Two weeks from today we'll be getting on a plane. A plane that will take us far away. We know where we hope this plane will take us. But we can't know for sure. Yet it doesn't matter. BECAUSE WE'LL BE TOGETHER!!
Haha (see Inception if you're not laughing). Anyway, my (Steve's) parents are leaving today for Suzhou, and we are very excited to be following shortly after them. We are very blessed to be embarking on this new adventure with them, and only an hour apart from their lovely home in the suburbs.
As for us, we'll be near the ocean (but in the city), only about a couple blocks from the SMIC school that we'll be working at for at least the next year. Emily is teaching English to Kindergarteners in an awesome program called "Super Kids" where the kid heroes learn English so that they can save the world!! Haha - I'll be teaching Asian social studies to fourth graders, so I need to be studying and planning, because I'm much more comfortable with (and knowledgeable about) Western Civ.
As for us, we'll be near the ocean (but in the city), only about a couple blocks from the SMIC school that we'll be working at for at least the next year. Emily is teaching English to Kindergarteners in an awesome program called "Super Kids" where the kid heroes learn English so that they can save the world!! Haha - I'll be teaching Asian social studies to fourth graders, so I need to be studying and planning, because I'm much more comfortable with (and knowledgeable about) Western Civ.
The school itself is a great and unexpected blessing to us as well. Established by the Taiwanese founder of the company, the private school has since expanded to include anyone from the community who can afford it and/or whose kindergarteners are competitive enough to be successful in the English track. The 4-6 yr olds only get one shot at the end of their Kindergarten career to jump into the English track - no pressure. What we have learned about the founder is that he was a strong Chris*ian, and so both his company and the school he started were rooted in Chris*ian values, and the leadership at the school has a strong desire to maintain those values. When interviewed, we were "warned" about the number of Chris*ians who worked at the school. The principal even asked me if the Chris*ian culture of the school was going to "be a problem" for me. Haha - I think we'll find a way to cope ;). In addition to the school's Chris*ian culture, the kindergarten teachers that Emily will be working with hold Bib*e studies in the morning before school, and pray over each day that they're about to work with. The company/school's founder ALSO founded "Thanksgiving Ch*rch," which we are looking forward to being a part of. And the best (and most surprising) part is: because the business does so well for the government, the government is totally okay with it all!
Did I mention that the staff plays Ultimate Frisbee every week? Could this place be any more incredible?!
Well, we'll keep you posted! And please feel free to drop us a line about how things are going with al of you. We would love to hear about your lives, and we are also disconnected from Facebook during our time in China - it appears that Facebook has become the vehicle of actual (Egypt, others in the Middle East) and potential (China) revolutions. Also, don't send us any movies or literature about time travel. Because it's been outlawed. Haha. Next report: Coming From China!
Well, we'll keep you posted! And please feel free to drop us a line about how things are going with al of you. We would love to hear about your lives, and we are also disconnected from Facebook during our time in China - it appears that Facebook has become the vehicle of actual (Egypt, others in the Middle East) and potential (China) revolutions. Also, don't send us any movies or literature about time travel. Because it's been outlawed. Haha. Next report: Coming From China!