Thursday in China

Time flies when you are busy. Today, Michele and I were talking. We're tired and it isn't the jet-lag kinda tired. It's the 'I'm just plain exhausted' kinda tired. Thankfully I got a short nap in during lunch and that helped tremendously! 

This morning Michele and I team taught and the other two team taught. We showed the teachers how to make home made play dough and magic snow to use for sensory activities.  We also discussed using these for enhancing language and incorporating into themes.  The teachers all had fun and really showed their creative sides by making flowers, dumplings, steamed buns, various animals and other objects with the play dough. There was a lot of laughter as well. We also have to admit that it was a first for us to make it in a wok. 

After lunch, I discussed oral motor exercises and using straws and whistles to help strengthen lips and tongues.  One little guy who is about 4 stayed in for all the rotations and helped me demonstrate the exercises. He would do anything for a few pieces of Kix cereal. He even shared his sugar cane with me! That was stringy, but yummy.  

We visited the babies again and even met a couple of little ones that were brought in last night. They were still in shock, but the other kids were so sweet. One refused to take the treat we offered, but one of the kids put it in her mouth and she started gobbling them up. Sometimes kids will get lost and the police take them to the orphanage until their parents find them.  She looks well cared for and healthy. When she talked about her mama and baba her little eyes filled with tears. Please pray they find her soon.  

After dinner we took all the teachers out for karaoke. It was a lot of fun! When you go karaoke in China, you get your own room so there is a bit of privacy. Many of the girls sang (including us!), some played games and we all laughed - a lot. It was a great time to relax and for the teachers to get to know each other a little bit better.  

Tomorrow is our final day of training. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. There is still so much more we can teach them and they are so willing and eager to learn.