1, 2, 3, Smell!

School is officially over, ergo I am off gallivanting in China with my Aunt Lynne. We spent two days on our own in Shanghai, two days on our on in Beijing, and our tour just picked up Day 1 today.

On our tour we have 6 families:
1 from Taiwan
1 from Panama
2 Asian families from Toronto
1 Asian family from San Fran
And us. So I still stick out like crazy. But now, I have a fellow blondie :)

On our own, Aunt Lynne and I travelled by subway (the best thing ever because it's impossible to get lost) and met many random adventures and people. I'm finding I have to translate the Chinglish for Lynne, because the Chinese have issues with certain vowel sounds that makes their English almost incomprehensible, in the same way that my inability to control the fluctuations of my voice makes my Mandarin sound like a mourning chicken. We were stopped by several groups of people who wanted to practice English, and one who couldn't speak English at all, but just grabbed both of our arms and pulled us into a picture. One group that we met offered to take a picture of Lynne and I at a garden, she excitedly said, "1, 2, 3, Smell!!" I haven't checked, but I think I might be laughing in that picture.

We went to the zoo today and we got to see the pandas :)

Next we did Tiananmen Square. Just outside the Forbidden City. Our guide left us to go buy tickets.Most guides carry a flag, but ours had a Winnie the Pooh! I know we're seeing some pretty neat stuff over here, but this photo op with Pooh Bear was the highlight of our day.

Our guide left us to go buy tickets. Most guides carry a flag or something that we can see from a distance and know where our tourguide is, but ours had a Winnie the Pooh! And we got to hold it for her till she got back! I know we're seeing some pretty neat stuff over here, but this photo op with Pooh Bear was the highlight of our day.

As for the weather, it is CRAZY hot and humid. I've finally given in and got myself the first Chinese sun umbrella I could find. No more sweaty/sunscreen combo for me. So you can look forward to pictures of me sunscreen-less and happy with my umbrella in future.