Dave sent this little video, so I thought I'd share it. You can tell that Tyson and Savy are loving it. =D
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Update from Dave's Family in China
Got this message via Skype from Dave today:
Things are going well. We finally have our first holiday break next week. We get 9 straight days off for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Our school gave us a bunch of moon cakes and giant melons. They kind of treat this holiday like we do Thanksgiving. Its a big family type holiday.Families gather from all around and get together and usually just hang out and eat Moon Cake and sit under the moon. Kind of interesting. We weren't sure what we were going to do during the break.
I think we will give the tree house trip another go some other time, as our friends decided they can't go. We are probably going to go to Hong Kong for a few days during the break. It should be fun. One of Shannon's good friends from Seattle has a younger brother there and he can show us around a bit. An interesting bit of information, if we go for a temple trip, the Church has small apartments that they rent for super cheap, so we will probly make it a temple trip as well so we can stay in a cheap place .
We just bought a 3 person scooter yesterday. It is great to get around our garden area in. So much faster and easier than walking and waiting for buses with the kids. We can only drive it legally within the confines of garden area and some small streets right around it, unless we want to get our Chinese Driver's license, which would cost us about 750 US dollars to get. No thank you! This is just fine. The kids absolutely love it.
We'll send some pics soon. We've been hoping to do some blogging, but seems like either the internet is down, we can't bypass the blocks for the internet, or we friends we are hanging out with. We've got some great pics and some great video of some stuff. But just thought I would drop a line and let you know how we are doing.
Things are going well. We finally have our first holiday break next week. We get 9 straight days off for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Our school gave us a bunch of moon cakes and giant melons. They kind of treat this holiday like we do Thanksgiving. Its a big family type holiday.Families gather from all around and get together and usually just hang out and eat Moon Cake and sit under the moon. Kind of interesting. We weren't sure what we were going to do during the break.
I think we will give the tree house trip another go some other time, as our friends decided they can't go. We are probably going to go to Hong Kong for a few days during the break. It should be fun. One of Shannon's good friends from Seattle has a younger brother there and he can show us around a bit. An interesting bit of information, if we go for a temple trip, the Church has small apartments that they rent for super cheap, so we will probly make it a temple trip as well so we can stay in a cheap place .
We just bought a 3 person scooter yesterday. It is great to get around our garden area in. So much faster and easier than walking and waiting for buses with the kids. We can only drive it legally within the confines of garden area and some small streets right around it, unless we want to get our Chinese Driver's license, which would cost us about 750 US dollars to get. No thank you! This is just fine. The kids absolutely love it.
We'll send some pics soon. We've been hoping to do some blogging, but seems like either the internet is down, we can't bypass the blocks for the internet, or we friends we are hanging out with. We've got some great pics and some great video of some stuff. But just thought I would drop a line and let you know how we are doing.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Fall Colors at Sundance
Saturday was my birthday, and I chose to go to Sundance up Provo Canyon to see the fall colors. I LOVE to do this every year, riding the ski lift. It takes about 45 minutes all told, and I love the smells of the trees and the glorious views.
Here's Ed after we bought out tickets and are heading up to the lift.
It was a little scary for me the first time I went up, but not anymore.
This is the back of Mt. Timpanogos, where there's a glacier that I think stays icy all year round.
The yellows weren't out yet, but the reds and oranges were awesome.
Rough life, huh?
Here's Ed after we bought out tickets and are heading up to the lift.
It was a little scary for me the first time I went up, but not anymore.
This is the back of Mt. Timpanogos, where there's a glacier that I think stays icy all year round.
The yellows weren't out yet, but the reds and oranges were awesome.
Rough life, huh?
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Madelyn's 2nd Birthday
Friday was Madelyn's second birthday, so Erin and I took her and Aidan to the new Pirate Island restaurant/play place.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
A Chat with Dave
I had a chance to talk with Dave on Skype today and thought I'd share:
School has been good. We both have a few crazy classes but most of the students are good, and they are so cute. I teach 10 different classes, usually about 2 times a week, and Shan teaches 4 classes but sees them more often during the week.
Tyson loves school. He is so cute. The kids wear uniforms and he got his two days ago. He was so excited when he brought it home he had to wear for pajamas to bed. Then when we dropped him off at class he was totally strutting around and showing off. I even heard a few "oh yeahs' from him. ...
When I have breaks in my classes I usually go peak on him. He has a girl in his class who is totally taken by him, and when they go on walks for class, she is always trying to hold his hand....its so cute....he usually will break it off and take off somewhere else.....not into the whole girlfriend thing, and if we ask him if he has a girlfirend he gets quite mad.
All the other students speak Chinese, but the teacher addresses the class in English....so he is getting both. The teachers have said that other students who did not speak mandarin picked it up really quickly just from the interaction with the other students....and he is trying to learn it. We have ice age 2 but found it was only in Chinese, and he asked to watch it yesterday. We told him it was only in Chinese, and he said, "Well, I want to learn my Chinese..."
We are bringing a swimsuit for him to class today....there is a cute little wading pool for the kids that they go to sometimes....I happened upon it yesterday and saw that Tyson was out swimming with his class in the nude. Yeah I saw his bare cheeks from a long way off.....He wasn't alone though, about 6 or 7 other students didn't have their suits on either....the rest of them were in their undies....this is totally typical Chinese though. I told his teacher, yeah, we just don't do that in America! We'll be bringing him a swimsuit from now on...
Little Savy though has some rough moments. She hates when we drop her off, and kicks and screams, and tells us, "I don't want to go to school." Its heartbreaking, but we don't know what else to do. She calms down after a few minutes and is fine the rest of the time, its just the dropping her off that is hard. She has a teacher who speaks english in class ,but most of the class is taught in Chinese. So she will probably pick it up the fastest....
We get a huge 2 and a half to 3 hour lunch, and we have been picking the kids up from their class and taking them home for lunch. Its been nice. Our Aiee, makes us food while she is here cleaning and doing laundry, and we always have lunch ready for us when we arrive. At lunch we have also been working with Tyson ourselves on his reading. He always acts like he can't do it, but when he actually applies himself, he does quite well...
So we are getting along just fine. We will both be excited when the cooler weather gets here. The heat just zaps us. The classrooms are kept cooled but you have to leave the classrooms and its hot. Some of my classes are on the 4th or 5th floor and its all stairs.
School has been good. We both have a few crazy classes but most of the students are good, and they are so cute. I teach 10 different classes, usually about 2 times a week, and Shan teaches 4 classes but sees them more often during the week.
Tyson loves school. He is so cute. The kids wear uniforms and he got his two days ago. He was so excited when he brought it home he had to wear for pajamas to bed. Then when we dropped him off at class he was totally strutting around and showing off. I even heard a few "oh yeahs' from him. ...
When I have breaks in my classes I usually go peak on him. He has a girl in his class who is totally taken by him, and when they go on walks for class, she is always trying to hold his hand....its so cute....he usually will break it off and take off somewhere else.....not into the whole girlfriend thing, and if we ask him if he has a girlfirend he gets quite mad.
All the other students speak Chinese, but the teacher addresses the class in English....so he is getting both. The teachers have said that other students who did not speak mandarin picked it up really quickly just from the interaction with the other students....and he is trying to learn it. We have ice age 2 but found it was only in Chinese, and he asked to watch it yesterday. We told him it was only in Chinese, and he said, "Well, I want to learn my Chinese..."
We are bringing a swimsuit for him to class today....there is a cute little wading pool for the kids that they go to sometimes....I happened upon it yesterday and saw that Tyson was out swimming with his class in the nude. Yeah I saw his bare cheeks from a long way off.....He wasn't alone though, about 6 or 7 other students didn't have their suits on either....the rest of them were in their undies....this is totally typical Chinese though. I told his teacher, yeah, we just don't do that in America! We'll be bringing him a swimsuit from now on...
Little Savy though has some rough moments. She hates when we drop her off, and kicks and screams, and tells us, "I don't want to go to school." Its heartbreaking, but we don't know what else to do. She calms down after a few minutes and is fine the rest of the time, its just the dropping her off that is hard. She has a teacher who speaks english in class ,but most of the class is taught in Chinese. So she will probably pick it up the fastest....
We get a huge 2 and a half to 3 hour lunch, and we have been picking the kids up from their class and taking them home for lunch. Its been nice. Our Aiee, makes us food while she is here cleaning and doing laundry, and we always have lunch ready for us when we arrive. At lunch we have also been working with Tyson ourselves on his reading. He always acts like he can't do it, but when he actually applies himself, he does quite well...
So we are getting along just fine. We will both be excited when the cooler weather gets here. The heat just zaps us. The classrooms are kept cooled but you have to leave the classrooms and its hot. Some of my classes are on the 4th or 5th floor and its all stairs.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Zen Sarcasm (author unknown)
It's been one of those days, so I just had to share:
The Zen of Sarcasm (author unknown)
1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day .
11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.
12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
The Zen of Sarcasm (author unknown)
1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day .
11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.
12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Honor
My dad sent an email I've read before, but a couple of lines at the end of the story really struck me today. My dad was career Navy, and I started school in Korea. My sister was Navy and married a career Navy man, and my brother attended the Naval Academy. I spent two years in the U.S. Army and served overseas. Both of my husbands have served in the military (one Army and one Air Force). I have a strong sense of support for what our service men and women and the sacrifices they and their families make for us.
America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!
Remember, Freedom isn't Free, thousands have paid the price so you can enjoy what you have today.
It's funny that the first three words of the last line are ones I used when I created my first vote poster for our municipal election. The complacency people feel about our government can be caused by apathy or confidence that the system will work even if they don't vote. But by not being informed voters people give those who do vote incredible power
/endrant
America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!
Remember, Freedom isn't Free, thousands have paid the price so you can enjoy what you have today.
It's funny that the first three words of the last line are ones I used when I created my first vote poster for our municipal election. The complacency people feel about our government can be caused by apathy or confidence that the system will work even if they don't vote. But by not being informed voters people give those who do vote incredible power
/endrant
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)