It's been a while since I updated this, been a bit busy, but here it goes...
I went to my old fruit stand last night. Saw the fruit guy. We exchanged "long time no sees" (Usually when I go, his mom is there. Haven't seen him all year I think). Then he asked me something and I think it was "are you going home?" I told him I was going to a friend's house. I later told a Chinese friend what he asked. My friend thinks he asked if I went home this past summer. Opps... miscommunication there. :)
We had a big city-wide Chrstmas party last Saturday. We sang songs, read the STORY, had snacks, played a game, met a lot of new people, and had a great time! One of my new friend's (He hasn't been to study yet) had this as his status on QQ (China instant messenger) "Best Chrstmas ever! I sang songs, watched a performance, and met many new American friends (paraphrased)." He later told Julie that he wanted to join our studies and learn more. Thank HIM. :) He's busy with tests this week, but maybe next week he'll come. By the way, his name is Jess. He is boy Jess, I am girl Jess. :)
Tonight I will be having friends over to make and decorate Chri-tmas cookies. One of them is asking me lots of questions online about it. She is EXCITED! I can't want for them to come and share this with them, a good bonding experience. We have invited about 12 Chinese friends over, we have no idea how many will show up. It's exam time, so they are often quite busy. I'll post pictures of tonight later this week.
If I don't post again before Christmas, I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. HE has come and HE will come again. Now is the time he has given us to tell others about the most amazing gift anyone could give.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
A trip to the Arcade
Sunday a big group of us went to Burtons. It's a western coffee shop, restaurant, and bar. We went during the restaurant time. Got a lot of great Western food, talked, and had a good time. Altogether there were 17 of us. 11 of so Chinese and the rest Americans. We payed and ate the good 'ol Chinese way (at least at my table) We all ordered the food we wanted, then we split the bill evenly, then we ate off of everyone's plates! Sort of defeated the point of ordering our own food, but it was delicious! Steak, pizza, salad, mac and cheese, french fries... Mmmmm....
Afterwards, some of our Chinese friends decided to do a little shopping. I happily joined along. Didn't need anything, but I enjoy hanging out with them. So glad I did! We ended up going to an Arcade (while one of the girl's shopped) It was me and 5 friends, 4 boys and a girl. I have never been to an arcade place in China and even in America, all I know is Shakey's. So... one of the guys "adopted" me and we went to play some games. We did drums, basketball, bowling, air hockey, throw balls at bugs, and ended with me riding a horse. I was a jockey and had to ride the horse in the race. 1) it was very tiring! 2) I had quite the crowd of people watching me. :)
Overall, an amazing night! I had so much fun hanging out with my friends. Monday morning I woke up with a sore arm... guess I need to exercise a little more. :)
Afterwards, some of our Chinese friends decided to do a little shopping. I happily joined along. Didn't need anything, but I enjoy hanging out with them. So glad I did! We ended up going to an Arcade (while one of the girl's shopped) It was me and 5 friends, 4 boys and a girl. I have never been to an arcade place in China and even in America, all I know is Shakey's. So... one of the guys "adopted" me and we went to play some games. We did drums, basketball, bowling, air hockey, throw balls at bugs, and ended with me riding a horse. I was a jockey and had to ride the horse in the race. 1) it was very tiring! 2) I had quite the crowd of people watching me. :)
Overall, an amazing night! I had so much fun hanging out with my friends. Monday morning I woke up with a sore arm... guess I need to exercise a little more. :)
Monday, December 12, 2011
A Vacation? Really?
Vacations here can pop up on you unexpected. Not because you are so busy that you can't believe it's vacation time already, but because you didn't know there would be a vacation! Sunday night I started planning my schedule for the final exam. I will see each student for about 7 minutes. Add a minute for transition time, 85 students, equals about 10 hours worth of finals! Well, as I was just finishing the schedule which would happen on Jan 2 and 3, I was told (by a student, at 11pm) that they don't have school on Jan 2 or 3. What!!!??? Since when? Why? The last week of school is 1 week away from then, why a vacation? Well, that just means I will be giving most of my exams a week earlier... sorry kids, not my fault. Hopefully they still do well, some are at risk of failing. :(
The other vacation has been planned much sooner. It's the vacation with my parents. In 1 month they will arrive in Beijing!!! They have their ticket, their passport, their visa, and they are ready to go! Except for the packing... that's not ready yet. :)
The other vacation has been planned much sooner. It's the vacation with my parents. In 1 month they will arrive in Beijing!!! They have their ticket, their passport, their visa, and they are ready to go! Except for the packing... that's not ready yet. :)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Smelling Something
Everyday as I walk to and from different places there are things you notice. You notice the vast amounts of people, the traffic, the sounds, and... the smells. If you have been to China you can appreciate some of them, if you have not, I hope you can imagine them.
You get the smell of stinky tofu. Which smells a little like... well, it's hard to describe. I asked some of my friends and here are their replies:
The cigarrete of the man in front of, next to, and behind you on the street.
But last night I got another smell. I smelled smoke, real smoke. I looked over and oh.... look, the dumpster is on fire. Well, the contents inside of the dumpster. Hmm.. no one is really noticing, I guess it's ok... I will say, the dumpster is all metal, so chances are it won't spread, but I still feel that SOMEONE would notice and do something about it.All well, that's just the way it is.
You get the smell of stinky tofu. Which smells a little like... well, it's hard to describe. I asked some of my friends and here are their replies:
- it smells stinky- Chinese friend
- a baboon’s left butt cheek-Jonathan
- poop and BO combined- Andy
- I'm not exactly sure, just bad. - Brian
- crap = Nicole
- rotting flesh...? It's very hard to describe.-Julie
The cigarrete of the man in front of, next to, and behind you on the street.
But last night I got another smell. I smelled smoke, real smoke. I looked over and oh.... look, the dumpster is on fire. Well, the contents inside of the dumpster. Hmm.. no one is really noticing, I guess it's ok... I will say, the dumpster is all metal, so chances are it won't spread, but I still feel that SOMEONE would notice and do something about it.All well, that's just the way it is.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Bike Math
1 new, to me, bike
1 out of shape foreigner
1 medium hill
+ 20 minute ride to school
-------------------------------------
1 very tired person in the beginning of class
1 new, to me, bike
30-45 degrees F
2 mittens
1 face mask
+ 1 scarf
--------------------------
a bundled up foreigner ready to hit the road on her bike!
1 out of shape foreigner
1 medium hill
+ 20 minute ride to school
-------------------------------------
1 very tired person in the beginning of class
1 new, to me, bike
30-45 degrees F
2 mittens
1 face mask
+ 1 scarf
--------------------------
a bundled up foreigner ready to hit the road on her bike!
 |
| My bike on my porch. What's great is the gears have a guard, so my pants don't get caught in them. |
 |
| Here you can see my green bell and blue lock. I don't have any gears, but it still works ok. |
Sunday, December 4, 2011
One of a kind
My student, Ocean (it's not as weird name once you teach him all semester) invited me to see a band with him and some other students. At first I said "no" because it was 100rmb, which is about $15. Quite a lot for China. However, I was rethinking, it seemed like a fun group that was going, and the singer seemed good too. Tamas Wells, check him out. He's from Australia. Nice, low paced music.
Well... on to the story. So, we went, they got me a student ID card (I was a Chinese tonight) so my ticket was cheaper.I went with a friend, so I didn't feel too bad hanging out with a bunch of kids 7 years younger than me. However, she is 4 years younger than me, so that's not much of a difference. But she seems much much older...
I know... get on with the story... My friend, students, and I listened to the mostly slow paced, good songs for about an hour. Then, for the last song Tamas said he needs some help with this one. That he needs 8 people to come on the stage. Well, I decided this is a great opportunity for me! So, I put my hand up real high (not hard when most people around you are the same height and shorter). Then I heard my students yell my name from the front right corner of the stage. I go over by them and Tamas catches my eye... he nodded and smiled! I'm going on stage! They did a beach boys song "Do you Wanna Dance". The 8 of us were the dancers in the back. My students recorded it all. In fact, I think more than one of them did! It was quite fun. Was a bit surprised I did it, but, being the ONLY foreigner in the place, I had extra pump of courage. That's right, as I looked around all night, The band and I were the only people not of Asian decent.
Afterwards my students wanted some autographs, so I stuck around with them and took a taxi back. Overall, a fun night. Glad I went and hey, I found a new band I like! Check out Tamas Wells online.
p.s. I forgot my camera this day, so I don't even have a single picture. :(
Well... on to the story. So, we went, they got me a student ID card (I was a Chinese tonight) so my ticket was cheaper.I went with a friend, so I didn't feel too bad hanging out with a bunch of kids 7 years younger than me. However, she is 4 years younger than me, so that's not much of a difference. But she seems much much older...
I know... get on with the story... My friend, students, and I listened to the mostly slow paced, good songs for about an hour. Then, for the last song Tamas said he needs some help with this one. That he needs 8 people to come on the stage. Well, I decided this is a great opportunity for me! So, I put my hand up real high (not hard when most people around you are the same height and shorter). Then I heard my students yell my name from the front right corner of the stage. I go over by them and Tamas catches my eye... he nodded and smiled! I'm going on stage! They did a beach boys song "Do you Wanna Dance". The 8 of us were the dancers in the back. My students recorded it all. In fact, I think more than one of them did! It was quite fun. Was a bit surprised I did it, but, being the ONLY foreigner in the place, I had extra pump of courage. That's right, as I looked around all night, The band and I were the only people not of Asian decent.
Afterwards my students wanted some autographs, so I stuck around with them and took a taxi back. Overall, a fun night. Glad I went and hey, I found a new band I like! Check out Tamas Wells online.
p.s. I forgot my camera this day, so I don't even have a single picture. :(
Friday, December 2, 2011
A Variety of...
G-d gives us a variety of many things in life: fruit, trees, animals, languages, faith strengths... friends
He has especially given me a variety of the last one. I have many friends. One of my Chinese friends said he thinks I have more Chinese friends than he has! Probably because part of my job here is to make and keep friends. Cool job, huh? I'm not here to brag about the number of friends I have, but it's a post of thanks.
Thanks for friends like John and Edward who, although have come to studies for over a year, still are questioning and fighting us. They keep us on our toes. What questions will they ask tonight? They keep us in the WORD.
Lily, who has the most curiosity I've ever seen. She comes early to study to learn more about the Book. She does homework during the week to make the one-on-one studies more productive. She's excited about everything! She is soaking it all it. She reminds us that the HS is working and our work is important.
I am thankful for friends like Julian, who, although is busy with school, will happily take time out of his day to help a foreign friend buy a bike.
Bruce, who is always ready to help you even if his English isn't the greatest. He's also willing to ask questions in study even if he knows we might not understand him.
Eunice, who can't speak English at all, but enjoys welcoming me (and my study buddies) into her home each week to 1)feed us 2)teach me the art of cooking Chinese food and 3)give us a place to teach her son as well as 10 other children about HIM and HIS SON.
I could go on and on talking about the friends HE has given me. The friends who, when you walk to the bus stop with them, you can't help but smile. Smile at their curiosity, their kindness, their English mistakes, their concern for our well being. Friends who will jump at the opportunity to help. Friends from HIM who we get the joy of telling about HIM.
Thanks be to Him! He is great!
He has especially given me a variety of the last one. I have many friends. One of my Chinese friends said he thinks I have more Chinese friends than he has! Probably because part of my job here is to make and keep friends. Cool job, huh? I'm not here to brag about the number of friends I have, but it's a post of thanks.
Thanks for friends like John and Edward who, although have come to studies for over a year, still are questioning and fighting us. They keep us on our toes. What questions will they ask tonight? They keep us in the WORD.
Lily, who has the most curiosity I've ever seen. She comes early to study to learn more about the Book. She does homework during the week to make the one-on-one studies more productive. She's excited about everything! She is soaking it all it. She reminds us that the HS is working and our work is important.
I am thankful for friends like Julian, who, although is busy with school, will happily take time out of his day to help a foreign friend buy a bike.
Bruce, who is always ready to help you even if his English isn't the greatest. He's also willing to ask questions in study even if he knows we might not understand him.
Eunice, who can't speak English at all, but enjoys welcoming me (and my study buddies) into her home each week to 1)feed us 2)teach me the art of cooking Chinese food and 3)give us a place to teach her son as well as 10 other children about HIM and HIS SON.
I could go on and on talking about the friends HE has given me. The friends who, when you walk to the bus stop with them, you can't help but smile. Smile at their curiosity, their kindness, their English mistakes, their concern for our well being. Friends who will jump at the opportunity to help. Friends from HIM who we get the joy of telling about HIM.
Thanks be to Him! He is great!
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