Just finish your trip already it's been like 2 weeks!
Okay okay!
So there we were back in Nanchang feeling.... Well terrible. Everything was muggy and dirty again... and no longer could we buy 40 dumplings for 5 yuan on every corner.
Noelle and I were both on the same page... The BAD ATTITUDE PAGE.
We threw ourselves a pity-party in the bathroom of the KFC we stopped at for breakfast.
As we brought out the grumpy cake and were about to SPLATTER bad-mood frosting on everyone around us....
We heard a song playing over the KFC speakers:
We both giggled at our own pathetic-ness, put on our big girl panties and life moved on.
So we were headed back to rural China and some things we weren't crazy about...
but that was reality
And we could stay there and cry and live at KFC
Or we could Keep our HEADS UP!
And keep moving forward...
I'm pretty sure it was the most inspirational thing to ever happen at a KFC anywhere
We made our way to the Bus Ticket station to buy seats to Tessa's house.
We waited in the lobby to tired to want to walk around and shop... or move at all.
Kiki listened to music, I read and
Garth and Noelle played a game where you name food and whatever letter the last person's food ended with is the letter you then start your next food with.
Egg, Guacamole,Enchilada,Apple.... Etc...
I feel like they play this a lot.
Then BusI rode next to Lee Min-ho!!kinda....
And 3 hours later we were at Tessa's House!
Deliriously happy to no longer be on a bus?
Garth stayed in Tessa's room
(awesome curtain's)
Tessa's House
This picture is for everyone (mostly phoebe) who I told I'd bring home one of these huge porcelain vases
Shortly after arriving we were shuffled into Tessa's family's restaurant located one apartment away from their house.
After that we went to an ATM and grabbed some money (YAY it worked!)
and then we went to a cool park/lake place and relaxed.
OH and while we were walking there I saw SHARPAY FROM HSM on a store's advertisement!WEEEE!
While we were these Tessa taught us some Chinese.
I can now say a simple testimony of the gospel...
and we also learned how to say
"I want to kiss your butt"
...
I don't know how THAT came up....
Afterwards we headed to Tessa's Aunt's Beauty Salon
On the way there were lots of piles of strung out Face Cards.... I think a Magician was murdered
that's just a picture of one... there was a deck strung out on every other block.
When we arrived at the Salon it was giggles and pictures with us... the usual (Now I think I'm some celeb)
They offered us some mini plums and tomatoes... then the photos got weird
We were originally going to get FOOT MASSAGES!!!! but then Tessa's mom called and dinner was ready so we had to leave.
We went home and ate.
Afterwards we went out for Ice Cream and the Egg tarts I LOVE. (Dan Ta)
Then we walked around Tessa's town.
After we got home Tessa told us all where we were sleeping.
Garth is her room
Kiki and Noelle in the Spare
And I was sleeping in with her
and her Mom.
That's right.
3 in a bed (and little one said 'roll over')
one pillow
one blanket....
magic
Here is where that Magic happened
(yes thats a bamboo sheet we slept on top of)
I don't know what to think about the fact that I slept next to an Asian stranger....
I guess Rory put it best when he said I was simply 'Lucky'
The next day we woke and got ready to go to a different lake to go Boating!
As we were driving through town one of Tessa's family's friend spotted them and came over to say hi....
Leaving her baby parked here in the street:
The rest of the ride was spent on windy hilly roads where we had to maneuver room if there were passing cars.
Tessas Uncle drove and we listened to the same tape the whole way...
It had 3 English songs (Someone like you, That's the way it is and Rolling in the Deep)
The rest were in Chinese... We got very happy when in was the English ones again
Oh and Garth blew chunks out of the window
.
Stopped and picked some wild raspberries
And then we were there
It took QUITE a while for them to contact the man who was to come be our boat guide... Quite a while
I was accidentally still zoomed in
This is BEGGING to be a SandCastle! huh Dad?!
My Parents Love Each Other
A fly landed on Noelle's bottle
Finally it was boat time and we were like:
Safety first!
The Ceiling started leaking onto Garth's Crotch
Ha Ha!
Here are some Beauty Boat Shots:
So peaceful... so beautiful... wait....why aren't we moving?
That's a summary of my thoughts when I found that the motor was broken.
hahaha but rowing back was fun.
Then we walked back through the woods to a fishing ranch on the hill for lunch
After lunch we were pooped so when we got home it was nap time
(which worked well so I slept in with my girls that night too... Sorry Tessa and your Mom, I'll miss you)
After Naps we ate and then went to see an old bridge
We heard Fireworks and Ran and watched them (I am SO excited for the 4th is RIDICULOUS)
Then we went to Tessa's Aunts house
Where they fed us MORE
(Garth said it's practice if we ever go on missions because people always assume you're starved)
Old bridge
Monsters inc
The slipper industry is flourishing in China| (take off your shoes and wear house slippers)
Tessas Cousin
These Don every home door
We started heading home and Tessas Mom asked if any of us would like to ride with her on her Mo-ped. HECK YES I WOULD. As the ride went on it got more and more awkward Clutching to her.... but not saying a word. You'd think it wouldn't have been weird I mean... I'd already slept with her!
Then the Americans slept and in the morning drove back to Mayflora. Back to their rooms... Up 6 flights of stairs to their Towers... Rumor is there still there to this day Watching... Waiting...
and playing on the internet.
Oh and here is a ton of pictures of us eating... because as soon as we Eat I remember I have a Camera:
