What's been going on?

Here we are at the airport lounge in Singapore!

What's been going on? Well, I have been unable to access my blog for over 3 weeks and I can only assume that the government here in China has put a block on the blogger account. I cannot access any blogs that are posted through blogspot which is the site I use to post. I hope to figure something out soon when I return to China so I can keep blogging.

I am posting to you via the lounge at the Singapore airport at 6:30am Tues May 26. We are headed out to Bali. Tony decided to book us on the midnight flight in economy class. He was so uncomfortable in economy that I do believe he will never travel economy again on flights longer than 5 hours. I managed to doze on and off and am now completely tired and unrested and wide awake due to the tasty coffee offered up here at the lounge. We will catch a plane at 9:30a to arrive in Bali at noon. Total distance from Shanghai to Bali 3,605 miles, total flying time 6 hours 30 minutes, approximately. Tony is working on his homework and I am just tickled to be able to read my friends posts and post a blog myself.

Tony was away in the States for 2 weeks and I was busy teaching and visiting with friends and of course missing him. Tony had a wonderful time at home, he flew a bit, went to TJ's graduation, spent time with both Lisa and TJ and enjoyed the spectacular weather that Richmond was having.

Only 3 more weeks of teaching, I cannot believe that it's almost finished. What a great experience it has been. I have learned so much about China and it's culture. I have been asked to teach again next year and am waiting for the contract papers. I am so glad for the opportunity.

Dad will be here June 8 with Alieen and Charleen and I am excited and eager to see them. We should have a grand time while they are here. I am planning on coming to the States this summer on July 11 and returning to Shanghai on Sept 3, plenty of time to see friends and family!

Letters from the students

I mostly get emails that are asking for an excused absence but this one really brightened my day.

Dear Mrs.Mollica,

I'm Spring, your student in Friday1-2.
First, I want to say a big thank you for you have given us such a lot of knowledge. Especially the poem Dream Big, I really like it very much. It always encourage me to accept the challenge.
Secondly, as a junior student, I was chosen to be an exchange student a few weeks ago. So I'll go to North Carolina State University for my graduate study next semester. Thanks to the poem, it helped me to make a decision when I hesitated whether I should go abroad for my further study.
Thirdly, May 1st holiday is coming. Enjoy the holiday~I want to recommend some good places for you. Inner Mongolia is my hometown. There are a lot of beautiful sceneries, such as XiangShaWan Desert where the sands can create many kinds of sounds, and several famous prairies where the sky is much bluer than Shanghai. Hope one day you could have a trip there, and I'm quite pleased to be a tourist guide for you.
Best wishes^^Spring Lee


I am interested in going to see other parts of China, I wonder how I would get in touch with her if I go out to the far reaches of China - no phone service out there and it's lacking the other basic necessities of life, sometimes I wonder why I want to go see all that, but I do. I guess it's because I want to see how other people live.

Here is the most recent leave of absence email....

Dear Mollica:

I am writing to apologize for my absence from the English class next Monday without asking off . It was very rude of me to do so .

You know ,it is the International Labor Day so we have 3 days holiday. I went to my hometown--AnHui province .But unlucky , I have got high fever today .You know , in rcecent days ,there is the disease influenza .So ,i can't go back ShangHai by train .And I have to heal in AnHui Province, and I think I will go bake to ShangHai in 3days latter . I have ask for leave from my tutor and the Business and Management Seminary.

I know , in this term , I have ask for the sick leave 3 times.It will bring some trrouble to you--my teacher.I feel terrible sorry for it .I also need to tone up with more exercise and a change of diet.

Sorry againe for it!

Best regards!

Yours: Aimee(2080573)

2009.5.3