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I have been having a fantastic time here in China. I flew for about 20 hours plus the 9 hour layout in Seattle. The first morning in Beijing we went to the Bird's Nest and saw the Water Cube. We went to lunch and the food was amazing. There was a wedding going on on the other side of the resturant. My Chinese professor (Wu laoshi) informed us that May 5th is a special holiday because 5 +5 = 10 and it symbolizes completeness of an individual. After lunch I flew to Kunming. The plane ride was 4 hours. I slept for most of it because jet lag hit me hard at lunch.
When I got to Kunming I dropped my stuff off at the apartment that I am staying at then went to dinner with some of the girls that are on the trip with me and the two tour guides. Dinner was really spicy and awful. I ate a bite of everything but that was it..
My first full day in Kunming I went to the Dragon Gate Temple. It was my first legit time being on a mountain. It was amazing and such a beautiful scene. We rode on a bus up the mountain to the Tourist Center then took a hang glide to the top of the mountain (the Dragon Gate). We hike down back to the Tourist Center before catching a bus to head to lunch. Lunch was really good. It was at a local resturant that didn't have a menu! You picked what you wanted by pointing to it... which was a bit weird because that was back in the kitchen. After lunch we went to the Bamboo Temple. I took a few pictures there but I coudn't take much because if I had taken pictures too close to the temple or of the inside of the temple it is seen as disrespectful to the gods. Minds Abroad (the program that is hosting me in Kunming) took the group to have a wonderful welcoming dinner. Most of the food was really good. I tried the tofo and it's not really my thing.
The second day (yesterday) in Kunming was a day that I was really looking forward to. Some of you might know this but after I graduate college I want to come back to China and teach children English. Well that's exactly what was on the schedule for this week. I absolutely love teaching the litle kids. I taught them some English but they liked drawing better so I taught them how to say different animals in English. The school is for underprivlegded migrant workers' children. The province does not recognize the school as a real school because the children do not have the proper paper work for one reason or another. This means that the school doesn't not get funding. The children are so bright but because the teachers are paid such a little amount and the turnover rate for teachers is about 2 years. They get paid $120/month.
The third day (second day of teaching) after lunch I played a game with the kids. It's bascally screaming different fruits depending on what circle you are in. I ddin't quite get the whole concept down but there was one girl that after the game was over would not let go of me. She asked me if I could teach her and I said yes. So Kelly and I (the girl asked Kelly too) went to her classroom. We exchanged names and gave each other names. Her American name is Amy and my Chinese name is xiao hua (meaning little flower). We sat there for an hour talking to her, her friends, giving American names, and signing note cards. When the bell rang Amy told us that she did not want us to leave. We told her that we would be back tomorrow. She nodded her head before we left. That afternoon when school ended, she came up to me and handed me a note. I read it and it basically said that she liked me and that she didn't want me to ever leave.. ever. She drew a picture at the bottom of the note that had a tree, some grass, and flowers. I cried.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) I have to teach again. Can't wait! (:
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Ashley
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Wonderful!
小花 seems like a nice little girl! I am glad you and Kelly are having so much fun. Does it feel like teaching in Kunming is feeding your soul and life's ambitions? Also, give 豆腐 a second look, if prepared well, it tastes great! Such good protein! Much love, Kristin! Get some rest and drink lots of water, it helps with jet lag. I understand you're twelve hours ahead--boy, what an adjustment. I hope you have many more happy cry moments. 我太爱了你！Let me know if you can't read the Chinese. Idk if will process correctly but one can hope!