Merry Dali-cious Christmas!

Falafel!

I don't know how many plays on words I can keep using for Dali, and I'm not sure if I haven't used this one previously before... Thank you Dali Hump hostel for hosting amazing holiday feasts. This one was 35 kuai a person and totally worth it.

I arrived in Dali on Christmas Eve after teaching earlier that morning. My kids have been particularly heathen-like because of the fact that all day every day all we do is review, and they don't want to be there, and neither do I when they're acting like monsters. I had a come to Jesus talk with them on the 23rd which mostly involved flipping out, throwing about 100 sheets of paper in the air and the atmosphere in my classroom has been strict and organized since. Taking control of 52 seventh graders when they don't want to be is difficult. Taking control of 52 seventh graders that sleep in freezing temperatures, that are sick, that are tired, and have to go to school from 7:20 am to 9 pm at night is nearly impossible! Christmas couldn't come soon enough.

Phoebe and I packed our things and made the 30 minute trek out of our village unto the side of the road. We watched as bus after bus full of people passed as by and we couldn't get on. Standing outside in the freezing cold, we battled with our urge to give up but hope persevered and after only an extra 50 mins, we were able to sit on a slighter warmer bus for 4 hours before arriving in Dali. In my mind, I hoped that there would be food like this:

My prayers were answered!

It's amazing how time changes when you live in rural China. Before coming here, I truly wouldn't be caught in a vehicle for 4 hours at a time. Four hours? Might as well be FOREVER. Now, I look forward to any means of transportation faster than my own two feet, or in some cases an exposed car engine carrying basketballs (Only Phoebe would understand).

After one night of revelry and losing my phone (again!), I don't know what the deal with China is. I think I need to get a real purse........ Christmas arrived! In the morning, I awoke to find that the stone of my ring was missing, that I was a lot hungover, but that's all okay because Santa Claus is cominggggggg to town. Merry Christmas! A few of us went for a Christmas bike ride and celebrated amazing weather before sitting down for the Christmas feast.

Laura, Ken, and Pete after our Christmas meal!

So pleased. Can't you tell?

After feasting to our hearts' content, the gingerbread contest was judged and the leftovers were devoured by our friends. This is John Kuo, going to down by first, stabbing the door of the gingerbread house and grabbing it and stuffing it into his mouth. NOMs.

Killer!

Lucas and I were both a part of the clean plate club! This occurred for me only after a creepy long haired German man took away all the bones from my plate. He looked like he should be grooming pet tigers, but he confessed he has puppies to feed.

Following our meal, we finished up with White Elephant, which you've already seen pictures of....... John Kuo couldn't WAIT until White Elephant, and truthfully, I couldn't either! In the end, I didn't want the stealing/Christmas spirit to end!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and... coming up, a Happy New Year!