A day in China!

A day in China!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Week 1 finished and Day one of TEACHING!!!

My heart is overjoyed as I sit and think about where My Father has so perfectly placed me right now. I knew this was his plan...I knew these were my people...But it has become so evident to me as I walk past them and rub shoulders with them that I love them so very much. I could not have dreamed that my heart could so easily love these people. I wanted it to but to Him be the glory because He has given me such a love for them. Even the crazy, drunken ones that frustrate me...lol.

Today marks the end of my first week in my new home. I must say this Monday is much more at peace than last!! I am beginning to feel like this is my home and not just my place of residence. I am not all the way there yet(I don't have enough decor on the walls to make it feel like home quite yet but the boxes are coming:-)) My kitchen light still doesn't work but I have adjusted. My bed is still hard but I am also adjusting. It's amazing what you can sleep on when you are tired:-) I have found myself to be extremely tired at the end of the day. Maybe that's because of the jet lag still but, This too shall pass...8:30pm has become my bed time:-)

I was so excited about today! My first day to teach my students!!! Yesterday we were al called for a meeting(all the foreign teachers) and given our schedules and introduced to our Co-Teacher(Chinese English Teacher). This was very interesting...My schedule was in Chinese...and extremely confusing! But with a little help from my Co-Teacher and some de-coding on my part I figured it out. It is the most random thing I have ever done...I felt so unprepared to begin teaching today. I thought I would not begin until Thursday but I am learning to be flexible:-) It's the Chinese way. So needless to say I was lesson planning all afternoon Yesterday after a wonderful lunch some friends at the Aloha Diner. I was unable to attend the Foreign Fellowship yesterday morning because of the meeting but it was great to see like minded people at lunch! I was finally able to meet Kirk!!! Some of you may remember me talking about him. He was Isabella's English teacher her last year in High School. It was great to finally meet in person! After my lesson was finished and I printed out my roll sheet(also in Chinese) I went to bed. A very peaceful sleep:-) Thanks to HIM!

This morning I awoke with excitement and a small amount of nervousness."What will my classes be like?" "Will they speak English very well?" "What will they think of me?"....LOL well these thoughts were quickly answered when my first class of 34 arrived. Most of them entered the room and giggled...I chose to think the best of that. I began my intro lesson just introducing myself and then allowing them to help me decode the roll. HAHA that was funny because at this point I realized most of them could not speak one sentence in English. Some of them didn't even have an English name(Which is required on my class). So first things first...I gave them some names and most f them chose random names from movies and video games. One boy said loudly "my name is Missionary". I thought this was odd...he gave me a very strange stare and waited for my reply. I just said..."hmmm interesting" and went on. What was even more funny was when I called on him later in class to answer a question and all the students laughed at him. I knew something was up. Oh well...just keep teaching!
My second class was very sweet....Same low English ability but many more students who look like they will try! I asked them all to write down a question for me on their info card I gave them and these proved to be very interesting!!! One girl wrote..."Are you always Angry?". I was very shocked!!! at the class break I pulled her aside and asked her why she thought I was angry! She was very embarrassed and laughed a lot and I finally realized that she meant to say "Are you EVER angry?"....Boy was I relieved! She said all her other teachers are angry and she hoped I wouldn't be:-) Very sweet girl!!!:-) Another student stood up to introduce herself and said "Hello, my name is Seven and I know God too!" I almost cried but I held back the tears and just said "Aw I'm sooooo glad!". So many things excited me about the classes.

Tomorrow I have the day off and some friends are coming for a visit:-) YAY!!!! Then back to teaching on Wednesday and Thursday! Then Off again on Friday:-) I could get REALLY used to this schedule!

Love you all and Thinking about you! Thank you for the sweet comments you leave:-)

Saturday, August 27, 2011

WalMart's Grand Opening!!!






Who would have ever thought I would be so excited about going to the Grand Opening of a WalMart Store??? But I must say I have waited with much excitement for this day...LOL

Today has been a great day! I went shopping with my friends Trevor and Inga, who are also teachers here JianHan University. We had a great time having lunch together at a Western restaurant, which btw was playing Lady A when we walked in:-) The owner said that was just for me:-) She and I are going to be great friends:-) She was a choral director in her "previous life" and we share many of the same desires and passions, if you know wat I mean;-) After my amazing grilled cheese sandwich and fruit smoothie we went to the market:-) It was very empty...because everyone in Wuhan was at the Grand Opening of WalMart! So the normal market was very nice and unstressful:-) I was very proud of myself because I got the cab home on my own....I mean I was able to communicate in Chinese where he needed to take us:-) That's always a good thing to know where you live and how to say it:-)

Then since my friends didn't want to venture out to the new Wally World I struck out alone:-) It is not a far walk...Maybe half a Mile there and back. As I walked out of my apartment I noticed how BLUE the sky is today...then I thought...I think He made the sky blue today for WalMart's Grand Opening...You know, Blue Sky, Blue WalMart???....Just a thought:-) But more than that I think the One who made me was smiling on me with that bright blue sky today:-) It was so nice!!! Ok, as I approached I realized that not only was this a WalMart it was a huge Galleria type mall and an IMAX theater! WOWZERS! This place was rockin' my world! Oh also, When crossing the Streets you kind of have to be REALLY careful...I mean since everyone drives everywhere and no one obeys the rules you just do what you have to do to survive. I like crossing the street:-) It's like a competition between the car,bus,scooter,bike and me:-) I love competition:-) This has become one of my favorite things to do in China:-) No Worries...I am careful:-) I have to have a few things that challenge me that I can challenge back:-)
Ok, back to WalMart....So as I crossed the Street I entered through the Mall entrance. This was incredible! I mean I didn't recognize any stores except one that's not worth mentioning on the blog but it was still awesome how this huge megaplex of a mall just appeared! It is 3 stories. The whole bottom level is WalMart, the ST level and top are the mall and IMAX. They had strange demonstrations and entertainment. You can see that in one of the pictures there were golden statues. When I was taking the picture they moved and I realized they were real people:-) Oh China:-) Got to Love it!
Then I made my way to the Lower level. I have a picture of the entrance...you have to take an escalator down to the WalMart. Then I watched in amazement as people dashed around looking for sales and bargins:-) People were shouting and children crying and I think one of the nine million people that live in Wuhan were in that store!!!! CRAZINESS!!!!! Although...some of the people thought it more fun just to stare at me...not quite used to that yet. Also, I am not very good at the chinese "push and shove". I get a bit trampled...then I get frustrated...then i feel bad for being frustrated...then when in China, do as the Chinese do! lol maybe someday but for now I just yield:-) (and try not to be frustrated!!) I was able to get my 3 things I came for and get out in about 45 min. Then the crazy walk back home, with a huge comforter(to try to make my VERY hard bed a little softer), a sheet, and a curling/straitening thing for my hair! Until now I have had nothing because mine don't work here. But this Southern girl has to fix her hair!!! It's a MUST!
Well I just wanted to give you a little picture of my Chinese life:-) Love you all!!! I'm gonna rest for a while!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Getting Settled!











Dear Friends....I hope you enjoy these pics of my apartment:-) I tried making a video but it did not work....after about 2 days of trying to upload it...I gave up!

I am so excited about the things Dad is doing here!!! Please be thinking about my relationship with Isabella's best friend! We will call her "T". She is precious and I spent the whole day shopping with she and Isabella. I think she and I will be great friends. We are going to try to schedule a weekly time to practice English/Chinese. Her English is very good and my Chinese is very bad so I think I am getting the better deal but she is soooo sweet and really wants a foreign friend:-) Also So much opportunity to share....Her mother is a OBGYN...If you know my heart you know that this could open up many doors. Of course they will have to know the One that made them first:-) She has no idea about X but we were listening to some music in the car (X music from my house that Isabella brought back:-)) and she had no idea what it was or who HE is. Please be thinking about me and "T"'s family!!!! I am waiting for open doors.

Yesterday morning I went with 8 other colleagues to the DR:-( We had to be checked out before teaching begins....i was a little nervous but talked to Dad about it and everything was fine:-) When we arrived we had to hand over our passports and they gave us a form with about 6 different slots to be filled in by different DR stations. The building was 3 floors and different tests were done on each floor. Of course I can not read the characters yet so I was reading the translations...."Internal Medicine", "Surgery Center", "Blood testing", "ECG", "EGG", "Chest Xray".....My eyes were very big as I entered the "Internal Medicine" room!!!! Then I found out they wanted my lood pressure and heart rate....wel it was racing, that's for sure! lol Then again for the "Surgery Center"...all they did was take my height and weight....the worst one was the blood test but it wasn't bad:-) He was taking care of me and I could feel it!

After that stressful 3hr experience we had lunch at a wonderful, traditional Wuhan restaurant! The food was spicy and very good. I have had a bit of trouble with the food but this place was great! Then we came back to our Campus. We tried to get bank accounts but apparently Friday is not a good day to get accounts in China...at least that's what the guy at the front said when 9 foreigners walked in...hmmmm...
Next(my favorite part) we got our sim cards so we can get cell phones!!!! WoopWoop!! If you know me, you know I love my phone! lol Well this is just a bit different than my BlackBerry:-( HE has been showing me that I should only rely on Him!!! Not technology! It's a good thing but a very hard one for me. But my new phone is tiny and cute and I can text and make a few calls so I am excited!!! I was feeling a little disconnected from my friends and also needed to have a way to make relationships and contacts in the future!
Next Up....Walmart! Some new teachers arrived so We wanted to show them Walmart and get a few things. Today is the Grand Opening of a WalMart just about a half mil. from my school!!! I am so excited!!! The one we went to last night was 12 bus stops away....Imagine me with arms full of stuff from WalMart on a bus with about 100 people standing for 30min. Oh yes!!! This is the exciting part of China:-) Oh and you have to bring your own bag to the store for your stuff!!!

Love to all, Write more later!



Monday, August 22, 2011

My New Home

Ni Hou from China!!! After a long 36 hour journey, I am in my apartment. This has been such a long time coming that I'm a little overwhelmed by it all. I have been PRing for this moment and longing for this time and now it is finally here. I don't know if I should shout for joy or cry. I'm sure I will do a little bit of both. I am surrounded by people that I don't understand and signs etc. that make no sense to me but I am filled with excitement. I want to learn as fast as possible so I can begin my relationships with people.

I will try to take some pictures of my apartment tomorrow. I am on the third floor and live across from a friend. I have met the girl that lives under me and she is also super sweet. She is from England. I was thrilled to be welcomed by Isabella and her family at the airport. She spent the afternoon and evening with me. Tomorrow she will take me shopping for things I need for my apartment:-) It should be a fun experience:-) I need to do a little cleaning and then shower and get some sleep but I just wanted to let everyone know I made it safe and I am thinking about you all!

Friday, August 19, 2011

The Journey Continues!

I am excited to finally say that today is my last full day in the USA!!!! Tomorrow I leave for "The Other Side"....CHINA!!! I have so enjoyed my time here in MI at training. My team members are awesome and my heart is about to explode with joy as I think about all that the Father has in store:-)

I am now going to give a little "Blogging/Commenting Etiquette". Because of the nature and religious sensitivity of my new adventure I will be blogging with some new "lingo" and it would be great if you could also be sensitive to use this lingo when you write to me or comment. I will be using words like Father, the Book, PR, Thinking about, Dad, Xian or just X. I think you can all understand and will be sensitive as I attempt to carry out All the Father has for me:-) I just wanted to be sure and let everyone know that this is very important...Thank you for all your love and support.

I will be leaving tomorrow from MI and head to LA and then Guangzhou and then WUHAN!!! I will have to admit that my excitement about getting to Wuhan is in part because I will get to see Isabella:-) I can hardly wait to wrap my arms around her again!!! I miss my girls so much!!! I will also be picked up by my school and taken to my new home(apt.) on the campus of Jiang Han University!! I am pumped! He has awesome things in store and the sooner I get there the sooner I get to begin His plan and work!

I miss everyone sooooo much already...That is the hardest part. He is my strength and as I read this morning I will hide in His shadow and under HIS wings will I abide. I cling to those words and others from the Book as I embark on this Journey! I encourage you to do the same and PR for me as I am transitioning:-)

I will write again once I get settled...until then...Blessing from this Texas Girl:-)