- Pictures have been updated, including the ones from my trip to Beijing
- I'm going back to HK on August 14th
- Grandpa is fine, as is Bertie
- I've baked two trays of butter tarts
Isn't my life fascinating?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Updates
Hello everyone! Just a few short updates for everyone:
Monday, July 28, 2008
Pictures
I've been playing around on the blog, with the settings and things, and I realized that I have not updated my pictures in forever and a day! Sorry about that folks- more pictures will be on the way soon to enable your procrastination habits! But in the meantime, please enjoy this:
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Summer Fun
Another summer is going by, and I have failed to update this thing for a long time. Everything is going well for me this summer; I'm working my old job as a receptionist, bidding my time until I go back to Hong Kong for my second year. I'll be back there on August 15th for a second round of teaching and excitement!
So what have I been up to since that last post from March? I spent my time working and teaching until the second week of May, when my students were done with their final exam. I have to say that I learned a lot this year about how to really deal with people on different levels, both as a friend, and a teacher. Sometimes I want to be both for my students, but I had to learn, (and I am still learning), how to balance these two roles. My students really taught me a few things and have helped me to be a better person. I really cherish the time spent with them, and with my professor, and I cannot wait to see them in the fall. This year should be very interesting. One of my favorite things about my students is watching them grow and enjoy learning new things. This gives me more drive to become a professor one day, even though I shudder at the thought of all the department meetings that will entail. Those are just unpleasant for everyone involved....
After classes and exams let out, Erin, Paula, and I took the 24-hour train from Hong Kong to Beijing to visit the city and see all that there was to see. There was also a double-plus bonus for me; one of my favorite people, Megan, happens to live there, so I had the chance to see one of my dearest friends that I haven't seen in 2 years. Beijing is a fascinating city to me. The one thing that I loved about it, and I know that this makes me a nerd, was that you could actually walk around and touch things that I've only read about or seen on TV, like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and so on. These things have never seemed real to me, and there I was walking inside history. There is no accurate way of describing it, one must go for themselves. Outside of being a huge culture and history nerd, there was the modern city to enjoy. I expected the city serious and somber, as befitting a national capitol. Instead, to my surprise, I spent 90+% of my trip smiling and laughing. You have to have a good sense of humor when the only commonly spoken English is "Welcome Beijing", or if your lucky, "Welcome to Beijing." If anyone is headed there, and would like to experience the heart of the city, and earn some major street cred, rent a bicycle. It works! That was the absolute favorite thing I did on my trip.
After Beijing, I packed, spent some time with friends, and then headed back home for the summer, via Arizona and a two-week visit with my grandparents. That visit was a really treat since I have not been out to visit them in over 5 years. We didn't do much, because I was attempting to defeat my jet-lag, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that I got to spend quality time with the both of them, and I greatly enjoyed myself. Grandparents are such a wonderful thing, and both sets of mine are fantastic. Memee passed along knitting secrets, and Grandpa countless lessons and stories. I can't wait to go back and see them again!
There have been a few lows this summer; one of my aunties had a stroke, and my other grandfather is having surgery today. My aunt is on the mend, and it is amazing how much the family has rallied around her. We are all thinking of her and ready to help.
So that should catch everyone up on what has been happening in my life since March. I hope that enjoy these tibits, and there should be more to come in the near future!
So what have I been up to since that last post from March? I spent my time working and teaching until the second week of May, when my students were done with their final exam. I have to say that I learned a lot this year about how to really deal with people on different levels, both as a friend, and a teacher. Sometimes I want to be both for my students, but I had to learn, (and I am still learning), how to balance these two roles. My students really taught me a few things and have helped me to be a better person. I really cherish the time spent with them, and with my professor, and I cannot wait to see them in the fall. This year should be very interesting. One of my favorite things about my students is watching them grow and enjoy learning new things. This gives me more drive to become a professor one day, even though I shudder at the thought of all the department meetings that will entail. Those are just unpleasant for everyone involved....
After classes and exams let out, Erin, Paula, and I took the 24-hour train from Hong Kong to Beijing to visit the city and see all that there was to see. There was also a double-plus bonus for me; one of my favorite people, Megan, happens to live there, so I had the chance to see one of my dearest friends that I haven't seen in 2 years. Beijing is a fascinating city to me. The one thing that I loved about it, and I know that this makes me a nerd, was that you could actually walk around and touch things that I've only read about or seen on TV, like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and so on. These things have never seemed real to me, and there I was walking inside history. There is no accurate way of describing it, one must go for themselves. Outside of being a huge culture and history nerd, there was the modern city to enjoy. I expected the city serious and somber, as befitting a national capitol. Instead, to my surprise, I spent 90+% of my trip smiling and laughing. You have to have a good sense of humor when the only commonly spoken English is "Welcome Beijing", or if your lucky, "Welcome to Beijing." If anyone is headed there, and would like to experience the heart of the city, and earn some major street cred, rent a bicycle. It works! That was the absolute favorite thing I did on my trip.
After Beijing, I packed, spent some time with friends, and then headed back home for the summer, via Arizona and a two-week visit with my grandparents. That visit was a really treat since I have not been out to visit them in over 5 years. We didn't do much, because I was attempting to defeat my jet-lag, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that I got to spend quality time with the both of them, and I greatly enjoyed myself. Grandparents are such a wonderful thing, and both sets of mine are fantastic. Memee passed along knitting secrets, and Grandpa countless lessons and stories. I can't wait to go back and see them again!
There have been a few lows this summer; one of my aunties had a stroke, and my other grandfather is having surgery today. My aunt is on the mend, and it is amazing how much the family has rallied around her. We are all thinking of her and ready to help.
So that should catch everyone up on what has been happening in my life since March. I hope that enjoy these tibits, and there should be more to come in the near future!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)