Last Weekend in China!

So our last weekend here consisted of pretty fun stuff!
Friday:
We had a dress rehearsal with the kindergarten kids for our performance on Monday, "SpEcTaClE!" all morning. After that was complete we went to lunch for twenty minutes to head back to the stage to decorate for an hour and a half. Then there was a competition being held in that room for the next couple hours so we went up to our supply room and deep cleaned to prepare it for the next batch of ILP teachers to take it over. I have to say it looks pretty immaculate compared to what it has looked like in the past and even how we found it at the beginning of the semester. We each took a section of the room, I on the books, and just organized away! We enjoyed some music and blow pops while doing so which made it even more fun!
Then, it was back to work on decorating for Spectacle. Aimee and I made a Santa Claus. I have to say he was pretty flippin handsome. He looks like he's actually been working out this year though, I don't know if you guys knew he was...you'll just have to keep your eyes open Christmas Eve to notice the difference! There was also a big Christmas tree, fireplace, stockings, a snowman, and an angel. We had snowflakes hung on the ceiling and taped to the ground for the kids to stand on while singing. And even red and green chains draped throughout the room. It actually turned out really cute...especially considering the amount of supplies we had left now that it is the end of the semester.
We finished decorating just in time to head straight to dinner at 5:30. The rest of the night we really didn't know what to do but were exhausted from cleaning and decorating all day that we couldn't believe it was still so early in the night. We ended up finishing up the three remaining seasons of The Office to be caught up to the current season and Toy Story 2 while we played some card games.

Saturday:
We definitely slept in the next morning. We went straight from lunch to the bus stop to wait to head out on the town. Sierra, Aimee, Kim, Emily H., Sara, and I all went to Dafowen (have no idea how that is spelled) a.k.a. the five story mall which we really don't shop in but around. We go inside for McDonald's ice cream (yum!) and then into the basement for cheap DVD shopping. Then we head back out side to the shops outside where we can find some little stores that barter the price with you and are cheaper. We shopped around for a couple hours with the little amount of money we had left and then headed back to the fruit stop stand where we met up with Gen and Emily P. to go to the DVD store there, a bakery, and then to our favorite restaurant the Northern Chinese Restaurant.
Gen, Kim, Em P, and I shared our favorite items we've tried: green beans, sweet and sour pork, and carmelized potatoes. Emily H, Sierra, and Aims shared two plates of egg plants because that is by far their favorite. I love those girls and the seven of us just have a blast together. We've really become great friends with everyone here but those girls are always wanting to do the same things as us and we just have tons of fun together!
While we were waiting for the bus we found a little store that had a bunch of fun little nick-nacks. Gen and I bought keyboard stickers for five yuan and Gen and Aimee found little key chains that are of Chinese food that were hilarious. I also found some Valentine Chinese wrapping paper...too bad it isn't Christmas wrapping paper but for some reason they didn't have any, go figure.

Sunday:
Sunday it was hard to beilieve it was our last time having church in Megan's apartment. We sang our opening, sacrament, and closing hymns, had the sacrament, a couple prayers and then headed down to our apartments for sunday school. We split into the usual three random groups each one having one of the boys who gave a lesson or conducted a testimony meeting.
We had a spiritual meeting with Caleb W. about things we have come to learn while being in China. I've only been with Caleb twice while he's conducted a lesson and each time has been a great lesson. He is really going to be a great missionary and is such a great one at heart already. He has been such a great friend to all of us and has made China a fun experience. Both of the Caleb's have served as our little brothers at times which also can sometimes feel like our older brothers or even our fathers. They are always taking care of us and just being great friends!
After church Kim and I and eventually Gen all got down to packing. Gen had already started the weekend before so she didn't need to do much but the packing bug was in the air so she couldn't resist! All of our suitcases have been out since trying to find a place for everything and making sure we've got everything.
That night was the infamous "ILPS". I had no idea how cool this little event we were invited to a few days prior was going to be! We did a survey the Sunday before with little questions about who will be the first to get married, where will the Calebs serve their missions, what will you do first back in the states, Team Jacob or Team Edward...all sorts of awesome stuff. They shared our answers throughout the real purpose of the "ILPS" which was everyones individual awards. We all got trophies made out of felt people for different reasons. They announced all of our different awards...there was the Hot stuff award (Kim), the country funk award (Emily P), the shopaholic (Emily H), Miss Congeniality (Ashley), Cheerleader (Shantelley), Most improved English and greatest country pride (Natasha from Canada), Go with the flow (Jessica), Father of the Year (Caleb L), Comedic Relief (Gen), and then a few others I can't think of right now...but then of course their was mine, the Tae Kwon DO NOT TOUCH ME Award! For my top of the class Tae Kwon Do Skills :) haha. We had an awesome night with all our awards, Sierra and Emily H as our hosts, pictures, trophies, and of course our random dance parties when certain songs began. It was super fun.
After the ILPS we had our last batch of our weekly American baked good fix which was Turtle brownies...yum!! We watched Catch Me if You Can while doing so and just had a great night!