Best Hostel EVER!-Shanghai

Our room. They did a good job at cramming 6 beds and cupboards into one room.

My bed.

If you have a big head and you like to read, use this western toilet.



Only the kings can go into this toilet.

If you are a ninja (man or woman), you may use the squatter. Note: I never used the squatter so I guess I'm not a ninja.

Sinks near the bathroom.

This is where we would chillax and meet people. They had a restaurant and wifi in there so this is where everyone would hang out.

Party area on the deck.

Angela drew a picture of our group and posted it on the wall before we left.

Hello Shanghai! I love you!

Train ride to Shanghai. Jessica looks like she's being abducted by aliens.

Josh asleep on the train.

The best part about the trains is the little chillins that run around.

Trains in china kind of look like buses in the US.

I don't know how, but Natalie is asleep. She is in her chair backwards in the fetal position.

Buildings and Josh covering his face.

Jessica and Natalie are excited to be in Shanghai.

I think this building looks like a bug. Oh, and Haagen-Dazs is amazing!

Me about to get on the subway.

More buildings.

The coolest roundabout that I've ever seen. It has trees shaped like roses in the middle.

China flags.

And what vacation would be complete without Natalie ignoring a warning sign. This sign was in front of an elevator. It said "Repair in Progress." So, Natalie runs and jumps on the elevator and yells, "hurry up! The elevator is here!" I looked at her and then at the sign and just walked away. The sad part is that she was serious.

Bungee Jumping....or not

Tim had great news for us! We were going to go bungee jumping with a senior class from our school. When we got there, it turned out to be a team building ropes course. It was still fun, but we were really looking forward to going bungee jumping.

This was our bus that we rode for 3 hours to get to the ropes course.

Our team flag. Hand in hand we dominate (except they forgot to write "we")

Natalie decided that she wanted to sit in the pile of rope and sing instead of doing the activity.

Then the bus driver decided to tie her up with the rope...

...and drag her around like an animal.

For our first activity, we will tape newspaper together. Then we will make it into a circle and stand in it. Next, you must use your hamster skills to create a human wheel. The point of this activity is to take up time in the cheapest way possible.

Our second activity involves a water bottle and a circle. Your task is to get the water bottle out without getting inside the circle. Since you will probably figure out how to do this within the first few minutes, we will keep changing the rules to drag it out.

Lunch. Now I know the meaning of "waste not, want not." The Chinese don't waste any part of the animal. Everything goes into the dish. This makes me not want it. In case you don't know what you're looking at, it's pork meat under pork fat under pork skin under pork hairs.

Spider web game: try to get through without touching the web but the group can only use each hole once.

Nathan and I with our game faces on.

Alright kids, get into a line. It's time for public humiliation. haha, but really. If your team loses, you have to do something stupid in front of the whole group.

Finally, our last activity is to climb to the top of this pole and jump from one board to the other.

Josh jumping. Such a show off.

Jbiggs did really well! Good job!

Natalie...the point is that she tried. It doesn't matter that she got to the top and fell off.

Playing and Drills

One Friday afternoon, we were invited to join the elementary school activities. When we got there, we found out that we were leading the activities. After teaching them songs, facial expressions, and dances, we played with them. It was so fun! I love Chinese kids! They are all so cute!

6:30 am. The kids are awake, dressed, fed and ready for classes. These kids go to class from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm seven days a week! Crazy! Now I know why Chinese kids are so smart!

It's amazing how straight their lines are.

When I first arrived at Mayflora, something woke me up at 6:30 am. I heard shouting from the speakers outside and kids repeating. Now I know that every morning, the teachers line the kids up to do drills and chants. This is a picture of the kids doing their morning exercises.

Pre-Christmas Party!

One of Angela's traditions is to have a pre-Christmas party. Since she isn't home this year for it, we decided to have one in China!
Our Christmas countdown. We still have this up in our supply room and Angela updates it every day.

Me in front of our Christmas tree. We even did a gift exchange.


I had Natalie. I gave her a Coke dressed up like a boy (Hyrum). She loved it! He still sits on her desk.

Decorations on our fridge.

Our Christmas chain countdown with our snowflakes and tree.

We even danced and listened to Christmas music.

Jessica and Josh at the party.

Natalie and I in our Christmas colors!