And Vacation Starts...Now!

This morning was atrocious. My phone alarm went off at 5:47 (that time just makes since to me. Don't ask.) It was so loud, I was worried that it might have woken up the rest of the household, but I didn't hear anyone else stirring, besides my sister, who is always up at 6 anyway. I am telling you, people here function differently. It is most teenagers worst nightmare: I am surrounded by morning people. I took a 10 minute power nap before dragging myself out of bed and to school.

I had a test to study for, so I arrived at school early, and closed myself in a classroom, armed with a whiteboard and a pen. I studied for 45 minutes, and felt prepared. Surprisingly, that feeling remained with me once I got the test (although the listening part might have been a bit of a bust.) I didn't feel as confident when I watched her (Ma Lao Shi) grade my test, but otherwise, everything else was okay. I'm not actually sure she was grading my test; it could have been someone else's. But then she handed us new books, and walked out the door for the last time for a week, and Shen Lao Shi walked in for the last Chinese class.

When Chinese class ended right at 10:00, I walked back down six flights of stairs with most of the school to get flu shots. I realized just at the last second that I was in fact allergic to penicillin (and therefore should know what is in the shot I was about to get) but was quickly assured that it was safe to get. They stuck me with a needle, and then told me that I couldn't shower tonight because my arm might get infected from the water (isn't that a reassuring thought?) The shot actually wasn't that bad, my arm is only a little sore right now. At least now I won't get sick, unlike the rest of the 53 kids at SYA that seem to have down with every illness known to man.

Calculus was right after break today, and it still went by fine, even though my teacher moves really fast, and I definitely get lost sometimes. Also, I seem to have misplaced my calculator, but I know it's around somewhere. I asked my math teacher about it, and all he said was that someone mentioned they had found a calculator. Then he shooed me out of his office. Really helpful, right? After that interesting encounter, I went to history, where we just talked about our trip to the Llama Temple tomorrow, which was lucky for me because I didn't do the homework last night.

I practically ran to the cafeteria for lunch, I was so hungry. I was again eating with Hannah, and we gossiped and chatted while chewing and digesting. After lunch some of us tried to start up a jump rope thing again, but it had disastrous results. For some reason, things were just not going well today. And with our competition on Sunday, that was not the ego booster we all wanted. (Consequently, we all have to show up to school early tomorrow before we leave for the Temple to practice. yay.)

After lunch was English (which was surprisingly uneventful today. I didn't laugh all that much, and even made some good points on the essays' that we were critiquing. I was rather proud of myself) and then free period, which is always interesting. Because today is Friday, I have free period last, which means that I am essentially done with school at 2:20. Hells yes. However, I normally don't take advantage of my extra hour. Rather, I wait for people to finish class, and then go out and be social, like the little social butterfly I really am. Today was actually a little tough. I was going to go to the park with some friends, but they decided they wanted to go to the gym first (weirdos... I probably should have joined a gym, but I didn't. oops.) So instead, I waited with Chris and Josie until class finished, and did my Calculus homework. Chris (who has been sick for 3 days and hasn't eaten in 1) was trying to get someone to walk downstairs and go buy him a BLT, but wasn't having much success.

When class finished, I again met Hannah (I know, this is more than I see her most days, and I love it.) and we tried to decide where to go. Because Jamie and Julia were at the gym, we decided to buy some bubble tea, then start biking down towards the music end of XinJieKouWai Street. However, halfway there, we got distracted. And when I say that, I mean we saw clothes. ie, shopping time. We stopped in this small little shop, and tried clothes on. I even bought a shirt for 30 US dollars (it would have been at least 60 in the States. I now realize I shouldn't have bought it, for a variety of reasons, but at the time, I just couldn't resist.) It is purple, and has sequins sewn on it. Whatever. Now I have it, and it is kind of a fun shirt. I think.

About halfway through shopping, I get a call from my fellow Californian, saying to meet at the park at 4:10. Once Hannah and I got there, Jamie, Julia and Erik (I guess he got picked up somehow. Although I think he went to the gym as well.) arrived shortly, and we all high tailed it to fun land, to see if we could get on the bumper cars. But apparently, there is a age/weight limit, and only small kids are allowed to get on the trampolines. (We were actually laughed at when we asked.) That put a damper on our lives, so we just sat and watched the empty bumper car rink. While there, we talked for half an hour at least, until we were ambushed by other crazy Americans, trying to entice us to a bar with free beer and pizza. (Mr. Bissell, if you are reading this, I would just like to point out that we stayed strong, and threw the little cards they gave us away. Ask your contacts, there was no drinking.) We took a quick detour by the jungle gym, where we saw a bunch of old men swinging around like they were at the Olympics. It was amazing. How are they so good?

At about 5, after having enough of being eaten alive by mosquito's, we all jumped on our bikes and rode 3 minutes back to the bubble tea place, which was hopping. I didn't get anything (I decided I had spent enough money for one day.) Strangely enough, we met the grandmother of one of the kids (Warren) who goes to SYA. We talked with her for about 10 minutes, before she invited us over to her house for dinner sometime in the near future. (We later called Warren and let him know that we were going to his grandmothers house for dinner sometime in the near future. He was thoroughly confused.)

I went back home at around 6, just in time for dinner. My dad make leek and meat stuff again (I think it is leeks, I can't remember) which is really yummy, because it is cooked in that batter stuff that is fried (I can't remember what it is called.) We also had a beef dish that I thinking I ate on the first night, and prawns. I don't particularly like prawns, so I just politely didn't eat them, and declined when offered. I think my dad got the hint.

Dinner was nice though. I had a long conversation (in Chinese) with my dad, about all sorts of things. I only had to ask my sister how to say things a few times. I feel like I am getting better, which is always nice to know. I didn't do any homework tonight (or anything else productive) because I have a whole week for that. (My sister though, has to go to school tomorrow and Sunday, because they are considered work days, since we have the whole of next week off as a holiday. That is just the way things work in China, apparently. I don't understand it either.)

Now, I am really tired, and feel the urge to sleep. I am also getting my horrible headache back, which I would like to avoid. Tomorrow I am going to the Llama Temple, which should be a lot of fun. I'll keep posting... Miss you!