A Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

I heart pictures and I finally figured out how to post them on my blog!  Wahoo!  So here's a post of pics and the stories to go along with it!  :)

DAWN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

This is Dawn!  She is one of the sweetest girls I've ever met.  She truly has a servant's heart and has been the most helpful person I've met in China so far.  She is always helping us foreigners out.  This is at her birthday party at the Randall's house.  The Randall's are a foreign couple from the U.S. who live in Huangshi.  They have three daughters and have become good friends of Dawn's over the years.  Dawn was making the dough for pizza.  She loves to cook and is an excellent one if I do say so myself.  She wants to own a bakery/coffee shop one day. 

Lesley and I chilling at Dawn's party.  We were really excited because they had Reese's.  You would not believe how often our team talks about American food!  Anytime we eat something that reminds us of home we feel the need to document it.

 Kevin getting pumped about the pizza!  It was seriously good pizza!  YUMMMMMMMMM!

On the left is banana bread, which was so yummy!  Dawn's birthday cake is on the right decorated with fruit roll ups and M&Ms. 

 Lesley, Erin, and myself enjoying the festivities and American food!

Dawn opening her birthday gift from our team.  We got her a French press coffee maker and coffee grinder!  Then we sang Happy Birthday in English and Chinese!  So fun!  Love her princess birthday crown.

We also got to play on the Wii!  Kevin and the Randall's daughter Mercy about to throw it down.  Let's just say Kevin gave a good fight, but couldn't top Mercy.  She beat us all!

WUHAN PEEPS VISIT

We had some friends visit us from Wuhan on Sunday through Tuesday.  It was a great time hanging out and enjoying their company!  The two girls that stayed with us were Melodie and Mandi.  Both Southern girls, so you know we had a good time!  Melodie is a Texas girl and there is no denying it.  If anyone understands our love for the South it's her.  Mandi is the other chicka from Louisiana!  We had some great girl time, just talking, dancing and being psychoanalyzed! haha Rebecca also came to visit.  She teaches at the university in Wuhan and is from England/France.  She is so sweet and we were so glad she decided to visit!  Also, two of the guys from our team in Wuhan came too, The Nathans!

 

The pic above is the best dessert from the Tea House here in Huangshi.  The restaurant serves Western food that is the closest you can get to the real thing.  Chelsie and I split this divine piece of heaven before we headed to KTV!

All of the girls hanging out before we headed to our room for KTV!  KTV is just like karaoke, but instead of being on a stage you pay for a room just for your friends.  It was one of the best nights we have had so far.  Although most of you know I can't sing, I still had a wonderful time rocking out some tunes and dancing!

From Left to Right:  Dawn, Erin, Mandi (Louisiana girl), Chelsie, me, Lesley, Melodie (Texan), and Rebecca. 

The Dudes

Left to Right:  Nathan T., Paul, Nathan M., Kevin, and Aaron

Nathan M., Melodie, and Erin singing their hearts out!

Chelsie rocked it all night long!  Love this girl!

Nathan and Aaron singing Backstreet Boys.  I also got a video of this one, but it takes forever to load.  Maybe next time.

Is that Paul singing?!?!  No way I must be seeing things!

Before the Wuhan peeps headed home we had breakfast at the "Waffle Place" in the underground mall.  The waffles were very tasty, but it's a very Chinese version of a waffle.  They come in several flavors, such as banana, strawberry, chocolate and plain with red beans. It comes served in a bag with no syrup or any sauce.  For China, it's delicious!  Oh and yes we are sitting on toilets.  We thought about stealing one for our apartment! :)

Lesley enjoying her toilet time!

Lesley, Melodie, and Mandi

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! It was a fun filled weekend/ Monday and Tuesday.  It's National Holiday here in China, so most of us have the week off from teaching.  Our school gave us seven days of vacation, but then we have to go in this coming up weekend and work Saturday and Sunday to make up for the Thursday and Friday we were off.  Oh China!  That's all I can say.  Flexibility is key to surviving here.  I'm headed to my first Chinese wedding tonight, so I'm sure that will be included in my next update!