End of the Year

I forgot to mention in my last post that I did finally make it to Beijing!!! I flew there early on Wednesday morning (Xmas Eve), and went straight to the US Embassy (well that's a lie - I stopped at Starbucks first, a girl's got needs). I spent a few hours there, waiting, filling out paperwork, getting lectured for losing yet another passport, and finally getting my new passport. The new one is crappy, as it only has 4 pages and has warnings all over it which basically screams "search me and all of my stuff!!!", but it will get me where I need to go. It's only good for a year, and then I will have to shell out more money for a new passport when I return home. Oh well, glad to have it. Actually I only had it for one day before I sent it off to Qingdao for my residence visa. After I get that I still need to get my Vietnam visa, and I leave Jan. 10th. You may ask, "Amanda, how are you going to get both visas in time for your trip?" Good question.

I taught my last two college level classes this weekend. One on Saturday night, one on Sunday afternoon - same kids. On Saturday night we just played games for 3 hours. Some games that they knew and then some that I decided on. We played charades, which they liked, and we played duck duck goose, which they loved. I explained to them that it was a game for little children, but they thought it was a blast. It was hysterical watching college freshmen play a child's game. On Sunday we just sat around and talked. They asked me questions about America and I asked them questions about China. They were mainly interested in what college life was like in America and how it compares to China. Here they have a curfew - they must all be in their dorms by 10:30pm. If they are late, as I found out on Friday night/Saturday morning, they sleep in McDonald's until 6:30am when they can take the bus back home. Just one of the differences, among many. There are a lot of similarities as well though.

I have another day and a half left of teaching at the Korean school before our 2 month break. I'm so excited. I've started getting sick again and I'm convinced it's because of how cold the school is all the time. It will be nice to have a break and regain some energy soaking up the sun in Vietnam and Thailand.