Hurricane

I have been checking on the status of the storm as much as possible. Looks like it is hitting Baton Rouge now. I hope that everyone is safe and doing well. I am sure that everyone is excited about schools being closed!!!! Take care!
Love,
Ms. Moss

In the South

Hey Guys!
I hope that everyone is safe and sound, and ready for Gustav. I decided that I would continue to update my blog even if you have no electricity to check it!!!!

We made it to Xiamen today. We have had a fun day catching up with old friends. I am headed to bed because I am still having trouble with jet lag, so I want to get a good night's sleep. We are going to be seeing lots of sights tomorrow so I wil be sure to take pictures. Putting pictures o my blog may have to wait until I get home b/c I can't find a wireless internet connection that doesn't need a password. I am bummed! I have already taken 355 pictures!!!! I took tons of pictures of the clouds from the airplane. I even saw another airplane flying in the opposite direction, so I took a picture of that too!!

Oh, here is a word that I want you to figure out using one of your strategies (BESIDES USING A DICTIONARY!) You can use context clues, look for smaller words, or look for a prefix or a suffix.

After two hours, the airplane began its descent into the Xiamen airport.

Chinese Word for the Day- kong tiao (kong-like "king kong", tiao- like "tea-ow" (rhymes with cow). This word means air conditioner...and boy do we need it because it is hot in Xiamen!!!!

Love and miss everyone,
Ms. Moss

Quick Update

I had the most awesome day!!! It started out rainy, and ended rainy, but the weather is so cool. The temperature must be in the 70's, and it feels great! Since this is my only full day in Beijing, I had to do most of my souvenir shopping today. Needless to say, we shopped 'til we dropped. Of course, I loved every minute of it. We went to all sorts of shops, including the Pearl Market. But, the HIGHLIGHT of my day was going to see the area where the Olympics were held. I have TOOONNNSSS of pictures, but I will have to wait until I get to Xiamen to post them. We got to see the Birdsnest, the Water Cube, the big building in the shape of the torch, and the surrounding areas. We were right up close to the Water Cube and I have lots of pics. We were there when it was getting dark, so we even got to see the cube light up and change colors. I was freaking out the whole time. After that, wee did some more shopping, got caught in a rainstorm and got all wet, went to a western restaurant named Peter's and had waffle fries and a chocolate shake, then did some more shopping...haha!! If you know me well, you know I LOVE to shop!!!!

We are heading south tomorrow. We catch a flight in the morning to go to Xiamen, where I lived for 8 months in 2004. I am excited to catch up with old friends. I should have wireless internet there so I can upload some pics. I know that you will probably have some days off next week because of the storm, so it may be a while before you read this. But, I am going to keep writing, so please keep reading. Remember you can also e-mail me!!!!!!! Be safe!

Love and miss y'all!
Ms. Moss
Chinese word for the day- Dan Chao Fan (egg fried rice...YUM!!!)- pronounced dan-like the name dan...chow-rhymes with cow....fan- like the word fan

Ni Hao from Beijing, China!

Hey Everyone!
I made it safely to Beijing. My flights went really well, besides an engine problem that turned out to be a tripped circuit. We were just about 30 minutes late arriving in Beijing. The flight was realllly long, and after 10 hours I had just about had enough, but the flight was about 13 hours, so I had to sit there in AGONY for 3 more hours. But, the really cool thing is that we flew almost directly over the NORTH POLE! I took pictures of the map along the way, but I will post them later. I am about to fall asleep as I type! Anyway, we just had the most awesome dinner of sweet and sour chicken, pepper steak, fried rice, fried shoe string potatoes, green beans and coke light (a.k.a. diet coke) I am having a GREAT time, I just can't keep my eyes open, so I am going to lay down. I hope that everyone is making me proud!!!
Love and miss y'all,
Ms. Moss

It's Me Again

Wow!!!  I can't believe I am writing you twice in one day!!!  Well, actually I guess it is the next day, but I wouldn't know because I didn't go to bed last night.  I had to leave for the airport so early that I just decided to stay up the whoooole night!!!  I will have LOTS and LOTS of time to sleep on the plane to Beijing.  Anyway, I am in New Orleans.  I have already checked my bags in and have been through security, and I am just waiting to board my first flight.  They are going to start calling us to board in about 5 minutes....I am SOOOOOOOOOO excited.  I will update you again from CHIIINNNAAAAAA!!!!!  Be sure to look at the post under this one!!!

Finishing Up!

I am almost finished packing...finally! It is very difficult to decide what to bring! But, I decided that I wanted to "travel light", which will make my life much easier for the journey! I am absolutely exhausted. I have been up since 3 a.m. this morning, and I have to leave Baton Rouge at 3:00 a.m. tomorrow morning to go to the airport in New Orleans. I will be on an airplane from 6:20 Thursday morning until about 1:00 a.m. Friday morning. So, while you are sitting in class, doing EVERYTHING you are supposed to be doing, getting along, being polite and respectful, keeping your desks neat and clean and your binders organized, (haha!!!) I will be thousands of feet up in the air.

By the way, I am going to owe Xavier a special treat. I calculated my exact mileage from New Orleans to New Jersey and then from New Jersey to Beijing, and I will fly 9,164 miles ONE WAY! So, Tai'Yona, I will still have something for you, but Xavier, you did a great job too!!!

So, here are a couple of questions to think about.....and I will ask for your answers when I get back, so don't lose them!!!

1. If I fly 9,164 miles to get to China, how many total miles will I fly round trip?

2. How many more miles would I need to fly to make it to 20,000 miles?

2. If I fly 9,164 miles in approximately 17 hours, how many miles per hour am I traveling?

I can't wait to see what you come up with! Remember to ask yourself if your answer makes sense!!!!!

Chinese Word of the Day: Lao Shi (pronounced "low" rhymes with "cow"....shi (like the word sure). It means teacher.

Your favorite lao shi in the whole wide world misses you already!

Love,

Ms. Moss

P.S. Don't forget to e-mail me!!!

It's Almost Time

I cannot believe I am about to leave for China.  I have been anticipating my trip for so long, and it is finally here.  I have been making preparations, preparations, and more preparations, but I am finally wrapping things up.  I just have to finish packing, and find a way to get all of the things that I need into 1 fifty pound bag....that is a job!  I will miss all of you very much!  BEHAVE!!!

 Love, Ms. Moss