Horseback riding, the end of summer school, and other things.

Okay so with riding lessons ending this week I thought I would start there and then talk about the end of summer school and anything else that comes to mind. 

To get to horseback riding I take my students via van to the stable which is about a 5minute drive from campus.  It's literally in the middle of the city and is a fascinating contrast between something I think is a country activity and an urban one.  Once we arrive we go down some cement stairs into the arena area.  The kids then go off to get their horses ready to ride.

The tacking area.

The stalls are outside with fans in the back to help keep the horses cool.  The kids ride English in order to prepare them to jump.  3 students to prepare one horse.  After the horses are fully groomed and saddles they go and get their gear.  Every rider wears a helmet, padded vest, and depending on if they are in shorts or pants leg guards. The people who teach the students put on the reins and off they go. 

Some of my students riding.

One of my newer riders.  He was so proud when he finished.

My most experienced rider

The barn has a couple of dogs running around who are very friendly.  After riding the students give the horses a bath most days along with a bucket filled with water to help them cool off as it's usually really hot here.

Mr. Attitude Philip gets a bath (he's tried to nip everyone at some point)

The horses are then left to dry and we go home.  Below are pictures of some of my favorite horses there.

This guy is so beautiful, I love his blue eyes.

This is Leo the biggest horse in the barn. 

Today ended summer school.  I am of two minds about this.  One I'm glad it's over because I haven't had a break since I got here.  It's been go, go, go.  Which led to a very short jet lag period I will admit.  I was too tired to be jet lagged.  But at the same time, I'm sad.  We all got very attached to our kids and not all of them will be coming back in September.  I know most of my middle school students won't because they are only in 6th grade and we don't accept til 7th grade during the school year.  They were such sweethearts and I will miss them dearly.  Some students attend other schools (one of my riding girls lives and goes to school in Shanghai) and will not be coming back.  Our prefects are going off to college, two in the US and one in Taipei.  I'm going to miss all of them. 

Today I went grocery shopping.  Apparently there was a sale on.  That made the store much busier then normal and more overwhelming.  I bought rice for the first time since I got here and I never thought I would be intimidated by the rice section in a supermarket.  Of course it didn't help I couldn't find the bloody section for 5 minutes and had to use my poor Chinese to ask someone to tell me where to find it.   There were so many different kinds and styles I don't know what I bought but it looked like white rice and that was enough for me.  I also got a rice maker that I think I know how to use... if I don't I'll find out soon enough.  At the grocery store somehow I was talked into buying three bags of peanuts at a discount instead of the 1 bag I wanted.  Not sure how that happened as I don't speak the language.  But it did, the sales guy also tried to hold a conversation with me but it failed however I did manage to confirm I was an English teacher so you know progress.

I also went to my first restaurant by myself today.  It was a teppanyaki place my boss had recommended.  It basically is a hibachi diner.  It was awesome.  The menu was in English and Chinese and the staff spoke a little English so I was able to communicate.   I felt so at home, like I was at one of those diners from Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives (I wonder if Guy Fieri would do an overseas episode...).  I got shrimp, salmon, veggies (cabbage and bean sprouts) and an egg with green onion (very good, I must pick some green onion up). I must confess I ate all of it.  I couldn't stop myself.  Of course I didn't take any pictures because well I was the only white person in the place, I wasn't standing out any more then I already did. 

Tomorrow's plan after sleeping in, is to clean and rearrange my apartment.  I may post a new video showing what I've done with the place after.