Sayonara Liuyang...or "Zaijian" I guess

Our last week in Liuyang was a bittersweet one, much more so than our final lessons with Jerry.
This was the place we had begun to call home and we were leaving it.
Yes Mike, home is whenever I'm with you, but our little house was going to be given to some other waigo who knew nothing of the wonders of Liuyang. They're gonna love it there.

Anyway, the last week was a good one. We cheapened out on our lessons and gave the students a break from their rigorous studies and let them watch a movie for 40 minutes of their day.
I've now seen the first 40 minutes of Rio 14 times.
We got several going away dinners and it was a lovely week.

The badminton courts where we occasionally disturbed students classes 

Our last meal with Lily, Angelino, and Fly

Our favourite lunch lady (who called Mike "Monkey" and constantly made fun of us for anything)

All the movies we watched in China

Patrick getting drunk as usual

Our going away dinner from the school

I'm seated next to Rosemary, our favourite person in China 

Me with the Headmaster

Our other favourite lunch ladies

Goodbye Mrs B & Mr. Walker!

Changsha

Did you know Chairman Mao is from Changsha?
Wait, you don't know who Chairman Mao is?
Don't worry I didn't either.
But, so you now can know and not look like a fool when you come to China, he is pretty much China's biggest hero. To be honest, I'm just now realising I haven't the slightest as to what he did. I think he united China or something. If otherwise, feel free to comment and let myself and everyone else know! :)

Anyway, Changsha is the big city(8-9 million) near our little town of 1.4 million, Liuyang. Anywhere we travel, Changsha is the middle ground, and as a result, everytime we're there, it's a bit stressful. So we decided last weekend to travel to Changsha, and then stay in Changsha. See what it's all about.

Turns out, its all about Chairman Mao. I wish I would have gotten some pictures of our hostel.
Mao was the main decoration theme.

This picture doesn't do it justice, but this is a HUGE bust of his wind-blown head.

But let's get real, we didn't come for him. 

We came for the kebabs, the sights, and the fireworks. Turns out we got a lunar eclipse as well! :)

The place next to McDonalds is so delicious!

No, we did not eat these kebabs! 

We ate these kebabs! Mmm.

Merry Christmas! from: Nature

...and of course, as always, me and my entourage

Merry Christmas! from: Changsha

The cutest little Charlie Brown Cafe! (The first sandwhich in 4 months. So delicious!)

This is the ferris wheel we were on while watching the lunar eclipse. Per' git! 

Merry Christmas! from: The Walkers!

Tom & Jerry

Okay so this really only is about Jerry, but he was named after Tom and Jerry.
Today we taught Jerry for the last time ever!

(If you're wondering who Jerry is, let me fill you in)

Jerry is an 8 year-old boy who's mother speaks virtually no english.
We go to their house every Saturday and read out of his english text books.
We feel terrible for him, so then we go and play soccer or something.
And we get paid fairly well too.

Wee little Jerry

such killer pose...

Climbing down the Mountain

The next day was Sunday and Mike was due to give a teleconference sunday school lesson at 10. So I figured, "Let's sleep in till 9:30!" Maybe he was nervous about his lesson, or maybe he just hates restful sleep, but he was up at the crack of dawn, playing with the hostel dog, or exploring and taking beautiful pictures. But hey, I got to sleep and now we have more awesome pictures, so I'm not complaining.
Here are the pre-Becca-wake-up pictures.

The hostels pooch 

all I think when I look at these mountains is how the heck these rocks came to be.

Like little trees growing on top of a rock.

haha The sweet painting our room had in it.

Anyway, after Mike's awesome lesson and the cutest/strangest primary program ever, (It being over the phone) we packed up and started on our way down the mountain.

So Happy, so naive, so many steps left to climb 

A sweet pose I've learnt from the students here

poor little pooch did not like being so near to the ledge

They would buy these locks and put them on the railings to solidify their love.

There was a lot of love.

Sweet classicly dressed chinese women everywhere. 

Welcome to Pandora! (it cost money so I just took pictures of the locals for free haha)

Here begins the endless stairs

Don't be fooled by our pleased facade

These stairs were no walk in the park...

What?! They'll carry you down?

I made a friend.

And then planet of the apes began!

Peace out!