Wangfujing and Microteaching

So while I was computerless for about 10 days, alot of stuff happened. I'll just give you the highlights.

One of my favorite places we went in Beijing was Wangfujing street. It's crazy, loud, crowded, and way too much fun. Took us forever to get there. Basically wherever you're going in Beijing, you plan for it to take about 1-2 hours to get there. Even if it's just five miles away. 

While we were on the subway, we saw this group of four middle school girls. They were so cute-talking incessantly and giggling and watching us. It made me almost tear up because my Emmy is their age, and I was thinking how cool it would be for Emmy to be here with me. We got off the subway without talking to them, but then we ran into them outside Wangfujing and they asked to get their picture taken with us. One of them told us she had very good English. Hilarious.

So then we went onto Wangfujing street (sorry I keep repeating the name, but I love it). And of course we saw the famous scorpions on a stick. And no I did not eat any. They were still alive on the stick because they hadn't been fried yet. And their legs were still moving ... freaked me out. I hate bugs. Anyway, I did get my picture taken with them though.

They also had starfish on a stick and seahorse on a stick. I got sad when I saw the seahorse ... they were so tiny and cute. 

We walked around and looked at all the crazy stuff people were selling. I did haggle with one of the guys and got my sisters Christmas gifts there. Haggling is way too much fun for me. 

Crazy, crowded Wangfujing Street

Then we walked around the food section. And the guys at the food shops kept offering me beer. It was so funny. 

Oh yeah, saw this guy on one of the streets. Chinese people can sleep anywhere. 

Anyway, and then last Thursday we had microteaching in the morning. All the elementary school teachers got to teach a class of Chinese kids. We had 8 students that morning. They were wonderful. We had so much fun with them. Even taught them the cupid shuffle. So hilarious. 

Teaching these kids made me even more excited to get to Taiyuan and start teaching. Even though I only had them for one morning, they stole my heart-I don't think I'll ever forget their names. I'm pretty sure my kids in Taiyuan are going to have me completely wrapped around their fingers. 

And then there were the goodbyes. Last Friday we said goodbye to the other teachers and watched as they all left to go to their different schools. We also had to say goodbye to Joy and Katie, our teammates in Beijing who are teaching at a primary school there. 

Primary Teachers!!

Those 3 and a half weeks in Beijing were probably some of the best days I've had in my life. Granted, sometimes it was hard, but I learned so much about China, myself, my team, and Father in those short weeks. Father is teaching me so many lessons, and I don't think at the end of this year I'm going to be the same person. I can already tell I'm different after only being in China for 3 weeks. But it's a good thing. The Refiner's fire is burning away the impurities in my soul, and bringing me closer to Him. And for that I am grateful.