I didn't see that coming: the unexpected Hefei.

I wasn't expecting a lot of fireworks. In Hefei they have a lot. No, not a lot, a ton. A gazillion. Every day, every night, every morning. I have been waking up at 6 o'clock because of the loud, gun-shot-like noises and flashing lights coming in from my window. I'm not exactly sure what they are celebrating (if that's what they are for) but I hope the celebration ends soon, or else the 4th of July will be ruined for me.

There are quite a lot of babies in this area. We see them all over JoyMart (the market/buy-everything-here store across the street). We see them playing in the long jump pit in the track right outside my window. We see them with their parents around town, in the parks, and just walking at the school. Now, babies are always cute, but I'll argue that nothing compares to a fat Chinese baby running around with his bum hanging out of his pants. Hahaha. In Hefei I guess they don't use diapers. What they do instead is cut slits in their babies' pants right at the butt crack. When the kid has to go, it just goes. I'm not sure where whatever comes out goes . . . although I have seen some dumpings on sidewalks. It is a little weird, and yes, kind of gross too, but hey, it must work for them. And it gives us foreigners one more reason to love the Chinese people. Especially their babies.

The other night the group headed to downtown Hefei to go to Guogou Plaza - a large 4 story shopping mall with restaurants and stuff. We took the #3 bus from the school about 20 minutes into the city center. On our way back we were standing by a young man who started talking to us in English. He seemed about college age and knew English really well, except that he had a thick Chinese accent which was sometimes hard to understand. His English name was Tony. We started talking about travel, and college, and teaching, and English. He is studying English at his college and told us that he loves it. Then he started telling me about how his friends have "colors". I had no idea what he was talking about but kept nodding my head in agreement and smiling. Apparently everyone in China likes to have "colors". After a little more talking he pulled out his cell phone and asked me if I have a mobile. I informed him that I did but that it doesn't work in China and I didn't have it with me. He looked a little disappointed, but then perked up when he asked if I would like his number. Laughingly I said "sure! why not!?", so he then pulled out a piece of paper and wrote it down for me. He told me to call him when I had my mobile working and we would be "colors". Finally I realized that what he was saying was not "colors" but "callers". He and his friends like to call their English speaking friends to practice! We continued to talk until I had to get off the bus. Tony has now been named as my "gentleman caller".