All.the.things.I.did.this.weekend.update

#1 I did not go to Taylor... next weekend, kids.

#2 Thursday and Friday were terrible days at school that stretched the limits of my patience like nothing else. I left school on Friday in serious need of retail therapy. Now, I should explain that I have developed several tendencies that I can't say I had before, such as craving chocolate, coffee (well maybe this existed a little before), and comfort food. After student-teaching in the "real world" I've got to say I understand how it is to come home exhausted and just want anything that brings comfort. Trust me, it's quite different than college stress. Anyway, lucky for my retail therapy needs, the nearest shops to my school are Half-Price Books and a second-hand boutique run by a Jewish woman's group :-)

Needless to say, I was exhausted Friday night and went to bed quite early.

#3 Lazy Saturday ...I don't really remember doing much. I did laundry. I laid out in the "sun" with Maryann. I talked to an old friend on the phone, which was one of the most wonderful things that happened all weekend. Maryann and I went out to dinner on a rotic. Um... that's about it for the day.

#4 Saturday at about quarter to 11, I embarked on a spiritual journey that physically took me to St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Church, emotionally to a собор in Russia, and spiritually to a gathering of all the saints to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. I must say, having once heard this service in Russian, hearing it in English did a lot more for me. I sang joyful choruses over and over, circling the empty tomb with my candle, offering prayers of thanks and worship. The service did indeed beckon to all my senses and I did not leave without shedding a tear or two. After the service, we feasted with the lovely community downstairs.
As the hour grew late, the priest would shout victoriously "He is Risen!" and as if stirred from slumber we would yell back "Truly He is Risen!"

Христос Воскресе! Воистину Воскресе!
Χριστός Ανέστη! Αληθώς Ανέστη!
Al-Masih-Qam! Hakkan Qam!

#5 Sunday I woke up at 1pm and planned lessons on China for the week. Then we ate Chinese food and watched a Chinese movie, followed by a documentary on China. China, China, China.

#6 Monday is not technically the weekend, but it is today. Today, school was so great... in my first block the kids got into a very heated debate about human rights and whether the US or any other country has the right to tell another country what to do with regards to that, and in the other two classes we talked about philosophy, Confucianism and Daoism. They actually had some good responses and once again my faith in my teaching abilities has been restored. Also... I got a hair cut! I was wanting one so bad and after the last experience I was very skeptical about entrusting my golden locks into just anyone's hands (Yes, I know, I'm becoming my mother :-P) This hair dresser was amazing. She wants to save children in Cambodia from trafficking. See photographic evidences below.