From China's City of Summer....

I can't believe I have less than two weeks left in China! It' has been an absolute privilege to be able to come here and try our best to bless the people already here. Everyone here is so hospitable and willing to go completely out of there way to help each other out.
We were able to to make it out to Xiahe a couple weeks ago, which was a great experience. Unfortunately the weather was not being cooperative and we weren't able to go on further like I wanted to. This week we are helping out at an English camp that our friends are putting on here.
We leave for Beijing in just over a week. We were told that train tickets go on sale 10 days before the date of departure. The problem is we didn't know whether this was actually ten days before the date, or ten days before including the date of departure (does that make sense?.) We wanted to leave on the 26th so I assumed that we should be there the 16 to get tickets. We arrived at around 6:20am, assuming not many people would be there, however this was not the case. The inside station was so full that a long line had already started outside. Soon after we arrived the line we were in quadrupled itself, filling up the entire parking lot with people. After three hours of waiting for tickets, asking people the entire time wether we could get tickets and getting different answers, it turns out I was wrong. We had to go the next day. This time I went earlier, arriving at the train station 5:15, this time we were able to get into the ticket auditorium, the ticket counter did not open up until 7:30am though. A friend of a friend who came with us went outside for a smoke at some point and was not allowed back in. This was concerning as only one person can buy 2 sleeper class tickets to Beijing, and there was only me and my friend left. So we waited in line anyways, hoping to get four tickets at least. Anyways we arrive at the counter around 8:30am only to be told that the sleeper class tickets are sold out. This is ridiculous considering it was the first day they were available and we were some of the first people in line. I guess the travel agencies and the mob get first dibs on ticket and you have to pay them a load more money to get them. We had to settle for hard seats, but at least we have tickets, and for that I am grateful. Thats all for now! If your not already reading this on facebook, below is a link to one of my my facebook photo albums of China:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=291102&id=700610264&l=b19ab2b35a

Ju-Roe Baozi

Our group leaves tomorrow for a Tibetan city not too far from Xining. We are going so that we can experience the Tibetan culture. Gabe and I may go on to another city after our four days in Xiahe. Our original plan had been to go to Yushu where a horse festival is going on, but there is the pneumonic plague close to that city so we had to change our plans a bit. I am really excited to get out there.
I think I have eaten sweet and sour pork at least once, every day for the past week. I'm not complaining about this, just an observation. Gabe and I moved into Dan's apartment and he has been guiding us around a bit. It's in a different area of town and it's great to get to know another part of the city. Thats all for now, I'll try my best to update again when I get back (many websites like blogspot and facebook are blocked in China, but I find a way to get on every now and then!)