Making some Chaofan!

My waipo noticed my LOVE for fried rice and so she taught me how to make it! Step by step :) 

Once I get to site I will be able to make one dish at least! 

Today at dinner I was attempting to explain to my host grandma and grandpa, who mind you speak no English at all, that tomorrow morning I leave for Sichuan University early for group training and then come back to Chengdu Univeristy to teach my second Model School English class. And somehow I did it! They understood and my host grandma said something along the lines of "you are getting so much better at Chinese, other students are usually still reading from their books/dictionaries!" And I can't tell you how amazingly happy that made me!!!!!!!!!!! Especially amidst all the Model School prep stress.

YAYA for Chinese!

First Day of Model School!

So to help us in our training/practice teaching before going to site, we have two weeks of Model School, where we teach a group of Chinese college students. At first I was super nervous, but once Lauren (my co-teacher) and I, got up there, I was loving it!

The students were engaged, goofy and so adorable. They were a higher level than we expected, so we have to revise a bit, but we had a lot of fun and I am actually excited for the next two weeks!

(Photo courtesy of Lauren McCaw)

Exploring a small city outside of Chengdu

(Writing etched into a wall that dates back to the Qing dynasty)

My host family and I went to a restaurant near by so they could introduce me to this pretty famous fish dish. I forget the Chinese name, but it is quite spicy and quite delicious!

It started raining really hard right when we got there so we moved tables like 4 times because the rain was splashing or leaking through the tarps. But, we stuck it out and ate outside in the pouring rain!

I came home from class today and my host grandma (my waipo) was making chao shou (if I understood her correctly). 

It is kind of like gyoza, or a dumpling with meat inside and it is amazing! It was so good I ate a huge bowl of it despite my gluten intolerance.

She let me help make it, which was a surprise! Chinese culture is extremely hospitable and giving. For the last two weeks, I have not been allowed to help clean or cook no matter how many times I offer because I am the guest of the house. It is a very humbling experience. So, today I was super excited when I was allowed to help roll up the meat inside these little dough squares with chopsticks, then watch her throw it in the boiling water. 

My mei mei and I practicing calligraphy at a cultural museum in Chengdu.

My host mom helped me write China and my Chinese name (Guan, Le Le) above. 

As I was attempting to imitate her, I noticed a crowd of people around me. They were all smiling and laughing at my attempts in an endearing kind of way. 

Our homework for language class was to haggle at the market, which I am bad at in English, let alone in Chinese. I successfully asked the woman what the lychee fruit (which are amazing!) were called, how much they were (7 Yuan). I then attempted to get a bargain. She laughed and flat out told me no.

I guess I'll have to keep practicing. Mission accomplished though - I slightly communicated with someone!

Exploring the city

Chengdu, Sichuan, China

mei mei - aka my insanely adorable host sister

HOT POT!

Eating Hot Pot for our first time. With our little bit of Mandarin (the extent of it being ni hao and wo jiao) we attempted to order food not knowing any of the characters. We thought we ordered something.  Like beef maybe? And then the oil came. Beef lard oil. So we were on the right track - we got beef something at least! And so we waited for our meats to come that we you are suppose to cook in the oil. Ten minutes past. Then twenty. Finally, a very nice Chinese boy from a table next to us took pity on us and asked, "Do you need help?" We adamantly said "YES! Please help us!!" He asked us what we wanted. Since we did not really know what our options were, he said he would order us the specialities, which consisted of tongue, liver, heart, stomach and lower intestine. Brain was an option too, but we opted out of that one. Honestly, the intestine was awesome and so was the heart. Or at least I think it was heart. The tongue - not so much. It was kind of chewy and hairy. But, overall I have been thoroughly impressed by the food here. Sichuan food is amazing. Quite spicy (note the billion red peppers in the hot pot), but amazing! 


And the food isn't the only amazing part. The people are insanely friendly. They are so happy and helpful. This is not something you see or experience in many places in the world. I just moved in with my host family and they too are so hospitable, giving and loving. 

China = Love