http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , China , Guangdong , Shenzhen en-us Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:31:30 +0000 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:31:30 +0000 Pete and I were invited by our students to come to their 1st party of the year on Wednesday night from 7930pm. We decided we should go since the students asked us and we wanted to support them. We had no idea what to expect from the evening and it was a GREAT time. Each classroom has their own party talent show and games. We have never seen our kids outside of their school uniforms and some of http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/blog-464341.html Well I still have a week in between this entry and the last to catch up on but that will come later. I am just writing to wish all my friends and family and Happy New Year I am going to try and call those who I can tonight. I am a little sad because we don't really have any plans yet and the New Year is coming in 5 12 hours. But Shenzhen is not Joe's hometown and he doesn't have friends her http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-463903.html Well another week has passed Sports Day was lots of fun to watch we have videos of the opening ceremony in which every class marched around the field in coordinated outfits while chanting. We didn't stick around for the whole thing but it was fun to watch the students run do the long jump high jump and just generally play around. We posed for a LOT of pictures with students were given a ton http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-463263.html I decided it has been too long since the last blog and should update everyone on life here in China.Last week Pete went to the hospital on Monday since his shoulder has been bothering him lately. James Jones CTLC National Coordinator went with him to translate and assist. He then woke up Tuesday feeling sick probably got it from the hospital visit. He had to go back to the hospital on Wednes http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-461946.html In honor of my 200th blog entry I'm sharing a story of triumph. It's only fitting.On Monday I went to Starbucks to get a coffee before heading home from my lesson with my tutor. I needed to stay up and study so I could meet her for an extra lesson on Tuesday. A Dark Cherry Mocha seemed like the perfect motivation.I ordered I paid I went home. I took a drink. It was a plain mocha. No cherr http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-460613.html Not much to report but I thought I should assure you that I'm still alive. And that I'm not sick.It's December now. The school year is one third over. Time flies when you're in a pattern. I feel like yesterday was Fridayhow did it get to be Wednesday already Wait where did November goI've done some grocery shopping this week. Twice in fact. Both times I was assaulted by music that sh http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-459322.html This week was an exciting week for the following reasons1. Booked our flight to Australia for January 19February 1730 days2. My Parents also booked a flight to Australia for January 18January 28much longer flight than ours3. Got a copy of the school calendarSWEET 4. Ducks won the Civil War and are going to the Rose Bowl for the 1st time in 15 years5. Didn't have class on Thursday due to th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-458461.html The profile of wedding tent just as vault of heaven with profound and ambitions internality Archy tent matches with temporary exhibition hall passage all kinds of gatherings and other environment needless to say it is the best each other The main profile adopt highquality hollow aluminum make the tall and broad environment as firm as rock towering stands Besides fabric with colorful decora http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-458034.html The profile of wedding tent just as vault of heaven with profound and ambitions internality Archy tent matches with temporary exhibition hall passage all kinds of gatherings and other environment needless to say it is the best each other The main profile adopt highquality hollow aluminum make the tall and broad environment as firm as rock towering stands Besides fabric with colorful decora http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-457633.html Our 1st Thanksgiving not in the USA. This week was quite different since we had to work on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. I taught the kids about some Thanksgiving history traditional food eaten on Thanksgiving my 3 favorite dishes 5 things I was thankful for and they had to share 5 things they were thankful for.Here are some of the things my students are thankful forMe for teaching them E http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-456683.html Back on Saturday Nov. 14th we sent a text message to our contact teacher Wilson requesting the school to purchase us a space heater. Not a crazy request since the temperature was 9 degrees Celsius 47 degrees Fahrenheit. Our program CTLC told us to ask the school to buy them but they could say no. Well last week we found out some schools told foreign teachers NO gave them a winter coat or som http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-455526.html Since our last blog the sun has decided to return to Shenzhen after going into hiding for one week but it still is cool and feels like Fall. This past weekend Staci and Martin our friends from Seattle who also teach Senior students in Bao'an visited us Friday and Saturday night. They rode back with us after Chinese class on Friday night in our free school sponsored van ride home. We started wit http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-455008.html This past week being back in Shenzhen has been good filled with lots of the things that have now become part of our normal China life routine cooking dinner watching movies chatting with students in the evenings who come to our office for help eating lunch in the cafeteria with our contact teachers. One difference has been the COLD cold weather I know I know we're from the Pacific Northw http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-454978.html Dameisha en Shenzhen. Sin duda una de las mejores playas que he visto en Asia independientemente de que sea artificial o no. Limpieza servicios en general duchas y aseos tiendas y restaurantes... Hay control en entrada aunque el acceso es gratuito. Lo ms sorprendente es que la mayora de la gente que va no se quita la ropa... a pesar de que no haca fro. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-453253.html Sorry if I haven't been updating my blog as often as I should've been ...It's a bit of a doubleedge sword with regards to taking the video camera out or not. If you take it out you're instantly on the crosshairs as being a tourist if you don't they don't know at least I thought they didn't. I was at a 711 buying some OJ and the cashier switched from Mandarin to Cantonese ... she said I didn http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-452910.html Finally we have some new pictures for you to look at.Our quick trip to Hong Kong the other week is now available at our Flickr page httpwww.flickr.comphotos24507962N07sets72157622598696837 Click the link above and it will take you there.If you check back on some of the other blogs we have written I have put some pictures in them as well. Check out the blog entitled Another Dose of Hong http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-450566.html On Monday I was honored to be a judge at the Longgang District Police English Speech Contest. I was advised by the school that it was ok to be a judge since the Police called to them for approval. One MINOR detail Mr Huang who we dealt with a lot at the start of the school year approved me being a judge but forgot to tell anyone else so no one was in my classroom teaching while I was being a ju http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-450369.html What can one say about buses is what I'm sure you're all thinking. Well allow me a rant. Most people love the bus system here. And yes I must admit that if my intended destination is more than a mile from my starting block then they are a most wondrous and inspired means of getting to said destination. They are the cheapest form of public transit I've ever come across and go virtually eve http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-450132.html It's a Sunday night exactly 10 pm. Normally I'd be avoiding lesson planning and getting ready to start the week all over again steeling my reserves for the students' antics both of the funny and frustrating variety. However last Thursday I stumbled upon an unexpected light in my schedule. I was informed by my contact teacher Erica that all of the Junior 2's have technical training this http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-449938.html One of the many things that still fascinates me in this country is the tshirts. Yes tshirts. In the US for example they're plain or they have advertising on them. Don't kid yourself that University of Wherever tshirt is advertising for the school. Americans love their free tshirts for athletic clubs bars alcohol etc. Here it's a whole different ball game.In the US it's cool to we http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Shenzhen/blog-449840.html