Unfortunately, the interest rates have gone up. Dagnabbit, prime rate is now at 5%, which means I'll now be dinged with 7.5% interest for the bulk of my loans. On the bright side, at least I have no credit card debt, or else I'd really be up the creek.
Anyway, I've been getting back on track the past few weeks. Nothing to do but the usual errands, housework, and work-work. It feels good!
In fact, last Friday, I got to hang out with the SPAM girls (my linguistics buddies...Suzette, Pam, Alison, Monica) and we went for lunch and went shopping! It was wonderful to hang out and catch up, since we haven't seen each other since convocation! And on Saturday, John and I actually had the time to rearrange his room! We moved just about everything, except for the ginormous fishtank (which I vow never to move again!). We got a new fishtank for the tropical fish, and we're undecided as to what to do with the big fishtank (that will never move another inch!).
I have been teaching my students about Christmas this week. Well, not so much about the the birth of Jesus part because I went into it a little bit and everyone was confused. "Who's Joseph??" "What do you mean he's Jesus' father?? Isn't GOD Jesus' father?? I don't get it." Everyone understands Mary's role just fine, they just don't get where Joseph comes in! In fact, come to think of it...what DID Joseph do? He sure didn't have much to do with Mary in *that* way, if y'know what I mean. I guess he was nice enough to want to divorce her quietly and then faithful enough to believe the angel, and man enough to raise a child that's not entirely his... It's hard enough to explain in English, let alone to a bunch of ESL students!
That said, I taught them about Santa Claus and how he lives at the North Pole with a bunch of elves and reindeer. Yesterday, I had them write letters to Santa. Many of them would like a new computer. There were also requests for a new bicycle, a down coat, a microwave, a blender, a food processor, an Xbox 360, an iPod, a car, an airplane... pretty good stuff!! I also had them write what kind of snacks they would leave for Santa once he came down their chimney (highly unlikely since most of them live in a seniors' building). He's getting snacks like: apples, eggs, chicken, bread, candy, orange juice, Chinese tea, and my personal favourite, dumplings and soup. The class chuckled at that one, and someone claimed that Santa doesn't like dumplings. I asked why, and got "because Santa is not Chinese." *GASP* Well, I for one am certain that Santa is indeed Chinese. Why, the last time my sister was home for Christmas, I left cookies and soy milk out for Santa, because my sister insisted that Santa was lactose intolerant. And lo and behold, when I woke up on Christmas morning, 2 cookies were gone and Santa had downed the whole glass of soy milk!! Santa MUST be Chinese!!
Anyway, I've been getting back on track the past few weeks. Nothing to do but the usual errands, housework, and work-work. It feels good!
In fact, last Friday, I got to hang out with the SPAM girls (my linguistics buddies...Suzette, Pam, Alison, Monica) and we went for lunch and went shopping! It was wonderful to hang out and catch up, since we haven't seen each other since convocation! And on Saturday, John and I actually had the time to rearrange his room! We moved just about everything, except for the ginormous fishtank (which I vow never to move again!). We got a new fishtank for the tropical fish, and we're undecided as to what to do with the big fishtank (that will never move another inch!).
I have been teaching my students about Christmas this week. Well, not so much about the the birth of Jesus part because I went into it a little bit and everyone was confused. "Who's Joseph??" "What do you mean he's Jesus' father?? Isn't GOD Jesus' father?? I don't get it." Everyone understands Mary's role just fine, they just don't get where Joseph comes in! In fact, come to think of it...what DID Joseph do? He sure didn't have much to do with Mary in *that* way, if y'know what I mean. I guess he was nice enough to want to divorce her quietly and then faithful enough to believe the angel, and man enough to raise a child that's not entirely his... It's hard enough to explain in English, let alone to a bunch of ESL students!
That said, I taught them about Santa Claus and how he lives at the North Pole with a bunch of elves and reindeer. Yesterday, I had them write letters to Santa. Many of them would like a new computer. There were also requests for a new bicycle, a down coat, a microwave, a blender, a food processor, an Xbox 360, an iPod, a car, an airplane... pretty good stuff!! I also had them write what kind of snacks they would leave for Santa once he came down their chimney (highly unlikely since most of them live in a seniors' building). He's getting snacks like: apples, eggs, chicken, bread, candy, orange juice, Chinese tea, and my personal favourite, dumplings and soup. The class chuckled at that one, and someone claimed that Santa doesn't like dumplings. I asked why, and got "because Santa is not Chinese." *GASP* Well, I for one am certain that Santa is indeed Chinese. Why, the last time my sister was home for Christmas, I left cookies and soy milk out for Santa, because my sister insisted that Santa was lactose intolerant. And lo and behold, when I woke up on Christmas morning, 2 cookies were gone and Santa had downed the whole glass of soy milk!! Santa MUST be Chinese!!
