Long time no see

I have not updated this in FOREVER! Things have been pretty busy between planning lessons and just trying to relax. 

Spring has arrived in Jinan--it literally went from winter to spring in a day. It makes it so much harder to be in class during the afternoon because it is so nice out! 

This weekend we have an extra day off for qingming festival--which is a festival that celebrates the coming of spring and is meant to spend time outside and honoring deceased family members. I will head to Beijing tomorrow for a little day trip. 

Here's my last few weeks in pictures: 

Some pictures around the square: 

The soon-to-be tallest building in Jinan--what does it resemble…hmmm ;) 

Doves

These hats are EVERYWHERE near the Springs and touristy areas. They are HIDEOUS but quite the trend here in Jinan (reminds me of those one-size-fits all sweaters that were cool back in the day)

Of course with spring comes spring fashion…haha there are some interesting trends here, ill have to get more pictures. People watching is very entertaining. 

Two weeks ago the students had their science and humanities fair…a lot of really neat projects! 

These students examined how harmful it is to be too close to the TV…they experimented using soybeans and found the the closest one to the TV did not grow as much as the others.

These students took samples of every students cell phone and found some really gross bacteria…they found that using alcohol and a wet towel have the same effect to clean a cell phone 

This was my favorite project--these girls wanted to get a crab to walk straight. They tried blindfolding it, putting it in beer (when people drink beer it makes them walk sideways haha) and then using magnets. The finally test they were able to get a crab to walk straight 

An ecosystem with a mouse, a turtle and a fish

These students wanted to know if blind people have colored dreams (they found that they do not)

Animation and movies--these girls connected animated movies to themes and real life issues that were going on at the time

Random pictures:

Learning about the industrial revolution…i asked students to tell me one invention that would be useful to them in the past

Funny student: "the steamboat so I can travel or have a date with girls" 

At the "whole foods" of Jinan--watching this guy make sushi from fresh salmon

I know I've mentioned this before but there are bakeries and pastry stores all over China…next to all the fast food joints now available…watch out China-obesity on the rise! here are some pastry treats: 

Egg doughnuts, pork biscuits

and strawberry cream puffs

I took a trip out to see the Yellow River--it is about a 30 minute taxi ride from Jinan. It was very Yellow but neat to see such an important place to the rise of civilization in China

Hot pot on St. Patricks day! Kind of looks like corned beef and cabbage! 

Check out the barber's poodle…

those are bright orange hearts…most chinese people view their animals as status symbols and property. they often are wearing clothes or are colored and primped to a level that i just have to laugh and take pictures

Potato sticks with tomato sauce…yum? 

MOLDY CARROTS! ew. take these off the shelf. 

It is still crazy to see DIRTY produce at the store sometimes…at least its fresh? 

This is a shoe store. SO CROWDED its not even worth trying to shop. 

Last week the projector in my classroom did not work. Result: play games outside

This week there also was a fire drill. We asked if we need to go check the classrooms or anything (since we do not have our own classroom…we work in an office and report to the students class when it is our class time) Nope. They just told us we need to run to the playground (a little dangerous? aren't we supposed to be calm and collected and walk quickly?) 

The students get timed to see how quickly they make it to the playground. So hundreds of kids were sprinting around--I wish i had pictures, extremely different from an american fire drill. 

I still can't believe I function everyday in a school thats bathroom does not have toilet paper or mirrors. Not to mention the soap is watered down.

This Friday they shut the water off to work on the pipes. It smelled like a sewer. 

And finally…I decided to purchase a juicer! I have been making some juices occasionally and blending it with spinach. It makes me feel a little healthier ;) 

Off to enjoy the weekend…i will update next weekend on my adventures this week

Hope everyone enjoys their spring break! I am missing home and America more than ever at the moment…I would love to hear from you guys! email me :D xoxo