Decorating Time!!

So...I can tell that things have been very busy.  I just realized that it has been a while since my last update..I'm sorry!!!
Things in the classroom have been pretty much the same since last update. 
Last weekend, however, we got a really nice present--the administration treated all of the foreign staff to a weekend retreat in Suzhou!!  It was so much fun :-)  We left after school on Friday, spent the night in a nice hotel, and got to spend all day Saturday shopping!!  I got really giddy when we went into a foreign import store, and I found something I had been craving since July--Cooler Ranch Doritos!!  I completly ignored the price, and just bought them.  A piece of advice I was given when I first came here--"If there is something you have been craving, don't look at the price and just get it."  I have done that several times...and so totally worth it!!  I know that they are pricey, so I make it last.  I actually made the small bag of chips last for an entire week, which is a big deal for me :-) 
Yesterday was our Thanksgiving dinner at school. I have had Turkey day meals at our fellowship back home with international students, but it's not the same...it's still in the states.  Our dinner last night was a whole new experience--being in a school, in China, and sharing an American tradition with fellow Americans, as well as Chinese, Indians, Pakistani, Australian, British, and other nationalities.  It was a very special experience.  I really enjoyed seeing all of these cultures coming together, sharing what we are all thankful for, and knowing that Dad has placed all of us here at this time in this place for a reason.  He sure does have a plan in store for all of us, even though it might not seem like it at the time! 
Now that Thanksgiving is over, let the Christmas decorating begin!!!  A group of us went to Stuff Mart today.  You have to be in the right mood before going to this store.  It is a group of about 5 buildings, each with 3 floors, PACKED with little shops.  They don't have set prices, and will usually tell you a really hiked up price.  You have to haggle for what is OK, and be prepared to walk away if they won't budge.  We all went today with the intent to get Christmas decorations.  I wasn't sure what we would find, and I was very pleasantly surprised :-)  There was a lot of cool stuff!!  After almost 2 hours there, my roomie and I found a tree, lights, ornaments, and a wreath for our apartment.  I also picked up other decorations for my classroom:  a small tree for my desk, lights (regular and presents), snowflakes for my window, and other decorations :D  As I sit typing this, I am grinning because we were able to find a tree, lights, and our apartment is ready for Christmas!!  I am probably going to go back to Stuff Mart again before the holidays, and end up with more decorations...
I can't believe that I will be home in less than a month...didn't I just get here??? 

Conferences and other Ramblings

4 months...seriously?!?!  4 months?  Has it been that long?  I can't believe that next week will mean I have been here for 4 months...time sure does fly!!
Last week we had Parent Teacher Conferences.  When I was Student Teaching, I sat in on some conferences.  When I was long-term subbing, I conducted a few conferences.  Therefore, I went in to these conferences with an idea of how to handle them.  However, there are differences between conferences in the states, and conferences here...Parents here are VERY concerned about how their children are doing.  I had one Korean mom that didn't believe me when I kept saying that her daughter was doing very well.  (She is!  She is one of the top students in my class.)  The mom kept saying, "Don't be nice.  How is she really doing??"
Something that made a few of the conferences last longer--I had to go through translators.  The parents of my 3 Korean kids all needed translators, so I would have to say something, stop and wait awkwardly while the translator relayed it and listened to the response, and then reply...you get the picture.  Kinda strange. 
Conferences were really good though.  I got to talk to the moms a lot more, and find out how their child is while at home--and there were a few that were surprising differences.  The biggest one:  one of my girls is very talkative and energetic in class, but her mom said that at home, she is painfully shy.  I couldn't believe the difference in her! 
The weather is finally turning colder!  I was getting tired of the warm weather...I wanted to be able to pull out my winter earrings...long sleeves...cold clothing...etc.  Yay!  Keep getting colder!
While in the store this evening, I heard something quite unexpected over the loudspeakers--Christmas songs!  I heard "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," and one more I can't remember.  You expect to hear things like that in the states.  Wasn't expecting it here in China...
I hope that all is going well back in the states!!  Can't believe that I will be back there in about a month and a half...seems like I just left!!!