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Steve chatting up the locals in downtown Changsha
The boys slept in, and so did we – at least until it was too late for breakfast. We wandered around looking for a bakery without success, but discovered a coffee shop in the hotel and ordered some. I have never seen coffee prepared this way. They lit a small alcohol lamp and put it under a glass globe of water, suspended from a metal stand. When the water boiled, they put a glass percolator on top, with fresh-ground coffee in a glass globe with a glass pipette extending into the boiling water. The water boiled up the pipette, filtered through then ground coffee, and dropped back into the lower globe. Just like an old-fashioned metal percolator, but it looks a whole lot more like a 7th grade science experiment. I like the aesthetics.
When everyone was finally up, we went to another excellent restaurant some distance from the hotel. And we finally passed a bakery – Judy loaded up with stuff for our trip to Ningyuan the following morning. It was another really hot day – we were all drenched & red-faced by the time we got done. Adam had it in his head that he would get a Mah Jong set to try on our table, so we hiked down to Carrefour, a relatively small-scale “hypermarket” based out of Europe that combines department and grocery stores. We found several sets but they were really heavy & upon consideration Adam decided to wait. We did pick up some ice cream and drinks. Then back to the hotel to cool down before another night with Steve.
Dan decided to take us to Changsha’s walking street, with multiple warnings to really watch our stuff. Steve was supposed to meet us there with more of the WorldTeach gang, but (1) he was late himself, and (2) he forgot to call the others. When he arrived, we went to a Hot Pot place, which Dan had been pushing for. It’s kind of like Japanese Sukiyaki or Shabu Shabu, except you pick all the ingredients. A 2-compartment bowl in the center of the table holds two broths – on mild, one spicy. You dump ingredients – meats, noodles, veggies, etc. – into whichever side you want, then fish them out when they’re done. Meat is done instantaneously. Veggies, dumplings, meat/fish/shrimp balls take longer. It was fantastic, and a great break from all the grease you get when everything you eat is fried in a wok.
While there, we were met by Steven (not to be confused with Steve), a 40-ish Londoner who had abandoned a consulting career with BearingPoint to come to WorldTeach last year. He’s staying in China for another year, but with a private school that pays better. With him were two lovely girls in hot pants – Shari and someone who’s name we never got. Steven was teaching a summer class for underprivileged kids (I think). The girls were in broadcasting and were doing a story on the class. He was trying to set Shari up with Steve. Or so he said.
Anyway, afterwards Shari and friend left. Steven joined us at the 15th floor bar. During and after dinner, Steve had been on the phone with “Ice” (yes, that’s her English name) trying to get her to join us. She is a Chinese woman who had worked at the 15th floor bar (where she met our boys) and for whatever reason thought it would be uncomfortable to go there as a patron. After one more phone call, Steve excused himself to go meet Ice. Natalie, the 2 Amys, and Rick showed up, and then Dan got a call from Ice and left. For the next hour or so, it was the remaining Olvers with a bunch of WorldTeach folks. As midnight approached, we debated leaving – Steven had offered to help us get a cab back to the hotel – when Dan finally came back. While out looking for Ice, he got sidetracked by a Big Mac. I think the kid has a tapeworm.
Steve showed up as everyone was preparing to leave, to much laughter (apparently, attention to time isn't one of Steve's strong points). He accompanied us back to the Hua Xia Hotel, leaving with a couple of bags of stuff we’d brought for Dan. He’s a great guy & I’m glad Dan has him for a friend in the coming year.
When everyone was finally up, we went to another excellent restaurant some distance from the hotel. And we finally passed a bakery – Judy loaded up with stuff for our trip to Ningyuan the following morning. It was another really hot day – we were all drenched & red-faced by the time we got done. Adam had it in his head that he would get a Mah Jong set to try on our table, so we hiked down to Carrefour, a relatively small-scale “hypermarket” based out of Europe that combines department and grocery stores. We found several sets but they were really heavy & upon consideration Adam decided to wait. We did pick up some ice cream and drinks. Then back to the hotel to cool down before another night with Steve.
Dan decided to take us to Changsha’s walking street, with multiple warnings to really watch our stuff. Steve was supposed to meet us there with more of the WorldTeach gang, but (1) he was late himself, and (2) he forgot to call the others. When he arrived, we went to a Hot Pot place, which Dan had been pushing for. It’s kind of like Japanese Sukiyaki or Shabu Shabu, except you pick all the ingredients. A 2-compartment bowl in the center of the table holds two broths – on mild, one spicy. You dump ingredients – meats, noodles, veggies, etc. – into whichever side you want, then fish them out when they’re done. Meat is done instantaneously. Veggies, dumplings, meat/fish/shrimp balls take longer. It was fantastic, and a great break from all the grease you get when everything you eat is fried in a wok.
While there, we were met by Steven (not to be confused with Steve), a 40-ish Londoner who had abandoned a consulting career with BearingPoint to come to WorldTeach last year. He’s staying in China for another year, but with a private school that pays better. With him were two lovely girls in hot pants – Shari and someone who’s name we never got. Steven was teaching a summer class for underprivileged kids (I think). The girls were in broadcasting and were doing a story on the class. He was trying to set Shari up with Steve. Or so he said.
Anyway, afterwards Shari and friend left. Steven joined us at the 15th floor bar. During and after dinner, Steve had been on the phone with “Ice” (yes, that’s her English name) trying to get her to join us. She is a Chinese woman who had worked at the 15th floor bar (where she met our boys) and for whatever reason thought it would be uncomfortable to go there as a patron. After one more phone call, Steve excused himself to go meet Ice. Natalie, the 2 Amys, and Rick showed up, and then Dan got a call from Ice and left. For the next hour or so, it was the remaining Olvers with a bunch of WorldTeach folks. As midnight approached, we debated leaving – Steven had offered to help us get a cab back to the hotel – when Dan finally came back. While out looking for Ice, he got sidetracked by a Big Mac. I think the kid has a tapeworm.
Steve showed up as everyone was preparing to leave, to much laughter (apparently, attention to time isn't one of Steve's strong points). He accompanied us back to the Hua Xia Hotel, leaving with a couple of bags of stuff we’d brought for Dan. He’s a great guy & I’m glad Dan has him for a friend in the coming year.
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