Things are actually going really well.
Last week I had a great week, or maybe it was an 'Okay" week and great weekEND , but either way, I'll take it!
During that week I taught some new words by reading kids-books to the kids. It was not my most successful lesson but the week went by regardless and I tried my best. The weekend was the best part! Friday I cleaned relaxed. On Saturday we had plans to go to the city with a teacher. She took us to this place that sold spicy meat on a stick and smoothies and stuff. Everyone else always takes us to "nicer" places and so it was cool to finally go somewhere where they weren't trying to impress the Americans. Plus the food was WAY better than their 'fancy' meals. The cafeteria food is still garbage-sludge at the school so ANY good food is a celestial meal for me.
Then we found a GLORIOUS "dollar store". It had everything we'd been looking for! Namely: CHEAP NICKNACKS and ACCESSORIES! I bought useless stickers and pins and felt better about myself as a person. Honestly I was glad we found it before Beijing because otherwise we'd been thinking of stocking up there. Now we don't have to lug 50 keychains around in our backpacks, which will save room for bricks from the Great-Wall.
I don't know how I spotted the store. It's down these stairs right off the side-walk... but I thought I saw hair ribbons inside.
I've been more specific with my prayers and asking for courage to get out of my comfort zone even more (I already live in CHINA) by putting myself OUT there with the Locals. I am really having a good time with it. Waiting for the bus we talked to strangers and I told them I am from America, I love China and that I like Eggplant (because those are some things I can say). They loved it! It even got me a free seat on the back of some guys bike!
Maybe it was just because we were in such a great mood, but the people at the bus-stop were way nicer than most people in the cities have been. They didn't stare at us with disgust. They laughed and took pictures of and with us. We had a nice time being interacted with and not feeling like Show-Dogs or like we are being horrendously judged.
Garth made a reference to twilight the other day saying we were like the Cullens of our school (/China). He was unquestionably right. We are ALWAYS being stared at and people are not sly when it comes to talking about us. Sometimes it's with awe, but other times contempt. Any of the ways it was nice to feel like a person, not a vampire.
Wait what?
...uhhh... anyway...
That night we were all in such a great mood from the trip into the city that after dinner
we had a party and let loose. There was dancing, french-toast and some kids brought a Rabbit... Crazy! Also they don't have permanent markers here so It was very funny when We looked and saw one of Kiki's students drawing on ZZX's face with my blue sharpie. It was funnier when we explained to him it doesn't come off. The rest of us grabbed some WASHABLE markers and joined in on the action too.
The craziest part of the night was four students (not from the party) sneaked into Garth's room and locked the door. 2 girls and 2 boys. When we finally got them out and told the liaison, we found a Chair in the bathroom next to the toilet? and the bed was unmade. It was pretty scandalous but we all just found it hilarious. We also played more Phase-Ten.
It's an addiction.
I know I said I'd talk about conference, but honestly I don't KNOW what my favorite talk was. Seriously this was the best conference ever. Okay, maybe not really, but for me it was because I was in a different mindset I guess. Everything they said I was like "OhMyGosh! that's the best thing that's ever been said!". I was pausing the download and writing copious notes the whole time. MAN ALIVE! I loved it, but since you asked me to pick a favorite (no you didn't) I guess I'll choooosssseeee..... 3. Sorry.
They are:
"The Savior Wants to Forgive" by Elder Craig A. Cardon
"Catch the Wave" by Elder Russell M. Nelson
and
"Lord, I Believe" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.If you haven't yet listened to conference, you should listen to it.
YES! you.
I am not kidding! Don't read this and forget about it or assume I was being funny or talking to someone else.
Make a note to do it. Make time to do it and DO IT.
PLEASE!
One conference talk helped when it quoted "Be Not Afraid, Only Believe". I have been trying to really focus on putting my faith into action and it's been working. Like previously mentioned, I am trying to expand my comfort zone even more. I still fear my classes a bit, but I have courage to do more intricate lessons. They do NOT all go over well, but when they do it's more satisfying than the alright lessons going over mediocre-ly.
In a letter to Rory I wrote "If mail for me ever arrives I will die of dehydration because I will be so excited I'll pee and so happy I'll cry, thus draining my body of fluids."
My predictions were almost 100% accurate.
I FINALLY got my package from home. The FINALLY is directed to the postal-service not my parents, because they mailed it FOREVER ago and it took (kinda) long to arrive. Oh how it was worth the wait. God bless Candy, Hot Chocolate powder and good ol' Mac+Cheese.
It was seriously the best and most well-thought out package ever received. My mama knew what I had and what I didn't and sent me all the right stuff. I never thought a can of Rosarita re-fried beans could make me cry (jk I always loved you ROSARITA)!
I recorded the Skype call of me opening it. Here are some stills:
It looks like I am sitting IN the box... I'm not but that'd be cool.
This week I took a bag of clothes/dress ups and taught the names of different clothing and played with the kids. They have mid terms this week so I was pretty lax on how much they took in. Some of them will never know how to say WIG or TIARA, which I guess will only devastate their careers if they were going into the Drag-Queen biz.
I was always laid-back because I am probably more excited for the May-Holiday than they are.
Can I tell you why?
No....
In case you didn't get that
I'M GOING TO BEIJING!
We're going on a TRAIN! I get to see (and possibly touch) Pandas AND I'm going to the GREAT WALL BABY!
We leave Sunday....
I'm feel exactly like this elephant:
EXTRAS:
Glasses and Bubbles
Washing clothes, cool buildings, Fans as back-packs and a Funeral Procession setting off fireworks in the streets.
Cool cakes, a Chalkboard I designed for the International Students graduation (after being extremely pestered by their teacher), Me singing Karaoke alone in front of the class because I didn't know what else to do and the Temple on the hill
.
