Living it Up in China

Hello again!

I hope everything is going well back home. I will be returning soon, which is really strange. Yesterday was our one month left mark. Odd.

I went to Beijing this weekend. That was quite the experience! I went with Jenna and April, which of course made for an interesting time. They tried hard, maybe, but I was third wheel, and honestly I didn't really care. I didn't go to Beijing to make friends. I was bummed Amanda, Shalise and Janae didn't come with me. The trip would have been much more enjoyable if they had come. Anyway, we flew to Beijing. I was surprised that the man working the Starbucks in the airport remembered us from when we were there in August. He asked us if we had found that hotel in Xi'an. Quite the memory that man had!

We had heard it would be cold in Beijing, but we figured we were from Utah, we could handle a little China cold. Alice had warned us that we would be extremely cold, but she thinks 70 is cold, so we paid her no heed. So we packed light jackets and shoes, called it good. We arrived in Beijing, about 9 o'clock, and there's a little bit of snow, and it's rather windy out, but no deal. Our hostel was supposed to come pick us up at the airport and take us back. We search the airport, we can't find anyone that's looking for us. So, we decide we might as well take the bus! So we ask a lady how to get there, and she tells us take the bus to the last stop. So far so good. We find our bus and go to the last stop, get off, and no other bus is in sight. We wait. Nothing. We wait some more. Nothing. It's about 10:30 now, and Beijing is FREEZING! We were not prepared at all. So now we're cold and lost in Beijing. Not good. Luckily some man found us and told us about his hotel and we didn't have to use my backup plan of sleeping in McDonalds. But the hotel was shady none the less, we pushed our beds together and cuddled all night. So cold.

The next morning we did finally find our hostel, it was quite the ordeal, but we got it done. Jenna and April have absolutely no street smarts, and didn't seem to like any of my ideas, so we wasted a lot of time. I'm not going to turn this into a venting session, so we shall move on.... Aiya. Those girls.

So we get to our hostel and decide we should hit up the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was pretty cool, but a lot of walking in the freezing cold. It was so large! I can't imagine what they used all the space for! Every room we saw was enormous with just a throne in the middle. I'm sure they had more stuff in their when it was actually in use, but still. It was the most ornate thing I've ever seen. China truly is like no where else.

The next day we hit up the Great Wall. A great wall it is indeed! I've never seen anything that massive in all my life! Even building it with today's technology would be incredible. It was covered in snow and was extremely cold. The steps were steep and icy. It was no casual walk on the Great Wall. Parts of it you had to scale, use your arms and pull yourself up intense work out. The Wall is not for sissy's. Amy's favorite part of this story is that we sang Mulan songs on top, so I'll include that as well! We got down to business, we were there to defeat the Huns. If I was a Hun, there's no way I'd attempt to climb that wall. Heck no. One oart of the wall, these Chinese business men come up to me and start wanting all these pictures. So we had to stop for a good fifteen minutes to take all these pictures with random men. I really wonder what these people do with all their pictures of us. We're really not that cool. I wonder if I'm framed in anyones home. China. So to get down from the Wall, we took a toboggin. It was pretty sweet. A huge slide in the freezing cold. The whole front of my body was numb when I got off. All in all, the Great Wall was amazing, the best part of all of Beijing.

The train ride home was ridiculous. It took us over 24 hours to get home. That's not even including all the times our train was delayed. I was so ready to be home. Beijing made us very homesick. It was so cold and so Americanized that it just made you feel like you were back in the States. I was ready to be back in Guzhen. Beijing was cool, but I wouldn't really recommend that anyone go there. I don't really feel the need to ever go back again. Maybe it was just because it was cool. Maybe I went with lame people. It's probably the combination of those two. Maybe I'll have better luck next time. The Wall was amazing though. I thoroughly enjoyed that. But Beijing on the whole, meh. I'm glad I went and it was a good experience. I'm just glad to be back in Guzhen.

Although! We thought it would be warm and toasty when we got back to Guzhen, just how we left it! Nope! Cold as well! Not nearly as cold as Beijing, but they don't believe in heaters here in China. I broke my bed, again, fourth time now. Amanda and I gave up on the bed though. We're not going to have the man fix it. We said farewell to our wood pallets, and we've moved down to the floor. It's slightly colder, and the cockroaches now have free reign, but at least now there's body heat to keep us warm and no more fear that I'll come crashing down on her during the night! I was apprehensive about the cockroaches, but she assured me it was too cold for them to live now. I know she's lying, but I can pretend I'm safe.

The kids are doing really well! I missed them so much when I was in Beijing, and that was only 4 days! Yesterday when I saw them I just hugged them all and told them how much I loved them! They're so crazy and naughty. While we were gone Alice taught our classes, poor kids. I guess one day she took them wine to drink. Alice is crazy! She acted like it was no big deal. I guess Addison really liked the wine. Alice. China. Crazy. I'm not sure which is worse, that she gave the kids wine, or the time she took a knife and threatened the kids. I don't even know!

Alice is still her crazy self. I did miss her when I was in Beijing. I don't know what I'm going to do without her in America. She keeps me so entertained! We do such foolish things together. She's such a shady lady. She annoys me as much as I love her. That Alice.

Well I think that's about it for now! Sums up my life in China this week. Beijing, good. Teaching, good. Alice, crazy. Yep, that's about it! I love you guys! I hope everyone is doing well!

Cam