Settling Back In

I am back in Xi'an and settling back in to everyday life, as well as getting into a routine of what this year will look like.

Studying Chinese: Instead of going to a university this year, I have 2 tutors who will continue teaching me Mandarin. Rebekah (a teacher from my school last year, and one of the ladies I met without throughout the year), will tutor me 3 days a week for 2 hours each session. Victoria (who was one of my teachers last year), will tutor me 1 day a week for 2 hours, and will be focused more on speaking conversational Chinese during that time.

Teaching: So, I recently met with two teachers from the preschool to discuss logistics of teaching English at their school. Originally I was asked to teach 4-6 year olds, but due to an increase in other foreigner teachers coming to help, they now need me to teach 6-7 year olds instead. I will begin teaching either the last Saturday of September or the first Saturday of October, depending on when the school decides is the best day to start the new class. I will teach 1 class every Saturday for 90 minutes, and I have a book that I must use.

Training for The Way to Success Program: So, my friends and I, who will be working with The Way to Success program (the University program of the summer camp I worked in July) will be headed to Beijing for training for a week in October. We are scheduled to have training the week of October 11-15, and then hopefully can begin teaching in the Universities here offering the program as soon as we get back from training. This teaching is a volunteer position, but that allows for great relationships to be formed and extended beyond the classroom. Plus, I just think this is a great program that teaches students to live a life of integrity and with great character, so that is why I feel strongly about being involved with it.

Other: I did arrive back into Xi'an to find the main road that runs in front of the west gate to my apartment complex completely torn up and with barriers everywhere. The city is installing new water pipes and doing some work in preparation for the new subway line while they have the road torn up. It will be great when it is done, but has been quite the obstacle in trying to get from one place to another. You can't just cross the street to get somewhere, but rather have to go up your side of the street for a few blocks, cross the road, then go back down the other side 4-5 blocks to where you are going, and do it all over again when coming home. The plus side is that it helps with my exercise regimen!

Until next time, blessings for you.

P.S. On my way back to China from the States I had a chance to watch the new Karate Kid movie on the plane. If you were looking to get a better idea of what China is like as far as culture, experiences, and differences (ex: having to use a card for electricity), then this movie does a great job of showing it.