you don't forget your 1st

I can't believe I have been here 8 months. And I really can't believe I have only a few months left. Woah...

I wasn't able to access my blog when I first got here, but thanks to Tim and after a few months of research he was able to find us a program that allowed us to sneak around. What would I have done without him and his geeky tech brain?

Since I missed blogging my first few months, I thought I would share with you some of my firsts.

First picture (by myself) with my celeb. blog friend Kara. She will always be a celeb. to me.

First picture as team Sci-Tech. Who would have known we would dominate so much?

First team picture. Not as many of these as I would have liked.

First plane ride where I get to watch movies! And I did. THE WHOLE WAY.

First picture of Robin! He picked us up from the airport, grabbed our bags, threw us in a van and we were off on a 4 hour terrifying ride. I had no idea the incredible friendship that would soon be formed.

First random food on the bus I saw. Save me a piece of that corn.

First coffee shop experience. Western toilets. Yes please.

First Olympic park experience. My new little oasis.

First time on a Chinese beach. Hot.

First, and only so far, hospital experience. Horrifying.

First class. 5th years. Hoodrats. I had no idea at this point.

First chocolate popcorn... uh why is it so good?

First ketchup since America! What would I have done without KETCHUP?

First hike on the Great Wall. It is actually green this time.

First picture of a split pant baby. Be glad I didn't take a picture of the first time I saw a kid pooping in a trash can.

That was fun. Thanks for going on my trip down memory lane with me.

I do love this place.

kisses.

fake out. it's not spring anymore.

The fam came out to our school for Sunday family time. It was weird to have everyone at OUR school for a change. I enjoyed being the hostess again, I miss that.

We also had some real life family with us. Heidi's dad and little brother came to visit!

They look the same.

I might have creeped her brother Chad out a bit, but I couldn't get over his beautiful blonde shaggy hair. And it has been a LONG time since I have seen a kid other than a little pudgy Chinese kid. Chad is hip and pretty dang cool, and his chopstick skills are really coming along.

After the team left it was time to go for a family haircut trip. Really it was just Kevin and Robin, but we had to go with to watch over Kevin.

First time for a haircut since America. A big day in his life.

You can never be too careful when trying to communicate exactly what you want.

And you really just have to trust the one with the scissors.

I think he should just style it like that. The students would dig that.

While we waited, this hair cutters son entertained us.

He was an ornery little munchkin.

He would yell in English "HOW ARE YOU? FINE, THANK YOU!" It was precious. But then he would just give us this stink eye.

And hide.

After he climbed all over things and pulled out the music cord I was glad he wasn't mine.

Chinese or American. Kids are cute.

As for Kevin's hair... it looks exactly the same as before. No mullet. I would say that is a successful haircut.

kisses.

Spring has FINALLLY arrived

Finally. It felt like it was supposed to feel when it is almost May. Since I have this annoying internal alarm clock that wakes me up at 8:25 am even when I don't need to wake up. I woke up early, with no plans for my day. I went for a run. Well, what I do isn't exactly running, but it makes me feel like I accomplish something. And I did this in a t-shirt. No jacket. That's a big deal.

And since the weather is nice, Robin got the key so we can get on the roof. We want to catch some rays without people starring at us. He attempted to take me up there today.

Except it wasn't what I expected.

It was like a death sentence to get up there. I decided to wait.

Instead, I took a lovely bike ride to the park.

I set up my giant towel blanket on this little patch of growing grass.

Grow little guys, grows!

I had my book, my music, my sunglasses, my chapstick. I rolled up my Thai pants, stripped off my cardigan, and was ready for some sunshine, relaxation, and stares. Of course stares, this is not normal in China.

However, I was distracted... and I couldn't help it.

These 2 horn balls were making out the whole time. And I must say, a very very awkward make out. Their hand placements made me uncomfortable.

And then this guy showed up

And played his saxophone the entire time. It was so soothing.

I felt like I was in a movie.

And these 2 were the stars.

I was just hoping they weren't my students.

Gotta love the love.

And gotta love the sunshine.

kisses.

hot atmosphere

We were asked to judge an English singing competition. We were actually pretty excited, we thought it was going to be all singing. Wrong. We picked out which American Idol judge we wanted to be. Dawg, I wanted to be Randy. Kylie wanted to be Simon. And Kevin, well Kevin didn't think we should say negative comments like they do on Idol. Did he really think we were going to?

So we got to the competition and we were told we only had to judge part 3 and 4, yet they still wanted us there 15 minutes early, oh and it started 40 minutes late. I love Chinese student lead competitions.

We were given our score sheet

Hot Atmosphere... 10 points.

And they gave us fruit.

They set up their PPT.

And the contestants got ready.

And so it begins...

Part 1. Crazy Guesses

Part 2. Do you Remember?

Nope. Don't remember this one?

Part 3.... yeah... that was the boring part. Kylie and I played MASH. Do you remember that game? My 2 jobs I wrote down "do nothing or professional substitute teacher" Kylie's 3rd bad pick for me.. "something where you work a lot". And guess which one I got for my life. Something where I work a lot.

Part 4. Be a Superstar

This dude singing wasn't even in the competition. He was just in the audience.

2 1/2 hours later we were walking home.

They wanted us to perform. We denied them. We can't seem to figure out why they assume that we LOVE to perform EVERYWHERE we go?

Our next competition to judge... a PPT (powerpoint, for those that are confused) competition. Put on by the one and only Nancy Simon. We have a few weeks to really brush up on what exactly makes a dynamite PPT...

Can't wait.

kisses.

who wants corn on your pizza?

Birthday's in China are great. We hadn't celebrated any lately, but today Justin turned the big 27, which meant... party time! He wanted Pizza Hut. Which I must say I was looking forward to all week. I saved up my money and calories.

When we have big groups it's always difficult picking that perfect seat. But usually I just go wherever these 2 are.

Yes. I do love to just creep on them. However, I didn't ask them if I can have one of their babies this time, so I feel like I am making progress in being a normal person.

What is wrong with our hands in these pictures? We couldn't seem to figure out what to do.

While we were waiting for our giant huge stuffed crust pizzas to arrive, we started the round of presents... I love birthdays.

Their Chinese teacher friend got them matching couple watches. I want to get married.

Kylie and I gave them a "date night" bag, and also re-gifted some movies that we did not enjoy. Real thoughtful.

Robin had printed on the wrapping paper a little message for him with Chinese cartoon characters. Creative.

There was a lot of laughter...

And probably because of this guy. Watching him hold his knife and fork to cut his pizza was the most ridiculously amazing thing I have ever seen. It must be what watching a foreigner with chopsticks feels like.

According to Kara Tim was on his iTouch the entire taxi ride to Pizza Hut. Well he introduced Kylie to his new game.

Intervention Tim time soon.

We all sang Happy Birthday in our native language. English, Chinese, and Korean.

Such a diverse group we are.

Birthday's are so great.

Mine is next. I expect you all to be in attendance to my birthday party.

Or at least have my present waiting for me back in America.

kisses.