Happy Birthday Shawn!

Happy Happy Berfday to Señor Dingman!  

I decided to go fancy pants since I just got my first paycheck from ISB...cha ching!  We went to "Capital M", a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Forbidden City in the middle of Beijing, a place that serves things like ox tongue. Bleh.

A glimpse at one large, very important Chinese building. 

Matt and Keith, my two new faves in Beijing.  Keith isn't really drunk, he's just a dork.

Appetizers of beef carpaccio (Shawn was very impressed with how much the chef beat his meat. ha!) and soft shelled crab (we had to look up how to eat it online...so classy.). 

Around 7:00 in the evening, the city lit up and the view was even more fabulous.

We were pleasantly surprised to see a walking mall behind the restaurant. We went for a stroll post dinner.   

Off the main drag, side alleys provided plenty of knockoff  bobbles and trinkets.   We ended the night with Haagen Dazs and Matt's homemade chocolate cake.  I'll have to tell you about "Tom Dong" our driver another time.  And yes, that's his real name.  No joke.  

Weekending!

So much to do and so little time!

My life in Beijing has been gleefully busy. 

Here's a look at this weekend:

Friday night a group of us formed a bike gang and rode to Lake Roma for drinks and delicious vegetarian eats.  I adored this gem of a place, just a quick bike ride from work and home.  A lovely spot with quaint bars, restaurants and...of course Roma Lake, a scummy reservoir.  Scum or no scum, it doesn't bother me as long as I don't have to swim in it.  

Saturday was filled with the 798 Art District...an area of Beijing the size of Ashland packed with people, little shops, tons of statues, small alleyways, and generally bad art.

Matt and I all locked up with nothing to do but perch.

Keith, LauLa (my name in Chinese), Stacie

Today, Sunday, I met up with Lauren, another first grade teacher and went for a "foot rub"...a 1-hour long foot massage for $15.  Who could resist?! Afterwards we went to Starbuck's...the first time I've been in over 4 weeks!  Lordy lordy, it's been a loooong time.  I was elated to find a metal coffee mug, I packed mine away in Oregon and have been singing the blues ever since.  I saw this and snatched it up!  It's exactly like my favorite one back home.  So great!

I'm not ashamed!  High fives for Starbuck's!

I concluded my wonderful weekend in preparation for Shawn's birthday, Tuesday.  I went to Jenny Wang's the local grocery spot and bought a bouquet for him...it didn't fit in my bike basket, so I had to carry it.  Lauren thought it was quite the feat...I was rather impressed with my bike riding as well.  I only lost one bouquet adorning frond! Not so bad considering it was a 25 minute ride home.  

A Day in the Life...

I just finished my first two weeks of school...always exhausting! A new grade level combined with all of the new curriculum that comes with a new school has kept me on my toes!

Here's a glimpse of my daily grind these past two weeks...

Breakfast of Champs!  Let's be honest, not all of my breakfasts are this good looking.  

The "Lady Khan"...the semi-trusted choice in China for anybody taller than 5'2".  My knees hit the handle bars on all the other Chinese bikes I tried, so this was the obvious choice.  Shawn has a matching Khan...yes, we're nerds, but again...options were limited.  We spiced mine up with a double bell system, saddle bag, and mounted lock (again, super nerdy).

The ride to school only takes about 7 minutes.  It's been very hazy out lately...everyone has been telling me that this is the worst time of year for the smog.  It's pretty gross when I think too hard about it, so I try not to think too hard about it. 

Here's my school.  Pre-k through 12th grade.  We're looking here at the elementary school entrance.

Here's the playground...apparently it cost $1,000,000 to build, but that's what you get when you pay $30,000 for your 6 year-old to go to school.  The Dragon even snorts out mist, and yes, that's a man made creek running through.

And my classroom...I get to look out over the Kindergarten playground.  I love my room.

The elementary school library...we have at least 3 libraries here, probably more.  The school is so gigantic, I haven't even seen it all yet.  

That's it for now...I'll try and be better about updating this, but blogging is hard work!

-Miss you all-

Settling In

Shawn and I
hoofing it up the
Great Wall!

Shawn and I have arrived in Beijing! We have been settling into our new life here both at Dragon Bay Villas (our home for now) and the International School of Beijing (the school where I teach). Shawn has been doing some sightseeing and figuring out the lay of the land; he is my subway system sensei.  

So far, my weekdays have been filled with meetings and preparing for school.  ISB (International School of Beijing) is an enormous place with pre-kinder though 12th grade all under one roof.  ISB is smaller than the Ashland School District in student numbers but has at least twice as many employees.  You would not believe the number of people that come through my room daily to clean.  I have 4 teaching partners, all amazingly fun and accomplished women.  I have felt very well supported by these ladies and think this has been the easiest start to any school year yet!  OH YEAH...school started on Friday!!  I only have 14 students....14, compared to my 25 last year.  I'm in teacher heaven...don't even get me started on the iced lattes in the cafeteria, 20 color printers, and full time teaching assistant.  Seriously.   

Drum Tower

On the weekends, Shawn and I have been exploring the city.  Last weekend we went to the Great Wall on Saturday and IKEA on Sunday (I would not recommend IKEA in Beijing on Sunday...not now not ever).  This weekend we went downtown with a couple of other "newbies" (teachers also new at ISB this year) and explored some historic sites: the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and Hutongs (traditional Chinese neighborhoods).  Today we're being lazy on the couch and prepping for more laziness by the pool later on.  

Shawn and I in the Drum Tower

Both the Bell and Drum
Towers were used to
let residents
know what time it was.

I am really excited to have a venue for being in touch with everyone.  I'm new to this blogging thing, but I think you are able to subscribe to my blog and be alerted when I've updated it.  You can also leave me messages here.  Email is still a great way to be in touch too!

Miss and love you all!

-Laura                           .

   

Shawn and I in a rickshaw taking a Hutong Tour.  Hutongs are traditional Chinese villages in the city.  Most Hutongs have been torn down and replaced by large apartment complexes; however, in an effort to maintain some of the old world culture, the Chinese government is making an effort to upgrade and preserve a few Hutongs, one of which we're in here!