Has It Been 2 Months??

It's hard to believe that I've been here for over 2 months now...it seems like just yesterday I was making sure everything was packed, and heading for the airport.  In my time here, I have thankfully been able to adjust relatively quickly to how life is different here. 
I can certainly say that you get exercise here!  Unless you depend on cabs or busses, if you are heading anywhere, you will get a workout.  90 percent of the places I go, I either walk or ride my bike.  I am soooo glad that I got the bike!  Makes going to school more fun, and a lot shorter.  I am also getting used to being stared at wherever I go.  When that happens, I just return their gaze with a smile and a wave.  That usually elicits interestingly shocked responses..hehehe... 
Another interesting occurrence is with the guards that are in our complex.  When I leave for school on my bike, I always smile and wave to them.  They have gotten so used to seeing me on my bike, that when I don't use it (like on Sundays when I take the bus to Fellowship), on the way back they always ask where my bike is.  I didn't realize how much attention Chinese people pay to our habits and routines.  Goes to show how we live under a microscope, and you really have to be careful, since you never know who might be around. 
In school, things are getting into more of a routine.  My newest student (who is also the youngest), has proved to be quite...interesting.  When he came a week or two into the year, he knew barely any English words.  He could count to ten, say "yes" and "no", and quickly learned "home" on the first day.  Thankfully, he could understand more than he could speak, so it made communicating slightly easier.  He has been improving drastically, much to my delight!  On Friday, we had a huge break through:  we were getting ready for naptime.  He was on his mat, and I put the blanket over him.  He looked up at me, smiled, and said, "Yes!  Thank you teacher!"  I was giddy with delight!  He is learning English words really quickly, and even using them in correct complete sentences!!  I hope this continues, which will make communicating with him a LOT easier.
On Saturday, we will all be taking a train to Beijing for a conference with people from all of our schools.  Afterwards, several of us will be staying behind and playing tourist.  I'm not sure what internet access will be like, but I will certainly be taking LOTS of pictures.  If I don't have access while in Beijing, I will certainly post an update when I come back, including pictures!! 
Off to get things ready for tomorrow....why can't weekends last longer?? 

I'm Singin' in the Rain...

So, I had a really fun experience tonight...certainly not something I would expect to do in America...
A couple of the staff members met up and went out for dinner tonight...on our bikes.  We had JUST left the apartment complex, and started to feel light drips.  (There had been storm clouds looming for a while, so we figured this was coming.)  About a minute into our journey, it began to POUR.  I mean cats and dogs...and I was the only one in the group of 5 with glasses, which get very wet very easily.  I was having a very difficult time seeing, due in part to the fact that it was dark, and also due in part to the massive amount of water that was pouring down upon all of us.  To add to the fun times--I was wearing flip flops...very slippery.  At one point, when we were nearing our final destination, I almost crashed...There as a scooter that came out of nowhere!!  I saw it just in time to stop, but we slightly bumped vehicles.  Thankfully, there was no damage to my bike :-) 
When we finally got to the restaurant, we were saturated.  There was not a dry bit on us anywhere.  We all felt sooooo bad because we were creating Lake Erie in the restaurant with all of the dripping that our clothing was doing...After ordering our food (at the Chinese version of KFC), we had to find a place to eat outside, since we didn't want to soak their seats.  We ended up sitting on random red fire hydrant looking things, which were quite uncomfortable.  But the food was GOOD!!!!  I have found a fun favorite:  Chicken and Cola in a cup.  It's a big cup with coke in the bottom, and a separate container goes on top of the cup with little chicken nuggets in it.  You can eat and drink in the same cup :-)  Love it!!
After dinner, we went to a nearby Gillato (sp??) place for dessert...YUM!!!  Love the Mint Chocolate Chip one! 
Thankfully, the ride home was dry, and quite entertaining. 
All in all--very entertaining night, and full of many fun memories.  :-)

Jumble of thoughts...

Have I really been in China for almost 2 months?  It seems like just yesterday, I was stuck in the Detroit airport, continually getting bad news after bad news...It seemed like I would never ever get to Shanghai Airport...I blink, and now I have lived here for almost 2 months, and have gotten used to life here in a foreign country. 
I had a few "firsts" this weekend, all of which were very nice! 
A coworker of mine had been telling me about a local massage parlor, and recommending it to me, but I hadn't actually gone yet.  Her family flew back to the Philippines to visit this weekend, so she's alone for a whole week.  The two of us went to the massage parlor, and got the 60 minute "foot massage".  However, it's not just a foot massage.  They brought in a bucket of a hot liquid (we weren't sure if it was water or tea), and we soaked our feet in it, while they massaged our neck, back, and shoulders.  We then turned around, and they massaged our arms, while our feet dried off.  After the arms, they started on our feet.  They were REALLY good!!  After about 30 minutes on just our feet, they brought these small glass jars out...sprayed something inside, and then lit it.  They then...screwed the jars on our feet.  It was kinda strange..and I have no clue what they were for.  After we left, the lady I went with had to go somewhere else, so I got to take my first bus ride.  Thankfully, I knew the route well enough, that it wasn't bad, and I got off without any problem! 
It was interesting on the bus ride back home, all of the cop cars I saw.  I was wondering, if since this weekend is the Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival, if the cops come out in full force, like they do back home on New Year's Eve.  During my entire time here so far, I haven't seen a single police car, and now I see a lot. Quite interesting.  Good to know that they are here!!
A benefit from the festival, we have a day off on Monday.  The Chinese staff gets a holiday.  We still have to go to school, but there won't be any students there.  So, we kinda get a 2 1/2 day weekend...but I'll take it!  Plus--we get to dress casually.  That's always an added bonus!!
Okay...off to try to be good and complete lesson plans.  Let's see if I actually get them done...

Joy in the Little Things

Last weekend, I finally found the time to go and buy something I have been wanting since I moved over here:  a bike!!!  (happy dance)  Now, a trip that used to take 15-20 minutes on foot takes about half that on a bike!  I am loving my new purchase, and still get a lot of exercise with it!  I didn't realize how taxing riding a bike could be on your legs...forgot that small detail. 
My eyes are also being opened to finding joy in the smallest of things.  Something that might seem like nothing to someone else, means something entirely different in this situation.  Things like hearing your kids use full sentences in English, with almost correct grammar; having your new student (who came in knowing no more than 3 or 4 words in English) improving his vocabulary and using more English (slowly) every day; the smiles you get from nationals when you use the smallest amount of Chinese (like telling the lunch lady "yi dian dian" which means "just a little", or "go la" which is "enough".  I didn't realize that would elicit such reactions of joy); being able to understand something that the cashier at the store is telling you, or something that a fellow Chinese teacher is telling you; and so much more.  These would be things back home that people might take for granted, but I am learning to really appreciate them while here.  This is one thing that I was not expecting to happen, but am very grateful that has happened:  my eyes being opened to sooooo much!  I hope that you all remember that:  don't rush through life.  Take time to stop, smell the roses, and enjoy the tiny things in life :-)

Mixed Feelings...

I have now officially made my first big purchase with a credit card:  tickets home for Christmas!  I got my paycheck yesterday, and spent a lot of time Thinking about it, planning, budgeting, and everything was working out perfectly!  So...I jumped at the opportunity, and bought the tickets since they were at a good price. 
I leave Shanghai on the 23rd, and get into Norfolk around 10 p.m. the same day.  That means I'll be able to be at home for my yearly date with my dad:  10 a.m. on Christmas eve.  Radio goes to the BBC for the live broadcast of Nine Lessons and Carols from Cambridge, England!!!  I didn't think I'd be home for this, but I will be!  **happy dance**
Too bad my insides can't agree....some of them are sooooo excited to be going home!!  The others can't believe I just spent that much money....there's a battle going on inside.  Off to get something to help..what will it be???  Hm...Cookies?  I have Oreos...sounds good.  Chocolate always helps!! 
So, Virginia:  I will be seeing you again in less than 4 months!!!!

My, how time FLIES!!!!

Finally started one...

            After much procrastination, I have finally started one of my own.  Most of the delay was caused by my not knowing how blogging works...but I finally figured it out!  Here we go!!

It’s hard to believe that I have already been here for a month!  I can’t believe how fast that time has flown by!  There are several things that you learn very fast when you move not only to a different city, but also to my city:

1)      Always bring your umbrella or raincoat anywhere you go.  I happen to live in a city where it rains almost constantly.  You might start out a walk and it is dry, but minutes later, there is a deluge outside.

2)      Get used to shirts that are stiff.  Since there are not dryers here, everything has to air dry.  Thankfully, for now, it’s warm enough that stuff dries fast.  However, I’m not sure what it will be like in the winter when it is really cold…

3)      There are times when you go out to a restaurant, that you have to just offer up arrows, and hope that the food is cooked (if meat), or clean (if fresh fruits and veggies). 

4)      Be ready to change your lesson plans due to activities taking longer than expected, since you have to explain things differently because of the lack of English skills.

5)      Expect the unexpected.  You can think that something will go one way, but at the last minute, things take a 180º.  About 2 hours before the end of school today, I was told that one of my students would be flying back to Korea for 2 ½ weeks…so I had to hurriedly put some activities together for her, from what I knew we would be doing.     

            I have been teaching for going on three weeks now, and I wanted to show you all what my walk to school is like every day.

After leaving the building, there is a really pretty bush that I always pass.  This is the “butterfly bush” as everyone calls it since a lot of butterflies always take up residence on it.  Here is one of the butterflies on the right.

Between my apartment and the road to school is a little dip.  There are a few ways to get across:  via bridge (left) or seesaw (below and right). 

 

View of the skyline after getting over the bridge or seesaw. 

 Something that is quite unique—there are several random sculptures all around the place.  This is one of the many.  And in the background, you can see the street that I have to cross, FULL of busses and cars…

 

Street that I have to cross getting closer…

 

After crossing the street, I turned around…it is difficult crossing that when it is sooo busy.

The road that I walk after the busy street…I have seen a lot of…interesting sights along here that you wouldn’t see in America :-)

 

This is the view from the bridge.  I got it on a good day…normally the water looks a lot greener.

 

Just like back home:  Cranes and construction everywhere!!

 

Get to cross another street soon….

 

The outside of our new gym.  I forget when it was built, but it is newer than the school.

 

Some pretty flowers that I see every morning.  Not sure what they are, but they look nice!

While these are nice to walk on when the ground is wet (which is often, since I live in the rainy city), they are very unevenly paced.  Some are far apart, and others are really close together.  Not made for the cadence of a normal person, but very helpful!

The front of our school.  That’s my roomie on the left, and my principal on the right.

I hope you enjoyed “walking” to work with me!  This walk should become interesting when the weather turns colder…

And I am very glad to hear that everyone back home is safe, after Irene swept through.  Please know that you all were in my thoughts through the entire time. 

Until next time!! 

                                                Sarah