family visits part 2.

After taking a little nap our next house was with Leo and his family. His mom is my favorite lady!! She's 31 and speaks English very well. Her English name is Caslin, and yes she gave herself that name. She also loves to learn more English so it was perfect for us! Some things were still hard to understand, but overall it was sooo fun!! His dad doesn't speak English very well, but he understands it better than he speaks it.

We started driving around the city of Quenzhou and she was chatting away! She asked us what we wanted for dinner (even though we both were still stuffed from lunch) so we told her we could eat whatever. We drove by a Pizza Hut and she asked if we liked pizza, we said yes, then she said, "okay we will go there for dinner then right now!" Uhhh it's only 4 in the afternoon but I guess they were ready for dinner! 

Before dinner we stopped at the super market to get some fruit and bread for breakfast this morning. Anything we said that looked good, or that we liked, Caslin would put into the cart and buy! It was the cutest thing because she wouldn't take no for an answer. So we had some good stuff to eat later:)

In China, Pizza Hut isn't like it is back home. It's a legit restaurant where you go and sit down, and they bring you menu's, and you order your pizza plus other things. So strange but it was delicious!! I miss eating pizza back home:( We all sat and talked while we ate for a few hours! Leo and his parents are adorable together. They aren't like your typical strict Chinese family. They were laughing, joking and having a grand time with us. I love them!

After dinner we went on a walk around another park in the city and fed some fish. It felt like the family walks we take back home in Utah. I miss those days. We then made the trek back to their place. At least, one of them.

We drive for a little while then pull up to this little village. After driving a little through it, Caslin tells us, "we have to stop at their first place but we will sleep at their other place." Uhhh how many homes do these people have?! She shows us around their first home and we meet her in laws and grandma. Cutest little 80 year old! We get some things then start walking down the street. 

We turn the corner to a building that is 7 stories, and next to another 3 story building. Caslin tells us they are both theirs. The 3 story building is what they rent out to people, and they live on the 4th floor of the 7 story building. Both of these places are theirs! They also have an apartment here in Julong next to the school that they only stay at once a week. Hahaha

So many homes!!! We arrive and she shows us around for a little bit. Caslin's best friend is renting the first 3 floors for a kindergarten. And apparently they don't stay at that house very often so they don't have to deal with all the noise of little kids.

We ate more food, talked and watched Caslin's favorite American television show; Friends!! We were so happy to be able to watch it. She told me that I reminded her of Phoebe because I am tall with blonde hair, and have a very outgoing personality like her. Not quite sure if I should take it as an insult because Phoebe can we realllll dumb too hahaha

Quick side note.. When you first enter their homes, you immediately take your shoes off and put these little sandals on. Apparently they all think I have midget feet because they give me the smallest pair!! 

We went to bed early because we were so tired and slept in until 8:30 (which isn't even sleeping in for me at all)!! She made us a cute traditional breakfast and I shoved my face full of bread. My favorite as always!!

After breakfast, Caslin showed us around the village, we met some of her family, saw some really nice homes, and just talked. Basically this entire time Leo is hanging out with his dad, and we were with Caslin!

For lunch we went to this steak house that was to die for!! So freaking good. They bring it out to you on a hot platter with a lid on it still. You have to open your napkin and hold it right in front of you. They then take off the lid and that steak is sizzling like crazy! That's what the napkin is for.. So you don't get any on you:) These people are so smart! Haha it really was such good steak and I wanted to die from being so full of goodness.

They then took us to the beach which was only about a half hour away. The weather was overcast but perfect and the water was amazing. We didn't get in, but it felt good to just stand in the water. I love and miss the beach!! I'll need to go ASAP once I get home. After the beach they showed us their 15th home here in Julong. Once again, super nice like everything else! Haha We then came back to the school and came home.

While saying goodbye Caslin gave me the biggest hug ever and wouldn't let go! She kept telling us that she now considers us family, and that we are little sisters to her. Best thing I've heard all weekend. She really is such a sweetheart and tells us she is coming to visit Utah someday. Hopefully it's true because I love that woman!

This weekend really was so fun because we got to know some of our students better and where they come from. Both Sam and Leo's families were so loving and it made me really home sick. I miss my family like crazy back home but I'll be seeing them in just over a month! (So weird). Anyways, one of my favorite things while here in China for sure.

loves.

family visits part 1.

Each semester the ILP teachers get to go and visit one of the families of our students that we teach. But lucky us, we got to spend an entire weekend with two different families!

Friday night we spent the night with cute little Sam. Gah, he is adorable!!!! So little and has the worlds cutest smile. His dad picked Abi and I up from the school with him and we were off!

We arrived at his apartment and holy crap it was nice! His family lives smack dab in the middle of Quenzhou. I'm not quite sure what his dad does, but they have lots and lots of money!! Their place was so nice I felt like I couldn't touch anything! Rather annoying.. Anyways! We got there right as dinner was finishing being cooked so perfect timing. It smelled a little fishy which is NOT my favorite thing. But it sucks for me because everybody here loves fish. Basically they would keep giving me a lot of food, and I would only eat some of it because it was mainly all fish. Bummer for sure!

Oh real fast.. His parents don't understand any English at all. Sam knows more than they do and he is 6 years old. So we had Nancy, his school teacher, come with us to be the interpretor. She is absolutely adorable and I love her!!

After dinner we went for a little walk around this lake and it was gorgeous!! Across the lake there was this pagoda that had white lights all around it, and it was perched up on this hill. So of course we asked if we could walk to the other side to see it. As we were walking around there was some kind of festival going on. Music, dancing, people selling things.. They also had this huge water show like in Las Vegas. We made it to the pagoda and it was beautiful! We hiked a billion stairs to get to the top, but we made it! Haha

After all the fun outside we got back to their home and they told us we had to be up by 6 the next morning. Bleh!!! I am not a morning person at all. They told us we were going to hike a mountain but we didn't know which one. Of course we went to bed early on the worlds hardest bed. The beds here are all hard as rock and it's awful! But this one was even worse. So clearly I didn't sleep at all.

6 a.m. rolls around and we are up ready to go! We start driving towards the exact same mountain we hiked last weekend with the crazy big statue. But instead of stopping at the bottom, we drove all the way to the top! We stopped to eat some breakfast and ohhhhhhh my goodness it was absolutely delicious! Best sweet/watery soup stuff I have had in the morning yet!! I wish there was a way to describe the goodness to you guys. 

After breakfast we started hiking down the mountain and came to a spot called Sky Lake. Breath taking. The cool morning air made it all that much better. We then made the hike down and it was the cutest thing ever; once we started walking, Sam ran up and grabbed my hand! He basically held my hand down the entire mountain and it melted my heart. Made me really homesick and I missed my nephews like crazy:( We had some fun singing and laughing on the way down and made it to the big Lao Tzu statue.

Some time went by of sitting and people watching then we went to a few museums. They talked a lot about the history of the culture, and about Taiwan. Sounds super boring but I enjoyed myself! Lunch time rolled around and we went to a Thai restaurant. And guess what... More seafood!! There were a lot of vegetables though that made up for it. For all of you who love curry.. Honestly the best curry I have ever tasted!! I was dying at how good it was! I was in seventh heaven for sure.

Random thought... Sooo basically everyone in China all drive super nice cars. Audi's, Range Rover's, Mercedes Jaguars.. Before we left I look over and saw this really nice Mercedes parked in a dark little place and there was this freaking nice white car next to it. As I walked up, it was like in a movie. All of those little lights turned on one by one. Yup, it was a Maserati. These people are nuts when it comes to their cars.

butts and bus doors.

Today we took a super last minute trip to Xiamen. Just three of us went because we needed some things from Walmart and that is our only close one. We had such a fun day! 

We went to Walmart, went to this cute little shop and bought awesome socks, went to lunch at this tiny little Chinese restaurant, had a McFlurry from McDonald's, and walked around. Oh, and we also found this gorgeous park with so many people hanging out there! I would go back to Xiamen just for that.

After spending a little time at the park we had to catch a bus to make it to the train station on time. Ohhhh boy it was nuts!! Every single bus was absolutely packed with people. We would attempt to get on one, but instead decided to wait. They have this road just for buses and they are constantly stopping and picking people up. We finally decided to get on the next bus.

Have you ever seen those YouTube videos where people are literally shoving others onto buses and trains? Like, that is their job. To shove others onto buses. Abi made it on the bus first and it was crazy packed. Clearly you'd think there was no room for Hannah and myself. Well, you thought wrong! Hannah tries pushing herself on and I follow behind. Out of nowhere this man starts shoving us both on the bus so the stupid doors would close! 

I was yelling at other people to move farther in so that we could all fit! Nobody listened and Abi was laughing hysterically. Hannah got slammed in the achilles by one door, and my body was in front of the other so it wouldn't budge. The man shoved me again and the door slammed itself on my butt as I was screaming. People outside behind me were laughing, people on the bus were laughing, and Abi was crying from laughing so hard at me. I honestly thought I wasn't gonna make it! I myself almost peed my pants from laughing so hard.

I wish I could have seen how ridiculous I looked being shoved in the bus, and getting my butt slammed in the door. That bus was the most crowded thing I have been on ever!! So worth it though for the funny memories.

loves.

Lao Tzu.

Whenever we drive to the train station we always pass this big sign with a picture of a cool stone statue on it! We have wanted to go but never knew how far away it was from us. We finally talked to Mr. Li and he said it was really close and we could get there in no time!

So today was the day to go visit this interesting statue! We had the school taxi guy drive us and it was unbelievable. We didn't realize that it was a national park. Or at least I didn't. I always thought it was just some random statue in a weird spot. But it was so pretty!!

If you don't know who Lao Tzu is, then go google him right now. It never occurred to me exactly who he was, but I was looking up quotes by him today, and they are really good!! After seeing the statue we hiked up the mountain and took different paths. That was something new and fun. The scenery was gorgeous, the weather was perfect, and the company was amazing. I love when I spend time with Emily, Hannah, and Abi. I absolutely love those girls.

the cow with a leash.

Each morning a few of us always wake up early to go eat breakfast (we eat every meal at the school cafeteria which is a 2 minute walk away). They serve different kinds of bread, and this water with rice soupy thing. Best breakfast ever!! We love it.

Well today it was just me and one other girl, Hannah, that went to breakfast. We ate our delicious meal and started walking up the street to our apartment. Out of nowhere this cow starts trotting down the road towards us (with it's leash on I might add). It was winding from one side of the road to another. We thought it was rather odd but didn't think much of it because the cows are always out to eat plants and stuff. It finally stopped winding back and forth and ended up coming at us straight on. 

We didn't know what to do so we kind of tried moving to the side and got behind this tree, but anywhere I'd go, it would go! Hannah thought it was hilarious! The cow finally lunged itself into a bunch of bushes next to the tree and I took off running. Hannah told me that it wasn't going to chase me and that she didn't want to run. Yeah her plan sucked. The cow started chasing both of us!!! We booked it so fast up the stairs and I ran into my apartment! I was laughing so hard because the cow was practically tripping over it's leash while chasing us! That does not happen very often. Good memories that's for sure:)

loves.

stupid spider.

Sooo I've never been afraid of spiders until I moved here. These ones are huge!! And just downright creepy looking.

The last 2 nights some of the girls in our group have been woken up at 3 in the morning because of big spiders in their room. These things are freaking fast too! So it's hard to catch them.

Last night I was laying in my bed and I was watching Netflix on my phone. I was laying on my side facing the wall when I see this little shadow moving across the wall. I didn't know what it was and didn't think it was from my movie. I looked again and thought oh it's just a spider. I flipped on my light and a huge spider darted across the wall and under my mattress!! I screamed bloody murder and ran into Emily's room. I woke the poor girl up but I had to get it out! Thank goodness it was only at 10:30 though. 

She follows me into my room and we move the mattress; nothing. We had no clue where it ran to! She just told me to not worry about it and go to sleep. GAH!!! There was no way I could do that. We both said a bunch of little prayers in our hearts, and I wrapped myself up like a mummy in all of my blankets, and went to bed.

The day went on and some of us were watching a movie at our apartment like always. I was going to shower so I went into my room to get all my stuff together and walked over to my window. I was about to close the drapes when something touched my finger. I look and it was the massive spider from the night before!! Once again I screamed bloody murder, Abi and Hannah saved the day! So freaking funny watching us get that thing, but I am grateful it's gone!!

loves.

more trains and train stations.

We finally made it to the car we had to stand in. There were people sitting in their seats, and standing in the aisles. It was sooo crowded!! I guess Asians don't care how crowded it gets, as long as they get their money they are happy.

I found a spot to stand next to a ton of old people, and this Italian guy. It was a 5 hour train ride. Bleh!!! You better believe I sat on that floor. My feet and body were killing from hiking and running! It was so disgusting and I had to get out of the aisle because people had to walk through and the carts with food needed to pass.

So freaking annoying and I'm pretty sure the Italian guy never wants to go to the United States because I was so crazy hyper and now he thinks all Americans are crazy:)

We made friends with some people who are actually English teachers up in Beijing. Praise the heavens because they helped us with a lot of things to get us to the next train station. Writing everything in Mandarin helps so much it's not even funny. After talking to the cutest people ever we got some more pics with them and played games. It was a long 5 hours but it was fun.

Long story short, we arrived in Changsha and needed to print our tickets for today. Abi stood in line for more than an hour, witnessed an almost out of control fight, and made it. 1:30 a.m and we had to find a taxi to take us to the other train station across town. We didn't want to spend the money to stay in a hostel so we slept at the train station. Yes, you heard me. I fell asleep on the floor (shocking, I know) then ended up in a little ball on the chairs. I slept like a baby too! We had to wake up at 6 and go through security since the train station wasn't even open. Now it's 7:30 and I'm pooped! May or may not pass out now. We've had long days and nights this trip.

loves.