Mikaela and I have been in China over two weeks now, and we are both pretty happy to have school start soon, which will be on the 5th of September. We have been enjoying exploring this city, learning about our new friends and fellow neighbors, and adjusting to life here. But, this last week we have been struggling with being bored. It is silly that one can be bored right after they move to a new country, but we simply do not have the energy or time to go out every day, nor do we have the language skills to direct a cab to those areas.
Mikaela and I feel we are in some sort of low spot, and maybe it just means we are at the end of our China honeymoon stage. I dunno. It is nice to get out and do something. Last night we went to Druid's Irish Pub here in Yantai, run by this Irishman named Pete. It was their three year anniversary, and one of teachers at Yew Wah, an Australian named Greg, was the musical talent and the M.C. Mikaela and I didn't win any of the prizes being given out, but one of our fellow teachers, Jaime (music teacher) won a cigarette lighter. Fun! We uploaded a bunch of pictures of Druid's to our photoblog.
Teacher orientation starts this next week, which is exciting! It is wonderful to be a part of a school community which is much more tight knit than a school community back home. How often do teachers in California have dinner with each other, drink with each other, go to beach together? We all have each other's cell phone numbers, know where each other resides, and are all willing and eager to go together to the grocery store (Jia Jia Yue), or to Wal-Mart, or something. We LIKE hanging out together, and we are open with who we actually are, and not fake. Our relationships are being built on more than half hour interactions in a lunch room.
Prayer requests for Mikaela and I are to be fulfilled by recorded sermons, at least in the short term, to find a church locally, and to be able to build a relationship with our Chinese neighbors. Again, feel free to share this blog with anyone, and don't be afraid to post comments!
The word is 'acculturation' which has much! larger implications than the definition imparts. You have an advantage with the school. Imagine the terror if you didn't have them for support. Be patient-it'll creep in. Surprisingly, when you come home I predict you'll have some of the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI heard for the price of a tank of gas, you could bus across the country... Zach, can't you get a motorcycle and cruz on out of there?
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