Hello World, [sorry this was not posted as intended...see next post for more info...]
In the beginning of October, we finished our Fall Break. Phillip learned that this is a school holiday exist for two different holidays. One, the Mid Autumn Festival which Chinese mark by eating sweets called Moon Cakes (shout out to Brittney'c college roommate 'Mooncake', also known as Denise), and two, the Chinese National Day, October 1st marking the day Mao declared that the country becomes Communist.
The weeks leading up to the week off were busy with our first hiking trip (JiaHua), Professional Development days, Phillip hosting a Middle School athletics tournament and other factors that messed with our scheduled weekly routine. It seems like our coworkers usually take one of two options during this week off...get the heck out of dodge... or have a staycation. We chose a little of both. Going on a three night excursion with 36 other teachers and their families to Mogonshan (the bamboo forest mountain).
Showing up at the bus stop at 9 in the morning we realized we probably didn't pack as much as the big families that packed most of their pantry. We also realized we are one of few that have not purchased really nice bikes for going to school (50 minute bike ride) or exploring some of the city canals. There were many bikes on one of the busses so we chose to sit in the less full bus. We didn't realized at the time but our bus ultimately became the 'adult bus' because many parents stayed with their kids on the other 'kid bus'. However for the first hour and half of the bus ride-our bus might have been the most noisy one with much of the bus playing the cherades type game called Heads Up which is a popular ipad/iphone app where you hold the device up to your forehead it gives a card to the audience and they must give you clues to say what is on the card.
When we arrived at the village we were surrounded by green all around us. Eventually we found our way to the bunk house and a very nice Chinese owner helped our whole group check in. We then found a small group of colleagues to take a walk with. As we were walking down the hill to the main road we discovered two dogs that belonged to the guest house were walking with us. In fact they were almost like our tour guides. Walking with us for the whole two and a half hour hike and barking at other dogs in neighboring villages that would come to close to us "their guests". We saw many local garden plots and people that were tearing apart bamboo as well as gathering bamboo leaves into one bushel to perhaps be dried out and made into street brooms.
Upon getting back we had a buffet style dinner. It was very delicious food. We were told that most of it was grown down the hill and it was served family style like most Chinese meals. The flavors were amazing.
On day two we had a large group that came together after breakfast. Many of us agreed to take a van ride half way up the hill and then hike to the top of the Moganshan Mountain. We piled 11 people in a 8 passenger van and a quickly opened the windows as we could get enough fresh air to keep us healthy with all the switch backs up the mountain. Phillip jumped out first and was one of the first ones up the trail with Brittney right behind. Christina was a high school student of the family that has organized the trip the last four years and took the lead as she knew the best routes to go. We hiked for about 40 minutes until we cleared all the bamboo and were hiking along side a mountain.
After a short rest break we continued up to the touristy village, passing a glass overhang and a wooden bridge that we were told to "jump across" to make it shake for you and the person behind you. We stopped for lunch at a spot the reminded Phillip a lot of Lake Tahoe. A large cabin feel among large trees. Another large Chinese style lunch around a lazy-susan spinning as dish after dish just kept coming out. We also noticed Chinese rice wine in a jar with a large Chinese snake in it. We stuck with the beer and tea instead.
The second full day there was a rainy day as a tropical storm had come inland. The day was full of games and games and card games. However, Brittney escaped with a group to walk through the village and down to a green house that grew fresh edamame peas. The dogs once again followed the group every step through the village and beyond. Phillip stayed at the guesthouse and through VPN and a Sling app was able to set up a live viewing of Monday Night Football live on Tuesday morning in China watching the Packers beat the Chiefs. Later that afternoon we taught more people our new favorite card game, Wizard. We were treated with another great BBQ dinner with plenty of vegetables. We ended the late night playing Burro, a Spanish Card game we learned during our blizzard trip to Jordan (thanks Jose!), at a bar on top of the village. Brittney and Brady (a new colleague and neighbor) tried to ask the bartender about the mysterious things soaking in the glass barrel on the bar. Then, realizing the language barrier was thick....he offered them a taste, of all three. One was good, one was so so, and one was awful. It was eventually a long night... and a late morning.
The last day we all took another misty walk to the same greenhouses that Brittney had been to the day before. This time we stopped to forage grapes. Our wonderful Chinese friend, Fan, was given a bunch by the owners because the owner thought he was Tour Guide that brought a bunch of 'Westerners' to his farm (even though Fan is a part of our teaching group). We got back to the guesthouse just in time for another delicious freshly made lunch, settled our bill, and were able to say good bye to the dogs on more time.
When we got back we started a staycation, we started finalizing plans for our Christmas trip to New Zealand and ticking things off our to-do list. We enjoyed a famous dumpling restaurant near downtown and Phillip checked out the tailor/fake goods market just so we can know what is there. Overall it was a lovely little break that allowed us to connect with our new surrounding surroundings.
Until next time...
B and P
In the beginning of October, we finished our Fall Break. Phillip learned that this is a school holiday exist for two different holidays. One, the Mid Autumn Festival which Chinese mark by eating sweets called Moon Cakes (shout out to Brittney'c college roommate 'Mooncake', also known as Denise), and two, the Chinese National Day, October 1st marking the day Mao declared that the country becomes Communist.
The weeks leading up to the week off were busy with our first hiking trip (JiaHua), Professional Development days, Phillip hosting a Middle School athletics tournament and other factors that messed with our scheduled weekly routine. It seems like our coworkers usually take one of two options during this week off...get the heck out of dodge... or have a staycation. We chose a little of both. Going on a three night excursion with 36 other teachers and their families to Mogonshan (the bamboo forest mountain).
Showing up at the bus stop at 9 in the morning we realized we probably didn't pack as much as the big families that packed most of their pantry. We also realized we are one of few that have not purchased really nice bikes for going to school (50 minute bike ride) or exploring some of the city canals. There were many bikes on one of the busses so we chose to sit in the less full bus. We didn't realized at the time but our bus ultimately became the 'adult bus' because many parents stayed with their kids on the other 'kid bus'. However for the first hour and half of the bus ride-our bus might have been the most noisy one with much of the bus playing the cherades type game called Heads Up which is a popular ipad/iphone app where you hold the device up to your forehead it gives a card to the audience and they must give you clues to say what is on the card.
When we arrived at the village we were surrounded by green all around us. Eventually we found our way to the bunk house and a very nice Chinese owner helped our whole group check in. We then found a small group of colleagues to take a walk with. As we were walking down the hill to the main road we discovered two dogs that belonged to the guest house were walking with us. In fact they were almost like our tour guides. Walking with us for the whole two and a half hour hike and barking at other dogs in neighboring villages that would come to close to us "their guests". We saw many local garden plots and people that were tearing apart bamboo as well as gathering bamboo leaves into one bushel to perhaps be dried out and made into street brooms.
Upon getting back we had a buffet style dinner. It was very delicious food. We were told that most of it was grown down the hill and it was served family style like most Chinese meals. The flavors were amazing.
On day two we had a large group that came together after breakfast. Many of us agreed to take a van ride half way up the hill and then hike to the top of the Moganshan Mountain. We piled 11 people in a 8 passenger van and a quickly opened the windows as we could get enough fresh air to keep us healthy with all the switch backs up the mountain. Phillip jumped out first and was one of the first ones up the trail with Brittney right behind. Christina was a high school student of the family that has organized the trip the last four years and took the lead as she knew the best routes to go. We hiked for about 40 minutes until we cleared all the bamboo and were hiking along side a mountain.
After a short rest break we continued up to the touristy village, passing a glass overhang and a wooden bridge that we were told to "jump across" to make it shake for you and the person behind you. We stopped for lunch at a spot the reminded Phillip a lot of Lake Tahoe. A large cabin feel among large trees. Another large Chinese style lunch around a lazy-susan spinning as dish after dish just kept coming out. We also noticed Chinese rice wine in a jar with a large Chinese snake in it. We stuck with the beer and tea instead.
The second full day there was a rainy day as a tropical storm had come inland. The day was full of games and games and card games. However, Brittney escaped with a group to walk through the village and down to a green house that grew fresh edamame peas. The dogs once again followed the group every step through the village and beyond. Phillip stayed at the guesthouse and through VPN and a Sling app was able to set up a live viewing of Monday Night Football live on Tuesday morning in China watching the Packers beat the Chiefs. Later that afternoon we taught more people our new favorite card game, Wizard. We were treated with another great BBQ dinner with plenty of vegetables. We ended the late night playing Burro, a Spanish Card game we learned during our blizzard trip to Jordan (thanks Jose!), at a bar on top of the village. Brittney and Brady (a new colleague and neighbor) tried to ask the bartender about the mysterious things soaking in the glass barrel on the bar. Then, realizing the language barrier was thick....he offered them a taste, of all three. One was good, one was so so, and one was awful. It was eventually a long night... and a late morning.
The last day we all took another misty walk to the same greenhouses that Brittney had been to the day before. This time we stopped to forage grapes. Our wonderful Chinese friend, Fan, was given a bunch by the owners because the owner thought he was Tour Guide that brought a bunch of 'Westerners' to his farm (even though Fan is a part of our teaching group). We got back to the guesthouse just in time for another delicious freshly made lunch, settled our bill, and were able to say good bye to the dogs on more time.
When we got back we started a staycation, we started finalizing plans for our Christmas trip to New Zealand and ticking things off our to-do list. We enjoyed a famous dumpling restaurant near downtown and Phillip checked out the tailor/fake goods market just so we can know what is there. Overall it was a lovely little break that allowed us to connect with our new surrounding surroundings.
Until next time...
B and P
Fascinating. Thanks so much for sharing . . . finally. It is great to see your smiling faces.
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