Just when I thought it couldn't get any better.....

Today was stellar!  Aside from a fantastic day of teaching, I spent the day with my friend, Shi, and his wife and daughter.  We first met at their house where his 14 year old daughter blew me away with her self-taught piano playing.  She is a prodigy, for sure.  We enjoyed pictures as I presented them all with Indiana shirts just like mine.  We looked like one big happy family!  Afterward, Shi went to work and his wife and daughter picked up an English teacher friend and we set off on a trek through hill and valley to a remote village called, Shizhu.  Down a long dirt path that looked as if it had never been traveled before, nestled into a clump of willow trees and bamboo that reached as high as I could see, set along a quietly flowing river, was a small home and restaurant.  There were four large tables along the river.  As I arrived, I was told that the dinner was being held in my honor and I was being invited by the brother of Shi's wife.  In the group was a man and his son who now live in LA but are here for vacation.  Another man, his wife and daughter joined us.  The daughter will live in and attend college in Oregon this year.  The last man to join us spoke through the translator letting me know how much he appreciated me joining their group and giving them time in my busy schedule.  He was overly kind and appreciative.  It turned out that he was the owner of the home and the land. He introduced me to the one man who cooked all of the food.  It is NOT a restaurant, but a private residence to which only a select few people are invited.  I was very honored.  They treated me as if I were family instantly.  First, they offered me a cigarette, which is a show of company.  (I declined, Mom!)  Next they offered me a glass of "white wine."  I have heard about this already, but took the risk.  It was similar, I am guessing, to the alcohol created in bathtubs and stills in the 1920's during prohibition.  They toasted me over and over until I, myself, was toasted.  I kept trying to sneak drinks of Coke along the way, but they insisted on toasting me with the wine.  I suppose it was good that I was a little in the sauce when dinner arrived.  A large boiling stainless steel bowl of carp, head and tail on, was first.  Next was sliced, boiled pig stomach.  Additionally we enjoyed tofu soup with eel, snails, deep fried pig's feet, and some random vegetables and other mystery items.  I made an attempt to taste EVERYTHING at their insistence.  I lived.  I drank more wine.  It's all good.  After a long conversation and some more appreciation from the gang, we left to visit a tea house.  I was thrilled to be given a private Chinese tea ceremony.  There was a small group, Shi joined us, in a private room with our own tea maid.  She explained all the etiquette and the process by which she was making our tea.  She served us over and over.  During the conversation, I was presented with a gorgeous tea set of my own.  This set is priceless.  There are four main types of porcelain in China.  This is the second best.  Our night was filled with conversation, more tea, and a lot of pictures.  I wish I could have shared this evening with everyone.  So much to learn- so many new people - new challenges - new fun!  What a great day!!