MY SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW ARE COMING TO CHINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ya don't say...

Obama, eh?

fireworks at midnight

It is currently 11:51 pm on a Tuesday night. I am wide awake because there is a commotion going on outside my window. I just opened the curtains and found the street behind my house teeming with Chinese people, fireworks in tow. Evidently this is a day they pay homage to their ancestors by setting off fireworks at midnight. Aren't their ancestors asleep already? Won't they anger them by waking them up? Oh wait...that's just me. :)

Back on track!

I'm back and it's only taken me a month and a half to post again!! I had quite an eventful journey back to China. Over the course of three days I stayed in a crazy sketchy hotel in L.A. which served champagne for $1.99 a plastic glass (yes, you read that right), stood in line next to Leeza Gibbons at the LAX airport (she was the host of a talk show I used to watch with my mom back in the day), had three seats to myself on the plane to Beijing which I fully utilized after taking a sleeping pill due to the lack of movies on the 13 hour flight, met 25 Korean pastors who had been at a seminar in the States, was informed by officials in Terminal 3 of the Peking airport that I only had one bag instead of two after the flight over the pond as they also informed me my flight to Guangzhou had been cancelled for the night, stayed in an airport hotel in Beijing with a Chinese woman who happened to save my life, fought crazy Chinese people who do NOT, under ANY ANY ANY circumstance, stand in line to wait their turn so I could catch a flight home to Guangzhou, and was informed in Guangzhou that they found my luggage the next day but couldn't deliver it until Beijing called them three days later and told them to do so. Over 80 hours later I walked into my apartment. After three days I had my luggage. And after a month and a half I think I'm finally settled back in to life in Dongguan.

This is a very different year in terms of my students. I have half the class size this time around--four boys, three girls. I have five native Mandarin speakers and two Portuguese speakers. I like having less students. I don't like starting back over with English though. If I teach ESL ever again, I will not teach three year old children. At least not if I have any say in it.

On a very serious note, the boy above just lost his father in a car accident. He seems to be handling it well, but I'm a bit concerned that he is too mature for his age. Please pr-y that we would all know how to help him this upcoming year.

I'm living alone this year which is a big change from last year. I have a three-bedroom apartment with a huge flat screen TV, living room suite, balcony, etc. I enjoy living alone for the most part. At times it gets a little depressing. This happens at least twice a week. However, I am very glad I'm experiencing living alone.

I'm not able to call out this year. The program I was using on the computer no longer accepts Visa and since my microphone jack on my computer is bunk then I'm back to only emailing. I want to call so many of you, but I haven't cracked the code yet. If you could pr-y for an answer to this problem I'd appreciate it.

The weather is much nicer than last year. It's still miserably hot, but I'm more used to it now. There was a typhoon that swept through the area last week and we've been fortunate enough to get the winds off of it which really makes a difference. Being in 100 plus degree weather and humidity every day for three months is a little taxing on me.

I've been reading quite a bit lately. I just finished an Amy Carmichael book two weeks ago. Wow...maybe India will be His next place for me? Gracious...what an encouraging story. I learned that she went to Japan for a little over a year before eventually going to India. While in Japan she hired an interpreter because she couldn't master the language. This was EXTREMELY encouraging to me since I'm beginning to think I will never learn any more Chinese. There were many encouraging things about her life. I enjoyed getting my hands on her biography. Next I'm on to some books a friend sent me last year that I'm just now getting around to reading.

I've been cooking almost every evening now that I'm living alone. This summer I wrote down lots of recipes with ingredients I knew I could find here and this has proved extremely rewarding. I don't miss American food as much now that I can cook it at home. It's just plain fun really.

I think my sister and her husband might come visit me for Chinese New Year in February. They aren't sure yet because of ticket prices. If you could join me in pr-ying for that as well I'd appreciate it. I miss her so much.

As for the community here, things are going better this year. I'd spoken to some of you about the division amongst the foreigners. There seems to be a restoration occurring. Thank you for your pr-yers in this area.

I suppose that's the latest news report. I'm anxious to vote. I have an absentee ballot request form. Now if I can only figure out where to send the request...

Make a Smilebox photobook

are we there yet

When I was a child I remember fighting to not ask the question dreaded by every parent when in a vehicle with their children: are we there yet? Well, I am "there yet." My first year of teaching in China is coming to a close. In two weeks I will not have 15 precious boys to kiss good morning, tickle and throw over my shoulder when they are crying or teach them how to do just about anything under the sun. It's been an amazing year. Dynamic, difficult, rewarding, and now, bittersweet.

I'm sitting at Starbucks writing a report for each of them so I can attempt to express to their parents just how congming (smart), vibrant, and for lack of a better adjective, wonderful they are. The little boy whose report I'm currently working on will be leaving next week, one week short of the full year. He's leaving early because he's moving to the States. Luckily his English is probably the best in the class, or at least his learning rate is the fastest. I had a "this is why I teach" moment with him last week. He's Korean, but he speaks Chinese and now English. I asked him who taught him Chinese, mommy or daddy, because he could speak it before he came.

"Did Daddy teach you, Terry Lee?"

"No, Mommy did."

His parents speak a little English and his older sister as well who attends college in Philadelphia. I asked if they helped him with English, too.

"Who taught you English Terry Lee? Did Mommy or Daddy?"

"No. Miss LaRee [did]."

It's been worth it. I know everyone says that at the end of a hard experience, and it's very easy to romanticise the whole experience, but coming to EtonHouse in China was the right choice. I'm sure of it. If you could hear the difference in my kids' English, if you could see the progress they've made in their social interactions, if you could feel their hands in yours when they are scared, if you could differentiate between their types of shrieks, if you could have been there the day I got to pray over them, if you could hear the way they say my name, if you could begin to understand that His love is the only way to make it through one of Alex's tantrums, if you could see their eyes when something clicks, if you could let them step on your toes just so they can giggle because you are so strong in their eyes, if you could watch them eat, if you could know which is their favorite superhero, if you could have been with them the first day of school and if you could kiss them two more times after promising it's the last...then you'd know it was worth it. But if you could see the change in me...that's the true miracle I think. They are wonderful creatures just beginning to blossom. I, however, am older, more set in my ways and not as teachable. But my oh my what He has taught me through their little hands and hearts. It literally hurts to let them go.

I guess one day I'll have children in the backseat of my car with ice cream smeared down their shirts, my boys will be hitting each other, another will have to pee, the cd player will have just broken and I'll hear the inevitable question, "Are we there yet?" Then I'll sadly have to answer "no." I praise the Lord I have to regretfully answer "yes" this time.

Thank you for your prayers, letters, emails, and faithful reading. I'll see you all in July, and I'll begin writing again in August when I return for my second year.

Request for a road trip buddy

I have a special request. I’m dead serious about this, too. Two of my friends I met here are getting married August 8th in West Palm Beach, Florida. I really want to go, but I don't want to drive that far alone. If any of you are interested and available PLEASE go with me! A third teacher from here is going to let us stay with her and her family at her beach house so no need to worry about hotels, etc. Just a little gas money (or a lot I guess since I hear gas is crazy expensive), good CDs and great conversation. Or if you’re not a conversationalist, I’ll tell you endless stories about China, Africa or anything else you want to know.

Who’s it going to be?

All requests will receive a response ;)

And now for the local news

Ni hao ma? Wo de mingzi LaRee. Wo shi laoshi in Zhongguo . (Hello. How are you? My name is LaRee. I am an American teacher in China.)

I feel like I should reintroduce myself since I haven't written in such a long time. Let me start by telling you about a conversation I had with Maple while we were at the hospital a couple of weeks ago.

I went with Maple to the hospital after school one day. (I met her there and was able to ask for directions in Chinese...quite an accomplishment!) It's quite a process to see a doctor in this country, as are all things a process here it seems, so sometime during the five hour visit we began talking about her family. She told me when she was around two months old she became really sick with a virus and was taken to the hospital. After a few days they were beginning to think she wasn't going to make it. Her grandfather advised her parents to kill her saying "You can have more children." Let that sink in....her grandfather said kill her. Not wait to see if she would make it, but to take her life.

I sat there in shock. I can't even comprehend that. I didn't cry, although I probably should have, because I can't grasp that. She went on, with tears in her eyes, and told me "My father told him no because I was beautiful and he wanted to keep me...I'm thankful that I'm beautiful." I teared up at this and said, "I am too, Maple. The Lord sure had plans for you!" I asked if this is a common practice and she said of course. She told me there was a river near her elementary school that was littered with baby's bones that would float to the surface when it flooded.

After we left the hospital I couldn't get the beauty aspect off of my mind. I was thanking the L-rd for Maple when I realized He did the exact same thing for us as Maple's father, on a completely different scale of course. Our sin made us ugly, but He looked at us and said, "I can make them beautiful. Let Me keep them." What a merciful and gracious G-d we serve.

I don't want to detract from the seriousness of that story, but I do want to share a couple more things before closing.

I have begun tutoring a woman on Saturdays. Her English is pretty good, but she wants to work on her pronunciation. This past Saturday was our first lesson and she brought a book with different English stories like Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Greek gods. It kills me to read about the Greek gods when she could be reading truth, but G-d is not limited by the Chinese government! Words like "worship" and "spirit" are in the text so I'm going to invite her to our service where we use these words constantly which will help her with her pronunciation!!! What a cool way to use everything in our paths. Please pr-y for my time with her. I am so excited for this opportunity, but I'm clueless as to how to go about it.

In other good news, I was able to talk with my grandmother and parents tonight for the first time in almost a month. I've been struggling with loneliness for the past couple of months, but talking to them encouraged me so much.

In further good news, I have a plane ticket home. Mark your calendars, folks! I'll be home July 11th through August 20th!!!! I'm so excited to be home for six weeks. What a wonderful surprise to be home that long since I was expecting to be home for less than four weeks. I'd really like to see everyone so please be in contact.

And a random fact before I go. One day I was on the bus and at every stop light the driver would pull out his glasses and read the paper. Maybe it doesn't sound very weird, but when's the last time someone whipped out the paper at a light?

Thank you for your pr-yers.

freedom

Finally, my brothers, pray for us, that the Word of the L0rd may have free course and be glorified, even as it also is with you.

--2 Thessalonians 3:1

Fresh fish! We catch 'em, you buy 'em!

I want to share about our common experiences at the fresh fruit, vegetable and flower markets here. I realize that what we see, taste and walk in are not everyday occurrences in the States so you all might be interested in this topic. Here goes.

As you walk through the narrow aisles at the outdoor markets you'll find roses, gladiolas, mums, daisies, sunflowers, tulips, foxglove, baby roses and an array of many more beautiful flowers I can't identify. These flowers come in every color imaginable and they are dirt cheap. A dozen roses costs less than $4. Would have been perfect for you guys around Valentine's Day! I keep the apartment decorated with these gorgeous flowers.

After the flowers you'll find fruit. Typically you can get apples, cherries, pears, oranges, bananas, tomatoes (they're with the fruit here), grapes, water pears (never eaten these in the States), starfruit (never eaten in the States), watermelon, cantaloupe, kiwi, strawberries as of late because they're in season, cherry tomatoes, plums, etc. Like the flowers, the fruit is very cheap. The apples stay fresh for a remarkably long time. I can keep apples for over two weeks without the freshness being lost! I don't know how this is possible because the fresh fruit markets don't use preservatives.

Then you have the vegetables. The vegetables are comprised mainly of cucumbers, green beans, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, peppers of all [normal] colors, and loads of greens that I can't identify. I've bought really good lettuce here and then some weird leaves of stuff that taste pretty good. The vegetable section is full of the greens. It's quite an appealing section of the market.

Next you'll find meat from every animal including the normal beef, pork and chicken along with a few exciting options such as dog, rat, turtle and duck. I am able to identify the unordinary meats because the heads are still on the turtles and ducks, and the tails are on the dogs and rats. I'm not joking. Rats are rare mind you, but still around. Every part of the animal is sold, and I mean every: kidneys, intestines, fat, livers, tongues, feet, hearts and a few other unidentifiable parts. They hang the meat at eye-level so you're sure not to miss the skinned chickens. They break their necks most of the time because the heads are eaten, too. I've had chicken heads served to me here. In Africa we had chicken feet so the chickens aren't too much of shock. However, the rest are.

One more thing about meat in China. (This is really gross so if you have a weak stomach don't read this part.) In some parts of China they serve monkey brains as a delicacy........while the monkey is still alive. I'm NOT making this up, promise. Several reliable sources have told me they will put a monkey through a hole in the table, restrain him so he cannot move, cut off the top part of his head and eat the brains while he's still alive. One girl discovered this when she felt something kick her under the table and found monkey legs flailing at her. Again, I promise I'm not making this up. TIC, no doubt!

Now on to a less gross part of the market yet potentially gross at the same time...the seafood bit. Fish swim in shallow Styrofoam containers. I don't know much about fish sadly, but there are at least ten different types to be bought. There are live turtles available in this part of the market along with live beetles and scorpions (not seafood, but sold in that section). Perhaps the most unnerving part of the market is the live eels section. Live eels swim in the shallow Styrofoam containers like the fish. You can buy live eels at Wal-Mart, but they are usually in large glass tanks. In the market they are HUGE. I thought they were snakes for the longest time, but the others assure me they are eels. I've seen some at least two feet long. Maybe you all don't think that's very big, but people actually take these home in a bag while they're still squirming, fry them and eat them. If the size doesn't freak you out, the quantity of eels will. There are hundreds swimming, or vegetating really, in these shallow containers. I'll try to post a picture. Last time it didn't work, but I'll try again so you all can see the situation more clearly.

Before you exit the market you can find bowls, spoons and oil to cook your treasures in, peanut butter if you haven't found something to satisfy your craving (or if you've lost your appetite for anything other than American staples) and coat hangers to dry your coat on since it can be very wet and nasty in the markets. I hope you've enjoyed your tour of a Chinese market. Don't slip on the way out and be glad you aren't really here to fully appreciate the many stenches that accompany the experience! Zai jian!

My three-year old can speak Japanese, Korean, Chinese and English. You were saying little Johnny can feed himself now? How nice.

Recently I bought a collection of Tchaikovsky's works which I play in my room every morning to soothe my soul and relax my students although the Swan Lake music does get a tad exciting. There's just something very pleasing about being serenaded by Tchaikovsky ballets as I walk into my classroom. What's even cooler is having my children repeat the name, "Tchaikovsky" after me. My kids are so smart. Hence the name of the post. I have a set of twins who actually can speak four languages at age three, for real.

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone...

The sun has disappeared from Dongguan until April I've been told. It rained all weekend giving me good reason to break out my cool rain boots I bought while I was home. When I put them on I told Rachel I looked like I needed to go milk Bertha the cow while Ma was cookin breakfast and Pa was mendin' fence. My feet and pants are kept dry though so praise the L-rd for practical AND comfortable shoes!

Speaking of Rachel, we had a lot of laughs this weekend. The rain seems to put us in witty moods. It was nice hanging out with her. We usually go our separate ways, but perhaps that will change. I hope it does.

I'm not sure if I've posted about our Saturday night study of Acts yet. It's chiefly native English speakers sharing what the L-rd showed them over the past week while reading the assigned chapter of Acts. Each week I'm challenged by other people's views, especially concerning the Holy Spirit (we are reading Acts afterall). It's very encouraging to be in a community of older believers and to learn from them. That's an answered pr-yer. Acts is an especially relevant book for us here in China because we are starting ch-rches. Our studies take us in many directions, but we learn more and more of how to be the body amongst ourselves and when reaching out. Cultural barriers present problems we have no answer to, but He has revealed many things through Acts.

School is going well. Today was a rough day. Alex hit Maple twice and I put him in time out so many times I lost count. A sweet part of the day occured when Shin, one of the Japanese twins who could possibly be my favorite, woke up from his nap and cried until they brought him to me. He just held on to me as I comforted him after a nightmare. What a precious moment. Speaking of the twins, they just bounded in my door saying "I want to stay here, Miss La-Ree" even though it's time for them to go home. *heart melts*

Well, it's definitely Monday. I'm wiped out. Here's to finding sunshine inside when it's raining outside.

Mrs. La-Ree gets a black eye

I have a three year old named Alex who just cannot seem to understand the concept of keeping his hands to himself. Everyday, without fail, Alex is in time-out AT LEAST five times for hitting his peers or a teacher. And everyday I rack my brain trying to crack the code that would make him stop hitting. This isn't a new occurence, nor a waning one. He has hit on a daily basis since he began at Eton House in September.

Today's attempt at stilling his hands involved feigning a fight in which I received a black eye, compliments of body tatoo markers. Miss Mikel's smack sent me crying out of the room. While I was in the bathroom creating the appearance of a black eye, the other teachers explained that it's not nice to hit and sent Miss Mikel to time-out. I came back in, shocking the students with my black eye, and they listened intently for the rest of the lesson. I thought the trick had worked.

Little did I know a few hours later not only would my skit backfire, but it would give Mr. Alex a new idea. During the afternoon recess he hit Miss Anna (he has hit other teachers, just not her until today). When asksed why he hit Miss Anna he responded, "Well Miss Mikel hit Miss LaRee!" Needless to say, I'll keep looking for the key that locks Alex's hands.

All of that aside, it was a great day. It's been great being back with my boys. A lot of the children ran to me yesterday morning. We all missed each other a bit I think.

I gave Leo chewing gum for the first time today. It was precious. He chewed it with his mouth open while smiling. I asked him, "Hao bu hao?" which means good not good? He didn't respond for a few seconds but kept smiling. Eventually he shook his head. He wouldn't stop chewing he liked it so much. He giggled and giggled after a bit. It was wonderful. I can't imagine what being a mother will be like. I wouldn't trade moments like these for anything in the world and they aren't even my own children. It is deeply rewarding to be teaching these children.

dog anyone?

I saw dog for sale tonight at the grocery store. TIC.

waiting...

I made it back safely! I was going crazy on the flight back. For some reason I couldn't sleep. Let's hear it for being up for almost 48 hours straight!

It's been a good day back thus far. Two girls were saved tonight! I'm so excited to see what He's going to do this last half of the year. He's always working and I'm just glad I'm experiencing it firsthand.

It's not as bitter cold as when I left, but it's still chilly.

I titled this post "waiting" because that's where I am. I came back to China with more questions circling me than when I left. I'm most assuredly in a place of waiting in many areas of my life. I'm waiting to see if I should stay in China another year, if I'll be in Africa somewhat soon, etc. There's a verse that says, "Wait on the L-rd...and He will strengthen your heart." (Psalm 27:14) I have a bad attitude about waiting some days, but I enjoy being strengthened at the same time. What an amazing time. The journey to what He's preparing is indeed worth it. I can only think of His love when I think of this waiting period. He's being patient with me, teaching me lessons to prepare me for what He has in store for me. I love that in His sovereignty He allows me to learn the lessons instead of giving me what I want...or worse, what I deserve. I love that He is a G-d we can trust wholeheartedly, without reservation, without doubt.

"let not thy heart be hasty...better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof, and the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit"

It's always better when we're together...

I'm sitting in my living room in the great state of West Virginia at the moment feeling much like I did six months ago when I left for China the first time. In case you didn't hear, I was blessed to come home during the Chinese New Year break and surprise my family. My brother-in-law and I devised a scheme, complete with secret agent names, which blew the socks off of my family members. He told my sister he had to pick up an international student from the airport for his job as an admissions counselor at Concord University. She bought it completely and rode along with him to the airport. As she held a sign with the supposed Chinese girl's name on it, I peeped around the corner and ran to her. After she recovered, my brother-in-law and I divulged the plot. From there we called my parents. They were equally excited. It was a good day to say the least.

The past two weeks have been good as well. I was fortunate enough to see some friends I haven't seen since last May as well as make a few new friends. I'm sorry I didn't get to see everyone, but July will be that much sweeter.

I came home to surprise my family, but I also came home to figure out where the L0rd would have me next year. I'm afraid I'm leaving even more unsure of His plan though. At the same time, I'm leaving with much more excitement of the things to come these last six months of the year. He's opened my eyes to new opportunities and changed my attitude as a whole. I'm going back fighting. I can't wait to see what He's going to do before July.

Stayed tuned...we serve a big G-d who is going to do mighty things....please join me in pr-ying.

duibuqui

Wow...I apologize to my faithful readers (all two of you) for my lack of posts as of late. I don't even know where to begin...Christmas break was really good. It started out a bit slow, but ended on a very high note. I spent Christmas Day at the Allen's house. (They're from Tennessee.) They were four foreigners and a bunch of Chinese people. We had great food and played games until 1am. We played "Concentration", or Big Booty as some call it, for over an hour! There were at least 15 playing which made it so much fun. Then we taught each other cool rhythms, cup games, etc. It was such a good Christmas...so, so good.

I went to Shenzhen with Leko (the Brasilian) to visit a factory for his job. I was expecting something like 100 workers piecing together watches, but instead found under 10 people working. It was such a cool experience to see what happens in a factory in China where products are made and shipped to the States. EVERYTHING is made in China it seems so now I can say I've been to one of the many factories that produces America's products.

I spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Hong Kong with Leko and Alex, a guy from London. The three of us had a blast! It topped Christmas which is saying a lot. We got up early, traveled about 2 and a half hours to the city, found our hostel (which was really nice by the way), ate at Outback Steakhouse...okay, let me pause here. An Outback Steakhouse does not exist in mainland China. To have real, American food for the first time in four months was a-maz-ing. Then we made it Disneyland! I've never been to Disneyland in the States so this was quite a treat. We rode Space Mountain and a few other rides, watched cool shows and everything else that goes on at Disneyland. We saw a fireworks show at 9pm then ate a REAL donut (again, cannot be found on the mainland), hot chocolate and watched it snow! It was fake or course, but amazing nonetheless. We watched the fireworks and counted down to the new year. I was ahead of you all by an entire year for 13 hours.

We went ice skating on our way home which again I had never experienced. I also got to go shopping at H&M for American clothes. Not to be redundant, but you cannot find good quality clothes on the mainland. It was so nice to spend money on clothing I knew would last. It was just such a good trip. There were too many things that happened for me to type. I know I'll remember ringing in 2008 for many years to come!

After New Year's, things calmed down a bit. I began teaching again an getting back into the swing of things. We have another two week break coming up beginning next Friday for the Chinese New Year. We're a bit spoiled right now, but we don't have another break until July so don't get too jealous.

I've taken up playing badminton in the park. They play so hardcore over here. It's lots of fun. Life is going really good here. I'm pr-ying about staying another year so if you'd like to join me in that feel free. I love the people I'm around and I love living here. I miss the States, but I'm beyond content. He is good all the time, amen?

Keep looking up.