Shenanigans

I received a call on Sunday night to go sightseeing with a coworker. He was a host family for another volunteer. I readily accepted. Yea! I'm integrating! He failed to mention that along with sightseeing, he told another school (unknown to me) that I would teach at their school. I didn't even get the heads up! I can't accept money, so I am taking this on as a secondary project. I spoke to my tutor and asked him how he would handle it. He would have handled it like "non-sensitive" American Katie, not Chinese Katie. Oh, well. I told my teammate, and he told me I'm "too approachable." I never thought that would be a bad thing...the next job interview I get, when asked my weaknesses, I guess I can say I'm too approachable.
A volunteer who was training at my school gave me a few contact numbers. I finally got around to calling on of the numbers on the list. We went shopping together. I bought a purse for 3 dollars. It's funny going shopping with someone so thin (I like to think I looked like her in high school.) She is funny without trying. She asked if I were shopping for clothes and I said I don't China has clothes for me. She looked me up and down and said my mom's fatter than you. Then we went into a little store and the salesperson said something and she translated "This store caters to fat people." Thanks! So good to know.
On Wednesday, I went to hot pot with the Dean and her husband. Her husband went to America several years ago and had lots of memorable experiences. Her husband is a huge Ryan Reynolds fan and talked a lot about his movies. He was really funny. You could tell the Dean already heard these stories a few times before... That evening, I went to my kitchen to turn on my gas (to take a hot shower) and a rat scurries out. You can ask any of my fellow friends in Mali, but I tend to become hysterical when I see rats. The same thing happened in China. I called Andrew (teammate), and he came to investigate. Then the rat disappeared! He assured me that the rat wasn't in my house anymore.
The next morning, I am walking out of the bathroom, and that little POS is trying to come in! The rat took my breath away. We both kinda froze, and he left. I called Andrew again, but he was asleep. I called my tutor, but he was asleep too. So, I hid in my room with the door shut. An hour or so later I texted Andrew that I really needed his moral support. He returns and I tell him that I'm going to be brave today and not scream. Unbeknownst to me, there are drawers at the bottom of my bookshelf. Andrew opens the draw, and it is full of peed soaked paper, rat poop, and peanut shells. Sigh. I told him I think we (i.e. you) should open all the drawers. The next drawer he opens, a rat is in it! I broke my promise and screamed. Whoops. With some teammate work (I shook the couch and Andrew put 2 rat traps beside each other), we caught it! SUCCESS! I was a big girl and made a "rat sandwich" out of 2 of the sticky pads. I took it out to the garbage (with gloves on of course.) I then ran out the door because I was going to have lunch with my homestay family. I told them I was running late. It turns out, the whole family was waiting on me! Oh Chinese! I'm inconveniencing them so much, but not a word was said. I thought we were having a quiet lunch at home when in reality, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, mom, dad, and sister were all waiting on me. We ate duck. It was fabulous.
I went back to work yesterday. I also have to go today (it's Saturday). It was a much needed break.
I hope next week is less eventful.