Back in business

Hey everyone. Here's another update. I'll try to keep short and sweet!

Obviously, a lot has gone on during my first few weeks back. The good thing is, I feel so much more comfortable this year. Just like anything, the second time around is much smoother. Wuhan does feel a little like home. I know a lot of the teachers, administration, students, as well as my way around town. I can already tell that this year is going to be a lot of fun.

The first week of classes was frustrating, and not at all because of the teaching. There is an argument going on between the administration and the Senior 2 International teachers (a department that Kirk, Daniel, and I teach for). The school would like us to teach these students twice a week. The teachers always want as much time as possible with their students to get them ready for exams. As I mentioned last year, exams in China mean everything! The three of us talked to both sides, but couldn't get an answer. They were telling us that the scheduling department would fix it all. However, they were also telling us that we were going to teach classes during times we were already teaching! It was frustrating because we knew the only two ways it could be solved, but no one would listen to us. After this continued for a few days, Peggy (our waiban) told us that we would just teach once a week but it would be worked out later. For now, our schedules are set. Now, I just hope it stays that way! I like my current schedule except for Wednesdays when I teach 5 classes (almost 300 students). My voice will be shot every Wednesday night!

I think I have told quite a few people, but I am planning on running the Shanghai Marathon in December. I hate missing the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon when I am away, so I wanted to find another race that would keep me running this year. I'm excited, but a little nervous as well. I've ran a marathon before, but never trained in such terrible air. I hope I don't get sick too often! Last week, I had to get a physical to show that I was able to run. Cheryl, a doctor who attends our fellowship, was able to help Kirk, Rebecca, and I out. Kirk and Rebecca are running the half-marathon. It'll be fun to travel with them and a few others from our fellowship. We are now officially registered. We just have to train!

I love running, and I thought this would give me a great opportunity to run in some new areas around our apartment to find out what's around. It was pretty amazing to run back to where I thought there was very little and find dozens of colleges and thousands of people! Last Saturday, I got lost and couldn't find the road I was looking for. I tried to ask people for directions because I knew I was close, but they couldn't explain it to me or didn't know either. I had ran about 9 miles, and I just wanted to get home! I didn't have any money for a bus or taxi. I was about to give up and try to explain to a taxi driver that I would pay him if I could run up to my apartment. Right as I started looking for taxis, a car pulls up next to me. It was one of my Chinese friends, David! I couldn't believe I ran into one of my friends in a city of 8 million people! He had just bought a new car and was practicing driving! He offered to drive me home, which was great. I also learned I wasn't really lost. The name of the road was different in that area, I just didn't know it.

Teacher's Day was last week. In China, Teacher's Day is a pretty big deal. Students will give their teachers cards and gifts. There is also an assembly to honor everyone. Plus, we get a bonus in a traditional Chinese red envelope. The assembly is extremely boring, even for the teachers who speak Chinese! But the bonus is worth the two hours!

I think that is pretty much everything from my end. Kirk, Daniel and I are preparing a dance for the Mr. Mai's anniversary. If you YouTube the song "Nobody" by the Wonder Girls, that's the dance we're going to TRY to do! It's extremely popular over here. It should be interesting...