Accounting students

So last night I get a call from Lucy. Lucy is a student of accounting and had an english class with Miranda last year. She and Miranda were very good friends and have kept in touch. Lucy would like to continue to improve her english and I am her link. I went to meet her and talk with her last night. I wish you could all be flies on the wall and watch as we talk and a few other people gather to listen. On Wednesday night I went with her to the computer lab to look at pictures of her and Miranda and ended up talking with one of the accounting teachers as well. He wanted to take a picture with me and so he asked her to bring me over last night, but he wasn't able to be there. Instead we talked with a few other of her friends and teachers. We went to one teachers office to hang out and a very entertaining photoshoot ensued, of which I was the main attraction. They all wanted pictures with the American, standing up and shaking hands, sitting in the teachers cushy leather chairs, arms around waists, it was pretty funny. None of them, except Lucy, had an english name and asked me to give each of them one. One of Lucy's friends, who came with her to pick me up at my apartment, I decided to name Brian. He is the class president and very kind and quiet. Not really anything like my Brian in Brazil, but I liked him instantly and wanted someone to have that name. One of the teachers I called Kyle, because he is tall and goofy and reminded me of Khyl Halbert (I love you Khyl!). It's so much fun naming people! I love this! It's easier for me to remember as well! Another of Lucy's friend, who is probably the best english speaker of the group, I have decided to call Mark, after Mark Lamborn, because he smiles very often, like Mark. Tonight I told them we will play a game so they can practice their english. One of the teachers told me he really wants to talk to me, but can't remember much of the english he learned because he hasn't used it. This has gotten me even more excited to start teaching! Love you all!

First time for everything!

I woke up early this morning to go the morning market with a colleague and found that is was raining! I do love the rain! Wendy, another teacher in the college, said she didn't think many people would be out selling because of the weather. We decided to go for a little walk anyway and found many people there, not as many as usual, but several. We had walked down the street and were heading back towards the college when I felt something near my right pocket and turned around to find a man had a long pair of tweezers and had stuck them in my pocket to retrieve my money. I've never had that happen before! No wonder fanny packs are in here in China (I know Chelsey, can you believe it!?), not so much as a fashion, but a necessity. We stopped and look at him for a minute and he looked at us and then he ran away when we started toward him! There was a whole group of people standing around us, everyone was very nice and sorry about what had happened. He didn't get very much, only about 40 yuan, which is less than $6. Wendy and were fine, though, no one was hurt, so that's okay! Now I know! Don't go to the morning market without a fanny pack!! Wendy was shocked, she'd heard about that happening, but had never had it happen in front of her. I minute later we were buying some apples and some women came by asking about what happened, they said they saw the guy earlier watching us and that we must be careful with our money!
Last night I was able to talk with one of Miranda's students, Lucy. She and Miranda were very good friends (Miranda is the teacher who was here last year). I went with her to the computer lab and we looked at pictures and I spoke with one of the law professors here. It was so funny! In this computer lab were about 6 boys and it smelled like teenage boys, I thought of Brian's room... They all sat very close so they could listen to us talk, I felt like I was on stage. One boy was very quick to bring me a cup of water. They were very polite and fun to talk with. The students love the opportunity to pracice english because it just doesn't happen very often here. Very few foreigners in Weifang! Life is still good and I am getting better adjusted everyday! On SUnday I will venture to church, we'll see how it goes! Much love!
Kyla

Washing and Morning market

This morning I took a lovely stroll across a bridge and then down the street for morning market. EVERYONE is out early in the morning! Some are exercising, others just standing outside, but most are out for the Morning market. It's kind of flea market meets Farmer's Market. As I was walking amongst all the people I had a flashback of the Flea Market in Gallup, New Mexico. Even listening to the language at times is reminiscent of Navajo. I then wonder about the Asian people and their relationship to the Native American people and I think how amazing it is to almost see the scattering of Abraham's seed. My testimony is strengthened when I think about missionaries among the Native American people and in the Asian countries, the prophesy of Nephi in the Book of Mormon is coming to pass!!!!
Morning market is great! They sell all kinds of fruits, veggies, meats (hanging from giant hook), seafood (shrimp with the head), shoes, many breakfast foods- which are mostly different types of breads, some fried some baked, you can buy tobacco, tofu and many other food items. I ate a long doughnut type thing that cost about 5 cents. Not my favorite, perhaps tomorrow I will try something else. They have this market every morning!
Today is very gray and overcast. While I was out walking this morning, it started to rain a little bit. It is much cooler today, which is a nice break from the intense heat paired with insane humidity causing constant sweat to drip from every part of your body, especially your face, neck and back. Yummy picture, eh? Anybody want a hug?
Last night I did laundry. It was so cool! I have this little plastic washing machine in my bathroom attached to my living room. On one side you wash the clothes. You do this by attaching a plastic hose from the faucet to the machine and then fill up the tub. Once the tub has enough water you put in your clothes and soap, then turn it on for 3-12 minutes, most things only take 5 minutes or so. Then to rinse you drain the tub and fill it again and wash it again and then drain it, you do this about 3 times to get all the soap out. Then you put the clothes in the container on the right side of the machine and spin them for about 3-5 mins to get all the water out, then hang to dry! It is time consuming, but actually kind of fun. The first time was fun anyway, I am sure that will change.
Well, I am going to do some work now! Much love!

Ni hao!

Hello all! I would like to share a little experience I had today with the medical professionals in China. All those who are visiting or leaving CHina have to come to the Health Inspection office and receive a "physical examination". (I use that term loosely) It consists of blood being drawn by a man behind a window with no gloves on and who has just put out his cigarette. He was very good at finding my vein, however. After this, we went upstairs where they performed an ulstrasound on our lungs, this was done behind a red and black sheet and the patient wearing plastic booties, again no gloves. Next was an EKG, done with old school suction cups placed, obviously, all over the chest area, done with other men in the room behind a red and black linen sheet (extremely see through and it doesn't close all the way, if you can catch my drift, not that I'm modest or anything...). Next is a chest x-ray done with all the clothes on, including underwire bras (sorry if you are blushing now, but you see my point, ha!). This was also performed by the ultrasound man who has just put out his cigarette in the room where the blood is drawn. On the form there is also something about an eye and hearing examination which they marked as ok on both Bob and I. Bob is the other foreign english teacher. I really like Bob! He's 80 and has been in China for 10 years teaching english, always at the university level. This is how I spent my Wednesday morning.
Just to clear a few things up, I am in a city called Weifang, in the Shandong Province. Shandong Province is directly across from So. Korea on the Yellow Sea. I am 15 hours ahead of Reno time, so for most of you it is Tuesday night. Just so you know Wednesday is a good day.
The culture is very different here, but the people extremely kind and considerate! The driving/roads/traffic/biking/walking/horsedrawn cart riding is hazardous to your health, I don't watch anymore. I love the food! I may gain another 30 lbs while I'm here, which I don't need. But man am I going to love getting there! All the food is fried and greasy and SALTY! AND so good. Last night I had seafood pie at a Korean restaraunt, mostly made up of squid and maybe octopus and some shrimp, mostly squid. I also had kelp and some other mysterieous greens, but they were all tasty! I haven't bought one meal yet! Everytime we go out, the other people I am with pay! It's very kind, but I'm sure it's breaking their bank! Wendy, another english teacher (her real name is Zhou Jing), keeps saying next time, next time you will pay. SHe's so sweet! I haven't felt much of a culture shock, the first day I thought what am I doing!? But quickly got over it once I slept 12 hours. I love how different everything is! It will make me stretch and I really like that!
All of the freshmen arrive Monday and Yesterday. They will now do two weeks of military training before starting classes. Today they received their uniforms, looking out the window at the dorms, I see many green camaflouge t-shirts hanging out to dry.
I also found out today that I will have to give a lecture to several hundred of the student body twice during the semester. Hmmm... I asked Sun (pronounced "soon") what teacher have done in the past, he said they talked about music, the culture, anything really. SO, if you have any ideas, please share! I will also ask the students what they'd like to hear more about and see what the response will be. Bob is going first, xiexie (thank you, pronounced "shye shye"), Bob!
I guess that's all for now! More later! I love and miss you all so much! Thanks for your friendship, prayers and support! It all means so much to me!!!

Week one!

Hello everyone! I hope this shows up for you in english! My end is coming up in Chinese! Who knows whats going on! I have arrived! Things are very different here! The driving is incredibly scary, they basically do whatever they want. If they are behind someone who is too slow, they will go on the wrong side of the road to avoid them. People ride their bikes and walk mostly. I went to the store yesterday with my supervisor, Wendy. She also teaches english, very sweet girl! The grocery store was 5 stories high, one floor was food, the other books, toiletries and school supplies, another was electronics, another clothes, another shoes. It was insane! I took a bus ride there and a taxi back, the bus was 1 yuan which is just a few cents american. The taxi was 6.60 yuan. 100 Yuan is about $12, just to give you an idea. I can't believe how cheap everything is! I bought TP, towels, bug spray, a note book, a Chinese-English dictionary and a few other things for less than 100 yuan. Yesterday was so hot and very humid, sweating like a pig!!! I use kleenex for my face, neck and chest now, not just my nose I'm wiping any more! The people are so friendly and very service oriented! The service in the stores and on the airplane was like nothing I have ever seen before! They also stare at me quite a bit, but I am pretty sure I am the only American for miles, except for Bob, the other foreign american teacher, but he's Japanese American. I am loving it! I can't wait for school to start and the students to get here, the freshman came in today, they were decorating when I left my apartment this morning. I will post the pictures so you can see the campus, it's a great campus! I love you all!

Off to China!

Here I go! I hope I survive the 13 hour flight! Maybe I will practice using chopsticks....