Driving

Some of you may already know this, but I'm just going to get it out there that I'm terrified of driving. Ok, so that's an exaggeration, but I would never say that Wild Bill's feelings for USU basketball are an appropriate comparison to my feelings about driving... by any stretch. Go Aggies.
That being said, the way the Chinese drive is enough to make me want to permanently give up driving.
They drive absolutely nuts. When we went to ChangSha, the taxi driver literally drove the wrong way to get off the highway. The painted arrow was pointing one way, and we were driving the opposite way. They drive on sidewalk, and  they all drive however is most efficient and effective for them, regardless of laws. They also honk constantly to alert other drivers and bikers of their lawless presence, which America could actually learn from (except maybe the lawless part).

The other day, my friend Richard drove my roommates and I to a new store downtown. As he got on the ramp to the freeway, he remembered he needed gas. So he took the logical steps to rectify that situation.
> Backed up off the ramp
> Onto the roundabout
> Did a three point turnabout - still on the roundabout, mind you
> Drove against traffic in the roundabout and
> Got off the right exit to go to the gas station.
What.
We freaked and told him this kind of thing would never EVER happen in America.
He responded with, "In China this happen. I'm Chinese, so I do this."
Alright, Richard, alright.

Hello Kitty car! I've seen 4 now and counting.

Only the upper middle class and above can afford cars here in China. As a result, everyone has nice, new, shiny cars, (or little baby tricycle smart cars ^^) and there's not really a market for second hand cars. Everyone who can't afford a car has a motorcycle or a motorbike. There are TONS of motorbikes everywhere. Or if they can't afford either, they drive golf carts....

The Cop Cart

Unfortunately, the motorcycles don't have much room for cargo space....yeaaah. (I know I already posted this picture- I just had to post again, because it's that great. I just had to.)
xoxo,
Justine

I went to the beach

Today 6 families of the kids that I teach took a few of the teachers to visit the beach in Zhuhai (pronounced ju-hai) and to eat lunch. It was lovely. We visited a nature park first:
Here's the whole group

 Gathering mollusks. Or something like that.

 I don't remember this boy's name, but Oh my.

 This is Marcos. He's adorable beyond words.

 Jun, Marcos' older brother, blowing bubbles. LOOK at his adorable mom.

 Jun and Jophy- two of the kids I teach.

 Jamie and I looovved the fresh shrimp and crab.

 Lindsay ate rice.

 The beach!

 More bubbles!!

 Ahahahahahaha Jophy's face.

 I was fully creeping on Marcos and his nanny, Mimi.

 Dying. Dyyying. Sooo cute.

Roomies

My roommates are obsessed with Korean dramas. They get really into it.

A Day in the Life of Justine

Hi, here's a summary of my day today:
Martin really really wanted the pink headband. So we let him have it.

Driving home from school today, and all 15 English teachers on the bus have a royal freak out about this guy. Fresh bacon mmmmm.

Later that day, I was calmly enjoying my cranberry yoghurt smoothie with boba when this guy showed up.

 He didn't speak any English, and I don't think he understood me when I tried to tell him what my name was in Chinese the first of the five times I told him, let alone the fifth.
Proving that actions speak louder than words, we are now best friends for life after this little performance.

Only in China.
xoxo, Justine

Beijing

So I slept on the floor of a train for thirteen hours.

That is where we slept.
This is how much we bought in Beijing....

We came with an empty laundromat bag and left with it quite full.
I <3 China.
xoxo, Justine

Owling: The Epidemic that is Sweeping Across China

Thank you, China.
Thank you.
More to come.
xoxo, Justine

My little brother is cuter than your little brother. HANDS DOWN.

Here's your helping of warm fuzzies today.
My little brother made a blog about me being in China. Check it out. It's ADORABLE.

I got on Spotify today, thanks to my handy VPN, (cheating the Chinese internet popo hehe) and he had created a playlist titled "i miss justine this is lucas." Oh my heavens, my heart just melted to pieces. I even got a little cryish about it.

Oh I love him.
xoxo,
Justine

FOOOOOOOD

Here's a picture book of what I've eaten so far here in Chinaland:

Barbecued chicken feet in Hong Kong.
Also misleadingly known as "Phoenix Claw." (see previous post)

Duck.

Whole fish. 

Durian aka Jack Fruit (smells and tastes like onions; although, it's not bad dried)

Asian Pears. So good.

Sugar apple. It tastes like banana custard and has a similar consistency.

Sugar cane. Yes, it is difficult to eat. Thanks for asking.

Panda Toast!!

Moon cakes. Some are soo good. Others, not so much...

Honey dew with coconut milk and Mango pancakes. Heavenly.

Pork knuckles. Less heavenly.

Frog. Kind of tastes like chicken. Really.

Speaking of chicken...
This is actually completely normal, except for the little guy's head is smack dab in the middle of the dish. Ehem......your wing tastes real nice, Reggie.

Dragon Fruit!! I love it.

Watermelon. Sometimes I play with my food...
Give me a break; I teach 4 year olds.

We made wontons:)

So yummy:)

Yes, I do put sprinkles on my oatmeal.
It's quite wonderful, as you can tell by my emotional picstitch. 

Trying to make a cake in a rice cooker.

 This was the result. I have cute roommates.

 Mostly I eat peanut butter.

A lot.

xoxo,
Justine