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Published: November 1st 2009
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Time is just flying along for us, we cannot believe it is November already. We have had so much going on, I am sorry for not writing since our holiday, so I will try and keep what we have been up to reasonably brief. Sophie is still doing her tennis class, but is has kind of turned into a family affair. On a Sunday morning, we all turn up to our friends' compound and all 8 of us take it in turns to have tennis practice. It is good fun and a very relaxing way to spend our Sunday mornings. This morning, however, the weather turned. It is amazing how it happens.....even last night, we were sweating away with the temperature in the high 20's but this morning we woke up to a 10 degree drop and windy too. So, we laid in bed until very late, which was nice for a change!
We had Sports Day last week which was really good fun and glorious weather. Even yesterday, we were in sunbathing mode!
At school, we have been having our assessments and both the children have done really well. William got over 90% in his Chinese characters test,
apparently non-native speakers only usually get around 50-60% so his Chinese teacher is very impressed. Sophie got 99% in Chinese, 96% in Maths (it's a miracle!!) and a level 2A in English. For those of you in education, you will understand the level, for those who are not, that is pretty average for her age, especially considering she is working in a year above her peer group. We are very proud of both of them.
Both children are enjoying swimming classes at school, although with the temperature drop the lessons will be stopping shortly as the Chinese believe that if you go outside with wet hair you will get ill. William had a TaeKwondo grading yesterday afternoon which was amazing. It was totally in Korean and so our son is becoming truly multilingual. For the most part, he just follows, but he is certainly learning bits and pieces. We are not sure the outcome, as he didn't get a belt, but a pack of washing powder instead! There were about 60 students there who all got the same prize, but we think they said something about giving belts out during lessons as they had run out of time. Who
knows, we shall see tomorrow!
It was Halloween with a vengeance at our school this week. We have all discussed how huge it is here and especially compared to back home. All students and staff came to school in fancy dress, there was a class party where there was too much food as usual, then a whole school assembly and then party games in the afternoon. Complete mayhem. Our proud moment came as Sophie was asked to be compere for the assembly, which was Grade 3 Local and International Stream. She practised long and hard, but of course it also meant that mummy had to pull all the stops out with the costumes! I ventured to the fabric market and found a beautiful skirt and some material to make a cape with. Daddy was roped in to make a picture of a pumpkin to cover the butterfly on the front of her t-shirt and then we added gold glitter spray to her hair. William, on the other hand, turned his Batman outfit from last year inside out and then I cut out bones from white card and pinned them to it. Many thanks to Ms Maddi for helping me
with the rib cage! I am not the most artistic person, but it was fun being creative for once and seeing the kids be so excited.
Last night, we went to our friends' compound for a spooky dinner before the kids went out trick or treating. Our "hostess with the mostess" had spent hours decorating the house and it looked so cool, the kids were really impressed, and us even more so! Even the food was Halloween themed and I was extra excited to recognise a few old favourites from Marks & Spencer like cheese straws and Halloween themed chocolate which the kids were under strict orders not to hand out, for home consumption only! We were late home again last night, 2 nights in a row so the lie in this morning was well needed!
Sophie has also found a new hobby in Capoeira. It is a Brazilian mix of martial art, dancing and music and singing. She went for a trial session with her friend Emily last Saturday and loved it, so we are hoping to join the kids class when it starts. It is just amazing.
Ian and I are working hard as ever....Ian
is tutoring loads and enjoying school mostly. I am working hard and have started a Girl Scouts Troop at school. Sometimes I really think I should just sew my mouth shut to stop volunteering for things, but then that wouldn't be me. We had an amazing response in 31 girls who have joined. We have our first trip planned on 27th November when we are going to go for a sleepover at the Aquarium and "sleep" (yeah, right!) under the shark tunnel, so cool! I have also been asked to coordinate the Christmas bazaar activities, so am on the case and thinking hard about these.....need to plan ahead! It's all go in our house!
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Laura
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Happy birthday
Hey dude happy birthday, hope you do something fun for it. Looks like you're all having a fantastic time there x