Year 3 in China

Have you ever gotten so behind with something you don't even know where to start to catch up?  Well it seems that's what's happened here with my attempt at blogging!  Oops!  Ok here's the quickest summary: finished teaching grade 3 for the first time last year, my kids were great, had summer holidays in Canada, and now I'm back.  Great, all caught up. :)

China enjoyments since getting back yesterday:

Impressing the taxi driver who stood and watched while I single-handedly lifted and shoved my roommates' and my 4 large and heavy suitcases and 3 carry-ons into the taxi while wearing a dress

We often get taxi to drop us off at the side entrance to our complex in front of a fancy restaurant.  This was super helpful when we arrived back with our large suitcases and one of the restaurant greeter men who spoke a little english helped me carry my suitcases around to our apartment

Our cleaning lady did a great job while we were gone and even neatly organized our kitchen cupboards!

Our friendly vegetable lady has relocated around the corner and has expanded her nicely organized little shop

BLUE SKY today!!!

My cell phone stopped working... which means I got to get a new one!  While it still confuses me, and my friend accused me of being crazy b/c I kept typing in CAP LOCKS, I figured out how to replace the not-so-great chinese display photo

I remembered enough chinese in the taxi this morning to tell the driver that our school has been at this location for 3 years..... and this evening I impressed the driver enough to get receive 2 handshakes and 1 "special" handshake before getting out (I have never receiver a handshake from a taxi driver before)

Because only in China (from my experience) can you visit IKEA and walk through inhabited show-rooms.

Back to School!

We have an entire week (thankfully!) to get ready for students arriving at school next Monday.  There is such a HUGE difference between getting ready this year and last year.  It is finally my own classroom, and my own organization.  More such fun this week...

Randomness

Was told by a co-worker today that my eyes looked swollen... turns out it was just make-up. hmmm...

Fully enjoyed seeing my American friend tonight who now carries around a stun-gun in his bag (apparently illegal in China) for fear of some mob boyfriend of a Russian girl friend.  He's sad to be leaving China on wednesday, but needlesstosay, happy to return to Texas to see his guns...