Zhejiang XiXi Hotel Restaurant

Last night was SO amazing. We went to Hangshou and toured the Zhejiang University and then we were guests of He Guanxin, the Deputy Mayor of the Hangshou Municipal People's Government. We ate at the XiXi Restaurant which is a private facility on West Lake. The rock out front has Mao's signature with many other high ranking officials of the Communist Party. Another amazing meal with all kinds of Chinese delicacies, such as The Monk Jumps Over the Wall soup - so delicious even a monk would eat it even though he not suppose to eat meat or seafood. Our guide, Hong bo (Jane), says that the saying in China is "The Chinese eat everything with legs except the table and the chair." Quite true. We ate in the village on the way home from our weekend adventure to Shanghai. I noticed that all of the dogs were very young and quickly became a vegetarian. Many people in the cities don't eat dog, but it is considered a hot food (it will warm you up) in winter and many of the villagers will raise them for meat and eat them.

Shanghai was a cross between Las Vegas, Disneyland, and the A & N Boutique shoe sale. Everywhere there is a throng of people, lights and excitement. We didn't have much time to shop but I was surprised to discover it was such a fashion mecca. I power shopped like never before and became quite adept at the art of bargaining. I managed to get a cashmere coat, pearls, jade, tea, and silk. The buildings are amazing. China is still part of the race to have the tallest buildings. The view from the Pearl Tower was gorgeous and the air was clear because we'd just been caught in a monsoon! All these tall buildings are on reclaimed land and surrounded by water. Yet, the building races on. Scaffolding is everywhere you go. Well must go prepare for class.

My students are wonderful. Very sweet and very motivated to learn English. My group teaches English to mostly 11, 12 and 13 year olds. The classes have about 40 students and it is currently mostly lecture style format. I'm hoping they will take at least some of what we are doing back into their classrooms.