1 week on...

Here we are one week on, still in Dongguan! Yay! We've been finding our way around by taxi and generally trying to make ourselves understood (we will be able to challenge you all at charades when we get back!! The best one so far was when I was looking for some swimmers - the girls in the shop understood straight away what I was after, just by a few freestyle actions!!!). Today we went to Huying park - about a 20 minute taxi ride away. It's a huge beautiful park with a big lake in the middle. It rains a lot here so wherever there is greenery it is very green. In the park people were playing soccer and games, and there were a couple of ping pong tables too. I think the Chinese really know how to enjoy themselves. There was a large gathering of adults who were playing a game and they were all killing themselves laughing. After that we went for our weekly treat to Starbucks (well, we have been there twice this week, but that's ok!!). It costs 25 yuan - or Kwai as they say here, for a cappucino.

The other night we walked down to Walking Street - about 10 minutes away and I got a new mobile that I can use over here. Then we had dinner and we were all walking back and we went past a big gathering of young people - some of them ran over and asked us to come over - they wanted us to dance. So we all had to take turns being in the middle of the circle while everyone clapped and sang the can can. It was very funny!!

Our training was put back a day so we start tomorrow and then start teaching on Wednesday. Apparently the kids over here can be a little bit naughty, so I'll be looking forward to the classroom management ideas!! If all else fails, I do know a little bit of Kung Fu that could be useful (just kidding!!)

Our Chinese vocabulary is increasing little by little - I can now say 'take away' so at the end of the meal we can take what we couldn't eat with us. I am missing those fresh farm eggs - the eggs over here are very pale and small...and they don't come in cartons - they are loose and they are just placed in a small bag!

Anyway, better go and get my beauty sleep for our big day tomorrow. Andrew will be having an exciting experience tomorrow - his back is playing up and he has been in a lot of pain, so he is going to the local hospital, and hopefully will be able to see a physio there.

Bye for now
Ruth

written by  arterra on September 1, 2007 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Adventure
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