Wednesday, July 3, 2013

So long, Farewell

This will be my last blog post, a farewell to China and my blog.  

The last 3 weeks of my life in China were jam packed with lunches, dinners, and coffee dates to say good bye to everyone.  Lesley and I were on the go constantly. It's still feels surreal that it is over! 
My team this year!  Blessed to have known them and spent a year or 2 in China together!

Last hip hop class with this guy.  I had to say goodbye to dance as well.  Sad day. :(

Geoffery and Dale 
I tutored Geoffery for the past 2 years.  He met me on the street one day and asked me to tutor him.  I'm so glad he was brave enough to talk to me.  He is a great student!  Dale was my student last year.  His English has improved drastically!  So proud of him.  


Saying goodbye at school was really hard!  I will truly miss my students and co-workers at No. 1 high school.  
This is my favorite head teacher!  She speaks no English, but is so sweet.

My student named Obama!  I will miss having students with the most random English names.

Dawn and Pureman 
They are dating.  Shhh!  I'm the only teacher that knows. ;)

This is Superman!

This is Shine.  We became very close during the year.  She started to cry when I told her goodbye.   She is such a sweet girl and very funny!

This is Little Man (that's what Les and I call him).  He gave us our Chinese names!  We've been friends for the past 2 years, even though we can't communicate. 

Tingting is an English teacher.  She was a first year teacher this year and did a great job!  

Some of my boys!  
Oscar, Bad Boy, Jackson Z, and Happy

Sugar and Cookie, both as sweet as their names!

Last girl's group!  It was amazing to see how the Lord has multiplied this group and provided a good community for these girls.  So blessed to see a small part of HIS plan for Huangshi.

Dinner with Dianna and Helen's family!  They have been so good to us these past 2 years.  Constantly treating us to dinner and always taking care of us. I really appreciate all they did for us!

Last massage!  Oh how I will miss cheap massages!  This was an area I was spoiled in. An hour massage is around $10.

On our last night, Dawn cooked us our favorite Chinese foods and we watched Korean TV together.  How blessed I am to have known this girl.  She has given selflessly to me and the other foreigners in Huangshi!  


Dawn food is the best!

The morning we left we had to take a picture with Bieber. Bieber has been in our apartment since week 2 of our first year in China.  FYI:  The poster was a gift from a student.  


Dianna's family came to send us off!  We didn't know they were coming.  It was a wonderful surprise.

Dawn and her sister Maggie also came to say goodbye!

Paul and Erin were there too!

After a long journey, Lesley and I made it home.  We wore our qi pao dresses to greet our families at the airport!
Photo: Look who's home! :)

As sad as it was to tell all of my Chinese friends and students goodbye, I know I was suppose to come home.  I am so grateful that God brought me to China and allowed me to be part of so many people's lives. This season of my life had many up and downs, but I wouldn't change it for anything.  I grew so much during my time here and feel truly blessed.  

I will now be living in Baton Rouge and begin my American teaching career.  I will be teaching 4th grade at St. Luke's Episcopal (my former elementary school) this upcoming school year. I am excited to begin this new chapter of my life! Please continue to pray for me as I transition back into American life.  Also, continue to pray for all of my friends and students in Huangshi.  

That's all folks!