"Oh no, oh no, oh no! Yes yes yes!"

At Home:
I'm titling this story Alarma! in honor of Lara's multiple post (as well as a recent one) about the fire alarm at Whitworth South.

Today, not wanting to make dinner, or actually I was technically unable to, I'm missing one ingrediant for every "meal" I know how to make, anyways, I ordered delivery. When the delivery came, I actually had to use my intercom to buzz the guy in downstairs. This is a first, normally the door is propped open. I figured out how to answer the call, but as for unlocking the door downstairs, I had no idea. What to do, what to do? Well naturally, start pressing buttons! Unfortunately, one button that I hit lit up, and made the intercom talk in Chinese. LOUDLY. ON REPEAT. She wouldn't shut up. XIN KAUI DAO LA. XIN KAUI DAO LA. (I actually don't remember what she was saying, but it was something like that.) Over and over and over. I opened my apartment door to make sure my food was on it's way, and sure enough, I saw the elevator moving. The guy kinda laughed at my intercom problem, gave me my food, and left. So .... what to do what to do? She still wouldn't shut up. Well naturally, press more buttons!! Two minutes later, with no luck, I get a knock on the door. It's a security guard. He gives me the *What's wrong with you?* look. And I give him the *I don't know what's going on FIX IT!* look. He shook his head at me, disapprovingly, but didn't roll his eyes, so that was nice. And then he patiently taught me how to turn the alarm off. He made sure I could do it by myself twice before he left. I'm not really sure what I set off, but it's good to know that if I press every button on my intercom, within about 3 mintues I'll have a security guard at my door.


The other teachers think I'm a little punk. They tease me for "sleeping in" till 6 am on school days now. I'm so proud! I guess it's annoying when they come running into Cup of Joe at 7:30 am since they don't have time to make breakfast, and I'm snuggled up in a lounge chair, breakfast clearly eaten, half finished coffee, and reading my book.
This morning however I mangaged to sleep in till 8 am. WOWOW. I think it's the lack of fireworks. Today is the 10th day after the New Year. The number 10 must no sound like anything special in Mandarin (i.e. good fortune, luck, money) because there was not a war of fireworks at sunrise like there was on the 8th day after the New Year.

Homophones. I think I've been over this before. I've had issues with these ever since coming to China. I go back and re-read my emails and this is what I find that I right. These are just 3 that I found in my emails only yesterday!
- It's just plane silly!
- I don't know wear I left them.
- Twoday I went down to the cafe.
It's like a first grade grammar test. I don't know how my mind switches these words in my head!

At School:
Today after waking up from nap time, one of my elves discovered my cheap Chinese cell phone on the floor. It's my watch to make sure they wake up on time. She asked my TA who it belonged to, and she brought it over to me. Then she asked if she could play with it. Bree LOVES playing with my cell phone, and it was locked, so I didn't mind if she pressed the buttons to watch it light up. Later when everyone was awake, I watched her slip my phone into her pocket as we left the nap room, so I stopped and had conversation, just to make it clear that it was okay for her to keep my cell phone safe for now, but by the time she went on the bus, I would need it back. It was the end of the day, they were to have snack, and they actually woke up early (a first time occurance) so I had decided to take them outside for 5 minutes. She really liked just holding the phone, and I had to advise her to put it back into her pocket while she was on the swings, or else she'd probably fall off, thinking the cell phone was more important to hold on to. When the parents started arriving, the kiddos got excited and ran for their backpacks. Halfway to the bus, my elf starting freaking out.
Elf: "Oh no! Oh no!" and holding her head was all she could do.
Me: "What's wrong? Are your ears cold?"
Elf: "No no no." *Points to her hands*
Me: *Check to make sure her gloves are on snuggly*
Elf: "No no no."
Me: "What's wrong? You need to talk to me so I know how to help you."
Elf: *Points to her hands, points to the playground.*
Me: "Did you forget something on the playground?"
Elf: "Yes yes yes."
Me: "Okay, show me where to go"
Elf: *Leads me onto the playground equipment, insistently waving me to follow.*
At the top of the play gym, on the slide is my phone. Somehow she remembered when I had forgotten that I was supposed to get my phone back before she got on the bus. Incredible.

Things to look forward to:
- The zumba like dancing has started up again on the basketball courts. The group whose music is so loud I hear every word from my 12th floor apartment. Next time I hear it, I'm going down and joining them. I mustering up the courage! It MUST happen!
- I'm hiring an ayi. A cleaning lady to come in and make sure I'm no living in squalor.