Home Sweet Home

So this is old news..but I'm home! Back in the good ol' USA! I had some visa troubles and I wasnt able to work it out there so I had to come home early. The plan was to send me home, have me get a new visa and head right back to Hangzhou. BUT the American business partner, Ilene, is there now and we've talked and decided it would be best for me to stay home. Which is ok. I miss my friends in Hangzhou so much (and the food) but it will be good to be home and get ready for school in January! Im so so thankful that I was able to live in China for a little while. I wouldnt have things any other way. I met some of the most awesome people and had some amazing experiences. My time there is definitely something I will never forget!

NINGHAI

I had the opportunity to travel again the past few days! It felt SO good to get out of the city and see blue skies! Andrew has a few old students that live in Ninghai and arranged for them to show me around. Getting there alone was a bit interesting but once I arrived I was very well taken care of. "James" (Andrews student) is the most generous person I have ever met. He paid for me to stay at a REALLY nice western styled hotel with a gorgeous view. Andrew explained to me that it is chinese culture to take very good care of guests but I was not expecting a free vacation! After I was checked in to the hotel we hiked a few small mountains to different ancient buildings. It was hot but I was just so happy to see the blue sky I didnt mind! Next James took me to his gallery where he does all his art work. He studied ancient chinese calligraphy at the China Academy of Art and his work is beautiful. Next he showed me more of the city while we were being pulled in a little cart by a man on an old rusty bike! The next day a few of us headed to the beach, where we were met by James' sister. The weather was great but there was hardly anyone there! I forgot my swim suit so I bought one for cheap and we hit the waves! There was a man giving short rides on a wave runner and I forced James and his friend to go for a spin. They were SO scared, it was so funny! Then after MUCH convincing and about 200 yuan, James talked the man into letting me take it out by myself. It felt amazing to go out for a ride with such beautiful scenery! I loved Ninghai and Im so thankful I got the opportunity to go! But the trip home was the biggest adventure! When it was time to head back James insisted that his friend take the company car we had been using and drive me all the way back to Hangzhou instead of letting me take the shuttle. I thought it would be nice to have a car for the trip back instead of a crowded bus so I agreed...but the car ride wasnt relaxing at all..they had no idea how to get back to Hangzhou! I stayed wide awake and nervous because the driver was going so fast and had to keep slamming on his brakes to avoid accidents. SO...five hours, two tickets, and one fender bender later and I finally made it home! Im happy to be back home in Hangzhou but it was a great couple of days!

The view from my room

One of the artists at the gallery and his painting.

James and his work which he gave to me as a present.

The building you can see from my hotel.

Dont know what that is but we hiked to it!

Yay for sun!

James & I and his sis in the back ground.

After my fun ride! Thats James friend and sister.

Beautiful.

ANJI

Last Thursday I got to travel to Anji with my friends Yu Ling, Shelly, and Kang. It took an hour bus ride to get out of the city. From there we took a taxi to the famous bamboo forest, where Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was filmed. It was beautiful! Then we took another taxi up into the mountains to a tiny little village with narrow roads and cute little shops. We had a delicious lunch of bamboo root and rice. (I LOVE the food here!) We planned to hike a mountain that was lined with waterfalls and had the "Long Dragon" waterfall at the top. A little ways into the hike we found out it was much more difficult than we had been told, but Kang and I were determined to reach the top! Yu Ling and Shelly found a bench and Kang and I headed up the steep steps without them. The hike was actually just like doing the stair master work out machine for 3 hours, it kicked my butt! But the scenery was beautiful! Kang was feeling sick to his stomach and my legs were shaking like crazy but we made it! When we reached the top I thought I was seeing things, it looked just like the bottom! There were a bunch of little houses and even a resturaunt. We came across an old chinese woman who told Kang that all of her ancestors had lived up there, she was born there and plans to live there the rest of her life. I could not believe it! It was such a great experience (and work out) I hope I can go back before I leave! After making it back down the mountain Kang and I were pretty beat so we decided to head back to Hangzhou to get massages. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day!

BAMBOO FOREST

LONG DRAGON MOUNTAIN

AFTER THE HIKE

LITTLE GRADUATES

Last friday was a bitter sweet day, the little rascals graduated from their day care program! I was teaching the afternoon class and they were unusually out of control when "Hugo," the girl who works the front desk, told me it was the last lesson with them! I was invited to attend their little graduation ceremony that afternoon. It was so much fun to see them all come up to get their certificates and gifts. Before they left they all said "i love you" and "thankyou" on the count of "san" it was SO cute! I am anxious to get some more advanced students but it was still a little hard to see the rascals go.

SOULJA BOY!

This is my hip hop class. We were warming up the other day and "crank dat" by Soulja Boy came on the stereo so I was messin around and did the dance. I explained to my students that this dance was pretty popular in America and kids did it at school dances alot. They loved it and asked me to teach them. So I did! They are a little shy and dont really "get into" the movement but I think they're pretty dang good!

HAPPY DAY.

yup. thats a mattress.

my bike with the beautiful mattress.

The cute old man only charged 20 yuan to haul it over to my place.














....and we're off!







8-8-08 was such a good day! I got a mattress! I am so thankful to Andrew for letting me borrow it from a spare room of his. Sleeping without it was starting to be really painful and I just knew that with my back, I wouldnt last until December on that wooden pad thing I had before. Andrew and I had alot of fun getting the mattress to my room. We couldnt help but crack up at the sight of the cute old man pedaling along with that huge thing on his little bike. After we dropped off the mattress we went and bought lots of fruit to snack on while we watched the opening ceremonies! Being here in China for the first time they've ever hosted the olympics has been so exciting. Watching the ceremony with a chinese family in a traditional chinese apartment will be something Ill never forget!

Random China Pictures!

We could only show half of the sign in the picture because it says "Zhong Xing Art Traning Center" instead of "training".

I took this picture at Temple Square in Shanghai. It is such a beautiful place, I hope I can go back soon!

This is near the outter edge of the downtown area in Hangzhou.

The sidewalks double as bike parking!

Like I mentioned earlier, they are not the best with translating over here. The Wu Mei by my house has a Nike store inside but the sign actually says "NIEK".

I had to put this up so that everyone will be thankful for the thrones we have in America. I like to call this the "squatty potty" (Uncle Keith & Aunt Laurie know what I'm talkin about!)

There is always construction going on here, its as bad as Vegas. It makes it difficult to become familiar with the city.

These 2 are always joined at the hip throughout the entire class, its so cute.

The trouble makers at work...good thing they are cute!

Bargain shopping in Shanghai!