China - Week 3

Our typhoon food supplies!

Back in Dalian, Monday lessons were cancelled. Why? A typhoon was on its way! Apparently some parts of our province had been evacuated so we were told to stock up on water and stay inside. Naturally a bit concerned, we tried to look for more information. By the time the storm reached us it had been downgraded to a ‘tropical storm’. In reality, Dalian just suffered particularly wet and windy weather and nothing more dramatic. Having a definite lack of indoor activities, we soon got bored with half a day inside. The weather to us English folk was nothing more than a blustery day, and we saw some of the locals getting the bus into town so we gave up the drama and decided to go shopping. Some of the others headed to a big indoor shopping centre, figuring that it had cafés and a cinema, should the typhoon hit. However, proper shoping centres mean higher prices, and there were a few things I was keen to get in the underground market, so some of us headed there instead. Underground may not seem the best place to go in a ‘storm’, but as it was 3 or 4 floors deep, we figured if the bottom floor started filling up we’d make a speedy exit!

Later in the week (when the weather was calmer) we had a badminton tournament. I would never describe myself as a sporty girl, but once one of the teachers forfeited I came 3^rd. I have never been so sweaty in my entire life. Yes, it sounds pretty gross, but considering the heat and humidity had you panting just crossing the road, a couple of hours of badminton did not exactly make us all look our most attractive!

On Thursday there was a leaving party organised by the staff and students of the university. Unfortunately, I got charged with the responsibility of making sure someone from England prepared a presentation on England and our time in China. Failing to find another volunteer, I prepared a PowerPoint to present at the party, which was kind of awkward because I didn't really know what to say but it seemed to go ok! The leaving party included a presentation by teachers and students saying how much they enjoyed having us visit, including a highly attractive picture of me asleep on the bus. They's also prepared some games for us, including telling the time with your arms, passing water using cups in your mouth and carrying a balloon without using your hands. In the evening, the Chinese students came out with us to King Club in Dalian. Most of them had never been clubbing before but we all had a great night out! The building was really cool inside with chandeliers, throne-like chairs and brass pipes all over the ceiling. A few of us (mainly the Russian students) went to JD bar after, which was much less decorative inside but sold a cocktail suitably named 'Goodbye Dalian'. Returning to the hotel in the early hours of the morning, we found the doors hadn't been locked, despite a curfew of 12am - yay!