Coming round the halfway mark

I'm sure I will reiterate this point in 6 months, but it's going by so quickly. I left for this trip 6 months ago, so that makes it almost halfway done.

It's the little details now that make my time here interesting. For the most part, major events are few and far between, but to say I've established a perfect routine would be just wrong. For example, one of my kindergarten gifts has been bringing me gifts of increasing value - in terms of both money and time - for the past week. It started out with a piece of paper with my name on it. Then a full piece of paper with both of our names on it. Then two pages, covered with hearts and a house with her and I inside. Then a candy. Then, she was gone for a day, so she brought me two things in the next day. The first was a small novel written by sed 6 year old, with a plot comparable in complexity to that of Next, or maybe Jason X. In it, a handsome teacher (me) and a young girl (her) stand in a variety of poses with hearts flying all around them. Their names are written in a variety of different ways, essentially every combination possible (including mirrored) except for the correct way. The second was a small handheld computer.
It was then I decided that some action needed to be taken, because not only was the story obviously plagiarized from Romeo and Juliet, but also the handheld computer did not come with a battery and I was insulted by the fact she thought I needed a translator, despite the reality that I really do. Also, I was concerned by the thought that somewhere in the city, a young man would reach into his pocket, fumble around for a second, and sigh "Ahh crap. Not again."

I could really use the translator though. I was trying to order a drink the other day, something which I do with increasing success. I thought I had it down, when a girl posed a question I'd never heard before. "Tea?" she said.
"What? I don't speak Chinese, I'm sorry."
"Tea?"
"Ummmm.... (I repeat my order.)"
She nods, slightly frustrated.
"So tea?"
It was then that I realized she was not speaking Chinese at all, but that she was simply confirming my order in English, a language which I thought - until this moment - that I had a fairly good grasp on.
"Oh, yes.... tea. Thank you." After that, I decided to forego my usually witty conversation with her and went back to my desk.

Also, I have been charged with the task of turning my kindergarten class into an all singing, all dancing force of nature and then throw them in front of a thousand people's loving eyes. It will be my directing debut, I'll be sure to get a DVD and bring it back home. I'm expecting it to be put onto Broadway in early 2010. It's about a struggling Taiwan Olympic Hockey team going to the Beijing Summer Olympics, only to discover that the Summer Olympics are generally reserved for other sports. However, they were not the only team to realize this as an advantage from a competition standpoint, and thus encounter other like-minded hockey teams upon arrival in Beijing. Should be a riot.

Also, I may be going to Signapore. Too early to make any plans yet, but I would really like to go. Every year the school puts on Summer Camps in July and August, and this year they're going on a trip to Signapore. I don't know how much I get paid, but it will be worth it for the experience if nothing else. I'll let you know as the information comes.

It's amazing how things can change in a year too. My family is changing, my friend is going off to god-forsaken Sweden, another buddy is buying rings... what's going on back there? I leave for a couple of months and the whole thing goes to hell. Settle down.

-Tommy Boy