TGIF!

I finally get to sleep in tomorrow!  I've been running around non-stop for an entire week, not to mention sleep deprivation and jet-lag.  In some ways it seems like I have been here longer than a week, but I think that's because I have managed to do so much since I  arrived.  Today was the best day so far.  Since we all met up at the Sujiatuo location, I was home from work in 5 minutes.  Also, I got to meet my students and the teacher who's been teaching them the past couple weeks, Alfred, who is awesome! I got to sit in on 3 of the classes I will be teaching; the 4 year-olds, the 5-6 year-olds, and the 7-9 year-olds.  The youngest group is an all-girl class, while the oldest class are all boys except for one girl.  The middle class is a mix.  Naturally we had one who cried for his grandmother, a few who played with each other's pig tails all the time, and a couple who were in their own little world.  They're all so sweet, and I can't wait to begin teaching them.

Hot Pot again for lunch, but this time at a different place.  This restaurant was more formal, and since there were 6 of us, we had a private dining area.  We dined from one big pot this time, and the amount of food they brought out was incredible.  It's impossible to eat it all.  They seem to give much more food than needed.  Hot Pot takes time to eat; it's definitely not something to have if you're in a hurry, but a great idea for business meetings or leisurely dinners with a group of friends, etc.  Today I tried about 4 types of tofu, various veggies, Chinese bread, and a few pieces of beef.  Different sauce this time, and I was a bit worried because it tasted so much like something with peanuts in it.  They assured me there was none, and that they were certain of it since they made it themselves.  I have eaten a lot of mystery foods this week.  No mystery meat, though, but I will try any fruit, veggie, or spice.

Went to the supermarket alone and managed to buy beer, milk (that was a wild guess), chocolate, and a thermos (no Tim's or other coffee shop near work).  Tonight: Maybe a beer or 2, and then gonna turn in early.  They say that for every hour of change on the time zone, it takes a day to recover from jet lag.  I'll need another week according to that; every bit of it.  I'm pooped.