Last Update

Aug 2, GXUN
Today was your average everyday Thursday, except it was the last class I would teach. We did an overview of the Olypmics, and it was pretty good. After that, we practiced our song* for the closing ceremonies. After class, I had lunch, then spent some more time with students until I had to be a judge in a speech competition. After the competition, the Chinese teachers and school officials took us to a 5 star hotel for dinner. This place was amazing. Not only was the food delicious, not only did they have foods from all over the world, and not only was it a buffet, but most importantly they had bread with a hard crust. Came back, went to bed, all is well.

*China fact 32: If the song has English words, it's from America. Yep, it's a true fact. There are countless English songs we heard that are "very popular and very famous" in America, yet I had never heard the song, nor the band before in my life. It was wierd, but cool at the same time. I've heard so much more music, it makes me pretty excited.

Aug 3, GXUN
Friday. The last day of Camp China. In the morning we practiced our song, then had an auction. In the auction, all the teachers contributed stuff (shirts, hats, etc (I donated a couple shirts, my now legendary aviators and my legendary headbands.)) and we gave them to whichever kids were shouting the loudest. It was insane. Then, we brought out one last thing: a bucket of water balloons. The kids had no idea what was in the bucket, so when we asked who wants it, they all started shouting. So we threw them at the them. Then we ran into the other part of the middle school, where 6 of the teachers had been filling water balloons during the whole auction. The kids ran right into the ambush, and the shock and suprise lasted about 1 minute. Then all hell broke loose and THERE WAS A WATER FIGHT! At first it started with just water balloons. Then came the buckets. Then the hoses. Pretty soon were standing in about 3 inches of standing water. No exageration. The teachers decided we had used the budgeted water bill for the month in about 45 minutes, and made us stop. I have yet to see an equal water fight. After getting dried off, we rested for a while, and went to closing ceremonies*. It was fun, and I got a little teary eyed because I know that is the last time my whole class would be together. After ceremonies, we came back, went to sleep, and all is well.

*China fact 17: People don't care about shows. Period. Movie theatre: people talk during. Play: people talk during. Closing cermonies: people talk during. It's kind of cool, and kinda wierd. On one hand, if whatever is going on is no fun, then you just talk to the person next to you. If whatever is going on is cool, you can't hear. Oh well. I had fun.

Aug 4, GXUN, City Center
Had a wierd wake up, but I'm over it. Got a late breakfast with some of the guys in my class, and then did some work. At 12, about 11 of my students and I went to City Center to go KTV (Karioke (sp?)). Words cannot describe Chinese KTV. Wait, yes they can. It was the most akward, amazing, wonderful, wierd thing I've ever been to. We were led to a private room where we had one wall that was just a couch, 2 big tvs, and 2 computers that we picked the songs from. It was intense, and amazing. I sang many real American songs and the students loved it. I had to leave early to get back to campus to begin packing. I got back, chilled*, had my last dinner at the place we always eat at, and now I'm doing a photo dump of everyone's pictures. When I get home, I'm just gonna host an FTP site for the team so people can rip at their pleasure. If you do not understand what I just said, it's ok. If you do, please point me in the direction of a free FTP program for Mac. This is it. I'm gonna finish dumping pics, and then pack, and say some more goodbyes. We will probably go for amazing barbeque one last time tonight, so I know that will be amazing. The next time you hear from me, I will be in the states.

*China fact 184: There is no such thing as "chilling" in China, as the word is used in the American language. Chilling implies any and all of the following: laundry, cleaning, saying goodbye, signing shirts, running errands, meeting parents, meeting officials, etc. In order for a teacher to "chill", he or she must be any or all of the following: dead, asleep, unconcious, paralyzed, or really really cold.

Xia Xian