Christmas, Exams, and then some

I can't remember the last time I blogged. I think it's been a while.

I had to write lots of exams and now I'm grading those exams. I made 3 versions in one class and 2 in the other. The kids still haven't caught on because today I received a version A and a version B with the exact same answers. Tisk tisk. I'm done grading the exams given last Friday (yes folks, Christmas), so now I need to get cracking on the exams given today. Instead of napping, I finished a book. I know I wasn't going to read until exams are over and grades are done, but I needed a break and read the first chapter a few days ago....Anyway, it's called The Boy who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. I normally don't talk about books on here and just list them, but this one is notable. It's so inspiring! It takes me back to Africa. I highly recommend it.
Okay, so Emma and I went ugly sweater shopping on Saturday for the party that evening. Apparently, Chengdu is out of XXXXXL sweaters under 30 rmb, so I didn't buy a sweater. Nobody did either. I also ran into a pizza problem. I found a great website for pizzas in Chengdu. I called the number but to no avail. Mutts Nuts Pizza is out of business or changed their phone number without updating it online. So, we ordered from High Fly pizza. They can't deliver between 6-9, so we got the pizzas at 5:15. I forgot that they are "Chinese" sized pizzas...basically the size of an American personal pan pizza. Oh well. I think everybody had a good time. I didn't take any pictures because I was feeling a bit large after shopping today, so I just ate some more. We had pizza, peanut butter balls (thanks Mom :), salsa, chips, velvetta (the one I brought over here in July), ginger bread house, raw veggies and dip, sugar cookies...I went to sleep at 3:30...the party rolled on until 6. I guess I'm a pumpkin.
Andrew and I are still planning our vacation. I was hoping for 22 days, but he was thinking more like 10. In America, people take vacation basically whenever they want. It seems like in China, everybody takes vacation at the same time so the prices are tripled. But, I am getting a membership to The Bookworm in January! So excited!! (It's like a library, but you have to have a membership...lame, but if there is demand....)
A volunteers' birthday is on January 1st, so there will be another party this week. And, 2 volunteers' birthdays are next week. Par-ty!
I've decided that once I get my grades in, I will be celebrating by drinking my Dr. Pepper. Dr. P is quite expensive, so this is the same one I moved in with. I'm saving it for a special day. I thought I would splurge and drink it all the time, but just knowing that I can buy it in Chengdu is comforting.
Oh, ABS!!! I need an email from you!! The suspense is about to kill me!!!

Procrasination is making my life stressful

To Do List:
1. grade papers for writing class (MUST RETURN THEM THIS MONDAY)
2. document grades for writing class
3. write Business Oral exam (2-3 versions)
4. write Writing exam (2-3 versions)
5. write Oral exam (2-3 versions)
6. clean house for Christmas party :)
7. pull out Christmas tree from closet
8. write Christmas letters
9. mail Christmas letters (which will be quite an accomplishment because I have YET to go to the post office...I'm a bad friend/daughter...forgive me)
10. plan vacation (Philippines or Malaysia?)
11. study Chinese because I have to take a test in January
12. exercise

I went to Dufu's Cottage last week. When I get 1 & 2 done, I'll post pictures.

T-23 until BREAK

Thanksgiving 09

Typical day

Last Thursday and Friday, we had a "sports meeting." It's like field day in America, but super serious. I only went on Thursday to watch the opening ceremony and to take pictures of my students.

On the busA sign on campus (I hate that I'm illiterate!)

The opening ceremony
How Chinese people tailgate
Some of my English students
On Friday, I caught up on sleep. On Friday night, I was on the computer, when all of a sudden, my apartment started shaking. I wasn't scared at all. I was actually wondering if I was hallucinating. I wasn't. Apparently, I was awake for this earthquake. I'm no earthquakeologist, so I'm not sure if it's a "real" earthquake, but it's documented as a 5.2. Anyway, glad everybody is okay. Maybe next time I'll actually get up from my computer and get my shoes on?
On the way to Tday
Cooking (I'm hunched over because I'm peeling eggs for the deviled eggs)

Yesterday, we celebrated Thanksgiving! I was running around before going to the party, trying to buy things for the deviled eggs and miscellaneous ingredients for Thanksgiving. We had SO MUCH FUN! Oh how I love Thanksgiving! :)

Emily, Micah, and Allison Only 3 people dressed up, but they made my night! I ended up making gravy from scratch. I don't mean to brag or anything, but my Gramma would have been proud! Gravy was a HUGE success! We all had so much fun! The China 15s stayed and chatted for several hours. I really like our group.
Micah's original shoes (he had to cut the backs of the shoes because his feet could not fit)
Jeesun and me
I think I'm going to have to banned myself from the computer until I get those papers graded and put in the grade book. I hate doing that to myself, but I'm dilly dallying too much. I think I would move much faster, knowing that I'm not allowed to get on the computer. So, if you don't see me on the computer, you know that I haven't finished grading.A neighbor's dinner

Birthday Party Fun!

My weeks are starting to blur together....that can't be a good thing?
Birthday Party!

The Birthday Girl with her birthday present (it's a rabbit head)

I do know that we celebrated Jeesun's birthday last Saturday. We went to a western restaurant called Peter's Mexican Grill. I got a cheeseburger. It was fabulous. One thing I don't like about western food is I get sick if I eat it. I'm okay when I cook, but I get sick when going to restaurants. I blocked knowing that I was going to get sick and thoroughly enjoyed my burger and fries. That evening, we had a sleepover at my house. We watched a movie about pirates. Then a lot of people went out. However, school wears me out, so I couldn't go out out. I need the day of rest. (Ugh I sound like an adult!!) I had one friend that rolled in at 5 am! If I stay out until 5, I'm completely useless the next day. She was up at 11 and ready to go.
School is stressing me out. I've have a migraine the past 3 days. Sigh. And I thought being a student was stressful...
This Thursday and Friday, we have field day at our school. I was wondering why we didn't have field day in the spring like Americans, but then I decided that Chinese people don't like getting sun. So, November (3 degrees C) is a perfect time to run around and play outside. I don't think I'm participating, but I'll be there with jeans on! And, I'll bring my camera to take some pictures of my students.
We are celebrating Thanksgiving this Saturday! :) I consulted my gramma about how to make the gravy, but I currently can't find my notes...I'm southern. I'm supposed to know how to make gravy! I feel like such a fake.
Oh, my tutor informed me that there was ANOTHER earthquake yesterday. I managed to sleep through that one too. I'm a bit concerned. 2 earthquakes within 2 months of each other, and I have yet to wake up. Oh boy.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009pias.php
I can't get the link to link. So, if you want to read about it, you'll have to cut, copy, and paste.

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.