A field trip to the "farm".

     So, last Friday, the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes took a field trip to the farm.  I was told I did not have to come with and would not have to come to school.  I figured that since I had chaperoned a number of field trips for my boys, I could handle this.  Famous last words.  So, I had to be at school at 8:15am a full 15 minutes earlier then the regular day and Thursday night I had my first remote tutoring with a new student so I did not get home until 10:00pm and didn't get to bed until midnight.  I didn't have time to make coffee, but I had half a bottle of leftover Coke in the fridge so that would be my caffeine.  Breakfast was whatever snacks I could find in my desk and some small snacks from the kids.  The buses were amazing, and because the trip was only about 45 minutes, the lack of a bathroom was not an issue.  As I was writing this, the concept of a squatting toilet in a moving bus came to mind and I just shook my head.

NOT your typical "school bus".

Some of my students.

The "farm" was more like a tourist attraction and there were rides, games, and stands selling toys and food.

My fellow teacher Phoebe was brave enough to ride the tube down the hill.  I chose to hold her bag and take pics.

You can't quite tell but there were seemingly thousands of kids!  Did I mention it was a very hot day?

alligator or crododile...you tell me

They had a proper riding ring, trainers, and stables.  Apparently there is a riding club here as well.

Ducks

Paintball place inside the farm as well.

Koi pond from hell....the kids feed the fish and it is almost scary to watch the feeding frenzy.

     Lunch.  Let's talk about lunch.  I have no clue what the kids did about lunch, but they did insist on feeding the teachers snacks all day.  Candy, crackers, cookies, these bizarre non-alcohol jello shots in little cups, and nuts.  The school provided lunch for the teachers at a very nice sit down restaurant next to the farm.  It was one of those giant round tables with the moving middle and the food just kept on coming.  I could not even begin to describe the dishes they fed us, but I was stuffed full by the time I waddled out.  

     They asked me if I wanted a beer and I politely declined...until they brought out a number of beers and a bottle of clear liquor, that I have been told is like moonshine.  Not all of the teachers drank, but I had 3 little tea cups of beer and that was fine.  The guys were passing out shots of liquor.  There was no way I was going down that road.  Almost all of the teachers then remained at the restaurant to play cards or take a nap.  I chose to spend actual time with the kids as we were free to wander with the teachers in the morning.  The teachers I was with allowed me to pick strawberries, hence the strawberry pancakes the following morning :-)

     So, I spent the afternoon wandering about (it appeared to be aimlessly) seeing the "farm".  I have no idea what the children learned from their Chinese tour guide, but they appeared to have a good time.  I found the whole thing fascinating and definitely something I do not regret doing, but next time, I believe I will opt for a day off :-)