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!!!

You Know You Live in China If....

Something fun to lighten your day: 

You Know You Live in China If...

• the constant sound of horns honking doesn't make you jump out of your skin.
• you are used to having fireworks go off at least 3 times a week.
• you pay more attention to see if there are cars coming across the road than the blinking red light if you are trying to cross the street.
• the sight of trash all over the place doesn't phase you.
• you can fix your wireless internet in about 2 minutes since the power goes out so often.
• the conversion factor from RMB to USD is something you could do in your sleep.
• getting stared at wherever you go doesn't bug you.
• Chinese phrases seep into your English conversation without you realizing it.
• the phrase "ma fan" (bother, trouble, annoyances, etc.) is used a lot in conversation between you and friends.
• having to go to the grocery store at least every other day is a normal part of weekly life.  (Fridges here are so small, they can't hold much.  Therefore, the milk containers and other containers are teeny, and you have to go several times a week.)
• spitting doesn't gross you out.
• you know that just because you should have the right of way, doesn't mean others will actually give it to you.
• you expect to see cigarette butts on the floor of the elevator, even if there is a clearly posted sign stating "no smoking."
• seeing kids in split pants (or no pants) is not shocking.  (I will admit...even though I am used to it, there are times that I still get grossed out...)
• it is easy to find those hidden restaurants and shops that other people don't know about.

This will be a growing list, but I can't think of any more at the moment.  Enjoy!!

Mai de long vs. Mai don lao

     I have been in China for 3 months...MAN does time fly!!  I am learning so much about myself on a daily basis, as well as how to function in a country where you don't know the language...quite interesting!
      In my time here, I have had several interesting encounters revolving around transportation, none of which would be experienced in the states.
     Yesterday, a friend and I went to Metro, which is the Chinese version of BJs or Sam's Club.  We knew how to say "Metro" in Chinese (Mai de Long), and told this to our cabbie.  However, as we were traveling, we realized that something wasn't looking right.  When he pulled over to the side of the road, we realized that he had taken us to McDonalds (Mai don lao).  Luckily, we had a bag from Metro, and it took a bit to communicate with the cabbie that we didn't want to go to McDonalds.  Thankfully, he understood, and ended up not charging us for the mistaken ride.  It was quite entertaining, and thankfully, we got to our destination!! 
     In China there are two types of taxis:  Legit taxis that use meters, and black cabs, where you have to barter for the price.  When we were leaving Metro, we found a black cab for a good price, and took it.  On the way back, our cabbie took us through a sketchy area through a dark underpass.  I was sooooo glad that it wasn't at night!  It would have been MUCH more sketchy at night.
     Buses in China are quite an experience.  They are usually full, and often VERY packed.  It is a common sight to see a bus so packed, that you don't think another person could possibly squeeze on there, but somehow they do.  After a gathering this morning, I rode the bus to get lunch, and that bus was moderately occupied.  The bus from lunch to my apartment, however, was another matter entirely.  When I got on, there were 8 people on the bus, including the driver and myself.  I have never seen a bus that empty.  By the time we got to the stop for my apartment, there were 3 people:  driver, me, and one other person.  I had a nice time taking advantage of the quiet, peaceful ride to realize how blessed I am.  I live in a great city.  It's nice and quiet, not a busy city like Shanghai or Beijing.  I have amazing coworkers, great school, small class (which makes it easier to individualize needs), and an incredible that has been so supportive throughout the whole process of me moving over here, and handling whatever life throws my way.  I couldn't ask for anything better!  Thanks, guys, for everything!!

"They're More Like Guidelines Anyway!"

In my time here, I have gotten used to the fact that life here is very different than life in the US.  In the states, if a rule is posted (especially a traffic rule) 9 times out of 10, it's obeyed, or else you get in trouble.  However, not the same thing here.  I was thinking of this on my ride home from work this afternoon, and was reminded of a video that was introduced to my family by a Brazilian friend back in the states:  Italy vs. Europe.  I highly recommend watching this:  it's funny, and also connects to the rest of this post. 
At each intersection, there are traffic lights, and little count down monitor things for when you can and can't cross.  You would think that if the numbers are red, you can't cross, and if they're green, you can.  However, here, it's more like, "Okay, I see that the countdown thing is a red 20, but the intersection is clear, so I'm just going to ignore the thing telling me to stop, and go anyway, and just hope no cars run me over."  I have a few friends that have actually started doing that.  Me, however....I'm not that gutsy.    I have been on the receiving end of when people choose to not heed the "don't go" countdowns:  I have the right-of-way (as it were in China), and have, several times, almost been in an accident because someone else didn't want to wait, cut in front of me, and seems to not be able to find their breaks in time.  Therefore, I have to quickly grab the breaks on my bike, and try to stop before we bash into each other.  This has happened with me vs. bike, scooter, car, and bus, none of which are fun...
I have also seen instances where posted signs inside of restaurants are not always followed.  While I went out to dinner at a restaurant with friends in Beijing, I started smelling a LOT of cigarette smoke.  I mentioned it to a friend, and she remarked that yes, the restaurant does have a no smoking policy, but it's not always followed.  (There are other examples, but I will leave it with just these 2 main ones...)
I have, therefore, come to the conclusion that while there are rules, posted and not-posted, that "They are more like guidelines anyway!"  (Hence the Pirates of the Caribbean picture at the top.) 
If I had a lot more computer expertise, I would LOVE to make a spoof of the video that I posted:  America vs. China.  That would be entertaining.  On the ride back from the store, I actually started picturing how I would want it to look...that would be fun!! 

Beijing Adventures

This past week, I got to visit Beijing!  Some of the time was for a company conference, but I also stayed behind with several friends and got to play tourist.  Below are pictures taken during my trip :-)

     I had some problems putting them in chronological order, so I hope the captions help to explain the pictures.  Enjoy!!  For those of you that have facebook, there are more pictures on there.

Pictures from the train ride to Beijing

From the Train

Our mystery speaker--C. S. Lewis

Random cannon sitting in cement.

STEEP stairs

Great Wall of China!!

I did this shot when I was 13 on my first trip, so I figured why not do it again?

Very steep Great Wall

Summer Palace

Bridge in Summer Palace

Entrance to summer palace

Part of the summer palace

View from the cable car

Our ride up the wall--cable cars

Taken by a friend while we were in one of the towers

View of part of the wall

You mean I can't bring my flamethrowers??  Oh man!

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??