Wujin Christmas Party 2011

Okay, so I’ve been really bad about updating my blog. I have decided that my New Year’s Resolution will be to update my blog much more often. I decided to get a head start and get in all of the Holiday Craziness that’s been going on here.

Last week, I began preparing for my annual Christmas Parties. I started baking cookies last Tuesday and continued baking until Saturday afternoon. I also made chis and salsa, and BBQ meatballs. I bought about 55 pounds of candy online too!

This past weekend I hosted two Christmas Parties – one on Saturday night for friends and then one on Sunday for my students.

There were about 80 people in my house on Saturday night. It was a blast! It really felt like the holidays! All of the friends and family that I am closest to over here gathered together and had a great time. We had games, great conversations, and gifts. We also had a lot of music, not just from my computer, but 2 guitars, a beatbox, chimes, and a violin! The last of my guests left my apartment at about 12:30pm! It was such a great night!

I was up early the next day, cleaning and preparing for the all-day student Christmas Party. About 300 to 400 students invaded my apartment. We played games, listened to music, and took a lot of pictures. Needless to say, all of the candy and food that I had prepared vanished into thin air!

Some of My Students and Me

Today, I was back in the classroom. I’m really looking forward to next weekend. I’ll be getting together with my very close friends and celebrating Christmas in the traditional way – gift exchange, dinner, music, and maybe even eggnog. Whatever happens, it really feels like the Christmas Spirit has gripped me and everyone around me!

"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it white."

-Bing Crosby

Time to Relax, Finally...

Wow, I am so relieved now! These past few weeks have been so difficult! I have been teaching a lot of hours and finishing paperwork for the study abroad program. But now, it is finally finished. As I type this, I am thinking about and praying for my students. Right now, they are taking the ACT exam. I am not allowed to be there, and it seems like the worst kind of torture.

Over the past half-year I have really gotten to know and connect with my students. They have been such a blessing.

After today, they and I will have a week break from school. I am really looking forward to it. I am planning to hang out with some of them during the break. It is a great chance to get to know them better and to talk about ‘life’ in general.

I’m also planning to have a football tailgate party for them. I am looking forward to teaching them about this part of the culture. There will be projector, face-painting, one-syllable foods, and some awesome college football.

One week from now, we will begin the final twelve weeks of the program. I will be so sad when they leave, but also excited for them and the respective futures that they will be walking into.

Things at the high school are also going well. I have had an average of about 20 students hanging out at my house on Sunday’s. It has also been a lot of fun to get to know them.

My only problem over the next few days, will be trying to figure out how to spend my free time. I think I’ve almost forgotten how to relax.

My back is continuing to improve. It still hurts a little, but it has come a long way since the beginning of the month. The doctor told me to be patient because this type of injury will take time to heal. He also told me not to overexert myself – no sports, no weight-lifting, no running, or lifting heavy things. It’s driving me crazy! I want to get back to my normal routine, but I think that God may be trying to teach me patience.

So, over the next week my plan is to listen, to rest, and to reflect. It should be an interesting week.

“He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.”

-Benjamin Franklin

Back to Basics

Lately, things have been more than just a little chaotic. First, we are coming to the end of our second level in the study abroad program. I am starting to go crazy with all of the paperwork that has been coming my way. We have to have it all turned in and finalized by next week. I have no idea how I am going to get it all done, but I’m going to somehow.

Also, I have another problem. A few weeks ago I hurt my back playing basketball. One of my friends recommended that I go to see a traditional Chinese bone doctor. I did, and as a result it got so much worse. I was in bed for three days, unable to walk. Finally, I decided to go to Shanghai to see a western doctor. He took some x-rays and told me that I have two compressed discs in my lumbar area. One of those bulging discs just happens to be sitting right on top of my sciatic nerve. So, every once in a while I feel a lightning bolt shoot down my leg. He told me that it might take up to a month to recover. It is so not cool.

To add insult to injury, I have just recently gotten a cold. I’ve also discovered that sneezing and coughing is just about the worst thing that you can do when you have two compressed discs in your lower back.

I’ve really been going through the gambit of emotions. Sometimes I’m really optimistic and other times I am really down. Through it all, I have been praying and trying to figure out what God is trying to teach me. Please keep me in your prayers.

"Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that w see ourselves as we really are."

-Arthur Golden

Just Rollin' With It...

Well, I have been back at school for two weeks. So far it has been busy, to say the least. It has been a little difficult to find my bearings in my study abroad classes. The classes are twelve weeks long, and I had a substitute cover the first three weeks, so I could go back to the US. It has been a difficult transition, but I am finally in control of my two classes.

There has also been an added complication. I have also been asked to teach two more. Our staff lost our math teacher. As a result, I am now teaching a social sciences class and an algebra/trigonometry class. My friend Ted has also offered to help. He is teaching a statistics and business math class. I am glad too, because that stuff is beyond my understanding. I would feel much more comfortable teaching calculus, and I might end up doing just that, if we cannot find another math teacher.

I have not yet started teaching at the high school. The students returned today, and they will have to go through a week of military training before they begin their regular classes. I am eager to start though. I love starting with new students. Their curiosity about foreigners is incredible. I love being able to bash their stereotypes and being a good ambassador.

The next few weeks are going to be very busy, but I know that I’ll get through it. I am just happy that I don’t have to really on my own strength; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to do it. I am going to have to really on His strength… I am going to be handed 38 research papers tomorrow. Even though it is difficult, it is still a joy. I really do love my kids!

"Chose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

-Confucius

Back At It Again...

A few days ago, I took yet another plane ride back to China. For those of you who don’t know, the trip from Chicago to Shanghai takes about 14.5 hours. So, I had plenty of time to reflect. I can’t believe that I am going back to China for a fourth year. It really doesn’t feel as if it’s been that long. The past three years have been amazing. I really believe that it is what God designed me to do. The adventure and fulfillment that I’ve felt in these recent years completely shadows the six years of job-hopping and searching that I did before I came here.

I am so excited that I will be reunited with the thirty students in the study abroad program tomorrow. I’ve only been back for three days, but I start teaching on Monday. I suspect that the energy and excitement in my classes will be more than enough to combat the jetlag that woke me up at 3am today.

In just one more month, I’ll be meeting the next sophomore class; there will be around 800 new students. I love to teach them. They are always so curious about foreigners and always have hundreds of questions.

I’m also so glad to see my friends and co-workers again. Although I’ve only been gone for a month, it feels like it has been longer.

I am happy to be back, but at the same time I really miss home. It is such a strange thing to live in two places. Whichever place I happen to be in, I am able to be fully focused and dialed-in. Although I miss the other place immensely, I am given the strength to be fully where I am. I know without that provision, I would not be able to do it, but I have an amazing Father who just loves to provide for his kids.

Well, I hear the bell. Let round four begin.

“The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.”

-Ivy Baker

Last Weekend in Shanghai

Last week, I had a wonderful opportunity to go to Shanghai. One of my best friends was holding her wedding on Saturday. Now, I have been to Chinese weddings before, and have not really been all that interested. Once you have been to one, you’ve been to them all. This one though, was quite different.

First of all, my friend is very much Chinese, but has always been interested in western culture. This came out in her wedding. She had what appeared to be almost a typical western wedding. The only exception of course, is that it was all in the Chinese language. The wedding was great. There was a choir that was singing. They said their vows before God and all of the witnesses, and of course a kiss to seal the deal.

It was a great time!

I also took the opportunity to stay in Shanghai for a few days. A few of my friends who are new to teaching in China asked if I would take them around Shanghai and show them some of the sights. So, we spent a few days doing all of the typical tourist stuff. We went to the Bund, the knock-off markets, Yu Yuan Gardens, and Nanjing walking street. It was really quite fun I hadn’t done any of those things in a while.

Another thing that we noticed is that the Shanghai World Expo is in full swing. Within the first two weeks of the Expo there were over two million visitors. As a result, the city is packed. I would love to go to the Expo, but I am planning to go much later after the some of the craziness dies down.

That’s all for now!

“The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing."”

Daniel J. Boorstin

My Wonderful Class 12

Okay, so i've been horrible about keeping up with this blog... But hey, let's not dwell on that.

Have you ever had a day when something just truly touched your heart? I had one of those days today.

Today started just like any other day. I taught my new study abroad class this morning. We focused on the pronunciation of "th". Did you know that there is a vocalized "th" sound like in that, and a non-vocalized "th" sound like in thank? Right... Like you really want to know...

Then I went to lunch. After lunch, I taught one of my favorite classes. They were doing group presentations about American Holidays. One group did a presentation about Valentine's Day. After they finished, they gave me a big folded paper heart and 58 little paper hearts. All 58 students signed the big heart, and they all shouted "I love you!"



I absolutelly love my students. I truly believe that I have the best students in the entire world.

What a great day!

"Once you have learned to love, you will have learned to live."
-Unknown