Too Tired to Think of a Clever Title

So Zac and I are starting to get into the swing of things here. A few things:

We're becoming more mobile. In fact, we've done something new every day this week! I'm more comfortable taking taxis and buses and walking, so we've explored a few new places: the Hot Pot (real name? Not sure) which is SO delicious. You choose a variety of delicious foods and they are brought to your table. Everyone shares, and throws the food into the steaming broth in the middle of the table, and when it's cooked you have your choice of dip. We've tried lotus, a yummy root that is popular out here, among a bunch of other things.

We've also discovered another market. At this one, we choose a bunch of food items and someone cooks them over a long narrow bbq. The food, again, was delicious, but extremely spicy, even for Zac. Coconut juice is just about everywhere, which we love.

I survived my 6 day work week and it wasn't all that bad. Actually, on the Monday, it was Teacher's Day, and they had a presentation for us! We each received water bottles that are marked with the school's information - I liked mine, but some of the guys wished they had colours other than pink :) The students sang "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. Awww!

I went out with the teachers to a house party last weekend and then out for dancing by the Yangtze river while Zac had his first sleep over at the neighbours. It was super interesting and I was a bit nervous wandering so far from home, but I had some good people who have done this many times keep an eye on me so it was all good.

I've also been back to Metro - it's like costco and I was able to get burgers, and some other non-asian type foods. We came home so excited to make pasta only to discover the stove not working again! But it's all fixed up now...turns out I just had to push a button :)

This week the school clubs start, and Zac is welcome to go to all of them. There's probably about 30 clubs, so Zac will have more of a social life than I do! Tuesday I help in the Learning Centre, so Zac went to the Art Club and made me a cool card that says, "Thank you for bringing me" (to China). Yesterday he split his time between the bingo club and the basketball club while I worked with some of my students, and he'd like to go to soccer on Mondays. There's also a ping pong club, road hockey, etc etc. It's pretty great that he has all this available to him in his own backyard! Another mom and I are also looking into signing the kids up for piano lessons once a week :)

Next week is our last week until getting a week off from school, and it looks like we'll be going to Bejing where a friend of mine lives, and then maybe the Terracotta Warriers on the way back! I just need to figure out how to book this all and then we'll be set. Alright, back to this mountain of papers to mark...