A Little of This...A Little of That

Emma and Erin have settled into school and are enjoying the many benefits that come with super-small classes, gifted teachers, and truly diverse peers.  Erin has made friends with a sweet little girl from Korea.  She doesn't speak much English but according to Erin, she is teaching her some every day.  The little girl just recently showed up to school with adorable curls in her chin-length hair.  I asked Erin about the curls and she said, "She has a permanent.  I really want a permanent too!"  Erin is already blessed with a little curl in her hair so that was pretty much the end of the discussion - just kinda funny that my 4-year-old now knows about perms.  I just want to know how she got a perm everywhere except her bangs.  I remember having that argument with my mom and the hair stylist.  I just wanted my bangs left alone but NOOOO...I suffered with the poodle bangs for a couple of weeks (a giant curling iron and some mega-hold hairspray helped too).  Wow, that was a little (somewhat traumatic) stroll down memory lane!

I am keeping busy even with the girls at school all day.  I have been reading, working out, Facebooking, shopping (although only for food/household stuff - not purses or custom made clothing yet).  I have been helping Emma's teacher with some administrative tasks which is actually kind of fun when it's not for my own classroom and when I can do it while watching my Two and a Half Men DVD.  I spent a couple of hours in the classroom this week and in the teacher's words, "It is teaching heaven".  ELEVEN STUDENTS... even at their noisiest it wouldn't qualify for noisy.  She never has to raise her voice and she has the time to make each child feel as though they are capable, wonderful, and worthy.  I remember at the end of some of my teaching days that I would feel sad that I didn't even get to chat with some students...they would get no personal attention because I was pulled in a million other directions.  Teacher friends...can you relate?  If you've ever thought of teaching abroad, I would recommend it although do your research - I'm sure they are not all like our school.

Speaking of teaching...I have been doing a little of that lately!  I am teaching English to newly hired Intel employees (20-somethings, just out of college).  They are learning through phonics so it is very basic but they are eager and fun to work with.  It makes me feel like I have purpose in my new life.  At the end of class they have a chance to ask me questions and today they asked about the phrases, "Who cares?" and "Who knows?"  They wanted to know in what type of situations were those appropriate to say.  Hmmmm...I did my best to keep the explanation brief and to the point - probably not a good idea to say them in a work setting.   I see now that pronunciation and explanation of English words is likely just as difficult for them as Chinese is for me.  Although we don't have the tones...what's with the tones?  Ugh!

The weather here is cooling down and fall is on its way.  You probably don't want to hear this, but I would say we really only had two, maybe three weeks when it was really hot.  Even then, it was only in the 90s but super humid.  Today it is overcast and rain is forecasted for the weekend.  I am still an Arizonan at heart because I actually like the clouds and rain!

Well, not the most exciting blog but well, life, even in China, isn't all that exciting.  We are going to a Chinese wedding tomorrow so I am sure there will be a blog for that!  Mike has updated our website with the August photos (although he left off the kids first day of school). There is also a link on the web that says "Good Luck Uncle Neal".  The girls put on their own muscle show to support my brother who will be competing on Saturday - wish we could be there!

21 DAYS UNTIL WE BEGIN OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS AMERICAN SOIL. GOD BLESS AMERICA!