The lessons have been going well. The topic for this week has been celebrations. We cover baby showers, graduations, marriages, and funerals. The students seem to enjoy the content and (for the most part), classes are going smoothly. I did have twelve students missing from one section this morning, but I called my helper and all will be sorted out soon. (I have gotten the class rosters I was promised, but not the keys to the empty room next door and none of the class monitors had heard anything about taking attendance in my class. I won’t hold my breath on the keys.)
Other than that, there’s not been much exciting news to report. The weather has been drizzly the past couple of days, which makes me happy because I’m not fond of stifling heat. We’ve been more adventures with our food choices and have enjoyed the results.
Hope everyone is doing well! We sure miss the States, but we’re in the home stretch now. We’ve only got about ten more weeks left in Anqing. Yes, this is hard to believe; it also feels like I’ve been gone for seven and a half months, though. I’ve become so used to life here that I don’t think I’m aware of all the differences that exist between the two countries. I imagine that I’ll probably experience reverse culture shock and be so thankful for the little things (drinkable tap water, showering in a tub that doesn’t get the entire bathroom floor wet, breathing clean air, eating salad, hearing quiet, walking on spit-free streets, etc.) that I’ll annoy people.
My year in China has certainly put life into a different perspective for me; I know I've become a more thankful person as a result. Travel broadens the mind and helps you realize that Americans are lucky. We really are. Sure, we have issues, what country doesn't?, but to gloss over or ignore what we have (drinkable tap water, opportunities to relax, nice houses, the money to pay for indoor heating, short school days, the freedom to choose our profession, and an education system that encourages creative thinking to list a few examples) is ignorant. I think of myself as a patient person, but I know I'll lose that calm if I'm forced to constantly hear about the horrors of American life. No, I don't know everything about the world (thankfully), but I do know that I've visited a few countries, lived in a couple for more than two weeks, and I've gotten out of my comfort zone to experience life differently. As a result, I feel that I have a little bit of authority to say, "Americans are lucky. Count your blessings, luck, or whatever you want to call it. Appreciate your life and realize that you have it easier than most of the rest of the world. Make the US and the globe a better place to be (it sure needs the help), but recognize the good in your life and don't complain too much to me about how it's hard to afford those extra lattes on your $45,000 a year salary." I'll listen (for a couple of seconds) to your sorrow; just know, that I'll have a hard time feeling overly sympathetic.
Ok. Rant officially over.
