Black boogies and Lulu

I'm not sure if the wind shifted or some new horribly polluting factory just opened nearby, but my boogers have turned black. I am not ashamed to admit that I always check my boogers' density and color. It is a good way to gauge air quality as well as cold/sinus status. Another way I know the pollution has been really bad the past couple of weeks is that the sun has been a strange orange-tinged-with-pink color.

The weak rays seem good enough for my new plant though. I have been wanting a plant for a long time because indoor plants remind me of being home and brighten up a place. I was delighted in September when our students gave us a lovely little yellow and green cactus for Teacher's Day. Then it died. I maintain that I was in no way responsible for its death. I replaced the cactus a couple of weeks ago with something that looks similar to English ivy (which is nearly indestructible). Studies have shown that talking to plants helps them grow, so I named my new plant Lulu. "Lu" means "green" in Chinese. Lulu is doing well, despite the weak sunlight. I put her by the window every morning before I leave.

In my opinion, I've been pretty clever with my Chinese/English names. All two of them. (For those who don't remember there is also my giant stuffed rabbit Huo Er De which sounds like Howard and means Fire Ears.) When I get home in the evenings I put Lulu back on the little table where I keep my treasures from China. There is my round wooden carved man from Hong Kong said to bring long life, two ancient coins from the Song dynasty, a compact mirror that has flowers engraved on one side and a picture of an ancient beauty on the other, and lastly the framed bamboo carving.

The ancient coins were given to me by my friend's husband. He collects the coins. The ones he gave me are very common but are still a treasure to me. The mirror was given to me by a student last term. The bamboo carving was done by a famous Changzhou artist and was given to me by Jack, the guy who helped me find the job at the primary school on Saturdays. He is also helping me set up my teaching contract for next year. I helped his daughter with an English speech she was giving. He is very kind and his family is really nice.

Speaking of the primary school, I have another singing performance coming up! They are having an English Festival next Thursday (Thanksgiving) and so I'm going to sing Here Comes the Sun while the kids rollerblade, play basketball, and badminton around me. It it will be ridiculous.

The school had me do recordings of all of the English performances the kids will be giving during the festival. It took me about 30 minutes and they paid me 300 RMB, which was pretty sweet. I've got to find out how to get more recording gigs. ;) Or get some modeling gigs.

Yesterday Tom and Michelle (our new Canadian friend) did some modeling for a photographer so he can put their pictures up in his studio. We are all excited to see the pictures. I don't know if I'll get them in digital format, but if I do, they will definitely be posted.

Until then, here are some pictures of the Grade 1 kids I teach on Saturdays. They are too cute!