Fireman Friday

I was on my own. An entire week without Judy to help me teach English class. I wasn't sure I would survive without my bi-lingual 
co-teacher. I guess Judy needed a vacation too but I wasn't expecting to come back and then BAM a week all alone!

My poor little rug rats were probably so confused by everything I was saying that week. I'm surprised that they were actually able to learn some things. Luckily, I had one weeks notice and asked Judy to write the Chinese translations on the back on the flashcards I would be using so the other adults in the room could help translate when they would ask, "Bonny Lǎoshī, shì shénme?" or "Teacher Bonny, What is that?" 

I surprised myself at how well I did throughout the week. Granted it helped that there were still about 5 children on vacation. And when you're talking about 5 to 6 year olds those 5 kids make a big difference. I was grateful to have a class of 15 for the week. 

Without Judy to approve or disapprove of my lesson plans I decided to have a fun fireman Friday which would encompass all the words from the week. We dressed up like fire man and pretended to put out fires reviewing all the tools a fireman uses. They would crack up at my silly fireman voice as we all chanted, "I am a fireman!". We had a lot of fun playing hot potato. We passed a ball with paper fire taped to it and when it landed on them they had to stop, drop, and roll. Some of them opted out of the game because there was no way they were going to touch fire. They looked at me like I was crazy for asking them to play such a game. Oh, the imagination of a child. 

Afterward something rare happened. They actually got to color! *gasp* Usually in English class I'm forced to make them practice their handwriting or do work from the workbook that would be way over the head of a native English speaking five year old (have I ever mentioned how much I hate the curriculum I'm forced to use?). They were thrilled to use crayons. While they colored I snapped a picture of each of my cute, little firemen (or fire women) to hang up on our classroom bulletin board. 
Some were happier than others about this part....

I am in love with these faces.

Video Montage

My very talented sister-in-law, Rebekah, made this incredible video documenting our two weeks traveling through China together. Sometimes videos can show you what pictures can't. She did a great job. Enjoy!



Oh and I can't finish my vacation blog posts without mentioning the dear friend we made on the 33 hour train ride from Haikou to Shanghai. Before boarding the train in Haikou a few of us walked across the street to the food carts set up to get some dinner. It was a popular hang out for the train conductors and this is where we first met our new friend who was chowing down on a chicken's foot. He started joking with us and we told him what train we'd be on and then learned we'd be traveling together.

He was so friendly to us the entire time and would come and sit on our bunks with us to take a break. We'd try to teach each other how to speak and write our native language. We shared laughs at our inability to communicate with each other properly. He was so patient with us and truly wanted to help us speak Chinese. He was also really funny and sang a great rendition of Happy Birthday in English. He was very proud of that.

We were only able to purchase five beds for the six of us which meant one of us would spend two nights and one day sitting in a chair. We decided we'd take shifts. After Wayne slept the first night in the chair we decided to take shifts all during the day and following night but Isaac figured we could just sneak everyone into the five beds we did have and it would all work out. Hannah and I were scared we'd get in big trouble and didn't want our new friend to get mad at us. When it was Isaac's turn to take over my two hour shift sitting in the chair alone with crowds of Chinese people staring at the one blonde headed, white girl on their train he decided he'd come for a little while and then join us back at the beds without any of else taking over his spot. The seat was probably taken by someone who had a standing only ticket in a matter of seconds.

We think because we had become such good friends with the conductor that when they came to check our tickets that night and saw two people in one bed they let it slide. Phew! It was a relief and a risk I probably wouldn't have taken on my own. I was grateful our new friend didn't get offended by our actions or think we were trying to take advantage of him.

We snapped this picture once we arrived in Shanghai after being crowded on a train together for 33 hours without showering. Not our finest moment but sometimes you sacrifice beauty for memories.

Marked for Life

After exploring the financial district in Shanghai, being surrounded by picture perfect scenery in Yangshuo, and experiencing the small town life in Xingping our two week long vacation was coming to an end on the sandy beaches of Sanya. It just so happens that our final day fell on Valentine's Day and what better way to spend it than at a butterfly garden and your own private part of the beach. It sounds pretty perfect to me and it will be a Valentine's Day to remember. 

I was surprised when the entry fee was half the cost I thought it was going to be and then I walked through the butterfly garden only to realize that it took a total of maybe 7 minutes tops to walk all the way through. So I walked through it two more times. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to go to a place like this where you can just walk around surrounded by butterflies. It was my childhood dream come true and I loved every minute of it.

Below are photographs from the little museum you walk through before entering the garden. They had signs to indicate what region of China all the butterflies could be found at which appealed to the geek in me. The walls were covered in frames of butterflies in all different sizes and colors. These were some of my favorite.

 

We managed to spend a day at all three of the popular beaches of Sanya; Dadonghai Bay, Sanya Bay, and finally Yalong Bay. Yalong Bay is the longest beach in China and I have experienced just how long that beach really is. When we arrived and found what I thought was the perfect spot to set up camp with only a few groups of people around us on the highly populated beach the majority of the group decided they wanted a more secluded area. Andrew was dead set on walking all the way down the beach to the rock area they were at 4 years ago because that's where all the best sea shells were.

So we walked for what seemed like forever passing everyone relaxing and having a grand old time. My nausea was kicking in and I was starting to get cranky. We managed to walk all the way down near the mountains in the picture above. It was at least 30 minutes. 
It was worth it though we reached a point along the beach where the people just stopped and then walked a little bit further and enjoyed our own private beach in China. I was finally able to settle down, dig my toes in the sand, and bite into my juicy, fresh mango I had stowed away in my bag. I had one of those, "Life doesn't get better than this" moments and everything was right in my world.

Andrew was right they did have the best shells down here and we all managed to collect our own little pile. He really wanted to find a huge conch shell like he did the last time he was here but was sorely disappointed when after much effort none washed up.

I love holidays and any excuse to celebrate especially when you're celebrating love. I'm one of those people who just loves love.
So of course I have to draw a heart in the sand for Valentine's Day.

4 years ago Andrew was on this very beach near these same trees missing me like crazy. We had just decided to get married a couple months before and while here he decided to carve our initials in a tree with a broken glass bottle. Romantic right?

Now we were here together, prepared with a knife, and carving our initials in the tree together. Look how far we've come. 

It was incredibly hard to say good-bye to the beach and 

all of it's sea salt, sandy goodness but we left our mark...

On the longest beach in China near a unique worship alter there is 

one small tree that will always hold a special place in my heart.

I think it's safe to say that those two weeks of traveling as well as my 

entire experience here in China is leaving its mark on me as well. 

Passing Time in Paradise

Finally we were in Sanya! I had decided that this would be the highlight of the trip for me. I was ready to enjoy the sun, beach, and seafood! Only one thing was standing in my way-the stomach flu. Talk about bad timing. It lasted the entire time I was there. The nausea would come and go but it was the worst when I was being squashed on the hot, sweaty city buses that continually jerked and got even more crowded with every new stop. It was a main source of transportation.

In spite of this I still managed to enjoy our trip to China's paradise and on our second night there after an entire day at the beach getting nice and sunburned we found a massive outdoor seafood restaurant to eat at. 

I wasn't really up for pigging out on crustateans but I knew it would be fresh and oh so tasty- it was! 

When we arrived there were young girls everywhere trying to get us to come and eat at their section of the giant warehouse of a restaurant. I guess you have to fight for your tables here. We sat down at one right where it opened out to the street and were able to see some fireworks going off while we ate. Pretty magical. But before getting our food we had to communicate what we wanted and I've kind of specialized in learning the names of food in Chinese so I started trying to order. Once she realized that I could speak a little Chinese she took my hand and dragged me all the way to the back of the warehouse to her seafood suppliers. There were rows upon rows of aquariums with everything that you could possibly eat out of the ocean. It took a good 4 minutes to walk all the way from our table to there. This place was huge.

It was a little torturous standing back there around all the smelly sea creatures trying over and over again to communicate what we wanted and refusing her push for us to try this or that. I was starting to get really sick. Finally, after getting our order straight and paying for the seafood up front she took it to her chef who cooked everything to perfection. It was the best seafood I've had. We left with satisfied tummies but unsatisfied wallets. It was way overpriced (probably because of the holiday) but we knew we had to enjoy a seafood dinner at least once while on the island. It was worth it!

The following day we set out to relax at a luxurious Hot Spring spot in the hills of Sanya about and hour away from us. We had to take a couple buses and one taxi but we finally got there. The internet said we could catch a shuttle at a specific resort but turns out the internet lied. It's always an adventure trying to find your way around China.

Momma Olson I found another place with your name on it! China loves the name Linda hehe.

Right after taking the above picture to show Momma Olson we boarded our second bus of the day. We were on the bus for only a moment when we realized there was a full on Jerry Springer moment happening behind us. Claws were out, glasses were flying, and babies were crying. There's no telling what they were arguing about but it seemed to me like one woman defending her man and attacking another nearby man who got kicked off the bus with scratches down his face. Once he was gone we were on the road again still wondering what that was all about.

The spa was divine and a lot like the one we visited in Huangshan only full of people. They had a lot of different hot pools but it was so painful the first few minutes we got in the water. We thought our skin was burning off because of our sunburns. We didn't think that through all the way. We figured out techniques for entering hot water and managed to find some not so hot pools and all was right in the world again. 

Letting the fish nibble on our toes and tickle our feet.

The pool in the top right was my favorite. It was the perfect temperature and deep enough for me to swim around like a fish. We competed in your typical races, breathing contests, and handstand standoffs.

The bottom left picture is where they boil their special hot spring eggs. They tasted like normal boiled eggs but the Chinese probably believe they have some healing powers.

We spent the next day at a different beach than the one down the street from our hostel. This beach had much clearer water and was conveniently located next to the nudist beach. We didn't venture all the way down there and thankfully all we could see were crispy, tan forms of people.

Andrew, Rebekah, and I were the only ones who wanted to go to the beach and so we relished in our seaside afternoon together. She worked on her tan and Andrew and I pretended we were deep sea divers looking for treasures at the bottom of the ocean with our goofy goggles. It was one of my favorite memories of the trip. We shared a lot of laughs and found a lot sand dollars, shells, and coral.



After the beach we met up with everyone (but Wayne who got the stomach flu) at a Brazilian BBQ buffet where they bring meat to your table and shave it off a onto your plate. The pork was tasty but I stayed away from the little birdies. My favorite part of the meal was all the fresh fruit and cold ice cream. Mmmm.

Another great meal with the family we call friends.