You definetly had to be here for this sunset - it was bright red flaming sun - incredible! The picture doesn't do our Gd justice. We only see sunsets occasionally because of the smog and grey sky, so I've learned to appreciate them!

Well, this weekend has me at home taking Chinese herbal medicines and relaxing to get over a cold, so what better to do than post to my blog? The herbs are interesting though... tiny black beads you swallow for a sore throat, and a vial of disgusting tasting stuff for immunity! The good thing is medications are free through our health plan!

This week I got started working on my classroom. I met my TA - her name is Grace, and she is a wonderfu person. We are going to get along great. She is also a believer, and we got to talk together this week to the Father about a struggle she was having. I was so exhaused every night after thinking on things for my classroom, and planning. Please keep me in your thoughts - I have may decisions to make about curriculum and how to set up the room, and want to honor the Father in them all. Thanks!

Another adventure of the week was the subway.. I really need to start carrying a camera so I can post pics of the exciting things I run across and don't just have to explain it with words! The subway at 5:30pm is quite interesting... Even when it is obviously full to capacity, people just simple start shoving to get on and push their kids into the cracks of people. Not only is it humid, but people don't wear deodrant, so it is quite a concoction of smells! It is what the Shanhainize all use for travel, though, so I enjoy getting to experience life as they do.

The adventure on the subway was to IKEA - I needed to purchase some decorating things for my apartment, so i can put up pictures of family and start personalizing it. The only negative thing was carrying all I purchased home with me on the subway... this whole idea of carrying purchases will definetly curb my shopping/spending habits!

Something I don't think I'll get used to is the yelling, or the idea of saving face. Multiple times people have gotten in fights(one happened in IKEA on thursday) becuase the chinese can't back down, or else they would lose face. So things just escelate... I'm not sure the ramifications of this, but it is a definite cultural stigma.

I visited two chrchs last week - one close by, and the other on the Puxi side of Shanghai. Both services were touching and encouraging. I loved getting to praise together with other fellow believers. I look forward to going to Thanksgiving chrch tomorrow as well as another one in Pudong.

I've been doing a lot of running since I've been here, and this is the river that runs by our living quarters. I think it's pretty to have a river (though it doesn't flow, it's man made), and people in the morning are out here fishing, though I'm not sure if there are really fish... My friend Tifanny says that standing water her reminds her of misquitoes, which is probably why I've gotten so many bites!

This is another place I rode my bike to - an ampitheater nearby. It was great to sit and talk to Gd here.

This is my living room and my bedroom. My apartment is clean again since my ayi(maid) came to clean yesterday! I'm going to get so spoiled.

This is a picture of my apartment ... building 30, apt 102! I'm on the first floor.

My itty bitty kitchen is on the left - I made stir-fry dinner for some friends this week and we watched the Office. So my kitchen is officially broken in!

Thanks for reading, and next time I'll try to include more interesting pictures of my classroom.