Random Happenings

So I've been back a week and a half. It's been busy making up classes and meeting up with people. The first week back I was awake before 7 almost every day. Not cool. Although I did get a lot of work done in the mornings so I guess that was a good thing. Here's some of the fun stuff I've been up to this week:
Thursday:

Baking cookies with our Hankou Women's Study

 Friday: I met with my new Chinese tutor, Joan. She is the wife of Dean, the head of the foreign English teachers. She lives on the same floor, which is very convenient.  Should help with the motivation and sticking with the lessons.  Friday afternoon, I made up my first 2 hours of classes, then headed next door to Jess's apartment to play games with a bunch of our Chinese friends. My good friend Bella came too and afterwards, gave Jessica and I back massages.  Quite relaxing.  We also played some Twister, decorated for Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving, and had a nice late night chat.

Saturday: Jess was not feeling well in the morning, so I taught her first class from 8-10. After lunch I headed to Hankou to hang out with Lisa (FoC member in Hankou) for some PB&J time (pr@yer buddy and J-s-s). Hannah joined us, and we went to the mall, got some smoothies, people watched, read some of the Book, then headed back to Hannah's apartment for dinner.  After dinner, I headed over to Aaron's apartment to play Super Mario 3 with Aaron and Jolie.  It wasn't our worst night of playing, but it definitely wasn't the best. It was still a good time though.

I have seen this bag in a couple different stores.  I would like to purchase it. Unfortunately it costs a LOT of money and apparently others already have it (See below). Not so much of a unique bag. I'm still thinking about it :)

Sunday: We had our last Chinese Sunday meeting together as a whole group. This coming Sunday, a sister group will start Chinese meetings in Hankou. Our Sunday schedule is going to change now, so our English meeting is going to be in the evening now so that everyone can get together. This past Sunday, Johnny and Jonathan were installed as Leaders of the two Meeting groups. Please keep them and the Meeting groups in your thoughts.

The iPod touch: How to keep two 2-year olds quiet on Sunday mornings.....until they start fighting over it.

 

After the afternoon Study,  I invited two of our friends, Chen Jing and Rachel, over to bake. They cooked curry for Jess and I first and then we made apple crisp.   It was all very tasty. The apple crisp was a little sweet for Rachel, but they both really enjoyed making it.

Rachel and Chen Jing cooking curry

Making the apple goodness

Super tasty!

Wednesday: Today Jess and I celebrated her birthday which happened way back in the beginning of September.  Why so late you ask? Well, in lieu of a present, I told Jess that I would bake whatever and watch whatever movie she wanted. This tradition started our first year in China, when Jess asked if she needed to get me a present for my birthday (this was a legit question because I didn't get her anything). I told her no but she could watch Pirates of the Caribbean 3, part of my favorite movie series, with me. She had never seen the movie before, which is shocking since we're friends. She agreed.  And so began the tradition of baking/movie watching for a birthday.  This is how she got me to watch Racing Stripes, her favorite movie, last year. This year she chose butterscotch brownies and You've Got Mail.  A win-win for both of us since I like both of those :)

So, that should have caught you up my life.  Hope all of you are having a wonderful week.

Until next time.....His will be done.