Grade One Does the Zoo.

What. A. Day. There’s only so much a long, hot shower can do for a gal. Today was field trip day (take two, because it rained last week when we were really supposed to go). That means my class had one more whole week to be excited about going to the zoo. Yes, I will confidently admit that I was probably more excited than most of my students at the beginning of the day, but that wore off somewhere between the flamingos and the emu sanctuary.
Incase you didn’t know, Shenzhen has a big zoo, and not just ANY zoo. Oh no, it’s the Shenzhen SAFARI Zoo. They have safari animals there. Like lions and tigers, and even bears. For real! Not just because that’s how the song goes.
So the K-2 kids gathered up on a bus with hilarious tourist gear – visors with build in sunglasses,

umbrellas to keep off the sun, book-bags with wheels to cart around their lunches/water/snacks/weird things they pick up like dead leaves and brightly-coloured garbage. It was quite a scene. Anyways, keeping track of my class may have been the least stressful part of the day. Somehow, every one of my students lost their “buddy” and wanted me or the other chaperones to be their new buddy. It’s really hard to hold hands when you have a map of the zoo in one hand and someone’s drippy ice-cream in the other. I want to say that I was slightly prepared for the mental exhaustion, that I knew what it might be like at the zoo since I take care of these little beings all day long…but I’m not going to even pretend. I’ve never been a mother, but I think I get it now, Mom. Times sixteen. I have never heard my name spoken so many times in one day. EVER. Getting cheered for at a basketball game, playing sardines in the dark at the park, or even when someone jinxed me times a bajillion-and-one… This day takes the cake. I imagine, Mom, if you are reading this, you are nodding your head and laughing, and I don’t blame you. Kids are nuts! Way to go for staying *somewhat* sane with three.

So back on track, the zoo. It wasn’t too bad, there were lots of animals that looked well fed and kinda cared for. It’s too hot for bears here, and I didn’t like that they were there. The tigers were beautiful, and I also got to see a cassowary in real life. One fine day while roaming the Tablelands, I thought I was being chased by one of these babies – turned out to be a bush turkey, but nonetheless, was still scary. I also saw MORE sad puppies, this time with fleas and knotted fur :S. But we’re already been there, so I won’t drag you down again with all that nonsense. However, puppies at the zoo.. why?

At the end of the day, everybody was pretty tired out, but I think it was a good day. I even got to touch a dolphin for the first time – so did a few of my students. Then we all piled back into the bus (with no AC in 30 degree weather) and made it back to school. Nobody died, and I have a new appreciation for my mother and all the places she dragged my sisters and I when we were little. I would also like to apologize for the “Mom, Mom…..Nothing!” game. It seemed fun at the time. You can blame any wrinkles or grey hair on me, I think I may have earned a few of my own today.

Travel Tips

We made it! My whole family got to Kuala Lumpur and nobody for lost or died! My sister’s wedding was perfect, and we all learned a million new things about the Malaysian culture. Of course, I will make a list of all the things you should know (in case you even find yourself in Malaysia):

1.Never, ever,  EVER party with King Durian, no matter how cool he looks. There is a King of fruits in Malaysia. His name is Durian, and he smells awful. The outside has sharp spikes and the inside looks like a yellow insect of some sort. Some love it a lot, some hate it. I am on the latter end of the scale. I can’t even compare it to a smell you would be familiar with in Canada… it is simply repulsive. The Queen however – is very pleasant. Queen Mangosteen is purple with a hard cover that you twist to get to the inside. Once you get to the inside, it looks (and kinda tastes) similar to a peeled grape, with a large pit in the middle.

2.The Age Old reminder to “look both ways before crossing the street” does not apply here. When crossing the street, it takes up valuable time that you just don’t have when you’re in Malaysia. The traffic only travels one way, and it’s on the left side. So, if there’s no traffic coming towards you one way, you’re safe to cross. This was difficult to get used to. Also note, the little motorbikes do not follow the same road regulations as regular vehicles. They basically drive wherever they want, whenever they want. Soo, watch out for those guys.

3. Mall Cops pack heat. Was walking past the hairdressers on yet another hot, humid day in Malaysia and but what do I see? A little guy in a uniform with a rifle around his shoulder. Dad was walking into a taped-off zone so he could sit down in the mall, and but what does he see? Another little guy in a uniform with a rifle around his shoulder told him he couldn’t enter there. Yah. They have guns and it was off-putting.

4. Left Hand, Bathroom Hand. Some cultures here have certain hands for certain things, so when you are passing things, or eating things here in Malaysia, make sure you are respectful and use the correct hand. Your right hand is for eating, paying for things, shaking hands, passing anything to anyone, and just general every day use. Your left hand is strictly the bathroom hand. So let’s not be rude, people. Eat with the right.

5. When it rains, it pours! When my sister told me her husband is afraid of the rain, I rolled my eyes and scoffed, “city folk”. I will also admit that I made fun of him (but he liked it). When in Malaysia, it doesn’t rain rain, it pours. The sky actually rips open and spills everything it’s got onto the innocent people below. And as soon as it starts, you’re immediately soaked. The people scatter for shelter. Why? Because it’s acid rain, I discovered, and it makes their hair fall out apparently. So, that time Kai ran from the ran at home and I laughed, well… now I don’t laugh as hard at that image.

6. Mangoes, a good substitute for buoys. ‘Nuff said.

7. The moon is upside down. Again, quite sure you get the picture. In Canada when the moon is a crescent, it looks like the letter ‘C’. In Malaysia, the moon is upside down, so when it’s a crescent, it’s shaped like the letter ‘U’, thought that was interesting.

8. Chinese weddings are much different than Canadian weddings. Actually, it is not much of a wedding like we know at all. There are no rings, no speeches (although I almost got my chance to share the one I had prepared, but Hannah asked that I please sing instead..) and no “I do, she do, everybody do-do”. First you have the games, which all the girls make up for all the boys. Kind of like what would happen at bachelor or bachelorette parties. So we got the boys to do all these funny games like make a rap about Hannah, find her hidden shoe, or fish for coins in a bowl of flour with their teeth. It was all quite amusing. These are to “prove” to Hannah’s friends that Kai is worthy of Hannah’s love, and will do anything for her (kind of). It was really fun to be a part of it all. After this, there is a tea ceremony, where Kai and Hannah serve tea to my parents. When my parents accept and drink the tea, it means they are accepting Kai into our family. We went to Kai’s house and did the same with his parents and the rest of his family. At the reception, there was a few slideshows of Hannah and Kai before and after they met, and some of the photos the photographer had taken.

9. Always watch where you are walking. There are holes in the sidewalks. Big ones. Leading to somewhere mystical, I’m sure. However, I would not like to find out where, and the holes can get pretty big. So. Watch where ya steppin’, foo.

10. I wish I had a ten, but I don’t. So this blog is over. 🙂