China had an 8-day holiday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Communism. My whole ILP group decided to go to Guilin, a forty- hour train ride and a four- hour bus ride. We wondered if it would be worth it, but after looking up pictures and talking to my parents who went there, we decided all this would be the only time we would have enough days to dedicate to travel there and it would be worth every bit of it. If seemingly not worth it while going through it, we would thank ourselves once off the train. I mentally prepared myself to travel so I was ready. We pulled an all-nighter so we could sleep as much as we could on the bus. I slept the whole time, and then slept for about 13 hours on the train, haha. I read Jane Eyre, talked with my friends, and embraced the adventure by mimicking the Chinese mentality of squatting in repulsive squatters, sleeping on a three-story bunk bed and snuggling up to the worst smelling blankets I’ve ever smelt. Like with any trip, there were some funny things that can’t be explained to even come close to the actual story, but I will try my best to capture the essence of the trip.
We checked into our hostel and walked around town. We love night markets. We are becoming so savvy at bargaining prices down. If their first offer is, say, 100 Yuan, which is about $14, I will say, “50 Yuan” and they will say “Oh no! I can’t!” and I say, “Ok, well I can get that price down there…” and start walking away. Then they will say, “Ok! 60?” and we will bargain from there. I don’t have the heart to offer a price lower than half, because I have to keep my dignity and realize they have families to support and they are working so hard! Chinese lanterns were illuminating the sky and the background of a full moon, camel hump mountains, fireworks and the reflection on the lake. It was a gorgeous sight, and it will be one of my most treasured memories of Guilin.
We went to the incredible Reed Flute Caves. They were natural caves illuminated by neon lights. The stalagmites were so natural and beautiful! Then we floated the Li River. The mountains were beautiful! Everything was so green and tropical. I loved the humidity. Rachel and I took a picture with the background with the Danville Weekly and will submit it online, haha. The bamboo raft we sat on was actually PBC pipe, haha, but it was still so fun because we were so close to the water and it was refreshing to feel the water splashing up. We pulled off onto a little island and there were vendors and we bought some ice cream and there was a water buffalo. This man helped us up onto it and it was awkward because we were all in dresses, but it made for some great pictures! Another man was balancing crows on a stick on his shoulders and I snapped some shots of him. We rented scooters and plowed through the back alleys and dirt roads. They were not made for off-roading, but our guide led us through it regardless. No words can describe the Chinese way of driving in China. Stop signs and lights are more like yield signs. There is no “wrong side of the road.” If a car is going too slow, taxis will honk and pass them in the bike lane, or on the left side of the road. Honking is used every thirty seconds, sometimes for no reason at all. (A bus we took on the way home from Guilin honked seriously every ten seconds, even when there weren’t cars on the road. If it is a pride thing, or whatever the reason, it is annoying, especially when we are trying to sleep after a long ride back!) While scootering, cars were cutting us off and it was very scary and stressful for us to be riding on the same scooter, weaving here and there to avoid falling off. I was trying to be so careful. I went off the road for a second to let a car by and when I transitioned back from the dirt road, the lip of the pavement sent the bike out from under us. We slid across the gravel. Luckily there weren’t any cars then, and we were blessed to have left the scene with some road rash on our knees, feet and shoulders. We now have bruising, and every time I look at Rachel’s leg I feel so awful! It was a dumb idea, and we have realized we do not have to embrace every Chinese way of life first hand!
Guilin and Yangshuo has a fun European and hippie vibe. It was fun to escape the strictly Chinese custom, and to be singled out everywhere we go. We ate some delicious lasagna and smoothies! We met some boys from Washington in our hostel. It was nice to just be able to speak English and meet people who were going through the same transitions that we are.
The almost fifty hour trip back wasn’t too bad. I read Peter Pan and talked with the group, and got to know the other girls a little better than before. I am with some really diverse and fun people who also love to explore China and I am so lucky to be with such upbeat and positive people. It is hard to become too homesick when I am with good friends, and having a really great time learning about a completely different culture on the other side of the world.
Teaching is going great! I love my kids so much! I hope my own kids someday will be half as cool as these kids are! Haha! They run up to greet me, and I feel like the coolest person in the world. They scream, “Teacha, teacha!” They are eager to learn, and hearing them speak English and knowing how much of a difference I have made in their life is a bigger reward than I could ever want. We heard word from our head teacher that we will be getting more students, and will have to teach by ourselves. It will be a really hard transition, but I am excited to meet more kids and be able to have my own classroom and my own rules and such.
