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I have a really easy week this week, which is great since Thanksgiving is tomorrow!  Students have exams on Thursday and Friday, and I didn't have to teach today (Wednesday) -- woohoo!  It's not that abnormal for me to have days off (what with my very lax schedule), but it is new to have days off when other people have them.  I got to go to lunch at Taco Loco (a great treat, since Mexican food is not very easy to come by in HK) with Athania and Salome today, and afterwards we did a little exploring in Soho.  But now I'm home, and it's off to the kitchen for some Thanksgiving baking.  I'm blessed to be attending 2 dinners this year -- the first at the Pfisters, and the second at home.  Thursday and Friday respectively (in case you were wondering how I'd be able to consume that much turkey in one day...).  I'm looking forward to a couple restful days of food, friends, family... umm... fun, fellowship... and fowl (the gobbling variety).  On Saturday and Sunday I'll be attending ECC's ALPHA retreat, which should also be a great couple of days.  I'm excited to get to know the people in my group better, as up till now, it's just been Monday nights.  If you remember, please pray for our weekend!

Currently Listening Pink Moon By Nick Drake see related

Well, it's been more than 2 months since my last entry -- time for an update!!  And time to change my profile pic to something other than a kitten... maybe a picture of me??! 

You may be wondering what I've  been up to for the past 2 months, so I'll try to tell you.  In October I started working at Stewards Pooi Kei College (SPKC) -- the very school that I worked at last year!  The change has been that I am only part-time this year.  THis was my decision, and I'm very happy with the new arrangement.  I teach about 10 hours a week, which translates to 3 or 4 days a week (they're on a 6 day cycle, so my schedule is always a little different every week).  The earliest that I have to teach is 11:45, so I can basically sleep in whenever I want.  Now that you're all jealous, I should say that part of me misses having a more rigid schedule.  Though no one really likes waking up early (except maybe my dad and a few others), there is a sense of accomplishment in completing a full day of work, and I guess that I am missing that a little bit this year.  Anyway, on top of the 10 hours at SPKC, I'm hoping to get some tutorial jobs to supplement my income.  I've been saying this for a while, and haven't actually started looking for the said jobs yet... but it seems that they might find me, because I've alread had a few people ask me about tutoring friends and acquaintances, so I might just manage to get some jobs without actually looking.. 

Other things I've been up to:  I've been helping out with the ALPHA course that ECC is hosting -- that's been every Monday night for the past 2 months, and we'll be having a retreat next weekend.  I've really enjoyed hearing Nicky Gumbel speak (courtesy of the ALPHA videos we have) and have been really encouraged by the conversations my group has had.  If you want to know more about the ALPHA course, check out www.alpha.org.  It's a really good tool for people that are interested in knowing more about Christianity because it provides a no-pressure, non-threatening environment for people to ask questions and learn in.

Other news: this week I have been staying with Kerilee and Daniel Van Schooten.  THeir parents are traveling in CHina for the week, and though they are both quite independent (12 and 14, I think), I was asked to stay with them to take care of some meals for them, and to help them feel safe (yes, believe it or not, I am a responsible adult now...).  Their mom, Christiane, is so sweet.  I think she thought that there might be some problems -- she kept asking me to call if anything happened or I had questions -- but really, it's been one of the easiest things I've ever done.  For example, on Tuesday I came home from school at about 6:00 and Kerilee and Daniel had already set the table and were warming up the lasagne that their mom had left.  I felt like I was being waited on like I would be in restaurant -- yes, what a hardship to look after them! :)  Then yesterday I made macaroni and cheese, hotdogs, and green beans for dinner (the easy meal Christiane had planned for us), and Daniel was so excited about the food, I felt the culinary accomplishment that 4 star chefs probably feel.  The Van Schootens also have a dog, and though it is a widely known fact that I myself am a cat person, I have taken the dog for walks for the past few days and have absolutely loved it!  No, I'm not at the point of conversion yet, but seriously -- walking a dog can be so much fun.  Their dog, Honey, is a golden retriever (or yellow lab?  Is there a difference?) and she sort of pulls me along when I walk her, which makes me want to run with her... which is amazing, because I have never enjoyed running or jogging.  So I think I'll take her out again today, and hey, maybe I'll ask if I can walk her on a regular basis.  She's a good dog to walk too -- doesn't try to attack or sniff strangers, doesn't bark at other dogs.  She does stop suddenly sometimes though, which can be awkward when it happens in mid-run. 

Well, I have more to say, but it will have to wait until later, because I'm sure I've already lost a lot of readers (!!) with length of this entry.  Feel free to leave comments so that I know you've been here!

Currently Listening Let It Die By Leslie Feist I just got an iPod last week and have been listening to more music! THis is a great album! see related

Well, a lot has happened since my last entry -- cat-wise, that is... still no job, etc.  But I did end up catching the kitten I mentioned before's brother, and found a home for both of them last week.  They went to a nice local family in Kwun Tong who immediately welcomed them into their home, purchasing every cat-related accessory imaginable.  And the day after the kittens went to their new home, I got an email from their new mother with 24 kitten pictures attached.  I'm quite proud of myself for homing 3 kittens this summer -- kittens that would have grown up feral otherwise. 

In other news, I'm still not working, but that's been my own decision.  I went in for a meeting with the principal and head of the English department at my old school to talk about the possibility of me returning.  My job description would be changed quite a lot (obviously, or I wouldn't be considering going back) -- I'd be doing informal, non-class activities with the students (like setting up a drama club, English "radio station" during lunch... just trying to give them more authentic English practice), and possibly teaching a few oral classes too.  It sounds appealing to me, as the job sounds like it would be flexible, interesting, and like something I'd be better suited to than what I did last year.  I also really liked my colleagues, and would love to work [and hang out] with them again.  I'm thinking of offering to come in three times a week, and then picking up some private tutoring jobs on the other two days.  We'll see.  Not to say that money is the most important consideration, but I am interested to see what they'll offer me... that will definitely affect my final decision.

So that's the job search.  You might be wondering what I've been doing with all the free time I've had lately.  I've spent a lot of time working on jewelry projects -- I've made a lot of trips to Sham Shui Po for special beads and string.  I'm looking forward to having more time to work on jewelry, so that maybe Ji and I can finally get our company off the ground.  First I need to take pictures of pieces I've already made, so that the two of us can put some sort of portfolio together.  That's the first step... not sure what's taking me so long to get those pictures taken... maybe I'll do that tonight, even though it's late.  Sometimes I just need a burst of late-night initiative to get things started...

Oh, other really good news.  I heard from my professor about the final paper I turned in, that caused me so much grief a few weeks back.  Well, it's official -- I passed, so I am now definitely done with my MA in TESOL.  Woohoo.  Now I just have to wait to receive the diploma.  That'll be nice.