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A student of mine, Wing, wanted to take me out for the day, I was reluctant only because she seemed to want to do A LOT in one day. I didn't feel the need to pack my day off with all her ideas, but in true Chinese fashion, "no" was not an option. Our day started around 8:30am, a manageable hour, we took the bus to the Panda Breeding Station which was only about 15 minutes away. Apparently we weren't the only one's who decided to spend out Saturday morning viewing pandas. Lots of tourists and Chinese alike lining the pathways to catch a glimpse of the lazy beasts. I had be warned by many of my students that they have been and did not get to see many pandas. I wasn't that concerned since I have feasted my eyes upon these guys before (at zoos in the US--which amazed my students that Pandas exist outside of China), but sure enough, our first stop. Panda. We watched him munch on some bamboo for a few minutes, then moved on to the next enclosure.
We saw many pandas that afternoon. Some young, some old...panda, panda, pandas. Not much else to say
about it. Wing made me sit through an educational video on the Mating and Breeding habits of the Pandas. It was disgustingly graphic. I find it funny that they'll educate strangers who come to check out pandas about sex...but not their school students (students don't receive sex education here...something I learned in the classroom and then had to give a little impromptu sex talk. That was fun).
From the Panda place we jumped on a few buses and arrived in downtown Chengdu about 40 minutes later. Wing took me to some sort of temple. We walked around...nice area. Learned more about Chinese history. Then she took me to a historical part of the city were we walked around more. Many more tourists here, more white people. Although none of them are necessarily as excited to see me as I am them. For THEM, they probably ate breakfast at their hotel with 100 other white people...I haven't seen a white person in a month and a half...
Wing took many pictures of me (in front of nonsensical things), we found a silk shop that had real silk worms working. It was a little disturbing. I had gaggles of children
running up to me to practice their English. I guess they were part of an English school, in which the day's activity was to find strangers and ask them questions. Again, China is so protective of their single children...allowing them to run around and talk to various strangers? I tried to explain to Wing how we wouldn't necessarily do this in the US but then my mind goes back to all the fund raisers elementary schools sponsor with the idea that going door to door and raising money is a good idea...so I guess we're one in the same.
Finally, after walking around for hours. Wing take me to her parent's apartment to meet her mom (her dad had to work). He mom was so lovely and showered me with compliments. We sat down and had a huge meal. Although several times that day I had told Wing that I didn't eat meat or eggs--suddenly that important detail escaped her as she put some fried pork on my plate. AND when she made me eat a goose egg. We only lingered about an hour before hitting the pavement again, only this time we were heading straight to the bus
station to get home...Long day. Decent amount of fun...
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