Crazy week!

Last week was a crazy week for us. I guess it will always be a little crazy when you are trying to adjust to a new culture. Here are some highlights:

On Tuesday (17th), Meili started Chinese school. And, yes, it is all in Chinese! Here is a cute picture of her in her school uniform and her sister who wishes she could go, too. That was really hard for me to send her because I knew it would be really difficult for her. But we know that it will be best in the long run. The girls will enjoy it here so much more if they can get to know the language and culture. Her progress last week was exponential. We were amazed at how fast she was getting things, though we know how fast kids can learn another language because we have both been English immersion teachers. Today, though, Meili started crying pretty hard and I felt so bad. I know it is so difficult to be patient during this time when we don't understand a lot. She fell asleep yesterday during her church primary class for children because she was so board. Poor girl! But here is a cute picture with her Chinese school teacher (Xiao Min Laoshi).

I had a moment yesterday of frustration as well. I was asked (called) to teach the church sunbeam (3-4 year-old) class and I was really overwhelmed my first day because I don't understand the poor kids who are trying to talk to me. Plus next Sunday I have to do it all alone! Wow! I don't think I've ever had to exercise so much faith in a church calling before! Who knew that being called to a sunbeam teacher would be perhaps my most difficult calling! Though it will help me learn my Chinese and be motivated to study even more!

On Saturday we went to a church activity where they built traditional clay oven things out of their dirt/clay (look in the background of the above picture) and we were so excited because we had done this last time we were here with a family of one of the kids we taught and we loved it and the food it produced. It was fun to hang out with our ward and get to know them better.

Here's a great picture of the girls after a fun day of digging in the dirt
Oh, and for those who saw my videos I posted on facebook about driving a scooter in Taiwan and my serious phobia I have of doing it, I will have you know I drove one to church with Meili and Scott drove Euan and Sophie. It only took us 45 minutes! Luckily I felt more comfortable with the chaos and it only took us 35 minutes on the way home.

Here is something that is a good ending to this posting, FOOD! When we lived in Taiwan last time, I fell in love with the food and learned how to cook a lot of it in the states (thanks to friends, Chinese teachers, neighbors, and our local Chinese store, Chao's!). So this time I am pretty set and so far my family is well-fed. Our kids are eating more here than in the U.S., and Scott of course loves the food, but has actually lost about 15 pounds (that would be the absence of dairy, margarine, mayonnaise, soda, etc.). I'm not quite so lucky, but thanks to the track that is across the street and the yoga class I just signed up for, I hope to copy his results!