End of the schoolyear

It's been an amazing year and one full of growth.  Each one of us has learned a lot and been faced with an opportunity to try something new and challenging.  We feel stronger and closer than when we began and blessed for the chance to live a year completely unlike any other along our journey.

Last day of school, June 28

Vivian is ready to move out of the Early Childhood Education program, but we'll see how she copes with homework in the coming year.  She loved all the parties at school and with friends to close the year, but she's not sure she likes that we have summer when she's ready to start Kindergarten now.

Nina had a strong finish and already said she misses school.  She really loved her art and Chinese classes and has found some renewed interest in the violin lately.  She's taken to practicing "Can't help falling in love" to play with Ben as he accompanies on ukulele.  Nina has been obsessed with her yearbook and has been getting a signature from almost everyone she knows.

 

Ben hit his stride in the second semester and really grew as a teacher.  Learning new strategies, coordinating activities, and having to balance so many classes was intense at times, but much easier given the positive attitudes of the students.  The students made it the easiest close of a schoolyear in his career as no one had the typical spring fever and all students stayed engaged until the end.  There are far fewer disciplinary issues to be addressed at this school.  He's looking forward to a couple of new challenges next year as he teaches senior calculus and Higher Level IB for the juniors.  The end of the year was full of entertaining events like concerts (Led Zepplin's Kashmir with a full orchestra was awesome), a primary vs. secondary teacher soccer game, and dodgeball with the students.

Kara had to say goodbye to a pair of her favorite friends here, Esther and Nadine.  They are such kind, welcoming, generous people and always full of fun throughout art and dinner adventures.  We're definitely planning to keep in touch.  This year was also an enjoyable and challenging one for her.  She's had time to be more creative with candle-making, helping with the YCIS mosaic mural (32 ft. long), painting, and running around Century Park.  Fortunately, she's also made new friends while volunteering with the orphanage, and at various YCIS events.  She's also halfway through the online cancer registry certificate program.

                

We're all very excited for our upcoming trip to the US for summer vacation.  We've got visiting family and eating our favorite foods on the docket.

       

Winding down

It's crazy to think that our school year is coming to a close in just two days.  It shouldn't be too surprising, though, as the calendar approaches July.  While we're not on summer vacation yet, it certainly seems like summer as the feels-like temperature was 115º today.  Our usual attempts to beat the heat have been employed as we've done some swimming, went to see The Incredibles 2, and gone out for ice cream.  The girls (especially Pip) have taken to doing yoga; here's to hoping that it helps her find a nice outlet for stress ;)

Taking in a "Sofar" concert

Views from our rooftop

UST Party Abroad

We've been fortunate to have two visits from St. Thomas friends and former roommates of Ben.  Adam and Keith prompted us to try some new things like a double decker bus tour, visiting a tea leaf plantation, a trip up the Shanghai tower (second tallest building in the world), and even a fish pedicure!  While their trips didn't quite overlap, it seems like we haven't stopped moving, eating, or laughing for almost a month.  The girls enjoyed playing games with each visitor, whether it was cards, don't break the ice, Beanboozled jellybeans, and being monsters.

 

 

Both trips went quickly as we packed a lot into their time and covered a lot of ground.   Adam and Ben took a day trip to Hangzhou where they saw a variety of sites and were constantly asked by elderly women to come drink Jingling tea.  The whole family went with Adam on an adventure to Chongming Island.  After a bus debacle and a bit of a drive with an Uber, we made it to the Dongping National Forest park.  It was nice to not be surrounded by buildings, although the nature of the park was interrupted at times by a zipline, go karts, and paintball.

We're so happy that Keith and Adam took the time out of their lives to come hang out with us!