Similarities

Sometimes I am so surprised by the similarities between where we live now and where we came from. The climate, plant life, fruits and vegetables are much the same. Except that right now, at the end of February, I am already in short sleeves and capris! The tulip trees and camelias are in full bloom and the azaleas are promising. There are daffodils and tulips, lilies and hydrangeas here. I had all those things in my yard at home. There are even pine trees here!
It is a little comforting to have these things around me. It makes me feel that though I am worlds away from home, a bit of it is still here with me, to soothe those aches that come for those I left behind.
mandy

The End of ChunJie 春节！

I was wrong the other day about the end of 春节2009 (the year of the bull). Within hours, the bangs and pops began again. They have continued all week. I have noticed other strange activities as well. This week in the city center there were perhaps 100 people surrounding the huge goldfish ponds which are usually busy with people feeding them. This time, though, everyone had a tiny fishing pole and were catching them! Each person had a bucket next to them and many were full of fish! What is the meaning of this? Will they eat them or do they become pets? I will have to ask my teacher. Last night the fireworks reached another peak as the last day of the festival, known as The Lantern Festival was brought to a close. It sounded like all the fireworks left over were fired at once! I still don't know how I got to sleep but I did. It is after 9pm here and they are still firing them off though. Does it continue until no fireworks are left in China? Make it Stop!

During the Lantern Festival, the first night to see a full moon, children go at night to temples with paper lanterns and solve the riddles on the lanterns. The riddles hold messages of good luck, prosperity, family happiness, abundant harvest and love. The festival has several legends attached to it associated with different gods. One holds that the God of Heaven controlled the destiny of the humans. He had 16 dragons at his disposal and could decide when to have rain, drought, storms, and other disasters. Splendid ceremonies were ordered to appease this god so he would favor the people. This was especially important during the Han Dynasty. Now the festival does not hold so great an importance but is a time for familes to be together. Rice balls called yuanxiao are eaten and there are lantern parades. We did not see anything but the fireworks here though. It will be nice to have peace and quiet when it finally arrives. But our first experience with the Chinese New Year has been very memorable.

mandy

Packing Savvy

Moving abroad can be both exciting and terrifying. Without preparation, you may find yourself wishing you had brought this or that or done this or that differently. We have learned many things from our move and thought those who are planning to move abroad or even to visit, may benefit from our errors. Here is a list of some things that should be on your packing list.
Sturdy shoes-waterproof hiking boots and/or good tennis shoes. Frank bought Rockport XCS and I purchased Vasque. Both are waterproof, have good support and do not hurt our feet after walking all day in them. My tennis shoes are New Balance CW413.
Wicking Socks- Thick socks that keep your feet dry. We bought ours at Kohls. Bring a good supply. They are sturdy but difficult to find here.
Comfortable and Sturdy Backpack-Many will spend a great deal of money on this item but we found ours relatively cheap. I bought both from ROSS for about $20-$30. Both are High Sierra. Mine has a padded back and straps with space for a laptop and a zippered compartment on the bottom. It has a mesh water bottle pocket and slots to hold an IPOD and cord. Frank's is about half the size of mine but still has room for a laptop, water bottle and IPOD. We use them almost every day and have had no problems with either one.
Clothes-Unless you are the size of a typical Chinese person (ie.,tiny), bring all the clothes you will need. You can have clothes made here but I haven't seen anyplace that makes jeans, your staple item. We had to have a lot of things shipped to us because we left them behind. We would have saved money by paying the overweight luggage fee. Bring a good coat or two. Check the average temperatures for the region you are going to and plan for it to be just a little worse than that. Layering helped me stay warm this winter, since I did not bring a warm enough coat. Scarves and hats are plentiful but if you have a favorite, bring it.
Electronic Devices- Computers are expensive here, bring your own and all the toys and gadgets you want. A webcam is a must have. You can find them here but they may be cheaper on E-bay. Replacement cords are inexpensive, mine cost me less than $100 RMB (less than $13US). Plug adaptors are cheap and abundant. Buy them here. Rechargeable batteries are a good investment. Buy a few sets so you will always have a backup set for your camera. If you are a shutter bug like me, choose a camera that fits your needs. The Kodak EasyShare series record video as well and is travel friendly. I have a Canon EOS Model Rebel XSI. I bought spare batteries on E-bay for less than half the retail price and a zoom lens as well. It is not travel friendly though. Figure out what works for you and what you are willing to carry around all day. Many online sites discuss the pros and cons of different cameras. Do your research.
Comfort Items- Bring things that will make you feel at home. This will be different for everyone. We each brought a fluffy towel. Most of the rest had to be shipped to us. Your favorite book, scented bath stuff or lotions, absorbent kitchen towels(the ones here do not dry dishes and leave lint), your favorite small kitchen items, paring knife, pampered chef spatula( I left mine) dish brush. If you are a serious cook and plan to stay for awhile, your favorite pot, pan, dish, whatever you use all the time and can make room for. Pots and pans are available here, the better quality ones are expensive but many people have "yard sales" when they leave and you can buy second hand goods. A few bags of your favorite coffee or treat are must haves for those homesick days. If you are into makeup, bring it. Name brand stuff is outrageous. A dear friend who spent some time here told me, when you come in from a long day surrounded by foreign and sometimes unclean surroundings, you want to feel at home, comforted. Anything that helps you feel that way should be considered.
Medical Supplies- Bring any prescriptions, enough to last your stay. If you wear contacts, make sure you have enough to last. They are available here but not sure if they are the same standard. Get your prescription from your doctor and buy them online. You have the right to your prescription, demand it. Western medicine is available but it is not what you are used to. Some meds here are not even allowed in the US. Bottles of Tylenol, cold remedies and a large supply of pepto-bismol tablets (Wal-mart has a generic brand for all these), as well as a good first-aid kit should be packed. I took the ones from our house which were in hard cases, packed them in gallon Ziploc bags and brought them along. The water here has little mineral value so bringing a multi-vitamin can offset any potential deficiencies. Getting sick in a foreign land is expected, your body is adjusting to new everything. Expecting and planning for it makes it so much easier to handle.
The Little Things- One website I researched before coming, told me to bring a six months supply of things like toothpaste, contact solution, shampoo, hair gel, etc. I bought them, then when we went way past the weight limit, had to leave it all behind. What a waste of funds, especially when I found all those things readily available here. My family benefited from it though, as a six month supply was split amongst them. Razors, shaving cream, feminine products(different brands though, bring your own if you are partial), toothbrushes, body wash, are all available and for about the same price as the states. You may consider bringing one of each thing though, just to have until you get your bearings on where to purchase them. If you have a hobby like knitting, drawing, reading, etc, bring it. Yarn is plentiful, but the hooks and knitting needles are wooden and catch or snag easily. Any books you plan to read or study regularly should be packed. Bring a small sewing kit for buttons or rips. You can have things mended but sometimes it is much simpler to do it yourself.
ETC...- I am sure I have left things out so, if you have questions or suggestions, just leave a comment. I hope this helps any who are expanding their horizons in another part of the world. Happy Packing!
mandy
"My Mother can pack everything and the kitchen sink, my Father makes it all fit in one suitcase."-Mandy

A Time To Speak

I have been using my language skills more often now, engaging people in conversation and replying to questions that I now suddenly understand. This has helped me to realize how much I still have to learn. Sometimes, I surprise myself by understanding and being understood. Other times, it is not so much a surprise as a lesson learned. For instance, the other night, an older gentleman encouraged me to take a vacant seat on the bus. "That's ok", I told him, confident in my imagined ability. "At the next station we will end class, thanks." What I meant to say was we will get off at the next stop. 下车(xia4che1-"shah chuh") means to get off the bus. 下课(xia4ke4-"shah kuh") means end class. At least I did not call him something awful. I know that the more I speak, the more errors I will make. This has been one excuse for letting Frank be the one to speak first. However, the result has been a drop in progress while Frank has now become the teacher's pet and corrects me. Hold the phone, this will not do at all! Missing several classes because of illness has also hindered me so I have a lot of catching up to do. I do enjoy seeing Frank praised in class though. His confidence is building and he is not so frustrated as before. But, I am beginning to feel better now and have returned to the classroom. Watch out Baby!
mandy
Public speaking is very easy.
Dan Quayle

The Same, But Different

You have probably already read about the park we visited this week from Frank's blog. We had some visitors for the week so we took a trip to a minorities village. It is set up a bit like a theme park but you do get the sense of their lives and history. I am also amazed that so many of the villages looked like pioneer settlements from the 1700's. Many make their homes in log cabins with fire pits in them. Clothes hang from pegs on the wall. Racks hang from the rafters to store pots and bowls and other utensils. Even their costumes have a Native American look. We watched one brave (no pun intended) lad climb a ladder of knives over 50 feet high with no damage to his feet. It was interesting to learn what different people believe and practice. I saw an old lady with her face tatooed. She hid from cameras but showed me where to find the plaque that explains why she had the tattoo. All girls of 13 in her tribe are made to sit and endure having a blue butterfly tattooed onto their face. It is a symbol of luck and beauty. Interesting. Others sacrifice bulls by stabbing them to death as the matadors did as a gift to the Heavenly God.
Others worship nature and have a deep respect for the dog. One section was set up like Dali, a place you visited with us in another blog. It was so authentic, we thought we had returned. It was an enjoyable day for all of us and very educational. Some may say that all Chinese are alike but this excursion reminded us how different we all are and how much there is to learn about the country we now reside in. Variety is the spice of life and China is spicier than we thought.
mandy

Daily Life

What is a day like in the life of a Chinese person? Well, much like America, it depends on whose shoes you are wearing. Take for instance our bike guard downstairs who is probably in his late seventies. He wakes up early, opens his front door (the bike shed), starts a fire in a can with scrap wood and cardboard, lights his foot and half long pipe and sits down. He pretty much stays in this position until nightfall when the fire may get moved inside the shed. He is usually joined by friends and the gate guard who all huddle around the fire on stools 6 inches high, talking, knitting and smoking. He goes to bed around10pm and locks the door. If you come in after that and want to put your bike away, he has to get out of bed to let you in. He is friendly and loves it when we give him our cardboard boxes. Since we figured out that we have to pay to keep Frank's bike there, he smiles at us every morning.

Or, take the girls and boys who work at the plethora of restaurants on our street. At about 9 am, they are squatting on the side walk, peeling garlic, rinsing vegetables, cutting chilies, salting meat and cleaning windows. After that is all done, they may play badminton or jump rope until customers start arriving. After the lunch rush, they will squat outside again, doing dishes and prepping more veggies for the dinner crowd. They work very hard for very little but usually they are smiling. There are more types of work than I can mention here. Many are food related. Food stands abound and people of all ages work them. They sell fresh pineapple halves, baked potatoes from a metal drum oven, roasted chestnuts, meat on a stick, stinky tofu, noodles, fried potatoes, fried "hotdogs", etc.

Parents and grandparents are seen early in the morning taking kids to school on the back of their bikes, scooters, or just their backs. Many older ones use the morning hours to excercise on gym equipment that in the states would be a child's playground. Some dance or do TaiChi in the courtyards of their apartments and spend the day playing mahjong, cards or knitting. The weekends are the best, especially if you visit the local parks. People young and old come to dance, sing and play music. They are a very hard working people and are willing to do whatever puts food on the table. I have seen street sweeping women run in front of oncoming traffic to pick up a piece of trash; young, slightly built women hauling sand, bricks, huge chunks of concrete; elderly men and women collecting plastic and cardboard from wherever it can be found. There are people who shine shoes sitting next to fortune tellers who sit next to a little old lady selling delicately knitted baby shoes. The list goes on and on. Their diligence and humility is an amazing thing to behold... and perhaps, to imitate.

mandy
"As long as man labors for a physical existence, though an act of necessity almost, he is yet natural; it is life, though that of this world, for which he instinctively works.”
Jones Very

Suggestion Box

Frank has asked for ideas on things to blog about. I would like to do the same. Some of you have already made some great suggestions. Is there anything in particular you would like to know from my point of view? Keep sending your ideas and we will tackle them one at a time. Thanks for all the support.
mandy

Quiche

I was in a cooking mood the other day and hit the kitchen. Here is the chinese version of my bacon and spinach quiche:

Crust:

1C all purpose

dash of salt

2-3 large spoonfuls chilled bacon fat

water

Mix flour and salt, cut lard into it until crumbly, add water by spoonfuls until dough leaves the side of bowl then turn out onto floured counter top. Use floured wooded knitting needle to roll the dough out to desired size for your pan. Lay crust in pan and crimp edges. Cut off excess and use leftover dough for pot pie crust

Filling:

4 Eggs beaten

salt and pepper to taste

maybe 1/2 C cream or milk

handful green leafy vegetable that looks like spinach but isn't really

half an onion diced

3 slices bacon

big handful shredded cheddar cheese 3/4-1C

Cook bacon till crisp, chop finely. Toss veggies in the grease and saute. In separate bowl, beat the eggs, salt, pepper and cream. Add rest of ingredients, mix and pour into crust. Cook in toaster oven at 180C or about 350F for about 20 min or until egg mix sets and browns on top. Enjoy.

I made pot pie with the leftover chicken and veggies in the fridge and made a lattice top crust. Wasn't pretty but everybody liked it.

Super Bowl China-Style

While we are compiling memories, let us add the worst superbowl party ever to the list! In order to watch it live, we had to get up at 6:30, that's am, and find a live stream online. We had friends coming over, so I had to actually be cheerful this early. At least I thought I did until everyone arrived and I realized none of us were morning people, then there was no pressure. Get your own coffee. We found the pre-game show on both our computers, they were about 30 sec. apart and Frank's would only work in a minimized screen, about 4 inches square. My sister skyped me so I paused mine to say hello to the kids and that was all she wrote for my stream, never did get it back from that site. Soon we had three laptops frantically looking, right before kickoff, but the only one available was with chinese commentators. You cannot watch the SuperBowl without John Madden's voice and pen, it just isn't done. Finally one computer got a stream and we shut the others down just in case. Meanwhile, we started cooking: bacon, pancakes, strawberries, and pineapple with coffee and juice. There were five of us, but when four pancakes were done... the gas ran out. Seriously, we ran out of gas and couldn't cook. For those of you who know me best, hosting and cooking are my forte. How embarrasing! It took over two hours and many phone calls to locate a company that could first find our apartment and then bring us a fresh tank. Ahh, sweet memories! Then, as the cardinals ran the field for a touchdown to take the lead, with only two minutes left, our live stream died. I would like to take this moment to thank our dear friends in Batesburg for having superbowl parties and skyping at the same time. We were talked through the last minutes with a skype play by play. It was indeed a memorable event whether we want to remember it or not. We did count our blessings, at least we had access to the game all the way over here. It was fun having people over, we were able to trash talk with friends back home and we have plenty to laugh about.
Mandy

In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb

Is it possible that ChunJie is over?!!! This morning, I woke up, not to the sound of bombs blasting in the street below, but to... nothing! Is this what quiet sounds like? Amazing! It was so peaceful that I could hear the soft hiss of our coffee pot percolating in the kitchen and the splash of water in the pipes from the apartment above. Both gentle and soothing. I am still expecting the noise to start at any moment. It may, but for now, I will revel in this silence.
mandy
"Sometimes the best sound, is none at all."
-mandy