A name change and camping

This past week when I returned to the orphanage, little Cody was there. I was glad to see him. He was smiling and even participating in class.

Last week, I had taught them one two tie my shoe, three four shut the door and so on and this past week he was singing the song and when we got to three four he ran the door to "shut the door". It was awesome!

We had a good time in class and even had a lot of fun outside. However, Cody's pants kept falling down. They were two sizes too big. Since he was running around, he'd stop and pull them up and keep running till the next time they fell down.

I have decided to change his name to Hannibal though. He is quite the cannibal. If you are close to him you have to always be on guard or he may just take a bite out of you. It is quite comical because he is so sweet and innocent looking. One moment he is sweet and huggable and the next he calmly wants to take a bite out of teacher; hence, the name change to Hannibal. He's a bit of a Dr Jeckle and Mr. Hyde. Needless to say, I am always on my toes with Hannibal.

Changing gears, this Monday and Tuesday I was privileged to go camping with about 40 students who had never gone before. It is not a popular thing in China. So they did the best they could.

We had a great time! The student leader brought all of the student's knives to me, in case anyone decided to fight. No one did. I just thought great I am the one with the knives, if a student goes crazy who will he come after? Me.

They brought Champagne and thought someone might get violent. I am told that many fathers get violent after drinking over here. So, they just expected the worst.
I was asked to bring Champagne and I told them I would not, because I did not drink. They brought it anyway.

No one even got drunk. However, the kids were on a high because they were doing something that is popular in the west and they were setting the trend for the future. They were excited because it was a one week holiday from school and they could stay up all night and had no one to answer to.

They did stay up till 1:30 a.m. playing Mafia a game in which someone is the mafia leader and he kills people by winking at them. Then, people have to guess who is the mafia leader.

The person doing all of the talking had a great public speaking voice -- nice and loud. She was facing towards the tents and talking rather loudly.

I suggested that she turn towards the Sea and have the students have their backs there, so it would not amplify and go straight into the tents. They took the suggestion and I began to sleep.

However, they decided to get up at 5 am to see the sun rise. Ahhhhhh. I decided to sleep in till 7:00. Needless to say at the end of that trip, i was TIiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiRED. When I got home that night, I slept from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 am the next day.

I had some great conversations though and that is why I went. I know that some great friendships will come from this.

Keep thinking of me and I will of you!

Love ya,

James :0-)

check out some of my pics.