Sunday, July 29,2012

I have learned how to go back into older blogs and add pictures that pertain to them.  It is slow work but very rewarding. You can go back and see pictures with the words not. If the posts don't go all the way back, click "older posts" in right corner.  I'm only up to the 20th but it is progress.  You can also enlarge any picture by clicking on it.

So, today was sunny all day!! What a treat.  We do not usually know what day it is because we are going straight through for six days on this math course.
Mom called me on Skype this morning without help.  Yeah!!  It's great to talk and see each other.
Karen headed to NH to teach for a week and just recently got back from teaching in SC.  We are the summer nomads.   And that's after teaching full courses at home.  Love what we are doing.

The students are getting into upper math.  They handed in their Sensorial manuals today so I had to check 15 today and will do 4 more tomorrow.  Ralph would like their math manuals in by Tues.  We'll see.

Renee's husband, Angus, picked us up after class and brought me to the hotel.  He works for the largest transport company (like UPS) in China and travels to set up new offices and train personnel.  He just got back from Tokyo yesterday.  Another student knows someone who lives in Celebration and she has been to Disney World as a business partner.  Others have visited or lived in many countries in Asia and around the world.  It is a well traveled group.  Really inspiring me.....

I am hoping I have solved the Chinese food dilemma, as one of the students is trying to get me a cookbook they give their domestic helpers that has detailed instructions.  Then I will get a list of vegetables and spices.  I really want to make the food when I get home.  By the way, Dim Sum is only served at lunch and is a dumpling, stuffed with meat, etc. and then is steamed or fried. In restaurants, they bring them around on a cart and you can choose what you want.  They do not make them at home, since it is too much trouble.  Another challenge  :-)

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Hello to all,

We had a very good day, as the evaluator for MACTE came to look at all aspects of the course.  She had come in from Shanghai last night and left tonight.  She watched classes, checked files, interviewed staff and students.  She was very friendly and professional and now works with Martha Monahan, one of the teachers I worked with in Boston back in 1983.  It is such a small world.  Martha has had courses in China for the last 6 years.

The SUN came out today!!!  What a nice treat.  This might be the first full sun since I got here.

You enter the school grounds through the locked gate
straight ahead.  They are the only private school in Hong
Kong that has grass for the playground.  Most have just cement.

This is one tree just outside the door.  It is growing in two
directions and they have built a tree house in the center.

The students worked hard, as they do every
day.  They usually finish practicing the lessons
from the day before, then they present to the
class.  Sometimes that takes all morning, since
there are 19 of them.  After a lunch together,
we go over philosophy from a power point
presentation, I give new lessons for about
two hours and they practice them until 5:30.
A very busy day for all.  I'm ready to come
back to the hotel and relax on teaching days.

Lunch is a community affair.  They order in each day
and we share delicious dishes. 

There is always a great variety of dishes and I have yet to
find one I don't like.  

By the way, I think you can double click on any of the photos to enlarge them.  I will have some signs and things another day that are easier to read that way.  I'm off to bed.  As my expertise evolves, this is getting to be more fun.  By the way, I talked to Mom and Dad on Skype this morning and Dad couldn't believe he could see me.  (We had had some trouble getting online, so this was a first for him.)

Good evening to all.  I had an excellent day of teaching math.  We are getting the school and training program ready for an accreditation visitor tomorrow.  She will evaluate the course by checking files, talking to students and staff, and checking Montessori materials.  I think they will do well.  Things are looking very good and professional.

Spent some time tonight sorting out pictures.  I'm trying to go day by day.  These were some of the 50 I took on the 1st day 7/18.
Ralph, the director of the school and training program and his 8 year old son,  Ranen, took me around to many places all day.  We started with a delicious lunch atop a building on Kowloon Island, then we rode the Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island and went to the Museum of History and to a very high look-out called the Peak.  Afterward, we joined Elizabeth, the teacher before me, and the students for a farewell/welcome dinner. 

Deep fried mashed shrimp and cuttlefish balls & pan-fried pancakes with chives and dried ham

Beautiful chandelier at restaurant.  Chahuly?
 There are some like it at the  Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Heading to the Museum of History

Ranen and I at the Early Humans Exhibit

Bun Mountain story

Bun Mountain

Ranen and I took the "Star Ferry" across Victoria Harbor to Hong Kong Island
Ralph drove around to meet us.

Star Ferry

Could have taken a Chinese Junk instead - great tourist attraction!

Starting up on the drive to the Peak.

At Peak - spectacular views of the islands.  Hazy day.

Whole class after delicious good-bye/welcome dinner with Practical Life teacher and students.

It's a beginning.  I'll keep trying.  Anyway, guess all of you will be watching the opening of the Olympics in 5 hours.  That's 3am here so I will need to see a replay. They say we will see sunshine tomorrow.  Hurray!

Thursday July 26, 2012

My goodness, sight-seeing and staying up a little later have done me in.  We had a great day and finished up the Sensorial part of my teaching.  It was supposed to be finished Tues. but the storm took away some time. We had a nice closing to that part with songs, stories and some gifts.

We had a delicious lunch of chicken and potatoes in broth, rice, and steamed cabbage, and as usual from this restaurant, hot soup.  You basically drink a whole thermos with your lunch.  They take chicken or pork and some vegetables and cook it for about 2 hours and strain it so you only drink the broth.  It is delicious and seems so healthy.  I don't know how I will eat when I get back.  These foods make me feel very good.  Maybe I can get an authentic Chinese cookbook and/or hire a native Chinese to cook me meals.

We started Math this afternoon.  I present for about two hours and then, in groups, they practice all they saw.  We are also getting the school set up for the MACTE accreditation visit on Saturday.  A busy day and still raining on and off.  Came home, had dinner, watched some TV, soaked my tired feet and am off to bed now.

Wed. July 25, 2012

Today was my day off between courses so I slept in a bit and then Ralph picked me up for sight-seeing.  We went to the eastern part of Hong Kong Island to Sai Kung and "Clearwater Bay golf and country club".  Actually, we were very high up at a fantastic "country park" and hiked through some trails and saw wonderful plants, many I'd not seen before.  There were many branches and leaves down from the storm yesterday.  We drove through the most gorgeous countryside, with green hills, windy roads and very few people.  He said 80% of Hong Kong is country.  The Brits helped set it up that way and they hope developers don't spoil it.  We also went to a small museum and saw many turtles swimming up to be fed, and cows sitting in the middle of a round-about.  He said the cows are wild now since the farmers set them free and they just wander around.  We came back through a village near the water where rich foreigners and Hong Kongers live and have their yachts nearby.  There were also some "dragon boats" there from the recent festival.  I think we celebrated that festival in Tampa, too.

Early in the morning it was quite foggy, but it cleared up some for our trip.  Coming back into Kowloon, we got into pouring rain.  We met some others from school for lunch at the Jasmine Restaurant. We've eaten there before.  Ralph dropped me off before that to go to the bookstore at the Festival Walk shopping center.  It is just huge, about 4 levels, and every store imaginable.  The bookstore was very big and had a wonderful variety of books.  I wanted picture books of all I'm seeing and found three that show just about everything.  They were not expensive at all.  After another delicious variety lunch, he dropped me off at the hotel.  They were having a teaching day for parents and teachers from other schools.  

I took a short nap and I think I figured out how to put pictures into the blog but I'll try another day, since it's past my bedtime now.  I sat in the lobby with my coffee and snacks, reading for class.  Then spent many hours reading lessons and getting organized.  If I were teaching at home, I just do it after all this time.  Pamela's manuals have slight differences in each presentation and I want to do it her way so they can learn from and follow the manuals when they get home.  It's a great brain stretching activity and I'm enjoying it and getting new ideas.  I'm off to bed and up early tomorrow to get back with the students.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

We woke to a still category 8 cyclone and that meant no classes.  I sent out this email:

Hello to all,
If you have been following the news, (Hong Kong, that is) we have just gotten through the worst of Cyclone Vicente.  We went home at 3:00, yesterday ahead of the bigger winds and rain.
When we left it was a "category 3", which is mainly a warning with winds up to 40 mph.   It was a good plan because at 5:40 they raised it to a "category 8" (next number, I don't know why) and winds could now go to 70 mph.  At that point all businesses, flights, etc. close down.  Just after midnight they raised it to a "category10", the highest and they have not had that since 1997.  It went back down to "8" about 3:30 am, but I expect a call that we won't have class today.  

I am fine and warm and dry in my wonderful hotel with nice restaurant and everything I need.  Have more time to prepare for class.  I slept through most of the storm. This is really an adventure.
Ralph just called and said class will be cancelled until 2 hours after it goes back down to category 3.  Not exactly helping our schedule but we'll make it work.

In fact, we were able to go to school to start at 12.  In the meantime, I had a leisurely morning and a delicious brunch buffet in the restaurant.  The way to school was strewn with tree branches, leaves, trash, inside out umbrellas, etc.  The school was fine, though, with minor clean up.   The students straggled in with many stories and we got to work.  Since we really didn't have lunch, Ralph treated us at Tea Time with Egg Tarts, delicious little Hong Kong pastries.  The afternoon class ended at 5:30 but I set up Math until 7:00.  Then Ralph and his 9 year old son, Renan, and 4 year old daughter, Gaia, and I went to have dinner at an Italian restaurant and watched the lights of all the tall buildings around the harbor from the Hong Kong Island side.  The laser light show was on but the high clouds blocked it.  We're still getting bands of rain.


This had to be an authentic Italian restaurant, because the food was so good.  We had a delicious antipasto, minestrone, a Martguerita Pizza with the thinnest crust I have ever seen, a group of tube pastas standing up in a dish with zucchini and garlic pesto around it, and then pigeon with risotto.  Yum!
They were so nice because we were at the school on Kowloon Island, had to go through the harbor tunnel at rush hour to get to Hong Kong Island and the restaurant, they had to bring me back to my hotel on Kowloon and then go home to Hong Kong.  Not a really long trip, but still. I got home at 9 and am ready to go to bed.  Just not a late night person when I am teaching .
I have tomorrow "off" before 6 days of  math.  We will start sight-seeing at 9 and see where it takes us.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Quite an exciting day!  The weather had cleared some this morning, so I forgot about the storm.  When we got to school, Ralph, who is in charge of the program, let me use his phone to call Mom and Dad.  We have been having a little trouble with Skype and he has an inexpensive international plan.  It was 8:15 at night and they were really surprised.  A nice start to the day.

We had a presentation packed morning with all the constructive triangles and cubes, as well as Philosophy.  It had started to rain by then and we were at a stage 3 for the typhoon/cyclone, which is just a watch.
After another delicious buffet lunch, we got back to work.  One of the students mentioned that she knew someone that lived near Celebration.  Small world.  Another talked of going to Trinidad in Dec.  That is where her husband is from.  It will take them over 24 hours with all their stops.  Our Ginger Flowers started to open today and they are just gorgeous with a beautiful scent.

The day was going as planned when we got word that we would be leaving school at 3:00 because they expected to raise the warning level to 8 by 6:00 and some of the students had to travel a long way.

 So we all went home and I sat in the hotel lobby coffee shop, watching the preparations and effects of the storm out of large plate glass windows and doors.  They sand-bagged the doors and tied them shut and people were struggling against the wind and rain.  It was nice to have relaxing time off in the afternoon, but not for that reason.

I was so much more awake than I usually am after class, so got all my notes ready for tomorrow, started looking at math, and organized all the stuff I still hadn't unpacked.  Went down to the restaurant for supper and the wind is really howling.  We'll see what happens overnight. Tropical Cyclone Vicente will head west, I hope.

More observations:   All restaurant personnel are fast moving, very efficient, very gracious.
Because you don't look Chinese, does not mean you are an American.
The hotel is built on an incline so the check in desk slants down.
This hotel is built in the public housing part of town so the views outside aren't great, but the hotel is outstanding.
There's a sign by the elevators to "please keep voices quiet" and I can see why with the people in the hall at the moment.  :-)
When you enter your room, you put your key in a little slot by the door.  I thought it was a great idea to know where your key is, but, in fact, nothing electrical will turn on in the room unless your key is in the slot.
The room is very comfortable, with a king size, softer that anything bed, desk, microwave, fridge, nice bathroom with shower and roomy closet.  I'm very comfortable here.
There is a Chinese 7-11 down the street a block.  It's quite unique, but I will not complain.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Great day!  Wake up at 6 so have 2 hours to get organized before I'm picked up to go to class.  We are going right straight through for 5 days (2 to go) of Sensorial because my time is valuable to both.  We have Wed. off and then go straight through math for 6 days.

I came back to the hotel and had a delicious pumpkin soup and chicken Caesar salad in the restaurant.  It's so fun to people watch and two ladies from Australia came to chat.  They had been to Singapore and were now seeing Hong Kong.
Things I notice:  all hotel staff are well dressed, professional, and extremely helpful. They go out of their way to show you something and do it with a smile.  The Hong Kongers do not look particularly Chinese to me, very cosmopolitan.  Every place is very clean.  Most people speak English.  They use a variety of utensils to eat with- chopsticks, little oriental spoons, knives and forks.

The students are very gracious, polite and have a good sense of humor.  They say thank you for everything, look you in the eye, hand everything with two hands, as a gesture of politeness, smile a lot, and are generally great to be around.  My swollen foot and ankle were better today, but I decided not to sit on the floor.  I explained I would present on a table.  That was fine and several times during the day, one student got me ice,  and wanted to make me comfortable.  Others, went out of their way to be sure I was OK.  Many of their husbands and children picked up today and they are outgoing, asked questions about the States and were very easy to talk to.  Ralph picks me up every morning and a different student takes me back at night.  I get a chance to talk with them on the way.

It is such a pleasant atmosphere.  We had Thai food ordered in today and all ate together.

Thai lunch

After lunch, one of the students helped make a pear cake because we celebrated Cheri, the pregnant student's birthday with a traditional Montessori birthday celebration before we went home.

Child helps make the pear cake.

Ginger flowers

Birthday Walk

Cutting of the cake.

 I feel very much at home.  It could be a Montessori training program anywhere.    I am being very well looked after.

Sat. July 21, 2012

Have I really only been with the students for two days?   So much gets accomplished and we get to know each other well.  Wonderful group of 19, two are male and one is set to deliver in about 3 weeks.

Some Montessori talk:
We started off with Size materials yesterday and they tested on them this morning.  They also presented reports from their readings and we had a discussion, with power point on their introduction papers.  We were able to represent all of the knobless cylinder extensions that Bee Pape had in her book.  They loved it!
We went on to Color and more practice.

It was a wonderful day and I think they are understanding the material.  When they gave reports, a few did it in Cantonese and one in Mandarin and others translated for me.  Most speak very good English.

Had somewhat of a swollen ankle and foot by the end of the day.  Started on the walking to the Buddha visit day but got better.  Must have been on my feet too much today.  Ice and homeopathic are helping.
-
We had another lovely Chinese take-out buffet all together for lunch.  Most of them are parents of 2-3 year olds.  They have taken a Montessori in the Home course.  Only 4 are currently at the school.  One, in particular has a wealth of knowledge.  I really enjoy talking and working with them.

We had a stage 1 Typhoon warning this afternoon and there was wind and some clouds and thunder and lightning.  It seems to have gone by.  I feel right at home.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Well, I have tried to get pictures to the blog and can't seem to do it from Picassa.  Any ideas?
Got that problem solved so moving forward.


Today started very early, before 6, so I could get organized before Ralph picked me up at 7:45.
Nice breakfast, settled morning.
I set up some of the activities I brought from home when I got to school.
I taught from 8:30 - 5:30 and we got a lot accomplished.  I'm tired but can settle into this routine.

Most of the students speak English.  Only 4 had someone else talk for them during our sharing, but they understand most English.  They are very positive, happy, eager students, just like my group back home.
After lunch, at home, we have a quiet time before we start the afternoon. I asked them this morning if they would like to do that and it was unanimous.  They can sit or lie down, but are resting and quiet for about 15 minutes.  They really got into it.  As I sat watching them, and looking outside the windows, I found it unbelievable that here I am half way around the world, in a different culture, in a different training program and it is just the same.  What a fantastic opportunity this is.  I will soak in every minute.

A beautiful, simple focus point to start Sensorial:
flowers from the garden, shells from FL, a beautiful
candle, a sharing stone, and some lavender oil.

Rest time after lunch, at least during Sensorial.
Matthew was the only one who continued into Math.
He had it down to a science. :-)

Walking the "Maze" was a big hit.

Exploring the properties of the Knobless Cylinders.

Ralph dropped me off after school and I rested a bit.  Then I ventured out to a 7-Eleven a block away and stopped at the restaurant in the hotel to get supper. I had lunch with the students, who ordered out and got us basic chicken, vegetable and rice dishes.  It was accompanied by a hot broth in a thermos.  It was just delicious, but I need my water, too.  All drinks are room temperature or above.  They believe cold drinks with ice are not good for your body.

 I don't think I'll make it much longer.  It's 9:00 and I'm fading.  Another successful, event-filled day in Hong Kong.  Has it only been 3 days?  Wow!

Thurs. July 19, 2012

Oh my! This sight-seeing will do me in.  I need to get to teaching 8 hours a day to get a break.
I had a slower morning and got a bit organized.   Ralph came at 9:15 and moved all my bags to the room  they had  for a month and Elizabeth was in until today.  Daisy picked Elizabeth and me up at 9:15 and we went to a "dollar store", but there a "Ten Dollar Store".   Interestingly enough, many items came from Japan, since it had been a Japanese import store.  We got some things as gifts and for school and walked to another great restaurant, The Jade Garden, for lunch.  Ralph and 3 kids were late joining us so we started right in.

   baked barbequed pork pastry buns with lemon flavor,  fresh prawns with pink soba

steamed bamboo pith rolls with black fungi and bean curd, dim sum in the cage,  stir-fried clams with chives that you rolled up in Chinese pancakes    

beef dices with crispy garlic, rolls and soba from before

  
We had:  beef dices with crispy garlic, fresh prawns with pink soba, stir-fried clams with chives that you rolled up in Chinese pancakes, steamed bamboo pith rolls with black fungi and bean curd, baked barbequed pork pastry buns with lemon flavor, chicken and mushroom rice in bamboo steamer, dim sum in the cage, grilled barbeque pork in slices stuffed with preserved egg.  Very tasty!  (In case you hadn't noticed, this is a food blog. :-)

Then we headed out to Lantau Island about 45 minutes away to see the world's tallest, outdoor, seated Buddha ATOP Ngong Ping plateau amid spectacular mountain scenery.  Notice the key word "atop".  We rode in a cable car 3 1/2 miles past 7 stations up a high mountain  overlooking the water, airport, and beautiful green scenery, much like the CA mountains in spring.   That was definitely worth the trip!  Once up there, we got snacks and walked and walked through many shops, saw a Kung Fu demonstration and finally got to the foot of the Buddha. To go up to the Buddha, you needed to climb 268 steps.  We did not.

Residential buildings, 40-50 stories!

Entrance to cable cars for the 3 1/2 mile trip to tNgong Ping
Village and the largest outdoor Buddha.

Beginning the ascent.

View of people gathering mussels.  They only
gather them during low tide.

View of airport to left and  Tung Chung on right.

Higher and higher through 7 station towers

View of the Buddha on our way up.

Elizabeth, Ranen and I in square at the top.

 Back down and not home until 7:00.  Really tired and feet hurt and I needed to unpack and get ready for class tomorrow.   Supper and a shower gave me a little energy.   I plan to be in bed soon.  My goodness, what a busy two days.  We've covered a lot of ground.

Hong Kong Trip 2012

What a great adventure I am starting.

July 16, 2012
Needed to leave for airport in Orlando at 6:45.  Ride did not come so called back-up.
Sailed through check-in, security not bad, so all checked in early for my 9:15 flight to LAX.
So tired from no sleep, so slept almost all of the 4 1/2 hours on AA.
Upon arrival in LA, told to walk to Tom Bradley Intern. Terminal.  No problem. Once inside, had to walk miles and then get on a bus to international terminal.  Befriended a nice couple, who offered snacks and helped carry my bag onto the bus.
Boarded AA/Cathay Pacific 12:55 CA time and had very nice economy seat.  Next 14 hours were spent sleeping for an hour or two at a time, eating two very nice meals (lunch and dinner - a little disconcerting), reading some and sleeping, watching TV and sleeping.  Occasionally walking up and down the isle, but no back or leg pain.  Bananas?  Neck pillow?  Comfortable seats?

Arrived in Hong Kong the next day, July 17, at 7:30 pm.  They are 12 hours ahead of east coast so that conversion is easy.  The money and temperature are another matter.  Ralph, the training program director, met me at the airport and we went to a good restaurant there (Crystal Jade).   They have the best "steamed pork dumplings" (Xiao Long Bao).  We also got a dish with shrimp dumplings and noodles in broth.  Way too much food, but very good.  He dropped me at the Harbor Plaza 8 Degrees Hotel, Kowloon, and I settled in, got a shower and went to bed in the softest, most inviting bed.

Wed. 7/18/12  After a good night's sleep, I was up at 6:30 to a big thunder and lightening storm.  Did I bring it with me?  Had a delicious egg and coffee in my room, watched CNN with an international twist, and was ready to go at 8:00.  Ralph picked me up, and also Elizabeth, the teacher who finishes with the class today.   I realized we had met at various conferences and she was very helpful catching me up on what she has done with the class.  I sat in on her class for awhile this morning, checked that the materials I need are there, and got some of the paperwork I didn't have.

Then Ralph and I headed out for sight-seeing.   We picked up his 9 year old son, Ranen, who he jokingly called the tour guide.  In fact, I learned more today from him than I ever could from commercial guides..
We first went to a very exclusive restaurant at Tsui Hang Village and had Steamed Rice Rolls stuffed with Barbecued Pork, Steamed Bean Curd Sheet Rolls with Pork and Prawns in Supreme Broth, Steamed Pork Dumplings stuffed with Whole Shrimp, Deep fried Mashed Shrimp and Cuttlefish Balls, Pan Fried Pancake with Chives and dried Ham, Cucumber with Garlic and Vinegar, and Steamed Layered Cake with Salted Egg Yolks.  Each only had three pieces so we got a taste.  Very good!!

Deep fried Mashed Shrimp and Cuttlefish Balls

Chihuly?   Beautiful chandeliers

We then went to the Museum of History (natural and political) and took a very quick tour through all the peoples and occupations of China.  I had read some of it, got more at the museum and happened to sit next to one of the students at dinner tonight, who was a journalist and went over all the stories again with me.  I almost have it, I think.

Heading to the Museum of History

Ranen and I in front of early man exhibit

Story of Bun Mountains (you can tap on to enlarge)

Replica of Bun Mountains

Ralph went for the car and Ranen and I saw the movie and visited the gift shop - very quickly.  I may need to go back.





































Ralph dropped Ranen and me near the Star Ferry and said he would meet us at Central.  I was just along for the ride and followed trying to figure out what was next.  Ranen walked and talked very fast, so I tried to keep up.  We rode the famous Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island, met up with Dad and then went UP steep hills to where they live. 

Entrance to "Star" Ferry

Taking the "Star" Ferry across Victoria Harbor

We could have taken a junk, instead.

Up steep roads to where they live in one of these
high-rise apartment buildings on Hong Kong Island.

We picked up his daughter, Gia - 4 1/2 and his wife's sister.  They lived high up, but then we headed to The Peak.  Unbelievable windy road up to the top of this mountain where the view on all sides was fantastic.  

There were shops at the Peak, and, of course, a
Starbucks.

There was a display of children's art.  They had made buildings,
the Star Ferry and other transportation vehicles.

View of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon from the Peak.

View to the other direction.  Hazy but no storm yet.

What a COOL place to have a preschool!

Drive down.  What a beautiful clear day.

Residential buildings

Ranen was an old man in a boy's body and took care that I was safe crossing streets, was an unending wealth of knowledge, insisted on taking pictures for me and of me, and was just a joy to be around.  I told him he should start his own tour guide business.  We dropped him at swimming class and went back to school at 5:30, as they finished their day.










































































Elizabeth finished up with the students, I set up Sensorial, and we all, except Ralph, went to Hong Kong University for a traditional group meal.  All the students, Elizabeth and I sat at a round table and were served course after course on a lazy susan.  I didn't get the menu so let me try to remember and will update when I see them.   Vegetables in broth, Chicken, Prawns and vegetables, Chinese mushrooms and abalone, steamed whole fish to take some of, rice and vegetables, little cakes for dessert and a dessert soup of Chinese fungus, and nuts in a sweet broth.  Again, many more pictures and a wonderful time. 

Almost the whole class, Elizabeth and I after dinner

 Florita got us a cab back to the hotel.  Tomorrow I will get Elizabeth's room, as she is leaving and I now have access to a phone that people back home can call me on at no charge.  852-5308-3838 (only while I am here).  I also have unlimited email and text when I am near wi-fi and I am set up to Skype, if any of you have it.  Will try it with Mom in the morning. 



Now, very late but wanted to keep up with this, since much will happen each day. Tomorrow is another day of sight-seeing and then I have to get to work.  I am loving it so much because I have people who are taking me places, giving me all kinds of helpful information, and helping me meet people who are locals.