Remembering...

I'm often left speechless by the memories that a single happenstance can bring with it.  In a heartbeat, your transported to a different time and place.  Sometimes that transport brings with it tears, sometimes laughter, maybe fear, maybe joy...it's amazing what that heartbeat carries.  At the moment, I'm blissfully remembering a little over 18 months ago going to a movie with friends.  I had seen it already, but liked it enough to go back.  That doesn't happen often.  Now, seeing the sequel, I find myself wishing I could go back and enjoy it again with those friends at that time in that place.  You can't step in the same river twice, though, so here I am.

Where am I at the moment? Well, I'm in the river that is my time in China, enjoy the ripples and the waves, the sunsets and the smog.  It has been a busy fall.  If you usually receive my newsletter, you've likely been wondering if I removed you from my list.  Never fear, you're still on it...you just haven't received anything lately because nothing has been written.  I've started/updated/tweaked the August one a hundred times.  Then it became September...then October...and now November.  This school year has hit me hard and heavy, and I find myself struggling to do what I need to do, let alone the extras that I want to do.

What have I been doing?  Well, I'm teaching full-time at the 6th and 7th grade level, leading a small group for some of the coolest middle school girls in the world, working on my final masters portfolio projects and the 9th of 10 classes that stand between me and being referred to as Master Teusink (that's how it works, isn't it), and making decisions.  Every day is filled with decisions.  What to eat? Where to go? Where to stay? What to wear?  Oh it's a hassle, to be sure.  Thankfully, I've made one of the bigger decisions that has been plauging me, so one less thing to stress about.

Since summarizing the last few months with words would take far too long, here's a quick look at some pictures that might do the trick.

 

The view from my new classroom is breathtaking some mornings!

There are some mornings where the smog takes over, though.

For Book Character Day this year, I went as a giant cup of coffee.  I couldn't resist :)

I do, after all, drink Starbucks even with the most Chinese of meals!

 It is definitely turning from fall to winter in Chengdu.

Our favorite leaves are beginning to drift to the ground, but they are still beautiful!

As always, feel free to leave a comment to let me know how you are!  If you'd like to email me, leave your email address in the comment and I'll get back to you asap.  Comments are monitored and if you leave personal information I'll delete it, so no stress there!
 

Location: Chengdu, China
Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 7:49 p.m. (11/24/2013)
Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-8): 3:49 a.m. (11/24/2013)