Pinch me

I met a Chinese-American man in LA who "mentored" me on what I should and should not do and say... it was very helpful. Also encouraging, as he knows my Dad. We talked with Him together on the plane ride. He tried to teach me some chinese and said that I have a good ear for a tones, better then most English speakers... I credit my Hmong lessons. (Hmong has 8 tones... chinese only has 4 so its much easier).

I strangely was not nervous as I traveled to this new place. I don't remember ever being nervous except maybe when I first arrived in Zhanjiang, but even that was short lived. Peace really does pass understanding! It can only come from one place and by one means! It is wonderful. Without it I would surely not make it. I was more nervous the week before, up til I went to the airport, but once I got to the airport I was calm... even when I learned my first flight was canceled...I knew it would be ok... even when I was selected for special security (was frisked) and had only 15 minutes til my flight becuase I spent most of the time outside the checkpoint spending last times with family... I was still calm. I made it just in time. Even when I arrived in Guangzhou and had to walk 30mn to my next gate not knowing where in the world it was... I was calm. Like the “net was cast”... every thing prepared for me in advance. I knew it was going to be just fine. And it was. Trust works so much better then worry, fear and anxiety.

I didn't watch a single movie on the flight over. I was blessed to find a row all to myself and slept most of the way. Besides sleeping I talked to my Chinese "mentor." We parted ways in Guangzhou and a smaller plane took me to Zhanjiang.

Mark and Grace are their English names, but they are the Chinese teachers who work as liaisons for the foreign English teachers. They are the ones who communicate with us about things that we need to know.

I still am so busy taking things in to be lonesome or what not. I do wish you could all be here with me...but I am glad to be here... so its all good. Miss you and wish you could see what i see!

Speaking of... I went to the sea today. Very dirty, but interesting. Nice little park there. Lots to see. Starting to get to know my way around. Bought some fruit and veggies at the market so I can cook for myself. I think its going to be a lot of fun. I wish you could see.

Haven't been able to figure out how to get my pictures together to post yet. Haven't really had time to take many anyway.

Keep in mind... nothing is private. Be careful. Please keep writing me though.. I love to hear from home!!

I just found out about the hurricane. How crazy and sad! Will remember that as well!

I don't start teaching til Monday. School did begin on the first, but my grade has military training this week. And they suggested that it would be best to begin English classes the first of the week anyway so the lessons for the week will all correspond, etc. makes sense to me! I am excited to begin teaching. I’m sure each class will have its own unique things about it.

It's hard to imagine cold weather right now. It is always around 80+ here. I don't mind it except when I have to climb the apx 6 stories to my apartment. It will be worse once teaching begins, because even though i live on campus, and my classes are in the same building... my apartment is in a separate stairwell.. hard to explain. so i have to go down all those flights only to go back up another flight connected to the main classrooms... does that make sense? And some classes are on the 8th floor... it feels like double because the ceilings are very high.

I'm not sure what the weekend holds quite yet. Probably will walk around the city some more and see what we can see. I would like to take some pictures.. haven't really had a chance to yet.

Sometimes when I write people personal email I think... a lot of this should go on my blog so I can tell others, and that way I can remember myself someday when I look back. So just know that I sincerely reply to emails... then post some of it!

Every morning when I wake up I have to remind myself where I am, or I wake up and think... holy cow, I really AM in china, its not just a dream!

Sometimes my tummy hurts a bit. Not sure why. Other teachers have told me their sickness stories and warn to be very careful about what i eat and drink, cleanliness is so vital! it is so not fun to be sick in a foreign place with little comforts. and the hospitals are very unsanitary. i learned that today when we went for our physicals. they took our blood, checked heart, took xray, ultrasound, etc. more then the physical i had in the states even.. but this time the school paid for it. Many people were there getting physicals, not sure why. I won't tell you how gross the conditions were. But i will not complain because I know it could have been much worse.

Every morning at 715 the school alarm rings and loud music plays, and the students have exercise. They live here also, so they're always scurrying around outside my window. So its very hard to sleep later then that. I guess I didn't need an alarm clock after all. Now I have TWO!

It is still too early for me to really miss any thing from the States

(besides all my friends and family of course!). I can get most things I need here. The food is very different. We might see if we could find an oven to buy so we can make cookies and pie and comfort food, just for fun. We will see! Lots of love!