Saturday Night Date

     The end of the first quarter is here.  We returned Sunday from a wonderful week in Thailand (stories and pictures to come) to guests from Colorado in Shanghai (pictures to come) and a crazy week at school.  With comments and grades due Monday morning I spent most of Saturday at school working.  Bri and I decided to go out to dinner at a local french restaurant that we're becoming very keen towards.  Its about a four block walk and the only real draw back is everyone in the place speaks french.  All of the food we've had has been fantastic and tonight we spoke with the chef which turned out to be very advantageous.  The ice cream that Bri was ooooing and aaahhhing over is only made for restaurants right now, but the chef said he'd put an order in for an extra 3 liter container as soon as we have space in the freezer.  We also spoke about how the quality of their beef is better than anything I can find out shopping on my own in Shanghai.  Felipe offered to check with his supplier who brings beef from Mongolia for the chuck roast I need to make my chili con carne.  After a great meal and the nice favors I think I might start working on my French.
     After dinner it was a walk to the local massage parlor.  There is always a little debate between Bri and I in regards to how nice of a parlor we're going to visit.  Will it be the $10 massage where you might get your second hand nicotine fix or will it be an $18 massage in a private room where you get a little fruit with your tea?  Tonight we had two very social men spoiling our feet and Bri and I were amazed by (as we often are) the amount of communication that can be had without having a common language.  Although we both know more Chinese than we did this time last year both of our vocabularies are quite sparse but here are a few of the things we're pretty sure they were telling us.

1. Matt has very hairy legs and feet.  He looks like a monkey.
2. Them: Where are you from?      
    Matt: Wo may guaren (I'm american)        
    Them: Thats what we thought because you are tall and wide (hand gestures like the bible school song about deep and wide)
3. Bri can't sleep well because her big toe has something wrong.
4. They implied I should rub Bri's heel more often....we think...

Matt