my Freshmen classes

Today was my first day teaching my new freshmen students. Oh how different they are!! When I walked in to class... a gasp...then a "awwww"... then lots of whispering voices saying "a foreigner" Once I stepped onto the platform... a standing ovation with rounds of applause. I smile at the class... and hear in unison "ohhhhh" I pretend this is completely normal (of course every time I walk in a room I get a standing ovation with everyone present in complete awe of my presence) I pull out my lesson plan and handouts. As I am reviewing in my mind how class should go... 'click' 'click' 'click' pictures are being snapped ... (seriously, I am not kidding) After about 50 pictures (of me getting my stuff together to start class- none of which I am smiling for) I look up at a girl on the front row and she says "I can't help it, you are so beautiful" Oh China :-)

Welcome Freshmen!!

Thoughts

It has been a little while since I have posted :-) I have been sand-bagging my pictures for an upcoming newsletter that is more of a picture letter!! I thought you might enjoy getting an update via snail mail with lots of pictures of life here... In addition to the sand-bagging- life has become a little more busy. We now have a full load of classes (the freshmen start today) and our social life with students has increased (Hooray!!)

Some thoughts for today

Many of you know that other than THE Father... my father is a great source of inspiration to me. This trait seems to be passed down from his mom (my late Grandma Ann) who while she was living was an amazing encourager to my life.

Many of you receive a weekly e-journal from me (if you do not- I am happy to add you to the list... just need your e-mail address) My Dad is faithfully the first person to reply to the e-journal and always with encouraging words.

(Now I will chase a short rabbit trail but will bring it full circle by the end... hang in there with me)
Before coming to China, I really wanted a new hobby for my new life. I contemplated sewing, violin, photography and various other that each fell short of fulfillment due to supplies, language, money etc...
After last nights e-journal that was on a local Orphanage where I hope to volunteer time each week, my Dad comments reflected my writing. Every since I was a little, I have enjoyed writing. I wrote countless stories as a little girl... binding each book with tape :-)- sadly I don't know what happened to those works. In college, creative writing was my favorite class. I still have a letter from my Dad about one of my short stories (it was so encouraging, I had to keep it) But since graduation, I have not actively written. Even while in college, I thought it would be nice to write... but didn't know if I could do it.
Anyways, back to my inspiration... my Dad recommended I consider putting together some short stories from our adventures in China. Last night it was pure encouragement and I had extreme love and admiration for my Dad... while that still remains true this morning... the idea is more of ambition, aspiration, dream...
While walking across campus, ideas started coming- instead of saying "I'll write that down later" ... I immediately started to jot down the ideas.

I don't know what will come of it all... but I will start today. Maybe after two years of adventures and thoughts-- my writings will serve to help future teachers planning to go to China or even just give family and friends a good life about my crazy life.

Thank you Dad!! I love you!!

Freshman Military Month

The first month the freshman are on campus they go through Military Training. I am not sure all this entails... but here are some picture :-) There are tons on these groups all around campus. These are just a few of the ones I captured on film this morning.

Exhausted!!

I just got back from the grocery store and I am exhausted. Now one of two things is going through your mind right now.
1. She is a wimp!
2. What in the world does it look like to go to the Grocery store that causes such exhaustion :-)

So hopefully it is #2... allow me to explain what going to the Grocery store looks like in Hengyang. Step by Step--
1. Walk to the bus stop (I go to the front gate and get tea on the way)- 10-12 minutes
2. Get on a bus (anywhere from 10-17 minute ride)
3. Get off bus and walk for roughly 15-20 minutes to the supermarket.
4. Get all items on list (make sure you don't forget anything!!)
5. Hopefully you brought your own bags (I do) Load up all 5 bags and put them on your shoulders.
6. Walk back to catch the bus (15-20 minutes)
7. Flag bus down
8. Ride to appropriate stop (10-17 minutes)
9 Carry bags down the alley and up the stairs to apartment.

The whole trip can take any where from 2-3 hours. This morning it was a 3 hour trip. Below is a picture of the items I bought and carried back :-)

Home Sweet Hengyang

Many of you are anxious about seeing pictures of our home!! I wish all of you were come could by and I could give you the grand tour in person... but... since that is not possible... we will do a photo tour.

The front of our building. We live in some apartment slightly off campus. We have a great "gate-keeper" Who always ask us (in Chinese) if we are hungry. She and her husband are very kind and hospitable. A picture of them may follow in later blog post.

We live on the fifth floor... 85 stairs (one way) You know you are one floor away when you see the Santa Clause and Merry Christmas poster on the door :-)

You enter our apartment in the Living Room. It is very spacious!! We have a big couch, love seat and big chair. Across from the seating area is the entertainment center.

Right off of the Living Room is the Dining area. We have a very nice table that can comfortably seat 6... but we will probably try to squeeze our team of 7 around it :-) Our dining area also houses our refrigerator.

To the right of the dining area is the kitchen. It is much different than the American Kitchen... but I am getting use to it.

To the left of the dining area is the Washing machine and sink. This is a multi-purpose room of sorts... wash clothes, brush teeth, wash face etc...

Our bathroom was the next area of slight adjustment. We have a "shoilte" This is a shower/toilet combination. We are very fortunate to have a Western style toilet... it tends to leak at base which can prove to be a little ... well not so good.


Heading to the "less-used" wing of the apartment... the oven/ironing board room. This oven is a flat oven that bakes cookies --that hopefully we will receive mixes for from America:-)

Through the oven/ironing board room is the guest bedroom... we haven't done anything to this room... including buying bedding :-) but if we hear you are on your way... we will have it ready for you!!

Here is our dryer (I mean drying room) It is glass enclosed and tend to dry our laundry really fast (at least now that it is still hot outside)

The Master bedroom, like most of the house, is very big. It has a bed, end tables, bookcases, desk with school-provided computer.


Here is my closet... for all those who knew me in the States... yes this is it!! I have down-sized from 2.5 closets in the USA to a 6 foot tall and 2 foot wide closet space.

The last room of the house... Wes' Man-Cave. This area is not open for photos... but distinguishable by the sign on the door :-)

Welcome Freshman ... Have Some Water

This year, we decided (as a team) to welcome the freshman to campus. We bought bottles of waters, loaded our book bags and headed out to greet. We invited some Junior students to come with us. Just as we were getting started, Caroline and I met a Freshman girl who was very eager to talk to foreigners. She became our new good friend. She went with us to greet and hand out waters. It was fun to go to the dorms and welcome the girls. A couple comments we got were:
- "You look very elegant and beautiful."
- "You look like a movie star, I feel like I am watching a movie right now"
- "You must be very tired from carrying all those waters"
The Freshman start their Military training on Monday. It will continue for about 2 weeks and then they will start classes. I am hoping to teach some of the girls we met today.

The White Face at the Right Time

Today after a team meeting, Wes and I decided to go for Bubble Tea (a favorite for us in China) After getting our tea, we walked for a little ways to the river. The river has a nice "board type walk" except instead of boards it is very nicely laid stones. It is a highlight to Hengyang. As we were getting ready to leave we saw a couple having their picture taken. We guess it was wedding photos. As we sat to watch... we got called over. The college-age girl spoke English and asked us if we would take pictures with her for an advertisement. We think it was an advertisement for Hengyang. The camera men snapped away as the girl told us a little about herself. That's a wrap... photo shoot over. The girl took our e-mail and told me she would send me the photos taken. Gotta love being the "token" white face in Hengyang. If we see the photos... I will make sure they get up in a future blog.

Class is in Session- Students, please take your seats.

We had our first successful week of teaching. Right now, we are teaching Sophomore Oral English. In October, we will add Freshmen Oral English to our schedule as well.
Avery- My students were wonderful. My Sophomore classes are on Tuesday. We went over the class rules and syllabus. Their least favorite rule was "no cell phones" :-) I even had to take a couple phones in the middle of class. We also talked about goals. I had them write down goals they have and I collected them at the end of class. Here are a few of the goals from my students.
- Marry a good man so my life will be more beautiful
- I want to work as an office girl for a foreign company
- Make much money and let my parents live a good life
- Be a guide so that many will know about Chinese history
- Graduate from college and travel the whole world with my family
- Pass TEM 4 (major English test after Sophomore year determines your steps)

I really look forward to working with my students. I have already had one girl ask me if she could be my good friend.

Here is a picture of one of my class rooms. The room seats about 35 students. We have one large caulk board, wooden desk, podium for teacher. There is no A/C or heat. The class is two 50 minute periods with a 10 minute break in the middle.

Making Dinner

OH how it is different than from the States. Making something, such as spaghetti, in the states takes an hour tops (or can be self making if put in a crock pot) OH CHINA how you are DIFFERENT :-)
Many of you know, I have a love for cooking... nothing has changed about that... but the methods have changed dramatically since coming to Hengyang.
My kitchen is very small and lacks the appliances that are considered "normal" in an American kitchen. "Normal" meaning stove and oven (I'm not even counting the dishwasher)
Here I have a hot plate, wok and toaster oven. After a month of Chinese food, I decided it was time for a more familiar dish... Spaghetti :-)
I started out with:
15 Tomatoes
1 Red Pepper
1 Yellow Pepper
1 Onion
4 Cloves of Garlic
Sugar
Olive Oil
Basil

Step One - Wash all vegetables with special vegetable wash and dry thoroughly

Step Two- Dice all vegetables

Step Three- Combine all in Wok and Simmer (make sure every 10 minutes that the hot plate did not turn itself off)

Step Four - Remove Sauce from Wok and Boil Water in for Noodles

Step Five- Cook Noodles

Step Six- Combine all Ingredients

Step Seven - Enjoy the best home-cooked meal you've ever had!!

Working Out in Hengyang

One thing I really miss from home is the Gym and my workout partner (love you Karen)
Since I think that working out is highly important for both your body and mind wellness... I came up with a routine here in China. Here was today's workout and a picture of my substitute workout buddy (I'm still coming back to you in 2 years Karen)
This workout is called the

12 Days of Hengyang (you start at one and repeat each cycle as you go through)

Jumping Jacks (60)
Knee Raises (60)
Mountain Climbers (60)
Stairs (85 x 7 steps)
Long Lap around building (3)
Crunches (100)
Murphies (100)
Arm Raises (30)
Wall Squat (60 seconds)
Heel Raises (40)
Push Ups (20)
60 Second Plank

Hengyang Hunan- Our new hometown

We made it HOME!! Hooray. We now know what home looks like. We are very excited :-) We have a very nice apartment that is provided by the school. We feel so blessed to have such a nice home. In a few days (after settling in a little more) I will post some pictures of our place.
Since I know the pictures are the highlight of the blog ... here are a few!!



The Back Alley (this is the area right behind our apartment and schools campus). There are lots of shops, vegetable and fruit stands and 5 RMB food restaurants. It is a long narrow street.

Last nights in Beijing

We finished our time in Beijing with great fun!! We went to a night market -- Wes ate Scorpion on a stick... which he said was crunchy. The neat/weird thing is ... these scorpions are alive moments before you eat them.








There many things in Beijing that make you laugh and some things that make you want to scream. While at the night market we saw a guy that decided he was tired and laid down to sleep in the middle of the side walk-- super funny-- people simply walked around him as if it was normal.

The crowdedness of everything at times makes you want to scream... sometimes you want to yell-- stop pushing, touching, shoving me. Beijing has 20 million people and there are times when you feel like all of them are on the same subway as you!!