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Each time I write a blog, limited as they are, I alwasy struggle as to where to start. I feel I should start with the 'school trip'. This phrase conjures up a number of ghastly images, and sensations, then followed by a little bit of nausea, finally followed by nostalgia. 'School trips' were inevitable. You would get excited about them for weeks prior to actually going, then on the morning you were frantically trying to remember everything, and then you get there and the disappoint, sorrow, boredom, regret, or many more suitable emotions settle in. It was always the same. Nothing changed. Ever.
Until last Monday.
I arrived with my flat mate bright and early to wait for the rest of the teachers and teacher's assistants to arrive. Most came in pairs (flat mates) and some in huge groups. I never quite realised how big the company was until the majority of the people came on Monday. I was told we will be taking a coach to go see Rape Flowers, clime (that's how they spelt climb and they profess to teach English) a mountain, see an underground river, pick strawberries and a numberof things, and with various grammar and vocabulary errors. So we head to the coach to set off on our adventure wondering how we will fit it all in in one day.
Instead of one coach there are two. We all think we might all be mixed up to socialise and get to know each other better, but that couldnt be further from the truth. Segregation. La wai's on one coach (us foreigners) and the T.A's and chinese admin on the other.. I suppose it is hard to imagine what someone feels like when they have segregation imposed on them, until then. We were all rounded up and placed on one bus. The different people. The foreigners. Fun.
Then Belinda the head of the School came on the coach after segregation had be voiced out loud, followed meekly by two others.
Our journey was to be 1 - 1 and 1/2 hours long, so we settled in. Waters out, conversation flowing. No tour guide. We just make our way out of Fuzhou city, and into the suburbs, which still look like an industrialised city. Hardly rural suburbia. After an hour on the coach, we finally hit what we would consider to be countryside, and the landscape changes from high rise apartment blocks, all in varying states of disrepair or abandonment to beautiful, lush countryside, green vegetation, mountains rising out of nowhere, small villages, rivers. Everything so beautiful, even the worn down houses look 'rustic' and charming. The chickens and dogs running around happily, and free. And the fields being farmed.
We passed two small, and I mean paddock sized, fields of rape with no one mentioning to fact that it was there. it was written that we would get to see rape fields, and for the few that didnt know what Rape Flowers were they still dont. No one pointed it out for them. Myself included. I figured we would actually stop so people could see the flowers and the size of the fields they grew in, turning them the brightest shade of yellow. Well blink and you missed these two fields. Literally.
We finally arrived, and all I can say is breath taking. Check out the photos if you dont believe me. Tianmenshan Scenic Spot was picturesque, belongs in travel magazines. We have a tour guide. No use, I dont understand fluent, fast spoken chinese. Nor do I understand slow, jilted chinese. How about hardly any chinese. So there was just a guy there pointing at us, shouting, gesturing, and i think growing a hernia as we sure as hell did not understand him, nor follow him.
Through out the tour, i found myself towards the back. Away from the tour guide, and away from the group, so i could take things slower and actually enjoy what was unfolding around me. I took so many photos, mainly on my phone due to forgetting to actually turn my laptop on to charge my camera battery, and was able to do so in an unhurried and leisurely manner. We 'climbed' some steps around the mountain and saw so many wonders, but at 12:00 sharp the tour was over and we HAD to go back. No climbing a mountain. No underground river. They wouldnt even let us go in the cave or do some absailing - spoil sports. Our time had expired and we had to go.
Having been ushered out, we went past a very bright Temple. It was the most gaudy thing I had ever seen, but then this is China. They love gaudy. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. No joke. But it was so fitting and beautiful because it is China. Again the photos speak where words fail me.
We went to a restaurant for lunch (paid for by the school - so great beers all round). We were thousand of feet above sea level, so two beers and we were tipsy, so our table went for 3 :) The food came out, and Luke and myself, the only veggies (boo us I know) sat on the same table, and were excited when the rice came out followed by eggs cooked (scrambled) in tomatoes. It was followed by a Tofu dice, ducks blood dish, cauliflower, pork cubes, pork shredded, chicken and beef stew and numerous other dishes. We set about having some rice, then the eggs, and then the Tofu. Trouble. You would think Tofu is mainly used for vegetarians and as a meat subsitute.You would also think there were a lot of vegetarians in China due to Buddhism and the number of Buddhists. You would be wrong on some many counts. The TOFU had PORK fat in it.. thank f*** I saw the fat before eating any of it. After almost putting that in my mouth I squeal (yep a proper squeal) and put my chopsticks down and refuse to use them.
Calley passes me a clean plate and chopsticks. We start again. I have some egg, then go for the cauliflower, but wait.. It isnt just cauliflower it has chicken in it!! Cody warns me before I pick any up this time. So I go for one of the soups... NO dont do that, it has beef in it.. I go for the green beens, no no no NO.. its has bacon in it. I have to admit I am very very frustrated and hungry by now. Dont forget the beer is going down and nothing in my stomach to absorb it. SO we order two vegetarian dishes, stressing no meat, no fat, no animal, we are vegetarians.. Aubergine comes out - swimming in the orangest oil I have seen. Heartattack in one. Followed by some more tofu. I take no chances and get people to try the food before I do. The Tofu has pork in it, but the heart attack is safe. I down my beer and give up. There is no hope for many people in China if you are a vegetarian. Even less hope if you are a vegan. The only way to really survive is to cook it yourself.
We get back onto the bus and make our way back towards Fuzhou, stopping at a Strawberry field on the way back. I refuse to pick pany strawberries after the story Caitlin told me about people using human sewage as a fertiliser and it having killed people, and instead go in search of some edible, vegetarian food. Rice crackers! A small group of us decide to explore the village rather than partake in picking possibly human sewage covered strawberries. it is so small and quaint, and scary. It was probably only scary because it was so remote and I doubt anyone had seen a foreigner let alone a group of foreigners, so the stares we draw were quite intense. Almost like in a horror movie when people know something bad is going to happen to you, and they continue staring at you, following you. Or maybe my imagination is in overdrive. Could be either, or both.
Either way we have a fantastic day, good weather, great company, s*** food, and a very chinese experience. Both with the elaborate and exaggerated description that no where near corresponded with the reality, but was better for it.
Since that Monday I have just been working, five classes, explored old Street a bit at night, and planned this weekends shenanigans - a weekend in Xiamen with some teachers. Should bea right laugh, especially seeing as the hostel we are staying at has a 'KILLER' game.. It did remind me of the movie 'Hostel' when I read it, and fingers crossed it has no correlation. If you dont hear from me again though, I went to Baijiacun International Youth Hostel with 6 other teachers, all white adults between 23 and 27 years old from England, America, Canada and Australia. 4 girls and 3 boys. furthermore, if you do not hear from me, I love you all!
Great way to end a blog huh?? Very optimistic! Speak soon..
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