Call me a Bielieber

Some may call this generation the Justin Bieber Generation. Love him or hate him he has definitely impacted America. Oh ya and China. People over here are OBSESSED with him. I dare say maybe even more than in the states. This week I downloaded his music video "Baby" and played it for the 7th grade and they were screaming the whole time. Even the boys like him! I wondered if my 3rd graders knew him so I asked and they immediately started singing Baby. It was hysterical they love him! We were watching the music video when they all started yelling and all their little fingers were pointing at the screen and saying "Paige! Paige!" They thought Justin's co star was me... See the resemblance? 

Well let me tell you I am pretty cool over here being the white American teacher but you want to know what made me the coolest teacher ever?! Being in music video with Justin Bieber. 

My 3rd Graders 

Call me a Bielieber!! 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is perhaps my favorite holiday. I think it is absolutely wonderful to have a day just to spend with family and count your blessings. (and of course watching and playing football too!) This was the first year I have spent Thanksgiving without my family (unless you count skyping with them at 5 in the morning while you watch them eat delicious food) China doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving so after school Kendall and I went to the closest place to Thanksgiving we could think of... KFC! After eating there we meet up with some friends and spent the rest of the night at a bar playing games. I guess I can check spending Thanksgiving at a bar off my bucket list! 

This weekend we traveled to Nanjing for our branch Thanksgiving dinner. I didn't realize how big it was going to be, there was about 200 people there and REAL Thanksgiving food! Yes real food! I don't know if you understand the blessing it was to eat real American food. It was the BEST! We had a lovely time with our friends and our branch and we all were able to have seconds :) 

This Thanksgiving I am especially grateful for the gospel and my country. I am grateful that I am even ALLOWED to have to knowledge that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, and that I can choose to worship how I want. I am grateful that the farthest I have ever lived from a church is a 2 minute walk. I am grateful I can choose my own dreams and pursue my education how and where I would like. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to learn without limits. Being here has really opened my eyes to so much and has truly changed me. I could go on forever but basically it boils down to this

I am grateful for my freedom.

KFC Thanksgiving

REAL FOOD!!! Perhaps the best sight my eyes have seen while in China

Exercise

One of the most peculiar things Kendall and I have found since we have been here was their form of exercise. Every night a mass amount of people gather into their public squares to do what we call Chinese Zumba. It is mostly old people that participate but the parks are filled. There are people in the square, sidewalks, and even the streets! They have huge screens that are attached to buildings surrounding the squares and they project the exercise video and all the people follow. It is quite the sight! It honestly is a party Kendall and I love to participate. Most of them just laugh at us but they love it when we dance with them. 

Here is a video I hope you enjoy, it cracks me up every time!

Split Pants

*Warning: Chinese Children's bottoms shown on this page

One of the things I have found the VERY strangest while being here is the idea of the "split pant." Diapers are expensive, right? Heck let's forget them and do as the Chinese do! Instead of using diapers they use... Nothing! All of the kids here just have their little bottoms hanging out and go whenever and wherever they please. We see parents holding their kids over trash cans and curbs and anywhere really on a daily basis. Even in public buildings you never go in corners of the room because that's where all the little kids pee. At least baby bottoms are cute, right?