Mystery on the bus

On Saturday, I was on the bus to the airport for my flight to Xi'an and 5 days of freedom from Daheishi. As the bus began to fill, a man carrying a large sack lumbered up to me awkwardly and put down a large oddly shaped burlap bag. My eyes instantly darted over to movement in the bag. Movement? Yup. Movement. And then not just movement but writhing! Puzzled, I couldn't tear my eyes off the mystery at my feet, nor the smile from my face. What was in the bag, you ask? I wasn't sure but I had my suspicions.

After I thought I had figured it out I couldn't stifle my laughter. The woman who was with the mystery-sack-carrying guy started chatting with me, asking me if I was American and where I was going. I did my best to respond that I was Canadian in my terribly broken mandarin and that I was heading to Xi'an for holidays and I was also a teacher at the ML school.

To confirm my assumption I asked about the wriggling bag and she said yes... It was, in fact, a dog! What was her next question??? Do you want to buy it?? I laughed again and said I didn't but thanks. "Only 150 rmb!!! Very good!" she responds. How do turn down the offer of a bag of dog on the bus on a Sunday afternoon as you're on the way to the airport?? Not with a straight face. I'm now in Xi'an enjoying the balmy 28 degree weather. This is a very cool city so far and I'm already happy about choosing it as my holiday location. More stories later. For now: coffee.

T