Apple Tree

In 2009, Maritza gave me this wonderful card.  It's still one of my favorites.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Two of my private students and their mom gave me a box of fresh moon cakes today in celebration of next week's Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (9/19/2013). Thank you, Katherine.
中秋節快樂!!!

More on the tradition...

Rediscovered Gift

I found this gift, a postcard-sized art work, while cleaning my classroom. It's from Paula (one of the Twins, c/o 2011). She gave it to me during the Chinese Year of the Tiger. The Twins and their gifts also include an Mexican turtle, an UNM jacket, and an cartoon version of my head from this Facebook album. Thank you again, Paula and Maria.

Keychain from Kyrgyzstan

This is truly one of the coolest gifts ever. I've had the pleasure of tutoring Tim for the past two years. He's currently taking Calculus AB. Tim is a well-rounded scholar athlete with a great sense of leadership. This summer, he led a missionary project for his church by volunteering his time to coach badminton - in KYRGYZSTAN!!! He told me that he stayed at a run-down apartment and coached two 3-hour sessions of badminton each day to 90 players. The group didn't always have enough equipment, but Tim said he had the experience of his life. Today, Tim gave me this model key chain of a traditional Kyrgyzstan hut. What an amazing young man!  Thank you, Tim.