Like this:

So, I’m sitting here trying to come up with a way to begin this blog and I’m a little stuck. I want to say something to the effect that you guys are aware that I didn’t post a blog last week. But, exactly how many of you noticed is what is throwing me off. Do I write that some of you noticed? A few? Many? I think saying the word ‘all’ would be a gross overstatement. So as I’m thinking through this important opening statement a movie quote pops in my head; “let’s go girls; dozens of people are waiting for the game to start.”- A League of Their Own. I’ll leave you with that.

Now, on to the reason why I didn’t post last week- I had visitors. On Friday, April 9^th, my mom and grandma flew intoBeijing to spend 11 days with me. I don’t know if you realize this, but 11 days is a lot to recap in just one blog post, so I’ll do my best to pay tribute to their visit.

Friday, April 9^th- a warm and pleasant day. Two people head out to the train station to board a 10:45 train toBeijing. One, confident, the other- constantly checking her watch. The train leaves 30 minutes late and the two go from the train to board the subway to get to the airport. Upon reaching the airport the watch checker (me), has to use the bathroom as a result of drinking too much water on the train. So, she sprints around people to get to the bathroom before there is an accident…Uh…anyway….they find out that the plane arrived super early and they immediately go to receive the visitors- only to receive a text saying they are still on the plane. So the two head to burger king to enjoy some “quality” meat and potato products. Ok, this writing in the third person or whatever I’m doing is annoying me. Back to normal now. After Sham and I had our fill of burger king we went back to arrivals and eventually spotted my mom and grandma. We hugged and my mom wept, but once that was over we got back onto the subway and headed to our hotel. The hotel was um…quaint? It was uh…rustic? It was fine. We relaxed and had some dinner at a tea house. The next day the four of us went to Starbucks and then to theTemple ofHeaven where we people watched for an hour or 2. Next came the Pearl Market for some shopping…I bought a few things that I “needed”. That night we went to a Kung Fu show and then back to our little hotel. On Sunday we shopped some more and drank tea. Our car arrived at 4pm and we leftBeijing for my apartment in Langfang.

We spent Monday-Friday in my city and our days were pretty full with things to do. Let’s see how much I can remember…

Monday: I had class from 8-12. This is my 4 week long, non-English major class, so I decided my family didn’t need to come to that one, since I probably won’t see those kids around much. After class we ate some street food for lunch and took a trip the supermarket. There my mom and grandma picked some snacks to try and they bought me things I needed- like shampoo and paper towels. That night we ate with the rest of my team- taco night!

Tuesday: We woke up a little later than Monday and had breakfast. Then we went to People’s Park and I showed my parents TESCO; again they bought fun things to try and bought me things I needed, like peanut butter and pasta sauce- a must have for someone like me. We came back home and played cards for an hour or so. Then, after Andy and Heather’s class, we all went to the ever so popular BBQ restaurant. It was early to bed because we had class in the morning.

Wednesday: Class day 1. Class went really well. I did some normal class things, like a quote or music, and dialogues so my family could hear my students speak and share their minds. Then I put my mom and grandma up front to answer questions, share pictures and hand out their gifts (chocolate, pins, pencils, and silly bands). They were a huge hit with my students. In fact, today in class my students were back to being their tired selves. They perked up for my family and then got sleepy when it was just me. Oh college students. After class we had lunch with my student friend Anita and that night we went out to dinner with my posse. The whole day was a lot of fun but exhausting.

Thursday: On Thursday we slept in a little bit and took it easy until lunch. For lunch Angie came over and we cooked for my mom and grandma and Shamblee. It was a huge success. Then we went to the orphanage to play with some kids. My mom only cried once- way to go weepy momma- that’s an all time low- I’m proud. I told her she had to hold it back because these kids don’t know much beyond their life, so there’s no sense showing them that their situation is sad. While there we had a fun time holding babies and playing games with the toddlers. Dinner that night was at the ever famous Bruno’s.

Friday: Class 8-12, then a car back to Beijing at 4pm. We got to our hotel around 5 and it was awesome. Really nice rooms and the best shower ever. Really any shower with ready made hot water is a good shower to me. Plus the TV had American stations- heaven. That night we went to Texas Pete’s for some tex/mex.

Saturday: Tiananmen, more Pearl Market action, Chinese for lunch, and Subway for dinner-mmm. Like Friday night, we watched movies, played cards, and did crossword puzzles before dinner. That afternoon my mom and I went on a 2 hour walk. I didn’t really know where I was but I wouldn’t say we got lost. We were just a little directionally challenged?

Sunday: The Great Wall, lunch in the hotel, movies, and dinner in the hotel. We were kind of lazy that day. Meh.

Monday: Packing, airport and 12, then I headed home alone.

Wow. That was quite the recap. Hope you didn’t fall asleep like I am about to. I need to recover from their visit.

No food section this week as this is already quite long.

Cya next week!

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