The Frog Prince and The Princess Pat.

I've been awake off and on since 1:30. Big storm. I woke up to a lit up sky and rumbling thunder and I L.O.V.E.D it! We've yet to really have a big storm like this. It just mists, and an occasional down pour, so this morning was such a great surprise.

The last couple of days I've been back with the older kids. I miss the babies, so much. Even if it was just glorified babysitting. But not really. Our babies are so smart. They speak far more than they get credit for. Smart smart kids. My new homeroom is Leo, Morris, Angel, Belinda, Justin, Zoe, & Navin. It's fun to be back with the older kids. They were certainly missed. They all just have such fun personalities it's hard not to miss them. However, once again, it is teaching that is the hard part. Teaching the babies was less stressful because it was just great to have them repeating anything at all. With the older kids, we have to really get creative and think outside of the box... not an easy task for this mind.

We have started practicing with our kids for the Children's Day Spectacle Performances after lessons each day. It serves as quite the entertainment. I love it. I don't think I've laughed as much as I have the last few days since.... wo bu zhidao. We are doing a skit of The Frog Prince & The Princess Pat with a few added songs and scenes. Leo is the Frog Prince, Bella is the Princess. Angel is the Fairy, and William is the Alligator. William is a hoot. Hands down, the funniest kid. I wish I could put video clips on here. If I could, he'd be the main character and the star of this blog. I have been assigned to work with the Leads (the characters I've just listed) and it's so fun going over the lines with the kids. Particularly Leo because you tell him to say one thing, but then it just sounds like a whole different thing. :) Hence, the practice. It'll be great.

And of course, we too have the privilege of performing at Spectacle and our piece is also coming along.... slowly but surely. The Chinese Fan Dance is no more. A shame. They must have decided against it after watching us in motion :) It just isn't done with the grace that the Chinese display it with. So rather, we are doing a Chinese version of an aerobics/cheer dance (that is how we've labeled it anyway). There is a lot of clapping, marching, jumping, and hands moving oddly. Really funny. It's just a bad idea all around (for me), but... I'm afraid I have no choice. Ugh hu hu. It is kind of fun though, to just be silly and dance. We're dancing with 20 other Chinese teachers and somehow all of them are expert dancers. Not to mention, so are the other 6 American teachers I'm here with. Perfect.

China is still beautiful as ever, the kids are still sweet, hilarious, rowdy, and crazy as ever, and it's still more humid than I wish it were :) And I'm still LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!