What a day!! oh man I am exhausted!
I got up this morning to an empty room. Sam had a sleep over with Crista and Rachelle last night. So being able to be as noisy as I want, I took a shower and got ready for the day. I texted Crista to figure out what time we were supposed to go to the zoo I got the text “20min” shoot! Good thing I asked her! I headed over to their room to find Sam wasn't feeling very good so she isn't going to come. Man that blows. I felt really bad cuz the zoo was supposed to be really fun!
I ran down to the gate after tripping up the stairs and feeling like I crushed my knee cap but no worries I am all good now, I made it onto the bus ready to go. Crista and Rachelle made it 5min later and we were off of our adventure!
There is something about a bus or any moving vehicle in that matter that lulls me to sleep but not today. Kelly came and sat right next to me and showed me pictures and videos of her baby girl and we talked about life and anything that came up.
The hour long bus ride flew by and before I knew it, I was at the Weihai zoo, the biggest zoo in Asia.
It was amazing! We were so close to the animals! It was most definitely not the safest for us but man it was worth it! The zoo is set up like a hiking trail loop. And when I say hiking, the zoo is literally on the side of a mountain/giant hill so you have to climb stairs and rocks etc to continue on to the next exhibit. Kelly and I were buddies at the start but I called it quits when she didn't want to stop for pictures. There was no way that I was going to miss out on this!
Turns out Crista and I have the same photo fetish so we ended up teaming together for the rest of the zoo.
We watched the Tigers and Cat exhibits and then moved on to the monkeys. They were sooo close! One group of monkeys wasn’t even in a cage it was just roped off to keep the people out rather than the monkeys in! 
You could throw food to them too. The best part was a tie between a monkey picking up hard candy in a wrapper and watching him open it and then throw the wrapper on the ground as he chewed on the candy or another, sitting on the ground peeling and eating a banana. It was classic.
We pulled ourselves away from that area to see more monkeys. We came at the perfect time because at least one monkey in every exhibit was a new momma. 
After the monkeys we saw the birds, which had some tough competition and failed miserably, but 
I’m not much of a bird person anyways. I did however get to see an owl and thought of Brindy right away. I wasn't able to get a good picture since that was the only animal that seemed to have 100% protection from the overly curious humans.
After the birds we walked up to the African jungle type section of the zoo. We walked down the stairs to a massive crowd and saw what looked like a bear standing there eating a carrot. No way is that not real. When I say standing there I mean on two feet chomping away with creepy human like characteristics! The Chinese man pulled me up to it so I pet it and sure enough, its totally real! Holy cow I just pet a bear!!
Crista took a picture and we switched like the Chinese guy was pulling us to do and then he started asking us for money. Crista just walked away and I was so annoyed that he did that I just looked at him. If he was going to play that game
so was I...
I looked at him while walking backwards holding my hands up looking like a stuck up teenager “I have no clue what you are saying” he kept rubbing his fingers together saying money money.
When he grabbed my arm and tried to pull me back over so he could man the crowd next to his bear but still get me to pay for something he purposely tried to trick me with. I patted my pockets with one raised eyebrow “sorry buddy. You aren’t gonna win this one” I know he couldn't understand me, in fact, he gave up after that by waving me away but it still felt nice to rub it in his face that he wasn't able to pull that fast one on me.
We walked a little further to find what I had been most excited for. The tiger... you better believe it. I got to pet a tiger for the second time in my life but this time is different.
Not only was it a tiger, but it was a white tiger! Full grown and beautiful! Oh man checked off the bucket list!
As if that wasn't enough, Crista and I walked over to find the elephant. Oh man I am so down!
We both took turns riding the elephant and checking off yet another bucket list item! Each animal experience cost 50¥ each and included a laminated picture of me experiencing these great moments. So for about $17 I have ridden an elephant and pet a tiger.
My life is awesome! We moved on to see the Zebras and Rhinos etc. and then hit the part of the zoo that was next to the ocean and had sea turtles you could touch.
HOLD up! Three items checked off the bucket list?? Is that even allowed?! Well, it’s been done. We were worried about being at the end of the zoo in time so we decided to pick up the pace but it was only for a few minutes , we ended up being there just in time. 
We headed back to the school once everyone in our group was on the bus but I couldn't tell you much about it other than I woke up right at we pulled up to the school.
We filed off of the bus and, I went to tell Kelly goodbye. I was waiting for her to finish talking to Hannah when she told Hannah “tell Dell she is invited too” I looked at Hannah as I was giving Kelly a hug waiting to get filled in while walking up the stairs. Apparently, according to Hannah, Kelly has a dinner appointment with a guy but she doesn't want to go alone so she invited some of the ILP girls ie. Me Maddie and Hannah to come with her. So I said I was good to go even though I was pretty tired but I am not going to let that stop me from experiencing China to its fullest!
I went into my room to take a short nap but got as far as sitting on my bed when Hannah came in and told me that she was exhausted, her head is throbbing and Maddie felt like crap so they aren't going to the dinner. Whatever, I’ll just go, I met Kelly at the gate and hoped into her car with the Security guard following me at my heels like my dad would have if he could have when I left on my first date. Kelly rolled down the window and laughed as she talked to the security guard. She drove off, I asked her what that was all about and she told me he wanted to know where she was taking me and “I told him that I am going to sell you” haha wow Kelly! And he let you drive off?? great! Haha naw she told him where we were off to which was to meet her friend Chan at the JiaJiaYue. We parked and waited for about 10min. He wouldn't answer his phone so Kelly was headed back to the school when her phone rang. Chan said he fell asleep and to meet him at the gate of the school. Oh man she was so annoyed. We got to the gate and Chan arrived. And of we went to find the restaurant. Chan said he had fallen asleep in his office so that’s why he was late. Kelly told him because he made us wait he needs to pay for us. So he did haha. We went to the Korean restaurant and sat down. I got what’s called Ban Fan which is a bowl of rice and veggies with an egg sunny side up on top with some soup on the side.. Heaven in my mouth!! We talked for about an hour or so and then headed to get a massage. Kelly felt bad that I was drug around tonight with Chan being late and talking nonstop because he only speaks Korean and English, he doesn't have many friends at the school so that’s why she wanted some ILP teachers to come. I didn't mind. I am just so happy about getting Korean food, knowing where the place is and what to order so I can go back there again! But I wasn't going to refuse a massage. I got just a normal massage which was the most relaxing thing on earth and headed home. Oh man this has been a good day my friends a really good day.
But after all these awesome things I was running on low battery to say the least. The last thing I wanted to do was go on a hike the next morning. Sam was super sick and was supposed to go meet up with some girls to pick strawberries. Well that’s easy enough. I told Sam I would fill in for her and Hannah took the hike because she got tonight to rest, everyone was happy and now I’m headed to bed because my eyes are turning into lead and I have to be up at the gate by 7:15
We filed off of the bus and, I went to tell Kelly goodbye. I was waiting for her to finish talking to Hannah when she told Hannah “tell Dell she is invited too” I looked at Hannah as I was giving Kelly a hug waiting to get filled in while walking up the stairs. Apparently, according to Hannah, Kelly has a dinner appointment with a guy but she doesn't want to go alone so she invited some of the ILP girls ie. Me Maddie and Hannah to come with her. So I said I was good to go even though I was pretty tired but I am not going to let that stop me from experiencing China to its fullest!
I went into my room to take a short nap but got as far as sitting on my bed when Hannah came in and told me that she was exhausted, her head is throbbing and Maddie felt like crap so they aren't going to the dinner. Whatever, I’ll just go, I met Kelly at the gate and hoped into her car with the Security guard following me at my heels like my dad would have if he could have when I left on my first date. Kelly rolled down the window and laughed as she talked to the security guard. She drove off, I asked her what that was all about and she told me he wanted to know where she was taking me and “I told him that I am going to sell you” haha wow Kelly! And he let you drive off?? great! Haha naw she told him where we were off to which was to meet her friend Chan at the JiaJiaYue. We parked and waited for about 10min. He wouldn't answer his phone so Kelly was headed back to the school when her phone rang. Chan said he fell asleep and to meet him at the gate of the school. Oh man she was so annoyed. We got to the gate and Chan arrived. And of we went to find the restaurant. Chan said he had fallen asleep in his office so that’s why he was late. Kelly told him because he made us wait he needs to pay for us. So he did haha. We went to the Korean restaurant and sat down. I got what’s called Ban Fan which is a bowl of rice and veggies with an egg sunny side up on top with some soup on the side.. Heaven in my mouth!! We talked for about an hour or so and then headed to get a massage. Kelly felt bad that I was drug around tonight with Chan being late and talking nonstop because he only speaks Korean and English, he doesn't have many friends at the school so that’s why she wanted some ILP teachers to come. I didn't mind. I am just so happy about getting Korean food, knowing where the place is and what to order so I can go back there again! But I wasn't going to refuse a massage. I got just a normal massage which was the most relaxing thing on earth and headed home. Oh man this has been a good day my friends a really good day.
But after all these awesome things I was running on low battery to say the least. The last thing I wanted to do was go on a hike the next morning. Sam was super sick and was supposed to go meet up with some girls to pick strawberries. Well that’s easy enough. I told Sam I would fill in for her and Hannah took the hike because she got tonight to rest, everyone was happy and now I’m headed to bed because my eyes are turning into lead and I have to be up at the gate by 7:15
I'm so freaking jealous. dang you are the luckiest person i know.... other then me.:P
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