Bus ride baby !

IM HOME!! oh my gosh I love my new home. Asked me what I thought about it 4 days ago and I would have started crying because I was so repulsed. Actually, if you told me I would love my little apartment as much as I do just 4 days after I first stepped into it huffing and puffing with my 50lb suit case I would have bet you $100 dollars you were wrong. Haha suckers! You all missed out on that one. In a way, I guess that this whole hotel in Beijing was a tender mercy. I now can head out and teach being comfortable with my surroundings and really having a “home” so far away from MY home. The shower is great, the toilet really isn't all that bad and I heard that the beds are actually good for your back. I guess its all about hitting rock bottom and realizing that what you have really isnt that bad. *Slice of Humble Pie*

today was our 12 hour bus ride. This really wasn’t as bad as the ride there. I spent most of my time composing my last novel and trying to remember everything .   I guess yall are lucky to have heard from me! These guys over here have sent an email saying hey I’m here and then they haven't emailed at all after that! In fact, Ben, remember him? Army guy and in my great wall of China group said he hasnt e mailed at all or had a journal. So I convinced him to come sit by me and start typing and he did! We typed for a good 3 or 4 hours and then got to talking in  few hours I learned so much about that guy that made me so thankful for my life and my family but also respect him a ton! I felt so bad that he didn’t get to do anything for his birthday and that it was normal for him! While on the bus we had interviews by our head teachers so that they could get a feel on what we wanted to do and what our goals were etc. I told them I REALLY want to do Tae chi and that I wanted to teach in the mornings and with little kids. We also have committees and I asked to be in the service/activities committee and thats just where you set up service projects with the school and then plan activities for the group etc. so hopefully I get the spots ;)

Finally, Sam (roomie) woke up and I sat with her and we chatted and I wanted to finish my journal so I pulled out my lap top and my screen is me and Morgan so I had a what I call “Morgan show and tell” Sam asked to see  pictures so I pulled them up and before I knew it, Christa, Rochelle, ben, josh, Hannah and Maddie were crowded around checking out pictures haha they were laughing when I finally said thats all of em and Ben said “sweet man! I feel like I already know him and we haven't even met!”

We got off the bus and I was unpacked so fast! So tired of living out of a suit case! I love our room. I got those Lysol wipes out and wiped down EVERYTHING and sprayed things down and aired the place out like no one's business! In fact, now when people come to our room they say “not only does your room not stink, but it smells nice!” yeah, I know ;) I love sam I am lucky that I got to room with her. We get along really well .

After my “show and tell” I continued with my novel and Sam talked with Ben and we both, when we got off the bus were thinking we should totally decorate this kids door for his birthday at the very least. Since we spent it on a bus. But it was dinner time, so we went to the cafeteria to figure out our whole eating arrangements. This gets good. We went to the cafeteria and walked up and down and all around stairs and floors to try and figure out where to go and finally got it. We got trays and spoons in a package! We thought well that’s cool do they just do that all the time?? we got our food and were eating when all the little kids come pouring into the cafeteria. It was amazing. My heart was so full to see all those cute kids come running up to me “teacher teacher you teach me English?” “teacher teacher you so beautiful!” those little girls were so adorable. I instantly fell in love. I am so lucky to be here right now. I am so excited. I don't know how I could fall in love with those little spirits so quickly and so much but I did and I was so relieved because its more than I could have hoped for to the point that I had to hold back tears as one after another 1st - 3rd grader came running up “hello teacher!”

after we were done with our food (took me a long time because I was more interested in talking to the students than eating my own food) we went over and dumped the extra into a trash can and then rinsed off our trays into a sink. After that, we went over and put our tray,bowl and spoon into this fridge looking thing (all 22 of us put our things in that place) and then we went back to our rooms... we are a little worried thats all that happens with our trays and food etc...

Ben's Birthday door !

After we got back, Sam and I  had no idea how to surprise Ben so we went into the room that is the “free for all” which is basically a room full of crap that the teachers before us have left because they had no room to take it home. Like clothes medicine shoes blankets etc. so we found streamers tape paper and markers and also another trash can, trash bags and I took an electric blanket/mat to put under my sheets to warm me up at night so I can me at just the right temperature. And we went back into our room. I was trying to draw stuff when there was a knock at the door and Sam answered and low and behold ben was out there asking if he could use our washing machine since their room doesn’t have one yet so I dive rolled onto all our stuff so he couldn’t see it and waited till he was done to continue on. We conducted our operation in such a stealthy manner that we went unnoticed and he was very surprised and happy for what we could tell . I love doing stuff like that.

Tomorrow we have to get up and do training. We are taking pictures and then having a tour, getting our assignments and getting our classes ready because we start school the next day!! ah! So excited and nervous.