Glorious Free time!!

Tomorrow is freeeee! Yes! It is so nice to have a few days off of teaching. The students have midterms, so we foreign teachers don't have to teach. So four of us are going to BeiHai. It's three hours away and half way to the Vietnam border. Not sure exactly what's all there, but we heard it was nice so we bought some bus tickets. So it will be a little adventure.

I can tell that I'm ready for a break. This last week of teaching was really blah. Some of that had to do with the fact that me lesson plan was a big blah. But instead of beating myself up about it, I've decided to chalk it up to experience.

My informal Chinese lessons are going great. I really like Xiong Tao, my teacher. We learn a lot from each other. I found out that she's only 23! She told me that if I put my mind to it, I have what it takes to learn the language. Chinese study habbits are so disciplined. I don't know if I could study like they do. But I really am motivated to learn this language!

Last Saturday night, Nigel had every one over to play Chinese poker. It's actually a drinking game. I wasn't sure if I should go or not. But I don't want them to think I'm unsocial or lame. I told myself that I was not going to drink at all. Still I was afraid that they would pressure me. I think it's only the Lord's doing that the conditions were just right for me to be able to have a good time without giving in to the drinking. Nigel was totally fine with my choice and only made fun of me a little. Arthur just asked why, and wondered how do I ever relax...do you smoke? do you do drugs? do you drink? He couldn't understand that I didn't need these things to be relaxed and happy and have a good time. The person I was really worried about though was Martin. He's the one who always challenges my lifestyle. But he didn't show up til after the beer ran out! He did bring more, but was a little put off by the one girls serious drunkenness that he didn't bother me about it. So I survived the night without compromise, but to be honest, I'd rather not be in that situation ever again. Socially we had a good time, but next time I'm going to make sure I'm busy that night. It's just too much pressure, and I can't go on pretending that I'm this super strong righteous person and then use moments like this to prove it to myself. I need JC just as much as the next guy.

Tonight I was watching this Animal facts show on TV. The beginning started with the story of evolution and how things supposedly came about. But I couldn't help but smile every time the narrator used the word design. Romans 1:19-22. The Creator is still very much at work these days. Lately he's seemed quiet and far off. But I know that He's never stopped doing his thang, no matter how I feel.