A meeting on the street, a 'clan' meal, calligraphy and ducks head with Wan Yi

Friday was a surprise day off.  Year two were having exams and the year one and three classrooms were needed, so years one and three got the day off.  I teach year one, so I got the day off.

I was due to have breakfast with my new friend Freya, but she texted me in the morning and said she was not hungry and wanted to stay in bed!  That might seem a bit rude by UK standards, but here it is quite normal.  It has been hard to get used to thus behaviour, but I am getting there!  Her plans changed, so mine must.  There was a hole in the firewall, so I decided to get rid of my blogging backlog.  I also had a few good online chats.  Then it was time for an adventure!
I have not really explored that far end of town too much, and when Freya sent me some pictures of where her kindergarten was, I decided that is was time to explore further.  On my way, the local undertaker called me in for a chat.  There was a little child there too, so I blew him up a balloon and helped tie it to a bit of string, and headed off to the far end of town.  On the way I stopped for lunch and watched the local police in action ( see later) and  down past the calor gas depot, through poor housing, and eventually reached where I wanted to be.  I stopped and looked around.

 I was opposite what I know know to be the Traffic Police Headquarters.  They had been busy this morning confiscating motorbike umbrellas and taking great pleasure in destroying them.  To my left was the town that I knew, to my right was the end of the road and ahead was where I wanted to go.  However, things did not work out as planned, because, sitting at the side of the road outside a small shop were some locals.  They were looking at me.  Soft moment.  I walked over to them and one of the women stood up and offered me a place on her bench, then beckoned me to eat sunflower seeds and tangerines.  I took her up on all the offers!

We got chatting, and had a few laugh via body language, Chinese and guesswork.  Yes, they were dialect speakers, but worked hard to understand me!  More people came to see the foreigner and added their comments.  Eventually there was the inevitable photo shoot.

part of 'the clan'

not part of the clan but there anyway!

 

the woman who gave up her chair for me

the small shop and two others from the group

Eventually after much conversation, the woman who invited me to sit down, invited me for dinner.  Excellent!  NO idea what dinner would be or where, but off I went with her and three women friends.  Before I got into the car I noticed a lot of money changing hands. Maybe I'd been sold and they were taking me to be a sex slave! How unrealistic are my thoughts!  Anyway they drove towards the river and shoutes to a few people if they wanted to come to eat.  They got no offers.  eventully we arrived at teh restaurant, at lest I knew where I was an knew how to get home!

It was a lovely place.  I was sat at a table and given some tea.  Lots of people started to arrive and I was moved to another table.  The more people arrived!

I

t was a good meal and good food.  However, as all Chinese meals is suddenly stopped.  I was not sure what was happening next but was waiting for the "Go!"  However they had arranged a lift for me!  I had to refuse politely as I needed to have a walk after the meal which was huge!   I said "Goodbye" and walked off.

Another adventure completed, but that was not the end of the day!  There was more to come!
Off I walked and about ten minutes later I turned the corner and a hundred or so meters dwon the road were a lot of students in their red and white tracksuits (school uniform).  Oh what a commotion! haha.

I posed for a few more inside the building, handed out a few balloons and report stamps and headed off.  A happy bunch of students!  I headed off to the park.  It was quite quiet, but as it was a day off there were a few students around.  I challenged them to dance, they took up the challenge and we had some fun.  I then wandered off to see if the singers were there, but just before I got there I saw Wan Yi.  He had a plan.  He wanted to take me to a calligraphy school.  I accepted.  He parked his pushbike in the tourist information office and we headed out onto the street.  We jumped in a taxi and headed off.  A little further on I we were joined by a student, but she got out shortly afterwards.  eventually we arrived at the far side of town and I followed Wan Yi to a building.  It was locked, but, Wan Yi being Wan Yi, he had a key.  We went inside and he turned on the lights.

He ssat me at a table and we 'did' calligraphy.  I was eventually surprised how calming it was!  Here are a few of my attempts.  Room for improvement!

Eventually we finished after first meeting with the calligraphy master.  We headed out.  Wan Yi told me he was treating me to a meal.  After a short wander we ended up back in Jiangkou centre.  We walked a while.  A stall holder called him over and offered him two free pieces of sugar cane.  He gave one to me.  Fortunately, earlier that day, a few girls from my school had offered me the sams and showed me how to eat it.  Otherwise I would not have had a clue!  Basically , you bite bits off it, chew and spit out the bits.  It is sweet and really nice.  I can recommend it!

We walked a little more and eventually settled at a street restaurant.  Wan Yi bought some ducks neck and duck's head at one stall and fried rice and pepsi at another!  A good evening.

Yup.  A real half a duck's head, there is a lot of meat in it including the brain!

Wan Yi at the street restaurant eating his fried rice (posed)

Eventually we parted company and I went home.  It seemed like two day's activities in one day!