A Day Off!

Today was our first day off, and our last for 10 days. As excited as we are to start the classes, it was much needed. Since our travel date we haven’t stopped going. I actually slept in, which I don’t think I have done in quite some time. But I also went to bed well past midnight so it wasn’t being lazy! We were supposed to meet for breakfast, but I also needed to skype the family, so breakfast would have to wait for me. Dave had gone done early and learned all about Jesse’s golf game. We also know that Jesse was a world class athlete, and actually coached China to a bronze medal in the 92 Olympics for rowing, if I remember correctly. Very impressive.

So after breakfast we waited for the driver to come take us to a mall that wasn’t far away. Paula wanted a sweater, and I needed to find a Verizon store. While we waited we went through the ACLS video in Mandarin to see where subjects began as there was no menu! We also had several great discussions on various subjects of a medical nature. Dave is a genius when it comes to pathophysiology so I enjoy picking his brain to make myself learn more. The time Jesse was supposed to call us was 1 in the afternoon. When it was 130 and we hadn’t heard from him, Dave contacted him and found that Jesse had called his room and didn’t get an answer so he sent the driver away. We were in Paula’s room. So we walked there instead. This was a good thing though. We got to enjoy the sights. I’ll include some pictures for you! When we got to the ‘mall’ we were disappointed. It seemed like a big department store to us, but did in fact have many different stores inside. It was not like the ‘strip’ malls we love like the Galleria. Stores were in corners, some didn’t have walls separating them, just different signs. No luck on what either I or Paula needed. Typical.

We then wandered the streets, hoping to find anything interesting. The walk itself was interesting, what we found was not. Perhaps the funniest thing for this mall visit was that we were gawked at everywhere we went. Dave thought they were curious about the big bald white man and said they were all focused on me. He did also admit he was oblivious to things around him sometimes. As much as they looked at me, they did also look at him too. Paula was wandering into the stores being followed VERY closely by the employees. No personal space there! It was comical to watch. I don’t think I have ever been a spectacle like that before. It’s odd to have everyone stare at you and don’t care if you notice that they are. I suppose it’s almost like being a celebrity. Maybe this is what Britney experienced when she had her rough time in life. Awesome, I have something in common with Britney!! There is still hope!

After the walk, we still had to discuss some stuff. Back to Paula’s room to finish up. This was after 4, and dinner wasn’t until 6. For dinner we met Trace, Jesse and Mark Ghilarducci (VP from Witt & Associates) in the Chinese restaurant. Holy crap. The most perfect sweet and sour pork in the world was part of our dinner. I love some sweet and sour pork, and now after this I cannot go back home and have it ever again. The flavor and quality has ruined me. It has been our sad reality. Food just won’t be the same when we get back. For the odd dish, there has to be at least one in every authentic Sichuan meal it seems, we had goose. Also pretty good. The best green beans in the world were also served.  Very similar to bbq in flavor, it reminded me of bbq asparagus. Just no funny pee smell later! Jesse said these particular beans were the most healthy vegetable in the world and are only grown in Sichuan. Good thing because we all demolished them and it was completely gone.

Dave and I then went for a quick workout. Or at least mine was quick, just under an hour. He stayed a bit longer. NCTI sent him the wrong size button down shirt, well actually it was the female version of the shirt, so I let him borrow one of mine. They were both wrinkled so we took to ironing them. Now I just await my skype date with Jenn and the boys, then off to bed I go. Tomorrow is the first day, and apparently is a really big deal here. Supposedly we will be on Chinese TV and some high ranking diplomats are going to appear. Should be interesting!!