One of those days

3-18-13

Today we went to the K(pie symbol) Kid- Dear kindergarten... mouth full? You betcha! Haha this kindergarten is actually ran by a dude! Crazy huh? Last night we were told we needed to meet at the gate at 7:40 rather than 8:00 so we got there and met our driver or at least whom we thought because he walked up to us and said something like with Kelly? So we said yes and he motioned us into his van and holy crap as I am writing this we are stupid hahaha we totally could have gotten taken and sold to the highest bidder! … oops... we got in the van and it seemed like he was asking is this all of you? And we weren't sure if head teachers were coming or where Kelly was so we just said yes and he went on his way! Haha man we are pretty dumb. But as you can already guess, since there is a Dellany here to write this experience down you know I lived to tell the tale.

We ended up picking up Kelly and then driving to the “N-pie Kid- Dear Kindergarten” I kind of wish we would have left her home because she informed us that next week we will need to be at the gate at 6:40am so the buss can come get us... drat. However I guess its cool cuz then we are going to go and pick up the kids and then head to the school. I am still wavering back and forth with it though.... o well, we got to the school and it really does look like a castle it was really cool and it is built right across the beach! When it gets warmer I will love it. But it was SOOO cold today that with the wind, I swear I felt my blood coagulate. After we got a tour of the outside playground and their gardens (each class has their own garden) I really like this guy's ways, he teaches the kids more than just education, he teaches them about life. These kids get book smart and learn how to survive with the basics. Right before I froze over, We got inside and It was a very cute place! We walked around and in one room we entered to see a big picture of Jesus Christ on the wall.... hmmm. But I was told... this must be china. Kelly also noticed the picture and she asked Equal (that’s the directors English name) something pointing to the picture and he said Daoism something in Chinese and Buddhism and then Kelly asked Rachelle who that picture is of and so she told her Jesus Christ as she wrote down the name in her phone then said to Equal “these guys are too. That is why they are so good people. I need to be better.” and we just looked at each other and kept on walking haha the symbol/logo of the school is also one with a religious meaning. Equal saw me looking at it and he explained the line at the bottom of it is a symbol of the bible and westernization and the v part of it Is symbolizing of helping lift up like the teachers and the Circle is a drop of Dew showing life. And some other meanings but I can't remember them now.

We got assigned to our room and then our classes began! I taught my good ol Snow White lesson again and finished my first 4 classes when the teacher told me to follow her to my next class. I did as I was told and entered what seemed to be a nursery room.. What gave that away? The 2 – 4 year olds sitting around a table waiting for me... yes I taught 2- 4 year olds and you better believe I talked to myself for a full 20 min! We rotated and then I got a whole other group just like the first! Yeah, I can hold a pretty good conversation with myself now just so you all know ;)

Classes ended and all 4 of us met up and sat in the “Jesus room” obviously the one with him on the wall. We had to wait about 40min for lunch so we sat there and lost body heat haha in China, they could really use Air Design to take over. There are no heaters and as far as I can see, no A/C either. So its freezing outside, windy and we are right by the beach. I’m not sure if that really does anything but the girls said it did and I believed it cuz it was cold! Poor Maddie had to Pee and when she asked them, they told her no no wait for lunch... so we occupied our time trying to convince her to (with our ever so increasing squatting skills) to pee in one of the pots that their plants are in! When dogs pee it fertilizes why not human right? She would help a class get an A+ and it would be an amazing story! In fact I was laughing at the thought of it. Haha well, Maddie couldn't do it. She was too worried about someone coming in and the Jesus picture staring at her .40min passed and we got called to go eat! Thank goodness! Right? HAHA!! if we thought that room was cold we walked into a room that was cement walls and a kitchen and I was trying to make my way to the table without running into a wall because my breath was so thick! How in the world was it so freaking cold in there I will never know but it was like an ice box and I was definitely an ice cube! Lunch was pretty good but I couldn't have gotten done soon enough! With my teeth chattering and toes going numb I sat there listening to Equal's philosophy of life and teaching. He told us how he uses ancient Chinese culture to open up the students minds and help them develop life skills etc. I’m sure it would have been very interesting if I wasn't developing signs of hypothermia! At last we got the “i will drive you to your school” and we were on our way. But not before he gave us 2 boxes of 25 Banana milk juice boxes each. Haha thanks Confucius, please just let me in your car!

We got in the car and I was starting to regain feeling in my toes when I realized “hmm I actually feel pretty safe” instead of swerving all around the road and weaving in and out of traffic and running red lights. Equal took us through the scenic route back to the school. Stopping at the red lights and staying in the lane. But then my second thought was.. “shoot, we are going to miss in-service” my third thought? “whatevs”

We got home and started marching up the stairs. Routine efficient steps to make sure every movement was necessary and productive to get us INDOORS. Maddie was already at the top of the steps and I’m sure if she wasn't any quicker her tear ducts would start leaking fluids that aren't meant to be leaked from there.. on my way up Sam told me that they said packages should be in the copy room at 1:30. we have both been waiting for one and she had to go help teach a class so I told her I would check. It was 1:00 so I thought I would just wait in the copy room so that I didn’t have to go to my room then back to the copy room... that lasted 5 min and I was heading to my room. On my way there I saw the head teachers and told them sorry about in-service we just got back and they were pretty cool about it, we told them about the 6:40 am thing and they said they were going to check on that because ILP teachers can only teach a certain number of hours and that is including drive time so maybe we won’t be allowed to do that! Oh man, that would be great. They didn’t seem to care about the in-service thing but they were headed to the hospital with Mikelle one of the teachers (the one I roomed with in Korea) because she has an in grown toe nail and has to get it operated on. SCARY! I Got up to my room and put another pair of socks and pants with a shirt and jacket on then curled up in my bed... that helped. What the heck happened here? It was so warm! Well I checked my emails and then just didn't feel up to doing much of anything. Probably would have been smarter to wait for the copy room to get opened but I was inside and I didn’t want to go out. Then, the internet went dead. Ugh. China why do you have to electronically fail me?? I finally convinced myself about an hour later to go check and I Dellany Olsen got my package from my momma! Thank goodness. Love the American stuff. I opened my package and then set all my stuff up ( pictures and frames etc :) ) and that led me to cleaning and re organizing my whole half of my stuff and closet and desk etc. I love doing that and the feeling you get after everything is done and in place! Love it. I started getting a head ache though and just felt bleh like an emotional and physical over load and a good nap was definitely in order. And I did just that.

I woke up in time for dinner. Chowed down and then came back to the room to realize that no one had internet and every one was annoyed by it. It is just one of those days. We all are tired and cold and annoyed ha or at least I am so I guess through my eyes so is every one else! I didn’t feel up to FHE so I just made sure everything is ready for tomorrow, showered off my body and now its bed time! Goodnight. Maybe tomorrow will be better.