Back To China August 2011: October 2008

Much has happened since my last post. We have started school and have been teaching for about a month. Teaching is going very well. It is much easier the second year for the simple fact that I know what is going on in my students minds! I know how to make the lessons interesting, how to get them involved and how to help them learn.

I have been volunteering a lot more at Mr. Mai's coffee shop. The manger has given me more responsibility with planning events and helping out with other little things. Between school and Mr. Mai's I have been staying pretty busy!

The Chinese national holiday was on October 1st and we decided to take a trip to Beijing. It was lots of fun. It was very very crowded, but fun nonetheless. It was kinda like going to Washington D.C. for the 4th of July.

Since I have been to Beijing before I did not do too many 'tourist' things. The first day we got there Cory and I went to meet our Chinese friend Shane and we all went the the Beijing Open. It was a small tennis tournament with a few big name players. The finals was played between Andy Roddick and some No. 94th ranked player from Israel. It was a good match. Andy Roddick won the match in 3 sets.

I also went to the Beijing Olympic sites. We did not go inside because tickets were too expensive but we were able to get right up next to them. We then went to the Summer Palace where we hike around and marveled at the Qing Dynasty Buildings. It was beautiful. Tiananmen Square was always buzzing with excitement. We tried to see the morning flag raising ceremony but we arrived too late.

That's all that is going on with me right now. Things are going very well. I miss you all and thank you so much for your pryer support.

Ernesto, Will and Myself at the 5th anniversary of Mr. Mai's Coffee House