Teaching at ODIPK in China: Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It has been a crazy and very stressful couple of weeks. The holidays were hard for me being away from my family but I got through. The friends I have here are amazing and are a blessing to have. For the holidays we didn't do anything special. We had a lot to worry about at the school with the Christmas and New Year show. Ally and I had a small tree, I made homemade decorations, and we exchanged stocking stuffers. However, Ally surprised me with a skiing trip for January 10th. I am very excited because I have never been skiing. She even booked a room that has a fireplace for us to cozy up to after a long day on the snow. I can't wait. I am mad because she got something that does not count as a stocking stuffer but I couldn't really be mad. Her gift is still on the way. Hope she likes it. All and all it was a good Christmas.

To talk with my family, I stayed up until 3 in the morning. I was exhausted and had to go to work the next day but it was worth it. The video was a little rocky and at times I couldn't see or hear what was happening but oh well. My family and I were glad to have me there even if it was through a computer screen.

Michelle is Jewish and doesn't celebrate Christmas. For Christmas, I made a Advent Calendar and for Hanukkah I made Michelle a Menorah. She loved it. It wasn't my best work on either but I worked with what I had and it's the thought that counts.

Michelle's parents came to visit for a week. Today was the Christmas show. It was very cute. I will have to wait for pictures and will post them as soon as I get them. Tonight, we are going an overnight train to go see the warriors. I am looking forward to it.