Thursday, 17. July 2008, 08:55:31
My Opera in China has been a real pain for over a year. At times, I can post but not download a picture. I'm taking a chance and posting today without the pics in hopes to update friends and family on what's going on.
We now have 18 children, but don't panic several are going for adoption before the end of the month.
Worst news is that Miao Miao fell last night, requiring 4 stitches. SHe was very brave as she lay in the ER in between a screaming four year old boy and a 20 something girl, who had been beaten by her boyfriend. He just happen to still be there, holding her head as the doctor stitched her up. I really wanted to kick his butt. If there's one thing I hate it's a guy beating up on a girl.
Other news, we have two Finnish volunteers with us for about two months. They are having daily classes for our older children. They are a real assest.
OK, just in case this post is in vain and won't attach to my blog, I will leave you now. Oh, almost forgot remember our little heart baby. We plan to send him for surgery on July 28th. Thanks, Pam in Henan
Tuesday, 17. June 2008, 19:30:53
We are in the midst of a transition at Swallow's Nest. The children were moved Friday the 13th at noon by me and all four workers. We took them to our university home on the 5th floor of another building about a 10 minute taxi ride from you ai lu.
The painters have finished their work but we want to clean buy a new table and let the place air out before moving back.
The sleeping arrangements at the new place are not ideal, but we're all learning to cope. It is carpeted which makes it nice for babies to crawl around and explore. Only thing is they want to explore when its bedtime:)
Four are sleeping on pallets on the floor, two in cribs, one on a small couch, and the two older girls have my queen sized bed. It doesn't really leave much room for me, but I've discovered the mattress is VERY comfortable at the foot of the queen sized bed.
Both girls are very short for their ages of 7 and 8, so really half the bed is available if I sleep sideways at the foot. I'm working every night now and all day Saturday and Sunday, since I don't teach during the summer. This is my favorite time of year. Yea!!!
Friday, 13. June 2008, 01:20:06
Yesterday, we added another little 2 and a half year old to Swallow's Nest. Her Special Need is deafness. You always hope maybe its not true, but last night she had the ultimate hearing test.
All the children went to bed fairly well and were quiet by 9 pm. The older girls whispered until about 9:45pm, but the babies were sound asleep. Then about midnight, we had a very loud thunderstorm, with lighting and lots of pelting rain. It woke up everyone, except the new girl. She slept through it all.
Once I got everyone quiet and back to sleep (two more in my bed with me besides the new girl), the siren from the fire station up the street went off around 2 am. This woke up another little girl again. She's easy to console, so not a real problem.
The thunderstorm was the type that really doesn't cool things off, just leaves everything much more humid than before. By this time, I couldn't sleep. I was feeling all hot and sweaty. I decided to take a shower at exactly 3:08 am.
To get the most from this post you need to understand the events of the past few months. We have a four year old boy, who each and every time I get into the bathroom (we only have one) he stands at the bathroom door squealing, "Ma, go pee pee!!!" Every time!!!!! (which means he has to go pee, not that I'm in there peeing.)
I kid you not, I get out of bed and he is sound asleep in between two girls. He is very very asleep as the Chinese would say.....I get in the shower and then I hear a desperate cry, with tears and wailing, "Ma, Go Pee Pee, Ma Go Pee Pee!!!!!"
Wednesday, 11. June 2008, 01:36:43
When older children first come to Swallow's Nest, they show very little emotion. Then, after a few days or a week, they are happy, happy, happy. Next, (and the Dora Memory game usually brings it out) they begin to feel......the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Last night, we're playing the memory game. Our 7 year old girl was the champ, she's older, been playing longer, understands the concept better, etc. BUT......the four year old is catching on rather quickly. The 4 year old got three matches in a row and the 7 year old didn't have any yet. All of a sudden....MAJOR MELODRAMATIC MELTDOWN. I've never seen anything like it. No joke!!! (well, maybe I have...Xiao Qing's 'pitchin' a fit, comes close.)
The 7 year old started with the bottom lip pucker (you could really ride to China on it, only thing is we're already here)
and no eye contact. By the time our 3 year old boy had his turn and the 8 year old girl took hers and it was the 7 year old's turn again, she wouldn't play. She hit her hand on the table and said "I'm angry" in great English, I might add.
I told her she should be happy that her little sister is learning to play so well from watching her. It didn't work. She wailed so loud and cried for about 45 minutes. I put her in the bedroom, with the door open and told her she could join us when she was finished crying. Of course, she woke up the sleeping babies. I really need more room.
The little boy was so worried about her. He went in and asked her to come play. Then, the 8 year old went in, then the 4 year old, but the 7 year old wouldn't budge.
We played two more games while she screamed. Then she came out, sat down and was a perfect angel, except her face was red and swollen.
I swear, she's PMSing early.
I've determined I need at least one boy in the house at all times to keep me sane. They are so steady, no up and down emotions, except when it comes to bedtime and they don't want to go to sleep.
For this I'm thankful, they don't all have a MAJOR MELODRAMATIC MELTDOWNS at the same time......and when one does, the others are so good and calm just watching......they are a little entertaining.
Monday, 9. June 2008, 10:47:50
Every now and then, I'll spot something that reminds me of days gone by. Last week, it was the holihocks in the field at our school. I love these flowers. They're not my favorite but the memories are sweet. My grandmother used to plant them on the edge of her vegetable garden. She'd have a row or two of flowers. She lived deep in the mountains of NC.
Then, my mom had a few planted along the back of the house in VA. After dinner, my dad would go out and sit in the porch swing and say..."When you get through, come on out".
This order was directed at me to join them outside after I finished the dishes. I would and we'd talk about literally everything.
A few years later my dad invested in raising dogs. He had the pens too close to the house. No more summer evenings outside, the smell was just too strong of dog poo. I run into that same smell often around here here too. hehehe!!! Every time you walk out the door or come inside the house for that matter. Our sewer system here isn't always up to par.
****Disclaimer, I know I probably spelled holihocks wrong.....
Thursday, 5. June 2008, 19:43:25
This young lady is in one of my Business English classes. I wish I had a photo of her before she had her hair done, but sorry, I don't.
About three days after I noticed her new "do", several other girls in other classes came to school sporting the same look. Its becoming very popular. The long straight bangs, the kinked bob around the face (a remake of the old afro of the 70's) and then long straight strands down the back. Of course, they dye their beautiful black locks a bright orange or reddish tint. Thus, the title of this post.
One middle school student told me, at her school, they have a hair code. The bangs can't be longer than they eyebrows. Wow!!!
How nice for a teacher to actually see the eyes of her students. I remember in the 70's, it appears that look is back, at least stateside..... long and straight and in the face....you know the old Cher look....all our teachers complained about not seeing our beautiful faces.
Friday, 30. May 2008, 00:05:18
I MUST have a cup of coffee before the children eat. If I don't, I'm mean and I don't like to be mean. You can say "I'm addicted"!!!! It's ok, it's true!!!
Today, I discovered a way to have my cup of coffee before making breakfast WHEN they all get up at the exact same second. Here's the instructions, but they must be followed amongst six children wanting milk, eggs, fruit and bread, all at the same time, while they're pouncing on you in bed.
1> Tell them you are going to make coffee....they know how mama is without it....
2> Make the coffee...instant...the Brazilian brand...has a picture of a train on it...
3> Take two good swigs....
4> Get back in bed.....
5> Let coffee cool away from children.....must be safe....
6> Then let each one take a turn sitting on your lap with their head on your tummy....
7> take a swig and let them listen.....
8> then watch their faces.......
Tuesday, 27. May 2008, 06:14:55
The title of this post is where I learned one of the most important lessons of my life and Mr. Seward didn't know a thing about it. When he gave our midterm exam, I'd traveled with my family to visit my grandmother in another state. Upon returning to school on Monday, I was ordered to report to the library and he would give me a copy of the make up test. There were two parts to the exam and one was open book. He instructed me to use the book for one part and to NOT use the book for the other part. Then, he left me on my own!!!
I cheated and used the book for all of the test. I made a C-. Upon getting the results of that exam, I made myself a promise "never to cheat again". It just wasn't worth it!!!
I never cheated again. I had the opportunity once while attending the university. I'd finished the exam and was rereading, when I looked up and the girl sitting in front of me, propped her knees on a stool. This brought her test paper to my exact eye level. I glanced. Oh no!!!! I had the second question wrong. I couldn't believe it.
A little voice told me to leave my paper exactly the way it was; this was my true score. Another much louder voice was shouting at me to change it, change it, change it.
Immediately, I was taken back to Mr. Seward's 8th grade class and I remembered my promise to myself. I didn't change my answer, and went quickly to the front and turned in my paper, went to my car and high-tailed it out of there.
I'm hoping three of my students will learn this same lesson. Today, they cheated on the exam. Two were looking at the test of others and one girl had a copy of the notes under her test paper.
Interesting, when I took the last girl's exam paper and told her she could be dismissed, she informed me she didn't do anything wrong. She even tried to come back in the classroom three times and get me to change my mind. She said she wasn't cheating and then she went off in Chinese. I dismissed her again and she must have gotten the message because she didn't return.
The final exam is basically 30 percent of the final grade, so I think she will still pass the course. I hope so!!!
The twist on this post is the fact that I am evaluated by the students. They can tell their leaders they don't like me because I'm too strict, or watch them during an exam, etc. I could get "let go", for trying to help them learn right from wrong.
Uhmmmm!!!!! I think before tomorrow's exam I'll tell the story about Mr. Seward's 8th grade midterm history exam and hopefully that will do the trick!
Monday, 26. May 2008, 01:51:10
Sunday afternoon, I was sitting on the couch in the office apartment, located on the 19th floor high rise. I was waiting for a student to arrive who I tutor privately.
All of a sudden, the couch shimmered slightly and the clothes on the balcony clothesline started swinging back and forth. What was that?
Then it happen again, but longer......it was as if my heart was on one side of the room and me on the other. I thought I was having some sort of seizure or attack. I paused, trying to figure out what was happening. Finally, it stopped.
The student arrived 10 minutes late and asked if I'd felt the earthquake. It wasn't as long as the one on May 12th, but it was definitely stronger than the tremors that have been taking place down south.
Thursday, 22. May 2008, 07:46:04
The Adoption community mourns at the accidental death of Maria Chapman, daughter of Stephen Curtis Chapman. Maria was five years old and adopted from China.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080521/TUNEIN/80521174/1005/ENTERTAINMENT
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