we wont be able to post this week because we are going on VACATION! we'll be off tomorrow morning early to Xi'an for the rest of the week. we promise to take lots of pictures and have lots of fun.
it'll be good to get away from all the grading for a little while.
see you in a week!
josh out.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
White Rabbit Candies
are contaminated. Well, at least here they are.
FYI. Just in case. So... maybe avoid them for a while?
FYI. Just in case. So... maybe avoid them for a while?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Television Episodes Update
Battlestar Galactica: We are on Episode 4 of Season 4. We watch 1 episode a week with friends.
Heroes: OK. I'm still on Season 2, Episode 3. But I vow to catch up!
Naruto: I am on Manga #317. The computer died on me on the plane. I haven't had a chance to finish reading it yet.
We Got Married: It's Korean, and is a currently still airing. I have to admit. I really like this show. I really do. I thought it had a terrible premise. I don't know what compelled me to watch an episode... except I did. It's 'reality t.v', but of course there's creative editing. The redeeming quality I give it is that it's an insightful window into relationships and the nature of guys and girls. It's like, one of the only shows I've blatantly laughed outloud to in YEARS. I think only Isiah and Josh knows and have been around while I watched it. If I'm in front of the laptop and laughing a lot, it's cause I'm watching this show. All you drama folks out there... I say, give it a try. It's on mysoju.com, crunchyroll, and youtube.
Heroes: OK. I'm still on Season 2, Episode 3. But I vow to catch up!
Naruto: I am on Manga #317. The computer died on me on the plane. I haven't had a chance to finish reading it yet.
We Got Married: It's Korean, and is a currently still airing. I have to admit. I really like this show. I really do. I thought it had a terrible premise. I don't know what compelled me to watch an episode... except I did. It's 'reality t.v', but of course there's creative editing. The redeeming quality I give it is that it's an insightful window into relationships and the nature of guys and girls. It's like, one of the only shows I've blatantly laughed outloud to in YEARS. I think only Isiah and Josh knows and have been around while I watched it. If I'm in front of the laptop and laughing a lot, it's cause I'm watching this show. All you drama folks out there... I say, give it a try. It's on mysoju.com, crunchyroll, and youtube.
Long time, no post
Well, at least it feels like a while since I've posted. As I'm sure we're not the only ones, I have to say we've been busy like crazy! Reviewing, giving tests, grading tests, and reports, reports, reports!
The weird thing is this. We have to work all day this Saturday and Sunday. We have school. And so do the kids. They ride the bus, and come to school on Saturday as if it were Monday. And Sunday is treated like a Tuesday.
This is the rationale: technically, we aren't supposed to get all of next week off. Technically, we're only supposed to be on vacation Wed-Fri because the Chinese National Holiday aka "Golden Week" is October 1. (Wed. is Oct. 1) Every working person is supposed to get 3 days holiday pay and rest.
Because everybody wants to have a full week of vacation for convenience's sake, we "get Monday and Tuesday off" for working on Saturday and Sunday. Then the 3 vacation days.
Does that make sense?
Sure it does. But to an American, all you can think is, "Everybody has to go to school on Saturday and Sunday. What the heck?!!?? That's SO WEIRD. This would never work in America. Ever."
I'll try to post up new pictures after tomorrow. I change them all the time instead of leave them on my Flickr account because I only have a basic account. I max out my 100 MB limit with n15 pictures at most.
Tomorrow night, we're going to an acrobat show. I mean, the most well know acrobat shows are from Shanghai and all! I've already been to one here before, but Josh hasn't. So I hope he has loads of fun!
HiYa! Chop! Have a good day, friends.
The weird thing is this. We have to work all day this Saturday and Sunday. We have school. And so do the kids. They ride the bus, and come to school on Saturday as if it were Monday. And Sunday is treated like a Tuesday.
This is the rationale: technically, we aren't supposed to get all of next week off. Technically, we're only supposed to be on vacation Wed-Fri because the Chinese National Holiday aka "Golden Week" is October 1. (Wed. is Oct. 1) Every working person is supposed to get 3 days holiday pay and rest.
Because everybody wants to have a full week of vacation for convenience's sake, we "get Monday and Tuesday off" for working on Saturday and Sunday. Then the 3 vacation days.
Does that make sense?
Sure it does. But to an American, all you can think is, "Everybody has to go to school on Saturday and Sunday. What the heck?!!?? That's SO WEIRD. This would never work in America. Ever."
I'll try to post up new pictures after tomorrow. I change them all the time instead of leave them on my Flickr account because I only have a basic account. I max out my 100 MB limit with n15 pictures at most.
Tomorrow night, we're going to an acrobat show. I mean, the most well know acrobat shows are from Shanghai and all! I've already been to one here before, but Josh hasn't. So I hope he has loads of fun!
HiYa! Chop! Have a good day, friends.
Monday, September 22, 2008
two calls in one night
thanks to those who called to talk today. it was great to hear old voices. especially jimmy. what started as an innocent contact phone call turned into a 40 minute conversation...hey,thats long for married guys!
it was also really great hearing Grace and Audrey. too cute. our littles.
this week is Monthly exams week. Mai kao said it best, "Monthly's are like the midterms for Midterms." yeah, its pretty funny. we arent stressed at all, but we are definitely working a lot. lots of deadlines and teaching.
teaching is a challenging job. its probably been the most dynamic job i have ever had. between the motivating and disciplining and the constant lesson planning, it never ceases to surprise you with all its twists and turns. maybe it has to do with the age group we are working with...or maybe it has to do with working with people in general. i'm sure people like Judy, Mao and Kong, anyone who works with the betterment of people are chock full of funny and weird stories.
next week mai kao and i are going on a one week vacation. this upcoming week is golden week in china and apparently, everything but service industries close down and goes on vacation. for this one we are going with some friends to Xi'an. its far out west (actually a 20 hr train ride!). xi'an is home to the terracotta warriors! yes folks...the mummy 3. its going to be super cool. mai kao's like,"i've already been there...blah,blah,blah." but i'm psyched. also, we'll be visiting natural hot springs to bathe, a town called Luo Yang (the largest concentration of shaolin monks in the world - where thousands of Shaolin Monks do kung fu every day in the court yard.) yes...shaolin. i hope i get to see different kung fu techniques, like iron fist (the one where you plunge your hand into flaming hot coals repeatedly) or various animal techniques.
its gonna be a blast. i hope.
josh out.
it was also really great hearing Grace and Audrey. too cute. our littles.
this week is Monthly exams week. Mai kao said it best, "Monthly's are like the midterms for Midterms." yeah, its pretty funny. we arent stressed at all, but we are definitely working a lot. lots of deadlines and teaching.
teaching is a challenging job. its probably been the most dynamic job i have ever had. between the motivating and disciplining and the constant lesson planning, it never ceases to surprise you with all its twists and turns. maybe it has to do with the age group we are working with...or maybe it has to do with working with people in general. i'm sure people like Judy, Mao and Kong, anyone who works with the betterment of people are chock full of funny and weird stories.
next week mai kao and i are going on a one week vacation. this upcoming week is golden week in china and apparently, everything but service industries close down and goes on vacation. for this one we are going with some friends to Xi'an. its far out west (actually a 20 hr train ride!). xi'an is home to the terracotta warriors! yes folks...the mummy 3. its going to be super cool. mai kao's like,"i've already been there...blah,blah,blah." but i'm psyched. also, we'll be visiting natural hot springs to bathe, a town called Luo Yang (the largest concentration of shaolin monks in the world - where thousands of Shaolin Monks do kung fu every day in the court yard.) yes...shaolin. i hope i get to see different kung fu techniques, like iron fist (the one where you plunge your hand into flaming hot coals repeatedly) or various animal techniques.
its gonna be a blast. i hope.
josh out.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Cute Things Paradise
You probably knew it.
But this place is a Cute Things Paradise! Pens, pencils, notebooks, stickers, pencil cases.... you name it. I love the stationary store. Well, there are stores and stores of them... everywhere. So I guess I like them all. It's like... Too Cool, but at 10% or less of the cost.
Girls, you will be getting a wonderful box of cute stuff for Christmas, or even sooner! Guaranteed!
But this place is a Cute Things Paradise! Pens, pencils, notebooks, stickers, pencil cases.... you name it. I love the stationary store. Well, there are stores and stores of them... everywhere. So I guess I like them all. It's like... Too Cool, but at 10% or less of the cost.
Girls, you will be getting a wonderful box of cute stuff for Christmas, or even sooner! Guaranteed!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Check out this go cart track...
Teachers are going here tomorrow for someone's birthday. Man... wish you guys were here w/ me and Josh...
Friday Finally!
Every morning we have 'milk service.' That means each teacher gets a carton of milk delivered to their desk. It's really stressed here to take care of yourself, eat, etc. (It is a rule in the primary grade that students MUST eat lunch. I supervise lunch for my class everyday.) So anyways, in our staff meeting today, we were informed that the company producer of our milk is also one of the recalled milk companies in the "Bad Milk in China" story. I'm amused by the way they just casually informed us.
We were assured that our fresh, daily milk is not contaminated, though. That said, you all know I don't drink milk. FYI, milk in China does not taste like milk in the US. To me, it's like... a yogurt drink. But don't take my full word on that.
It's been a good week. I like my students for the most part. I think I have the best class. I'll try to take some pictures, soon. I did make one of my students cry a lot today, though. At this school, TESTS are so important. Major test scores account for 60% of aa 3rd grader's grades. (Almost 90% for middle & high schoolers.) There are 4 major tests: 1st monthly, mid-term, 2nd monthly, and final exam. (Think: 3rd graders have the same schedule as high schoolers.)
So, there is one girl in my class who has not turned in any of her homework. I wrote a note home asking her parents to check it, and make sure she turns it all in, or else it could significantly affect her grade. She started crying a lot because she has to go to Korean school at night and on the weekends, and she has so much homework. It depressed me a little.
School is very different here.
Anyways, next week is a major testing week. And then the week after, we have vacation for National Day. (Chinese equivalent of 4th of July, except the whole country gets a week off instead of 1 day.) SO, Josh wants to go to the northwest, to Xi'an, with some friends. On the way home, the plan is to stop at the China's most renowed Shaolin Temple. We visit the amazing complex temple & get to watch them do kung fu. So... that's in the plans. We'll see if we follow through.
Peace.
We were assured that our fresh, daily milk is not contaminated, though. That said, you all know I don't drink milk. FYI, milk in China does not taste like milk in the US. To me, it's like... a yogurt drink. But don't take my full word on that.
It's been a good week. I like my students for the most part. I think I have the best class. I'll try to take some pictures, soon. I did make one of my students cry a lot today, though. At this school, TESTS are so important. Major test scores account for 60% of aa 3rd grader's grades. (Almost 90% for middle & high schoolers.) There are 4 major tests: 1st monthly, mid-term, 2nd monthly, and final exam. (Think: 3rd graders have the same schedule as high schoolers.)
So, there is one girl in my class who has not turned in any of her homework. I wrote a note home asking her parents to check it, and make sure she turns it all in, or else it could significantly affect her grade. She started crying a lot because she has to go to Korean school at night and on the weekends, and she has so much homework. It depressed me a little.
School is very different here.
Anyways, next week is a major testing week. And then the week after, we have vacation for National Day. (Chinese equivalent of 4th of July, except the whole country gets a week off instead of 1 day.) SO, Josh wants to go to the northwest, to Xi'an, with some friends. On the way home, the plan is to stop at the China's most renowed Shaolin Temple. We visit the amazing complex temple & get to watch them do kung fu. So... that's in the plans. We'll see if we follow through.
Peace.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
you know you are starting to get used to life in Shanghai when you feel perfectly safe in a taxi here. the driving here is madness...Geu and Xu would hate the driving here, and somehow would fit in perfectly too. everyone drives out of their minds, running every light possible, not obeying any rules of traffic. yet, it all works together somehow...there are almost never any accidents, or at least i dont see them or hear about them.
So Mai Kao and i are now almost fully settled. we still need a couch, rug and coffee table, but we realized that all you really need to feel at home is a fully stocked kitchen! this past week, mai kao and i devoted much money at IKEA and all the foreign grocery stores to stock up on kitchen wares and hmong spices/sauces. so this week we've been eating out less. i love mai kao's cooking, and she loves cooking. a win, win if i ever saw one. some stuff that we've made at home: tomato chicken, sausage/cabbage stir fry, spring rolls. good eats.
this is for Johan...a day in the life of JOSH XIONG...Foreign Teacher Extraordinaire.
So Mai Kao and i are now almost fully settled. we still need a couch, rug and coffee table, but we realized that all you really need to feel at home is a fully stocked kitchen! this past week, mai kao and i devoted much money at IKEA and all the foreign grocery stores to stock up on kitchen wares and hmong spices/sauces. so this week we've been eating out less. i love mai kao's cooking, and she loves cooking. a win, win if i ever saw one. some stuff that we've made at home: tomato chicken, sausage/cabbage stir fry, spring rolls. good eats.
this is for Johan...a day in the life of JOSH XIONG...Foreign Teacher Extraordinaire.
- school starts at 8:30, and teachers report to offices anytime before then.
- monday and tuesday, i have 4 and 5 classes (out of 7 periods)...crazy days, all i do is teach, run to the next room, teach some more and hope that i dont pass out or strangle some jerky kid before the day is over. the next three days i only have 2 classes a day. right now in fact is one of those days...i use these days to lesson plan and goof off. unless i plan all my stuff before the weekend, Sunday nights are usually my busiest day, lesson planning and all the other time consuming stuff like grading, making copies, etc.
- we are required for the most part to stay until 4:10, mon-thurs, and 2;30 on fridays. i've been putting this time to good use on my easy days and lesson plan for the upcoming days or even week.
- most of our nights are at home...we probably go out on the town at least 3 to 4 times a week. for those of you who lived in Chicago, you know how annoying it is to trek to another part of town...mostly, you find out your favorite local shops and restaurants and hit those up often.
- i kind of stopped pirating so much because our local dvd shop is bone dry right now. all the good movies have been bought by all us teachers! sadly, there are hardly any CD shops around. the only ones i have been able to find are street vendors who sell out of cardboard boxes...the selections are slim, but you can find some decent stuff out of them.
- my most proud purchase was a Radiohead japanese import CD with lots of alternate takes on songs and a rare acoustic only song by Thom yorke, its a pretty good song too. currently, i am in the process of making a mix for all the lovers!
okay, its getting long. peace for life.
josh out
Friday, September 12, 2008
Not so serious.
So, the weekend is here AT LAST! One thing definitely doesn't change wherever you are in the world... one's love for the weekend. We have Monday off because it's the Mid Autumn Festival... a national holiday. It's like, one of the top 3 holidays in China. But since we're not Chinese, it's vacation for us!
Congrats to all our friends with new babies. I want to buy all the little tykes little kung-fu or chinese dress outfits. But we have to find them first.
A short moment to respond to comments... No, haven't had dog yet. Tonight, Josh is going to look for Friday Night Magic. Wish us the best cause it's easy to get lost in this place. I'm sure he will post as soon as he learns about the Magic scene in Shanghai. Jackie Chan is more popular here.
We've got the entire Battlestar Gallactica here. And Termintor Sarah Connor Chronicles, and all of Naruto Shippuden. But, unfortunately, Josh did not check and so Naruto's in Japanese, with only Chinese subtitles. (Anybody want it to resell?) It's true... everything here is pirated galore. It's safe to call it a copyright lawyer's hell (or heaven if you want to sue others.)
My goal: To read the entire Bible again while I am here. I encourage you to read it from cover to cover too, if you've never done so in your life yet.
Congrats to all our friends with new babies. I want to buy all the little tykes little kung-fu or chinese dress outfits. But we have to find them first.
A short moment to respond to comments... No, haven't had dog yet. Tonight, Josh is going to look for Friday Night Magic. Wish us the best cause it's easy to get lost in this place. I'm sure he will post as soon as he learns about the Magic scene in Shanghai. Jackie Chan is more popular here.
We've got the entire Battlestar Gallactica here. And Termintor Sarah Connor Chronicles, and all of Naruto Shippuden. But, unfortunately, Josh did not check and so Naruto's in Japanese, with only Chinese subtitles. (Anybody want it to resell?) It's true... everything here is pirated galore. It's safe to call it a copyright lawyer's hell (or heaven if you want to sue others.)
My goal: To read the entire Bible again while I am here. I encourage you to read it from cover to cover too, if you've never done so in your life yet.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
serious!
I’m crying out for some love!
People here are really nice and they are very helpful. In fact, our colleagues have gone out of their way to help us get situated nicely in this country…still something is missing…
Today, was an easy day at work but I went through it with an odd feeling of something missing…amidst the conversations of political opinions in the office, people proudly talking about living lives of drunkenness, people taking the politically correct stance, complaints about Chinese school policies, missing an easy life, yelling at the waiter for making an innocent accident…etc…I find I’m missing more than random things I left at home….I miss words spoken out of love. The friend who wounds you to make you better. Iron sharpening Iron.
We went to church last weekend. It was really great. Like all of you read, we were really missing the fellowship that only the body of Christ provides. Brother Yun was right…God gives us fellowship so that when you are in the desert or alone in the mission field and are lonely, you can look back upon the good times you had with friends of Christ. But to continue on with the church point, the lead pastor spoke words of love that hit close to home…”it is not by coincidence that you are in Shanghai at this time in history, God called you here to be the face of the church in Shanghai in this day and age.” Wow. When I heard these words my heart melted. It is not by coincidence that this would be the first message I heard upon arriving in shanghai from the church. Its hard being away from our closest friends and family, but like the pastor said, mai kao and I are called here to shanghai to be the face of the church in this day in age.
In all my life I have never been surrounded by SO many people who don’t love the Lord or don’t know about Jesus or just blatantly dismiss Him. It’s hard to stay on the right path… But Lord, I will worship you no matter where, no matter what, and no matter the cost. Sometimes the cost is as simple as leaving home.(Abraham). But I expect big things for this city…upon arrival in Shanghai I haven’t been able to shake that chris tomlin song “god of this city.” Some historians say that for every era of world history there is a city that defines the era. For the next coming era, historians are already saying that Shanghai will be the defining city of the world. How cool would it be if Revival broke loose in Shanghai and this era was defined by the city that broke loose from the reigns of Communism, the bindings of the world and found itself set free from the Spirit of God!
So I resign to speak words of love…
People here are really nice and they are very helpful. In fact, our colleagues have gone out of their way to help us get situated nicely in this country…still something is missing…
Today, was an easy day at work but I went through it with an odd feeling of something missing…amidst the conversations of political opinions in the office, people proudly talking about living lives of drunkenness, people taking the politically correct stance, complaints about Chinese school policies, missing an easy life, yelling at the waiter for making an innocent accident…etc…I find I’m missing more than random things I left at home….I miss words spoken out of love. The friend who wounds you to make you better. Iron sharpening Iron.
We went to church last weekend. It was really great. Like all of you read, we were really missing the fellowship that only the body of Christ provides. Brother Yun was right…God gives us fellowship so that when you are in the desert or alone in the mission field and are lonely, you can look back upon the good times you had with friends of Christ. But to continue on with the church point, the lead pastor spoke words of love that hit close to home…”it is not by coincidence that you are in Shanghai at this time in history, God called you here to be the face of the church in Shanghai in this day and age.” Wow. When I heard these words my heart melted. It is not by coincidence that this would be the first message I heard upon arriving in shanghai from the church. Its hard being away from our closest friends and family, but like the pastor said, mai kao and I are called here to shanghai to be the face of the church in this day in age.
In all my life I have never been surrounded by SO many people who don’t love the Lord or don’t know about Jesus or just blatantly dismiss Him. It’s hard to stay on the right path… But Lord, I will worship you no matter where, no matter what, and no matter the cost. Sometimes the cost is as simple as leaving home.(Abraham). But I expect big things for this city…upon arrival in Shanghai I haven’t been able to shake that chris tomlin song “god of this city.” Some historians say that for every era of world history there is a city that defines the era. For the next coming era, historians are already saying that Shanghai will be the defining city of the world. How cool would it be if Revival broke loose in Shanghai and this era was defined by the city that broke loose from the reigns of Communism, the bindings of the world and found itself set free from the Spirit of God!
So I resign to speak words of love…
Saturday, September 6, 2008
New photos
We've put up some new pictures. We've got video, but still trying to figure out how we want to upload it.
Go to Flickr to read the comments. They're of some of the food we've eaten at the banquets and on the streets. Some of our bikes, and of the other most famous bike brands in China. We went to a big touristy spot yesterday- Yu Yuan Gardens. We didn't actually go to the garden, cause it's supposedly ridiculously busy.
Go to Flickr to read the comments. They're of some of the food we've eaten at the banquets and on the streets. Some of our bikes, and of the other most famous bike brands in China. We went to a big touristy spot yesterday- Yu Yuan Gardens. We didn't actually go to the garden, cause it's supposedly ridiculously busy.
missing worship
i'm missing leading the saints into worship. I firmly believe that God sent us to Shanghai so that i could learn how to worship Him even in the desert.
today, mai kao and i went to a pretty cool tourist spot in Shanghai called the YuYuan Gardens. its pretty crazy, they have thousands of Koi the size of my leg in a small pond. we'll put up the video so you all can see.
josh out.
today, mai kao and i went to a pretty cool tourist spot in Shanghai called the YuYuan Gardens. its pretty crazy, they have thousands of Koi the size of my leg in a small pond. we'll put up the video so you all can see.
josh out.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Response to Xanga People.
- Shong, congrats on winning your scholarship. We love to hear news like this.
- Great to hear that Hillsong was awesome. We hope to visit Hillsong next year... in Australia.
- Even though one person voted for Josh to win, he will destroy Kong's team by 20 points.
- We hope to attend church this weekend. Glad you all are able to see each other and share about church news as well.
- Happy Birthday Yumi. Happy Birthday Isiah. Happy Birthday Kakashi sensei. (Sept. 15)
Things I can't get used to just yet.
- Living without a dryer. Air drying sheets is swell with me. But man, after only 2 weeks, I miss soft, warm, Bounce-fresh clothes.
- Toilets with minimal water. [Normal in-the-floor Chinese toilet is below.] I'm not ungrateful, cause we have a western-style toilet! But the toilet has only 2 cups of water. (versus the half full toilets at home.) When you poop, it's like... all over the inside of the porcelain bowl. Do you get it? Sick, huh? I find myself cleaning the toilet at least every other day, for obvious reasons. (I live with a Xiong.) The only plus, water will never splash back on your booty.
- Paper towels in bathrooms. Let me take that back. Cause there are no paper towels in bathrooms. Usually, I don't even use paper towels. But what gets me is that on our campus, instead of paper towels next to the sink, there's toilet paper! I mean, it's in a dispenser and all. Have you ever tried drying your hands with 1-ply toilet paper? It's very odd. And it sticks to your hands.
Josh has been sick with the Shanghai flu, and he is much better now than he was 2 days ago. We were given some advice by an expat teacher, though. It's called, the "Coke-a-day diet." This co-worker swears by this diet. He says there's something in Coke that cleans out your system, so you never get sick. The only days he's ever gotten sick, in the years he's lived here, has been during the periods of time when he didn't drink Coke. True story. Now, I am sitting with a bottle of Coke Zero right next to me. I've yet to be sick. Don't try this at home, kids. Our theory is that it only works in China.
Have a great day at work.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
teaching is hard work!
big props to teachers. there is so much work involved. its not a stressful job, but you have to be super over prepared for a lesson.
i found myself the first day being completely underprepared and all my classes ended with me running out of material! so the next day i overprepared and whalla! all my classes ended on time.
i'm having a great time teaching and i really enjoy it.
josh out.
p.s. keep posting, it makes us happy to see our friends talking!
i found myself the first day being completely underprepared and all my classes ended with me running out of material! so the next day i overprepared and whalla! all my classes ended on time.
i'm having a great time teaching and i really enjoy it.
josh out.
p.s. keep posting, it makes us happy to see our friends talking!
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