chat and "play dress-up" as I ended up in my dress and veil by the end of the night, ya know, to practice! Here's a picture from the evening...and my awesome shoes!



There really were too many amazing pictures from this day...it was so hard to choose just a few to include here. If you want to see more, just let me know! Also, I'm including a few YouTube links below...for a taste of the zip-lining!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w00cxIHwlc8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojhHvamuk0E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB-O7rta4TU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPMiyhMQmtg