Skipping Ahead - 1 Month In

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It's been a little while since I posted. Classes started a few weeks ago. Teaching ESL has it's ups and downs. Most of the kids seem to idolize us...despite the fact that they don't seem to understand us half the time. I have become a bit strict. I don't know how else to get them to treat me like their teacher, instead of a circus attraction, (the white woman at the front of the classroom). I've made a few girls in my various classes cry. 😞 I start teaching Spanish on Monday. I will have 2 Spanish lessons a week on top of my 16 English lessons. This will undoubtedly be interesting.

I finally met an American girl...or woman, rather. Her name is Katie, and she is 25. She's great. It is wonderful to get a break from the guys every once in a while. I feel like I am beginning to drown in testosterone.

This morning Jordan, Tyler, Steve and I made an American breakfast of potatoes, with onion, peppers and tomato in it. We drank OJ and ate our fill and I retired to my room for an hour to reed. Later we went to Qi Sheng Gongyuan (Seven Star Park). The park and the karst formations are cool. There is a zoo in the middle of the park, and you can tell that all the animals there are miserable. Their cages are small and filthy. It was rather depressing to see the animals kept like that. There was a tiger, a panda, camels, Chinese deer, sun bears, peacocks (with their fan-feathers chopped), and all kinds of monkeys. We stayed in the park for a few hours before we caught a cab home. Luke is visiting for a while, and his train arrives this evening...so we will have to show him a good time later.

My skype is up and running so, if you have an account, find me. I am one of 3 Clare Bridgfords on skype. One is from Whales or England and the other 2 are me. The SN I have set up on this computer is spacecowgirl09. I'd love to talk and see some familiar faces.

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Photos

Exploring the Land
Tyler, Steve and Jordan on the road we took to get to Qi Sheng Gongyuan (9-19-09)

Comments

[aunt annie]

one month!!!!
Has it really been one month since you left for china? wow. i bet you believe that time will indeed fly. You are having fun, it sounds like, and have a core group to hang with during "off hours". There is truely an important facet to having a female friend to hang with. Where is Katie from? So you are also going to teach Spanish? wow. Emma is taking Spanish again at Merrill, and Charlie and Willis will begin their one afternoon a week at DTS for six weeks, Spanish as well. I should brush up on mine, then when your china trip is all said and done, we could all go to some Spanish speaking country. :) I bet your "American breakfast" was a treat... complete with OJ!!! Tell me about the shopping there. And the fashions. do the students wear uniforms? This morning, Dave, the kids and I went to the Beaverdash, a 5K run and/or walk. Willis blasted through with a smashing 23 minutes. I made it in 27.5...... Dave and Charlie mostly walked. The run is a big thing for grandmas friends, and people that go to your church, the Repplingers. We had a great time. Then, we went to Barnes and Noble for DTS fundraiser. Later, if I can get the boys, I will go to hear an African Drum group at a coffee shop downtown. Life is good, and the weather continues to be spectacular, with a hint of fall in the evenings, but 75 to 80 during the days. We love you, Clare, and, are back on-line, so let's set another skype meeting!!!!!!! shall we try for wednesday again? 6 our time???? Take care, and happy teaching! Make it fun for the kids.

[mama]

testosterone
Since when have you ever tired of testosterone? Last spring you were whining about the amount of estrogen at your house. There is no pleasing some people!