I signed my contract!!

I am so excited! Even so, I'm still nervous that they will find somebody else they like better and take it away. I'm probably a tad paranoid, but it's just such a good thing, I really don't want to lose it.

I will be working at a real school, with students who care and grades that matter. I will have small classes and good resources. I will be able to get my master's and teaching certificate and even pay off existing debt! I am so lucky, and I know it.

Since Friday afternoon, I spent the majority of my weekend cleaning and buying some things for our new place. I kind of forgot how much stuff we use on a regular basis. Even after my shopping spree, I realized I forgot things like kitchen towels and sink stoppers. Our hutong is looking a lot better now, though, especially thanks to the intustrial strength floor cleaner (which, according to some really strange salespeople is exactly the same as floor wax) and scrub brush.

I wanted to post pictures today, but I forgot the camera this weekend, so it will have to wait until next week. I wish we could go during the week, but it's just really not practical since I have to be back in Changping so early every day. For that reason, we also decided to hold off on the plants for a few weeks. In all honesty, they would probably be fine since it seems to rain more in June, July and August here, but we didn't want to waste money on nice trees, just to have them die on us. Knowing Dan and I, it will probably be a struggle to keep them alive in the first place!

Yesterday, we went to Carrefour and bought a barbeque, and last night we tested it out. Turns out it works, but I'm glad I have a boyfriend who can light the thing. We had a few friends over for steak, for the first time since we came to china, sausages, veggie kebabs, salad, pasta and watermelon. Oh so American, except I had to use chopsticks to eat because we didn't have enough forks! It was good, but today I'm not feeling so well. I'm not sure if I ate too much or just the wrong stuff, or maybe it's because we had to wake up at 5:30 to get back to school on time.

Today, I will sleep. I will write my essay for GMU and I will sleep. I might eat, and I will sleep. I wish I could sleep now!