Hello everyone. I spent last weekend traveling with work to Xi'An. I travelled with two of my colleagues, Jasmine and Rebecca, who both work with the Big Sister Program (in the photo below). They are amazing young women. We spent three full days with the children at the orphanage and played many fierce games of UNo and lots of coloring. In Xi'an, we have 19 children ages 8-21 or so in our program there, and will add five or so more next quarter. They all go to school and some are learning things like drawing or dance, and/or getting tutoring in academics through our program. The kids are busy busy with school during the week, but the weekends are mostly spent watching TV, so we are trying to change that, and introduce some more recreation and fun. Three of the older students who are seniors in high school are getting ready to take the very very important University entrance exam (Bao Kao) and their results will determine which (if any) universities they can attend. It is a very very stressful time for students in China, and supposedly, once they enter college, studying is much more relaxed. The most sobering experience of the visit occurred upon our arrival -- the police were at the gate, and the female officer was holding a newly found baby swaddled in lots and lots of blankets. This was my first such experience, and is not likely one I will ever forget. 
Jeff and I are both very busy with work. We are both learning about budgeting. There is lots of stress in and around Cargill due to the financial crisis, and we are hoping to ride out the storm. The kids are doing well in school, but Qi Qi is facing some challenges with his behavior so we have him earning chips! As another parent has reminded me, sometimes it is two steps forward and one step back, and we are definitely in the "one step back" phase with Qi right now, but hopeful he will turn a corner soon. We remind ourselves of Jin's Terrible Four phase and have hopes that this too shall pass. Parenting is definitely, hands down, the toughest job I know.
Jeff and I are both very busy with work. We are both learning about budgeting. There is lots of stress in and around Cargill due to the financial crisis, and we are hoping to ride out the storm. The kids are doing well in school, but Qi Qi is facing some challenges with his behavior so we have him earning chips! As another parent has reminded me, sometimes it is two steps forward and one step back, and we are definitely in the "one step back" phase with Qi right now, but hopeful he will turn a corner soon. We remind ourselves of Jin's Terrible Four phase and have hopes that this too shall pass. Parenting is definitely, hands down, the toughest job I know. I will write again tomorrow to share photos of Jin's birthday. He turned 8 this week!
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