July 5

We spent most of the day at the school today getting ready to teach on Monday. The school is only 5 years old, but looks 20. Very poor construction, which is very sad.  The walls had many cracks in them, and the overall care of the building was very sad.  I can see why all those buildings came crashing down in the earthquake in another part of China.  They knew we were coming, and yet the room they put us in was dirty and full of mosquitoes. We kept swatting them while they were giving the orientation. And none of the three plugs worked in the room. 

We had our welcoming dinner with the officials tonight at a nice restaraunt in town.  They had us walk the 10 minutes there, which wouldn't have been so bad if they didn't have us walk in the road. There was a path to walk on the whole way, so I didn't understand why they would put our lives in danger...Ok, it wasn't that bad, but crossing the street was!  Our leader, Sally, really gave them the what for and they got a bus to take us home. 

They fed us until we couldn't eat anymore! Holy Cow...yes there was some.  Here is a list of each individual dish that was served. And it just kept coming and coming!  Tofu soup, Clam chowder, (not Rich's yummy recipe) Quail soup, with quail eggs, 3 kinds of duck, button mushroom, a huge mushroom served each person on and individual plate with a fish sauce, celery, shrimp, cucumbers, PIGEON, (yes, served with the head) corn, rice, pickled jellyfish, dried mini fish, lotus, sesame cake, and we thought that was it, but then came the whole fish, egg rolls, and broccoli.  No watermelon for dessert, which was strange as we have had that every meal.  

We had one Chinese teacher sitting with us, and all the male officials sitting at the other table with the girls from our group that were in strapless, and spagetti strap dresses. They were certainly taken with their beauty. And the wine and beer were flowing. Sure glad I don't do that. Wouldn't feel good tomorrow. 

We got home and Lisa, Evelyn, Bonnie, and I decided to run to Walmart for a few things. A scary ride in a taxi, and interesting experience in the store. Found some peanut butter for class, a shirt to walk in, and an Olympic shirt.  It was very crowded.  We had to wait a  long while for a taxi, and there was a line, but people kept jumping in front of the line.

Home and exhausted, but safe after another exciting day in China.