"It looks like a Panda is eating your head..."

-Funny Quotes-

“Let’s Follow Them, but pretend we aren’t”-Me to Hannah

“Teacher, it is hot out, here wear this hat to keep the sun off your face”-Student to me

“Teacher is it cold out, where is your coat and hat?”-Another Student to me.

     Ah, the seasons are changing! Summer has completely slipped away into Fall here in Changchun, China. The weather here in Changchun is very similar to the weather back home in Indiana. This has been nice because almost every day I have someone, be it student or co- worker ask me “How is the weather in your hometown? Will you adjust?”

I am always happy to put their minds at rest that their Foreign Teacher will not freeze in her light jacket, t-shirt and jeans when it is only a mere 50 degrees out. Though, that was last week. This week, the temperatures are in the 30’s with a lot of wind. I purchased a hat recently because my poor ears were starting to ache on a constant basis from being subjected to the cruel wind. 

                    Is anyone surprised that I bought a Panda hat? I didn’t think so. 

 Two weeks ago, Hannah and I went to a Park. It was absolutely wonderful. It was like I was back at home! The trees were just starting to turn colors, it was warm enough for just a sweater and the sun was shining. There were huge fluffy white clouds in the sky, which added to the sight. The entire afternoon I had this huge goofy grin on my face. I was just so happy to be out in nature again. I truly thrive outside.

The colors today are brighter, but sadly are starting to fade.

Last week, was the last of the nice weather, or so we were told by our students. Thursday was the Sports Meet. I spent the whole day outside hanging out with my students. It was a wonderful time. They got to see my silly, crazy side. They laughed a lot at me, because I was cheering in both Chinese and English for my fellow teachers who were running races. I started to lose my voice in the last race because I was screaming so loud.

So, let’s take a total turn in conversation. I am in my office as I write this and my office mate Clara has stopped me to ask about the scarf I am wearing. I told her I crocheted it and she smiled and asked if I was a spider. I laughed and said “perhaps”. She then said I reminded her of a faerie from a Chinese Legend. Dear readers, you know how I love to hear stories, especially ones that are from a different culture. I asked Clara to tell me the legend and she did. Now before I continue, Chinese Faeries are not how one might think. They do not have wings, but instead wear long flowing dresses with shawls. 

This is how the story goes:

A long time ago, there was a faerie princess named Zhinu. Zhinu was very beautiful, kind-hearted, generous and very clever. She would weave the most beautiful cloth and crotchet garments. She was one of the daughters of Father god and of Mother goddess. Zhinu came to earth one day and met Nulang, or man with the bull, for he walked with his pet bull. She fell in love with him and they married in secret. They had two children together, a boy and a girl. When Mother Goddess found out that Zhinu had married a mortal, she had them separated by the Milky Way. She said that Zhinu did not belong on earth but in the heavens. As legend tells it, Zhinu and Nulang can meet once a year at The Bird’s (Magpie to be specific) Bridge and spend a day together on earth. That day is July 7^th on the lunar calendar. It is also a kind of Valentine’s day for them also. They celebrate February 14^th on the regular calendar as Valentine’s day and July 7^th on the lunar calendar.

Funny part of this story is that there are a ton of magpies here on campus. I jokingly told Clara that perhaps I was Zhinu and they were following me around which made her laugh. Well, I am off to go do teacher stuff.

Peace and Love

-Hil

"But you walk so Normal!"

 Laughing as I almost fell into the creek!

Hey ya'll
Thought I should update you on how life is going. For those who are on my list, I have a newsletter submitted and the communications department should have it printed and mailed hopefully by the end of the week..so be looking for one in the next week or three. For those who want to be on my newsletter list, shoot me an e-mail with your home address and I will put you on the list. It might not make it on this newsletter, but it will make it for my Christmastime Newsletter.

I just finished my October Holiday and it was glorious, restful, but not uneventful. Let's see, where to start?

Oh, so, I taught my first Saturday extra class before break. After class, I was walking down the stair and chatting with my students. Everything was perfectly ducky till I felt my feet go out from underneath me. It happened in a split second, but for me, it was slow motion of my hand desperately trying to grasp the hand rail to keep myself and my pride aloft. Alas, I failed. I ended up on my rear end on the stairs, my shoes at the bottom of the stairwell. Somehow, I missed two stairs and the impact of me hitting said stairs knocked my slip-on shoes off my feet. Needless to say, I was laughing like a hyena, barely able to reassure my very concerned students that I was fine. I was fine, but my pride...oh, my poor pride was shattered for good and ever I do believe. 

Fast forward to dinner on Tuesday night. I am eating with my team and a senior student named Grammar. He has become a good friend to all of us, is really funny and has excellent English.
Anyways, we were walking away from the dining hall, when lo and behold, the sidewalk decided to up and move on me and I....you guessed it, tripped. I kept upright, but it was still seriously embarrassing. After making sure I was okay, Grammar innocently asked me if I tripped often, to which my team mates replied for me saying I tripped over everything. I confirmed it by saying I was always pretty klutzy, even back in the States.
Then, he asked the funniest thing. Here is the conversation that occurred:

Grammar: "So, Hilary, what is your record for falling down?"
Me: "In like a day?"
Grammar: *snickers* "Yeah"
Me: "oh, 4. Down the stairs, out of a chair, up the stairs and out of a chair again." (that was back in high school, but I still remember it.)
Grammar: *looks me up and down as we are walking* "Wow. But, you walk so normal."
Thanks G. 


Life got better. Loads better.  Wednesday, I was down eating lunch with Hannah and I decided to return my dishes to my room. Hannah was kind enough to walk up 2 flights of stairs with me to return my dishes. In one hand I had my keys and the other hand I held my mug with my bowl on top of it. Wouldn't you know it, those stairs came up and tripped me, sending me sprawling across them. My bowl jumped off my mug and shattered, my knees slammed into the hard stairs, and my chin came within centimeters of also meeting the same fate as my poor knees.
 Naturally, I was laughing hard core, but this time, that fall actually hurt. I am fine, but I really liked that bowl. :(


Needless to say, I am keeping my team mates and friends here in China amused with my gracefulness....er, lack of gracefulness.

Here are some photos from my time at the Park in Changchun. I am so blessed to have a National Park so close to my home. Being a nature girl through and through, it brings so much joy to be able to spend time in His splendor and majesty!

-Love
Hil

Hannah and I at the Park!

Happy to be out in Nature again!

Such a beautiful place! My heart sang all day.