International Women's Day

Even though International Women's Day was on March 8th, my school celebrated it on March 14th by taking all of the female teachers to OCT East. I would love American businesses to take their female workers out for a fun day. It brings coworkers together and it is completely not work-related. OCT East is a resort park with a European theme as imagined by the Chinese.
I have been to OCT East before, and then my inner anthropologist had a great time looking at the architecture. Again I enjoyed seeing what China saw as European culture. In addition, there was an American part to the park that combined all of the Indian tribes in North America. I saw totem poles (from the Northwest) with carved jaguars (Meso-America). Next to the totem area was a building with a cow skull that looked like it came from a Texas desert.
Even though I had been to OCT East before, I had not walked around the Wetland Garden area. The resort built a wetland/marsh area next to a flower garden. The amount of greenery was amazing for anywhere in China. You could smell fresh flowers and feel live plants. Xili consists of dust; vegetation is unheard of. The Garden included a botanical garden with a butterfly enclosure. My American brain interpreted butterfly area as a place to see them flutter around you. Oh, boy, was I wrong! The butterflies were all dead and mounted on display. Trust China to opt for killing something instead of letting it fly around.
Our excursion to OCT East ended with a dance performance. The last time I went I saw part of the performance from back stage. It is better sitting in the audience. The performance was an artistic display of tea with Russian and Chinese dancers. They were tea leaves going into the teapot, the water in the pot, the fire heating the pot. Some even became teapots. Tapdancing teapots (Asian and European styles) were hilarious.
After the performance, all of the teachers went to a seafood restaurant on a wharf for dinner. There is no better place for good, fresh seafood than a restaurant on the water.

A Quick American Visit

Most of you know (through Facebook or actually talking with me) I was in Dallas this past weekend. I was only in Texas for 36 hours! That was the quickest trip I have ever made. However, I am so happy I made such a journey.
I went to a best friend's wedding.
I saw my Mom and my uncles.
I saw best friends.
I spoke English without needing to slow or dumb down the language.
I ate American food. Chinese food was forbidden that weekend. I did not get to eat Tex-Mex, but at least I did not eat stinky tofu.
I had a wonderful, albeit short, break from Asia. I went to a part of the world where Pizza Hut is not a fancy restaurant and McDonald's is never international food.
I flew two airlines, Cathay Pacific over the Pacific, and American Airlines to Dallas. It may have been the difference between international and domestic that was so prominent, but these two airlines were VERY different. I flew Economy with Cathay Pacific, and the alcohol was FREE. Does it make you feel old when you remember it being free on US flights? The flight attendents were also nice. How rare is that nowadays? They happily got you a cup of water. I have to point out that the crew on the flight back to Hong Kong lacked this kindness. Maybe they were not the Hong Kong-based crew.
The crew on American Airlines also lacked such hospitality. At least the flight from SFO to DFW was not 12 hours long. I was unconscious for most of the flight to Texas.
The wedding and reception quickly ended and I had to repack my bag and fly back to China. I did not want to go back to China. This trip reminded me about what life in the States was like, and I missed it. I am glad I am living in a different country, but I cannot wait until I can be back home. China has helped me appreciate the US.