Happy New Year's Eve! Skpe with my lovelies, 14 agrees with heat radiating from the sun- and LOW pollution!

What a wonderful New Year's Eve! Rolled out of bed long past 7 a.m ( THAT doesn't happen very often!).  Took my time enjoying way more cups of coffee than I normally consume ( the Walnut Milk I use see tens it to perfection)- did laundry and cooked up a whole Chicken Stew before I even checked my email. I HAD MISSED A 7 a.m ( My Time) Skype with Emma and Company!
I had about 40 minutes before I had to catch my bus for my ONE class on Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m - and VOILA! - They answered!
It was so nice to see Emma, Jay, Audrey and visiting friends Jamie and Lesley………….what fun! It was THEIR evening of course, so I envied their glasses of wine…………..( Although I'm pretty sure I'm getting some kind of OPIUM in my Chinese medicine that I am taking for my cold/cough..)

Off I go to school- easy day…and I got this gift from my Senior 1's:

It s the cutest little book mark I've ever seen

And on  my desk a photo from this past Symposium. The best part was getting home at 1pm. and walking in the balmy weather!!!!

FIREWORKS on a Monday night @ 6:15 pm ( December both)

Juts outside my Dorm window for about 20 minutes…………..It's one day early for New Years……..and Western New Years is not really celebrated here?

Chinese New Year - which is VERyY BIG here, is not until Friday January 31st this year ……….go figure…………..Monday is NOT a Wedding and the Birth of a child would  not be this…………It is just West of the Bund area……..I'll ask tomorrow at school. Pretty, though!

Sunday December 30th- Visit to Zhu Jia Jiao Water Town - with Foreign Guests fro Symposium

The water towns are ancient towns untouched by Modern Shanghai. They  are low-rise  buildings built around  water-ways- much like Venice. I was invited to "tag along" with the Foreign Guests from the 3rd Annual Symposium this Sunday. I was Thrilled- because this is my second visit and the Water town is gorgeous and the shopping is grand. Not to mention the food! I'm not sure how they decide, but I was the ONLY "Foreign Teacher" invited and was surrounded  by my Chinese Colleagues for Shanghai Foreing Languages School. What  a lovely day!

 Yep. It's a water town. So the locals catch fish and we eat them in the cafes

 Rose from Barcelona. She was great fun!

We did not go on a Boat ride this time. Too cold, I think.

 Rose ( Barcelona) and " Dana" from school. I  eat lunch with Dana every now and again. She is so very cute! An "English" teacher  at SFLS.

 Crabs are still in Season!

 Chicken dish.

 Peanut and pepper and  chicken dish.

Tofu

Bok Choy. My Favourite vegetable in Shanghai!
Singing Xmas songs - My Principal with Guest from Australia

 Marina (Russian) and her brother and Rose from Barcelona

 Japanese Seaker - Loved his speech the best  "Gender equality"

 LingTai and Cloud having a giggle

 Noorihan and her family from Malaysai

Noorianan and her second daughter…they were cold the whole time!!!

Chines Lunch topped with a Western Dinner near Tonji University

Symposium ended after a lunch- time to run Saturday errands- money- groceries-more meds.
A long walk to Tonji University area ( I applied there but did not get a position last Janauay- nice place!))- and a nice dinner at a restaurant popular with International students for it's speciality coffees and Western menu.
Victoria had an Indonesian rice dish- I had the house specialty salad- not skimpy on the meat and a nice bottle of Chilean wine.
Nice day!

Day 2: Shanghai Foreign Languages School 3rd Annual Symposium and 50th Anniversary Celebrations

It has actually been a nice break from school. No classes on Friday for Day 1 - and only a half day on Saturday- but with the students' performances at the end. Lovely!

 Video-taped Alumni

Some Alumni on the stage

 Student performers

They were awesome!

Keepsakes………...

 A YEARBOOK OF 50 YEARS

 Four DVDs that I can't wait to watch

 I'm in the yearbook!

Shanghai Foreign Languages 3rd Annual Symposium and 50th Anniversary Celebrations: Day 1

 This is the Canadian Speaker from a High school in Bolton, Ontario

 Laura and Sunshine having a giggle

This is Noorian from Malaysia- She  had a lot to say about ICT and education!

 Some students in attendance

 Dana and Rebecca on the "Meet and Greet" at the door. I have lunch with these two teachers occasionally. Such cuties!

This is Mina ( Russian), Rose ( Spain) and Norrian ( Malaysia)- foreign delegates to the conference

A Merry (Skype) Christmas to my Family -December28 @ 8:05 a.m my time

It was so lovely to see everyone in Bowmanville at my sitter's this morning. They were just finishing up their turkey dinner, had opened their gifts, and were in a jolly, jolly mood!
The Skype connection was lost a few times, but it was lovely to hear everyone's voices and (sort of) see their faces!
Miss you guys!!!!!

More Xmas stuff today when I got to school- parcel from home!!!!!!!!!!!

What a nice Boxing Day surprise at 7:30 a.m! As soon as one of the guards saw me, he ran over to his office to get the parcel. He KNOWS how excited I get!!!!

 Facial and hair products, gum and lip balm….I'm in heaven!

 Chinese medicine for my barking cough…………...

Back to the mask today………….the reading is "hazardous". No wonder I cough up half a lung each morning….sheesh!

Looking for Xmas on Xmas Day................

Well, I had to go to the commercial centres, but I found it..........including two elves -who were reluctant at first, but then agreed to have their picture taken.

 This is a sign of post-Xmas..........

 This guy was advertising the opening of a new restaurant......mmmmm..........can't imagine what's on the menu????