you don't have to be strong enough...

"I cAn Do AlL tHiNgS tHrOuGh CHRIST wHo GiVeS mE sTrEnGtH."

santa's workshop...

I was told earlier this week that my original classroom was ready to move back into.  While this was exciting and something we've all been waiting for, it was also a huge stressor.  There's just so much to do and so little time.  Being that it was Spirit Week at school, it has been a very busy week. 

My intentions were to gradually move back in.  I was even thinking about waiting until after Thanksgiving, when the kids come back from the break, and it would be a fresh start for them.

I had absolutely no intentions of moving EVERYTHING yesterday and having it all set up and ready to go by TODAY!  But I work with amazing people, and when I saw how many people showed up after school to help move things, I thought "let's do this"!

I kid you not, within 30 minutes, everything was moved from my room on the 2nd floor down to my original room on the first floor.  I had 20 new IKEA chairs that needed to be assembled, and I seriously felt like I belonged in Santa's Workshop.  People were smiling and willing to do anything and everything I asked.  I looked around and 20 different chairs were being assembled.  And just the sound of the laughter and the hammering was enlightening.

It is absolutely unbelievable that my students were able to walk into their classroom today.  They were more than excited, and I am overjoyed to have my classroom back!

ALL IN ONE DAY:

Theatre Thursday
(We all dressed as book/movie characters)
I was Tinkerbell and Emily was Sleeping Beauty.

Santa's Workshop begins

The Final Product
(Notice the new tables and chairs.  The kids were so excited about these!)

Toni & Guy

So, this blog is a little past due, but I'm still excited about this so it deserves a post. :)

For those who are unfamiliar with Toni & Guy, it's a hair salon in The States.  I first tried out Toni & Guy when I lived in Arizona 7ish years ago, and I absolutely fell in love with the place. After leaving AZ, I was fortunate to find a Toni & Guy in 3 different cities in Texas.  The people who work there are all trained the same way and have their own "style" of cutting.  The receptionists all wear black and white and look very "put together". 

Getting my hair cut in China was honestly... one of my biggest fears.  I have heard horror stories.  So..  when I happened to stumble across a Toni & Guy, I had to try it out!  It's hard to tell if places in China are actually legit, but the receptionist was wearing black and white and all the stylists had "the style".

So... I went for it, and I loved it!  Thank you Toni & Guy for once again, exceeding my expectations.

P.S. I can now say I've cut my hair at Toni & Guy in every city I've lived in. :)

a glimpse of heaven

Man, it's been a busy couple of weeks!  This week we have been practicing for a performance that my students did yesterday.  We have had a new teacher intern in our small, temporary classroom.  We had our first "Show and Tell" day, and much much more.  It's hard to find time during the midst of the busyness to sit down and really reflect and appreciate everything that is going on around me.

In all honesty, I rarely do.  I'm struggling to find the balance between the art of "doing" and "being".  I find myself just attempting to "survive" in this foreign land and this fast-paced life.  Trying to "survive" the frustrations of being unable to communicate and my mediocre "charades" skills.  There is much stress and requirement and responsibility that comes with this... place. 

But He reminds me that , "To whom much is given, much is required."

So, then, I attempt to reflect on what has been given rather than what is required to constantly remind me that what has been given is much bigger than what is required.

And this week, during the overwhelming moments, I found myself, many times, going back to last Friday.  International Day.  A day where all our kids came dressed in outfits from their countries of origin.  A day where every student in our school got to sample foods from several different countries, and hear presentations from people who were born and raised in these countries, and experience music and crafts from these coutries, and carry and view flags from these countries.  There were 16 different flags...  and each flag represented a child, who at one time has walked through our school.  This was a day where there was no way I could disregard the diversity in my classroom, or overlook the fact that I am extremely fortunate and blessed to experience just a taste...  a glimpse of heaven...  where people from every nation, and tribe, and tongue will join to praise Him, the Creator of this diversity, and these people, and this foreign place, and requirements, and responsiblities, and charades...

The Marketplace

Emily claimed she wears
American clothes everyday
and insisted on wearing
her new China gear. :)



We were excited that they
were making cowboy hats
in the U.S.A. presentation.



all in one week!

This week was a National Holiday in China, so we had the entire week off of school, woohoo!  So much to write about, but with absolutely no flow or organization.  China functions in this orderly chaos sort of way and so will this blog.  :)

BEIJING

 Emily and I just got back from Beijing a couple of days ago, where I attended a 4 day Teacher's Conference with teachers from all over China.  We were able to reunite with friends we had met in New York back in June for our orientation and training.  It was great to see everyone and to meet to new people and make new friends.  Emily enjoyed hanging out with friends she had met in New York while I was attending sessions.

Emily's new China outfit

After the conference, we spent an extra day exploring Beijing and fighting the holiday crowds.  We had lots of fun catching subways, eating good food, bargaining and getting great deals.  This trip really showed me how dependent I am on Him, Someone Bigger, and how I have absolutely no control.  I find myself prying for really small things, which seem like really big things here.  I pryed that some way, somehow Emily and I would get to sit next to each other on the 5 hour train ride...  or at least in the same car...  that there would be a western toilet somewhere in this place just for this moment.  I pry for toilet paper, and soap, and taxi rides.  For people willing to help and carry Emily and my luggage when I just can't do it all.  I pry that there is at least one thing on the menu that Emily will eat.  I pry that the next person with a cigarette will blow the smoke the opposite direction.  And I thank Him, that He is Bigger than all the small things, which are really big things.  And that all these pryers were answered.  And that this potential chaotic and stressful trip was a very do-able and enjoyable trip.  We loved Beijing!

Just a small crowd in Beijing

caramelized fruit on a stick... so yummy!

silkworms...  I just watched



overlooking the Forbidden City



the closest we've gotten to a Panda so far


SINKHOLE

So after a day of resting from the trip, I went into school this morning with the intention of rearranging my entire classroom...  because it just hasn't really felt like my room.  Well, much to my surprise, it is no longer my room!  I walked in this morning and the entry way and a few other spots in my room had sank/lowered several inches!  Once we had the landlord and contractors come look at it, they concluded that a pipe was leaking, causing the dirt, sand, cement...  whatever is under there... to wash away.  They are going to have to strip away the floor and fix it.  They say it will be two weeks...  but it's China.  :)  I'm very grateful that I went in this morning and didn't wait until Monday.  Whew!

I really wish I would have gotten "before" pictures of the whole process, where my tables were slanted and bookshelves were leaning forward.  But doing a photography shoot was not on the forefront of my mind when I stepped onto the sunken entry way.  Here are a few pics of the process.

aww, goodbye room

If you look closely, you can see
where the wall and the floor separate



look closely



biggest tarp I've ever seen!

NEW CLASSROOM

So, I had to move to a new classroom. Thanks to a great team of friends and co-workers, we were able to move as much as we could into my new classroom (which is literally less that half the size of my old classroom).  It looks great, looks organized, and if I had to go in and teach tomorrow... I could.  So thankful that I don't!  And I have 2 more days to prepare for one of the many transitions my students have had this year.

  

PLAY DAY

I am so grateful that Emily had a wonderful play day with a couple of her friends while her classroom was being disassembled and moved!  Here are a few highlights of her day.

 

Emily and her best friend, Jeahna,
who is also in our class

LADY'S NIGHT

I ended this crazy day with a quiet evening on a rooftop with a great community of women.  Gloves and jackets, fire, sparks, and smoke, warm chai, chili, and laughter... testimonies, apple crisp, and s'mores.  Great and calming end to such a hectic day.