Week 2

Well hello!
I am currently sitting in my new apartment, with my Internet connected, and yet...I cannot get to any websites. I am very frustrated right now. So, I don’t know if you’ll ever get to read this because I don’t know how I’ll get to access the Internet if every time I connect, I can’t access anything online. I don’t know if it’s my computer or the internet connection itself, so it’s hard for me to fix the problem. I swear I’ve tried everything. I’ll probably take my computer into work next week and see if my co-workers can help me figure it out, if the problem isn’t solved by then.

So let me tell you about my new apartment! I just moved my stuff in yesterday, so I’m moved in, but not really. I still need to unpack and do some shopping for food and stuff. It’s pretty small, but kind of big...and real nice :) Let me explain. Apartments are pretty expensive here in Shanghai, so although it’s small, it’s plenty big for the apartments here, especially just for one person. There were two interns living here before, a married couple from Virginia. They actually left me quite a few things, which is really nice. They left me a water cooler, cooking spices, dishes, pots, pans, a fan, a toaster oven. Most of these things actually came from an intern before them and were being stored at a member’s home, so I’ll return them to the member's home again for the next interns that come along. It’s quite nice the way that works. So the apartment is two rooms, the kitchen and the bedroom. Well and the bathroom I guess you could count as a separate room, but it’s in the kitchen area. The kitchen is pretty small, maybe 8x8ft with the counter and stove and sink, and it’s also the front entry way. But I guess that’s just small compared to the kitchen I’m used to at home.

Then attached to the kitchen is a bathroom. It has a working shower, full toilet (not a squatter, yes!) and a small washing machine, so it’s a little crowded in there. As you walk through the kitchen, you’ll find the bedroom,

which has a full size bed, a small love seat, a wardrobe, the fridge, a small dresser, and a TV stand, but instead of a TV you’ll find the microwave and the toaster oven. There’s not really enough room in the kitchen, so they’re in by the bed. Also kind of attached to the bedroom is the balcony, but instead of there being a door and a little outside area, it’s just part of the room and the walls are windows. There are also some poles across the ceiling you can raise and lower to hang laundry to dry. There’s a small table in that area with two (orange) chairs. It’s quite darling. The apartment has nice wood floors, good security, and a fun view.

Oh, I’m on the 11th floor by the way. The night before I moved in, water spilled on the floor and did a little damage, so I have to talk to my C.D. about that so I don’t have to end up paying for damages I didn’t do. Also, the cute couple before me were so cute and put cute stickers up on the wall...which I also don’t want to get charged for. I’ll have to work that out. So yeah! There’s my apartment! I’ll post pictures soon...if I ever get Internet. It’s so very frustrating that my computer says I’m connected, but I still can’t access anything online. Ugh.

So the humidity is crazy here. It’s always so hot, even if it’s pouring rain. And if the sun is out, then it’s just killer. You always carry an umbrella with you, either for shade from the sun, or for the rain. It’s also nice to keep a fan with you, which I do, or I’d die. Like my dear friend who is serving a mission in Louisianna says, “It’s like taking a shower of sweat all day long.” Thankfully, my apartment and work have AC, so it’s not as bad for me as I’m not having to tract in the humidity all day long. I now hope I don’t get called somewhere like Shanghai or Louisianna on my mission.

Anyway, work is going pretty well.

In the Play classes there are two teachers, a lead and an assistant. The lead teaches the first half of class, and the assistant teaches the second half. Yesterday I assisted a full class for the first time, two classes actually, and they went pretty well! It’s a little bit difficult for me with the language barrier with the parents, and also the kids are afraid of me a lot of the time, just because I look so strange to them. Usually by the end of class, they warm up to me though, so hopefully in a few weeks that won't be a problem. I have some things to work on, but Christine (the Head Instructor) said “Generally speaking, it was very good!”. This week I taught Story Time which was fun, and a lot less pressure because it’s free and not a real class. You just read a story and then do some activities with the kids for like a half hour. I’m also observing Music classes this week and my center is counting on me to pass the Music section of the training in July so I can move onto Music training and start teaching Music classes next month. Apparently in the normal Play and Art training, they have a Music test that very few people pass, and it’s really hard to move on to the Music training. My center is sure I’ll pass though...so I hope I don’t let them down. I guess it’s mostly just being able to stay on pitch, stay in key, and having a nice voice. Not too many Chinese sing really well I’ve noticed...

Last nice I went out to Dinner with Christine and her friend Vickie. We went to eat “hot pot”, which was pretty cool. Everyone orders their own pot with certain seasonings, then you make you’re own sauces at the little bar, and then everyone at the table orders lots of food to cook in your pot! We got lamb and vegetables and fried dofu (which is tofu) and mushrooms and squid and shrimp, oh it was great! All the food is so oily here though, it makes me a little sick, but I’m getting more used to it. But my co-workers are really nice, I like them a lot. Especially Christine and Sara.

Oh, there’s a boy named Wesley in my ward who is an intern from BYU, but he’s really from Hong Kong, and he’s pretty cool. We went over to the Larkin’s for Lunch after church last Sunday and he got my number so we can hang out and be friends. It’s nice to be making friends in the area. Chris, the other Gymboree intern, well I don’t know how he’s doing because he doesn’t talk to me much. I saw him at church on Sunday where he ignored me and seemed annoyed that I sat by him. He was also invited to the Larkin’s for lunch, but left right after church. He’s a strange kid. Oh, the Larkin’s have an intern living with them right now (who works with Wesley and is also from BYU) but she’s Chinese (not from Hong Kong) so she can’t go to church. She’s not Mormon and doesn’t want to anyway, but she’s just not allowed. She’s nice though, and she told me to call her when I’m less busy with training so we can go shopping and she’ll take me where we can barter and get some great prices.

Christine really wants to go on a trip with me sometimes. She says we should go to Hong Kong this summer to go sight seeing and go shopping!

It sounds way fun, but still a little expensive. She forgets I’m a poor 19 yr old college student, because she’s a single, independent 34 yr. old who works only so that she can spend her money on fun stuff. She’s such a kid at heart, I would never guess that she’s 34, she acts and looks about 25 or 26. She’s hilarious though, and we get along great.

Well, my jetlag is getting a little better, and I’m getting used to culture here. I really love being here and am so excited for the next 5 and half months! Thanks for reading and I hope all is well with you! Hopefully I can get this posted in the next few days. I love you all!

Note from Deb - Alyssa is still working on fixing the Internet in her apartment, but found an Internet cafe next door and emailed her blog.