Public School Pics

Here's my laziest blog yet.  I go to a Public School at least once a week, and these kids are amazing.  Here are some pictures we took!!!

3 months left...

First, I only have 3 months left...yay!!!  I will return on August 15th.

Second.  As many of you know I will be going to Thailand on September 23rd to get certified in Teaching English in a Foreign Language.  I will spend 3 weeks in Phuket (ironically, since the name of my blog, is Phuket).  After that, I am guaranteed a job in or around Bangkok for 4-5 months.  I'll be back home again in March.

There is a mountain in China with a Pagoda on it that you can see in Huzhou.  This is a picture of the mountain from a school I was working at.  The principal of the school, said I should walk up the mountain.  "it will be fun" she said.



ren huan ge

At the bottom.

 

 Confucius say "White Girl not make it to top of mountain"

Someone forgot to tell me that the 40 minute walk up to the top is actually, all stairs. 

This is halfway up.  I wanted to die.

 

I made it!!!!

5 Things I will not Miss in China:  I do like China, but there are a few things I will NOT miss when I leave.  I want to say the fact that they speak Chinese, but that is completely my fault.  Obviously, they speak Chinese here, and I don't speak it.  Although it sucks sometime, it's not China's problem.

1.  The Spitting.  It's gross.  I'm not a huge fan a spitting anyway, but here it's as common as breathing.  I constantly hear the sound of a China-person hawking something up.  I always have to look around to make sure I am not the target.

2.  Crossing the street.  Walking across the street is like an extreme sport.  I think I need a helmet.  The cars aren't that bad, since there are street lights, that they seem to abide to.  The electric bikes, on the other hand, have no rules and come in massive quantities.  I was told that the rules of the road is that the bigger one has the right of way.  Bus beats car, car beats motor bike, motor bike beats regular bike, and they all have the right of way over the person.

3.  Seafood.  Obviously food here will be different from home, but seafood is seafood, right??  Nope,  they keep the bones in the fish and the shells on the shrimp.  I should not have to work that hard to eat my food.  I have asked why they keep the bones in, and I was told it's fresher.  I just think it's lazy.  They also say that the kids can not eat it.  No kidding, it might kill them.

4. Stray Cats.  Everyone knows I'm an animal lover.  My apartment complex is filled with stray cats.  They make me sad.  I want to take them all in.  One day I pet a kitten and it started following me home.  I would probably have taken him home, except after I leave I would have to leave him back outside.

5.  Clothes/Shoe Shopping.  The clothes are cute and cheap, which normally I would love except I'm a big fatty in China.  I would look at certain things in the stores and see the store clerk basically tell the girl I'm with "That will not fit".  Yes, everyone in China is a size 0, and I'm a sasquatch :(  Can't wait to go to Marshalls.

What the Chinese think...

Today is Cinco de Mayo...my favorite holiday.  It's only my favorite day because of the food and drink, (margaritas, coronas, fajitas...all my favorite "as".  Here is a photo of how I will be celebrating in China.

Lime Drink and Lays Chips...Yup, Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!!!

 

As for what the Chinese think.  The other day I was walking home from class and I felt a drip.  It was a tiniest rain drop, and there were only a couple more as I walked.  There must be something in the water, because the umbrellas came up and the people went running.  I literally saw 2 women grab each other and start to run like the heavens had just opened up.  Then, I thought, women are weird about their hair (although I think the hair in China is straight and straight, so not sure what the problem is).  Then I saw a guy in his mid-twenties hoisting open his umbrella.  Seriously dude, just a couple drops.  I have asked around, but have only received mixed answers, from the hair, to acid rain…I’m not really sure what to think.  They don’t melt from what I can see.

Chinese women also have some weird conceptions regarding water and pregnancy.  Like, you can’t drink anything cold when your aunt Flo is visiting (just wanted to make that reference, and there are guys reading).  When you are pregnant, you cannot be around computers because they will harm the baby.  After you give birth, you cannot shower for one month because you will be unhealthy when you are older.  This is information I receive from college educated women, who claim their doctors tell them this to be true.  I’ve never had a baby, but for some reason waiting one month to shower sounds like the most disgusting thing in the world.

Huzhou, where I live is a big city and I'm not much of a big city person.  I did come across this amazing park the other day, called Lotus Park.  It was beautiful, with trees and caves.  People were there reading, and the old folk were playing Mahjong.  It was nice and peaceful.  It also has paddle boats that you can rent.  I hope to do that soon.

I have now been in China a little over 4 months.  I have booked my return flight for August 15th.  I can't wait.  See you guys then!!!