A month in China

It amazing that I have been in China for a month, even more amazing is that I HAVE ONLY BEEN IN CHINA A MONTH> it feels decades longer than that. I have settled into my house, resumed couchsurfing (hosting international travelers) and have a constant stream of folks from all over the world, I have expanded my family to include two little black kitten, I have been working since Aug 2 and teaching now for three weeks. I am loving being back in the classroom. It has only been a year, but I feel like I belong when I am teaching. I teach several sections of ninth grade Asian History and I have been enjoying learning and teaching something so relevant to the place that I am. The students are wonderful.
Some how I have become a volleyball coach. The Girls JV team will go with me to Beijing in 3 weeks to compete in the China Cup. The First week in October I will be leading a Habitat for Humanity trip to Guangzhou (some remote village in the very south of China, where we will be building a school, a road and a few village homes.) The Next week Is the High school CHINA ALIVE trip... where every 9th & 10th grade student goes on one of seven trips around China. I hope to go on the silk road trip to the far western regions of China.
I am, at times overwhelmed, with teaching, studying (I am getting my master's in history), coaching, etc and living in a foreign country. but nearly every day i have a brilliant experience.

So I am in fact in China. I AM well and I Do like Shanghai, very much in fact. I was not so sure this summer while back in the US, but despite myself, I love it here- as long as the weather holds.
I have received a post card from one of my Oakland students. so it is possible to recieve mail here. It was the greatest single letter I have ever gotten... so thank you Angela, wherever you are.