I'm getting used to the early mornings and late nights here in Chongqing. The pace of our language class is just right for me and my knowledge is growing every day. We had our first homework assignment which reinforced my recognition of some of the characters. Today during break us girls decided to relieve some stress and play a game of Ninja! It was a good break from all the new stuff I've been cramming in my mind. It's a lot of fun trying out my new words on the street and with our group. It gives new meaning to what I've been learning and makes it that much more important. 

Lunch on the street was delicious! I devoured some steamed wontons and Tropicana orange juice. I'm glad we are exploring and finding new favorites! It's also a good way to interact with the people of the city and its good exercise walking on the streets. Afterwards was the perfect time for a refreshing nap before our exciting kungfu class. 

Kungfu class was pretty cool. We watched a video about different forms of kungfu and then focused on learning a little tai chi. Tai chi is very relaxing and is a great form of exercise. It reminds me of some of the yoga series I have done with the tennis team. It'll be fun to share what I've learned with them. 

In the late afternoon we visited some clothing shops and are having some dresses and suits hand made for us. We picked out a fabric and design and they took our measurements and told us they'd be done in a few days. There were so many fabrics to choose from and decisions to make!  I am anxious to see the final product! 

We ended the night with a little Karaoke at KTV. KTV has many private rooms of all sizes and each room contains a large tv, many songs to choose from, comfy seating, and a fun atmosphere. We enjoyed ourselves while participating in something many Chinese people really like to do. Some of our new friends joined us and sang some songs in Chinese while we sang the songs in English. It was cool to hear both languages being sang. The storm hit while we were mid song and knocked the power out a few couple of times but other than that it went great! We had to catch a cab and fight the weather a bit to get back. Everyone was trying to jump into the cabs and get out of the weather. Street venders close up for the day when the weather is iffy so not many people were out.

I feel like the whole world has been opened up to me this trip; everything seems so much more possible. I would like to do some more traveling in the future. I think it'll be very useful when I am teaching. I have already bought some books I'd like to share with my future class and I have learned a lot about the culture that students would be interested in. 

Today was a very relaxing but very hot day. Our first seminar was canceled so we had the morning to debrief about our experience in the schools. It was good to get everyone's input and see their outlook on the trips. We ventured out onto the streets for lunch and had time to explore the streets to do a little shopping before meeting up again. I waved down my first taxi as we traveled down to the largest hospital in northern Chongqing where two doctors gave us a very informative tour. They explained the technique of acupuncture and some other traditional Chinese medicines. Some of us even acted as genie pigs for them to demonstrate their talents. After a quick diagnostic of my pulse and tongue I was told I am in good health! I was surprised because I was dying from the heat! 

After riding in the taxi and traveling in other cars during this trip I've made the relation of traffic here to traffic after a big event in America. You are trying to pull out of the parking lot but there is a lot of traffic lined up so you eventually just have to stick the front of your car out and make your way into the flow of traffic. People here do just that; they navigate around others and flow together, unafraid to jump out in front of someone else. Everything has a unique way of working together. 

Laundry was today for Jessica and I! We utilized the small washing machines and hung our cloths up to dry. (When I say "up" I mean up! Clothes are hung from the ceiling using a hook and rod.) It all smells nice and fresh thanks to Tide! 

I am getting better at communicating with every day! Tonight I was able to pick out my own food from a vender and I found a wonderful lemon juice drink that tastes like a shake up at another. The lemon juice and the English music we heard in the stores tonight makes me realize all the little things I miss from home. I hadn't realized how much I miss some of the little things from home because we have been experiencing so much but it felt good to have something more familiar. In the store I learned how to ask how much something is and the store owner understood me! Everyone seems very friendly and happy to help. 

Tonight was a chill night to walk around and see some of the city. Its always interesting to see how the people interact and go about their night. I'm am getting closer to my team through this time and getting to know them on a whole new level. Each day I am learning more and more!

Things I've learned: 
- we have no room to complain about having a roommate when students here often times live with 6 others in a dorm with no air conditioning! 
- we saw a commercial for a cream that is advertised to make your skin lighter! 

What a day! It feels great to be back in Chongqing, our "home away from home." But this morning I had a wonderful time working with the preschoolers and their charming teacher. They were a delight to be around and behaved like most children of that age would! I taught them songs like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" and "Open, Shut Them." The latter of the two is one I hadn't heard before but the teacher chose it out of my book of rhymes and songs because it was simple to follow along. I made up movements for them to do so it was very interactive and of course "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" went great! I just had to slow the song down at first and teach one part at a time but they were quick learners. I also did a simplified version of the "Hokey Pokey" and she had me teach some new words. Luckily the words had to do with sports! It was definitely interesting trying to come up with a technique to teach when I don't speak their native language and have little way to communicate. They had a break for exercises which is like dancing and I was able to join in and follow along! :) I decided to leave them with my book which contains a lot of rhymes and songs I grew up with, including some of the ones I taught today, and the teacher was very happy. 

I learned a lot this weekend about ways to show respect in China and about some of the cultural practices. During the meals we were shown how to give a proper toast, we have seen how important gift giving is, and heard how "no" doesn't also mean "no." We were given very nice gifts upon leaving the school and in turn we gave them a letter of thanks. There are so many things about the Chinese culture that fascinate me! One of the things that I didn't realize before is that people from this area have a hard time handling cold food. Most items are served either hot or warm because cold items can make them feel ill. One thing I really miss from home is a nice cold bowl of cereal! It is all definitely interesting! 

Everything I have learned in language class this past week has been put to use out in the real  world and it has so much more meaning now. I can easily recall the words and phrases we have gone over thanks to the practice and real world situations were I was able to apply what I had learned. It is helpful to be immersed in the language you are trying to learn. 

After a long weekend of lots of food we decided to stick with a simple peanut butter sandwich for dinner, and then we attended a dubbing competition on campus. Dubbing is when you take out the words in a movie and replace them with your voice. Students took movies in English and used their English skills to be the voices of the characters. It was awesome to see the students having fun and putting their skills to the test! They study very hard and this was a chance to relax and have a good time with what they have worked so hard on. It was a privilege to be invited to attend and see the students showcase their talents. They did a wonderful job and I was thoroughly entertained! I think this would be a fun activity to do back home! 

Tomorrow we are back to the classroom with a seminar in the morning and then we hit the streets with a visit to a traditional Chinese hospital in the afternoon. It should be a good day full of information. 

The days just keep getting better! We were treated to an all you can eat breakfast and headed out to Shehong Tuo Pai Experimental School to teach and test English skills. My group was in charge of testing the 9th graders on their English. Isaac and I were in charge of reading a passage to the students as they answered questions then we individually tested each student. The students did a great job and I was very impressed with their skills! It was funny to watch them cram like a typical student would right before the test! They had workbooks out and you could see their mouths moving as they reviewed the words and phrases. I now understand why teachers get so bored with testing; it is very repetitious! It was apparent when a student was very good because they would think outside the box and give an answer I hadn't heard yet. :)
 
For lunch, once again we were treated like royalty with about 23 different dishes! We were treated to some local delicacies including fish and turtle! My grandma told me stories of when my grandpa and uncles would go turtle hunting and how they would eat them for dinner when they were successful. She told me they were very good but I could never wrap my mind around the idea of eating a turtle. I was brave today and I discovered she is right! They are very tender and kind of taste like beef. So far we have had chicken, beef, fish, rabbit, pork (pig intestines today!), and turtle. It was interesting to see men spit on the floor during lunch, it is just the usual to do so here but its very gross! When we left the restaurant we got to see how good of a driver you have to be to live here. The bus driver maneuvered the bus in an alley way around cars and other obstacles coming just inches away from them! I would have panicked in that situation! 
 
One thing is for sure, even though the clothes make you feel big, the people, especially the students, make you feel great with their compliments! I have lost track of the amount of times I have been told I have beautiful eyes and that I am very beautiful. You can get a big ego here!

Afternoon class was very enjoyable. Going through worksheets was boring but by asking questions, drawing pictures, and sharing stories intermittently the lesson spiced up a bit. I had the 9th graders for three class periods so the last one we decided to play some games and I let them ask me questions. We took a group photo and I was able to see a lot of personality come out from each of the students. The class was very kind; a couple of students sang me a song, and one showed me his artwork. It was great practice for the future. I was given a workbook, told what lessons to do, and set free with a full class! I had to figure out what worked and what didn't work, and had to think on my feet! The communication barrier was also very tricky! 

By now we should be used to it but I was amazed at dinner yet again. Over 25 dishes including exotic dishes such as: lobster, duck, and eel! Then they took us on a tour of a winery with a 600 year history and ties to the Han Dynasty. We were able to go into one of the buildings where fermentation takes place and tour some of the other buildings. There was a very distinct smell in the atmosphere and the wine we taste tested was more like hard liquor! Unfortunately the tour was all in Chinese so I couldn't understand but it was fascinating to see everything.  

After a long week and with full bellies we decided to treat ourselves to a full body massage in the hotel. The hotel has mahjong rooms, karaoke, a restaurant, massage area and I'm sure there's more we haven't seen! The massage was very rough but super relaxing. It was a great way to relieve all the stress and end the night. :) Tomorrow marks another yet another busy day of teaching! I will be on the other end of the spectrum working with kindergarteners. It should be a busy day and I'm sure we'll have our hands full!

Things I learned today: 
- always watch your step! (You might step on a dead mouse! Eeew!) 
- sometimes the bottom part of a tree is painted to keep the bugs away
- dress code in the school and other rules are very flexible 
- it is customary to decorate your car in red ribbons and bows for weddings
- always have an umbrella!

Rain, Rain, Go Away! Today was our first day of rain and it felt good and refreshing after all the heat we have been experiencing. The only downfall is walking in it! Counting was our focus in language class today so I can now count the rain drops as they hit the window! We were also taught the Chinese characters for each number so we can write and recognize numbers. I feel very accomplished for learning what we have in such a short time! We have an excellent and very patient teacher. 

This afternoon we traveled by bus 2 hours from the campus. We drove through beautiful, green, fog covered mountains. Houses and buildings are scattered about and built into the mountains. The fog gives the scenery an air of mystery and the shrubbery an ancient feel. It was great to explore outside of the city and I can't wait to view more! 

We have arrived in Shehong for the weekend to teach English in a local school. I'm am curious to see how it compares to the wonderful schools we visited in the city. So far the welcoming has been just as great! We learned a little about the school which is a K-9 school employing around 228 teachers! We were also able to meet with some of the teachers to discuss our lessons for the upcoming days and watch the flag ceremony at the end of the students school day. They treated us to a wonderful, very fancy dinner afterwards. There were over 25 dishes on the table at one point so there was definitely no way you could go away hungry! We exchanged toasts and pleasantries in the traditional Chinese style to thank our wonderful hosts. Afterwards we walked down by the river along the walkway. It was a very relaxing evening and the weather was perfect! 

We talked our new friends into letting us do a little window shopping and exploration of the area then we headed back to the hotel to partake in some mahjong. It is a game very similar to Rummy and is a game of strategy, which I really enjoy. It was a good way to get to know some of our new friends and they were happy to teach us. 

I look forward to tomorrow and the experience it will bring! Isaac, Mrs. Reitman, and I will be evaluating the 9th graders on their English. We will look at their reading, oral, and comprehension skills. They have had English classes for many years so it is a good year to test their knowledge. I hope I can encourage them to keep learning! 

Yet another wonderful day here in Chongqing! Language class was very fun this morning! We acted out a very simple scene and video taped it. After several takes and cuts we mastered our acting which, I'm sure, was nothing short of grammy award winning. It was a very interactive and good a way to expand our comprehension of our new language. I noticed today after class I was even able to pick up a few words in the conversations I heard on the street!

Yesterday, I learned the hard way not to wear flats (dress shoes) so today I dressed smarter for our school visit. We were able to visit an elementary school and what an experience that was! The school we visited was downtown and has over 1000 students. There are approximately 300 in each grade, and 50 in each class. We arrived right after the rest/nap time and the children were partaking in the singing of English songs. There was so much energy and enthusiasm in the singing and dancing! I heard songs ranging from "Little Indians" to "B-I-N-G-O" throughout the school. After they finished, children filled the hallway like we were famous! Surrounding us wanting to talk, shake hands, and give hi fives! It was crazy! We had to quickly make our way up the stairs after a few minutes of this! 

We observed in a 4th grade English class during our visit. The lesson was very well prepared and very engaging. The energy level in the classroom is very apparent and students were eager to learn. Students sat boy, girl, boy, girl in rows, and with only one signal students were on task and listening. The teachers do not have a desk in the classrooms, only a podium. Instead they have a teachers' office in another part of the school. The teacher was teaching the students about farm life and animals. She did so by modeling what she expected, having the students act out scenes, repetition, by playing the sounds of animals, songs, utilizing word families, drawing, and much more! It was great to see the children practicing out loud without embarrassment; students helped and encouraged one another.

We ended the school visit with some interaction with students in the library. They showed me how to write some calligraphy, sang some songs to us, and we taught different dances and games to each other. It was very enjoyable and the students really liked practicing their English and hanging out with us. It was interesting to see that they have different versions of some of the same games such as "Duck, Duck, Goose!" 

Some of our language partners visited the school with us and were then able to do a little shopping with us before dinner. The prices of clothes are very comparable to the US but for the most part other things are very cheap! We ate dinner in a restaurant outside of campus tonight thanks to the help of our language partners. Afterwards we met with a group of nutrition students expecting to answer questions about our diets but instead we engaged in conversation and went shopping again! It turned out to be a great night and some of us found some great buys. It is always nice to have someone along who speaks the language so they can bargain for us! We are making so many new friends who I hope to keep in contact with!

Tomorrow is another big day. We have our morning language class, possibly a school visit, and then we are headed a couple of hours outside of the city to teach English for the weekend! 

I don't even know where to begin today! It has been a very busy and informative day! I guess I'll just go in order of occurrence. So first off, in language class I received my Chinese name, Qiao Xuewen, which means snow, pure, and innocent. Apparently it is a very pretty name given to girls. Our teacher took a lot of time translating our English names, looking at the meanings and I think we are all happy with our new names! :) My vocabulary is increasing by the day and I am excited to learn more! I have also integrated into society and I now have a QQ account which is like Facebook for China. I can communicate with my new friends now! 

In the afternoon we visited our first school. We visited a high school which boards 2/3 of its 5000 students! It was like visiting a college! There were three dorms for the students to stay in, two cafeterias, many basketball courts, soccer fields, and other areas for activity. They have one large high school building and one large middle school building with many levels. When we arrived they had Tai chi classes going on and children were shooting hoops (such a contrast!). We were able to observe in a 10th grade English class and a 7th grade interpersonal skills class. 

There were about 55 students in the English class and it was taught by one teacher. I can't imagine having that many students! They were reading passages and answering questions, summarizing, and going over vocabulary while we were there. The desks were filled with books and small containers to hold belongings for more convenience. Students have lockers but like to keep everything by their desk so they have easy access as the students stay in one classroom for their lessons. The teachers are actually the ones who rotate through the school which is opposite of American schools. The classrooms contained a reading corner, projector, tv, rows of desks, and a few decorations on the walls. The students were really well behaved! They barely looked away from the teacher when we walked in! It was interesting and I was very impressed that the class was taught in all English with very little Chinese. Students were bashful at first but eager to talk when we approached them. They spoke in English very well!

In the 7th grade class, the students were learning how to interact with each other and to work cooperatively in groups. Apparently like most middle schoolers they don't have much experience working with the opposite sex, they like to segregate and often like to be alone. This class is designed to help them gain interpersonal skills. They were playing a game similar to Jeopardy and had to risk money in order to answer questions. They worked in a group and each member had their own job to do. Everyone clapped for each other and were very excited to play. It seemed to be a popular activity! We were swarmed by the students at the end of their class. They were eager to ask us questions and practice their English. Once again I was very impressed with their skill level! My throat was parched by the time I managed to squeeze out of the classroom! 

On the way out we witnessed part of the school's basketball competition going on. It was fun to watch the students interact and cheer! I think it is good that they have time for fun because a lot of pressure is put on Chinese students to be successful in school and to work hard. There are characters on the lawn that translate to "make your country proud" and "study hard." Students who don't board at the school can leave at 5:00 pm and those who stay have class until around 9:20 pm. They have very long days and are preparing for their very important college entrance exam. 

This evening we were invited by our language teacher to attend his class with his education students. The class was very welcoming and anxious to exchange ideas. We went in expecting to listen to his lecture on what makes a good teacher but were soon in the middle of deep discussion and conversation on the comparisons of the Chinese and American education systems. Jessica and I were able to exchange questions with the students about our two contrasting systems. Students surrounded us eager to ask questions and very engaged in what I had to share! Jessica talked to a group of about 15 students and I talked to the other of about the same amount. It was an awesome class and I hope to go back! It was interesting to learn that: 
- teachers are highly valued, their position is repsected above all other careers
- their is little to no parent involvement 
- mainly whole class instruction with occasional small discussion groups; teacher mainly stands in front of class and lectures while students take notes
- they said they would have liked to have the option of studying a foreign language or not, and which one to study; they think they had bad foreign language instruction (yet they spoke very well! ) 
- the education major students learn more about the theories of education and content rather than how to teach
- they only student teach for 6 weeks and are only in the schools a few times before that; their first visit was during their junior year
- they only teach one subject 
- evaluation of the teacher is based on grades and performance of the student, they can receive bonuses
- each class has a monitor, which is a student chosen by classmates to represent the class and lead, they are often called on to speak for the class

During part of the class we took a break and talked about some of the stereotypes of Americans and Chinese people and compared the two cultures. This was another fascinating topic! 

Some things about the culture:
- food and drink is always served hot or warm, coldness upsets their stomachs
- when at a party they stand in a circle, represents harmony 
- Grandparents watch the children 
- they don't want to be tan, lighter skin is better (umbrellas are used to block the sun) 

I survived my first language class! Basically I am fluent now! ;) It is very hard to hear the difference in what I am saying. My tone sounds the same to me and it is hard to identify when I am mispronouncing words. I have to say I am improving though because you can only go up when you start out as a blank slate and my vocabulary is increasing! Meeting with our language partners I was introduced to more words and phrases. It is very fun conversing with them and they are excited to share and teach us! I enjoy learning from them and am fascinated by their personalities. They were teaching us some phrases and ways that we should laugh in our classes so we can be sarcastic and joke with our teachers as long as we didn't tell who we learned from! I also survived my first culture class over the education system. It was interesting to hear about the history and how education has professed over time. 

Today at the market I had my first experience with the Chinese squatting toilet and I have to say I survived! It's really not that bad just an adjustment. I also got the chance to make a fool of myself playing a Chinese version of Just Dance in an arcade. I am glad we won't be seeing the people who witnessed that again because I wasn't very good! We also stopped by a McDonalds and I ordered a McFlurry all by my self with hand gestures and pointing to signs. The McFlurry was very goo! It contained Carmel, chocolate, and nuts and was quite refreshing! 

Tomorrow is another big day and marks our first visit to a school. I am excited to see how the classrooms are set up and to see some of the routines. 

The Welcome Ceremony was very nice this morning! It was set up like a formal meeting and speeches and gifts were given followed by a group photo. We also were able to meet with the dean of education and trade information on our different programs. They have about 3000 students in their graduating class in the field of education ALONE! It was interesting to hear some students have tuition paid for and in return they are committed to teaching in certain areas for 10 years. Students here also have the freedom to travel as far as they want to student teach. It was neat to compare and contrast our two programs. I think it would an awesome opportunity for students to come here to visit the schools and live for a few weeks! It is a great opportunity to be a part of this pilot program to help set that up :)

My Chinese is improving! Today I learned how to count to five, say "my name is," "what is your name?" And "not spicy! " I am now also aware that words take on new meanings with different tones and that there are specific levels of tones for each word. For example the word for "mom" in one tone is mom but in another it means horse. This just made learning a whole lot more complicated but very fascinating! I can also identify characters for numbers 1-3. It is easier to learn when you are emerged in the culture and may need the phrases for survival! I was surprised when I arrived that most everyone dresses like typical Americans. A lot of women dress nicely though and wear lots of heels. Its crazy that they are able to walk so much in their heels up and down the hills! I am jealous of some of the dresses I have seen and can't wait to go shopping! The sizes of clothes are very different here since everyone is so fit and healthy. An XXL here in China is comparable to a M in the US! The length of clothes are also shorter. Makes a person feel a little big! 

After lunch we took part in our first culture seminar over the past, present, and future of Chongqing. It actually flew by because it was so interesting. I think since it is all new to me it is more appealing. The history of Chongqing is very vast and colorful. We have been wondering why it is always so hazy and foggy and come to find out it is known as the foggy city. I know exploring the town will give me a better understanding of its present. Tomorrow we are scheduled for our first language class which I am actually excited about. In the afternoon we will also have a seminar over the education system here in China. 

Things I learned today: 
- hair appliances like curling irons heat up super fast and get hotter than at home. I learned the hard way and lost a chunk of hair this morning! :( 
- crossing the road by foot becomes easier with practice! 

Finally my jet lag has worn off and I am ready for the next few exciting days. Tomorrow marks the beginning of our culture classes and hopefully some new relationships! I think these classes will be very enjoyable and informative. I can't wait to try out my kungfu and cooking skills in these seminars!

The two girls, Vicki and Michelle (English names), have been very helpful in acting as our tour guides and translators. It has been fun getting to know them through conversation. Today Michelle took some of us on a tour of the campus and we got to see first hand how beautiful it is. There are all kinds of activities going on and we have gotten the chance to see a variety of events. Graduation was this weekend even though they have a month left in school so we saw lots of students in their gowns posing for photos. We even had people come up to us a few times taking our pictures! There were students dressed up in anime costumes on one of the soccer fields and they had booths where students could get their fortune read or play a game. There was also a small kungfu competition going on so we witnessed a few students trying their hand with the numchucks. (Seeing them compete reminded me of Americans going to basketball practice or competing in a horse show; everyone has their own skills and participates in what they want. I think I tend to over generalize when I think about who does what and assume that since a culture is known for something then everyone of that culture does it.) It all resembled a small fair and apparently they have activities like this every weekend. In another area we saw people participating happily in a game of musical chairs. 

The campus is very pretty with the mountains in the background and greenery everywhere you go. We have seen all kinds of vegetation and plants. There are gorgeous little parks to take a "rest." There are "playgrounds" with soccer fields, volleyball courts, tennis, badminton, ping pong, basketball, a track and much more. The apartment buildings of the campus are very close to the buildings containing the classes so it is hard to tell one from the other but the buildings have very unique architecture. It is a 40 minute walk from one side of the campus to the other so you can tell it is very large. Michelle treated us to a ride on the shuttle once we had walked quite a ways from where we are staying. 

I have to say my chopsticks skills still come and go but I am improving. You kind of just have to jump in and try things to learn! Tomorrow should be a big day with lots of new experiences. 

Things I learned today: 

- traditionally it is the boys job to drive and chauffeur the girls 
- there are only certain times during the day when we have access to hot water (cold showers are the worst!) 
- I can recognize the character for and say the word "water" in Chinese :) 
- the market is always busy on the weekend! 
- don't rely on wifi to communicate with family back home 
- traveling in a large group can  be slow 
- airports don't take good care of your luggage :( 
- the iPad camera works as a great mirror!