Let's get straight to it because I'm sure the title already got ya' knees shakin'!
Sad to say, but I was actually his teacher. He was In my batch of students and he was not afraid to openly discuss his feelings towards me. The first day as I was teaching, he took the microphone from me and screamed "You are so beautiful" into it while the whole class watched.
I was a tad bit shook and didn't know how to react considering the fact that I already stood out being the only black girl in the whole building. I did a nice little smile with a flick of the shoulder and nicely said "Thank you!".
Later, I learned that his American name is "Jim" and his Chinese name is "Fengyi" or " 冯溢".
He showed me how to play a phone game that is super popular In China. It was kind of like minecraft and I actually thought it was pretty fun. That is mostly how we bonded in the beginning. Of course I had to keep it professional for the sake of keeping my job. By the way, I just want you all to know that I am 19 and so is he! No pedophilia going on over here!
The first time we hung out, we went to a beautiful hot spring together. While talking to him, I began to notice our cultural differences. His parents were going to arrange his marriage and he really loves vinegar in all of his food #YUCK. He shared with me what his day-to-day life consisted of and I began to think that maybe my life was a little too chaotic. He lives such a simplistic life and I felt like mine was chaotic. If he isn't playing basketball then he is studying for class. Then, I began to think that maybe that is the beauty of traveling. Meeting others who have a different lifestyle can help you improve yours. He has helped me find balance in-between my busy schedule for relaxation and I will forever be grateful for that.
Now here is the best part of our week long story!
He took me out on an "appointment", as he would call it. Americans would call what we went on a "date". He took me to one of Hohhot's most popular malls, Hailiang Mall, and had such an amazing time. While walking through the mall, we stopped at one of the food stands and he got me a cherry milkshake, which to my surprise was one of the best milkshakes I have ever had to date. We walked around for a while and then he suggested that we go watch a movie together. The movie was great but out of the corner of my eye, I could see that he wasn't focused on watching it. He was so fidgety and nervous and I started to worry about him. I looked at him to make sure that he was okay and BOOM! HE WENT STRAIGHT FOR HIS FIRST PAIR OF JUICY, BLACK GIRL LIPS. Fengyi had his second kiss in his life from a black girl and he was #SHOOK. I could literally see the stars in his eyes afterwards. After we left the movies, he held my hand all the way around the mall. Due to the fact that it is so taboo to see a chinese man and a black girl together, we were turning heads. Everybody was looking at us like we were crazy.
Oh, but this story isn't over. Just as we were about to part, I STARTED MY PERIOD AND I BLED ON THE TAXI SEAT. I told him that I needed to go to the store because I started and he almost has a heart attack. Mind you, in China it is very rude to speak about sex or body functions so I took a huge leap telling him that. We rushed to the store and he started talking to the lady working there about pads. He brought me a pair of night pads and pair of day pads. He also brought me wet wipes and a pack of brown sugar and told me to mix that in with hot water to help with the pain. Sad to say, but he has probably been the only guy to treat me right and he doesn't even have the opportunity to really date me.
Fengyi and I still talk everyday on WeChat and he is a constant reminder of my time in China. He has taught me the simplicity of life and how to be patient. Although, our chances of meeting again are slim to none, I am glad to have had the opportunity to spend time with him.