I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop. Where she sits she shines, and where she shines she sits!

Ah haha...Today has been a blast.

The day started off with me and Kate being horrified with the fact we can only shower in the evening...we learnt this the hard way being tortured with a cold shower. This wasn't helped by the fact that we had fake tanned the night before and had to wash off it off in the morning.


For lunch we were showed how to use the College canteen we luckily found a place that did chicken burgers and chips. This made us very happy just to be able to eat some English food, it was quite good actually. After lunch we went to visit a kidswear company in Ningbo, this was called Joyous Clothing, here they made clothes for the likes of Benetton and Sisley. Three classes of the college also joined us for the trip, they were very excited to meet us which was nice.

To see production first hand was very interesting as we were able to view the design drawing turn into a pattern to be cut then produced and into the sample product. The factory was gigantic with various floors. The most interesting part was the sewing room where there was literally rows of Chinese workers each designated their own job which they would do all day every day. For me this seems like a menial job but over here this is the norm. What was also astonishing was the speed at what they worked they were able to do all the button holes on a shirt in the blink of an eye.

After our visit we went back to the college where we spent the afternoon sampling various types of
tea from green tea, green tea mixed with black tea, and chrysanthemum tea, have to say we are quite addicted its so refreshing.

Our friend Tong-Tong (pronounced Ton Ton) took us out for dinner and helped us order some actual food we wanted in Chinese, we now have this written down for future. So happy we've been able to have some proper meals. Chinese beef in black bean with green peppers is truly amazing over here so much better not forgetting the fried rice, yum yum. Its ironic that the food they eat over here is far from the Chinese food we are used to in England.

After our meal Tong-Tong took us over to Ningbo, to an area called Yan Wang Tang, this area is rather westernised as a lot of foreigners stay and work in this region. Tong-Tong took us to the school where she goes to learn English everyday. She claims she is not very good but we think differently she seems to understand most things and speaks very well. As we were a little class we walked into the classroom full of Chinese men and woman to the sounds of "oo" "ahhh" for them it was quite remarkably to see 5 english girls altogether. Their tutor asked if they would like to ask us any questions and guess what the first was....

Would you like a chinese boyfriend?

This had us giggling already. The lesson was so enlightening, seeing how they learn our language will help us with how to prepare for our lessons teaching our students at the college. The highlight of the lesson was when I was tested with tongue twisters, this was one I got, well, very stuck with...read this quickly

I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop.
Where she sits she shines,
and where she shines she sits!

Can you guess which word I got stuck on? Hmm this was hilarious everyone was laughing and I was practically in tears.

Tong-Tong told the class we were going to a local bar and if they would like to join us and they did which was lovely. Everyone was so nice and welcoming and really interested in our lives back in England. The beers and cocktails in The Office Bar were more expensive than on our campus but still cheaper than England. As we speak more and more to our new friends we are able to understand how to speak and know what to say so they can understand us.

So far I am really enjoying myself and excited for the days to come.

Happy Easter in England

and not forgetting...

a Big Happy 50th Birthday to my dad sorry I can't be there with you to celebrate.

x