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Published: November 7th 2007
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We have been fortunate enough to meet two graduate students; Maggie and Jo. These girls sit in on Sarah's classes to improve their English, which needs little improvement. They have befriended us and taken us to many places throughout Wuhan. Jo is a local and so she wants to show us everything in the city. Last night we went with them to Hankou to a haunted house. The haunted house was located inside a sports arena/arcade which was in the basement of a shopping centre. The arena had lots of badminton courts filled with businessmen playing competitively. There was also a rock climbing wall, lifting equipment, arcade games and shuffle board. The haunted house was tucked in the corner. We paid our admission and went inside. Alexes led the way with Sarah behind, Maggie and I had to bring up the rear so we clung to each other completely frightened. The beginning of the haunted house was really weak, there were just fake heads and skeletons, nothing with real people. I was less nervous but I still kept turning around to make sure no one followed us. At one point we were confused about which way to go so we were
Haunted House
Big mistake making me go last standing there and I heard a voice so I ran and screamed which made everyone else run and scream and we were wedged into a narrow passageway. No one was there, I am just a fool. So we found the way and continued for a while when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to find a guy in a mask and I screamed and freaked out so we all started running as fast as we could. We lost the guy just as we entered a new room where the floor was squishy and unstable, as we were trying our best to navigate through this a hand grabbed our ankles. It was so scary I freaked out! I continued through walking backward to make sure no one grabbed me and I had one arm linked with Maggie who had buried her head into Sarah's shoulder. Then I saw someone and he was running full speed at us so I took off and ran ahead through the exit. Thank God it was so close. Jo was waiting outside the exit with a camera to capture our reactions. I was so scared I was sweating and my heart was pounding
Haunted House
Flying out of the Haunted house, this is when the man was chasing us for about 20 minutes. What I thought would be a weak haunted house, and it was compared to American standards, scared the crap out of me.
After the Haunted house we went to dinner at a Japanese style restaurant. It was great to have different kinds of noodles and food. Jo and Maggie wanted us to have sushi too. I passed, although I was tempted to have some wasabi 😉 (La Romana Memories) We love talking to these girls because they are 24 and 25 and can speak English so well it is just like talking to friends at home. They have questions about America and they love to share facts about China. I have learned so much from both of them. They are adults so it isn't hard to communicate and it is not like we are with our students who seem to be 13 year olds. It is great that we have met them so early in the year so that we can hang out with them for 9 more months! After dinner we went to walking street, the pedestrian street in Hankou that is full of western style shops. In the alleyways of each block is a
Haunted House
Post Haunted house, take note of me needing a break on the right large night market. Each evening the shop owners set up their stalls and bring out their merchandise. You can find everything from bags, to underwear, to toilet seat covers, to inscence, to shoes. Jo told us these are the best prices you can find and the quality is ok. I found a cute purse and Jo took care of all the bargaining. For those that dont know, most places, unless there is a roof and walls, will allow the customer to bargain the price. The prices are not set on stickers or anything the shop owner will judge how much the value is based on the customers. This means "here is a White person price that is 50% more than what it is worth" As a savvy customer you must begin your bargaining very low. It is fun because this game goes on for a while and the shop owner will scoff and the price and show you how good the quality is and speak in Chinese and you will raise your price by 2 yuan and they will act as though they are insulted and you will go up slowly. Usually you will meet in the middle. We have
been told if the shop owner is pissed at you when you leave that means you got a good deal. If they are smiling at you when you leave you were ripped off. So for my 4 american dollar purse, I let Jo handle the bargaining.
In our daily life, especially if Alexes and I travel together, we are followed by Chinese people who want to take our photo. Or we hear people yell American or Foreigner in chinese. People will poke their friends to point out there are white people nearby. We have started to become used to this, depending on our moods. Jo and Maggie were so upset by the fact that people were following us they would yell at them in Chinese. It is cute how protective they are of us. While riding the bus they kept offering us seats and wanted to make sure we were ok while standing there. Chinese people are so kind to us it has made us all realize that when we are back in America we will help anyone because we have been helped so much here.
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