Not Your Average Tutoring Session

 Some days my tutor and I study at my house.  Other days we study on-campus.  When she asked me where we would have class on Friday I said she could choose.  Her response, "新天地" which means New World, but in Changchun 新天地 is a big mall with a river flowing through it, kiddie rides, lots of shopping, and all sorts of restaurants.  Then she asked me in Chinese, "Can you ride a bus by yourself?"  I assured her that I could, so the next day she met me as I stepped off the bus near the mall.

She said she comes to 新天地 often to 遛 (stroll) or 逛街 (window shop).  But I think she mainly goes for the food.  After exploring all four floors, we entered a large food court area where, over the course of two hours, she ordered eight different snacks/dishes.  We ate Chinese custard, deep fried cubed and breaded sweet potato cake (tasted like an American carnival food),rice noodles, green tea ice cream, vegetable "meat" balls, a spicy leg of chicken, and sweet donut bread.  I was feeling ill from over-sampling food and she just kept going back for more--and she's not a chubby girl!

My tutor playing with her kid brother's toys

Then she invited me over to her house (which is not too far from the mall).  I met her mom and adorable two year 小弟弟, little brother.  We had a great afternoon together--different from the average tutoring session of book study.  My tutor has shared that she is anti-religion, so I was surprised to see a Buddhist shrine in her living room.  I am hoping for an opportunity to ask her more about it in the future.  This tutor loves to talk and it is so exciting to be in a place with my Chinese that we can talk pretty comfortably (on a basic level) every day for two hours.  Year two of language study is off to a good start!