After a great time with visitors from Pismo Beach Ca. and Salem Or., we returned back to the daily routine of life. Some of you may wonder what is the daily routine. It is sometimes the same and then plans change in the moment. (Something we Americans have to let go of.) For the most part though, it stays the same.
Most days are focused on learning this very challenging language. It is going well, but the more you learn the more you find yourself understanding there is so much more. A couple times a week we teach English to students at the University, and spend lunch or dinner with any of them that have time. Morgan coaches the baseball team everyday except if it rains, and has some games on Saturdays. Lori volunteers at the government orphanage and is putting together an Early Intervention program. It’s always a joy to have friends come over for chatting and getting to know them. It’s seems as though our phone rings most nights from someone new asking for help in language or looking for someone to practice English with. We have to ask, “How did you get our name and number?” They always hear from a friend we are teachers and are very helpful and nice. We have corrected papers, been English judges, and individual tutors. We find our time is short most days and are having to ask what things to focus on and what is not for us to carry. There is a big need here to help in so many ways. Though some of them seem interesting, we know we can’t do it all.
We are really enjoying this city and like the relationships that have been made. We are also very excited to have the chance to move to the 1st story of the apartment complex next to us. We have been living on the 6th floor. If you can imagine, the stairs get really old after a long day with a 2 and 4 year old. The new home also has a small yard attached just for our use. Being from California, we cannot wait to BBQ again! Morgan has many plans for growing vegetables as well. We get a constant stream of visitors who just stop and stare to see what we are doing in the yard. This is a good way to begin introducing new crops to grow in this climate. We will not have the keys until July 1st , and then we get to paint and fix up the flooring. Hope it goes quickly and we can enjoy it for the summer.
Morgan’s parents are coming the end of June for a visit and we can’t wait to meet them at Hong Kong Disneyland to celebrate Alleyah’s 5th birthday. She is so excited and Noah is too. Alleyah has planned an all girl birthday party for her school friends and Grandma Jones has already sent the birthday Barbie plates and napkins in the mail!
The beginning of July will be the end of the school year and we are excited about our first summer here. We hope to travel a little out of the city and see some village friends. The grasslands and mountains are breathtaking.
Thank you for all the thoughts! We appreciate them so much. We know we could not do this without so many of you.
Blessings,
Joneses
