Published: November 4th 2009November 1st 2009
By now, you know the routine. Woke up at 7, went downstairs for a buffet breakfast. This one was exceptionally exciting as they had CEREAL! We both opted for Coco Krispies, not a cereal we'd ever really eat in the states, but this was a special occasion...we haven't had any cereal since leaving the states!
As we headed out to get on the bus, we noticed it was drizzling and looked pretty chilly. YES! We'd been just waiting for some cooler weather and a chance to wear our new coats. Walking outside we were greeted with temperatures in the low 60s and rain and we both couldn't stop smiling.
We rode on the bus once again for awhile and then got out at an area where a famous Chinese calligraphers works were on display. It was all outside and surrounded by beautiful trees, water and shady paths. Once again, we didn't know much about the calligrapher whose work we were seeing, but it was beautiful nonetheless. We even stopped at a tourist stand with other teachers and bought a fan with a Chinese poem on it.
Our last activity of the trip was probably our favorite. We drove over to another tourist area and got to take small boat tours around 'East Lake'. 3 people could fit in a boat, so Maria offered to go with us, and proved invaluable with the translations and information she gave us. It was gorgeous and I actually found myself feeling COLD! It was definitely the highlight of the trip, and awesome to be experiencing things as a Chinese person would rather than a foreign tourist. We were definitely thankful for that aspect of the trip.
Lastly, we ate yet another quick family-style lunch at a restaurant and headed back to the Hangzhou airport! After waiting for about an hour at the gate, we boarded our Shenzhen Airlines flight and enjoyed a calm 2 hour flight home.
Although it was a packed four days that was often full of confusion, we are incredibly thankful that our school invited and took us. We got to see parts of the country we wouldn't have otherwise, especially not on our own...and it was free! Who can beat that? Best of all, we now know all the Senior 3 teachers at least by face and can wave and smile as we pass each other on campus.
After graduating from college in 2007 and spending a few years in the working world, we randomly decided to move across the world and teach English in China. Hmm...foolish, or awesome? It's going to be the year of a lifetime, with adventures we'll never forget. Join us as we cry, laugh, experience life as we never have before, and make new friends while trying to stay in touch with the old ones. We'll be returning to the USA during the summer of 2010, where we'll hopefully move to a new city and begin life yet again anew.... full info
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For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. A...more info
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Hangzhou, Ningbo, Putuoshan
October 29th 2009 -» November 1st 2009
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November 11th 2009 -» November 15th 2009
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April 28th 2010 -» May 3rd 2010
October 29th 2009 -» November 1st 2009
Hainan
November 11th 2009 -» November 15th 2009
SE Asia
January 15th 2010 -» February 16th 2010
Taiwan
April 28th 2010 -» May 3rd 2010
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Comments
Date: 5th November 2009
haha, i know, we should buy some! neither of us ate it enough in the states to really care about buying it here but it was exciting to get it one day:)
From Blog: Last Day
haha, i know, we should buy some! neither of us ate it enough in the states to really care about buying it here but it was exciting to get it one day:)
From Blog: Last Day
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Elyse
non-member comment
Cereal
Girl you guys are missing out. I buy it and eat it all the time and it is my little piece of home I have in China. You are right I don't eat any cereal I did in the states but it is cereal and beats the trick. Sounds like a fun trip and you are correct NO ONE can beat Free.
From Blog: Last Day