The Youth Hostel

China has been incredibly fun since we got here. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop after such a hard year last year. I think we just get the gist of things now. I have no doubt there will be trials, but life is feeling a bit more normal. So much so I need to make sure I jot down the things that ARE different.
The other day when I was at the bus stop I saw a scooter go by with live chickens tied in a rainbow across the seat all the way to about 2 inches from the ground. I went back to the Muslim butcher to buy some chicken and had to giggle. Xiao Zhang and I went to the large market together, and before we left I showed her video of how Americans chop up a chicken so she could tell the butcher. Remember the Chinese start at the head and just chop all the way down to the feet. Of course when we got to the butcher and Xiao Zhang told them how I wanted it cut, they laughed for the full 10 minutes while we waited.
Another woman came up while we were waiting and asked the shopkeeper for another bag because she dropped her noodles in the mud. Yuck right? Well the shop keeper was happy to give her a new bag. She set the new bag on top of the chicken guts while she put the old one in, and then the woman took off with the new chicken gut covered bag as happy as can be. ??
Today Jeff and I ventured down town and explored a new part of town. We ended up spending quite a bit of time at the Hump Youth Hostel. Yep! That's right. Apparently it has to do with Yunnan being right at the foot of the Himalayas. ?? You never quite know what to think about the English in China.
Speaking of which I will be teaching a workshop next week for teachers teaching English. I had a long meeting yesterday with the staff I will be working with and then to lunch and it was awesome. Being with the Chinese speaking English and Chinese is my absolute favorite part of being in China! I am so thrilled to be working so closely with Chinese this year.