Assembly 1...in the books!

I honestly can't remember what I've talked about on here and what I haven't, so I apologize if I repeat myself. If you know me at all, you know this happens a lot. :)

At my school each grade level in PYP (Primary Years Program) is responsible for presenting 2 assemblies a year. Sadly for me and my class, we were signed up for the Friday assembly the 3rd week of school. Not only do we put this whole thing together and "entertain" all of PYP as well as parents of my kiddos....but it's supposed to last 40 minutes!!!! That's a really long time for 5 year olds to perform anything!!!!!!!!!!! So basically, instead of teaching and learning how to be part of our classroom community the last 3 weeks....we have rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. I used to like that book........ :(

Anyway...it's all over now and today I got to be a real teacher, which was awesome!! The assembly did go pretty well if I don't say so myself. These two videos show what I'm working with. Seriously cute kids who are 5 and can't sit still for pretty much anything. It was meant to be a lot more of their voices and less of mine, but you know how it is when there's an audience....

These videos took forever to load so the other one will come along later!

So much has happened and I keep thinking to myself, "oh, I have to make sure to blog about this!" and then I forget!!! So I guess I'll just write and see where this takes me!

I realize I haven't really shown any pictures of my school!

Above is a photo from the front of the school. The school is U shaped and the photo to the left is the courtyard area in the middle. It's my favorite area at school; it's really quite pretty. Out past the school is the soccer fields (where all of my soccer club magic happens) and then two playgrounds.





I have learned, thankfully NOT the hard way, that you should never ever take a short cut through bushes because bushes are basically...toilets. In fact, just today as I was walking up to my apartment building there was a boy outside....peeing in the bush right by the door to my building. Not a small little boy; he was probably 10 or 11. I just kept looking away and walking slower hoping he'd be done by the time I got there!!! He was. :) His dad/grandpa...I'm not sure which....is my new friend. :) He's so sweet and every time we see each other we attempt to have a "conversation". It's not easy, but I've been working on just a couple phrases I wanted to use with him. So today I tried them out. I told him my name and asked him what his name is in Chinese. :) Phonetically spelled of course, his name is Shi Long Sen :) And then we exchanged phone numbers and now we can text! He's asked me where I am from and how I am liking China. :) What would we do without technology!!!

I have had a couple of visits from my landlord....another adorable old man who seems very sweet. :) There are a couple things around here that need fixing...mostly my hideous furniture. :) I'm so excited...they're making covers for it and I got to pick the fabric out...so I know I'll like it! :) Anyway....I had a moment where I was sitting on my couch, reading a book about Vietnam, and there were 4 people in my apartment just talk, talk, talk...all in Chinese of course. It was so surreal and very awesome. It was a true "China moment".

Our new friends! 

This weekend I went to a pub crawl with Kayla....had an absolute blast! It was meant to be a "welcome to Wuxi" thing, but really I think it was just a mix of expats in the area...old and new. We spent most of the evening with Some people from Spain and 1 guy from Italy. I felt so stupid most of the time because here they are...going in and out of Spanish, English, Chinese...etc etc etc and all I have is English!!! This would be one of those moments where I wish I'd tried harder in high school. :)

Of course! I had to go behind the bar and get a picture with the bartender! 

This is the biggest wine glass I have ever seen, let alone drank from! Sadly the wine was terrible so my new Spanish friends taught me a Basque tradition...add coke to really bad wine! :) Sounds almost sacrilegious but desperate times....

Last week Doug, Kayla and I went to a comedy show downtown. Had tons of fun...it's so great to have people around that want to do stuff. I very rarely find myself sitting at home with nothing going on! These are the two I'm going to Vietnam with...I have a feeling we'll be making lots of great memories over the next couple of years! :)


FINALLY I got this photo from Cordelia (wink wink Cordelia)!!! A great photo at The Bund the day we went to Shanghai. So pretty and clear blue skies!

I can't believe I have failed to mention how hilarious many of the translations here are! It's almost unbelievable the stuff they came up with and I haven't taken any pictures yet so....I snapped this one at dinner the other night!