Typical Tuesday!

While I love Monday morning, I do not love Tuesday morning. I could not fall asleep last night, probably because I had spent the last 3 days sleeping in and staying up late! The alarm went off way too early, but I got myself up and was ready at 8:30! Good news, I finally figured out how to work the heat! It’s not super hot but MUCH better than nothing, so I wasn’t freezing all night! I was downstairs at 8:30 and to be honest, wasn’t too happy when it was 8:38 and Helena still wasn’t downstairs. I went up to get her and she was on her way down, but I decided the situation was what it was so I was just going to go with the flow (I am trying to get better with this!) We made it to the bus with no problems. I felt bad because I didn’t mind talking to her but I was so tired I just wanted to rest! The bus got stuck in traffic again, but luckily nothing too bad and we weren’t late for school.

I have decided to put in a little bit more effort when I am about to get off the bus, for my fans. I really feel like a celebrity. People stop what they are doing and line the road to watch me! So, I have decided I owe it to them to make sure I’m looking good! I have also decided I am going to take on roles. Most days I will probably pretend I am a princess..BUT I might pretend I am a famous singer, a famous actress, or maybe even a famous ping pong player! That will make it less awkward when I see them all looking at me because I can think, well who WOULDN’T look at a princess or a famous ping pong player walk by!?

My happy man (who I have a picture with now! I promise I will upload them soon) wasn’t standing at the gate so I asked Helena if she signed in yesterday and she said no, so we kept walking! But I saw him on the way to the teachers’ lounge and he waved, so I figured we were good! We dropped off our backpacks and headed outside with everyone. I was ready for morning exercise and more importantly, ready to see if Helena was better than me! But, NO MORNING EXERCISE! Can you believe it? I asked why and they said it was too cold and too much ice! This was true and knowing me I would have slipped during jumping jacks and given everyone a reason to laugh!

I followed Chilli (that’s really her name) to 7th or 8th grade, I was confused! They were very welcoming (I was nervous because 6th grade was rowdy..and teenagers can be tough!) I walked into the class and a boy in the front yells out “You are very beautiful!” I’m not gonna lie, I loved it! Now THIS is the class for me! Chilli wanted me to go over their vocabulary because they have midterms tomorrow, which I didn’t mind doing, but wished I had more time to plan something fun. It was a bit boring just going over pronunciations with them, but it is what she wanted! About 5 minutes into the lesson these doctors (with masks and all) knocked on the door and Chilli told me it was shot time so I had to leave! So we went back downstairs where all the teachers and Helena were waiting!

Now was my time to get my hero (Michael) to help me with my phone! I explained my problem and handed him my phone and phone card. And, like I knew he would, he figured out the problem! I had a China Unicom cell phone but a China mobile card! Ugh! I blame Sabrina for that one (really though..she told me to get a China mobile phone card). Anyway I was so happy to finally understand why I haven’t been able to add minutes to my phone for 2 weeks now!

They all spent some time speaking in Chinese and I think they might have been laughing at me (although I don’t blame them!) Finally, Chilli told me they were trying to figure out how to help me! Aren’t they the best? It seems like Michael was going to go get me the right kind, but they were confused about what to do with my China Mobile card. I told them they could have it, as a gift! Michael responded with, “Thank you sooooo much!” and it made me laugh! I gave Michael money and off he went!

Chilli said the doctor was done (I think they were having swing flu vaccinations..I wanted to tell them, prick me too! I need some of that!) So we went back to the classroom and I was greeted by, “Beautiful, beautiful!!!” I really could get use to this! I think that is how everyone should great me from now on. We didn’t have much time because class was almost over but we reviewed a little more!

Luckily they are all so nice and we can laugh together. I have messed up quite a bit. Today I was doing the wrong words and they try and tell me in Chinese but I don’t understand, but then when I finally get it we all laugh. And then in 5th grade I kept wondering why these two kids weren’t saying things with their groups..and they kept saying something to me, but then I realized they were in a different group! Oh well!

After that class I went with Sophia to 5th grade, which I didn’t realize I had done yesterday! She said I could use the flashcards so we did fruit and colors and started on transportation! I tried to expand it a little more. When I pass out the cards I have each group stand as I ask them, “What fruit do you have? Or what colors do you have?” They have to reply, “I have ___ and ___.” I will also say, “I want an orange, an apple, grapes and a pear”! So those students come up to the front and I say, “Who has an apple?” And the student says to the class, “I have an apple!” 5th grade was still fun (except for my trouble maker who thinks it’s funny to NOT speak English!) because sometimes I would be looking for a banana but I had a student with a pineapple up there! The students are funny yelling (in a friendly way) to get the pineapple up there or they’ll say it in Chinese and someone will jump up because they understand now! We started on transportation and learned a lot of knew words so hopefully I can continue with that!

Lunch time! They did not have my potatoes today, instead, cabbage! Yuck! I managed to eat some but I did not like it! I enjoyed lunch with Michael and Helena but the school is so cold! I am not sure if they never have heat, or just not yet, but it definitely wasn’t on! Michael tells us the funniest stories about messing up English and Chinese with his tour groups or things like that. He was also telling us that in China if you want a pretty girl you need to have a car. But I guess there is a word that means car, bus, bike, etc. Apparently, (and yes I am jealous!) a pretty girl asked Michael if he had this word (she meant it as, Do you have a car?) and he said yes (knowing what she meant, but saying he had a bike). Maybe you had to be there but I enjoy story time.

My happy man was also present for lunch! He had this big bottle of food (it sort of looked like long pieces of grass?) and he took it out and starting chopping it up with a huge butcher knife! Michael said he asked us if we wanted to try some and said it was sleek. He said it was something like wheat, but wheat when it just starts growing? I went closer and already could feel it burning my eyes and throat! This stuff was spicy! I took a spoonful (a spoonful too much!) and it WAS spicy! My eyes watered and my throat burned. Michael told me to eat some bread which helped, but it was way too hot! Michael told my happy man and the happy man said food isn’t good unless it’s spicy! Woah!

I went to wash my dishes as did Helena and we weren’t sure if we were supposed to stay after lunch. Melissa had sent me an emailing saying yes but had told Helena only on Thursday. It didn’t matter to me, but Helena said she wanted to get back to book a tour to the Great Wall and do some errands (she still needed her own bowl, etc.) I forgot it was only her second day and she was still getting settled. I said I was fine with that (we were both FREEZING, not that we should complain because they have school all day) but I said maybe we could stay later on Thursday! I didn’t mind having some extra time because now that I have friends I have been very busy!

I spent some time updating my blog, emailing, chatting with friends and planning my time (with Mom and Lorna..yay!) in Thailand! I am so excited to know that I have two of my favorite people coming to visit me!

I came back to the hostel and ran into Callum. It is fun now that I have friends because we talked about our days and made plans to meet at 6:30 for dinner! Ali walked in at 6:30 and wanted to eat too, so we pushed it back to 7:00 so she could relax for a bit and we were off!

Ali was craving falafel so we went to an “Arabian Night” restaurant across the street. I ordered..pasta! Once again I was craving it! We were enjoying catching up when all of a sudden the lights dimmed and disco lights came on! We joked how we were ready for a dance party, when all of a sudden this woman came out! She was in a somewhat Indian looking outfit and did a dance! It was actually very awkward; we didn’t really know what to do! Who knew dinner and a show!

I was able to shower and have a relaxing night! I have to rest up, the Great Wall tomorrow!

Hugs and kisses from Beijing!