News updates

Today I conducted my last final exam! I feel like the semester is wrapping up well. I still have to teach next week, but we'll just do fun stuff.

It was another strange day. After my class, two very glamorous policewomen interviewed me and my teammates individually through a translator. I recognized them from when a couple of us went to the police station a couple of months ago and when they took our pictures as we were teaching. The Chinese like to keep good tabs on their few foreigners.

So today was one of those little check-ups. Again, they wanted to know where else in China we've been and how this city compares to those cities. They also asked if we felt safe here, etc. I answered in a very generic, non-committal way to those questions, just like how they asked the questions. I said I felt safe and I love this city. I'm being treated well. I didn't mention that I fear for my life because of the traffic.

They recorded what I said in a notebook and then they had me sign it. Then they gave us a business card all in Chinese with a number to call the police station, in case we ever needed help. It was just a formality. Later my teammates and I were laughing that if we were in trouble and had to call them in English, it would be useless. They would just say "shenme? shenme?" (what? what?) I guess it's another inspiration to learn Chinese, in case of an emergency.

I also found out that our team and I will not be in the university's 15th anniversary performance like they had told us we would be. Apparently our performances last night at the "rehearsal" were "not formal enough." That's a little sad. I have a feeling that's not the real reason we won't be participating, but maybe next time I'll know to bring my elaborate tutu and headpiece.

It was just a tad bit frustrating, because I know I danced really well and that the crowd loved it. I have also been practicing for a couple months now and the university had said my dance was basically mandatory. However, they said we can perform next week on Christmas Eve for the "worker's union" at the university. Oh, okay. Whatever that means and whatever a worker's union is. Is that like entertaining the troops? Again, I can't take it personally, just like everything else that doesn't really make sense here.

Yesterday I received three packages, and my teammates also received some, too. Joelle let me borrow a very recent Newsweek she got in the mail. I was so excited to read it, but then I read the cover, which said "How to fix the world." Inside it said, "how Barack Obama can forge a global formula for peace." Then I realized that I'd rather be ignorant at this moment and just read filtered news from China. Or maybe I'd rather be reminded that there is only one true Peacemaker, and it's not Obama or any other fallible human being that might grace the cover of an American news magazine.

On a bright note, we found out today that our Thailand travel plans may be close to getting resolved. Thai Air has finally decided to reimburse us for our cancelled flights. And our travel agent found us new flights, although they are much longer and not as direct. On the way there we can fly to Guangzhou to Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and then go back the same way. So thanks for your thoughts on that. It was a good opportunity for me to trust Him. For some reason all the other way more crazy things that have happened here haven't bothered me as much. I finally just had to give it to Him, and of course it always works out! (Right, Andrea?)

I leave you with a cute note a student wrote about Miss Laura: "My teacher is very young. On the other hand, she looks after us very well." Yes, I sort of feel like they're my children now and I want to protect them and I want them to succeed and I want them to know truth.

Happy Friday!