Let me introduce you...

There is no way I could get through this experience without friends, but isn't that true about everything in life?

I have been incredibly fortunate to have met some truly wonderful, talented, fun-loving people over here. So... North American friends, let me introduce you to my Beijing bunch.

The pirate in this picture is Kerry. She normally doesn't dress this way and I normally don't carry around a plastic knife. That's us on Halloween.

Kerry was the first expat (other than my coworkers) I met in Beijing. We both happened to sign up for the same tour to a country village and winery. We were also both late to catch the bus. That's the moment Kerry said she knew we would be friends. Later that same day, we toasted to our good luck of being in the right place at the right time. We haven't stopped toasting or talking since then.

Kerry has been here to listen to me bitch about all the things that don't make sense about China. She has seen me through the loss of a friend (no death-just cut ties), the second-stage feelings about living abroad and home sickness.She also stayed my friend after I spilled wine on her white couch, endlessly beat a drum to music on St. Patty's day and accidentally forgot I didn't have money until after I ordered food at a restaurant. She also lets me take pictures of her buying hats in a bathroom! HA

As for her job here- Kerry is an oil and gas engineer for Halliburton. Super smart lady who flies all over China working on projects. Oh yeah- she is also from Scotland and has a killer accident which I can't help imitating whenever I am around her. Right, chum?

Then we come to "the gang". I met this wily bunch on an overnight train tour to northern China. Before the train even left Beijing, they were cracking open beer. Of course I would fit right in.

The little lady on the horse is Anais. No, she would not be thrilled to have this picture shown, but she wouldn't let me take shots of her hiking- so this is what she gets.

Don't let the little French facade fool you, Anais is one tough cookie. She is raising three kids here in Beijing as a single mom. We got to know each other when she dragged me on hiking tour of active volcanoes (see previous blog posts).

Anais has one of the coolest upbringings I've ever heard. She was brought up in South Africa with her 3 sisters while her dad did research there. Every summer was spent in England. Eventually, her family moved back to a small town outside Paris, which she now calls home.

Anais, who was one of the world's first computer language interpretation software engineers, has also lived in Texas- which she says she loved. How cool would she be to have as a neighbor?!

This guy here is named Jeremy. He's who I call when I get stuck in a cab and can't speak Chinese to the driver. He has been living in Beijing for three years and actively studying the language while working for Nokia doing product development.

Funny, funny guy who reminds me a lot of Scott Daigger, except Jeremy is more of a smart ass who is always looking for a good debate. You've been warned. Oh yeah, he also likes to break out embarrassing Gretchen stories whenever I have visitors. Another reason to avoid him... :)

Just ignore the drunk girl in this pic, I will introduce you to here in a bit. The guy in the flaming red wig is the subject of this paragraph. Michael is really the reason the whole group got together. He actively seeks out and meets new people. Great networker and great guy.

He also loves debates. His favorite topic is women. This guy is who you go to if you have a dating question or a perverted joke.

Mikey, as I call him, is from the Midwest, most recently Chicago. He came to Beijing to work as an architect. He likes it here so much, he convinced his brother Jim to move here as well.

Jim - is the one on the left. He's an animator for a video game company but really should be a stand-up comedian. He comes up with these one liners that have me rolling with laughter. Always up for a good time and always have a good time with him.

He would kill me if he read this, but Jim really is gentle soul and such a sweet person.

Ian and Leslie. You can't really talk about them individually because they come as a pair, or at least that's how I met them, but I will try.

Leslie is a feisty little Ecuadorian who came to Beijing to learn Chinese (she is already fluent in English). We found out that she used to live in Columbus, GA as her dad was in the Ecuadorian military. What a coincidence! We weren't there at the same time, however. She moved in with Ian just three days after they met. Her lease was up and they never really talked about it until a few months later. Hilarious. Two years later- they are still going strong.

Ian is from a bit of everywhere- France, USA, Bali, etc. He is a manager at a video game company here. He also runs a professional networking business among other things. If you've lived in Beijing, chances are- you've met him.

They are both such warm and inviting people but watch out for their parties- they are notorious.

Anyways- this is the gang I went to Bali with. We also meet up every Sunday for brunch. They are my family here and I love them.

My other "family" is my work family. John is the first person to take me out for beer here. For that, I will forever be grateful. He's helped me adjust to life as an employee for a state-owned company and taught me the ins and outs of Xinhua.

John, who is from New Zealand, is in China for the 3rd time. He met his wife here and has done more to improve journalism in this country than anyone I have ever encountered.

He might look like a big teddy bear, but all my Chinese colleagues are terrified of him as he consistently lays the smack down on poor stories. I love it.

Peter looks as fun as he is. The sombrero was worn on New Year's eve- which we rang in at a Mexican restaurant. Odd, I know.

He has a true appreciation for the Chinese culture and language which he studies in his free time.

Peter worked as a journalist in Britain and has these wonderful sayings for everyday things, which I constantly need translation for. Needless to say, I have learned plenty of polite sounding insults from him. I also gained an appreciation for seeing Beijing on a bike.

Most of you know Devon. He came to visit me in March. At that time, I introduced him to my friends here. I included the pic, however, because of the person below on the right- Jenny.

She is part Texan, part hippie and part nerd all rolled in to one. Jenny arrived at work just three months after me and we are close in age which is super cool.

I helped her get settled here, she helps keep me company. Not only is she an insightful listener, she is very easy-going and fun to be around. We like each other so much that our new apartments are in the same complex. Now we can walk 2 blocks and see a friendly face. It also makes it easier to walk home after a night of debauchery- we we have a little too often.

She is only planning on staying here for a year because she misses her boyfriend back home. It makes me sad because she is truly one of my best friends here. Plus, she has boobs as big as mine, so we can commiserate about the fact that we can't buy bras here to save our lives!

I didn't meet Donna through a tour or at work. A journalist in the states said he knew a woman who was working over here and then sent me her email. I randomly contacted her and am really glad I did.

Donna worked for CNN and ABC National radio in the States. She has a couple Murrows under her belt. Not only can we talk shop together, but she is really cool. Donna plays drums for a band called, Girls Are Waiting To Meet You. She came up with the name based on email spam.

She gave up radio reporting to come to Beijing and teach PR/Western Culture to Chinese college students. I would rank her classes right up there with Toby Schafer's creative instruction ideas.

Donna has had her students reenact Kurt Cobain's death and the Lorena Bobbit incident. Basically, she makes up this stuff as she goes along. Man, I would kill to have her as a teacher. I am pretty sure her students agree.

So there you have it- those are the people I choose to hang with in China. One day it's my hope you can all meet each other- drinks on me.