First week of teaching, done. Well, it isn't as much of an accomplishment... Most of my classes are freshman classes and they won't start until the 13th. So I have a little bit of a half-holiday until then.

One thing i have been grateful for is my co-teaching class. This is where I actually get to teach side by side with a local teacher. It has been such an insightful process. The student-teacher relationship is very different from the US and also different from other parts of China. So to be able to not only watch but participate with that process with a local teacher helps me in relating to all my students. I hope these teaching relationships can be a great way to share about the important things of our lives.

Coming back to this city is always different. Things still seem tense but moving along. As I walk and bike the streets life is bustling right along. Riding my bike down the main road is just as death-defying as ever if not more! But it is nice to be back amongst it all.

Street Craftsmen.jpg

It is now the last week in July and Part One of my comprehensive exams are over. Woo Hoo!! So I now have a week between now and the next exam to get ready. So today I went for a run and decided to check up on my neglected blogs. After getting lost on a beautiful nature trail found I wasn't as lost as I thought I was. Good news.

I am currently in Wheaton, Illinois about 20-30 minutes outside of Chicago. I will be heading back to Oregon for most of August and then off to Tibet. Should be a good summer nothing too stressful coming up. I will be speaking at a summer camp, my home fellowship and maybe a banquet for all my friends and supporters. All sound like a lot of fun and a chance to hang out with friends and family I haven't seen for a long time.