Here's Hailey, our great-niece--she is my sister JoAnne's granddaughter and my niece Lauren's daughter.
Hailey was at her grandma's (JoAnne's) house painting.
Boy, was she ever painting!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Mandarin I course draws to a close
Only a few more weeks of Mandarin I Chinese classes remaining. I'll be thinking about taking the "Chinese for Travelers" course during the summer semester if it's offered; I'm not sure I could handle Mandarin II over the summer.
Did you know it's estimated only a little over half of China's population can speak Mandarin, the national language? The percentage is higher --70%-- if estimating for Chinese people between the ages of 15 to 29 years of age. (Washington Post, March 7, 2007)
What are the chances I'll be able to communicate with Chinese people while we are there (next year?)? Perhaps slim. But I hope at least a hearty "Thank you", a considerate "How are you?", and a firm "That price is too expensive!" will get me somewhere.
Did you know it's estimated only a little over half of China's population can speak Mandarin, the national language? The percentage is higher --70%-- if estimating for Chinese people between the ages of 15 to 29 years of age. (Washington Post, March 7, 2007)
What are the chances I'll be able to communicate with Chinese people while we are there (next year?)? Perhaps slim. But I hope at least a hearty "Thank you", a considerate "How are you?", and a firm "That price is too expensive!" will get me somewhere.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Soundscape of China (PBS)
PBS has been airing a four-part TV program titled "China from the Inside." We've watched all four episodes and learned a lot about China's government, people, women, and environment. And now this fun link to sounds of China! Of course, I am partial to the lullaby being sung by a caretaker in an orphanage in Henan province. Henan, by the way, is one of the provinces that our adoption agency has received referrals from in the past.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Terrifying
I can't even begin to imagine Chris and I being in the process of adopting from Guatemala... tears of fear come to my eyes as I type this post imagining such.
Recent news articles are titled Adoptions in Guatemala Face U.S. Ban and Guatemala System Is Scrutinized as Americans Rush In to Adopt. I'll let you read them for yourself.
Recent news articles are titled Adoptions in Guatemala Face U.S. Ban and Guatemala System Is Scrutinized as Americans Rush In to Adopt. I'll let you read them for yourself.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Happy International Women's Day, Ladies!
Today is International Women's Day!
Women in China (and other countries, I presume) had 1/2 or the whole day off!Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Adoption Status Update!
The CCAA has updated their web site!
They've "finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with their office before October 24, 2005," and they've "finished the review of application documents registered [logged in] with their office before March 31, 2006."
The wait time from log-in date to referral (matching a family with a child) is just under 17 months. And then it's about 6 weeks until you travel to China. We estimate that our dossier was received the end of June 2006; that's eight months ago. We are still estimating (hoping) we will receive our referral in November at the very earliest.
They've "finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with their office before October 24, 2005," and they've "finished the review of application documents registered [logged in] with their office before March 31, 2006."
The wait time from log-in date to referral (matching a family with a child) is just under 17 months. And then it's about 6 weeks until you travel to China. We estimate that our dossier was received the end of June 2006; that's eight months ago. We are still estimating (hoping) we will receive our referral in November at the very earliest.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Psychometrics and the U.S. Navy
This post isn’t specifically about psychometrics and the U.S. Navy’s advancement/promotion system . It’s really just to congratulate Chris on making the Chief Petty Officer (CPO, E-7) Selection Board, a board charged with considering all eligible candidates for advancement to CPO. He’s eligible for board based on his score on the Navy Advancement-in-Rate Examination and performance evaluations. Next, the CPO Selection Board will consider the following factors for promoting sailors to E-7:
Oh, I should mention there’s also this thing called a quota; that is, there’s only so many “openings” for E-7 Yeoman advancements. Last year there was less than 9% advancement opportunity for Yeoman. We anxiously await hearing – by August – whether he’s been selected to advance.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
FANtastic McRice Burger
This just in off the China Books blog site about an interesting new item at McDonalds:
"Now anybody who has been to China probably understands how different the McDonalds is there than it is here. Often McDonalds in Hong Kong and Macau will have a McCafe, which features caffeinated beverages that exceed Starbucks in price, and the service is always speedy and friendly. ..the latest popular menu item in China called the FANtastic, or in Thailand, the McRice burger. FAN in Chinese means rice so translated into English the dish really means RICEtastic."
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