Five Kuai

Tonight we visited one of our favorite restaurants for dinner. We have been coming to this place from the second week we got here. Tonight, however, we were very disappointed in the service and the food. It took forever to get our food and one of our group never got hers. We have a discount card and the bartender, who was evidently in charge tonight, did not give the proper discount and fought giving a free meal to the couple who never got their food. He even ignored Frank when he tried to get our 5K change back. The amount was not a big deal, the fact that he ignored us, refused to give us our ticket to look at, even saying he didn't have it was very rude. He even refused to give us his real name, afraid he would get in trouble. Too late for that because the owner is a foreigner and knows some of us already. It is a shame too, because we really like the place. Our waitress who was really at fault, never came back to our table and the other waiter, a villager who spoke a little English, tried his best to help and practice his English at the same time. That was funny. Our friend was trying to explain that the meal had never arrived and the waiter was looking at the menu. Suddenly he asked, "Are you American?" What? What does that have to do with our food? Then another waiter came over and told us something about the food ordered that didn't make sense, and there was a pause. With perfect comic timing, our villager said, "Good evening everyone!" as if he had just seen us for the first time. It was hilarious. He is worth coming back for. This was my first really negative experience with the Chinese fear of "losing face". The bartender would have lost face if he gave us our money even though it was the waitress' fault. This made him angry and instead of yelling at us, which they wouldn't do, he screamed and pounded the bar at our villager. We really felt sorry for him. We finished up this mess of dinner at McDonald's. Our friend got to eat and Frank soothed his frustrations with a strawberry sundae. It is amazing how icecream can change your mood. All things are bright and beautiful once again. Thanks Ronald!

mandy

Winds Of Change

The market I blogged about will close this week. We have visited a few more times but it is little more than a garbage heap with a few people selling the remnants of their wares from a blanket on the ground. Some of the buildings have been torn down and all are desolate and empty. Where have all those families gone? Some have relocated in other parts of the city and set up shop again. One sweet old lady who sold fabric is only moving around the corner. She invited us to come see her. I will take her up on that. Others have returned to their villages homeless and jobless. The financial crisis seems to be everywhere. It is better to focus on the positive aspects, a trait I may never get right, wait that's not very positive. See? Anyway, I have included some pics of happier things too. Can you see the sign in the bedroom? It says Elder's Room. Interesting. Our friends apartment is coming along. The owners agreed to put in a floor, kitchen and doors. How gracious of them. The cool thing is they get to pick out the colors and style. That doesn't happen often. The owner's tried very hard to convince our friends that hazard yellow was the best color for kitchen cabinets and refused to go with an off-white or anything nuetral for that matter. They compromised on a soft green. That's better than cooking in a radioactive room. They are happy with it and anxious to move in. A few more weeks maybe less. We have been promised bath time, they have a TUB!!! I would pay a fee to use it. Hello to all of our friends. I miss hearing from many of you and seeing the comments.
mandy

“Don't you realize that the sea is the home of water? All water is off on a journey unless it's in the sea, and it's homesick, and bound to make its way home someday”
Zora Neale Hurston

Starting Over

This weekend we helped friends to start over in their new city. It reminds me how complicated starting over can be. It seems like so long ago that we sold everything and came here beginning again from nothing. I also see how much progress we have made in our language skills. We both served as translators, Yeah! US! It was strange to have the agents turn to me to explain something or ask a question. I kept thinking, what are they looking at? Oh right, I understood what they said, wait, I UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY SAID!
The weather has changed drastically here. February evidently is the start of spring here. Some days were even summer-like. It has cooled off just a bit and the wind has arrived. Strong enough to blow you off balance. It hasn't rained in over a month so with the wind comes duststorms that fill our lungs and nostrils with all the good stuff that has dried on the ground. Yum! Our guard had his hat fly off the other day in front of a car. Thankfully, the front tire missed the hat but the wind made sure the back tire didn't. It was a uniform hat like a police cap but now it's more like a beret, flat and floppy with a tread mark. Poor guy. Our mold problem has dried up and blown away in these arid conditions. It is amazing how quickly the climate changed, almost overnight! My friends at home are expecting 2-4 inches of snow and I walk around in shorts and a light wind breaker. Sorry guys! The flower peddlars have arrived in full force with the arrival of spring. Carts and buckets and baskets full of flowers, trees, shrubs and potted plants. They are pulled by horse, bike or carried yoke style on their shoulders. I will try to get a picture of this for you. Yesterday a smiling lady brought her yoke of roses to the restaurant we were eating at and kept trying to get my attention. "Want flowers? Very beautiful". They were, and even though I had nowhere to put them, as I was headed to work, I bought some. 5 Kuai or about .73cents bought 10 red roses. I just had to buy them. Wouldn't you? I also have a peace lily again. I had them at home but it blooms much better here. Mine never had more than one bloom and this one has at least six right now.

Today our friends will negotiate with a landlord on the apartment they liked. We arranged for someone with real chinese skills to serve as translator for that. They are going to need it, as they have to get them to put down a floor, install door frames and doors and put in a kitchen. Somehow, the owners felt the apartment was ready to rent. Only if you want no privacy, prefer concrete grey and never eat! The view sells the place but still, you can't live off the view. Hopefully it will all work out to their liking and starting over will be a breeze.
mandy
"Let's catch the period of flower blooming and spread out our fragrance"
-Notebook Quotes

My Kids

Today was my fifth day of teaching my kids. I finally remembered to bring my camera and use it at the same time so you can see them. My little three year old Steven was missing. This is very sad because he and his sister Sandra(center) have moved and will not be returning. I already miss them. I never knew I would enjoy it so much. They are really a good bunch of kids and we have fun. Today we sang and danced the whole class. I taught them "The wheels on the bus", "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and "Old Macdonald Had a Farm". We played basketball with the wastebasket and follow the leader. Everybody earned a Winnie the Pooh sticker today. I really missed little Steven though, the class just wasn't the same. I wonder if I will ever see their beautiful faces again and hate that I was unable to get a picture of him. Teaching children is good exercise as well. You should see me jumping around and dancing! (and singing) Last week we raced to learn run, hop, skip, turn around, etc. We went outside in the street. It was great! It also teaches me patience because they are on a basic level and need help understanding commands. But they try really hard and are making progress. You can see their brains working to figure out what I've asked them. It is so cute. Today was the best day so far, they remembered so much and I was very proud! From left to right there are: Sophia, Frank, Sandra, Stewart, and Justin. I wanted you to meet them.

mandy

"so lovely children my sweety"-Notebook Quotes

Musicality

The Chinese are a very musical people. I often observe people singing as they walk down the street or while they are working. Peddlers beat out a rhythm with a hammer and metal bar to announce their wares. Older ones wake early and flock to the parks to sing and dance as their morning routine. Each minority has their own traditional instrument and dance. Frank fits in as he sings anytime the mood hits him. No matter what their status in life, there is a song in their heart and we have the privilege of hearing those songs every day.
I also enjoy their creative writing style, especially when it is in "English". Most notebooks, ruled diaries, writing exercise books, etc., have little quotes on the outside of them with pretty pictures. I have penned these "notebook quotes". From time to time I will share them with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
mandy
"happykeyboard accompany happylifetoyou everyday"
-Notebook quotes

Picture Gallery

改变 Gaibian (Changes)

I have recently been going through many changes. We have discovered that February is not the best month to be in China, as most people get sick from the weather changes. It was frigid one day and the next day we were wearing short sleeves. The air changed too, from wet to dry, that drastically. Our apartment, which has been suffering from a severe mold problem, lending to our illness, has now become arid and dusty. That is good for the mold problem but bad for the skin, so our intake of water and fruits and vegetables has increased. Adjusting to a new country requires many changes, some I have not managed to make yet. Along with my physical ailments which are all but gone now, a strong, sometimes overwhelming homesickness hits me at irregular intervals. It hits most people and is just part of the experience, but I wish I was already accustomed to it. I haven't figured out how to anticipate it yet, so it is fresh and new every time. We are happy here but there are struggles。It helps to know that this is normal (I'm normal？Who knew?) and I have friends to sympathize with. And I know that all of our friends and family are supportive of us. That helps so much。

Anyway, amidst these changes, we have also changed our apartment around. The wardrobe we had was so full of mold, it just had to go. Frank sold it to some delivery guy he found on the street and we cleaned the mold off the walls and floor just in time for our landlord to deliver a spare bed. She called this morning to ask if we wanted it and could she come over. I said yes and 2 minutes later she knocked on the door! She must have been outside the building already. We got a spare bed with a headboard and two nightstands. We bought cheap, breathable "closets" to put our clothes in and put them in our room. Things are a little tighter now, but no mold! Our breathing is better and we have room for guests! (Hint, HINT)

Change is good, especially if it is progressive. I am learning that, whatever the change is that needs to be made, I can be made equal to the task with the right help and guidance.

mandy