5 Star Digs! I must say that the rodent holes in the pillowcase are quite the site but the Toilet/Shower combo which I have now nicknamed the "Sholet" is great. You have no idea how many times I am running late and wish I could go to the bathroom AND shower at the same time, its truly an ingenious concept. In fact, when you get home don’t be surprised to see a change in the master bath :D Oli and I miss you and hope your stay takes turn for the better soon. Love You and miss you tons!
It will get better Hi honey, Welcome to travel outside the western world. I promise it will get better. I can't promise that you will come up with better accomodations, but you will adjust.....to all of it. I agree with Adis and hope the not addressing you is a gender thing, but I would assume not since they did choose to accept you. I'm sure if you give it a few days, things will settle in and by the time you leave, you will have the best stories to come home with. I'm actually kind of jealous ;) Just hang in there dear. I have complete faith in you.
Hang in there Oh...Mariah! I don't know what to say......I hope that things get better. I am hoping that you will be included in the conversations after Ming and Jon leave and that it is not a "gender issue". Look at this way.....it could be worse and at least you feel safe in your accomodations. Your caption for the holes in the pillow cases had me laughing so hard.....let's just think positive thoughts :-) On the shower note---trust me there is much worse. Ask me to tell you a story about that when you return! I hope you're able to keep the AC working.....now that's one thing that I can't survive without. When we were in Ivory Coast, Yves' house was like the only place that had AC. I felt like it was 100 degrees outside....tropical/humid...When we would be out, I would look around and everyone else looks fine and I'm sweating like a pig:-) One thing I know that I can't live without is AC! When I'm too hot, I get headaches very easily and get very grumpy! So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.....just say... I think I can ....I think I can...I think I can... :-)
Octopus Mariah,
Drum and bell, totally cool. It looks like your about to eat the octopus, wouldn't that be something. Sorry I was driving back to Tulsa on Thursday and back to Chicago today. I hope the remaining 2 weeks goes by quickly cause we miss you. See you soon. Love, Dad
One journey ends and another begins It all sounds so amazing. I am thrilled that you got to teach your lesson to future middle school teachers and that it was so successful, that had to be so fulfilling. I can't wait to see what you bought, I bet that was fun and I know you rocked it out on the bartering. Your hotel room looks awesome, I hope you get similar accomodations on the next leg of your journey.
Thanks so much for taking the time to do this blog. I look forward to reading it and living vicariously through you. It also helps me to not worry so much, you know me and my babies... :)
Love you, XOXO
Mama
LONELY!! Hey guys...I hear you are once again in ANOTHER 5 STAR HOTEL....or was that hostel that I heard?? I kind of chuckled to myself when Jackie told me about where you were staying....hope it isn't tooooo awful bad. I miss not seeing you guys everyday...not quite a fun as it was when it was M3. Oh well...hope you have fun and work hard while you are there. I will keep up to date with the blog...so don't slack off writing!! Tell Ming I said hi and keep in touch!!
Martin
Different kind of work Grandma, the company that I am keeping is making this a great trip, but it has been A LOT of work. We are ambassadors for Purdue and for the USA and for Inquiry based teaching so we have been in A LOT of meetins and toured A LOT of schools...talking each time about inquiry and what our purpose is for coming to China. Tomorrow I leave for Guangzhou to start the research portion of this trip. Yes, it is going to be a lot of work too, but I hope to be able to find the fun in it as well. I can not imagine having this opportunity again so I am more than taking advantage of it.
a day in china Mariah sounds like you ae having a lot of fun but I guess next week is when the work starts. I love all the pics and the letters so keep them coming. I look forward each evening to get on the computor and read your blog. saw your dad today hope you continue to enjoy your trip. grandma veit
Too much fun Mariah,
Looks like you are having a great time. I think everyone is envious of you and your travels but now Im envious, $ 25 massage, seriously. Sorry I missed your earlier blog but we were driving back from Chicago. Pictures are great but I also want to see the sing and dance video. Keep having a blast. Love Dad
awesome photos I love reading about your experiences (and living vicariously through you ;-) and the photos are awesome! I went out to dinner Wednesday night and had Greek food but thats as close to traveling that I have done. The weather is beautiful here in Phoenix and tonight I am going to "movies in the park" to see Pretty in Pink so that should be fun. Thank you for sharing and I hope to read more tomorrow morning!
Love this massage story I knew you would find a way to get a massage - you are so tenacious :) . I love Sophie too. She is wonderful. We are enjoying your blog. You include so many great pictures. Tell Mrs. Felde that we need lots of pictures on her blog. (somehow I can leave her a message) That is what the kids like - pictures!
Good luck on the next portion of your trip.
Mariah, I am sitting here in my office laughing about the day we ate pizza in Pawhuska, and you tried to get something without marinara sauce...and I thought you were like Meg Ryan as Sallie with everything "on the side". I am just very proud of you for surviving the food...brave girl! And, I am glad you got your massage. I thought the Ms should have refused to participate in such a sexist system by not getting their massage in protest, but I see how they are!
Represent Baby! Loved the Tulsa sweatshirt! Id much rather have a massage in my room than in the spa anyway. sounds like M2 are a lot of fun. That flower picture is incredible. Happy you finally got to have a relaxing dinner with american food, but I can believe you ate the whole fried fish, seriously you ate the tail and gills?
I know right??!! He was so serious and adorable telling us about his little girl and then he said that. It took EVERYTHING I had to not crack up laughing!!! Apparently a lot of Chinese parents will give their child a traditional Chinese name but then unofficially give them a western name as well, but it was honestly the funniest thing ever.
I laughed so hard at this post. I know exactly what you are talking about with the inquiry based teaching and of course the feeling when the lesson is going downhill after you spent so much time preparing for it! Whew! At least you guys survived......I want to see video of you singing Twinkle Twinkle...LOL!
Best title ever I laughed my butt off at the title of this one! Mariah- i never knew "What happens in China stays in China!" you never drink on this side of da world.
Oh my goodness, my Half-Pint got slightly hammered. LOL It sounds like your teaching experience was an overall success, giving out autographs, that is so cute. I want video of you singing and dancing! How interesting that they would ask you to sing and dance, don't quite get that, I guess it is cultural. What wonderful memories, I can't wait till you get back and we can hear all about everything in detail. Thank you so much for your blog, it is very entertaining and I look forward to it everyday. Love you! XOXO
Lesson sounds good to me! Mariah, you always beat yourself up over your teaching...and you really are great at it. Inquiry learning is not for everyone, and you knew that from the moment you realized the kids were SILENT in the classroom. It appears that flexibility is not part of the curriculum...I am betting you were the bomb...pun totally intended! And, I think you are probably cooler than Brad Pitt...he just gets more P.R.
Good luck We have been enjoying your blog. More memories to file away for the future. They'll mean even more to you later. I'm proud that you are showing your adventurous side and trying to get the most out of your experience. Who knows if you'll ever pass that way again and get a chance at turtle and duck tongue. China would be a difficult place to film an Aflac commercial (unless you are talking silent movies). We are looking forward to seeing you and Josh after your return. I hate to waste a good Coke and Mentos, but I hope the lesson plan goes well.
Love,
Mom and Dad
ahahahaa that's hilarious.....you guys go over there to teach them science and they're looking at you like you're crazy!!! i love you :o) i got sooo much crap from everyone when i was over in england for 2 months...haha! can't wait to find out if they thought the explosion was cool or lame! i love reading about you're experience over there. keep up the awesome stories with bad grammer ;) love you tons and again....i totally wish i was there with you!!!!
TB I want to know if you're posing with the food and then setting it back on the plate or if you're actually swallowing it when the picture is over??? I went to Taco Bueno yesterday. Who is cool now? Miss you :)
When in Rome Mariah,
I'm not surprised at the answers you got from the 8th grade students. Most foreign cultures view other cultures in a way we, as Americans, can not understand. Being polite is the core of their culture so "when in Rome". A lot of popular music is recreated/translated in Korea and their economy is good, plus it is more obtainable from their prospective. I'll bet your class is a big hit as long as their teachers aren't a negative influence. Trust me, do what you do and they will be overwhelmed by your enthusiasm and they will have fun. Was the seaweed pickled or sauteed. Pickled was real popular in Singapore and I thought it was pretty good. If you get a chance fried eel is excellent. Love, Dad
So did you feel like they didn't like Americans? If so that is unfortunate, but not surprising. I'm sure your experiment will be a huge success, what kid doesn't want to see soda blow up! That fowl looked gross, did they really have to put it's arm on the plate. It probably tasted good, did you try it? I can't believe you ate sea weed. Good for you!!!
I am a PhD candidate at Purdue University and I am traveling to China with the NSF funded GK12 program. Starting in Nanjing/Wuxi to observe and participate in their science education program then to Guangzhou to do collabrative research on rice blast disease. I hope to take a few weekend trips to Shanghi and Hong Kong before returning home. No matter what it is going to be an adventure!!... full info
Josh
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5 Star Digs!
I must say that the rodent holes in the pillowcase are quite the site but the Toilet/Shower combo which I have now nicknamed the "Sholet" is great. You have no idea how many times I am running late and wish I could go to the bathroom AND shower at the same time, its truly an ingenious concept. In fact, when you get home don’t be surprised to see a change in the master bath :D Oli and I miss you and hope your stay takes turn for the better soon. Love You and miss you tons!