Living It Up With The Locals

This past weekend was pretty special. It was the first time I've been invited to a Chinese family's home. In such a large city, it is far easier to suggest meeting for dinner.

I met the dad and daughter on the climbing trip a couple months ago. We hit it off right away. Basically because he spoke the most English and was willing to talk to me! 

Turns out he and his family are going to the state's for a month and a half this summer! They're spending a month in none other than...BOULDER!! 

His daughter takes climbing lessons from China's famous climber, LCZ. He built a very nice gym in their town so they invited me out for the day.

First though, we had Sports Day at school. Zootopia was the theme. Our class were sloths.

After a couple synchronised dancing think flashmob but not quite as cool pieces with the kiddos and their parents and an hour of games we ended early due to high pollution. 

I threw on a mask and high-tailed it to the other side of town to catch the bullet train. 

The dad was away on business but his wife welcomed me with open arms. Well, not so much. The Chinese may be okay with pushing, shoving, and linking arms but hugs are saved for rare occasions.

We went straight to the gym! My climbing ability is next to none these days. Pathetic. However, their 7 year old daughter was doing laps on the wall next to me! Twerp.

Oh, did I mention pollution was the highest I've ever been out in? AQI air quality index was 500 When it is over 100 we cannot take the kiddos outside. I have the government app that maxes out at 500. The other apps, which are more legit, got to my head too much so I deleted them. 

We arrived at their home and the windows were open. Sad day. I doused myself in essential oils for purifying, put my mask on a bit to help with a headache, put more essential oils around my burning eyes, then covered myself in a blanket and prayed. 

The next morning my new friend, Daisy, made homemade dumplings!! One word: scrumptious. 

Her husband had a colleague in town from India so we picked him up and went exploring.

They just so happen to live in my new favorite town in China! It's a water town. Chinese refer to water towns as "China's heaven." 

Pollution was low, the sun was attempting to shine, and the company I was with were delightful. The children were wild but, thankfully, Chinese moms appreciate it when we not sure if by "we" it's foreigners or teachers discipline their children or simply talk with them and ignore the kids. I did both. Often. 

They were also super cute. Here's this little guy gnawing away on a chicken claw. His fave.

They got a balancing dragonfly we all had fun with! 

The little man had to be convinced the boat was a good idea. He warmed up.

Then we took a tuktuk to the Lion's Gardens.

It was there I experienced my first taste of what it must be like for a movie star without body guards in China. 

It's common to have pictures taken of me, asked to be in someone's pic, etc. but this rowdy group grabbed, pulled, yanked, and grabbed me some more. Each time we saw them they wanted more pictures. We don't know why they all had dyed their hair red.....

Leaving the garden was a little like coming up for air in a swimming pool!

That said, the gardens were gorgeous!!

It was quite the weekend!