Qidu Hotel Anshan

... book on Obama, a Clay High School yearbook, and a Clay Colonial blanket. Wang Yue, our event organizer, had a difficult time getting us out of the room and on to dinner. We had hot pot for dinner. Sarah got squeamish over the live shrimp being boiled alive, but everyone else enjoyed. The adult table of Chinese principals and staff would normally have had beer, but in deference to our custom of not having alcohol at school activities, they drank water. Tomorrow off to Shenyang.

Today was a big day, but a tiring one. Each member of our group visited four classes; Math, Physics, PE and English. I made the mistake of participating in PE: calisthenics, shooting free throws, running laps, and tai chi. In the afternoon, we were invited to participate in gym time. The boys played basketball against the Chinese and lost by 16 points. The game was ugly! Mr ...

... later. We met the Secretary of the town and toured his elegant home. Next stop was a visit to a "typical" farmer's home. We didn't think it was that typical since it was a beautiful home, newly constructed. Then we took a walk up the mountain to look at the pear orchard. Citizens came out of their homes to look at the parade of Americans. A group of students asked to have their pictures taken with us. Back to the Mayor's office for a sumptious lunch. We feel that all we do is eat ...

... have been the most tasty yet. Then we convened at Haicheng Senior High School to meet the host families. Every student was introduced to the host, and enthusiasm and smiles filled the room. Both students and hosts were delighted by the meeting. Group picture ( of course) and then home. My host is quite gracious and her husband is a wonderful cook. I am writing this morning before I meet ...

... nope. The whole time he was doing it, Liu yi, Li Yi fu, and Da Yi (auntie) all stared at me with amusement. When he stuck the needle in my right nostril, my eye started to water like crazy. Its not that I was crying or in pain, it just struck a nerve I guess. They thought that was hysterical. They asked if it hurt, why was i crying? I pointed to my left eye to show that it wasn't that I was crying, I didn't know why my eye was tearing. it was ...

... with classes, but with the family as well. On Friday it was a Chinese ballet dance class, which lasted an hour and a half and was mostly stretching....owie. Normally it wouldn't be too bad, but in China, teacher comes and stands on your legs or pushes on your back, to make sure your stretching to the limit...once again, owie! Sunday I went to have Chinese lessons with my aunty Liu, or Liu yi as I ...

... to be done on two gas burners. i was shown how to turn on the burners using a little starter. It looks like one of those candle lighters but no flames come out...i guess just sparks? I don't know, but it makes me jump when I turn them on, not that I've used them very much. I have no oven, as Chinese cooking doesn't traditionally make use of ovens, so I'm thinking of buying a toaster oven one of these days....I miss toast, and bread.... As far as ...

... as one word pops out of my mouth in Chinese they are off in a torrent of eager questions and comments, many of which i cannot understand...i have to simply shrug my shoulders and say "Ting bu dong" i hear but don't understand. Anna, as I call her, as the Chinese struggle with Anastasia or Stacy, her nickname in the u.s., has much more Chinese than me and has helped to translate but even she struggles with the never ending questions ...

... and thinking about everyone i love being halfway around the world that i tend to break down and cry. I called Dee this morning and she told me to snap out of it, of course its going to be tough but that's the whole point, i wouldn't appreciate how great it will be if i didn't have to struggle to get comfortable, every new beginning is difficult. I am at the school now after we went over the ideals for teaching, so i have all afternoon and tomorrow morning to prepare a ...

... streets at once. We arrived at Haicheng Senior Middle School 10 minutes late and ran into the building because 3600 students were standing at attention in rows waiting for us. On the balcony, a PE teacher gave orders through the microphone for the flag raising. The Chinese National Anthem played through the speakers. The student leader of grade 3 (grade 12 in US) gave a speech about hopes and dreams, exhorting his peers to work hard and get a good ...