To: 5B With Love From: Madhadder

Dear 5B,
     Hello!!  I took these pictures for you a few months ago and then just never got around to sending them.  At least when I see a hedgehog (or a whole case of them!), I will think of you.  I wish I could magically teleport each of you individually here for a day.  I would take you all over Chengdu, and I am sure I would spend most of the day picking your jaw up off of the ground!  You would be absolutely fascinated by everything.  This is a completely different world.  I spend most of the time saying, "Oh!  So THAT'S how they do it here!!"  Because Chinese culture is 5,000 years old, it is vastly different from our 200 year old American culture!  After four months, I am finally getting a little used to it!
     Yesterday I visited a private elementary school of 1200 students with a Chinese friend from church.  This was THE COOLEST school I've ever been to.

Can you believe this???  A child-sized kitchen exclusively built for teaching American cooking classes!!!

A calligraphy classroom for learning the ancient Chinese art of writing.  Aren't the bowls of ink beautiful?

Notice all of the different-sized brushes hanging.

Pottery room!!

 Inspirational sign.  What do you think???  I think this school needs some Happy Pants signs too!!

A dormitory room.  300 of the students stay overnight at the school during the week and go home on the weekend because they live far out in the province.  All of their slipper shoes were lined up outside each of the rooms up against the wall.  8 kids to a room!!!  Sounds like an eternal sleepover!!!!!  I also met the doctor who lives here with them in the dorm!

My favorite was this magnificent art room!!!  I was drooling!!!

Notice the huge beanbag couch on the left with the red pawprint cloth!  I guess you get to laze there if you finish your art!  Or maybe you can lie there to think about what you want to make!

Oh my...I forgot to tell you that this was the art room for grades 4 and 5.

Paper chairs!  Why didn't we think of that???

And the best thing of all--this OVER THE TOP funky art teacher!!!  Believe me, you do NOT run into Chinese characters like this every day!  Her dress is made of felted wool!!!!!! Go ask Mrs. Etcheverry to explain that to you.  She and I felted wool in Boise a few summers ago.  Does that blackboard behind her look like it might be a gigantic Boogie Board??????

The icing on the cake was this roof garden!!!!  It was about 6 times bigger than this picture can show.
 I have sooooooooo many other things I would like to tell you and show you, but enough about me and 1.3 billion new friends!  How are YOU?????????????????????  Write!  I am so curious about how 6th grade is going for you.  I hope the things we did last year have helped you progress on.  If you're not reading lots of books, I will come and haunt you!!!!  Briston!  YOU have a marvelous time on your cruise!  I want to hear all about it!  Kage, you showed up in my dream the other night!!  Jaxon, last night (did I mention my dream patterns here in China are UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!  If I were still your teacher, I would be telling you about a new crazy dream EVERY day!) I dreamed that Mr. Hadd and I moved in with your family for a year!  I told your dad, "We'll try to be gentle guests."  Isn't that weird?  Ecko, I miss Mugsy more than I can even tell...Everybody else--let's try and facetime again soon.  Write and I will write back!  I see some of your pictures on facebook (Shanyce, Lydia), but I still would like to get an email from you!  Jennifer, my favorite book was Summer, 1927.   I am accumulating Chinese "treasures" for each of you.  We will have a picnic next summer, and you can choose something.  Have a Merry Christmas!  I was remembering the other day about how much fun it was to practice our ukuleles for the program and also when Rosie gave early gifts to us!  And that party!!!!!! BEST EVER, Mrs. Passey!!!!!   I love you all, M. Hadd