Since you've been gone, a whole month passes by. And I'm not even sure what I've done.

 It's hard to believe that I've been living in China a month. It doesn't feel like it. Life has been a whirlwind.
This is going to be a long post with TONS of picture so you were warned.




It was a fun-filled week, outside of the school day. On Tuesday, Jessie and I went to West Lake for the Hangzhou runners' club. We took the bus, which took a while, but it was fun to see everything and chat. We were late since we had to wait so long for the bus, but we walked a little around the area and met up with the group at Maya bar. Jessie's lived in Hangzhou for the past 2 years so she really knows everything. It was nice talking to more people from the States. It's strange how many Midwesterners are here.

We had to leave around 9:20 because the last bus to BinJiang left at 9:30. Needless to say, it was PACKED. We were jammed in the front of the bus where people swipe their card. Wall-to-wall people. And these bus drivers don't play. In the West Lake area, there are a lot of cute but steep bridges and lots of sharp curves. Jessie and I were hanging onto dear life to these poles as we moved into people, all the while giggling and laughing. People just kept jamming to the bus. There wasn't a yellow line like in the States, where you can't cross. It was just 'More the merrier" mentality.

The bus began to play "Need You Now" by Lady A. We were both singing along, but every 15 seconds, a news broadcast or radio announcement would come on, covering up the song. Sheesh, China!

Jessie and I on the crowded bus. This was a really hard picture to take!

Wednesday was Massage Day. It is starting to be a weekly tradition to go get a foot massage. I didn't go last weekend because I was out with Jessie buying clothes, but when Josie asked on Wednesday, I was in! It seemed like the perfect way to celebrate my 1 month in China. Josie and Evan said they'd meet me there. I got there first and held up 3 fingers for 3 people. I got us a room and was waiting. A guy came in and chattered to me in Chinese. I could tell her was asking me questions and trying to get me to understand. He kept pointing to the other chairs and I kept holding up 3 fingers. He did a motion that looked like he was massaging feet and I nodded. There was also a lot of shrugging and the 'I don't know" motion. He finally left. It was the first time I really felt like I had no clue what I was doing. I had no way to communicate with him. I was SOOO happy when Josie and Evan came!

The foot/body massage was so nice. They did cupping with time, which was fun. Josie warned me that they might do it. He did it on the balls of my feet. It didn't hurt at all. There was some pressure but that was about it.

Friday was one of the worst day of air quality since I got here. I think it was cloudy as well. The pollution was really low hanging.

The front of the school, walking home. Notice how grey it is.

View from my apartments.

It was Michelle's birthday so everyone went to Angelo's to celebrate. It was a good time by all. I really like all the teachers I work with.

Saturday, Josie and I went to the Little Things Market. She wasn't exactly sure how to get there so we stopped in the convenient store to call Ember. While there, I saw a praying mantis trying to buy a water bottle.  Josie saved him.

Hello buddy!

Josie to the rescue!

Safe!

We took a cab there and wandered around. I bought tons of hair baubles and some stationary stuff. Josie bought things for her treasure box. We wandered through the silk market and clothing stores. We got lost in the huge area and had to find out way out. We had an amazing lunch of baozi and a doughnut. The doughnut was huge and we were both kinda iffy about getting it. We decided to go to Dragonfly to get our nails done so we ate our baozi in the cab. Josie took a bite of the doughnut and was so excited. She said it was a REAL doughnut, not like the ones here that taste like nothing.  It was amazing. Sooo good. I don't know if we'll ever be able to find that doughnut shop again, but I hope we do.

I got back from having my nails done and met up with Chris and Jacob at school. We're going to Guilin during October break and we had to book all of out stuff. After about 2 hours, we decided to stay at a hostel, which in a 4 person private room. We also booked our flight, which is direct from Hangzhou. It cost $447.

Guilin is in the south of China and is known for it's rice terraces and amazing scenery. Everyone is familiar with it because it's on the back of the 20 yuan. You know the mountains, I'm talking about:



Rice terraces



Reed Flute Cave



Needless to say, I'm really excited! It's going to be fun. That night, a bunch of us went to go see Jessie's band play at the Pirate Bar. It's a legit ship, but on an a mountain. It was pretty cool. I went home around 10 because a few us were going hiking in Sunday.

Today, I met Josie, Evan, Jacob, Miloux (Josie and Evan's cute dog) and Julie out in front of the school at 8am. We took a taxi to 9 Creeks. Josie said that this is Chinese hiking because the path is all paved. We walked up into a village in the middle on Hangzhou where they grow tea.

pretty-ness

tea fields as far as the eye can see

Josie decided that Miloux was going to go wading in the stream. Jacob decided to raise his arms up at the exact time I took the picture. 

Josie and Miloux

Being the King of the Rock!

Pretty lake

Jacob and I are way up there,

There we are!

Wahoo!!

Walking up into the village. Josie (carrying Miloux), Julie, Jacob, and Evan's in orange

Awesome view as we walked to get food

So pretty

At the restaurant, I had my first taste of Longjing tea. It's sooo good. I will definitely be drinking more of, though I hear it's expensive.

Pretty Longjing tea

We had a pretty good lunch and caught a cab back to HIS. All in all, it's been a great week. I'm making a lot of really good friends and I'm happy here. I do miss my friends and family back home, but overall, I'm enjoying China, HIS, and my new family and friends.