Back in the States

Arrived home in Wilmington in the wee hours of Wednesday the 22nd. Spent the day washing clothes and unpacking goodies. Today went grocery shopping and got back to normal. What a trip! Hope you enjoyed the blog. Check back for new posts ~ new topics.

3 Days in ShangHai

Well, I couldn''t write this blog in ShangHai as I wasn't close to the only laptop which could bypass the Chinese internet. So, here goes in the past tense.

First day in ShangHai we went to Watertown, a section of ShangHai full of small shops and local culture. It was oppresively hot and the guide spoke only Chinese. Didn't get a lot out of that! Did ride a small boat and bought a couple of things. We then got herded (literally) to two OUTLETs. Lastly, we went to a "garden" ~ like mine, not well kept. Dinner was great! A western flair ~ salmon and sauerkraut, a Chinese reuben. It was delicious. Even a Coldstone Creamery. Don't ya love it!

Next day was fun but a scorcher too (104 F). Record highs for ShangHai and we were out walking the ShangHai marathon with Yazeng. The Pearl Tower in the AM ~ 261 meters into the sky. Amazing view, scared Carolyn. I really did enjoy it though. Beautiful views of ShangHai area. Lunch in Old ShangHai (our last really Chinese meal) and a hike to the Museum, although we never got there. Finally, a boat ride on the river, got to see the Pearl Tower litup at at night. Very nice.

Third day was packing and airport. Not much to report there.

Home to the states on a painless flight from ShangHai.

Until next time...

Last Day of Teaching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, off to Shanghai

Can you hear me cheering?  You should because I have taught my last classes for my trip ~ 2 fifth grade groups so they were right up my alley.  I must say I am ready for a teaching break.  Tonight we will have a farewell dinner with our Chinese teachers before we depart for Shanghai tomorrow.  We will go to the Brocade factory here in Nanjing in the am and then get the train to Shanghai.  Heavy suitcases again ~ ugh.  We will tour Shanghai Sunday and Monday and then depart for the US Tuesday am.  I hope to post again from Shanghai, but I don't know if I will have access to a computer that bypasses the Chinese internet.  

Hope everyone is fine and I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Have I told you about the bathrooms?

Until next time...

Two More Teaching Days and A Night on the Town

Two more teaching days down.  I changed up the menu and we did body parts and the Hokey Pokey.  It was hilarious and the kids seemed to enjoy it.  I even drew a person (!) as they told me different body parts so it wasn't connected until the end.  Gave me an excuse for being a terrible artist.

Yesterday afternoon we went on a great journey.  We do not get to go to Bejing for the Great Wall so we went to the Nanjing City Wall which was quite beautiful.  Nanjing is a very old city and I think this wall was constructed before the one in Bejing.  We then went to a fabulous restaurant and had another king-sized meal.  McDonald's doesn't supersize nearly as well as the Chinese do!  We had some amazing shrimp and scallops.  A first for me since I have been here.  Of course everyone ate too much.

We then walked back to Confucious Temple for a boat ride around the river (?)  It was beautiful with all of the lights but hot as $%^# in the boat.  I was ready for it to be over.  The weather has been very Wilmington-like with high temps and lots of humidity, but sometimes it just seems worse :)

Today is my next to the last day of teaching ~ 2 3rd grade classes.  Should be interesting.  Yet another school as well.  A free evening and then the last day in Nanjing.  We will leave for Shanghai Saturday afternoon for 3 days of sightseeing in Shanghai before coming back on Tuesday.

What a trip it has been!!!!!

Have I told you about the bathrooms?

Until next time...

Two Days of Second Week's Teaching

I have now completed two days of teaching in week two.  We are going to several different schools and doing an hour and a half "dog and pony show."  It is tiring because these students know less than our camp kids.  Also, we do not have a Chinese teacher so the behavior isn't quite as good.  But, whatever...

The hours are mostly all morning or all afternoon.  We do have some down time this week and that is nice.  I have shopped a little during that time.  I am hoping to get a dress made while I am here.  About $70 US.  Remember I have to get the "fat girl" size here in China, as I have t^^^ and a^^.

Dinner has been casual the last couple of nights.  We found a place that does a mean veggie pizza and an american restaurant, Jimmy's, with great American beer :)

Tomorrow we will go on a boat ride.  That should be great.

Have I told you about the bathrooms?

Until then...

July 11 - Work Day and Shopping

Not much to report for the 11th.  We were able to negotiate a day off between sessions since they are different focus for planning.  We planned in the am and went back to Confucius Temple in the pm to shop.  It is very hot and we didn't last too long.  We are drinking a great iced coffee at KFC so we did enjoy that.  Last night we had dinner at a Coffee place near by - good, then back to hotel for last minute planning and low key evening.  I am finally starting the first of 3 books I thought I would read while I am here.  Oh well.  

New classes start the 12th. 2 1 1/2 hour classes per day plus we are now picking up 2 hours for the two teachers who stayed at camp.  Mine are the 13th and 14th first thing in the am so done early.

Oh yeah, have I mentioned the bathrooms?

Until next time...

July 10 - Day Off; Sightseeing and Massage

Today (actually yesterday as I am a day late writing) was our day off.  We started the day going to Purple Mountain, a National Park.  We climbed over 800 stairs looking at Statues, tombs, etc.  We also rode a ski lift up to the top of the mountain.  It was very hot but also very interesting.  We found a little restaurant at the park who sold western style food, as well as Chinese and I had a club sandwich!  The meat looked a lot like spam.  I also had a "shaved" coffee, which was like a milk shake only better - Andes mints chopped up in it!

In the evening we went and had a massage - a deep tissue massage (I still hurt).  The masseuses were blind.  It was enjoyable although my guy was a little heavy handed :)  It costs all of $10 for an hour massage.  Not bad, eh?

Saturday finds us planning for our next week of teaching.  We see over 200 students but only for one period of an hour and a half.  Kinda like a guest speaker I guess.  Afternoon for shopping and hanging out. 

Oh yeah, have I mentioned the bathrooms>?

Until next time...