Brownies and Blogs

Steph and I made a deal that she would bake something yummy if I wrote a blog post. Let the posting begin!

We've been in China for a little over two weeks and it seems like a lot has happened. For instance...................

We got a kitten. His name is Felix (it's a combo namesake, receiving inspiration from the old-school cartoon "Felix the Cat" and the trouble making Felix King from Avonlea). Just in case you can't tell from the picture whether he is a cat or not, take a closer a look at what he's laying on. Yes, it is our scrabble board, which was in session moreover. Is there an animal other than the feline who lays down on your scrabble board in the middle of a session? No. Therefore the animal is a cat. A cat we now own. We found him outside our apartment complex and took him in. He's pretty rambunctious! As I write this he is showing the couch who is boss....

Taking Felix to the vet with some teammates

We've also been able to enjoy some quality time with our foreign colleagues. We gained two more American teachers at our school this year, which puts our non-Chinese teacher count at nine. It's been great to start the year off well within community and we all really look forward to a unified year. We think of friends and family back home and lift up requests for the same kind of unity within their fellowship circles. 

We started back at our school on the 15th and have until September 3rd to prepare for the arrival of our students. I will be teaching the same group of students as I had last year, which will be a lot of fun. They are a great group of kids and I look forward to more good times with them. Also, through advances in the moral education program at our school there will be further opportunities to encourage character growth in the students. This will bring up great questions about character and the effects certain ways of Western thought have on it. We hope for great learning to take place.

Stephanie will be seeing most of her students from last year minus the graduating K-2 students plus the incoming 2 year olds. She is really going to do a great job this year, with a better idea of what to expect thanks to last year's experience. All of her fellow teachers were happy to see her as well as some parents and students that live in our complex. She is well-liked.

As we start a second year we thank you for being with us. It was hard to go back to the States for just a short summer, however, seeing many of you made it more than worthwhile and it will be a renewing experience to hold on to as we gear up for year two. Stay well! I smell some brownies that are almost done......

Getting some shut-eye in the Beijing airport. Notice the creative maneuvering around armrests.