Reunions & Shaving Heads

Holidays, Red Rover, Dance party, egg hunt, hula hoop games, shaving heads, reunions, WOO!  That was day 5 of camp.  It was lots of stuff crammed into one day but a fun day of course.

We played “I love everyone who...” for mixers in the morning and it went extremely well.  Some kids happened to be ‘it’ multiple times.  (Brief explanation of the game: Everyone sits in a circle on stools and one person is ‘it’ in the middle.  They have to come up w/ a phrase of “I love everyone who ____.”  So I could say “I love everyone who is wearing a black shirt.”  Those who are have to get up and run to a new seat and the person who was ‘it’ tries to find a seat as well.  The person left standing is now in the middle.)  So we played that for quite a while and the kids seemed to love it.

Culture day was all about other ‘American’ holidays and then the kids got to share about  some of the Asian holidays, or festivals as they call them here.  They got SO excited.  We taught them about Easter, Halloween, Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s day, 4th of July, and possibly a few more.  The kids got to break into groups and each group picked a festival to teach us about.  They told us when it occurred, the story behind it, how it’s celebrated and their opinions of it I think.  I made sure to put them into my phone’s calendar so I can be ready for them.

Halfway through mixers I got the best gift ever: my Asian brother and sister and 2 other friends came to visit!  I knew they were coming but the shock of them walking through the door was pretty huge.  Locke brought me peanut milk (in a bottle) which made my day even greater, if that was possible, and Jenny brought me a letter from Nicole who couldn’t make it because of exams.  I got to spend several hours with them and got their numbers so I can call them or text them and hang out when they have a brief break from school.  They got to meet my family and play some games and just talk for a bit.  

It was a dream come true.  I didn’t think they would ever have a chance to meet.  It is seriously my real family meeting my Asian family.  I’ve had dreams about it for the past 2 years and it finally happened!  I love those kids so much and I feel incredibly blessed knowing that I have a whole year to spend with them without any real goodbyes.  It makes em want to cry even writing about it now.  So we’ll move to funnier things:

Shaving heads! 

Yup!  The [American] boys wanted to shave their heads so we got John’s shaver and Josh was our guinea pig.  What he didn’t know was that they planned on sneaking someone in to unplug it halfway through so he’d be stuck w/ a grandpa cut.  He freaked out and then we somehow ended up shaving the rest of his head with shaving cream and razors.  They eventually told him they just messed w/ him but it was pretty funny watching him freak out.  Then later they gave Sean a mohawk and Derek got the ugliest ‘X’ shaved on his head... and it’s still there. He looks like an idiot and he knows it too.  So that was a minor little bump in the day.

We had an Easter egg hunt with colored ping pong balls for rec and then a game of red rover that resulted in only one semi injury! MIRACLE! haha.

The real highlight of camp was the dance night.  The kids were all pumped when they heard it might happen so of course we made it happen.  We taught them the electric slide, macarena, cupid shuffle, chicken dance, and soulja boy (they requested that one, no lie).  Then we played some random music and just had a dance party.  A few of the kids can moon walk and bust out some sweet Michael Jackson moves.  It was the best dance night I’ve seen in my 3 english camp trips.  Everyone had a blast and nobody wanted it to end!  I didn’t get to many pics of that because I was teaching the dances and having way too much fun.

And Bailey ate a bug... a beetle actually.  That boy will eat ANYTHING! 

Get ready for city day. Keep remembering us as we finish up camp.  This was day 6 and we’re now on day 8.  Just a little time left with the kids and we need all the energy we can get to make it through!!

Love you all and miss everyone tons!

-Hailey

Merry Christmas

 A few days late but let's just pretend it's not. Deal? Cool!

Christmas day in LC(at camp of course) was GREAT! Best day of camp up until that point.  We started the day with some normal mixers and then it was off to culture class.  Culture went so well.  Courtney and Sean do such a good job with that class.  They went over the holiday and we got the kids ready for skits.  I think this nativity skit was the best I've seen.  All of the kids did their lines really well and everyone seemed to really enjoy it and understand.  

Then we taught them a few Christmas songs.  We had them sing it once (which really meant the Americans tried to sing while they read along) and then they sang with us and sounded beautiful.

Rec time was 'steal the presents' instead of 'steal the bacon' and 'human sculptures'.  We had them make the manger scene, a snowman, present, and a Christmas tree.  Some group got so creative! It was a blast

Everyone started getting pretty tired so we had a chill night and just played "Honey, if you love me..." which is always fun.  Some of the kids played 'mafia' after that.  But it was the conversations that developed out of culture class that were the best.  We had kids talking about stuff at lunch, during free time, at night before bed, and the days after too.  It was incredible.  There are conversations going on all over the place.  Our leaders are doing an incredible job.  We have a great team this year (I think that every year though).

Jiaren

这 是 我 的 家人。
Zhe shi wo de jiaren.
This is my family.

Yesterday (day 3 of camp) was all about family!  Culture class was one of my favorite lessons of the week.  We taught them about American families and most of the activities involved the Asian students comparing & contrasting Chinese families to American families.  I think over the past few decades, and even just the past few years, a lot has changed here.  For the most part, Asian families are similar to American families.  It's always fun to see the students react to our questions and their reaction to each other's opinions of their own culture.

We had a pretty massive rainstorm yesterday and, as soon as the rain came down, the Americans were ready for a volleyball game/mud fight.  The boys all brought swim trunks for this exact reason and the girls just threw on shorts.  The same thing happened last year and all of the Asian students stayed inside and took pictures of us but this year a few of them ventured out into the rain.  It got pretty crazy once mud was thrown and today I did the laundry from that and that was a FOUL smell.  No clothes should smell that bad.  (They will LOVE me for informing you all of the odor that came from them).

We thought the rain would stop but of course it didn't.  I think it rained pretty well for at least 5 hours with no break.  Then we were asleep so I don't know.  No thunder though.  That was a bummer.  The thunderstorms here are my favorite!

Last night was movie night - thank goodness - so everyone got to stay nice and dry inside.  We got the projector and speakers all set up to watch Ice Age 3 in the classroom and several people brought over blankets and pillows to lay on.  To top it all off, it was Lonnie's birthday!  Kirt had John go into town to pick up a cake and we got the classroom all set up and surprised Lonnie.  We sang her the Asian and English happy birthday and then all had cake while we watched the movie.  It was a pretty great night.  We even got to look over the pictures I've taken so far, which everyone loved.

And I got to bust out my matching raincoat and boots! YAY!

Camp is going great.  Last night was a good break in the relationship aspect of camp.  Everyone is really starting to communicate and bond and today has just been fantastic.  But it's only halfway through the day right now so I'll wait to describe the day's events.  It's Christmas in LC (for camp that is) and I will have plenty of stories and pictures to share tomorrow!

Zai jian,
Zhong Guo Hailey

Xing xi san he xing xi si

性西三和性西四
Wednesday and Thursday

Today is day 2 of camp.  So far things are going really well.  We have 24 students.  We had around 12 the first night and after a full day plus today we are at 24.  It's the Asian way!  AND we are getting another group in on Friday or Saturday?

Yesterday the Saratoga group got in right when camp kicked off so Courtney took culture lessons by herself!  The girl is a pro now.  Language went well, rec went well, evening activities went well (mostly because I am the official quizi champion) and overall it was a good day!

Our campers range from 11-21.  The 11 year old and the 21 year old are actually siblings.  Lucy (the 11 year old) is the most adorable thing I have ever seen.  Her cousin Lina is 12 and they just make your heart melt.  They look like they are about 6, maybe 7, and they are just precious!

We did trust falls yesterday and the blind trust walk.  Every single kid did the trust fall and all of the American's participated too.  Even J jumped up at one point.

Evening activity was quiz - which means chopsticks - which is the Asian version of spoons.  The only difference being that you reach for a chopstick and not a spoon.  We had 4 tables going and once you got down to 2 people we combined all of players left and I ended up winning against Sean who beat me last year.  It was great!  AND no scars from this year's game which was a nice change from last year.

Today has been the first real day of camp now that all of the American's are here.  Mixers went well.  They played the human knot game and capture the flag.  Culture went smoothly, rec is going on right now and then language starts in just a minute.  I have no idea what is planned for tonight so I'm anxious to see what the guys do.

Things are good in LC (and not 100 degrees either)!  Yarp for us though please.  Health issues are pretty much gone but everyone is tired and we need energy to get through the next week (and next month for me).

Zai jian,
-Hailey

AMBIEN!

Finally feeling MUCH better! I was burning up last night.  Fever, body aches, sweating.  It was b-e-a-utiful... NOT! So S gave me an Ambien which I've never taken before and boy was it a FUN night!

I took it when I was ready for bed so as soon as I took it I brushed my teeth and went upstairs to go get an extra blanket for my bed and by the time I headed downstairs my world started getting a little odd.  Everything was kind of spinning and so I went straight to bed and even climbing into my bunk was interesting.  As soon as I laid down I sent Evan a text that literally said "I just popped in an Ambien and everything is all floaty and spinny.  Mmm."  Then I went crazy.

I was looking at pictures on my phone before I really crashed and I decided to share w/ Lindsay and Adrienne that my pictures were moving.  Here's an example:

Looking at this picture last night I thought that the men in the background were pacing back and forth.  The guy in the striped shirt started moving first and he would randomly come in and out of the picture.  No joke.  It was like a movie.  And I guess Adrienne asked me how it felt being on top of the world and I said, "Gooooooood."  Then I crashed.

I slept like a baby.  Apparently snored and talked in my sleep.  BUT I woke up w/out a fever or headache for the first time this trip!

A few more hours til the kids get here.  I can't wait to meet them.  Hopefully some of my kids come back :)

We're Here

Well we made it to LC.  Woke up at 5 am and packed a good amount of important things in today.   BUT before I get to that, here are some pics from the past few days.

Shopping in KM!

Tea tasting in KM.  I didn't buy any here but in Lijiang we had that Golden Grahams cereal tea!

At the entrance to the Mufu Palace there was a man w/ a hawk so of course we paid to hold it!  He was heavy too!

One part of the Mufu Palace.  My family thinks Mulan was 'filmed' here.

We wore traditional clothing from some of the Naxi people.  We drew in a huge crowd.

13,000 feet up overlooking most of Lijiang.

Adrienne didn't hold the hawk but she did hold a monkey!

Family yak kabob eating.  Possibly my new favorite picture.

Impression Lijiang.  One of the coolest shows I've ever seen.  The man who designed this set helped design the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

Kids should be getting in tomorrow for camp.  We are going to have a small group this year I think.  I'll post apartment pictures soon and more once it's all decorated to feel more like home.  Camp pictures and stories to come soon.

Also, yarp for all of our health.  I've woken up w/ a fever every single day.  Our sleep schedules have been all 'yaked' up (yak jokes are the best) so I am taking an ambien in a bout 2 minutes! I can't wait!  haha

Hope life is well on the other side of the world.

晚 安
wan an
Goodnight

Yak Day

Still sick.  Big time.  Richard had a little bug, mom is somewhat sick, Ann has a cold but seems much better today, and I think everyone else is doing alright.

Yak day was GREAT!  We didn’t ride them but I was ok because of everything else we did.  We went to the Spruce Meadow instead of the Yak Meadow and it was so much better!  It put Calaveras to shame.  I can’t even really describe it.  Pictures will do a much better job.  AND I got my yak on a stick AND..... wait for it.... wait for it... Octopus on a stick! Fried and rolled in spices!  It was legendary.  (Sorry for the How I Met Your Mother references, but not really).  I was like a little kid on Christmas morning.  We went  to some old villages where my mom spilled BOILING hot tea on my leg and did some shopping and had hot pot for dinner and then slept!  Supposedly I launched my pillow at Adrienne in my sleep.  I don’t believe it.  Actually I do.

Cool story: Our tour guide, Robin, has been with us before.  Two years ago when we toured Lijiang he was our tour guide and we absolutely loved him so this year when Ann was booking everything she asked if he was still there.  He had been promoted to a higher office position but jumped at the opportunity to be our guide.  He is brilliant and his english is fantastic.  My dad had some really good conversations with him and gave him one of his books this morning when we said goodbye.  He gave us all postcards and might come to visit during our next few weeks of english camp. His ‘replacement’ took us to the airport this morning.  His name is Andy and he went to school in Lin Cang where I’ll be teaching and his sister is currently there.  I gave him my email and name and he gave me his sister’s name and phone number.  He also took a picture of me and sent it to her after he called her to tell her about me.  He said if I ever come back to Lijiang that everything will be free.  I can stay with him and his family and everything will be taken care of.  This place is great.  I’m so glad my family is getting to experience the Chinese people the way that I see them.  We aren’t even to camp yet and my mom already cried at how great the people are here.  She’s going to lose it at camp.

We are in the airport in Lijiang about to head back to Kunming where we’ll be for one night and then at 5 am we leave for Lin Cang! FINALLY!  I can’t wait to see my apartment and actually have internet (since again I’m writing this on Pages since none of the airports over here have free wifi).  

Sorry these are all so long but it’s only going to get worse.  We cram so much in a day here and that makes for tons of stories.

(Pictures once I get all settled in!)