Would you like to see some rather badly shot video?

Grr...can't get the longer one to upload.  sorry

This was shot from the back of the school bus with my little instant camera.  We drive through this part of town every day.  It  really gives you a sense of the "real China."  This is a village that has North Korean roots and you can see some Korean stores and places.  This village is surrounded by construction of high rises and new building.  While you may look at this village and think it's worth tearing down, the thing to remember is that it is a community and the people who live there won't be able to afford to live in the new high rises.  I videoed some of the new construction but couldn't get it to upload.

This picture is the view from my classroom window.  It's a factory of some sort. The school is in a factory district of our town.  The teachers and admin have done a really great job fixing the building up as a school and it's a good place to learn and teach.

I've gone back to work this fall at the international school where my daughter attends.  I am teaching a middle school English class with students who are not native speakers.  It's fun to be back in the classroom and my students are delightful. One of the sixth grade boys came up to me the other day and said "Teacher, I am gaunt."  "Really?"  I replied.  "Yes, I am ravenous."  I think that is pretty good use of our vocabulary words from boy who was very hungry.

Doesn't he look much more like a little boy now?  Army crawling and trying to put his fingers in sockets.  It's a whole new world for us!

Yes- he can even stand with support.

We've been back in China for several weeks now and re-adjusted pretty well.  Elisabeth is working on college applications and getting ready to take the SAT for the second time.  I guess that is the recommended way.  She turns 18 next month and   I'd like to know how that happened!