My Last Day in the Classroom in Dong Yang

Today was my last day at the school.  A month of teaching in China has just flown by.  I can't believe all that I have seen and learned.  One thing I learned is to be careful what I wish for.  I have been hoping the rain would stop because 6 days straight of pounding rain was getting to me.  But I forgot that when the rain stopped, the sun would come out.  As beautiful as it is, it is so hot here I can't believe it!  I can walk three minutes to work and look like I just got done swimming.  With all the water, the humidity is unbearable.  But, it is better than wet shoes and dodging puddles. :)  Our play, "Little Red Riding Hood" went off very well at 8:30 this morning.  1800 kids gathered outside standing in soldier formation for 25 minutes to watch our group of 5th graders put on the play.  The wolf howled, the hunter shot, the singers sang, and the sun shone brightly.  It was a rough 8 practices, but I think they did a fantastic job for the short amount of time we had to get ready.  My last three classes here were all 4th grade.  We talked about opposites, verbs, and the difference between he, she, his, her, and him.  Those are tough concepts to teach kids who barely know the language.  It made me realize how much more patient I need to be with my class at home as they are not a whole lot further along in their learning than these kids are as far as language skills go.  I had lunch with "Tom" and "Jane."  I stayed a Jane's house last week and Tom is like her brother.  We scuttled our way through lunch with "Chinglish" as they call it.  They ordered for me and we spent a nice bit of time talking about school and how nice it was to have met each other.  Before I left, I gave Tom my Indiana shirt that he liked so well.  I am now officially out of IU stuff.  I have given it all away.  After my last two classes in the afternoon, I stood in the courtyard and watched all the kids run and play and get ready for their next period.  I waved goodbye to all the older kids hanging off the balcony and managed to see Tom and Jane for one last second.  It makes me kinda sad to leave, but I am looking forward to COFFEE, CHEESE, and CHOCOLATE!!!  Tonight the English teachers and I are going to dinner at my request.  They have been so kind, I would like to treat them.  I highly doubt that happens.  As a guest here, I am overloaded with gifts and have rarely been allowed to pay for ANYTHING!  I will give it a shot though.  I have packed 1 suitcase full and have been sorting through the clothes to leave here and what to try to take home.  I have purchased a backpack.  I will have three bulging suitcases and an overweight backpack on the plane all of which will cost me hundreds of dollars I am sure.  But, it will be worth every penny, every ounce of sweat lugging them here and there, and will be a great way to bring home and share many happy memories!  I'll update some recent pics tomorrow when I can.