Fall camp and weddings on the beach.
So this past weekend, well, Thursday and Friday, we had our fall camp with our high school students. This is where all of my planning came to a head. Or more like fell on its head. But that’s okay, I knew some things wouldn’t go 100% as planned, and we all ended up having a great time.
We set up camp on the beach next to some mountains and I started them out with a game that I like to call “pass the can.” We were going to play “touch the can” where everyone has to touch a Coke can that’s held between two people’s noses but also, no one can touch one another. They did that in about two minutes so I quick made up this passing game. My only rule was that each person had to pass the can but they weren’t allowed to use their arms. Let me tell you, I got some interesting pictures from that game, but I can’t post all of them so you will just have to enjoy the one I do post. I think they thoroughly enjoyed that game, and it definitely helped some of them get out of their comfort zones.
After that we drove to the village where we gave each person 10 RMB (about $1.55) and with that they had to buy enough food for themselves and the teachers, who wouldn’t be spending money. There were only 16 of them, so we had to feed 20 people with only about $25. Not a lot considering at most sit down restaurants in the US you can spend like $20 for one person. So the students were divided into 4 groups of four and amongst themselves they decided that each group would buy their own food plus some food for one teacher, in total they would feed five people.
So as our students rushed into convenience stores and restaurants us teachers had to cross our fingers that we would get a semi-decent meal. I got elected into a group where we had a 2-liter of Sprite (score!), some peanut bread (which was kind of a semi-score, but I ate like 4 pieces) and a thing of sausage (this was the least score, but I ate one and a half). Some groups got a hot eggplant dish from a lady for helping her clean up her kitchen. I thought that was especially ingenious, what with making their money go a longer distance by putting in a bit of their own work.
After we sat at the campfire and told scary stories. One of the goals for this little retreat was to speak only English, so students could get some good practice. So some of their stories were…lacking when they told him in English, either that or riddled with questions like: “What’s the word for when everyone goes to a place when someone dies?”
Free time followed the fire and some of us went off to hunt down some crab. I didn’t get any pictures because I wanted to be a participant and not just an observer. As we scoured the rocks with our flashlights I was becoming doubtful of whether or not these mythical crabs existed. Then I saw one, and then another, and then another. All in all we caught like eight or nine. We let them all go, but it was fun catching them.
I had four of my students write their names in Chinese for me with lights ☺
One of the ways my planning didn’t pan out was with the hike for the following day. I had budgeted only four hours in the morning for the hike, when really I found out that it was going to be more like six hours, and that we would have to wake up at 5. Ugh. I am not a morning person at all. So as I was laying in my tent, on the lumpy sand, wondering about whether or not I would ever fall asleep, I was dreading the fateful 5am wake up call.
Well, that time rolled around, and as I got out of my tent I saw a kind of “meh” sunrise. I’ve never really seen a sunrise before since I am not a morning person, so I when I saw this I was kind of underwhelmed with all the talk and obsession of sunrises. I was not impresses.
And then the sun rose. Apparently what I was seeing earlier is what I would like to call the “pre-sunrise” where you get some nice color gradients on the horizon. But when the sun actually rose, it was awesome. I took 78 pictures of it and don’t regret any of them. A sunrise is a pretty cool way to start the day.
And start it we did with our 3 hour hike up a super vertical mountain. It was like walking up stairs that were each 20 inches high. Halfway through half of our group decided that they didn’t want to continue, so they headed down the mountain while 7 students and three teachers climbed to the top. Along the way we were running out of water, but were assured by our guide that there was a spring at the top.
I guess now is a good time to explain that we were climbing the Laoshan mountains. And that if you buy bottled water in Qing Dao that it’s going to be Laoshan water. So, as a reference, this would be like hiking in Deer Park and getting the legendary water from the source (kind of).
So we got there and just straight up dipped our water bottles into this pool of crystal clear water (there were only a few floaters, but hey, that’s good for you, right?) and drank straight from the stream. It was quite refreshing. We hiked for another 40 minutes or so until we got to the top, and the view was spectacular.
After our hike we made our way over to a beach for a sandcastle-building contest. But that’s not what I am about to talk about. I am going to talk about Chinese weddings. Don’t worry, this will all make sense when you see my picture. But, anyway, in China, or at least Qing Dao, it is super popular to get your wedding photos taken on the beach. I mean, super popular. Every time I have gone to or passed by the beach (on nice days) I have seen, without fail, at least one bride and groom striking funny poses in the sand. Now, this could be true in the states for places that are close to the beach, Cincinnati and Atlanta were not for that matter, so I haven’t experienced this beachside wedding photography before. So, how many brides do you see?
Overall the trip was a success and I think the kids enjoyed themselves and hopeful learned some things. If nothing else I think they all grew a little closer as people and friends, which for only 28 hours of being together is a striking success.
Okay so first of all, I just realized that you have a blog and it is highly entertaining to read. Second of all, from your blog, I just found out that you went to China. Some how word did not travel all the way to Arizona that you had found a job and that it was in CHINA!!! Holy cow! Thirdly, I am super bummed that I won’t get to see you over Thanksgiving now because you are on the opposite side of the world. However, I am very happy that you found a job and very happy that you, so far, seem to like it! Your pictures of the sunset are beautiful! You should wake up more often to see them 🙂 Hope to hear from you soon!!! Miss you!!
Hayley
“and just straight up dipped our water bottles….” haha You just be dippin’ it like it’s nbd. Too funny. Clay, you are seriously awesome. Still thinking about you, be encouraged!
p.s. sunrises are sweet, right? I discovered them this summer too haha. It’s crazy…a sunrise and a sunset are the same, but totally different. Blows my mind.
Lindsay
Love hearing about your adventures, truely entertaining. Stay strong & positive