RELAXING

This weekend was pretty uneventful. I felt like I was coming down with a cold on Friday afternoon, so I opted out of playing ultimate frisbee. Instead I came home, and immediately fell asleep for about 2 hours. Although the work week was only four days long, going out on Tuesday and Thursday really exhausted me.

I woke up Saturday morning originally at 6:30am. You may ask, "Why God why?!" but that is the routine I've grown accustomed to. Obviously though I fell back asleep and stayed in bed until 8:30am. Late, yes I know. I then straightened up my house, tidied things up and did some laundry. I have yet to hire an aiyi, which in Chinese means aunt, but can also mean a cleaning woman. Most teachers have hired one just because it's easier to pay $2/hour for someone to clean, buy groceries, and pay the bills, but so far I'm doing just fine. Mom, you raised me well and luckily I am competent enough to clean up after myself!! Who knows though, at some point I may hire one, but I feel a bit strange giving someone I don't know the keys to my house with the freedom to rummage through my drawers and look through my things. Plus, it just makes me a tad bit uncomfortable. I really don't want to get used to that short of "hand and foot" lifestyle.

Afterwards I had a very nice lunch with Jen, who teaches 3rd grade. We went to a fancier restaurant where we ordered a pork dish, rice, some bean dish and a wonderfully light soup. Delicious. Afterwards we went downtown to qipu (che-pu, almost sounds like cheap), where we got bombarded by merchants. We took the subway and then proudly figured out the public bus. So instead of spending 11 kuai to go like 5 minutes away, we took a bus and only spend like 2 kuai/person to get there.

When we arrived at qipu, random Chinese merchants were literally following us, heckling us, nagging us. It was awful when we first entered the building. The market itself consisted of many buildings. But every time we'd enter a new one, people would follow us. "Lady you want bag? Manicure? Help? Watches?" And we'd just say "Go away help another foreigner we don't want your help." It was ridiculously annoying. I really need to learn how to stay the word, "Stalker". Many that would get them to go away. And especially on a rainy dreary day, where the crowds were numerous inside, and Chinese people not understanding the basic rules of walking, it got frustrating very quickly. I bought a t-shirt to work out in and a pair of leggings to go under my denim skirt, but that was it.

Afterwards we wandered a bit and had a small snack, followed by a more substantial meal. We then found a foot massage place and decided to try it. The massage cost us 38 kuai for an HOUR LONG FOOT MASSAGE. Reflexology studies areas in the foot, so usually people can determine what kinds of health problems you have based on the pain in your foot from the massage. I don't know if I believe in it, but it was still a lot of fun, and luckily it didn't hurt at all. It was very relaxing. I didn't realize how much rest my feet needed at the time, and the five dollar splurge was so worth it.

Saturday night I just watched a movie, read a bit and went to bed. Sunday was pretty lazy too. I woke up around 9:30, and went to the gym around 11. I worked out, returned home, showered, and put up my laundry to dry. Unfortunately the shower poll collapsed and my clothes became wet again, so I have to re-wash them. I had lunch at the Muslim restaurant right nearby that has DELICIOUS food. There they gave me their Chinese menu, and asked if I could translate it for them because the number of foreigner customers (because of the two schools nearby) is increasing. I've already started and it's a great project because it's forcing me to learn the vocabulary that I've been putting off for the past month. I also learned how to use the dictionary as well to look up characters I don't know how to say. I'm going to ask them, in exchange for helping with the translations, if I can learn how to cook some of their dishes. Then they won't be paying me anything, will actually get free help, and I'll learn how to cook some real (delicious) Chinese food.

After lunch I was at school, worked for 3.5 hours then went to the supermarket to buy some groceries. I bought some chicken, random spices, milk, and some fruit. I accidentally left the chicken at the grocery store, but I returned and got it back. I tried making curry chicken for the first time and, despite not having a measuring cup, coconut milk or potatoes, I added in extra yogurt and milk for the coconut milk, and also added raisins. Curry really is delicious, and not spicy at all. Following dinner I watched a movie and worked on translating the menu. Now I'm in school-- I have off from now, 10:30 until 11:55, then it's lunch duty until 12:40, then my Pre-K class at 1:05-1:45, then my K class from 2:10-2:50. BALI IS IN 5 DAYS I'M SO EXCITED!