Homeless Wednesday

This post is shocking and should be taken as lightly as possible. Yes the facts presented are indeed true and the characters truly go by the names Annie and Bailey. After indulging on the spaghetti I took so long to prepare, the nightly goal was to obtain a wrench needed to higher the seat on Annie's new mode of transportation. Excited by such an adventure, we ran out of the house in our pajamas, with only 12 RMB. We were fortunate enough to find such a strange object and the man was willing to accept 12 instead of the asking price of 15. So it seemed like a successful journey until... we returned home... with no keys. After continuous laughing at our stupidity, and coming to a realization of our situation, we decided to ask the friendly security guards for help calling a lock smith. The price was high even after bartering but we complied knowing there was little left to do if not agreed. The first door opened within seconds, but the second door was stubbornly holding it's ground. Thirty minutes went by and the men, so eager to get into our house so we could pay them, were at their last string. Our communication was poor but the last option was to drill a large hole in the door. Annie and I decided against it, we would probably be forced to buy a new door from the land lord.

So after much praying the men left and Annie and I were, what's that word? HOMELESS! truly, frightened, alone, with only our wrench. But two miles away lives two families in our branch, all we had to do hope we remembered where they lived. Sadly the first was a failure, we knocked on so many doors, but it was very difficult because their complex's are high security and give out no information. Perhaps it was the suspicious wrench Annie rubbed between her fingers? Sadly neighbors are not very friendly here and no one knew who the Family even was. They were our best hope.. as we were walking down the street the silliness became quite frightening, it was now probably about 10:30, I was wearing flip-flops, shorts, and a sweater, attractive I know! And it was getting cold. If the District president wasn't home our options for staying the night were the bar, the park, or to continue walking all night protecting ourselves with our wrench. How strange we must have looked wandering around Shanghai at night. The light finally looked up however and with much humiliation the Dyer family took us in. They provided us with a bed, tooth brushes, breakfast, and sister Dyer even let me wear her daughters pants to work the next day.

I know those who care about me may be worried, but please don't (mom). God was watching over us and I learned a big lesson.

Easter

Thanks to my mother, Annie and I had a most delightful Easter! Thanks for the package mommy! I don't have much else to say, we dyed the eggs Annie poorly boiled:) And ate some of the chocolate that we hadn't already consumed! Oh and I made my first glow in the dark egg! And along with my Chinese flag I made an American flag. I miss you America! Easter can make a girl home sick, even when they get to have an easter egg hunt over Skype.

Happy 28th Birthday Rochie

We celebrated Rochie's birthday with some cakes from cafe 85 and glow sticks for candles. By the way Rochie is our new roomate, also my coworker. She's hilarious, she just moved in one day. She is from the Philipenes, and likes celebrity gossip and Christian music. We also locked her in the house the other day. I didn't know you could get locked inside a house, but she did... and that is Rochie.

Tianmuhu Lake

rice fields



hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

My center went on their spring outing this week! We were able to go up north to some mountains and a really cool lake that I never saw. Even though it can be pretty awkward between my coworkers and I, the trip was successful and enjoyable even though Annie couldn't come:( Monday night we went to the hot springs, the lady wouldn't let me take pictures but I wish I would have hid my camera in my towel. It was like a day spa resort, the ultimate relaxation availability. There were hot springs every where, some were even scented with flowers, lemon, and wine. I laid on a hot stone bed, who knew stone was comfortable? The bizarre part was the fish pond. I sat in a hot spring full of millions of little fish who eat your dead skin. It took a long time to relax enough to hold still because it tickled so bad, but apparently it's really good for your skin. Oh yeah women's swim wear is usually really modest but the mens swimming suits are repulsive! A little longer than a speedo. That was not the most shocking part of the night but I will resist telling for the nasty pictures I could paint in your head.

Tuesday we hiked to the top of the mountain through the bamboo forest, apparently really famous in Chinese movies such as hero, never seen it, heard it's good? First and greatest part of the day however was the bamboo raft ride. Our boat driver lost his footing and fell off the raft!! Sean my coworker and I were the first to the top of the mountain. It was stairs strait up for 1,200 meters, and deathly hot outside! But super beautiful. At the top were keyless locks lining the fences, lovers inscribe their names on them and it is symbolic of a never broken love. It sounded more romantic the way Sean described it. I just wanted to use the log to gong the bell. On the bus ride there they gave me a cucumber:) they eat them like apples it makes me laugh. I also craved my name into a couple bamboo stalks...

Annie's blog is better than mine

If you want more details, because my sweet mother told me I only give the readers digest version, you can read Annie's blog, it's way more in-depth, I don't know where she gets the time? But it's a lot better than mine!

Xiamen

I flew in an airplane four times in two weeks!!! I know I just had the best vacation ever but here goes round two! Does this girl ever work or does she just play? I just play really, I won't lie. Annie and I went to Xiamen Island with all her coworkers, which is a little north of Hong Kong. I had to follow a bunch of Chinese tourists and a yellow flag:) All we were missing was matching hats. Chinese vacations include little walking to sites, lots of food, and shopping. Not my idea of a perfect vacation but definitely fun with the people we were with! I tried snail, some shrimp looking thing, fried banana, what looked like an octopus leg, lots of rice and other Chinese food. Since it was an Island there was sea food everywhere. While everyone shopped for free time Annie and I build the greatest lighthouse sand castle ever! Included with spectators and photos. We got to go to a Buddhist temple, but you are only allowed to pray if you haven't eaten meat. Also I went to Xiamen university's campus, the most beautiful campus in China apparently. Our other attraction was a piano museum, we took pictures even though we weren't suppose to but I didn't get to play them. I've only played the piano twice since i've been here and it has been for FHE at the Olsen's and I totally slaughtered the songs:( I guess you really do lose your talents when you don't use them. I probably climbed every tree and rock I could find, it's too tempting the trees were amazing! The high light of the trip had to be two of the girls playing with the dead fish on a stick! You just had to be there!