Midnight Snacks

Hey ya'll. Yes, I used ya'll. I figure its really easy to use and it works perfectly in this context. So get over it.

It's been a fun in Dong'anville this past week. It's always an adventure no matter if I stay home or leave town. I am looking forward to this weekend because we have a three day holiday for what's called Spring Festival. It is a time when families get together to respect their ancestors. I get to go to Guilin which is about two hours east/south of here and has beautiful scenery. I am very excited! Especially because our Chinese friend, Alex, is going to accompany us. It will be nice to have a Chinese brother with us who knows the language and can communicate/translate for and with others around us.

But lets talk about this past weeks' on-goings......
This past week we ran into MAMA. Haha, this lady is crazy (she's in-between Savii and I). We met her at a restaurant and she totally loved us the moment she saw us. She mimed all of the actions to see if we liked dancing, eating, etc. It was very entertaining. We've ran into her a couple times on the streets since then and she gives us a great big hug everytime. She took us to her home so we could meet her family (ok so not the smartest idea to go with a stranger, of whom you cannot even speak the same language. But she's totally cool so I felt ok going with her). Like all of her family was there and wanted to meet us. Later she invited us to come back another day so we could get facials (hence why my hair is crazy in the above picture). Oh how I love China. She asked us to come to her home for dinner tonight, but unfortunately we are having a Chinese lesson.
Mama's family and friends. She told us to call her, "Mama", so that is what I call her. Again, it is truly amazing what a phrasebook, a dictionary, and great acting can tell you about a person.
Everyone couple days or so Savii and I will find a flower or bouquet of wild flowers and grasses put on our doorknob going into our apartment. Savii and I have our suspicions that it is either the neighborhood girls or one of the boys from downstairs....we'll see if he or she ever reveals himself.
My most favorite noodle shop that I go to a couple times a week for $.45. The noodles they make are homemade and fantastically fresh. They also sell dumplings but have not tried them yet because the noodles are so appetizing.
I love this guy and his noodles.
Ginger is one of the sides you can put in your noodles. My liaison told us that it is good for your health. An old lady walked in the background right as I took the picture. She picks up and cleans the tables when customers leave.
Noodles. aughll (imagine Homer Simpson drooling right now). Haha, so in my classes this week we've been watching clips of Kung Fu Panda: someday I hope to have the noodle dream.
The streets on the way back to school from the noodle shop. People have Chinese lanterns up all the time.

Ok, so Savii and I were going to go to Merryland this past weekend, but plans fell through because Chinese people hate bad weather like a fat American kid hates vegetables. So we called our friends, Alex and Lucy, and asked them what fun things there are to do around Dong'an. They decided to take us along for what is called a, "Midnight snack". Midnight snacks are what people have around 9 at night. We went along with them getting, "hello's from students along the way." Lucy was afraid Mr. Beard (our liasion) would find out we were gone and would get in trouble. Midnight snacks include an electric cooking stove and several freshly fried meats, insects, tofu, and vegetables....basically not your typical American Ben & Jerry's midnight snack. Savii is eating a goose leg at the moment. Times like these I'm glad I'm vegetarian.Veggies stir-frys: Delicious. :)
Me trying a snail....not sure how ethically I feel about it, but now I can say I have tried snail. "It tastes like a balloon"---It Takes Two. Chopsticks aren't used for this one!Chinese Coca-Cola! It tastes way fizzy here. I can't really compare the differences between USA and Chinese Cola because I didn't have it much when I was back in the States. I would have just got water but they kept pressuring me to drink...like really pressuring me. They said, "Danielle, why you not drink? Savanna is to young to drink, but you are of age. I have seen many Americans drink. Why you not drink?" At that moment I wanted to talk about my religion with them....but casually said that I don't like the feels of intoxication. "But just a little bit!" They would say. Sometimes I feel like an odd-duck, but who doesn't feel odd once in awhile? It builds character.
Midnight snacks, righteous.
A most excellent smoothie that I had in Yong'zhou this past Sunday. After church we just go and get food on the street from various vendors selling noodles, fried rice, veggies, and fried breads. The locals think we're strange because they eat food according to season...smoothies are to?/too? (I always get them confused) cold. They had fun little jelly things in them that I rather enjoyed.
On the bus ride home, there was this live chicken on the ground with it's legs tied up. I felt great pity for it. It would suck to have cigarette butts thrown in your face, have your legs tied up, and know your ultimate fate is.....Sunday dinner.
Piano lessons! This kid Arthur, my student, lives a couple floors below us and has an electric keyboard! We were stoked to be able to finally use a piano. His father plays the piano but Arthur has never learned. I taught him the lower part of, "heart and soul" so we could do a duet together. It's amazing that a kid so intellectually smart can be so horrible at picking up a tune. Haha, but it was really fun teaching him and seeing him get excited to play.
'Heart and Soul' baby! What was really awesome was talking with him about student life and the opportunity he had to go to England. I asked him what he first thought when he arrived in England, "the air is very clean". I couldn't agree with him more.
Tony! This kid is awesome. I met him the first day I had classes and he has been my friend ever since. He is in grade 3 (I teach grade 2). We run into each other once in awhile. I was happy to see him this past Sunday because it's been a couple weeks since I had seen him last. When I said, "hello Tony!" he excitedly replied, "oh you remember my name?!" Haha, such a cute kid.

Savii and I played Badminton with her students. We were going for a walk when they just pulled us over to play and handed us the racket.
Savii's cute students.
These girls were watching us play badminton. I couldn't resist going over and saying hello. I love the girl on the rights' crooked teeth.

An overall good week. I'm praying for sunshine this weekend while we're traveling around. Hope all is well where ever you are reading from.

Peace out,

Danielle