Our first day was spent at the 'People's Park' and quite a place it is. I can imagine that it is a bit better in the summer as from the pictures you can see it was a little desolate. The lake was frozen over though so it made a nice (nerve wracking) walk across the lake with that slight fear that I was going to fall in but, alas I was once a life guard so water is no fear for me. Even if it is ice cold and I'm wearing a massive coat.

So we started through the pet market; both a depressing and cute experience. The street was huge lined at the top with rows of fish tanks full to the brim with all sorts of colours and breeds, next where birds, everything from parrots to pigeons. But at the bottom was best part. Dogs, so many dogs of all sorts piled up in boxes (I did say it was depressing) now you must understand that Chinese people are not a big fan of big dogs and there were 2 full grown husky dogs that seemed to have a meter wide force field around them preventing anyone from going to stroke them. So when our party of three swaggered up to them they were all over us damn, I would have bought them if the school let me. Although I am sure my parents wouldn't be too fond of me brining home 2 more dogs next year.

Anyway the park was pretty empty but had everything from the best children's play park in the world to fair ground games and a roller disco. I was surprised by the frozen lake and the group in the centre who were having quite a rave on the ice with a hi-fi and glow sticks. Not to mention the people riding bikes across the lake, now that is manly (and unsafe).

After a good 2 hours of aimless wandering we headed back to the school (and Jess' house) to prepare for the most important evening of our career in china….