I'm Alive and Well + Pictures!

I want to apologize that I haven't updated sooner, but so much has happened, and I've been having a hard time getting my blog updated. So much has been happening! I'll start at the beginning and let you all know about my fantastic time in China.

We had an incredibly long flight to Seoul, South Korea where we stayed overnight at a hotel in the city center. The hotel was gorgeous and we were definitely pampered. We then took an early morning flight the next morning and we arrived in Weihai at 9:10am. 

The first thing that Kelly (our wonderful coordinator) told us when we stepped off the plane and met her in the airport was "You're going on vacation tomorrow". What!!?? So after a crazy day running all around campus to the clinic (someone got a firecracker in their eye), register passports, unload school supplies, move into apartments, meet with teachers, and pack again, we left the school at 5:00am the next morning on a tour bus on the way to Beijing, China. 

The best word to describe my experience in Beijing was "unreal". I honestly still can't believe that I went there and saw everything that I did. I got to experience the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Pearl, Jade, and Silk Factory, among lots of other places! My legs are still scolding me for hiking that many stairs at the Great Wall, but it was totally worth it. 

After one day of travelling to Beijing, two days of sightseeing, and another day of travelling, we were back in Weihai. We spent well over 10 hours (and some much longer) preparing for school which started the next day. Normally, teachers have much longer to prepare for classes, but the school doesn't really know all that goes on in our training meetings. For Susan and I as head teachers, it was quite a task. However, I'm glad to say that after lots of hours of preparation, I believe that our teachers were as prepared as possible for their classes. They all did far better than expected, and we are convinced that we are the luckiest head teachers in ILP.

As for now, here's some photos of Beijing and the beach of Weihai to tide everyone over until I find time to do another post.

Andrea and I in the Forbidden City

A really awesome building in Beijing

In Tienanmen Square

 More Forbidden City Pictures

 At the Summer Palace in Beijing

 Susan (my amazing co-head teacher) and I at the summer palace.

 The Great Wall

 The beautiful beach of Weihai

 Me and a very confused young girl at a kindergarten that we teach at

 Andrea and the Great Wall

 This is our fantastic, humongous school and it's many stairs

 One last beach picture

Alright everyone, until next time!