"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."

After yesterday’s rain, the sun came out and we left on a cool, clear morning for our last day of teaching in week one. Today we met with small groups in the Uyghur class, younger students studying Mandarin and English before beginning their technical coursework. The thought of having to learn 2 such un related languages is mind-boggling and it was a pleasant surprise to find I actually recognized the Uyghur word for Friday, jemma (an Arabic word for mosque). 

Another delicious lunch including spring greens was topped by Girl Scout cookies, courtesy of Wendy. ATM and laundry errands taken care of, we cabbed to the walled city to shop on Muslim Street and see the Great Mosque. Charming young college couple, after giving us wrong directions, rushed back and led us through fascinating back streets to our destination. Mary toured the Mosque and Janice and Judy followed Wendy for a lesson in serious bargaining. Back at the hotel, we met up with Baoli for a fascinating and delicious hotpot dinner including fried rice cakes fitted with pumpkin and red bean paste for dessert.

- Mary