Okay... So it all started on Saturday the 13th. The Harry Potter Marathon began that night at 2000 hours. That night We started with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and every night following we would watch the next movie all up until yesterday, the 18th. On the 17th Alicia and I went to find the theatre. We wanted to see if we could buy our tickets in advance. We didn't know how popular HP was in China. So we went to Walking Street. Gloria, our coordinator, had written the theatre on a piece of paper so we could find it. We went strait to the ice cream stand. There is a sweet lady that owns an ice cream stand on walking street, she speaks english pretty well so we went to ask her where to go. She told us to keep going strait and we would see the Mall on the left. The Theatre was at the Mall. So after getting some Ice cream we continued on to find the theatre. We walked until we saw the sign that said Mall. We looked at the building. It was all closed down. it looked like it had been abandoned for years. but there were movie posters everywhere. Then we saw the arrows. They were pointing down the Hallway of that abandonded building. So we followed them to the elevator at the end of the hall. We went up to the 4th floor. The theatre looked pretty nice. We tried really hard to communticate that we wanted to buy our tickets in advance but it just wasn't working so we decided to have our coordinator call when we got home. We took a business card and we were on our way. We stopped and did some exploring and got back home in time to watch HP#5. Yesterday, Alicia, Jadan, and I watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. We couldn't wait until 8:00 because we wouldn't be home. so we watched it around 2, while we baked cookies and muffins. At 5:30 we went to dinner and then we got on the 6:15 bus that took us to Walking Street. We went straight to the Theatre and Purchased our tickets for the Midnight Showing! As soon as the tickets were in hand we began our quest. We searched every little store we could find until we found the 3 perfect pairs of HP glasses. We may not have had cloaks and hats, maybe we were missing scarves. But we all had our glasses. and we looked awesome! We stopped for some McDonalds and smoothies and then we were ready to go. We had been walking for a while and we didn't know how long it would take us to get back to the theatre. It was about 10:40. We didn't know how crowded it would be. They had reserved seating, but we didn't know if they followed it like we did in the states. So, We Thought we should head back. BUT we didn't feel like walking. Alicia and Jadan had never ridden on a rickshaw (I had in Shanghai) and I had never ridden on the back of a moped (in China) So we decided to make an adventure out of it. We showed the rickshaw driver the business card for the theatre and he said he could get us there but since only 2 fit, he had to have the help of a moped driver. So we all hopped on one vehicle or the other and we were on our way... in the wrong direction?? My driver said he would lead the way because the rickshaw driver didn't know where to go and soon I was being taken down a dark alley way... It was awesome! and before I knew it we had arrived at the theatre. We took the shortcut. Soon the rickshaw driver showed up with Alicia and Jadan. We paid them 5 yuan each and we were on our way. (that is less that one U.S. dollar!!) Totally worth it. We walked into that abandoned building where we hurried and drew scars on our foreheads and went up to the theatre. We got there so early and apparently they didn't seat until closer to the show time. So, we waited around. There was almost no one there. which was weird because When we bought our tickets the theatre was almost full. Well Sure enough, people showed up. they showed up about 10 mind before the show started. They finally took our tickets and got us all seated. As they took our tickets they handed out pirate hats... I am still unsure of the significance there, but hey, it was pretty cool. We were the only white people in the whole theatre. We thought there would be at least a few, but nope. Everyone was in theirs seats, but did the movie start? nope. We got to see a magic show first. It was very impressive. and quite entertaining. Finally the show began. We were the only 3 people to cheer when the title screen came on. They all just laughed at us. but hey, at least our phones weren't going off like crazy and if they had gone off, we wouldn't have answered.
Well... That movie was AWESOME. I am not going to say anything in case someone hasn't seen it yet. but I loved it. I couldn't remember anything from the book so I was really getting into it. My heart was pounding out of my chest most of the movie. I already want to see it again and I am just dying to see part 2!!! I don't know if I can wait until July. I might want to read all the books before then. except the 7th one. I want to be suprised. I don't want to remember everything.
When the movie ended we had to find a taxi because it was about 2:30 in the AM so we found one and made it back safely. only to find that the magnet in my key was not working! :( we were locked out! We didn;t know what to do so we went searching for another entrance. We found one... it required going in and out of windows and climbing on ledges. But I made it safe and sound and I was able to unlock the door for the other girls. it was quite the night! lot's of fun for all of us! And guess what. We get to sleep in, we don't have to teach this morning! :) Well I am tired. An Adventure like that will drain a person!
Day 85
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