I AM THE QUEEN

Last Thursday classes got canceled for testing and I don't have classes on Fridays. I also don't work the weekends so I had the weekend and a couple extra days off. When I went back to teaching on Monday I was first-day nervous all over again. It went well though. I taught them a Hello song. Tuesday was no so good. The kids were naughty so I had to yell and be the bad guy (which is always tough, but becomes worse when you know they have no idea what you're screaming at them). By the last class I was tearing up while I showed a picture of my family to the class and repeated "I love my family". All I could think was 'I DO love my family and I left them to yell and scream at you guys all day'.

I mean they were bad. YELLING in my ear and laughing, sneaking into my backpack trying to take my stuff, wouldn't sit down, wouldn't be quite, pushing me, trying to get in my pockets, mocking me.... terrible terrible terrible kids. Now it's Wednesday and the kids in my Wednesday classes are all pretty smart and attentive and the ones who don't pay attention usually just quietly read. I can dig that.

 On a brighter note, we finally had our first sunny day here!

 

AND.... then directly after we had a storm that knocked out the power more that a couple times and stayed off for big chunks of the night. It was fine. The only real downside was that it knocks out our heaters (that don't work very well in the first place) so it was cold, but we all survived.

scriptures to warm my heart
and a hot water bottle to warm my toes
no power,no fun/... ok it was kind of fun

 After the aftermath clouds of the storm cleared away we have had sunnier days.

 On Saturday we FINALLY went grocery shopping. I bought food and boring stuff like towels and floor-mats but I was excited about them! I was more excited to buy cleaner and a toilet brush than I was to buy clothes or souvenirs.

my necessities didn't necessarily have to be so Asian looking... but when in Rome right?

I...I will  survive. As long as I buy lots of treats I know I'll stay alive.

Star fruit! (why buy regular fruit if you can buy fruit that is just like Eve the barbie?)

We all had mini-heart attacks when our cards (that were advertised to work) didn't work and the ATM spit in our FACES (also didn't work). After searching we found a bank that's ATMs did work (finally) and then we could breathe normally again. Otherwise I would have had to make like 30 bucks last until July.

How we felt when the ATMs didn't work

How we felt when it DID

We went to the fanciest Pizza Hut ever. (Wal*mart and Mcdonalds and KFC are all pretty swanky here. It's weird.)

I cried when I saw Pizza... It was so beautiful. I was so happy to eat cheese and feel full.

Pizza, I will always love you.

The first place that has offered cold beverages (besides bottles drinks)
They even asked if I wanted ICE! SCORE!

On Sunday we had church over a phone conference call. It took us long to figure out how to work it so we missed the sacrament portion of sacrament meeting. I guess we’ll find out how that works next week, but the rest of testimony meeting was cool and spiritual and stuff. Relief Society was very relieving and society-y.

We ate dinner at a place that was similar to fondue style except you just throw veggies and meat and stuff into boilding water instead of oil and then scoop it out. The spicy side of the pot was WAY spicey and we ordered WAY to much food and had a Great time. Tessa and Caroline invited us and we loved it! (they are teachers at MAYFLORA too)

We wanted to sit on the swing tables but apparently it's only for romantic dates

Pigs blood. Yep I ate it.

Here are other random city shots:

bus

make your own perfume

a model of the wal*mart building I was in....Crazy

Bleached apples for pictures!

Or words!

I drove us there

Dried fish/ sting ray things/ jelly fish and stuff

Frogs for dinner anyone? (located right next to where you buy beef and fish and stuff)
These are not going to be anyone's pet

China has stolen my Heart!
(Pig...I think Pig... Hearts!)

We guessed it was Honey

Cool little Car thing

inside cool car thing

man lighting a huge paper pile just in the road right next to some dead bushes. 

I have been crying over spilled milk when it come to my packing. Not too badly, but there are a couple of things I wish I would've brought more of and some less of. The one thing I have NOT regretted was bring a Ukulele! I just love playing! It's hard enough that it distracts me and is an awesome escape/stress reliever, but it is easy enough that I enjoy it and don't get frustrated!

so... I love it! Just ask my family! I sing to them all the time every time on SKYPE!

I have started a strange habit of walking to the top of hills or the clock tower or from my hotel window on the 6th floor taking creepy stalker photos from above

this lil cutie wheeled this around for like 20 minutes

Albino Asian!

Recess Eagle and Hen game

Line up

Creepin on Garth

busted

Loose Ends

I asked a teacher to take a picture for us and this is the job he did

looks better after I cropped 80% of like the building out and
the random boy photobomer

this is Lorry. We are basically the coolest.

 Lastly...

I have gained the children's trust.

They have made me their Queen

I am their leader.

 

 What's really happening here: the kids are lined up for stretching/orientation.
 This is only the Primary (elementary) students.
{ Grade 2-6 I believe.}