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Sunday, 17 August 2014

Already a Year

Well it has been a while since I wrote another post. 

 Believe it or not, we have been here for a year already.  How time does fly.  And we have enjoyed every minute of it.

Since Bali, it has really been relaxed mode here.  Enjoying being able to sleep in and sit and watch movies without worrying about school.

We did not go out much during this time except for when we went to the shops as it has been unbearably hot.

During the holidays we invited Vivian and Jiana for lunch.  It was the first time that Jiana had visited.


Vivian, Jiana and Myself

Paul made pasta, salad and Vivian bought some Korean crispy chicken.

Then we were invited to Daisy’s wedding.  Chinese weddings are very casual, even though the bride dresses up in 3 different dresses for the occasion.  As you walk into the hotel, in the foyer, there are some members of her family that sit at a table.  You don’t take gifts to the wedding, but instead you sign your name in the book with the amount of money you give in a red envelope which you put in a box. (I couldn't get a picture of her first dress)

Ready for the wedding

But Daisy looked stunning in a peach diamante dress.  Greeting all her guests.  Her Aunt showed us the way to the hall where a table with our colleagues were sitting already.  








Then we were watching Daisy, in a western wedding dress), and her husband walk down the hall and were introduced to us and the very short service began. 






It did not even take ten minutes and they were married.  The food was  put on the tables.  There was so much food that they were putting plates upon plates.  Even with a table of ten we would never have been able to finish all that food.  

WOW!!!  And more was added ….

Then Daisy changed to her third dress.  The married couple did not sit and eat at all.  Instead they walked around to the different tables, with a tray of tot glasses and chose the head of each family and friends, and thanked them with a tot.  If you down it all you wished them well and you could give them your blessings.


The wedding was about an hour long and everyone decided to leave.  Well we are westerners, our first Chinese wedding, and wanted photos.  So we stayed longer with some colleagues, and decided to do a little photo shoot.  Well Daisy and her family were very pleased with that and asked for the photos afterwards.  It was fun.




 Daisy's family also wanted photos with us.



Then on the last Sunday of the school holidays we invited Vivian, Jiana and her boyfriend for lunch.  Jiana’s boyfriend told her they should not have eaten at church, they should have come here straight away and eaten the lovely food here.   Ha Ha


 Asparagus wrapped in bacon,  broccoli and bacon, and beef

 Roast potatoes and lamb

 Lasagna 

 Green salad

 Sweet caramelised carrots

 Vivian brought fish and meat dumplings

And she brought baby crayfish.

About two weeks till school started, I decided to go into school to start decorating my classroom.  I had decided to do the Hollywood theme. 

 Numeracy wall

 Literacy wall

 Spelling wall

 Phonics wall



 Calendar, weather and birthday wall

 It was a lot of work but worth it in the end.  Then the Monday I started work, I was informed that the ECE teacher from NZ had dropped us like a hot potato and I was requested to teach ECE again this year.  I was very disappointed in the beginning as I has sorted out my classroom and had my heart set on teaching Year 1 and 2.  The principal has guaranteed that next year I will be in Year 1 / 2.  So I bit the bullet and had to decorate the ECE classroom and well it looks awesome. (Photos to come later) And I am quite excited for the new school year.  I can’t believe that one week has passed already.

On Friday I got a pleasant phone call from Tania Courtis.  She is a friend from Pinetown Junior Primary School which secured a teaching job in Guangzhou in China.  And she is safe and sound, and very excited.  I hope she has an awesome teaching experience here.

Anyway, I will post again.  And I will try not leave it for too long.

Our school website is up and running.  So if you want to go have a look, it is ….

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