i just had the best night of my chinese life! me, mariah, nancy, and ji hye went to a korean sauna. i have never felt so good, (or so exposed.) These sauna's however are not for the faint of heart, the weak of stomach, and MOST DEFINATELY not for the shy!
so as soon as we got to the sauna, we removed our shoes, got a key and went up a carpeted staircase to the locker room. (that carpet by the way is the only carpet i have seen since i've been here so it only made the stay all the more luxurious) as soon as you get to the locker room, you leave your inhabitions at the door and strip down. haha. i feel really close with my new friends now. they know more about me than some friends i've had all my life! when you're 'prepared' you step into the shower roomand bath room. there is a wall lines with open showers, and opposite that wall is three large square pools. one is really hot, one is mediocre, and one is verrry cold. when you're showered and clean you go into the first hot pool, then proceed your way to the cold one. when you're finished with that you dry off, and go back to the locker room. there you're given funny little outfits to wear. then wen you have your funny little outfits on you go out into a little restaurant and sit on the floor indian style. then you have some dinner! i was soooo hungry by this time. we went straight to the sauna after school. when you're done eating you go into a large room, and the floor is covered in straw mats and there are people lying around on them. there area few small tables that you sit indian style at again, and some people were playing some chinese board games, and others were watching the huge screened tv's. all were wearing this weird robe-out fit things we were given. this was the only co-ed room... for obvious reasons. it was the only room people weren't naked! then at the back of the room there are caves. yup.. those are the saunas. when you get inside, you sit on the straw mats, and use sandbags as pillows if you want to lay down. it felt sooo good to sit in there and just sweat. it reminded me a little of the crazy heat in guatemala! when it gets too hot to stand you go and sit on the sloor at one of the little tables. when we sat down , one of the waiters brought a plate with four eggs - shells and all- to our table and a plate of salt. i guess they burn the eggs in the shells on the same stones they use for the sauna. when you open the egg it's either dark brown or black. it looked gross but it was good! smoked egg.. yummy. then they bring you this AMAZING ice cream thing. it's literally ice and cream. crushed ice with beans, and rice cake on top of sweet cream. it was sooooo good. and then you get some bubble tea. felt so nice after that hot sweaty sauna. then we played a chinese board game. it was similar to x's and o's, but you use coloured stones. (i'll show you when i get back!) then after that we went back to the locker room, gave back our robes and went back into the shower room. after dipping in the three pools again you go and lay down on a massage table. but instead of a massage a woman with a pumice mitt on comes and scrubs alllll of the dead skin off allllllll of your body. i really think i lost a pound there! haha. that took about half an hour. they oil you all up then just go to town on you. we all got to lay in the same room together so that was fun. less awkward. then after that you go and shower for a final time, and then you're done. and you even get to keep the pumice mitt!! wa hoo! at least that way you know they use a new one on you every time! i have never felt this good ever i don't think. i feel so smooth and so relaxed. i've never been to a spa before, but this really felt like it! i will most definately be going again!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
oh sooo niiiice
well today was Jenny's birthday!! wa hoo!... it was fun. we all went out for dinner.. ate WAYYYY too much again..(story of my recent life).... and then all of the girls (me, nancy, Ji Hye, and Jenny) went out for massages. wow it was sooo goood. i put some pictures up on my facebook. it was hilarious... me and ji hye got girl massagers and then in walks this young handsome chinese guy to massage her mom. it really was her special day! they were intense foot massages (next time we're doing the whole body thang!) and ji hye is really ticklish so she just laughed through the whooole thing. my feet have never felt so happy. it was so fun. tomorrow night me and mariah, and ji hye and nancy are going to a korean sauna. i guess they're really neat. although it's the bare all type.. o well! i'm here for the experience! haha. i'll be sure to have a full detailed report tomorrow ;) alright... i'm going to bed.. keep smilin :)
yeahhhhhhhhh
SOOO as it turns out i don't think i'll be up for winning the "most clever of the human race" award anytime soon... haha.. i managed the other night to give myself a little concussion. most people would consider climbing on seaweed covered steps at night wearin only sandals as maybe not being a super fantastic idea. well... tried and true. you're right! i thought i was being ohhhh sooo careful.. but i slipped and smashed my head on a higher step. i was still a little woozy today in class and my arms are all scraped up.. but it was pretty hilarious at the time. i swear.. i'll be more careful... i don't REALLY enjoy looking like the product of someone's fury.
so, karen remember when we gorged ourselves on cherries at Gary and Rene's that one time in Regina? well... i've been making that a lifestyle these days! there are always people with wagons filled with cherries all over the place, and you pay 10 RMB for a bag full.. and so easily eat the whole thing while your walking around. so far that's been an everyday occurance. you think i'd be sick of them by now! o well.. better a bag of them than a bag of chocolate.. although that does sound pretty good right now...it's so nice!
tonight me and Ji Hye went to the government building... you walk up a million steps and it's surrounded by a huge park and a waterfountain. and you can just sit there and watch the whole city. and people crowd around there to play hackey sack... leap frog... have a waterfight in the fountain.. you know whatever youre into... and i can't believe how many couples there are here!!! especially at night! that's when they all come out. it's like bible college.
i tried some weird things lately... some little snail things... i've always wanted to try escargot.. that's the closest thing i've come to so far. and i ate some sea cucumber... it was gross. but it was given to me when we went for dinner with the government people, and it's rude to not try everything.. so i had to choke it down. yummmmy. another strange thing was jellyfish. i thought it would have the texture of a squid.. but it was really gritty. those clams are still the best seafood i've EVER had. it would seriously be worth the flight here just to try them! so i can expect you all for dinner?
classes are still going good...i'm getting to know my students and my colleagues better so that always makes things more easy-going. i'm teaching my high school class how to write a business letter though ... HOW do you make that interesting!!?? the only way i can think of is to just skip that unit altogether! o well.. i'll think of something...
One of the teachers who finised teaching at little fox about a year ago is coming to visit tomorrow. he's 24 and from the states so it'll be cool to meet him. oh yeah! haha.. i met an italian foreigner the other day! i was pretty excited because foreigners are so rare around here.. but it was kind of ruined because he thought he was a pretty smooth guy... sorry! not interested! well anyway i should get to bed.. it's 1am here... i've had a hard time sleeping this week to i'll take what i can get!
well see you later! hope you're amazing!
so, karen remember when we gorged ourselves on cherries at Gary and Rene's that one time in Regina? well... i've been making that a lifestyle these days! there are always people with wagons filled with cherries all over the place, and you pay 10 RMB for a bag full.. and so easily eat the whole thing while your walking around. so far that's been an everyday occurance. you think i'd be sick of them by now! o well.. better a bag of them than a bag of chocolate.. although that does sound pretty good right now...it's so nice!
tonight me and Ji Hye went to the government building... you walk up a million steps and it's surrounded by a huge park and a waterfountain. and you can just sit there and watch the whole city. and people crowd around there to play hackey sack... leap frog... have a waterfight in the fountain.. you know whatever youre into... and i can't believe how many couples there are here!!! especially at night! that's when they all come out. it's like bible college.
i tried some weird things lately... some little snail things... i've always wanted to try escargot.. that's the closest thing i've come to so far. and i ate some sea cucumber... it was gross. but it was given to me when we went for dinner with the government people, and it's rude to not try everything.. so i had to choke it down. yummmmy. another strange thing was jellyfish. i thought it would have the texture of a squid.. but it was really gritty. those clams are still the best seafood i've EVER had. it would seriously be worth the flight here just to try them! so i can expect you all for dinner?
classes are still going good...i'm getting to know my students and my colleagues better so that always makes things more easy-going. i'm teaching my high school class how to write a business letter though ... HOW do you make that interesting!!?? the only way i can think of is to just skip that unit altogether! o well.. i'll think of something...
One of the teachers who finised teaching at little fox about a year ago is coming to visit tomorrow. he's 24 and from the states so it'll be cool to meet him. oh yeah! haha.. i met an italian foreigner the other day! i was pretty excited because foreigners are so rare around here.. but it was kind of ruined because he thought he was a pretty smooth guy... sorry! not interested! well anyway i should get to bed.. it's 1am here... i've had a hard time sleeping this week to i'll take what i can get!
well see you later! hope you're amazing!
RANDOM!
hey!
so i'm making it through my first weekend teaching. they're long days, but i like them! the classes are entirely different than during the week so it keeps things fresh. SO! a really cool thing happened last night! i guess the students really enjoy me as their teacher, and have been telling their parents about me, and their parents have been calling my boss telling her how impressed they are. cool yeah? and so anyway... i guess news spread to the government. so yesterday when classes were over jenny said caitlin i know you're tired, but we've been asked to dinner by the government officials. i was like.. uhhh.. ok!... i looked like a mess but relationship in china is SOOO important. and if you can make relationship with someone so high up in society that's amazingly good for you! so the government guy's driver came and picked us up and took us wayyyy out to this secluded hotel on the water. gorgeous. kinda scary though .. we were so far away. and anyway so we went upstairs, and met the government people. and i gues i've been teaching the head government guy's son, without knowing it. and he was so impressed with what he was hearing that the government official wants me to teach him english! isn't that crazy?!? it's such an honour. well anyway.. i have ot get back to class. see ya lata!
so i'm making it through my first weekend teaching. they're long days, but i like them! the classes are entirely different than during the week so it keeps things fresh. SO! a really cool thing happened last night! i guess the students really enjoy me as their teacher, and have been telling their parents about me, and their parents have been calling my boss telling her how impressed they are. cool yeah? and so anyway... i guess news spread to the government. so yesterday when classes were over jenny said caitlin i know you're tired, but we've been asked to dinner by the government officials. i was like.. uhhh.. ok!... i looked like a mess but relationship in china is SOOO important. and if you can make relationship with someone so high up in society that's amazingly good for you! so the government guy's driver came and picked us up and took us wayyyy out to this secluded hotel on the water. gorgeous. kinda scary though .. we were so far away. and anyway so we went upstairs, and met the government people. and i gues i've been teaching the head government guy's son, without knowing it. and he was so impressed with what he was hearing that the government official wants me to teach him english! isn't that crazy?!? it's such an honour. well anyway.. i have ot get back to class. see ya lata!
OH YEAH!
so.... basically i forgot to post the coolest thing ever! must be from the smell of singed arm hair. i burnt all the hair off my arm on the gas stove from making french toast. the things i go through for a canadian breakfast.
so anyway! as most of you know i have been praying since before i left canada for some christian connections here. and there was a concert last week at Ji Hye's university so we went of course.
and we ran into her english teacher (who is a canadian!) and his wife (wayne and lori) and i was joking around with them a bit. and i knew they were believers, because Ji Hye told me, but they had no clue that i was. so anyway the concert was starting so we went and found a seat. and after a couple hours, because we were taking the bus home we had to leave early, but i really felt like i should leave my number with wayne and lori. but i have no clue where they were. then when we were leaving i saw lori. so i walked over and said " hey Ji Hye told me you guys are christians. i am too, and i was wondering if i could come to church with you sometime" and she took me aside and said " you know what? as soon as you walked away from us wayne said 'she's here because she answered the call of God." that was so cool! not only do i have the christian connections i was praying for, but that was total confirmation that i'm exactly where God wants me right now! i just couldn't get over it. He is so good! so i guess they meet up with a bunch of other foreigners every week for church and picnics and stuff. so i'm really excited to see what kinds of opportunities God will bring up!!!! so don't worry!!! i'm being taken care of!!!!!!
:)
so anyway! as most of you know i have been praying since before i left canada for some christian connections here. and there was a concert last week at Ji Hye's university so we went of course.
and we ran into her english teacher (who is a canadian!) and his wife (wayne and lori) and i was joking around with them a bit. and i knew they were believers, because Ji Hye told me, but they had no clue that i was. so anyway the concert was starting so we went and found a seat. and after a couple hours, because we were taking the bus home we had to leave early, but i really felt like i should leave my number with wayne and lori. but i have no clue where they were. then when we were leaving i saw lori. so i walked over and said " hey Ji Hye told me you guys are christians. i am too, and i was wondering if i could come to church with you sometime" and she took me aside and said " you know what? as soon as you walked away from us wayne said 'she's here because she answered the call of God." that was so cool! not only do i have the christian connections i was praying for, but that was total confirmation that i'm exactly where God wants me right now! i just couldn't get over it. He is so good! so i guess they meet up with a bunch of other foreigners every week for church and picnics and stuff. so i'm really excited to see what kinds of opportunities God will bring up!!!! so don't worry!!! i'm being taken care of!!!!!!
:)
Miss. Carr
Hey!
so i started teaching on Monday! i LOVE it! the students are so much fun! i especially enjoy teaching the 10-15 year olds. they're advanced enough to be able to joke around. we have a lot of fun in those classes. HOWEVER there are two classes are have me a little discouraged. one is my composition class (all 17-18 year olds... one of which is my boss's son.... so that adds just a tiny bit of pressure) AND on top of that i'm trying to teach them grammar. SNORE! how do you make that interesting!??! and the other one is the kindergarten class. how you make a classroom full of 6 year olds listen for more than half an hour is completely beyond me at this point. i know that right now everything is trial and error until i get the hang of it, but still! over all though.. i love it. and the kids really seem to like me and the way i teach so that's encouraging.
so today i made french toast and scrambled eggs for Ji Hye. haha it was so nice to have something besides rice for breakfast! if i miss anything right now its breakfast food.
but i did try jelly fish for the first time. (it's not very good) it's kind of gritty.
well on monday we had a going away party for troy (the teacher i'm replacing for a month). so yes.. more karaoke. haha.. it was fun. i love china! i wish all of you could come here and experience it first hand. wellllll.... i have some lesson plans to make up... woo hoo. i hope it doesn't take too long to get the hang of this!
so i started teaching on Monday! i LOVE it! the students are so much fun! i especially enjoy teaching the 10-15 year olds. they're advanced enough to be able to joke around. we have a lot of fun in those classes. HOWEVER there are two classes are have me a little discouraged. one is my composition class (all 17-18 year olds... one of which is my boss's son.... so that adds just a tiny bit of pressure) AND on top of that i'm trying to teach them grammar. SNORE! how do you make that interesting!??! and the other one is the kindergarten class. how you make a classroom full of 6 year olds listen for more than half an hour is completely beyond me at this point. i know that right now everything is trial and error until i get the hang of it, but still! over all though.. i love it. and the kids really seem to like me and the way i teach so that's encouraging.
so today i made french toast and scrambled eggs for Ji Hye. haha it was so nice to have something besides rice for breakfast! if i miss anything right now its breakfast food.
but i did try jelly fish for the first time. (it's not very good) it's kind of gritty.
well on monday we had a going away party for troy (the teacher i'm replacing for a month). so yes.. more karaoke. haha.. it was fun. i love china! i wish all of you could come here and experience it first hand. wellllll.... i have some lesson plans to make up... woo hoo. i hope it doesn't take too long to get the hang of this!
HEYYY
hey i think i gave the wrong link for my pictures... this one should be thr right one;
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?profile&id=604780995
so giver 'er a try!... and yeah just let me know if it works or not... schweeet! tanks ;)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?profile&id=604780995
so giver 'er a try!... and yeah just let me know if it works or not... schweeet! tanks ;)
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