Things That Have Happened:

1) I have said goodbye to Jianzha, my host-family, and The Home of Hope. It was difficult, physically, to leave the orphanage--we were restrained by at least 20 children upon our first attempt to say goodbye and depart. Eventually we managed. The kids walked with us down the driveway singing, and stopped at the gate. Choruses of "SANK YOO TEACHER!" followed us down the road until we were out of earshot, and I wiped my tears with the same ceremonial white scarves that I received upon my arrival.

2) We have met a Taxi in the pouring rain, and hydroplaned our way to Xining (where we currently are). We located our hostel only with mild bewilderment.

3) I have showered, done laundry, and drank i) a mocha, ii) a latte, and iii) an americano.

4) We have met a Sherpa man who has spent the past 30 years living in New Zealand, and have thus overhead the best accent that exists.

5) We have subverted the crisis that was our first attempt at dining in China. We went into this restaurant that was way fancier than what we had bargained for, pointed at some random things on the menu, and were given food that was, mysteriously, raw. Only with extreme confusion and a few awkward interactions were we able to ascertain that we were supposed to cook the food ourselves in the bubbling liquid that had been placed before us. So far, no food poisoning.

6) We have obliviously ambled into what we thought was our hostel, but was actually some sort of military base.

****Hopefully leaving for Lhasa tomorrow!