School asked us if we wanted to go on a little two day trip with a few teachers and about 12 kids.... its not paid, and doesn't count as hours.... but we don't have to pay for anything! so we agreed.
Set out in the morning all going well, met a few very cute teachers and a lot of crazy kids. Loaded up into a bus and headed for where we would take a boat to another little island. We got there and waited ... . and waited.... and then we were told that the boat wouldn't go because it was too windy. So we went and had lunch hoping it would be less windy in the afternoon...... not so lucky... we waited around and tried to keep the kids entertained. They had missed their afternoon nap at this point and were getting a little grumpy and angry and all started attacking this one girl( this girl has problems anyways and is a pain in the ass).
Finally we loaded most of us into a little van (should seat 11 (including driver), but we had 19 in the van) Luckily most of the kids slept in the van. We went to another place to catch a boat.. and failed....the boat was too full and we got kicked off the boat. At this point they changed the plan... we headed to a countryside town near a temple. Did our BBQing here at one of the teachers parents houses and stayed in her cousin's hotel. Not a great day... but entertaining enough.
The second day went well... it wasn't a pretty day.. but we got to go to a temple in the mountains and climb up pretty high (pictures coming soon... next post). It was a amazingly pretty place. The kids managed to climb up pretty well... only a few got really tired (all the kids are 6-9 years old).
I managed to get my fuel for my fire hoop while at the temple! yay!
We played some games and then went back to the hotel for lunch and naps.... i played a little poker with the teachers... but i need to learn the southern versions.... luckily one game is pretty standard because everyone plays it online.
After lunch was probably one of the most interesting parts of the trip...we went to a park thats kinda like an amusement park as well and took them through a haunted house. Me and Chris were chosen to take them through..... this was quite an experience...... if you have never led 12 kids ( 8 girls/ 4 boys) through a haunted house... its definitely something to try at some point.
The older kids made it through pretty ok.... except when chris (who was in the lead) decided to jump out at them. And when they got out they came RUNNING out (pictures posted later). I was in the back with the 6 year olds...... they were terrified... a little over half way through a few of them started screaming that they wanted to go back (in chinese of course, luckily the kids usually don't use the local dialect.. so we can keep up with that they say). At this point the older kids have ran past chris and he is back with me and a group of like 5 or 6 little girls and try to convince them (in chinese... that was tough) to keep going. one ends up just jumping on chris's back and he has to carry her (screaming) the rest of the way out.
The other rides weren't to much trouble... only one little girl cried after a ride that was to fast for her.
Went on a little paddle boat ride that was nice.... and then loaded back up in another van and headed back to the school on Xiamen island... pretty ok trip all and all. Not sure how many of the students will be my students and how many are Owen or Chris's schools... but they were a fun little group (except the really weird spoiled one that all the other kids picked on CONSTANTLY).
Random side note.... during one of our van trips...... as we move onto the wrong side of the highway i look over at chris and calmly say... well isn't this exciting. Chris's response was amazing...... "Two years ago I would have freaked out flying down the wrong side of the highway towards oncoming traffic with a van packed twice as full as it should be with kids, but now it doesn't even seen to phase me." well put chris.... o China....
Pictures coming soon... i need to collect some from the other teachers.
