A Very Chinese Chistmas

We have actually found quite a bit of decor for our apartment. Plus, my mom sent us a fantastic package full of decorations and fun Christmas things! Here's what our place looks like this Christmas!

Santa
Our first ornament!

It says "Emily & Elliott 2008"

Our tiny tree

Advent calendars from Aunt Susie!

Our cards we made for eachother with kits from Mom :)

Poinsetta and stockings to be stuffed!

the set-up

A funny little dog we saw!

XinXin Migrant School

Many of the Real Life teachers volunteer teaching English at the XinXin Migrant School. It is an illegal elementary school for undocumented workers' children. A lot of it reminds us of Kenya but it's right here in Beijing. The kids are so cute and well-behaved. I teach Classes 3 and 4 and Elliott teaches 5 and 6. Our school is running a Christmas drive to have a shoebox project for this school.

Decorating the School for Christmas!

These are some photos of my Junior Academy. The kids and I have been doing a lot of decorating. Photos to come of our upcoming Christ-less Christmas concert!

My level 3 class

Caroline

Our tree!

My desk! (a little out of order)

notice the RULES poster and the time-out chair (some of my first implementations)

Nihao! Welcome to the Real Life Junior Academy!

Clark and Dan

paper chains. classic.

Level 1 girls

Zaagmans in Beiing!

The Zaagmans came to visit for Thanksgiving week! It was such a fun time! We did all the big things--the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Tienamen Square, Forbidden City, Lama Temple and of course, Thanksgiving dinner. It was such a special week. We'll be talking about it for a long time to come :)

eating some insect
sharing scorpions for Bryton and Graham

mmmmm snack street

Forbidden City

Bird's Nest

Thanksgiving dinner

double bikes in the city

on the Great Wall!

Elliott with his mom and dad :)

Bryton, Elliott, Emily and Graham