summer time.

Mom's been gone a whole week and summer time is kicking into full swing. 

A few weeks ago I made a list of things of, "summer to-do's" including restaurants and activities in HZ that I have never experienced before. A lot has changed in the past 3 years and now I find myself in groups of people talking about places I have never been. I want to try out a lot of these new places especially since my students also live in HZ and I want to be up-to-date on my info of activities and special places to recommend to them! 

One thing on my list is to find a swimming pool! Over the years I have heard of friends going to pools, but the thought of being with a bunch of staring Chi.nese people while in a swimsuit was not a happy one. 

This summer, though, I really wanted to find a pool to swim in because I love to swim as exercise and the gym is sooo hot! Sunday, Yemi and I set out to find the pool in the botanical garden a 15 minute walk from our dorm. 

We found our way and paid the $3.50 entrance fee. 

And it was such a glorious afternoon! The pool was more busy than I expected and the lack of lane lines made it difficult to swim laps, but I was able to dodge the kids and get in a short swim which left my shoulders screaming and me so, so happy to be in the water!

Yemi and I sat by the pool reading magazines and it felt almost like America. Soon I'll try another indoor pool that supposedly is more conducive to swimming laps. I am so happy to have finally searched out a pool!

Today I started my month-long summer job. I am tutoring a 7 year old monkey every day for the next 4 weeks. He is a Ch.inese kid who is starting at the International School in town come Fall. His parents want him to do the Grade 1 book before he enters Grade 2. Soon he will be schooling in all English, so he needs to be comfortable with foreigners (i.e. ME).

He's a presh head and we are just doing textbooks so the job is easy. He comes from an elite fam so it is an interesting look into the lives of people that I don't come in contact with on an average basis. They even have a live-in Philippino nanny. For about 10 minutes I thought she was E's mom. haha.

I'm so thankful for this job. For two HZ summers in a row, I have been gifted a perfect summer job tutoring short-term. Hallelujah.

Swimming, teaching..... a little bit work a little bit play......just the way a summer's supposed to be!





walk slow. xoxo.