I wish it were easier to post from China because there are so many interesting photos and stories. The adrenaline has definitely worn off and I find myself getting into a routine of waking at 5:30 (even though I can sleep until 6:30), preparing for the day, heading to breakfast and knowing what each item in the buffet is, eating with chopsticks, drinking broth rather than tea or water, then heading to the hotel desk to renew my key daily and making the 20 minute walk to school, dodging cars and motorbikes along the way. I don't jump as I'm honked at anymore, just keep moving and being aware of where I am in relation to others. We have a routine for our class now and we start with circle time, the calendar and songs.

We are covering a lot of vocabulary in the class. Students have a lot of writing and vocabulary skills but we are spending a lot of time talking and singing. I am seeing progress even after a short time. The school where we teach is huge- usually 6000 students with 70 to a classroom. The floors are crumbly concrete and the furniture is primitive with narrow tables for two and small, narrow benches (a 2" x 4" x 12" seat). The is a blackboard in the front and back of the classroom and our only supplies are the few I've requested and what we brought. I immediated rearranged the classroom making two large tables from 6 tables each and opening up area for a group space and small group areas. It makes it sound spacious but with our 25 kids in the afternoon, it's not. They range in age from 4-13 in my group. We always have parents in the roon and often other unidentified adults. I've been photographed and videotaped and observed to the point I don't even notice it anymore.

Things have changed from our original plans. The camp attendance isn't what they hoped for so the second session is canceled. We are instead spending time touring China which I am very excited about. We will be staying in the same areas we originally planned but seeing more things.

Many of us are feeling the effects from eating and drinking here, without going into many details. The heat can also be oppressive so that may be part of the problem as well. It's hard to drink enough when I have to be so careful about where I get water. I am starting to only have a hard boiled egg at the buffet, then head to my room for a banana and some International Coffee mix I brought from home. I eat a decent lunch and then I'm rarely hungry for dinner so we often pick up something at the grocery store to munch on. I haven't been sick but I have felt a bit off at times.

I appreciate your messages. It makes home feel just a little bit closer.