Short entry, as it's already 7:30pm and we still have to study and lesson plan! Ahhh! We started getting evaluated today in our teaching classes, which will help determine our placements through the city of Shenzhen (say it with me now: Shen-Jen). We also get to fill out a sheet of preferences (district, age group, who we might want to be near, a few other things) and they'll try to work with us to get our top choices, but the Education Bureau in Shenzhen has the ultimate say. So, we'll see. Less of our preferences will matter, as we'll most likely get placed in a school that specifically has requested a couple and has space for us both. I don't get evaluated till the 12th for the first time, with a total of 4 of my ... read more

Staci: It's been a whirlwind of a few days. After all the sad goodbyes, security lines (one issue happened right away- we started to go through security and then realized that I -Staci- had somehow left my new raincoat behind. Thinking that I must have left it at our seats, I got out of the line, talked to a TSA employee and was allowed back out to look- but it was gone, resulting in a minor freak-out. We just got internet here today and received an email from Martin's mom letting us know they have it- I'd given it to Jen to hold and in the goodbyes we both forgot!) and waiting around, we boarded our United flight first to San Francisco, and then to Beijing. We somehow ended up in Economy Plus on the flight ... read more

We had a nice, lowkey 4th of July weekend. We drove down the morning of the 3rd and met my parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew at Yale Lake (about thirty min away from La Center) for a day of sunshine, boating, food, napping, laughter, and of course-- good conversation. It was glorious. We spent Saturday in the Portland area, first watching my dad march with one of his community bands in a 4th of July parade (Amelia got about five million pieces of candy from everyone throwing it...lucky girl) and then just enjoying some more laidback family time at the Stabler's house. That evening, Martin, my parents and I went out to dinner and to see the movie 'Up', the newest Pixar creation. If you haven't seen it yet, GO! It's an amazing movie, one ... read more

Well, one important thing to realize when we go to China- some of our usual websites (YouTube!) will be blocked and inaccessible...hence the move from Wordpress to Travelblog- a participant currently in the program let us know it's been blocked for awhile there. Hotmail apparently has problems also, so if you email me, please do so at stacinoelle@gmail.com. Martin's email is phearmart@gmail.com. This weekend we'll be spending moving some more of our junk and celebrating my friend Jen's 23rd birthday! I've been fortunate enough to be friends with Jen since we were in the 6th grade, and am so grateful that we are still in each other's lives. I plan on taking Martin on a date tomorrow (shh, location still to be disclosed) and then we'll go to a family friends bbq tomorrow night. It's bittersweet ... read more