Papers Galore!

Last Sunday, Emily and I went to a fabulous western store called Sabrina's Country Store. It's incredible! It's a little America right in the heart of Chengdu. We ordered our Thanksgiving turkey! Who would have thought it would be easier to get turkeys in Mali than in China? The turkey we are getting is a frozen turkey imported from America. (In Mali, we went to a Turkey farm and picked out our turkeys. Then we outsourced someone to kill, cut, and clean them.) We are getting an 8 kg turkey. I thought it was too big, but Emily says she eats a lot of turkey. And, I did not take into consideration that that is the weight of the turkey before cooking it. We only have large toaster ovens...it ought to be an interesting Thanksgiving. (AND, we are dressing up! I can't wait! I'm a pilgrim by default. I need to get my bonnet and outfit ready.)
This past week was midterm week. I'm a grading fool! College in America and China are SO DIFFERENT.
I was also informed last week that there were some misunderstandings about what I said a few weeks ago in one of my classes. I'm still not used to all of the indirect communication.
Other than lots of papers, last week was pretty uneventful. Emma and I went shopping yesterday. I bought some Ugcs (knock off of Uggs). They are so comfortable! I think I should have gone down a size. I guess I should wear thick socks and maybe get some shoe liners. I also bought an orange and blue scarf! It makes me smile!
Upcoming Events:
November 17th: Turkish Food w/Emily and Andrew
November 21st: Birthday Party!
November 28th: Thanksgiving Celebration
December 21th: Birthday Party!
December 25th: Christmas Day
December 26th: Ugly Sweater Christmas Party
January 1st: Happy New Year! (No School!)
January 8th: Birthday Party!
January 18th-29th: In Service Training
January 22nd: Last Day of the 1st semester
January 30th-February 28th: HOLIDAYS
February: My Birth Month! Planning on being somewhere where long johns are unnecessary

Evaluation and Birthday Fun

On Friday I had my evaluation from Peace Corps. One of my bosses watched 45 minutes of 1 of my classes. Our school then took us out to lunch. Later the PC boss came to my house and told me what she thought about my class. I will take some of her advice. I felt frustrated at times because she informed me that the students were already taught debate and resume writing. Unless somebody tells me, I don't know this.

The Birthday Girl!
Site mates
Yesterday, we went to an all you can eat (and drink) Japanese restaurant to celebrate Mai's birthday. We had such a great time! The restaurant is so cool because you take off your shoes. If you have to go to the bathroom, they provide slippers. Definitely a fun Saturday night.
This week's forecast: LOTS of papers! It's the midterm week. Oh goodness.
One of my classes

Halloween and such

Halloween was a lot of fun. Our 1 hour trip turned into 3 hours, but that happens a lot when Andrew and I go places. It's because we get only 1/2 of the story of directions. For instance, we didn't know we had to tell the ticket lady where we were going to get off. We kept on waiting for our stop, but it turns out, our stop was a special stop and you had to ask for it. It was so funny! We rolled up into the bus station and, and he says something that made me laugh really loud. I'm so relieved he's laid back, and I've lived in Africa because getting lost is nothing to me. We ended up making it to the party, but had to leave soon afterward because we were "being loud". And, it was a group of mixed foreigners, not all Americans. We then when out to eat and ate duck pot. It's so good! And, then I had a sleepover at my apartment! I love sleepovers! We stayed up until 2 am talking!
My Chinese parents visited me on Sunday. They brought me milk, oranges, and milk tea. I really do meet some of the nicest people when I live in other countries! We had noodles for lunch. My mom is so sneaky and paid the bill while we were eating! I fought them, but I lost. They met my tutor, Joe, and she was so momish. She told him to tell me that I lost some weight (yippee!) and I need to get more rest and take care of myself. Thanks CM (Chinese Mom)!
Yesterday Joe and I went on a field trip to Ikea. I didn't realize how much I time I could waste there! I'm pretty pumped because I have an Ikea card now! :) I bought a blanket, lotion, and a throw. I'm pretty stoked about the blanket. It has the warmth level "6" (the highest). I'll let you know if they lied to me in about a month.
I also have some fairly interesting stories to tell today too. Where to begin? I hate being sick. What is even worse (that I didn't even realize was an option) is being sick at school without doors on the bathroom. Sigh.
I participated in the faculty field day. Basketball is NOT my strong suit! I made 3 baskets in a minute! This is bad, but I felt better because I did better than 1 person. However, I rocked at discus throwing! I either got 2nd place in the faculty division or 2nd place in the woman's faculty division, but regardless, I redeemed myself.
When I was in the car, I saw (seriously) a 2 year old kid driving a power car on the street! NOT KIDDING! I forgot I had my camera with me, but it really made me laugh (the parent was beside the kid...so were cars driving past the kid...we were one of them). Then at dinner, I asked what the meat on the table was. My friend said what it was, but I really didn't understand because of his accent. He pulled out the electronic dictionary and while I was putting it into my mouth he was like Pig and then showed me the dictionary...Bowels.
My friends' birthday is today. We are going out to eat this weekend to celebrate! I'll take some pictures this weekend and post. I did take a few pictures at Halloween, but in all of them, I have a candy cigarette in the picture...it looks like something illegal...I used my best judgment and decided not to post.

Disbelief

I can't believe November is next month! Crazy!!!

Last week was uneventful :) at home. I was told yesterday that our water will get cut from 11 pm to 5 pm. It hasn't happened yet, but I am prepared! I got home last night at 10:30 and started wash. My washing machine is so slow filling with water, so I helped it out a bit. I was also informed that on Wednesday, we will lose our power 9 am-5 pm. That really won't affect me. Oh the joys of living downtown where they are doing construction on the metro.

Last week, a student really disrespected me so I kicked him out of class. I was trying not to make a scene, but it ended up becoming a scene because he refused to give me his cell phone (I saw him using it so I take it and then give it back at the end of my class.) The class was extremely well behaved after that!

Yesterday I gave my culture lecture to a group of 220 freshmen. My topic was American food. My favorite part of the presentation was explaining what a fortune cooke is! There was a picture so it made it much easier. The kids applauded when I answered a cell phone. They thought it was hilarious when I answered in Chinese, "Hello? in class! I am the teacher. I'm not happy. Goodbye."

I bought the first 5 seasons of The Office. My DVD player won't read them, but it seems so anti-Peace Corps to buy a DVD player.

Halloween is on Saturday. I still don't know my costume. Right now, I'm thinking a construction worker.

The sun is shining! Oh happy day!!

Busyness

One time in Mali, I went 5 months without paying my water bill. It was a rough few weeks without water, but it was a collective effort to get everybody to pay (one bill, 5 households). I am 14 days late paying my internet, and poof...gone. I didn't do that deliberately. I just assumed (incorrectly) that I would receive a bill. I was wrong. But for the environment, it's probably a good thing. Lots of trees are being saved.
I went to the school where I began volunteering. They had a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me! It was so sweet of them! The students were so curious! Everybody had to get a glance of this lǎo wài (foreigner). It was a little bit like Mali. It's nice being adored. My college kids are so over having a foreigner as a teacher.

I have been a paper grading fool! I made a dent. It's just not big enough! My weekend was spent grading papers. I also went out with friends Saturday night. We had a good time. We are still deciding what to do for Halloween.

This week was so busy, but less eventful than the previous week. I still open my kitchen door quite cautiously....

Shenanigans

I received a call on Sunday night to go sightseeing with a coworker. He was a host family for another volunteer. I readily accepted. Yea! I'm integrating! He failed to mention that along with sightseeing, he told another school (unknown to me) that I would teach at their school. I didn't even get the heads up! I can't accept money, so I am taking this on as a secondary project. I spoke to my tutor and asked him how he would handle it. He would have handled it like "non-sensitive" American Katie, not Chinese Katie. Oh, well. I told my teammate, and he told me I'm "too approachable." I never thought that would be a bad thing...the next job interview I get, when asked my weaknesses, I guess I can say I'm too approachable.
A volunteer who was training at my school gave me a few contact numbers. I finally got around to calling on of the numbers on the list. We went shopping together. I bought a purse for 3 dollars. It's funny going shopping with someone so thin (I like to think I looked like her in high school.) She is funny without trying. She asked if I were shopping for clothes and I said I don't China has clothes for me. She looked me up and down and said my mom's fatter than you. Then we went into a little store and the salesperson said something and she translated "This store caters to fat people." Thanks! So good to know.
On Wednesday, I went to hot pot with the Dean and her husband. Her husband went to America several years ago and had lots of memorable experiences. Her husband is a huge Ryan Reynolds fan and talked a lot about his movies. He was really funny. You could tell the Dean already heard these stories a few times before... That evening, I went to my kitchen to turn on my gas (to take a hot shower) and a rat scurries out. You can ask any of my fellow friends in Mali, but I tend to become hysterical when I see rats. The same thing happened in China. I called Andrew (teammate), and he came to investigate. Then the rat disappeared! He assured me that the rat wasn't in my house anymore.
The next morning, I am walking out of the bathroom, and that little POS is trying to come in! The rat took my breath away. We both kinda froze, and he left. I called Andrew again, but he was asleep. I called my tutor, but he was asleep too. So, I hid in my room with the door shut. An hour or so later I texted Andrew that I really needed his moral support. He returns and I tell him that I'm going to be brave today and not scream. Unbeknownst to me, there are drawers at the bottom of my bookshelf. Andrew opens the draw, and it is full of peed soaked paper, rat poop, and peanut shells. Sigh. I told him I think we (i.e. you) should open all the drawers. The next drawer he opens, a rat is in it! I broke my promise and screamed. Whoops. With some teammate work (I shook the couch and Andrew put 2 rat traps beside each other), we caught it! SUCCESS! I was a big girl and made a "rat sandwich" out of 2 of the sticky pads. I took it out to the garbage (with gloves on of course.) I then ran out the door because I was going to have lunch with my homestay family. I told them I was running late. It turns out, the whole family was waiting on me! Oh Chinese! I'm inconveniencing them so much, but not a word was said. I thought we were having a quiet lunch at home when in reality, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, mom, dad, and sister were all waiting on me. We ate duck. It was fabulous.
I went back to work yesterday. I also have to go today (it's Saturday). It was a much needed break.
I hope next week is less eventful.

A Story of Inspiration

I saw this on the BBC, and it honestly gave me the chills. THIS is how develop will happen.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8257153.stm