The Yellow Sea in Qingdao, China is less than a few miles from our home. It took a few weeks, but my husband, Denny, and I finally made a trip to it.

Gazing at the sailboats were peaceful. Breathing in fresh ocean air was relaxing. People watching was amusing.

This picture was taking in honor of you dad. When you come to China we can go sailing.

It was a relaxing afternoon!

I watched Asian people taking pictures looking out on the ocean. It was peculiar watching how the Asian women had gentle poses instead of loud poses American women usually mirror. Earlier on, when approaching the ocean pier, I commented to Denny that I was surprised no one was taking our pictures like the previous year. I spoke too soon. Denny and I were just enjoying one another’s company when I started to notice an older Asian man trying to sneak a picture of us. LOL, how they sneak one is so funny. That is what I must look like taking pictures of them sometimes (especially awkward pictures of their children pottying to document the Chinese culture). That’s when it began. We were leaving the ocean pier when one couple asked to take a picture with Denny and I. Then quickly several other couples chimed in. We had our picture taken at least fifteen times in less than five minutes.

I felt like a famous rock star or one of the characters at Disneyland. I joked with Denny after all those pictures I now have permission to take pictures of the local people.

If you’re not updated with my story, I’m living in China for a year teaching. It was on this outing that I realized I am still a tourist in Qingdao, China even though I’m residing here for a year. That just sounds completely bizarre. It would take at least a few years, if we were staying, for me to get out from under the label “American Tourist”. However, at the pier I  will always be labeled a tourist in this area even if I was a Western foreigner residing in Qingdao for years. Caution, your peaceful moment at the ocean will be short or you can get a huge esteem pick-me-up!