Re-typing all of my journal entries is starting to get a little tiring, so I am going to highlight the rest of the Tibet trip in just one long entry. Up: On October 2, we drove to Ganden Monastery, which is high up in the mountains. We had to take a series of crazy switchbacks. It reminded me of driving from Southern CA to San Francisco in elementary school. At the top, we took a long, wonderful hike around the monastery. After our boxed hotel lunches, a group hiked up a really tall hill with prayer flags all over it. Audrey, Clare, and I went up only a short distance and lay down and took a nap on the grass. Down: I got a really bad headache and felt sick from the altitude, the heat, and ... read more

I woke up at 4:45 am to get dressed and brushed and washed. Everything was already packed. I ascended to the third floor to share breakfast pastries with Clare and Audrey. Maria was on their couch drunk. She did not sign up for the Tibet trip, so she had gone out drinking the night before and was still awake. She told us that Qiang had been at Panam (a French themed bar) the night before. Qiang is the guy from English corner who kept texting me. He doesn't anymore. The plane took off more than an hour late due to air traffic, so while we were sitting in the plane that wasn't moving they served us breakfast. Glutinous rice with pickled vegetables. I read Journey to the West for most of the flight. During the flight, ... read more

Big Shoes! After eating lunch at Relish today, Maria, Scott and I took a taxi to the big shoe store. I found an address in the back of Chengdoo magazine. Since my flip flops broke I haven't had anything to wear with my black clothing, so I needed some black shoes. Success! This store had a large selection of dress shoes. The only other customer was a Chinese woman about my height. They didn't have the first pair of shoes I wanted in my size, but they did have the second: A pair of black flats with sequin bows on the toes. I can't wear them around every day, but at least I found something. Scott got a pair of running sneakers. So we were both very happy. Next we took a taxi to Jinli. We ... read more

On Monday, Sara(h) and I tried to find the Sichuan Art Gallery. I had the name of it in characters and the address in pinyin, both of which I gave to the driver. He had no clue though. He called people and slowed up next to fellow taxis to yell at them through the window. We arrived at a place enclosed by a white wall with red characters. The taxi driver stopped and called a few more people, then tried to tell/ask me something in Chinese that I did not understand. But he kept repeating it. Eventually we got out. Across the street we found an art supply store that sold western supplies. Sara(h) got the soft pastels she has been looking for. I got colored pens with teeny tips. We also went into a music ... read more

This week involves a shopping and western food intervention. No shopping all week. The only western food allowed is Subway on Friday afternoon. September 12 Clare, Audrey and I went to Chunxi Lu with Snow White and her friend Bo Bo. We ate dinner at a big, cafeteria-like restaurant that serves only Chengdu specialties. We each ordered the sampling meal, which cost 25块。Expensive! But we got a lot of food. Dumplings, soups, baozi, chicken feet, noodles, corn and edamame, pastries, etc. Most of it was delicious and I will definitely go back for it one day when I am really hungry. Or maybe I will do the buffet upstairs, which costs twice as much but has even more options. September 13 The teacher did not show up to calligraphy class today. He was supposed to bring ... read more