The Chinese can dance TOO!

Yesterday we found the greatest dance club in all of Hefei! 

We (Me, Tammi, Danielle and Erin) got to the club, bought our tickets and were then motioned to go up some stairs. We climbed a whole bunch of stairs and finally reached the club. It was silent. The only people we saw were the employees. It was funny because as soon as they saw we were a bunch of American girls they all crowded around us and threw out a bunch of Chinese words at us. We had no idea what they were trying to say! All we could do was laugh. Word got out to all the employees that Americans were there and a guy who knew a little bit of English came to our rescue. 

He told us that we were very early and people don't come to dance until 10.

That didn't stop us from hitting the dance floor with a few of our "American" dance moves! We were the only ones dancing for about an hour! All the employees just watched us as we made fools of ourselves.  (Erin, Meg, Tammi------------------>)

<--- (Erin, Tammi, AH-Chew, Danielle, Me)

Ok, his name is not really AH-Chew :) That's just what it sounded like when he said it. His name is Drew and he could speak a little bit of english. He was so in love with Erin! When ever he would talk to us he would only look at her :) He also tried to teach us some Chinese and we taught him some more English. 

What is wrong with this picture? Yes, we are in a dance club and yes, there is a 5 year old. Apparently in China, you don't need an ID to get into a club. His mom was super excited to see American's and she kept holding her son up into our pictures so, we pulled up a chair and took a picture with him :)

So, in China the boys sway back and forth and that's basically it. The girls, on the other hand, wanted to dance with us. We all had Chinese dance partners and danced the night away! 

Needless to say, we are definitely going back!!!

Stay tuned for The Trip to Shanghai. We leave tomorrow!

A little of this- A little of that

Sunday's in China are nice and relaxing. We have church at 10 am and then lounge around, explore the campus and take walks around the neighborhood.

Last night, for Valentine's Day, the girl's went to Downtown Hefei for ice cream (China's chocolate ice cream is yucky but the cookies and cream is delicious). We usually take the number 3 bus (2 Yuan = $0.25 us). It's a 20 minute bus ride that is extremely cozy :) The buses are ALWAYS jammed pack. Trying to get back on the bus was a joke! There were so many people waiting and so when a bus comes you have to be fast, pushy, aggressive and mean. We didn't make it onto the first bus so we had to wait another 30 minutes for the next one and barely made it on that one.

The food is amazing! I'm getting better and better using chopsticks :) 

I had to take a picture of this meal... it is my favorite so far. Of course I had some hot tang and rice. The top square has eggplant and meat in it. I've never really eaten eggplant before until China and it is amazing! it has kind of a weird texture but, I love it :) And the bottom left rectangle is some sort of veggie with the most delicious noodles I've ever tasted in my life. I wish I could box up the food and sent it back home for everyone to taste because it is to die for!

This is one of my many Chinese friends :) I don't know his name cuz he doesn't speak English :) When I asked him what his name was he just looked at me funny and kept swinging on the Chinese version of swings :) Sometimes we go out to the basketball courts and play with the older kids (high school). They think it's hilarious to see girls AND their teachers playing ball. 

I'm here!

2 hours to LA

14 long hours to Shanghi

7 longer hours to Hefei (bus)

I finally made it to China! China definitely has a smell. I'm mostly used to it by now but, when I first stepped off the plane I whiffed in and... armpit meets 2 week old egg rolls. The traveling was the wors

t part. Sitting for LONG hours and maybe 4 hours of sleep. I'm glad I don't have to do that again until I leave. 

Our school campus is huge! There are three story buildings for each "class"... primary & elementary and

 then there are a bunch of dorms, cafeterias, gyms, teacher housing and other administrative buildings. Our apartments are kind of crappy. Although, I am getting used to them :) In mine and Tammi's room our toilet doesn't work (we use the one across the hall), our heater doesn't work and the light is crazy! It's basically a strobe light so, our room feels like a dance club.

We all went to a park near by the school and fed pigeons. The Chinese people were all laughing at us and probably thought we were a bunch of crazy Americans because everytime the birds would fly near us we'd scream. I finally got brave enough to actually feed some out of my hand. I couldn't watch though :)

This adorable chinese kid was so fun to watch! He just let the birds land all over him. 

Well, I'm loving it here so far and it will only get better. Also, I bought a space heater at the local Market (Joy Mart) for only $12 (us) Everything here is sooooo cheap! Tonight I bought dinner at a Noodle Shop for 6 Yuan ($1 us) China is awesome! I'll write again soon :)