New Apartment!

So life these last couple of weeks has been pretty eventful! I feel like my life here in Beijing is finally starting to come together!
My new class:
I started work with the kids two weeks ago, as a 3rd grade teacher. I have 11 boys and 6 girls. 7 of my kids are from China, 6 from Korea, 1 from Turkey, 1 from U.S., and 1 from Taiwan.   These kids are so smart, and I feel like I will learn so much from them! I will have parent teacher conference this coming Tuesday, and Wednesday!
 Lets see what else, I moved into my new apartment and I love it. I live right next to the school, so commute is just a 5 minute walk. The subway is also not that far away from where I live as well.

Happy Chinese New Years!

Ok so I have so much to share that I thought I would do it in two posts! Mostly this post might be pictures! I think I will start with Christmas.  This was our Christmas YSA lunch!

 

 Samily was a Master Chef!  I helped wash and chop veggies! I spent the majority of the weekend with Samily to celebrate Christmas dinner! 

 Here, Vickie is showing how we decorated our Christmas cookies!

 Don't they look good!

Yum!

Let's see what else to share.  New Year's I ended up going to sleep early. It was pretty uneventful. Good thing there is something called Chinese New Years! Haha here I actually got to celebrate it.  After church we all went to Sabrina's apartment.  We ate, played games, and made dumplings and ate some more. As soon it was dark, it sounded like we were in a war zone.  We decided to join in the fun and light some fireworks. When we went outside, everywhere you turned families were setting off fireworks. Not the small ones, but the big ones. It was a crazy sight. It was so loud, and the sky was lit up with color.  I took pictures on my new phone, but I am a bit challenged and accidentally deleted them. So sad.  My friend drove a couple of us home that night. On the drive home, all along the freeway, fireworks were being set off. I felt like I was in a movie!

 

Ok random, but here is the picture of the squatter's.  These are what you find in the public bathrooms here. Haha I finally had my camera to take a picture! Well I think you all are basically updated with me now!

Big News!

I realized that I have not posted a blog in quite sometime, so here I am trying to update everyone. Well things are going pretty good! Well my good news I believe I have shared with most of my close friends and family, but it is so good I want to share it with everyone! Originally this was an email, but I thought why not share the goodness of the Lord with everyone!

(Written in beginning of January)
These first three and a half months, I have learned and grown so much. The most important growth, has been spiritually.  I have learned how to lean on the Lord, but more importantly how to seek revelation. For me it has been piece by piece. For the past three months I always asked the Lord if I should quit the company. Literally every time, I received peace and be patient.  So I would keep on keeping on.

Haha ok so to help make my New Year's Resolutions, I read the First Presidency's Message on the ABC (attitude, believe in yourself, and have courage). {I highly recommend reading it, here is the link http://lds.org/liahona/2012/01/living-the-abundant-life?lang=eng } One of my new Year's Resolution was to become a teacher. Work Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 5pm. Well things went the way things usually do at work. Which is not so great. I tried to continue to have a good attitude, and make sure I had a good relationship with everyone.    Well two weeks ago, I felt like I needed to quit. So I turned even more so to my Father in Heaven in prayer and fasting. Not really about quitting, but to make sure that the decisions I made and would be making would bring me closer to me eternal goals and dreams. On one of the Sundays I was fasting, I called as the Young Women's Secretary.  I felt so happy, it felt so right. I thought that was my  answer.  The following week, in talking to my boss, I realized that my Sundays would be taken away completely and that I would not have my Wednesdays evenings free to be with the Young Women. I was so confused and brought back to square one...so I thought. The Lord was really trying to send me a sign, and it was fluorescent. He helped me realize I needed to quit, but from there what? To top it all off, the electricity in my apartment went off, leaving me completely isolated from the world. Man I was so confused. The one thing that was clear was I needed to quit on Tuesday.

My friends here in Beijing know how I have felt about my job and more about what I go through on a weekly basis. My friend came to me on Friday and told me that she told two international schools about me and that they wanted to interview me. She told me it does not hurt to try. So I set up interviews on Monday, just to see what was out here. But I was not set on rushing into anything, unless I felt absolutely right about it. So yesterday I went to the interviews. The first one is connected to the top University here in Beijing.  But I did not think the interview went well and I did not feel comfortable at all. I was so confused, so I made the mistake to call my mom. In my confusion. She told me to come straight home. So I got off the phone and decided I would go straight home. I went and prayed and felt so sick. I honestly could not think. I tried to call and cancel the next interview, but was advised just to go. I did. I prayed the whole way there. I arrived a half hour early, so I walked around and sang hymns to calm my heart. I told the Lord I would listen. I walked into the school and peace filled me. The interview was incredible. The Principle (from Canada) read my resume and he looked at the H&R person and told her this is a high quality individual.  She graduated from Brigham Young and he turned to me and asked "Are you Mormon?" I replied, "Yes", and he turned back to his colleague and said and she is Mormon. Mormons are very good people. He then said, "I know Mormons go to different areas for two years....Where did you go?" I said "New York, New York." 

    He was impressed we talked about New York and China. He asked me about teaching. He started about the school and how in third grade I would have a good team and that the leader would be a great mentor for me. Honestly I could go on, but the interview went well. At the end they offered me the 3rd grade teaching position.

    More good news the school is near church and the Young Women's program.  It feels so right! My first official day is January 30th.  The Lord works in mysterious ways. Dreams do come true. The Lord listens always. Keep the commandments, and counsel with the Lord all of your dreams and desires. I know He will help you achieve them. I love you all so much.  Thank you so much for your support and prayers.

Lots of Love,

Meli

Feeling the Christmas Spirit!

As soon as Thanksgiving was passing, I realized fast that I needed to do something to help me feel the Christmas spirit. Last Tuesday after work, I went to "Walmart"  and bought myself a Christmas tree and some ornaments. There really was not much of a selection, but I was still excited!  In my family,  it was always me who would dragged whoever I could to pick out a Christmas tree.  All those feelings were rushing back to me as I picked out a Christmas tree!

Haha here is my first attempt of taking this picture.  I think it looks funny so I am posting!

 

Here is my happy picture!

This morning I woke-up to a happy surprise! Abram left me a facebook message that my Christmas was ready for me anytime, if I was. Unfortunately he was no longer online. Oh man I was so excited! An early Christmas present who wouldn't be? I was also curious to what it could be.  Suspense over. Abram set up a online google music account for me and uploaded all the Christmas cds we own as a family! Yup about albums and I do not know exactly how many songs! Can I tell you, it is the best Christmas present ever.  Family Christmas memories are all flooding back to me! Tati remember our own version of the nutcracker? Now I do not feel like I am so far away from home.  Thank you so much Abram! Hope you all are enjoying the Christmas spirit wherever you are!

Living like the Chinese do!

Well being here in China is crazy.  I am always working on new projects, whether it is for the school or for myself!

My latest project has been my apartment, which I have fully moved into. Crazy I am in China and living on my own! It is nice having my own space, but I will forever be grateful to Zhang family for taking me for the first few months. I will miss Su Nanny's cooking.

 I was so proud I could assemble this dresser thing!

 Well here is my apartment when I first started cleaning it!

Here you can see how I can hang my laundry to dry. It was day time when I hung those sheets... no worries!

I saw this cat just chilling in a tree on my way to work!

Virtual tour of my apartment!

Ha well the bathroom will need some getting used to, but hey when in China better live like the Chinese do right?

Halloween!

So today is Halloween.  Having all American teacher, of course we celebrated! The only thing I could really do to make a costume, was play with my hair. I decided to be Cindy Lou Who from  the Grinch!

 The Halloween party was a great success. I had so much fun coming up with different games for the kids. Here are a few pictures from the party! Haha it was fun! Hope you all have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Tender Mercies

Well as always this week has been a crazy week.  On top of everything I was sick for most of it. Ugh! A couple weeks ago I began recording clips of segments in my classes, as a way for me to track student progress and also to evaluate my teaching.  Also after doing these recordings, I usually play them back to the students, so that they can hear what they sound like and make improvements. Not really for anything else. The other teachers found out and loved the idea. They thought it would be something great to share quarterly with the parents and students.  So while I was sick in bed that is what I worked on. This past weekend was parents weekend. That basically meant that they could come and follow their child around to the different classes they attended.  So this was also where I had the kids perform Jack and the Beanstalk in front of their parents and other classmates.  Well do to my sickness, I was not able to attend the collaboration meeting and was not really involved in the planning in how this weekend would run. This really is not so new. There are only two other teachers and they are married.  What they say goes...sometimes we plan things together one way and then last minute it is switched on me. Kind of makes it difficult for me to plan as a teacher.

Anyway so sorry, it just did not turn out well.   I originally wanted the kids to practice the play one time through and then perform it. To make a long story short I was assigned the kids for two forty minute segments to perform the play (all of which were in front of their parents). I reflect back now and I wish I would have planned better and made more use of that time to show case the kids. But sometimes when I am taken in surprise I just do not think clearly. Some of the parents thought it was a waste of time, because their child was not getting the attention they need.  It was such a rough weekend with the parent, not all of them thought that way. Jack and the Beanstalk was not the only thing I had planned,  I also had a phonics lesson with our younger students. I was also in charge of teaching all the kids Halloween songs, which they performed for their parents as well.

So the gist is I walked away from school this week, just down. I badly want to be able to help all the students improve and grow, but it is killing me that I do not really know how.  Man it has been difficult. If anybody has some suggestions, I would love to hear them!  Well I got up this morning ready for a new day. Parent weekend still not over, but I knew I was going to go to church today  and that was my light.

Sundays I teach for two hours, one in the morning and one in the afternoon that was our compromise. Sunday mornings I teach four year olds and Sunday afternoons teenagers.  This morning was a rough one as well. What makes it so rough is that parents put a lot of stress on your shoulders for their child. They can care less about the other children, but if you do not pay attention to their child all the time you never hear the end of it!  I can go on, but I will not. This morning I just let it roll of, I thanked them for their comments and left for church.  FYI not all the comments are negative, but they are the ones that weigh the most.

I know I have said it several times, but church fills my bucket.  I went to church and just soaked the warm feelings all in. Cheesy I know, but very true. The messages, songs, and overwhelming peace that I feel weekly gives me the confidence I need to conquer yet another week.   Not only that but I am starting to make friendships here. I got invited to lunch by three different people, such tender mercies because it can be a little lonely being out here alone.  I made plans to go shopping with a girl that knows the best places to go! Yes! These individuals are honestly tender mercies for me.

Sorry this really is turning out to be long, but I honestly I am just recording random thoughts and I am fine if no one else really reads this. Haha. I just really want to say that I know the Lord really knows us and loves us. There is no way I can deny that.  I see His hand everywhere I turn. I have really been pondering and studying the scriptures lately and maybe it is because where I am in my life right now, but something I have really noticed is how often we are told to keep the commandments and the Lord will bless us.  There is absolutely no way we can go wrong if we keep the commandments, repent, and come unto Christ.  Parent weekend was a hard one on me, but instead of feeling down, I think the Lord wants me to know that He is supporting me through this.  I need to rely on Him!

Okay so I did not actually mean to share all of that, but I guess it needed to come out.  The point of writing was to write about the tender mercies I have recently received.  Yesterday night I wanted to watch a movie, but I guess the dvd was to scratched up it got stuck in my laptop. I did not know what to do to get it out, an my computer kept making weird noises the whole time it was in. It scared me, so I thought I will just restart the computer. Well it would not come back on. I did not have Abram nearby, so I did I knew I could do...pray.  I prayed and asked the Lord that He would take out the dvd. I am not even joking,  when I was done I decided to turn off the computer again and turn it back on. This time it immediately came out. As soon as it did, I got back on my knees and gave thanks for I know that was a direct answer to my prayer.

After church today, I felt like my burdens were lifted. I was in such high spirits. After my afternoon class, I came back to the apartment and had dinner with the family I have been living with.  After dinner Sabrina (the daughter) played the piano, while the nanny and I danced around. Haha. Afterwards they performed for me, China's national anthem. I think I will share this tender mercy with all of you!