Maybe it's because the English have invaded...

or maybe it's because I'm not in the right climate, but something doesn't feel right. It could also be the fact that I'm not getting enough sleep lately. I keep having to stay up late to rewrite my lesson plans. The ones as of late are not going the best way I'd want them to. Some classes excel and other classes flop. It's a little frustrating. I've also encountered some more of the dreaded writer's block because of this and that is why there have been a lack of posts. This is not to say that there has been a lack of interesting things that have happened, I just haven't been in the mood to share. And of course I feel bad about this, but at the same time can't even remember half of the stuff that's happened in the past few days. I think I'm going to have a nap before supposed J.J. dinner tonight.

My kids are darlings as usual, sometimes obnoxious but most of the time I could pinch them. The singing lesson that I've planned for this week is a bit trying, I have to say. They just get it in some classes and in other classes they just don't want to. Maybe tomorrow we'll cut the song out in favor of something else. Or they can just listen to the music. I have been giving mini performances of "Country Roads" in classes lately and almost every time I get an applause. Haha I guess my fear of singing in public is getting cured FAST.

Any thoughts on what to teach kids about Halloween (or how). I'm a little slow to jump to this topic even though it's my favorite. We can't have a party because that night I can't stay at the school cuz I have class and then Halloween party at night. I still want them to have fun. I am going to paint my face a little bit each day (I bought goache paints hopefully those will work just as well as acrylics and hopefully the Chinese won't mind) and going to look for a costume this weekend in Dongmen.

Funny thing - the other day I was shopping in Wal-mart (which I can happily say that I can make my way to and from now without getting lost) with my little stalker friend. We were perusing the bread section and then out of nowhere this guy says "Hello how are you?" Since English is always refreshing to hear here in Bao'an where not alot of people speak decent English, I happily returned the greeting. Then he gives me this sly knowing look and says "I am from Japan." "Honto ni?" I say which in Japanese means "really."

He starts to give me the common phrases "konnichiwa." "konbanwa" "arigato gozaimasu." However I'm not convinced so I ask him "anata ga nihongo wo hanshimasuka?" He gives me a blank look. I smile.

Meanwhile my little chinese stalker friend is eyeing him quizzically. She starts talking at him in spit fire Chinese., asking him questions, yelling at him and then she turns to me.

"I don't think that he is Japanese," she says in English. He turns to me and says "No I am Japanese, I am." - In English of course.
After about 10 more minutes of her giving him the third degree she has discovered that he is in fact Chinese. I look from her to him and I smile at her. I tell her, "Of course he's not Japanese! I asked him in Japanese 'do you speak Japanese' and he obviously didn't understand me! I knew he was not Japanese 10 minutes ago! She laughed at this.

He wasn't a mean man he was just trying to make a joke. He explained that before he had met a Russian girl and the same trick had worked on her. I proceeded to tell him that it's because Russians aren't that bright ( I kid, I kid) He told us his name was Diego. Ok. Really? A Chinese man who pretends to be Japanese, speaks a little English, and has a Spanish name. That's a little bit too many cultures, even for me. Stalker friend said it was time to go so we peaced out but not before I gave him my name. Not my phone number, I'll wait until I see him stalking around Wal-mart again - pretending to be African or something.

Things are pretty quiet as of right now. Probably because all the teachers are busy studying for their "to become a permanent teacher" exam. It's so weird to realize that it's Halloween and yet it's not celebrated here. It's a little bit of a downer, have to tell you. But that's okay. I'm going to teach them about Halloween anyways. I'm determined to spread the love. I just hope I can buy enough candy :-/

Side note: I have my address almost translated from the super bad handwriting of my contact teacher. When I get it fully translated (via J.J. hopefully tonight) I will send it in an email to mom and some others. Both the Chinese and the English. My advice as has been told to me buy others who have mailed things - print it out and use the Chinese and English. It'll work faster and better and they won't have to fumble with things they can't understand. No you won't have to write it, I'm almost positive. Thank you for being so patient with me. I'm off to finish watching 'The Nightmare Before Christmas" online and then I'm going to take a nap. China beat me up this week.

See you guys later!