Last Days of China

Monday it was Sarah's birthday. We actually had plans to go biking that day anyways- I didn't even know it was her birthday because she never said anything. But Susan found out it was Sarah's birthday and decided to plan a big party and invite a bunch of people so word got out and instead of biking we went to dinner at this really fancy restaurant. So fancy that I had lamb, beef, pork, goose, shrimp, clam, and more all in one sitting. It was Carina and Me and the two girls who teach Laura. It was nice having the families there without the kids (except laura and yoyo). Whenever food was put on the table they always let us teachers go first. They refuse to take food until we have, and they are always serving us! Everyone takes turns feeding each other (putting food on each other's plates). Of course there was cake and Laura of course blows out the candles before Sarah has the chance.

These ladies even have their own group colors and jackets.

Hot corn juice. Actually really yummy :)

Sarah with her husband and daughter. Guess who blew out the candles? Her daughter Laura

We finally go around to biking, and what a beautiful day it was! This biking place I went twice- once with the other girls in my group and once with Sarah. It is so beautiful, farmlands and mountains.

I also went biking a third time at a different place with Sarah's family, Susan's family, Carina, Kayla, and more. This trail was a lot longer and a lot more secluded, we didn't go to the end but still biked about 30km.

They have scarecrows here too apparently!

The girls who were with us for summer camp but left for Changsha came back at the end of the week since they were flying out with us! We went to our favorite restaurant, called the Muslim restaurant because the owners are Muslim (but it is still Chinese food). It was a cool way to end the semester with them back since we haven't all been together since summer.

We gave our Chinese teachers and coordinators flowers and cards to say thanks for the semester and all they have done to help us! Afterwards our teachers said something to the kids in chinese and before I know it I am being mobbed by kids! They start hugging us and giving us kisses on the cheek. It was one of the best moments ever- I wish I could have gotten pictures but it happened so fast. And sometimes it is better to just enjoy the moment. Also Kris came up to me and handed me a roll of paper she drew on with tape. It was a little present she wrapped for me! Inside was a random pencil, crayon, and fan. It was if she found random objects and packaged them up for me but I absolutely love it. Especially her drawings on the "wrapping" paper which include random letters from the English alphabet. Along with her name spelled "Kirs" with some letters backwards haha. These kids seriously make me so happy :)

Ami! Our awesome Senior A coordinator!!!

I picked out these flowers for ami- pretty cute right?

Kris's gift for me:

 

my first flower arrangement I have ever made. I really like it!

Senior A chinese teachers! Jenny and Yanny, they are the best!!

 Saturday night Susan's friend invited us for dinner. We played with the kids until dinner was ready. There was a little snake in a bucket that is their "pet". Susan was super scared of it and I would pick it up and pretend to throw it at her and she screamed and ran around, it was great. We also climbed on the roof and got a great view of the town at sunset.

The family has a neice who lives with them and she is 17 and in high school. She is telling me that she goes to school from 6am to 10pm six days a week and still has homework when she gets home! I ask what she likes to do and she doesn't have many hobbies, because she doesn't have time! It is really sad, their schooling is rigorous. Even the teachers at Bond (my school) work too much! They are there usually until 4 or 5 and work six or sometimes seven days a week. They don't have much free time which is sad because we don't get to hang out much outside of school

-Our last day of teaching (Thursday) most of us stayed after school for the kids' dream stage. It is where all the kids show off the English songs they have been learning to the parents. Well earlier when my kids were practicing they started singing "we wish you a merry Christmas". It was so adorable and that is the first time I started getting teary eyed and after my student Linda came up to me and said "Teacher why are you sad?". It was really sad. But I am glad I stayed after to watch our kids perform on the dream stage and I even got to meet one of my students' mom. Judy is really quiet and her mom spoke some English and she told us that Judy wants to talk and play with us but he is really shy and doesn't know how to communicate. She didn't even want to go home until we had left!

Also at the dream stage I found out one of my students takes drum lessons so he played the drums for us. It was pretty cool.

-China doesn't celebrate Christmas but because we live in a more "westernized" city and there are more foreigners they like to put up Christmas decorations in our school and around town.

 

-Tuesday of our last week I got to ride with Allen, along with Maegan and Allie. He told us he is going out of town for a few days and that's when we realized it would be our last ever car ride with him! So of course we got a picture. Getting to meet Allen was actually really cool, at first I thought it was a little weird. But we have lots of great conversations with him and learn about the Chinese people. And he is taken us out to nice dinners a couple of times. Glad I got to be there for the last ride!

-Our last day was Friday and we got to go to the park and play games. It was really fun and then we got tons of gifts and cards from our students. Then we went to the classroom and played with them until nap time. I thought I would cry a lot but I was actually happy all day until right before we left. As the kids were getting in bed, they all said bye and I love you, making little hearts with their hands and then that's when I started to cry a bit. But me and Carina decided to surprise our kids the next Monday. Truth is we left some things at school so we grabbed them and guess who happened to be having outside time? Our class! They were so surprised and excited to see us. It was nice to see them again, some gave us hugs, and we got to leave on a more happy note. I'm grateful I got to see them one last time!

Monday the 15th was my last full day in China. Like I said I stopped by the school and saw my kids again. I also got my hair cut and washed at a Chinese salon- they even massage your head and neck and it feels wonderful.

Carina, Kayla, and I went to the Sun Yat Sun park one last time. They hadn't actually gone through the whole park and there are some cool things like caves so I took them there and we enjoyed our time taking in the city and beautiful scenery.

Of course I had dinner with Sarah and then headed over to Susan's house where I met up again with Carina and Kayla. We played with Susan's crazy kids and took pictures of course and said goodbyes!

Melanie, Hans, Susan, and Yoyo

Me and Phoebe! She is another friend, unfortunately her daughter wasn't here so I couldn't get a pic of her