Hello to Everyone: Change in Plans

From Kristen

To everyone who may be reading this and especially my mom,

I'm so sorry that I haven't written on the blog before now! It's been really busy here but that's not really an excuse. I am sorry and I hope you can forgive me! Hopefully you've been reading other people's entries and have at least been seeing how the team is doing as a whole.

It's been very interesting because I haven't been working with the person or the age group that I thought I would be working with. When we got here they had to change a lot of teaching partners and age assignments because, like a lot of things in China, things didn't work out as planned.

Back in Watertown during our Team China meetings I had originally volunteered to work with junior high-age kids and with Bekah. But when we got here I was originally assigned Primary 1(little kids) and was supposed to be working with a girl from Faith named Nikki. I finally ended up teaching Advanced 1 (mostly 15-16 year olds), with Nikki Bowers and Beth. It's been an interesting journey but I'm glad I know Who is in control. I love my class, and I love being able to communicate so well with them. They all speak very good English, so we can do a lot more with them. I have made many new friends, and it will be very fun to try to keep in touch with them after I leave.

So many things have happened since I've been here, and that makes it so hard to pick something to tell about! I've gotten to go to many places in Chengdu and believe it or not I'm kinda getting used to being in the city! Taking taxis and city buses is a very new experience for me, but I've found that I've adapted quite well. Some of the smells I've not adapted to very well, but that's a whole other story… ;-) The traffic here is crazy! I've been in taxis that randomly cross into oncoming traffic and traffic lanes seem to be mere suggestions here. It's so much fun! I love crossing a eight-lane road and then getting stuck in the middle and having to wait till the light changes to finish crossing. Having cars whiz by at mere inches from you on each side is rather fun.

Overall, it's been a great trip so far and I can't wait to give you more details when I get home! Thank you for all your thoughts! I love you all.