K: 18 Weeks

We didn't tell our students or Chinese friends that we are expecting. We wanted to let them discover it for themselves. Finally, last week people started to ask and I have begun to collect advice. The first piece of advice I got was that I shouldn't clean the blackboards because the chalk dust is bad for baby. And the second was that I should eat more pork blood... assuming that I ever eat any?

Though I know the weight gain is important, this pregnancy thing can be a bit hard on the ego. N and I went into the Old City last week (which we do much less frequently now that we live on the other side of town) and saw some of our regular vendors and shop owners. Without fail, their excited greeting was, "Oh, you've gotten fat!" What do you say to that? Yes, thank you for noticing. Our response was of course, "Yes! We're having a baby!" Their enthusiasm to that news, the reminders to bring baby in to see them, and concern for me almost made up for the greeting.

In other news, I think I am feeling little Lonestar Pie trying out all those appendages. That's been a fun new development in the last couple of days, though it makes N jealous because of course he can't feel it yet. In other news? Let's face it, there really is no other news.

N: P.E.

Physical education was one of my favorite classes.  As a kid I just needed that time in the day to be able to run and play and make noise.  It was a necessary component to the day.  Especially if my teachers needed me to behave.  Once I hit college, P.E. no longer existed in a formal form.  In my freetime I was able to run and play and make noise.  Mostly soccer, rock (similar to Bocce ball, but only requires rocks), crazy jet fighters (one man throws 3 or more frisbees at the same time to an equal number of people, everybody needs to catch one for there to be success), or frisbee golf.

In China, P.E. class continues to be a required course in college.  Students are frequently seen in uniform or sports clothing on their way to class.  Students can choose what they will study.  Badminton, ping pong, soccer, basketball, and volleyball are just some of the more familiar subjects students can spend a semester studying the rules, learning strategy, and developing an appreciation for.  Other subjects are Chinese Wu Shu or Tai Chi.  Wu Shu is Kung Fu. Tai Chi is Tai Chi.  Both are forms of martial arts.  Wu Shu has a number of different forms that they study through the semester.  Classes will focus on traditional forms and their roots in culture, sword technique, and forms involving spears.

In the morning, one can wake early and see any number of older folks doing morning exercises.  Stretching, tai chi, walking, backwards walking/running, derriere slapping, arm slapping, leg slapping, calf raises etc etc.  Surrounding the basketball courts near our home there are a few exercise machines.  These machines are very standard for most playgrounds and sports areas.  We had some friends visit these past weeks and they managed to snag a couple pictures.  One of them made a quiz for two of the machines.

Any guesses on what you do with some of these?

N: Two Bits

K and I celebrated my birthday on Monday.  We decided to go to a Japanese Sushi place that is near where we used to live last year.  It had been a good while since we had made a trip to the Old City (we now live in the New City, but they are both part of the same city) and it was fun to go to one of the places that our team enjoyed going to last year.  It was pretty chill and I made sure to order whatever I wanted, I mean, it was my day right?  Video games followed dinner at the arcade in the same area.  Another great birthday?  Check.

I also decided to shave.  I think it has been about a year since I have been clean  shaven.  Now, for those of you that knew me without ever having facial hair, not a big deal.  However, my students and most of my current teammates have only ever seen me with a beard.  I guess I was just checking to make sure I still had the appearance of a 12 year old when clean shaven. 

K is continuing to incubate my child. :) She is doing a great job but still gets occasional sickness at any hour of the day.  We are thinking that we will be taking a trip to Beijing in the next month or so to visit a western style hospital and find out the gender.  That will be pretty exciting.  In the picture, K is sportin' clothes that our Colorado fellowship was able to pass along to us.  She loves them. 

Dad continues to call Lonestar Pie Baby Hadassah.  I see his vote for the name.  I've never heard of a Hadassah pie though.