Secondary Trip Day 2!

Day 2:

After a hearty breakfast of boiled eggs, bread with honey and yak butter tea, we headed to an orphanage for Tibetan children up the road from our homestay. We spent half the day playing games and doing arts and crafts with the kids and the other half gardening and building a walkway through the garden. All of our students were very enthusiastic to be involved, and we ended up having a really rewarding day.

View from the Orphanage

Paper Hats!

The Paper Boat Regatta 

Had to get a little dirty, but we didn't mind!

The Final Product
(I'm so proud of our students!!)

After a LONG and FUN day of work, we had dinner at our homestay host's restaurant in town and went to a Tibetan Dance Show. Anyone who's ever been to a ballet or something similar with me knows how excited I get at these sorts of things (hopefully, you weren't with me at Cats... or even worse Tap Dogs!).  But be warned I may have found my calling, I'm auditioning for the dance troupe as soon as I can!

Tibetan Dance Show Men

The Long Sleeve Dance

Back Home in Chengdu!

I'm alive!! I had a FANTASTIC trip! Absolutely AMAZING!! SO MUCH FUN! It was great to get out of the city and up to the mountains. Already planning a trip back!

Day 1:

So we left bright and early on Saturday morning, and did I mention? I was SO excited!! I tried to sleep a little on the 7 hr drive but couldn't close my eyes. The scenery was so beautiful!

We arrived that night at our Tibetan homestay outside of Jiuzhaigou park, where we had dinner and an early bed time. I was so excited that I barely slept!

Pics of the first day...

The Drop Off Point

Could we have possibly brought any more luggage!?

The inside walls had beautiful paintings. This was one of my faves!

Dinner Noodles, YUM

Badminton!

I went with some friends to play badminton tonight- my first game ever! I didn't show much potential but I gave it a try. And it was a blast! Seriously, look how many people are on those courts. There wasn't an empty space for us when we got there!

I had a few misconceptions when I arrived. I have no idea why but I was expecting large tennis courts with 5-6 members on each side. Have I seriously never watched a game of badminton? Or maybe that's the only way we played as kids? I think I've got the rules down now... maybe.  I have a few more times to practice before Zach gets here and kicks my butt!

UPDATE: recap of tonight... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ2k-tsX5KE

Yes, I also believed badminton rackets were
actually stringed instruments for most of my life.

Riding accessories!

In order to ride a bike in Chengdu, one must really look the part first. Riding a bike comes with so many accessories! Yes, the lock, the helmet, the reflectors, whatever; but the best part here is that you get to wear puffy gauntlets and masks as you ride around town.  So of course, after I bought my new bike this Sunday, I went straight to Auchan to pick out my own fancy gloves and dainty caplet.

I think the main purpose here is so you don't get your nice clothes dirty or maybe protect yourself from the pollution/splashes. I didn't get the mask after all because I couldn't wear it with my helmet, only the bright orange sleeves.  Jessica also picked out a nice riding hat and caplet. We couldn't understand why all the caplets were white? Won't they just get dirty? I'm looking for a mud-colored one for myself.

Also, I rode my bike home from the shop and didn't break my arm. Success!

Finger Lickin' Good!

Almost... While waiting on the rack to be put onto my bike at the sporting goods store, I got pretty annoyed with this kid in front of me in line. Basically, as he was trying to run over peoples toes with the swinging gate and jumping over my bags, I may have been giving him some nasty glares (it had been on a long morning) while he returned them with some rather unpleasant and loud growling noises. Jessica was quick to intervene before it got out of hand, and we left our bikes at the workshop to go get some lunch.

I've been eyeing the KFC here mostly because there's one on every corner. I had no idea there would be so many here in Chengdu! It wasn't bad. We tried both a fried chicken sandwich and a Chinese dish (peppered pork??). Tasted pretty much like what I had expected- fast food. And compared to places we usually dine, it was pretty expensive. I think I've had my fix for the rest of the year....

Fireworks!

I was rewarded last week for staying way too late at school with this perfect view of some rather awesome fireworks from my classroom on the fifth floor. It was such a cool show and lasted for quite some time. This is in the middle of the city, and I'm pretty sure the fireworks were exploding on the rooftops of those buildings. The whole event got me very excited about Chinese New Year in January when people supposedly shoot fireworks off of their balconies and such. I can just imagine the streets of Chengdu filled with wonderful fireworks for sale. This may very well be the year Zach or I finally lose a hand, a large patch of hair, and/or an eye- not to discredit my mother, who handed me that flaming bag of fireworks just a few years back, you know she tried.

Sorry for the terrible photo quality. I took these from my classroom window with my iPhone!

Kali's Great Escape

Here are two photos of Kali trying for 2 hours to escape her cage after school. Kali is the beautiful ball python that is our class pet. She was actually lifting up the wooden lid with two reams of paper on top with just her nose! Although she was no where close to being out of her cage, I was impressed with her strength and determination. It's like she had the power of a hundred hamster souls inside her that night.

I know that I've had slightly traumatic feedings with Kali, but I'm starting to warm up to her.  She's very snuggly and likes to constrict around the neck. I almost passed out at the copier machine as I was wearing her around as my most fashionable accessory while the students cleaned her cage.

Creatures in the Bathroom, Pt.2

Ha, I've caught them while they are all out in the open. And what will I do?  I will flush them down the toilet, of course! (Yes, that is my very OWN squatty potty.) Heeheeheehee HA HA! They will be gone for good! But wait.... OH NO! They're jumping out at me!  SSSSCCCRREEEEEEEEECCCHHH!! ::running,tripping,falling out of the bathroom:: WhAt HaVe I dOnE!? I've released them all! NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Crap.

Almost a month here and I haven't been able to use this toilet. Not once!! I'm too scared they will attack my bottom. But hey, maybe they won't like their nice porcelain home after a few squatty visits, heh?  Now that's an idea.... but who can I pay to squat over my dear little friends? It won't be me!!

Creative Cocktails

Jessica ordered this delicious cocktail after dinner called the "Angel's Tit". Just heavenly. Enough said!

You knew an Ella photo was coming!

Seeing all the devastating pictures from friends back home of the wildfires in Bastrop has left me with a feeling of just how far away I really am and maybe a teeny bit homesick. That led to me browsing through some of my photo albums tonight, where I found this one of Ella when I left her at my grandparents. Can't say I don't miss her stinky snuggles.... but my grandparents have been pleased with the backyard varmits she's taken care of, such a freakin' good dawg.

My thoughts are with those affected by the fires in Central Texas. Just unbelievable! It fills my heart with such sadness to hear the stories of my friends' losing their family homes. Please send the rain to Texas!

On the same trip to the grandparents: how does one
transport a your mom's crazy cat without a carrier? In your lap!
Don't EVER try this!!

Chinese Food Post

A group of us went to hot pot for dinner on Saturday. It was very spicy and absolutely delicious. But it will give you a spicy and oily bottom the following day, so definitely a Saturday treat for when you don't have school the next morning.  You can basically order anything to put in it. My favorite are the quail eggs... don't get me started.

I also learned that a "black eye" is called a "panda eye" here, which is demonstrated in the awesome photo below.

My IKEA is better than your IKEA.

I don't think they let you take naps on the displays in the US, which is lame.  Every bed, couch, chair, etc. has been occupied each time I have gone to the Chengdu IKEA, which is awesome. I was tempted to stop and catch some zzz's myself!