Everyone has a guilty pleasure, that one thing you do that just makes you feel pretty. Mine is getting my nails done. I’ve been itching to get them done since I’ve come to China but have not been able to rationalize the monthly splurge. Also the real fear of poor hygiene here (on the salons part, not mine) that can lead to nail disease. Anyway, I finally pushed through and just decided to go for it.

As my decision to stay in China another year became final I realized the need to make some changes in my life. The most important being I have to stop living for a deadline. I’ve decided to treat my time in China as if I was spending the rest of my life here. How would my daily life change if I knew I was staying in China? If I know I had to find ways to keep happy and entertained so as not to grow resentful, what would I change.

NAILS! Nails always make me feel pretty and happy. Superficial maybe but hey a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!

This is easily going to become a monthly ritual.

The hunt for a salon began. Katie and Kelly came along to help asses and decide. We went to a few looking at the way they kept their tools. We were having a difficult time deciding if some of the places even did acrylics as they didn’t smell like your typical nail salon.

We finally found one that smelt right, (never thought I’d pick a salon based on smell) and went in to try it out.

After a rather intense game of charades I decided just to go for it. We still weren’t convinced they did acrylics but I figured I was up for a try. Rather than bore the boys with the details. It ended up NOT being acrylics but tips. Disappointed I was but hey, I’ve got french tip again and I’m loving that fact.

Beth knows where an acrylic place is, where was she during the hunt? As Kelly is always up for a manicure, we’ve decided were just going to make it a bi-monthly date.

Everything set!

Victoria is becoming a regular here at the K&K Bed & Breakfast. We decided to make a night of it this last trip and invited Katie over for a girls night. We pulled out all the stops, nutella covered strawberries, American Movie Butter popcorn and soda.

We popped in two chickflixs and settled in for an evening of enjoyment.

We started with The Wedding Date then ended with Jab We Met, only the best Bollywood film ever. Okay maybe not the best but it makes my top three.

I love my apartment it makes a great guest house. Kelly’s bed is huge so we are able to bunk together and give Victoria my bed no inconveniences. Katie volunteered for the couch I swear. No mother I would never ask a guest to sleep on the couch.

The night was a success and I definietly seeing a repeat in the near future.

next morning after math...

Lets just say I could get use to this all to easily!

I had two days off this week for the school track meet. I love the fact that the school only tells the teachers of these days off, two days before. Really vacation time just isn’t important to these people obviously. I called Bonnie and asked if she would like to meet for lunch Wednesday, she agreed and suggested inviting Brad and Kelly.

I meet up with them Wednesday for lunch and had a splendid time. I must admit our combined Chinese was horrible okay worse than horrible. Brad and Kelly have been here 8 months and still don’t speak it. So part of me really just wants to give up now. They’ve managed life in China just fine, I know that is not the road I want to take but giving up is just so easy. Anyway back to lunch. Bonnie fortunatly knew some food words and it all seemed to work out in the end, tons of great food arrived and we dug in.

After lunch Brad left to teach a class and the three of us girls went out to explore the city. There is tons to do in Weifang I discovered. They both had a list of places they want to go and things to see. So new goal, stop hiding out in my apartment and get out and see the city.

First new place of the list was the Pets market. Bonnie had been before and led the way, okay, I’m not an animal fan and I even got depressed.

A flea market Pet's Mart

Not your average pet selection.

 

 

 

 

 

Bonnie with the...um...oh yeah they are suppose to be rabbits.

The most horrifying of all the Squirrel.

 

 The condition of the Squirrels were the most horrifying of all. To ease my pain I just told myself the squirrels where on some type of speed to make them hyper for customers. Although in all honesty I just think they have gone clinically insane with their living conditions and have lost it! Can you blame them? Look at the size of those cages they are in. The only reason the chipmunks don’t revolt as bad as them is that their cages are even smaller and they can’t even jump!

 

Okay enough with the depressing Pet’s Ally, I’ve already decided to skip the Weifang zoo. Kelly says these conditions are just thrust upon the few exotic animals unlucky enough to land here. The bears sit in bathtub of water in a cement cell all day and the other cages show no more imagination. So skip the zoo what’s next on the list?

 

The rest of the afternoon was spent walking the river path and ended at a western style coffee shop in the bookstore. We chatted for another hour and came up with plan! So turns out there is a fair number of Westerners in Weifang we just don’t see each other much since we all inhabit various corners of the city. We’ve decided to form a club. We are going to set up a standing dinner date for the 1st Monday of every month. If we happen upon in Westerner we should invite them to join us. From there we can start planning trips around the city or the adjoining areas. We are hoping that pooling our resources and knowledge of our own areas we will all benefit from a more active lifestyle.

 

I know Dad hanging with Westerners is not going to improve my Chinese but at this point going stark crazy in my apartment doesn’t seem to be improving it either.