iniFinally managed to write up the diary for Fri - sorry to be a wee bit behind but there is so much going on....
This morning in class we did a variety of activities. We learnt how to sing a song which was really good fun and we could all just about hold a tune. It is amazing how much easier it is to sing rather than just speak in Chinese! We also learnt about Chinese cuisine which was interesting. There are 4 main types of cuisine and each is known for something different ie spicyness, textures, flavours etc. We also learnt a whole variety of new wors to help the girls with their homestay visits tomorrow. The students then had to go the front of the classroom and click on the picture on the computer to see how many they could remember. Ailith and Charlotte were the stars of the group as they volunteered. Pretty intimidating so I was very impressed. We also had to do a random exercise of just underlining words we knew which was pretty pointless as we didn’t practise the phrases or anything. We had a quick text on words we knew – she said them and we had to number them in the order she said them and then translate them. It was really good to try to listen to the words. Learnt a lot, how to ask where entrance / exit are, how to tell the time and ask questions about time, the compass points and right / left / on / under and middle. It felt a bit like information overload. Also learnt about Chinese pictographs – simple pictures that represent things. Ie. circle with line below it like a smile is morning ie sun rising.
Lunch was interesting – I was starving. There was something that resembled chocolate cake but was rather disappointing.
Today was a lovely blue sky, sun and hot day. Such a nice change from the drabness we have been having. And nice to have hot weather that was not humid but had a breeze. The hardest thing is that it stays hot till 10/11pm! The school grounds looked so much better in the sun! And everyone’s spirits were much greater and people were more energetic and not so lethargic.
Spent the afternoon visiting The Summer Palace which was amazing. It was so lovely to visit temples set in a big open garden with lots of trees, grass, shade and space for people to disperse. We also split down into our school groups which made touring the palace much easier rather than simply going round as two big groups of 40! Much more enjoyable. Saw really typical Chinese gardens – ponds with lotus flowers, willow trees, pagodas, corridors and all beautifully decorated with paintings and carvings. Bright colours – red, blue and green. There was one temple complex which was incredible with symmetrical corridors, stairways and a beautiful view out over the lake. Also saw a huge wooden boat that is made to look like marble. And we took a boat ride across the lake to a small island and walked back along a 17 arch bridge with 500 stone lion statues. The whole place felt like a beautiful oasis – apart from all the tour groups!
Took a local bus back to the campus with our guide Stone. It was a first class with air con so cost all of 2 yuan for the 40 min journey! It even had a small flat screen TV playing the news. Normally it only costs 1! It was pretty busy and every bus always seems to be jam packed full. I guess it is how most people travel.
We went out to dinner locally for Lynsey’s birthday to a restaurant that Stone recommended. It was cheap and beautiful. We had our own private room again. Ordered aubergines, spicy chilli chicken that burnt your mouth and was almost impossible to eat, dumplings, chicken with peanuts and chilli (the standard favourite dish), green beans with chilli. It was typical
Sichuan
food which is known for being spicy. Unfortunately it was too hot for some people. The portions were huge as always so only ordered a few dishes and shared them. Such a nice sociable way to eat. Stone gave Lynsey a lovely necklace which had a whole story behind it. And he got her a delicious cake – chocolate icing with marshmallow and a light fluffy sponge stuck together with pineapple jam. It was gorgous. She even had candles!
Just uploading some photos before going to bed! See the albums to the right for more.
Gate
Decoration
gardens
Soundfiles from the day
Sound files from the day
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