booty

We had a staff meeting after school today which wrapped up at 5:00. I had to tutor at 6:00 so I didn't really have enough time to make going home worthwhile. I decided to bike to sushi (I'm pretty much obsessed with sushi these days...I choose it over American food sometimes...*gasp!*)

On my way to sushi I thought of stopping in at one of the import stores I rarely visit. I had read in our local magazine that Oliver's store had expanded and I've been meaning to check it out.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was that though they had expanded, 'pickins were slim.' I walk over to the drinks and look for a Brazilian soda I really like when, all of a sudden, there it was....MOUNTAIN DEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't been able to find that in Hong Kong since last April! Plus, there is a Chinese version of Mountain Dew now (tastes like Mello Yello instead) so I'd pretty much given up hope on ever finding the real thing again. But there it was in all it's glory.

I only had enough money to buy five cans so I grabbed them, checked out and went outside to my bike. What to do: I'd spent all my money on the pop so I couldn't go to sushi anymore. And I had five cold cans of Mountain Dew in my backpack. Against my better judgement (sanitation concerns) I sat on a step outside of the store, cracked open a can, put a straw in (for sanitation purposes it's not always a good idea to let your lips actually touch the cans here) and then...........................*sigh* What a wonderful sensation.

PTL for Mountain Dew. What a blessing for such a hard week. He pays attention to EVERYTHING!

Spam..the other red meat

Today I was at the import store, and though I'm a bit ashamed to say it, I almost bought at can of Spam Light just because it was cheap. (I go crazy for cheap products at the import store.)

Have I come this far only to buy Spam?

Or have I come this far to realize that some American traditions aren't as bad as I used to think?

I'm taking votes...

Balloon project

It began with a morning activity...

Diana, Pyetra, Eric and Jonny. Only my girls can blow up balloons.

We then decided to get a balloon machine to speed up the process.

We began measuring ribbon so we could tie the balloons together and hang them from the ceiling. Look at Sam's face!

Eric, the tailor.

Taiwan and Brazil come together!

Sophia conquers her fear of heights!

Our first string of balloons!!!!!

We plan on covering the entire ceiling with balloons. Hopefully we'll finish by the end of the year! :)

Chinese glamour shots

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Medicine for my soul

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Great year

I love my students....love them, love them, love them.

I normally have seven (such a change from last year's 15), but on the day this picture was taken one was in Australia, one was in Brazil and one was sick.

Jonny, the livliest kid of the bunch!!! His English has really taken off. I'm so proud of him.

Diana, the xenaphobic (not exaggerating) child who now invites me into her airplane everyday on the playground :)

Pyetra, my favorite (though I love them all yada yada). Notice the green crayon in my hand. I've officially become a preschool teacher! haha

Labeling the parts of the body with a little embellished pink, curly hair by order of the kids.

I just love it when they crowd around me!

The majority of the team. Notice the picture on the screen. That's me with my two Brazilians.