Update before the second session!

Just wanted to send a quick update before we begin our second session tomorrow, as things will get extremely busy once the session begins. We are expecting approximately 470 students for this next session and 200 of them have already arrived this afternoon. Once again, I have been assigned a middle level class. This is a good thing as I can use the notes and lesson plans I prepared and used for my middle level class from the first session. Placement interviews start tomorrow so we can assign the students to the proper level classes. On Tuesday, we get to meet our finalized class followed by the opening ceremony. Wednesday is the first official day of class for session 2. I'm looking foward to getting back in the class room and teaching again as we've been off for two weeks.

Speaking of our two week break, we got to spend some quality time just relaxing and resting after session one. We won't normally get two weeks off between sessions, so the extended break was real nice. Part of the reason for the extended break is because China just celebrated their national day which is equivalent to the 4th of July in the U.S. It wasn't all just sleeping in during our two week break. We went out and had some fun as well. We went and saw the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Let me tell ya, seeing both of them on TV last summer during the Olympics doesn't do it justice. Both the Bird's Nest and Water Cube is enormous and it has become China's newest tourist attraction. If you're ever in China, please make sure you put this on your to see list. We also got tickets to see the China Open. It was held at the Olympic tennis stadium which is right down the road from the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. We got pretty good tickets and saw 4 matches that day. We also got to do some shopping at the Silk Market. The Silk Market is a 6 story building that is set up like a flea market with vendors that sell any brand or designer knock off and yes the art of bartering is alive and well. We'll leave it at I got some great deals! The third floor of the silk market is devoted to custom tailored dresses and suits. I thought I got a good deal when I had a suit made in Hong Kong two years ago...well its even cheaper in China. So me and one of the other teachers Ed decided to have a suit made because it was such a good deal and the best part, the fabric is cashmere. I've never had a cashmere anything, so I was really excited about this suit! So after a few days, we came back for the fitting and then a few days later we picked up our suit. The suit fits perfectly, the cashmere fabric is just lovely and the tailor did some fine detailing in her work. Here's something funny. The tailor showed us a photo scrapbook of all the celebrities she's made suits for. One of the celebrities I recognized was Charles Barkley. She said he's a very nice guy, but she had to charge him somewhat more for his suits because he's a big guy, but being that Charles is a retired NBA player, I'm sure he can afford it. So the next time you see Charles Barkley on TV, he just might be wearing a suit that was tailored by this lady in China. I just love being able to say I have the same tailor as Charles Barkley.

Saturday night, we were all invited to an engagement party for Jessie (one of the Chinese staff). We all enjoyed a delicious dinner which included Peking Duck. I need to have a more steady diet of Peking Duck while I'm in China as its only my second Peking Duck dinner so far, but this dinner in my opinion was probably the best meal I've had in China so far!

I've updated my photo webpage with new photos from the China Open, church, and Jessie's engagement party: http://july212000.shutterfly.com/2499

Anyways wish me luck as I prepare to begin the second session. I hope you're all doing well back home. Take care, I'll try to send an update soon if things don't get too crazy during the session.


Timothy Wong