Hey everyone . . . .
Hope you are all doing well as usual. We are doing well. I started my summer school job today. Thank God I get out of the house and work...maybe. Let's just say things are same and things are different between our school and the school I am at. For starters, my class has 21+ students. Yeah I got a big class for summer school. About 65 percent I would say are Korean. Same as Suwanee right?? I have another teacher who pulls the lowest English speaking students for about an hour during the day which is nice. That leaves me around 13-15 students which is manageable.
So this is how a typical day for summer school goes. School starts at 9:00 so you get to work at 8:30ish or whenever you can grab a coffee and a cab. So you go to the gym hold up a sign that says "7 Yr Old". Talk to a few parents (broken English is a given even with the Caucasian parents). Then you lead the students to the classroom around the corner. Seat them and start the day. We have Language Arts for an hour. Actually we do whole group with all the kids 21+ for 30 minutes (yeah thats like . . . ."uuhhhhh time"). OK so then we break up and then I have my group and the other teacher takes hers. Then we do small Literacy groups for 30 minutes, Math for 30 minutes, go to either Art or Music, then lunch time, then recess, and then library time. Then its dismissal. Yeah thats my day for you.
Not too bad huh? The kids though most are sweet and then you have some who are unruly and spoiled to the bone. It was shocking how they back talked to me and thought it was acceptable and then when they were around their parents they were equally awful if not worse. So thankfully I have a light load as far as teaching but I make up for it in the many children who are nuts. Of course this is first day jitters so hopefully when we split the kids up things might settle down a bit.
Dylan is getting ready to leave for Hong Kong for visa purposes. Fingers crossed and prayers asked he can process it there and not have to go back to the US. If it works for him I am going next to do it. Hopefully all will work out and we can get them processed finally. Its crazy how tight and stingy they are getting here about Chinese work visas. Now you have to be born before 1983 to be considered an expert in a field. Thankfully we both are old farts and can be considered experts.
Best to you all.....
Amanda and Dylan
Monday, June 16, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Patience is better than being efficient
So I am learning about the Chinese culture daily. For example, Dylan and I went to Papa John's for lunch. Yeah they actually have a restaurant and take out for Papa John's. Weird yes but go with the flow. So I ordered a garden salad and Dylan ordered a 6 inch pepperoni pizza. Well my salad came out as normal but we continued to wait on Dylan's pizza. Then about 15 minutes later, the guy comes out and says "Uh sorry we do not have pepperoni do you want a Hawaiian pizza instead?" Dylan was fuming mad and goes "It is 20 minutes what have you been doing?" and the guy goes "Yes it will take about 12 minutes to make". Actually it was kind of humorous to watch the whole thing. Dylan getting ticked at a guy who doesn't understand what he is saying. Finally he got over it.
Another example of not being the brightest crayon in the box . . . So I get in a taxi from Dylan's work to go back home and I told the guy where I wanted to go. Then we proceed to go a way I wasn't familiar with. We ended up passing the Wal-Mart and I was "Oh no this is wrong we are heading in the wrong direction way out of the way too." So I called Dylan and said put your boss on and tell him where I live. So the guy was not so smart and I ended up having to pay extra for stupid taxi driver's mistakes. I was like "GRRRRR".
Last night Dylan and I went to a social function for my new school. It was fun . . . had a couple of drinks ate some food talked with a few staff members I had already met. Then decided it was time to leave. A guy comes in and says "No man you don't want to leave right now its raining really hard out there and the rain is going sideways." So we stayed a little bit longer. Then Dylan noticed it was lightening up so we decided to go then. As we are walking out there is a guy at the end of the little walkway with his pants rolled up and starts motioning us to do the same and Dylan was like "Oh no we are not going that way" so we decided to go another way. It was flooding everywhere. I have never in my life seen weather so awful and flood waters so high having to trudge through. Needless to say we had another monsoon last night and all day yesterday. All we could say was "Oh my God" and a few words I shouldn't repeat. We ended up laughing the entire way home and I almost wet my pants in the process. The water level at times was up to our knees and moving water at that too. As I was wading through it, I kept remembering what I was told about flood water areas in Georgia and that is to stay away from moving waters that you can get pulled away. Oh well right??
Being a teacher here is interesting too so far. Grant I have not started my job but listening to the teachers who are different grade levels and probably don't know each other well all have many things in common to say about the school. It is going to be a learning experience thats for sure. For example, at the school I taught at in the states if you are sending a student to summer school you have to fill out a profile for the summer school teacher to have an idea where the student is academically and language ability. So they do not do those here. Funny huh?? I am also discovering that the administration is not what it is like in the US or at least in Gwinnett County Public Schools. For instance, their main purpose is what they were hired for so the school I am at right now had problems with enrollment and so they needed a principal who could increase enrollment so that is his main purpose. Not organization. It's interesting but a learning experience at the same time. I still love the fact that I only have to give the ITBS which is not so bad and at least their progress does not inflict me as a teacher which is good too. I don't know about that though but I pretty much have free reign to do what I want as a teacher which is nice. Lots of Koreans go to the school . . .not much different from Suwanee Elem. And there is not as much parent involvement in the classroom. I get a parapro but they might speak good English and they might not. So they will either make copies for you all the time or they can help out in the classroom and make copies. Oh and the kids eat lunch in the room but you don't, your parapro eats with them. That can lead to disaster as so I have been told. Crazy things happen when the teacher is not in the room. So I might be eating very close to the classroom and stepping in when need be.
So I have to go in tomorrow (Sunday) to get ready for Summer School which starts on Monday. Yeah pretty amazing huh?? Also I was told about the playground situation....evidently there is a neighbor nearby a very old Chinese man who does not appreciate children at all. This man has gone so far as to yell at the kids in Chinese, go on the playground and take the kids play equipment, throw bottles at them, video tape them right in their face and be a complete jerk. So we are only allowed on the playground during his nap time which I need to find out soon it sounds like. They can't do much about it either. Now in the US they could but not here so thats a difference.
Well gotta jet now. Hope all is well with you guys. Remember to take each day at a time and to enjoy each experience even if you are stuck in traffic. Never wish any part of life to go faster. Use that time to reflect. This is coming from someone who absolutely hates waiting in lines so I take that time and reflect on the things around me and thank God for the time I have to be alive and serve his purpose whatever that might be.
Sunshine and flowers to you all . . .
Amanda and Dylan :)
Another example of not being the brightest crayon in the box . . . So I get in a taxi from Dylan's work to go back home and I told the guy where I wanted to go. Then we proceed to go a way I wasn't familiar with. We ended up passing the Wal-Mart and I was "Oh no this is wrong we are heading in the wrong direction way out of the way too." So I called Dylan and said put your boss on and tell him where I live. So the guy was not so smart and I ended up having to pay extra for stupid taxi driver's mistakes. I was like "GRRRRR".
Last night Dylan and I went to a social function for my new school. It was fun . . . had a couple of drinks ate some food talked with a few staff members I had already met. Then decided it was time to leave. A guy comes in and says "No man you don't want to leave right now its raining really hard out there and the rain is going sideways." So we stayed a little bit longer. Then Dylan noticed it was lightening up so we decided to go then. As we are walking out there is a guy at the end of the little walkway with his pants rolled up and starts motioning us to do the same and Dylan was like "Oh no we are not going that way" so we decided to go another way. It was flooding everywhere. I have never in my life seen weather so awful and flood waters so high having to trudge through. Needless to say we had another monsoon last night and all day yesterday. All we could say was "Oh my God" and a few words I shouldn't repeat. We ended up laughing the entire way home and I almost wet my pants in the process. The water level at times was up to our knees and moving water at that too. As I was wading through it, I kept remembering what I was told about flood water areas in Georgia and that is to stay away from moving waters that you can get pulled away. Oh well right??
Being a teacher here is interesting too so far. Grant I have not started my job but listening to the teachers who are different grade levels and probably don't know each other well all have many things in common to say about the school. It is going to be a learning experience thats for sure. For example, at the school I taught at in the states if you are sending a student to summer school you have to fill out a profile for the summer school teacher to have an idea where the student is academically and language ability. So they do not do those here. Funny huh?? I am also discovering that the administration is not what it is like in the US or at least in Gwinnett County Public Schools. For instance, their main purpose is what they were hired for so the school I am at right now had problems with enrollment and so they needed a principal who could increase enrollment so that is his main purpose. Not organization. It's interesting but a learning experience at the same time. I still love the fact that I only have to give the ITBS which is not so bad and at least their progress does not inflict me as a teacher which is good too. I don't know about that though but I pretty much have free reign to do what I want as a teacher which is nice. Lots of Koreans go to the school . . .not much different from Suwanee Elem. And there is not as much parent involvement in the classroom. I get a parapro but they might speak good English and they might not. So they will either make copies for you all the time or they can help out in the classroom and make copies. Oh and the kids eat lunch in the room but you don't, your parapro eats with them. That can lead to disaster as so I have been told. Crazy things happen when the teacher is not in the room. So I might be eating very close to the classroom and stepping in when need be.
So I have to go in tomorrow (Sunday) to get ready for Summer School which starts on Monday. Yeah pretty amazing huh?? Also I was told about the playground situation....evidently there is a neighbor nearby a very old Chinese man who does not appreciate children at all. This man has gone so far as to yell at the kids in Chinese, go on the playground and take the kids play equipment, throw bottles at them, video tape them right in their face and be a complete jerk. So we are only allowed on the playground during his nap time which I need to find out soon it sounds like. They can't do much about it either. Now in the US they could but not here so thats a difference.
Well gotta jet now. Hope all is well with you guys. Remember to take each day at a time and to enjoy each experience even if you are stuck in traffic. Never wish any part of life to go faster. Use that time to reflect. This is coming from someone who absolutely hates waiting in lines so I take that time and reflect on the things around me and thank God for the time I have to be alive and serve his purpose whatever that might be.
Sunshine and flowers to you all . . .
Amanda and Dylan :)
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Oh the places we have been . . .
Hello all!!! (Be prepared that this one is long . . . so much to tell)
Hope this finds you all doing well back in the US. Dylan and I are still perusing China. It has been so wild of an adventure so far. I decided to join a yoga studio and take yoga classes. SO COOL. My first class was really neat. We used a fit ball (one of those big fitness balls). It was a lot of fun. My second class was called the nature yoga class. It was supposed to be outside but it was a monsoon here for like two days straight. So I have a story about the second class....so I go to the studio a half an hour like I was told because we were all supposed to "walk" over to the place. It is raining like cats and dogs at this point. So they are trying their best to explain to me where the other studio is in their best English but no dice. So I call up Dylan's boss and he proceeds to tell me that they are taking me there and I am OK. So we are walking in the biggest puddles ever to get to this place and it took forever to get there. I would have much rather have taken a taxi but thats beside the point. So we finally get there . . . I got on my new yoga clothes that I got for like $45 three shirts, two pairs of pants and a bag. Good deals trust me. So when we finally get to who knows where I proceed to go and take yoga with the instructor who speaks English thank God and just another student. We finished . . . very cool by the way. Then I thought that we could shower there and so I get there and no towels. ughh!! So I call Dylan and told him I was coming back to his office to meet him for dinner. The yoga girl asks me to walk back with her and after trudging through the pools of water I thought I would wait for a taxi instead. I wait...wait... and wait some more and no dice. So I decide to walk back. I am calling Dylan in the middle of the monsoon rain, puddles up to my knees, lost and trying my best to get back and in the worst of moods. He's asking me where I am at and what I see around me and all I see are buildings with Chinese characters and nothing that looks remotely normal to me. Thankfully I have a good memory and got my way back to him soaked and wet and all. I was sooooooo upset not so much worried about being misplaced just upset that I couldn't find a taxi to save my life. So I get to his office and talk with Dylan's secretary Crystal who is sooooo awesome. Trust me you would love her too. She told me she would have found me no matter what.
So Crystal and I start talking and we decided to go and get a hair cut. This is a new story for you. So we go in and show them the hair cut I want. Then you have to get your hair washed. Actually what you are getting is a head massage. You lay on this table with your head on a pillow like surface which is in the sink. The person washes your hair, massages your scalp, and washes your face and your ears. It creeped me out with them pouring water in my ears and cleaning them out with a q-tip but I managed. Then I decided to get my hair dyed too. All for $45 too. So my hair is shorter....cute but not what I had in mind and a dark brown. It looks hot trust me.
So we are now celebrating Dragon Boat Festival which allows most business people to have Monday off. The significance of the festival is to honor the poet who sacrificed himself and committed suicide. Yeah I know I don't know about that one but Dylan has the day off so good for us. So we went to a huge mall yesterday with an ice skating rink in it. It reminded me of Phipps Plaza or Lenox mall and similar prices too. Didn't buy much but we ate at a neat restaurant that over looked the ice skating rink. Then today we went to the auto show at the civic center area. Amazing!! It makes the GA World Congress Center look like a mini mall. There were girls advertising the cars. Most had Chinese girls all made up with ballroom gowns on and tiaras and then there were some with Caucasian girls that were beaten with the ugly stick way too many times. Then there was me . . . the Chinese men looked at me like I was a super model or something. They kept taking my picture without me knowing it and I when I caught them they shied away. Dylan tried to get one guy to come back and pose with me. Then one girl was posing with me and I didn't even realize it. It was so funny to watch. Many people stare at Dylan and I because we look so much different then them. Kind of funny and getting used to it too.
So after we went to the auto show we went to Lou hou which is like driving downtown Atlanta from Lawrenceville. We took a taxi of course. In Lou hou there is a huge mall with little stores all over the place that sell knock off stuff from purses to shoes and trashy lingerie of course there are other things too but that is what you saw the most of. I was looking forever for a purse and that was a hassle. I also got three dresses made for me for $70. Tailored just for me and if you know my body type that is pretty impressive to say the least. I got a pretty white dress, plaid dress and a white skirt made for me and lined too. I pick them up on Thursday. Dylan got three shirts made too and a friend of ours got a few pants made too. This is going to be interesting to say the least but the things that the guy made were awesome and my grandfather who used to be a tailor would be quite impressed. For dinner we ate at this place that was impossible to find and had the most amazing food. Actually you really can't go wrong with the food here. Anything is good. Just watch out for things that have bones in it and you are good to go. Had some strange ice cream with red beans in it but its pretty good.
Dylan and I are dealing with visa issues right now. We are not in the olympic spirit to say the least. Had it not been for the nutsos who are protesting we would not be dealing with this crazy visa business. Both Dylan and I might have to come back to the US for a couple of weeks to process our work visas. UGHH. Hopefully we can do this in Hong Kong which might not cost us as much. So keep us in your thoughts and prayers that this works out to our best in this situation. We truly love it here and we really don't want to make the long trip back just for a short and complicated process.
Thank you all for your kind and encouraging words. We love and miss you all very much. Hope all is well with you and your loved ones.
Best,
Dylan and Amanda
Hope this finds you all doing well back in the US. Dylan and I are still perusing China. It has been so wild of an adventure so far. I decided to join a yoga studio and take yoga classes. SO COOL. My first class was really neat. We used a fit ball (one of those big fitness balls). It was a lot of fun. My second class was called the nature yoga class. It was supposed to be outside but it was a monsoon here for like two days straight. So I have a story about the second class....so I go to the studio a half an hour like I was told because we were all supposed to "walk" over to the place. It is raining like cats and dogs at this point. So they are trying their best to explain to me where the other studio is in their best English but no dice. So I call up Dylan's boss and he proceeds to tell me that they are taking me there and I am OK. So we are walking in the biggest puddles ever to get to this place and it took forever to get there. I would have much rather have taken a taxi but thats beside the point. So we finally get there . . . I got on my new yoga clothes that I got for like $45 three shirts, two pairs of pants and a bag. Good deals trust me. So when we finally get to who knows where I proceed to go and take yoga with the instructor who speaks English thank God and just another student. We finished . . . very cool by the way. Then I thought that we could shower there and so I get there and no towels. ughh!! So I call Dylan and told him I was coming back to his office to meet him for dinner. The yoga girl asks me to walk back with her and after trudging through the pools of water I thought I would wait for a taxi instead. I wait...wait... and wait some more and no dice. So I decide to walk back. I am calling Dylan in the middle of the monsoon rain, puddles up to my knees, lost and trying my best to get back and in the worst of moods. He's asking me where I am at and what I see around me and all I see are buildings with Chinese characters and nothing that looks remotely normal to me. Thankfully I have a good memory and got my way back to him soaked and wet and all. I was sooooooo upset not so much worried about being misplaced just upset that I couldn't find a taxi to save my life. So I get to his office and talk with Dylan's secretary Crystal who is sooooo awesome. Trust me you would love her too. She told me she would have found me no matter what.
So Crystal and I start talking and we decided to go and get a hair cut. This is a new story for you. So we go in and show them the hair cut I want. Then you have to get your hair washed. Actually what you are getting is a head massage. You lay on this table with your head on a pillow like surface which is in the sink. The person washes your hair, massages your scalp, and washes your face and your ears. It creeped me out with them pouring water in my ears and cleaning them out with a q-tip but I managed. Then I decided to get my hair dyed too. All for $45 too. So my hair is shorter....cute but not what I had in mind and a dark brown. It looks hot trust me.
So we are now celebrating Dragon Boat Festival which allows most business people to have Monday off. The significance of the festival is to honor the poet who sacrificed himself and committed suicide. Yeah I know I don't know about that one but Dylan has the day off so good for us. So we went to a huge mall yesterday with an ice skating rink in it. It reminded me of Phipps Plaza or Lenox mall and similar prices too. Didn't buy much but we ate at a neat restaurant that over looked the ice skating rink. Then today we went to the auto show at the civic center area. Amazing!! It makes the GA World Congress Center look like a mini mall. There were girls advertising the cars. Most had Chinese girls all made up with ballroom gowns on and tiaras and then there were some with Caucasian girls that were beaten with the ugly stick way too many times. Then there was me . . . the Chinese men looked at me like I was a super model or something. They kept taking my picture without me knowing it and I when I caught them they shied away. Dylan tried to get one guy to come back and pose with me. Then one girl was posing with me and I didn't even realize it. It was so funny to watch. Many people stare at Dylan and I because we look so much different then them. Kind of funny and getting used to it too.
So after we went to the auto show we went to Lou hou which is like driving downtown Atlanta from Lawrenceville. We took a taxi of course. In Lou hou there is a huge mall with little stores all over the place that sell knock off stuff from purses to shoes and trashy lingerie of course there are other things too but that is what you saw the most of. I was looking forever for a purse and that was a hassle. I also got three dresses made for me for $70. Tailored just for me and if you know my body type that is pretty impressive to say the least. I got a pretty white dress, plaid dress and a white skirt made for me and lined too. I pick them up on Thursday. Dylan got three shirts made too and a friend of ours got a few pants made too. This is going to be interesting to say the least but the things that the guy made were awesome and my grandfather who used to be a tailor would be quite impressed. For dinner we ate at this place that was impossible to find and had the most amazing food. Actually you really can't go wrong with the food here. Anything is good. Just watch out for things that have bones in it and you are good to go. Had some strange ice cream with red beans in it but its pretty good.
Dylan and I are dealing with visa issues right now. We are not in the olympic spirit to say the least. Had it not been for the nutsos who are protesting we would not be dealing with this crazy visa business. Both Dylan and I might have to come back to the US for a couple of weeks to process our work visas. UGHH. Hopefully we can do this in Hong Kong which might not cost us as much. So keep us in your thoughts and prayers that this works out to our best in this situation. We truly love it here and we really don't want to make the long trip back just for a short and complicated process.
Thank you all for your kind and encouraging words. We love and miss you all very much. Hope all is well with you and your loved ones.
Best,
Dylan and Amanda
Monday, June 2, 2008
When in Rome . . .
So today was just as interesting as any other days. Yesterday, Dylan and I ordered curtains made for our room because the sunlight is awful at 6AM. So we go to the little shop to look at swatches and finally decided on a nice off-white more grayish looking color. So then I hold the fabric up to the sun and told Dylan we need something to block it out or we are not doing any good. So we had to explain . . . what a trip that was . . . what we were wanting to have him do for us and using lots of gestures kind of like the game of charades only it depends on life needs. So we are saying words like no sun and finally the guy goes "Oh SUN!!" So then he takes us back in his shop that is hot as hell and shows us the fabric to put behind it. Dylan tells the guy how much he wants to spend and the guy shows us how much per meter. So we ended taking the guy home with us to measure the windows in the bedroom and he does his math and finally he tells us it costs us 334 RMB which costs us $48 USD total even for the room darkening fabric included. Here's the amazing part....so after he tells us how much he then says..."I be her tomorrow at 3:30PM". I was blown away with that remark. So thats the story about our drapes/curtains. Cheap and fast.
I went to lunch today with Dylan...actually I met him for lunch today near his office. Him and I went out with a client of his who is working with Amiga gaming software. So before I left the maid came to clean the house and do Dylan's laundry. I think Dylan needs to tell her that I live here now and to add my dirties to the mix too but I am cool for doing it for now. Except the ironing part. Not a fan of ironing and hate it with a passion. So I got to venture out on my own today to see Dylan. Dylan gave me a paper with Chinese characters on it that said our apartment and his office. So Dylan called me and said "Ready for lunch?" And I was like "Heck yeah man!" So I said good bye to the maid and made my way down the elevator, down to the road and grabbed me a taxi. Pretty impressive I must say so myself. Then I showed the driver my paper and the characters for Dylan's office and BOOM there we were. Called Dylan and he came down to see me. Then we walked to a pretty good restaurant to eat with the Amiga guy they talked shop and I listened not having a clue about it. The guy is American but I understand about as much techno talk as I do Chinese right now so I showed politely that I was interested and went on trying to attack my food with chopsticks. Hahahahahaha! Then Dylan put me in a cab and I was back at the apartment in no time. Walk in and the maid is still cleaning...pretty good I might say so. I found out she just came from the Amiga guy's apartment so she is here now.
So thats my day so far....not too interested in venturing out. Lucy and I might go for a walk here in a bit and look for me a nail place. As of now they do not do pink and white nails (UGHH) and the price is a bit high for cut down and regular fill so who knows right now. I might just have to say no to nails for now....UGHHH haven't said no in a long time so it's weird not having nails for me. But I love the mornings...Lucy and I walk with Dylan to a coffee shop in the morning have a small breakfast kiss good bye then he is off to work and Lucy and I walk home. Its really nice. Not sure what we will do when it is time for me to start working because I work earlier than he does but I am sure we will figure it out. I can't wait to get started. This staying at home business is for the birds.
I cannot view this blog except to post so just to let you know in case I start repeating myself or what have you. I can still get emails and would love to hear how everyone is doing so send me a message or two. If you have gmail we can talk that way too. So far no problems with jet lag amazing enough.
Best,
Amanda :)
I went to lunch today with Dylan...actually I met him for lunch today near his office. Him and I went out with a client of his who is working with Amiga gaming software. So before I left the maid came to clean the house and do Dylan's laundry. I think Dylan needs to tell her that I live here now and to add my dirties to the mix too but I am cool for doing it for now. Except the ironing part. Not a fan of ironing and hate it with a passion. So I got to venture out on my own today to see Dylan. Dylan gave me a paper with Chinese characters on it that said our apartment and his office. So Dylan called me and said "Ready for lunch?" And I was like "Heck yeah man!" So I said good bye to the maid and made my way down the elevator, down to the road and grabbed me a taxi. Pretty impressive I must say so myself. Then I showed the driver my paper and the characters for Dylan's office and BOOM there we were. Called Dylan and he came down to see me. Then we walked to a pretty good restaurant to eat with the Amiga guy they talked shop and I listened not having a clue about it. The guy is American but I understand about as much techno talk as I do Chinese right now so I showed politely that I was interested and went on trying to attack my food with chopsticks. Hahahahahaha! Then Dylan put me in a cab and I was back at the apartment in no time. Walk in and the maid is still cleaning...pretty good I might say so. I found out she just came from the Amiga guy's apartment so she is here now.
So thats my day so far....not too interested in venturing out. Lucy and I might go for a walk here in a bit and look for me a nail place. As of now they do not do pink and white nails (UGHH) and the price is a bit high for cut down and regular fill so who knows right now. I might just have to say no to nails for now....UGHHH haven't said no in a long time so it's weird not having nails for me. But I love the mornings...Lucy and I walk with Dylan to a coffee shop in the morning have a small breakfast kiss good bye then he is off to work and Lucy and I walk home. Its really nice. Not sure what we will do when it is time for me to start working because I work earlier than he does but I am sure we will figure it out. I can't wait to get started. This staying at home business is for the birds.
I cannot view this blog except to post so just to let you know in case I start repeating myself or what have you. I can still get emails and would love to hear how everyone is doing so send me a message or two. If you have gmail we can talk that way too. So far no problems with jet lag amazing enough.
Best,
Amanda :)
Saturday, May 31, 2008
I'm home!!!
Hello all . . . Just wanted to give you an update . . . So I arrived safe and sound in Hong Kong last night. I had an interesting trip to get to China but I made it. I flew from Atlanta to San Francisco and waited what I thought would have been 3 hours turned out to be 5 hours!! UGHH!! Yeah a 5 hour lay over really stinks but OH WELL. Then I get to Hong Kong after flying for 14 hours another UGHH but it's all good. Got to watch TV on my own television which was kind of cool. On the back of each head rest is a personal television that you can also play games on too.
So I get to Hong Kong as I said before and my flight was supposed to land at 6:40 PM but due to the long lay over we did not land until an hour later. Then you go through customs much like in the states. Then you go through them again....not sure about the doubling up process but its cool. Then you have to get your bags. Well normally that is not such a problem but it took FOREVER. So I got all three heavy suitcases, my carry-on and my purse/bag and went out to greet/find my husband. He was in the process of having me paged it took that long. So because the long delay and arrival we had to hoof it to a taxi because China borders were closing soon. So Dylan has his friend Paul with us and Paul is Chinese but only speaks Mandarin (I think or Cantonese) either way it wasn't what the driver spoke. So Dylan had to call his boss to translate where we needed to go. By the way the drivers in Hong Kong only drive on the wrong side of the car and road too. Kind of weird but again COOL. So we finally make it to Shenzhen's border which is China. Go through their customs too. Had to tell the customs agent that I was a visitor visiting some friends of mine. And I was admitted entrance to China.
We then all found another taxi and this one took us to our apartment. Dylan had to pull up the directions on his phone to show the taxi driver. Then the driver got lost . . . eeek. But again Dylan's boss Rick saved the day and explained to the driver where to go. Paul helped us lug all of my luggage upstairs to the 31st floor. Can I say and AMEN to elevators and escalators. After we walked in the apartment I saw Lucy for the first time. She must have really bonded with Dylan because she didn't remember me for the longest time and is still acting funny. So Dylan calls his boss again to see if he wants to hang out including Dylan's other friend who lives here and recently married a Chinese girl who is super sweet. His name is Marshall and used to live in GA but moved to China for business and got married. We went to eat (at 10PM which is not uncommon) at a place that is above the KFC but is not KFC. I know weird. We had some good stuff then we decided to go and have a massage. Yeah a massage!! I think it was 11 PM when we decided to go. I had a my feet soaking in a barrel with milk and rose petals. Neat. Then I got the best massage which was soooo needed after lugging the luggage around like some crazy person.
Today Dylan and I went to a neat restaurant and I had Chow MeFun which is rice noodles with pork. They serve hot tea like how they serve water in the states. When you sit down out comes the boiling hot tea. It comes out hot because of the bad water but the bad things are killed when it is boiled so its all good. Then we took a taxi to the Wal-Mart. I was so mad I forgot the camera. It was a sight to say the least. You walk in and you are on the bottom floor which mainly consists of food. Then you grab a buggy and take it on this weird escalator. We were looking for me some towels because Dylan only had one for him and one for the dog. We also found a small wastebasket, a deodorizer for the bathroom (don't ask) and some other necessities for the place. Dylan was supposed to go out when we got back to work on a project while I stayed home and unpacked but he told me it was going to be shorter and he wanted to show me his office so we took Lucy this time (our dog) all over the place and to his office. Its so weird being able to take the dog in stores and in a large corporate building and no one saying anything about it. On the way back from his office we ran into my new boss who was riding his bike around the local area. He's pretty tall and white so you can't miss him. Which by the way on a different note is funny because people stare at Dylan and I all the time. There aren't a lot of white people here in China so we stick out. It's funny. So my boss invited me to a Brazilian restaurant on Friday for the staff at the school including the cleaning staff which totals to 190 members at the school I am teaching at. Beat that at your school. Not the number of staff but the idea of going to a nice restaurant and being paid for by the school. UNHEARD OF!!
So I finally unpacked EVERYTHING and it all fits. We are going to IKEA tomorrow to look for some small furniture to put in the guest room, a basket for my dirty clothes, and maybe something to put my shoes in. As for now Dylan is asleep at 7:30 PM on the couch in the dark with the dog on the other side and I am in the bedroom blogging. We are going out tonight (possibly) for drinks with Marshall and his wife Hongsha (I know I botched it up but it is exactly how it sounds). Oh and the weather here is really muggy so it is best advised to shower at least twice a day if not three times. I might be asking you to mail me some more Burt's Beeswax body soap. However, the shower will have to wait due to us washing the towels and "line drying" them. Yeah no dryer but nature's dryer. MMMM smells good huh??
Hope this finds your thoroughly entertained. Best to you all . . .
Amanda and Dylan
So I get to Hong Kong as I said before and my flight was supposed to land at 6:40 PM but due to the long lay over we did not land until an hour later. Then you go through customs much like in the states. Then you go through them again....not sure about the doubling up process but its cool. Then you have to get your bags. Well normally that is not such a problem but it took FOREVER. So I got all three heavy suitcases, my carry-on and my purse/bag and went out to greet/find my husband. He was in the process of having me paged it took that long. So because the long delay and arrival we had to hoof it to a taxi because China borders were closing soon. So Dylan has his friend Paul with us and Paul is Chinese but only speaks Mandarin (I think or Cantonese) either way it wasn't what the driver spoke. So Dylan had to call his boss to translate where we needed to go. By the way the drivers in Hong Kong only drive on the wrong side of the car and road too. Kind of weird but again COOL. So we finally make it to Shenzhen's border which is China. Go through their customs too. Had to tell the customs agent that I was a visitor visiting some friends of mine. And I was admitted entrance to China.
We then all found another taxi and this one took us to our apartment. Dylan had to pull up the directions on his phone to show the taxi driver. Then the driver got lost . . . eeek. But again Dylan's boss Rick saved the day and explained to the driver where to go. Paul helped us lug all of my luggage upstairs to the 31st floor. Can I say and AMEN to elevators and escalators. After we walked in the apartment I saw Lucy for the first time. She must have really bonded with Dylan because she didn't remember me for the longest time and is still acting funny. So Dylan calls his boss again to see if he wants to hang out including Dylan's other friend who lives here and recently married a Chinese girl who is super sweet. His name is Marshall and used to live in GA but moved to China for business and got married. We went to eat (at 10PM which is not uncommon) at a place that is above the KFC but is not KFC. I know weird. We had some good stuff then we decided to go and have a massage. Yeah a massage!! I think it was 11 PM when we decided to go. I had a my feet soaking in a barrel with milk and rose petals. Neat. Then I got the best massage which was soooo needed after lugging the luggage around like some crazy person.
Today Dylan and I went to a neat restaurant and I had Chow MeFun which is rice noodles with pork. They serve hot tea like how they serve water in the states. When you sit down out comes the boiling hot tea. It comes out hot because of the bad water but the bad things are killed when it is boiled so its all good. Then we took a taxi to the Wal-Mart. I was so mad I forgot the camera. It was a sight to say the least. You walk in and you are on the bottom floor which mainly consists of food. Then you grab a buggy and take it on this weird escalator. We were looking for me some towels because Dylan only had one for him and one for the dog. We also found a small wastebasket, a deodorizer for the bathroom (don't ask) and some other necessities for the place. Dylan was supposed to go out when we got back to work on a project while I stayed home and unpacked but he told me it was going to be shorter and he wanted to show me his office so we took Lucy this time (our dog) all over the place and to his office. Its so weird being able to take the dog in stores and in a large corporate building and no one saying anything about it. On the way back from his office we ran into my new boss who was riding his bike around the local area. He's pretty tall and white so you can't miss him. Which by the way on a different note is funny because people stare at Dylan and I all the time. There aren't a lot of white people here in China so we stick out. It's funny. So my boss invited me to a Brazilian restaurant on Friday for the staff at the school including the cleaning staff which totals to 190 members at the school I am teaching at. Beat that at your school. Not the number of staff but the idea of going to a nice restaurant and being paid for by the school. UNHEARD OF!!
So I finally unpacked EVERYTHING and it all fits. We are going to IKEA tomorrow to look for some small furniture to put in the guest room, a basket for my dirty clothes, and maybe something to put my shoes in. As for now Dylan is asleep at 7:30 PM on the couch in the dark with the dog on the other side and I am in the bedroom blogging. We are going out tonight (possibly) for drinks with Marshall and his wife Hongsha (I know I botched it up but it is exactly how it sounds). Oh and the weather here is really muggy so it is best advised to shower at least twice a day if not three times. I might be asking you to mail me some more Burt's Beeswax body soap. However, the shower will have to wait due to us washing the towels and "line drying" them. Yeah no dryer but nature's dryer. MMMM smells good huh??
Hope this finds your thoroughly entertained. Best to you all . . .
Amanda and Dylan
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
And so the final hours remain . . .
Oh dear . . . such bittersweet endings upon us all. As I make my last few calls, eat my last few meals, and share some last minutes of advice from loved ones and awesome friends, I am reminded of how sad this truly is.
My suitcases (that would be three) are packed and my carry-on is stuffed. I wanted to take this time to try and absorb what all is going on in my head.
Good news is that I sold the car. YEAH!!! I think I did it right too but I guess we will find out sooner or later. Hopefully for the good.
So back to the thoughts . . . I am so blessed to have so many friends who care so much about me and a wonderful mother-in-law who has supported me fully and let me stay with her these past few months. She is so much more than a mother in law but a second mother, best friend and wonderful advice giver. She has shown me the word happiness and being joyful at the smallest miracles such as a flower that is one of God's many gifts. I am so blessed to have worked with so many awesome colleagues even though their first impression was definitely not the last one they have of me. As quoted by one of my students this year "I love her because she is CRAZY" and that I am and I am proud to be. Life is too short to sit around and wait for it to bite you on the butt you got to go after it. Never let someone tell you, you can't. If you want it bad enough you'll get it if it means that much to you. If not well then its not worth your time nor energy. I believe that about this trip to China.
Along with my colleagues I have made many friends along the way...Debby Coughlin my very first parapro during my student teaching who saved my butt more than I can count on, Nancy Ragan who showed me the true importance of being organized and a true friend who could laugh with you when a child brings in Viagra your first year of teaching, Lori for all the laughs we had together and who showed me that God comes when we need him the most, Nancy Harris (Hammond or Samples) who gave me a chance to prove the kind of teacher I knew I could be and wanted to be and for believing in me, Joyce Fico for being an wonderful and dear friend to me and accepting my nutso side with open arms and giving me encouragement to reach my dreams, Lindsey Lancaster for making me laugh, smile, and realize I have a crappy memory (love ya girl), Olivia Harbin and husband for many laughs along the way and for encouraging my green side to come out a smidge bit more, Christi for listening to my issues with life and for being a wonderful caring person who also helps me with my chocolate issues, My awesome grade levels in both kindergarten and second grade for helping me learn the ropes and to show me with open arms how to be a success when working with Suwanee's finest, Helen Cain for being my mentor who always lends a helping hand and shows how it is done and has a great positive disposition about herself despite what she will say, The office staff for saving my hiney many times or giving me a heads up every now and then when I needed it. If I have not said your name do not get ticked or girly on me. You know what you did and if you want to email me and I will make an add on.
My family is becoming a family again too. As I look back on how I got to the place where I am now I look back at my foundation. My mom and dad are the greatest despite our ups and downs. There is no doubt in my mind they will love me till the day I die. By showing me their love and right from wrong I am giving them credit to the person I am today...An American CRAZY teacher who is following her dream to China.
Along with adding credits to who I am, I am giving most of my credit to my wonderful and dear husband who has supported me in all I take on and believes that God is in control of this miracle as much as I do and wants to do miraculous things with us in China or wherever he may move us. We owe so much to our church family especially The Chen's, The Dukes, Pastor Duke and his wife Ellen, The Roman's, and the various others who have supported us since the day we stepped in and said "Hi".
So see this is not an easy step to take. But it is important to do and to grow and learn as an individual in this game called LIFE. Taking risks never hurts but the wonderment of "What if" will always haunt you. The world is a big place and being complacent in life is not what God had intended. So we are out to seek the world and find out what all there is to offer here. This is not our permanent home here on Earth but I would feel naive if I had not experienced as much as I could in the time I was given here.
I challenge you all to "move" in your life. Not so much the physical move but do something that is outside of the box for you at least once a week or month. Discovering new things is discovering you.
Always,
Amanda Blankenship
(I see Dylan in less than 3 days and I am ecstatic) wish me well and keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
My suitcases (that would be three) are packed and my carry-on is stuffed. I wanted to take this time to try and absorb what all is going on in my head.
Good news is that I sold the car. YEAH!!! I think I did it right too but I guess we will find out sooner or later. Hopefully for the good.
So back to the thoughts . . . I am so blessed to have so many friends who care so much about me and a wonderful mother-in-law who has supported me fully and let me stay with her these past few months. She is so much more than a mother in law but a second mother, best friend and wonderful advice giver. She has shown me the word happiness and being joyful at the smallest miracles such as a flower that is one of God's many gifts. I am so blessed to have worked with so many awesome colleagues even though their first impression was definitely not the last one they have of me. As quoted by one of my students this year "I love her because she is CRAZY" and that I am and I am proud to be. Life is too short to sit around and wait for it to bite you on the butt you got to go after it. Never let someone tell you, you can't. If you want it bad enough you'll get it if it means that much to you. If not well then its not worth your time nor energy. I believe that about this trip to China.
Along with my colleagues I have made many friends along the way...Debby Coughlin my very first parapro during my student teaching who saved my butt more than I can count on, Nancy Ragan who showed me the true importance of being organized and a true friend who could laugh with you when a child brings in Viagra your first year of teaching, Lori for all the laughs we had together and who showed me that God comes when we need him the most, Nancy Harris (Hammond or Samples) who gave me a chance to prove the kind of teacher I knew I could be and wanted to be and for believing in me, Joyce Fico for being an wonderful and dear friend to me and accepting my nutso side with open arms and giving me encouragement to reach my dreams, Lindsey Lancaster for making me laugh, smile, and realize I have a crappy memory (love ya girl), Olivia Harbin and husband for many laughs along the way and for encouraging my green side to come out a smidge bit more, Christi for listening to my issues with life and for being a wonderful caring person who also helps me with my chocolate issues, My awesome grade levels in both kindergarten and second grade for helping me learn the ropes and to show me with open arms how to be a success when working with Suwanee's finest, Helen Cain for being my mentor who always lends a helping hand and shows how it is done and has a great positive disposition about herself despite what she will say, The office staff for saving my hiney many times or giving me a heads up every now and then when I needed it. If I have not said your name do not get ticked or girly on me. You know what you did and if you want to email me and I will make an add on.
My family is becoming a family again too. As I look back on how I got to the place where I am now I look back at my foundation. My mom and dad are the greatest despite our ups and downs. There is no doubt in my mind they will love me till the day I die. By showing me their love and right from wrong I am giving them credit to the person I am today...An American CRAZY teacher who is following her dream to China.
Along with adding credits to who I am, I am giving most of my credit to my wonderful and dear husband who has supported me in all I take on and believes that God is in control of this miracle as much as I do and wants to do miraculous things with us in China or wherever he may move us. We owe so much to our church family especially The Chen's, The Dukes, Pastor Duke and his wife Ellen, The Roman's, and the various others who have supported us since the day we stepped in and said "Hi".
So see this is not an easy step to take. But it is important to do and to grow and learn as an individual in this game called LIFE. Taking risks never hurts but the wonderment of "What if" will always haunt you. The world is a big place and being complacent in life is not what God had intended. So we are out to seek the world and find out what all there is to offer here. This is not our permanent home here on Earth but I would feel naive if I had not experienced as much as I could in the time I was given here.
I challenge you all to "move" in your life. Not so much the physical move but do something that is outside of the box for you at least once a week or month. Discovering new things is discovering you.
Always,
Amanda Blankenship
(I see Dylan in less than 3 days and I am ecstatic) wish me well and keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Only 11 Days and Counting . . .
Gosh with all of this VISA junk, I am so glad I got mine sooner than later. So only 11 days to go. There are so many mixed emotions going through my head these days. I am trying to end the school year this upcoming week with my kids and I have been catching myself crying periodically in the past few weeks. Also my colleagues are amazing and I cannot believe I have to leave my "Suwanee Elementary" family behind. It's kind of like when I went off to college and leaving one chapter and starting a new (well sort of).
As for now Dylan is moving mountains over in China these days and is finding creative and innovative ways to do so. He is so cute in talking techno talk to me. Being a teacher it is not so easy at times to follow along but I know it is good. Lucy the dog is still loving China as so I have been told.
I am trying to sell a car, tie off loose ends such as going through the storage unit looking for my diplomas (dear God that one was an adventure). My wonderful mother in law went with me and we laughed said a few words and then heaved and hoed a few more boxes around. We finally found them as she kept saying in a drawer. If only I had listened to her the first time.
I am getting more excited as the days draw nearer. Not looking forward to the long plane ride but I am sure it will be an adventure to say the least. Been downsizing the clothes again getting rid of a few things. Just found out they make clothes that are tailored to you and your body type. It only cost Dylan $15 USD for him to get a pair of pants made for him. I can't wait. I am going to try and see if I can get my wedding dress made over there. (Yes I am married but we are having a ceremony later on which does require the need for a wedding dress). Hey if I can get it to fit me that's half the battle there.
Well blessings and wishes to you all,
Amanda :)
As for now Dylan is moving mountains over in China these days and is finding creative and innovative ways to do so. He is so cute in talking techno talk to me. Being a teacher it is not so easy at times to follow along but I know it is good. Lucy the dog is still loving China as so I have been told.
I am trying to sell a car, tie off loose ends such as going through the storage unit looking for my diplomas (dear God that one was an adventure). My wonderful mother in law went with me and we laughed said a few words and then heaved and hoed a few more boxes around. We finally found them as she kept saying in a drawer. If only I had listened to her the first time.
I am getting more excited as the days draw nearer. Not looking forward to the long plane ride but I am sure it will be an adventure to say the least. Been downsizing the clothes again getting rid of a few things. Just found out they make clothes that are tailored to you and your body type. It only cost Dylan $15 USD for him to get a pair of pants made for him. I can't wait. I am going to try and see if I can get my wedding dress made over there. (Yes I am married but we are having a ceremony later on which does require the need for a wedding dress). Hey if I can get it to fit me that's half the battle there.
Well blessings and wishes to you all,
Amanda :)
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