I am in Shangri La

I am in Shangri La, I think I might come to live here someday. Its absolutely great. They have the perfect combination of tibetan culture, and modernized world. This town has actually become a sort of backpackers paradise. A good many people speak english, cafes with comfortable chairs/couches are a plenty, and the people seem pretty nice... Its great. But weird how much I am liking china. I cannot wait to go to college so I can study chinese.

There is this pizza joint called Helen's Pizza like 5 minutes from where I am staying. The owner is a chinese woman, whose english name is Helen, but it is her husband who has made the place. He is about as italian as can be. He talks too loud, all the time, in english with such a heavy accent that the only way I know what he is saying is because of his facial expressions and body movements. I honestly cannot hold a straight face when I talk to him. The food is excellent, and Marco always makes sure that you are eating the right combinations and drinking whatever best compliments the meal. He almost kicked me out when I ordered tea with pizza. It is such a welcome albeit strange sight to see a pure bred italian in China. But it works. He seems to change the people that come in. He calls everyone "my friend" and he always remembers names. He sits down with people to make sure they are enjoying their meal, and when someone leaves he stops whatever he is doing to yell "xia xia" a hundred times and shake their hands. And the people, whom you have never met, will say goodbye to you, or tell you to enjoy your meal, or smile and wave. When you enter Helen's Pizza, you become family... You gotta love it.