Happy Valentine's Day!

I just remembered that it is February 14th...Valentine's Day! And Valentine's Day just happens to be my favourite holiday of all! Do I have a Valentine? No. But am I celebrating Valentine's anyways?

Of course! In fact, I already did. With the help of Hall IV.

If you have been following my blog and reading regularly, you will know that Hall IV has its own student government, and these students are absolutely out of control. They do so much for us...it seems impossible that they ever have time for school, let alone sleep. In fact, I asked one of the "Foursters" (that's the name of the elected cabinet) how often he sleeps, and he said "Seldom." I asked him how often he studies, and he said "Seldom." So, I suppose all of these events come with quite a large sacrifice to the students...but they are just really great.

Anyways, back to the Valentine's Day celebration. Around 10 pm, I came back to Hall IV after going for a run, and to my surprise, there was a full-fledged party going on in our backyard! I walked over, and the local students (who all know me by now) insisted on showing me around and helping me to do the activities that they set up.

First, there was a huge backdrop of a garden scene, with the words "Endless Love" written in Chinese. They had a huge bouquet of paper-origami-ish flowers, and a photographer taking photos of groups of students.

Next, I was whisked over to the Pancake station, where we could make crepes with bananas, chocolate sauce, icing sugar and whipped cream.

At the next station, I made (with a lot of help) an origami doll. I was supposed to make two, one girl and one boy, "so that they could be lovers," but my first one was so ugly that I gave up.

Next, I learned to write "I love you" in Chinese, and wrote it on a Valentine to give my roommate.

Finally, the Foursters had made a giant wheel that you could spin to determine your love fortune. The kinds of things that they make here are actually incredible. I spun the wheel, and...didn't know what my fortune was, because it was in Chinese. I asked someone, and they told me it said, "You have a secret admirer nearby, but you don't know them yet." How exciting!

The next day, I got a package in the mail from my mom, with Valentine's Day cookies and chocolates, and also a couple things I had been really missing, including black tea. You can't buy it here! Thank you again, Mama!

I am going to round off the celebrations of my favourite holiday by heading to Lan Kwai Fong tonight (a popular bar district, especially for exchange students, ex-pats and foreigners) for a girls' night! I am so excited!

Tomorrow, I am going to start planning my trip to Shanghai. I some people yesterday who spent four months in exchange in Shanghai, and they gave Lisa and me some great tips. For example, they said that the first place we have to go is the "Fabric Market." Apparently, you can bring a photo of an outfit you love to any of the shops in this market, and they will make you an exact replica that fits you perfectly for next to nothing.

So exciting! I wonder what I should get!

Anyways...Happy Valentine's Day to everyone at home! Although I am having the time of my life, I miss you a lot and I love you!

...especially Mom, Dad, Michelle and Morgan! xoxo