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.