UPDATE FROM THE FAR EAST

I'M A TEACHER!!

I've been in China exactly 1 month, so here's to my first post from abroad. Yesterday was my 1-monthiversary with Shanghai, and now I feel like we're dating. I feel like we understand each other and it will only get better from here.

Sh!t is cheap here, yo. China is a country for the commoner. Bottled water is 25 cents in convenience stores. I ate dinner for 9 kuai ($1.30) twice last week. The metro is 60 cents a ride, roughly, and I've been practicing Chinese EVERYWHERE.

My kids are adorable. I teach a class of 14 4th graders in English, and 2 classes of 42 6th graders at the "local school," which is attached to our international school. Still waiting on the first paycheck, which will hopefully feel awesome and fuel my travel expenses and habit of having adventures as often as possible.

Yesterday I came back from Chabad, after breaking fast after the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, sprinted through the gate at the school (where I live for freeeeeeeee) and then changed and sprinted back out to catch a subway train to go to the mall, near the center of the city, to meet my friend Lucy from high school.

The security guard commented at me, "Hen mang, ma?" (You're very busy, no?)
I responded yes. That pretty much describes my life here-- VERY busy. This job is a job. I work 7:45-5pm usually, depending on the work load and planning demands of that week. Tonight my coworkers are getting together for some homemade chili.

Other than that, it's been Chinese food overload and I'm KIND OF liking it =p

Lunch time. Till later,
Chineseified Becca