China=awesome

There's so much to love about China and it isn't even just the big things, like the history, scenery, customs, food, language, culture or super old architecture.  I love the little things, too, like: when I ask 1 Chinese person for directions 20 people will crowd around trying to help the foreigner and several will pull out cellphones to call friends for directions; when walking through the gate off campus the security guards will stop you for a mini English tutoring session; and if I say a single word in Mandarin, no matter how horrible it sounds, every Chinese person around me will tell me how great I am at speaking Chinese!  It's such an incredible country and I'm falling more and more in love with both the big and little aspects of this place.  How funny is it that when I started this whole journey I was so adamant that China was the 1 country I wouldn't go to??  Now I tell people it's the 1 place that everyone should come to at some point in their lives!

Anyways- time for updates on my life in China...

This past week I finally started my Mandarin language tutoring; it's so much fun and I absolutely love my teacher, Kelly (I don't know her Chinese name).  Going into the lesson I expected her to laugh at how horrible I am at this unbelievably difficult language, but it looks like those Pimsleur lessons paid off- she was impressed with my tones and basic knowledge of structures (whoop-whoop)!  I'll definitely have to work on my pronunciation- she said it was "very American"- but at least it wasn't bad enough for her to laugh! 

On Thursday my little 4th graders had a competition, which I went to but still have absolutely no idea what it was for or who won.  BUT I do know that each of my classes were marching and chanting and it was melt-your-heart cute!  Here are pictures of the adorableness of 2 of my classes:

On Saturday, our team invited over several college students from a nearby campus to have a home-cooked meal at my apartment.  We made spaghetti, salad, breadsticks, and apple crisp and had some super amusing conversations in addition to several really significant topics.  Of the 5 that came, 1 is a new Sister, 1 has been a Sister for a long time, and 1 is seeking- so it was really nice to be able to spend some time talking with them.  Afterwards, most of us went to KTV (karaoke on steriods without the audience) and had a great time just acting dumb!

Now it's time for an amazing Chinglish sample from one of my students!!

"Do you love life? Then, don't waste English a second. If you really like English in English t find happiness. English can make you happy. happiness. You find Englis learn English. English time is valuable. You waste Your English is tantamount to a waste of life. So if you want to learn English well."