[Dad here: I think we're zeroing in on the Danielle-in-China-to-Dad-in-Utah connection figured out. There's only one wierdnes. See if you can find it!)Wow, what a couple weeks it has been! I of course have a zillion and two pictures to show you! Seriously, I have the best life in the world. My happy little life is going to end in only a month in a half's time...not enough time to do what I want.
So I finished classes on Tuesday afternoon and packed up to leave for XIAN, which is the home of the Terracotta soldiers. Savii and I tried to pack as light as week could because we knew we'd have to carry it with us for the two weeks duration. We also knew we had a 24 hour train ride ahead of us. The train was actually not that bad. Mostly I tried to learn Chinese songs, read Lonely Planet guide to figure out my life for the next month in a half, talk with people on the train, and watch the scenery pass you by.
(Take Care Of Your Treasures)I love funny translations. This sign was above the sink on the train.
We got to the hostel late that night. First thing I noticed walking off the train in Xian: the air is DRY! I was immediately able to feel at home. Humidity is not my favorite thing.
Savii and I met up with the group and we went to the Bell Tower. During the Qing Dynasty they would strike a bell at dawn and dusk to signify that they time has come to wake up or go to sleep.
View of the street from the tower. People use umbrellas in China to shade themselves from the sun. Girls don't like the sun because they want to have white skin.
Reflection off of Amy's glasses of the flowers atop the Bell Tower.
Starbucks! Humanity! We were way excited to go to Starbucks and get a Frappachino and feel American once again.
The Drum Tower. It looked beautiful at night and the atmosphere was really good. Some of the people in the group got their faces drawn. There were a ton of stalls on Muslim Quarter, right next to the tower, which means that you can bargain! They had things ranging from bookmarks, dried fruit, kabobs, to knockoff designer bags. It was difficult to be there and not spend money. All of us everyday after shopping would say, ok I am done shopping...but we would buy more because everything is such a great deal.
While at the Drum Tower there were all of these people selling kites that would extend forever and ever in the sky. It was quite a spectacular sight to see all of this.
Next Day: Terracotta soldiers
Terracotta soldiers! They exist. Any my oh my what an incredible sight to behold. The soldiers were discovered by a local farmer in 1976. He's not wealthy though, my tour guide said, but just famous...leave it to the government to take all of the money. There are 8,000 Terracotta Warriors and Horses. It is also called the "8th wonder of the world." There are three pits to see all of the soldiers. The first pit, is the biggest.
Some of the soldiers still have color after all of these years! Many of the soldiers are not yet excavated because with today's technology the color can't be preserved so many soldiers are still left uncovered to preserve their colors.
There was a Jade shop, where Amy bought some local Jade. They told us how you can tell if Jade is real or not: hold is up to the light to see if you can see the minerals in the rock, light the bracelet on fire (shouldn't melt if it's real), rub two bracelets together (shouldn't rub anything off if it's real).
After our little Jade exhibition, our tour guide took us to meet the farmer who found the warriors! Yep they're still alive. I bought some postcards that he signed as well. Woo! I'm sure someday they'll be worth millions.
Muslim Mosque! We went to a mosque that is really near by. While we were there we ran into a bunch of people from Spain! Sam served his mission in Spain and so he was was ecstatic to speak with people in Spanish. I love traveling because you meet people from all over the world!
3 languages! Arabic, Chinese, and English!
Muslims! I love their caps. It was really neat because we were there during prayer time. All of the sudden all of these men with their caps, started chanting and coming towards the front.
The place was so calm and peaceful, it was nice to be in a religious place after being in the hustle and bustle that the markets can bring.
I bought some real Jade for about 20 yuan (about $2.75). These ladies were on the Muslim Quarter market.
Packed buses. I was fortunate enough to get a seat. We were on our way to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Yeah the name is long. If only it was Big Goose Pagoda or Wild Goose Pagoda...Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a little much for me.
You can see the Pagoda in the background. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built to house the Buddhist Sudra's brought to China from India by the monk Xuan Zhang.
It was SO rad at the pagoda. There was a ginormous water show right in front of the Pagoda. A Chinese girl took my hand and we ran through the water! We were soaked through and through by the time we were done. The group all got in and we were tangoing through the water, onlookers probably thought we were crazy Americans. But hey, you only live once. It was fun running through because a bunch of little boys would stand on the spouts and squirt water right into us.
Next day:
These were my roommates from South Korea! They just got back from a trip from Tibet! They were totally awesome. They even gave me a Korean name: Jeong An. Which means: Clear Eyes. They said that this name really reflects me and the goodness of my heart. The older guy was on his year sabbatical and the one on the right is a famous photographer and traveller in South Korea and has a travel blog: noas.tistory.com. If you can read Korean check it out. It was interesting talking to them because the older guy would do all of the talking, while the younger didn't say a word...I think he knew English because he would nod in agreeance when the older guy would speak.
I signed the wall of the hostel. The walls were covered with people's signatures all over. Look to the right middle and you'll see my name.
Xianzimen youth hostel. I'm still not sure the difference between youth hostel and regular hostel. This hostel was amazing and was in an old time Chinese-style house.
We had to check out of our hostel before 12, so we had to lug our stuff around before we caught our train that evening to go to Beijing. We spent the day at Reservation Park. It was the neatest park ever. There were many things going on:
including Beijing opera. Dancing, painting, carnival rides, yo-yo lessons, and a hammock park!
Alisa and I painted a picture as we waited for the time to pass by. After we were done, because we didn't want to hold onto it while traveling we gave it to a little girl. Her face lit up as we gave it to her.
Next Day: Train and Temple of Heaven (Sunday btw)
After we got to the Happy Dragon Hostel, we went to the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings that was built for Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to heaven for good harvest. While we were here there was also a bunch of free local entertainment. This is the happiest man I've ever met: he had no teeth and kept dancing around waving his pink fan.
Sam helped this old man down the stairs from his wheelchair. This place isn't very wheelchair friendly. I don't think I've climbed so many steps in my whole life.
There were a bunch of monks that were at the Temple of Heaven! Some of them were cute too. It was interesting to see monks outside of the monastery and doing normal day things like holding an umbrella, taking pictures, laughing, carrying a backpack. Yep, monks are real people too, not just people who are obsessed with communing with the One.
Me taking a picture of a monk taking a picture. I wonder if they feel like how we foreigners feel: people always taking pictures of them. It gets a bit annoying after awhile. Although, maybe they don't have annoying thoughts.
The monks were behind us!
The number of figurines represent how important a building is. The more there are, the more important the building.
Just chillin waiting for the rest of our homies. We still got several, "hello's" from people passing by. I thought that would have gone away since we were in a big city. People still wanted pictures with us too! Very strange I tell you.
So we wanted to see the new Night at the Museum movie at a local theater, but tickets were too expensive.
While at the theater, there were a big crowd of people grouped around holding light up signs. A guy there told us a famous singer and actor, Wei Chen, was going to make an appearance! Even though I did not know who this guy was: I saw a famous person in China!
Yeah he's good looking. It was difficult to take a picture of him because there were so many people in the way!
Next day: Rain, Rainy Monday
The hostel we're staying at offers a free bike tour around Beijing... We were going to go on it but we woke up to the pattering of rain. Ugh. But I guess rain is good luck in Beijing because it doesn't rain often there. We were lucky to see it rain. So because the rain ruined our plan we were going to go to Chairman Mao Memorial Museum, but it was closed, so we were going to go on an underground tour of old Beijing, but it was shut down too!
On our little walk around town, we walked through the alleyways. This is a guy's home! He had a cute little dog. The old man yelled, "Ni Hao" to us!
Because everything was closed we went to the Silk Street Market. Dude this is the coolest, most dangerous place to be if you have money in your pocket. The second I walked in I was overcome with: WANT of everything I saw. I have been told Beijing has really good shopping and it's true. You have to fight for your item and endure the workers guilt trips. But the challenge of bargaining is totally entertaining. I think I have learned the art of bargaining. They offer you a jacked up price and then you offer a really low price...like really low. I have been told to offer half, but even half price is jacked up.
It was really fun talking to the workers because they're just young girls or boys of age 19 or 20. They work 12 hours everyday and have only one day off a week. One girl I talked too, I was able to ask her about the real price of an item. Example: a wallet: 30 yuan, purse: 80 yuan. They'll ask you for about 400 yuan because, "it is good quality, real, hand-stiched, very beautiful on you, can't get this one anywhere else", but then you'll say, "no I want it for...such and such." then you'll go from there. Sometimes you'll have to walk out of the store and then they'll dramatically reduce the price. A girl told me it costs 1500 yuan to run a little shop each day.
I was with Sam while he was trying to get a dress shirt. The girls kept asking me if Sam was my boyfriend. Poor Sam...having all of these girls following him around. Where Sam goes, we go.
Acrobat Show! Incredible show.
How many girls do you see? I see three.
There are circles at the end of each. It spins around and there are two guys in there running and spinning around. A rat wheel to the extreme!
These three guys were my favorite. I'm not sure who has it worst: the guy on bottom, middle or top.
Now this is bicycle riding. Anyone one who rides a recumbent bike has nothing to top this.
Next day: Beijing bicycle
Jon, our friend of 19 years of age took us on a rain-free bicycle ride. It was fun first of all to be on a bicycle! It was also fun to see Beijing from a bicycles point of view. Beijing's population is 13 million and of this there are 3 million bicycle riders.
Entrance of Forbidden City!
We stopped at a local park to learn some dancing.
Local police officer chilling under the comforting shade of his umbrella.
On the way to the subway, my friend Lauren has been teaching me the tricks of abstract photography.
Next Day: The historical Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City.
This is Chairman Mao's museum. Supposedly his dead body is inside, but it's sometimes switched out with a wax copy while people work on his body to keep him looking good and trim.
So what happened at Tienanmen Square you ask? In 1976 a bunch of college students were protesting Communism and supporting Democracy. The government came in with their tanks and ran over a bunch of them to quiet them up. A bunch of people were killed during this process. But is was outside of the square that this happened. That's a watered down version, but there you have it.
Tienanmen Square is adjacent to Forbidden city. We are all stoked to be here! Tienanmen square is the biggest public square.
Kissing Mao Zedong. Don't tell mom!
[Dad here: This picture previews on disk rotated correctly, but showed up in the blog rotated to the left. So I rotated it to the right, and you get this. Sorry. If you're playing Find the Weirdness
this is it. You win!]
The Gate of Heavenly Peace. Mao's a handsome guy and also an important person in Chinese history! This is also seen on the way to the entrance of the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City is home to two dynasties of emperors, the Ming and the Qing, who didn't leave the city unless they had to. When I first got to the city I kept thinking of Shanghai Noon when Roy O'Bannon says, "I like that, Forbidden City, a princess, kidnapped! It's so mysterious." I love how my reference to Chinese history is from Kung Fu Panda and Shanghai Noon.
Swastika on a statue. Thought it was interesting to see in the Forbidden city.
A worker taking his job seriously. It's really humorous to see how on top of things the staff can be here.
On the stonework, there were Dragons and Phoenix's. Dragons represent Emperors and Phoenix's Empresses.
Chinese soldiers, keeping our China safe by singing songs together.
Next Day: Danielle becomes a Woman
We joined a tour group for way cheap that we found in the Forbidden City (about 17 bucks, killer deal for all we got).
At the beginning of the tour we got to see the process of Jade making. The ball he is carving represents basically eternal families, how generations and generations are within one another and are protected throughout time.
This guy painting on the inside of a little globe. The Chinese sure have patience.
Visiting the Ming Tombs. They have statues of people and animals all along the walkway that leads to the tombs to protect the emperors. We actually never saw the tombs because our tour guide told us they're not interesting. We went shopping the night before and bought, "I love China" shirts. We bought them secretly so we could sport them on the Great Wall.
As I filled up on a delicious Beijing-style meal (delish by the way, because the food is more American style Chinese food than Hunan's spicy food. All of us were dying with satisfaction), I thought of the quest ahead of me: ascend the Great Wall. I met a friend along the way, He wore an, "I love Beijing" shirt (which means center land), and he wanted a picture with me.
We got to take a ski lift type chair up to the Great Wall. While riding on the chair I thought of Chairman Mao's famous words,
"He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man". I'm going to the Great Wall today...I'm going to the Great Wall today! I've only read about this in history books or seen it on TV!
Yep the Great Wall is real.
Yeah we totally ignored this sign and kept on walking. It was cool to go past the wall and go to a part where it hasn't been renovated and trees were growing on the wall. It made me realize that the wall really is very old! We went to the Mutianyu part of the wall. It's renowned for its Ming dynasty guard towers and stirring views. I really liked this part of the wall because it's less touristy and is a less commercial experience.
The wall was begun over 2000 years ago during the Qin dynasty (221-207 BC) and was used as a military force and for communication.
Fact: the great wall cannot be seen from space.
Wo Ai Zhongwo! Pinyin for: I love China! Behind us you see an older, non-renovated part of the wall. Oreo to the extreme.
Us in one of the many towers that is famous at the Mutianyu part of the wall.
On the way down we got to ride on what is like the "alpine slide" in Utah. Wicked awesome way to go down from the Great Wall.
On our tour we also saw the Beijing Olympic sights: Bird's Nest!
Water Cube! We never went inside because I guess it's not really all that important (okay it's important, but there is a ton to do in only a few days in Beijing).
We went on a tour to see how silk was made...Not exactly my cup of tea. But it was interesting to see how it was made. They boil silk worms pupa and then the strands that are around them are the strands that are used to make silk. It takes like 180,000 puppas to make a quilt or so. It's a pity that they had to be killed. I have to admit I really like silk, but don't want it for myself.
At the end of the road they dropped us off at the Pearl Market, which I guess is a new market where the prices are lower and there isn't as much room for bargaining like at the Silk Street Market.
After Pearl Market we ran into an American Basketball team. I've decided that black men are rather attractive. They were so tall. I was stoked to see them so I could see the basketball team and show my students the picture. They love Kobe and Yao Ming. I've developed more love for basketball since coming. Dude they were really tall.
Sitting in the middle of the train station on the floor, while trying to figure out how to get back to our cities. I debated whether to leave with the group or stay another day and visit my friend at Beijing University....staying was what I finally decided.
Next Day: Summer Palace, Pandas, Kung Fu, and Night Markets
Our last activity before our group split off (some were going to go back to America, some were going to teach longer, and some had to go back early to their schools). We ended up going to Summer Palace. The summer palace is where all the emperors would go for a getaway from the Forbidden City.
Me, Jessa, and Ceira all stayed an extra day and took a Dragon Boat across the river to the Summer Palace. I got to hold a little baby while I on the ride. So cute. I love the Chinese kids.
So after the Summer Palace we were going to go the Zoo. We decided to take a little bike-pulled cart to the subway...bad idea. We thought we got a good deal, but the guy pulled three girls (not Chinese girls either) to the subway. It was extremely painful to watch him breakout a sweat and start breathing really hard. We thought he said it was 3 yuan to go to the subway for all of us. While he was pulling us we talked with each other and said, "maybe we'll give him nine, three from all of us." We'll we couldn't stand it anymore and we took the bus instead. He told us, "30 yuan instead of 3...PER Person". We said, no and ended up giving him 10 instead of 30. It was painful to watch and painful to give him the money.
Yep I saw a Panda...IN China btw. We came at the perfect time to watch the panda because we got to watch it eating the bamboo. It was so fun because he just kept eating and eating, then laid down took a couple minute nap and then kept eating...talk about a power nap!
The life cycle of a panda. We didn't see the rest of the zoo because we've heard from many sources that the cages are really small and not well taken care of for the other animals.
Next we went to Behai Park. It was very peaceful. We saw the strangest thing while we were there: this guy was totally massaging and pinching this woman's boob. She seemed to enjoy it too. It wasn't a disgusting thing to watch, but more a, "why, seriously, why are you doing that?"
Wishing well. My wish came true too. It's what I've been wishing for every time I need to make a wish. It's my secret though.
We had a terrific Beijing style meal that evening. Jessa and Cierra found sweet and sour pork. They were stoked about it. American Chinese food can be found in China.
We went to the Kung Fu show that evening. It was amazing! I was able to learn about Kung Fu more. I didn't realize that people dedicate their lives to Kung Fu. They literally become monks. There are 7 steps to becoming a Kung Fu master: Initiation (arrive to temple), learning (study hard), casting (body turns to iron), illusion (dealing with physical needs), remorse (not following the way leads to remorse), temple gate (accomplish final task to become a monk warrior), epilogue (old master passes on a stave and new master is an Abbot).
It was fun to get a picture with the kids behind us, but the little boys were so tired! They could barely keep their hands up. Poor kids.
Next day: Independence, Beijing University, and almost missing my train...again.
So I slept with Jessa and Cierra in their hostel room. I slept in while they took off for the bike ride they missed out on earlier in the week. While they were gone I went to Jingshan Park. It was splendid and had a breathtaking view of the Forbidden city and the skyline of Beijing.
There was a Buddhist temple at the top of the park. I took a picture of the Buddha, which was lucky I got it. The guy who was on security said, "hello! hello!" to keep me from taking it. But a hah! I got it.
I took a bus from the hostel to Beijing University. By myself I might add. I had to find the right bus to go the the school. Chinese people are so helpful. When I got on the bus, there was only me, the bus driver, this other lady, and this old man (which is surprising because 1/5 of the world's population is in China). The old man tried to tell me something about a mountain, 21 people, and how hot it is. I didn't know what he was talking about because of the language barrier, but it was hilarious to watch him Mime out what he was saying.
I met up with Landon and his friend Shawn (I gave him the English name. I think it fits him). Landon was so excited to see me. He was bursting with excitement and kept telling me how happy his father is and that he wants to take me to dinner when I get back to Dongan.
I met Landon's roommates. It blows my mind that they live with 9 people in a room. It was funny because I walked in and sat down in a chair. It was interesting because I thought there were only four people in the room when I heard a, "how beautiful." from behind me. There were 3 guys sitting right behind me I didn't even notice them. They were very welcoming and were hoping I could stay for a long time. While talking with them I got a text from Megan saying, "don't forget your painting at the hostel..." UGH I forgot my painting at the hostel...meaning I had to leave earlier to go and get it.
We played pool together. Landon showed me around his University. Supposedly 3 black men are being students at their school for 2 weeks. That'd be an interesting experience as a student. I would not like to experience it. We had to end our time together quickly because we had to get the painting from the hostel. It was enjoyable to go back...but stressful as well because traffic was bad and I needed to make my train. We made it to the hostel and then made it to the train station in time.
I got to ride the train back myself!
I met the cutest little boy while on the train. He kept calling me, "ayi" which is aunt in Chinese. He kept making faces at me like sticking out his tongue and saying, "hello". It was adorable. He then gave me a sucker. He also gave me a kiss on my arm and hands. I got kissed by a China boy! My dream came true.
It was amazing how excited I was to get back to school. More excited than going to Beijing. It felt so nice to be back and know that I am home. When I got off the train the humidity kicked me in the face...but besides the humidity I was so excited to return. I walked to the street to hail a motor-taxi, when all of them said, "yi zhong!" "yi zhong" which translates to, "1 school". Which is my school. They all know I'm the foreign teacher at the school. One guy took my suitcase and put it on his motorbike before I said okay to him.
I am in my last week of teaching right now and am busy packing things up. This entry took FOREVER to write and I don't have much time to write it. I should go to bed. I just wanted to update you on my life. Life is so magical here. I say that every time, but really life is amazing. Make it happen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Not sure where I'll be the next time I post a blog. I'll be traveling a lot this upcoming month and not quite sure where my life will lead. I'm really hoping and praying i can make it to Tibet. The problem is I don't have any fellow companions to go with me because they are all going back home to America! We'll see what happens. It's incredible what life can bring. Make it happen.
The moral of this story is: Danielle is a Woman for climbing the Great Wall. Kudos to me.
There was a party for all of the English teachers the last week. We had a big banquet and then sang at a KTV (karaoke). I had the pleasure of dancing with several teachers and singing many songs including, “My heart will go on.” “Yesterday Once more”, “Country Road”. Pretty much songs my mothers generation would listen to. 
Picture of some of my favorite students.
I love this picture because it has my favorite students (ok, all of them are my favorite students), but I’m also wearing my, “I love China” shirt. It’s the epitome of all things I love. 
As my week came to an end I realized that I need to take some pictures of the things I love. I would walk past hair salons and these guys would sit out on the street with crazy hair and I couldn’t resist taking a picture with them.
This Is Tony, a grade 3 student, and his good friend. When I came back to the school I noticed that all of the grade 3 students were gone. They had taken their College Entrance Exam (huge examination they need to take to get into a good university) and were out of the school. It was a shock for me to see all of the classrooms empty and the lights off! It made me sad actually. My grade 2 students are now grade 3 students and switched classrooms. I felt like a parent who has seen my children grow up and move to the next grade. It was exciting that they have grown up but sad that this time in their life has come to a close. Some students did not like their classroom because they were really close to the WC and it’ll get really smelly in the summer.
Chandler, a teacher, took us to dinner one night and while at dinner a man asked Savanna and I if we wanted a free hair style (this was all translated to us of course). Savanna and I were up for it. They wanted us to come to their hair salon so we could advertise for their company. Free head/shoulder massage, haircut and trim by attractive Chinese. What could be better? 
My stylist. I had a little crush on him. 
402 class. My favorite class. They definitely have a special place in my heart. Some of my favorite students are in this class. Cash He, Peter, Hero and many others.
After classes I’d take the classes outside to take pictures. This kid, Andy/Jacob, was so adorable. He asked me, “Danielle, can you give me a hug?” He told me that he was really going to miss me. 
I had to sell back my bike, Peter, Jay and Hero helped me sell back my bicycle. We walked all around town trying to find a person to buy back my bike. This man wouldn’t take it back. It was really interesting to be on the other side of selling back my bicycle. It sucks trying to start at a high price and then gradually go down. Peter was really good at selling back the bike. I got my bike for 140 yuan.
I needed to go to the internet café and I saw all of these dry lizards on the ground.
While taking pictures with students one day, a student asked me if I could go to the art room and be a model for their class. I loved it. I just sat there for 3 hours modeling and listening to music. It was a good life. During breaks students would ask me questions and then take care of me by buying water, mosquito repellent (they noticed that mosquito’s really love me…Thanks Dad for giving me B blood), and singing songs with me.
Seriously I’ve seen this, “Boys Need Yoga Too!” shirt everywhere.
My favorite cafeteria workers. I would eat lunch there after classes. They made the wickedest tofu. 
When I got my face drawn I met a lady who works at the local kindergarten. I went and visited all of the kids. They were SO cute. We walked in on them when they had nap time. They were all laying in their beds awake. When the bell rang for them to get up the energy level went up by 100 percent.
Digging for gold. They were just sitting there chilling. We went to the 5-6 year olds and they gave us a play in English about little babies trying to find their mommies.
My most favorite food ever: Eggplant with Green Beans. I will definitely miss this food.
My restaurant workers. Love these girls. I met them the first couple days and have stuck with them through the months I have been there. 
We met these students on the first day. They have been our friends ever since the beginning. They are always bursts of laughter whenever I see them.
See double?
Gate keeper. This guy is awesome. He would wave to us all the time and say, “HELLO!” really loud and then say, “Ni HAO” after. He scared both Savanna and me at first because I thought he wouldn’t let us out, but really he just wanted to make friends!
Our watermelon lady. I will miss them dearly. They became our mommies as we walked outside the gate. I’m pretty sure we kept their stand running with all of the watermelon and water we bought.
Motorcyclists outside of the school gate. They would line up waiting for people to ask them for a ride. They’d yell, “hello” to us as we’d walk by. They eventually knew we wanted to go one of two places: bus station or train station.
BuBuGao lady! She would take my bag every time I went into the supermarket. She became our buddy. She lent me some of her DVD’s and I we are now friends on QQ. Don’t know how that’ll work saying she doesn’t know English.
This was SO cute. When I went up to my apartment to get ready to go to dinner with friends all of my favorite neighborhood friends were there! It was a big party! They gave us presents and hugs. So adorable. It was so sad to say goodbye. I love these girls. Bobbie was also there to say goodbye.
Dinner with my favorite people: Savanna, Alex, Lucy, and Chandler. We went to a restaurant. I love these people. I couldn’t believe that I’d never see them again! I hope someday I will see them again.
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