Off to Guizhou went Ellie...

It's always interesting seeing a new place through another's eyes.  

What did they think was worthy of a picture? 

On their first day in Guizhou, Ellie's senior class visited a Chinese

high school, supposedly to talk to and help the students with their English.

In her own words, "If I had 5 kuai for every time someone wanted to take my picture, I'd be rich!"

 It's been a phenomenon that strokes the ego... "Excuse me, could I take your picture?"

It's happened even to the older ones in our family (and I didn't even have to pay them to say that!),

but it happens most to our blonde daughters. 

It's been mentioned more than once that it will be missed once we move back to the U.S.

Then we'll just have the memories of being unique and beautiful.

While Alice visited an area that is unusually dry and sunny this year, (and hence the sunburn);

Ellie's area was unusually rainy.  

 Apparently good luck comes if you throw money on the floating turtle rafts.

 And Alice wasn't the only one to try new exotic foods.  This area had lots of

fish and such--squid, crayfish, etc.

Make your selection and the street vendor fries it in oil

 Oh, yeah.  And little crabs.  We're becoming more used to eating "street food".  

As long as it is cooked, it's okay.  And quite tasty.  But don't add in any lettuce or other uncooked things or you might be making a close, long, acquaintance with a toilet.  And western toilets

aren't very common (sometimes available at McDonalds).  Otherwise, you

get to use what we fondly call a squatty potty.

 But western civilization is encroaching everywhere!  Just look!  Ice cream!!

Even the flavored, soft-serve variety (notice the sign above).

Or Ellie's decadent-looking cone, (below).

 This area is known for the flowers, and for a dollar or two, you can have a fresh-flower

crown.  But having one of Ellie's Korean classmates model it is even better.

(And every picture with the Koreans has a peace sign, or a "live long and prosper" sign.

Point a camera and it's automatic!)

 Did I mention that it was rainy?  And cloudy?

The seniors traveled several hours by bus, then hiked up into the mountains, before taking a

tram up to the top.  And once they got there, what did they see?  A stunning vista?

 Hardly.  Ellie has a picture of the view--solid gray.

 Still, the area was interesting, and many signs proclaimed their

pride in the fact that it was part of the inspiration for the movie "Avatar" (with the blue people).

 Ellie had a good time.  She came home with some fun clothes from local tradesmen and a woven blanket.  But the best part of course, are the friendships made.

Returning to the U.S. in 3 weeks as she prepares for college will definitely be bitter-sweet for her!