For those of you who think I have half a brain in my head please don’t read any further I would love that lie to live on for as long as possible. As a child I had this notion that what ever the weather was in Tulare, that was the weather for the world. Yes I now realize how ridiculous that notion was but hey I’ve never claimed to be the sharpest crayon in the box. Nor did I ever stop to contemplate how the snow in the mountains worked when Tulare never saw snow.

Anyway I guess that misguided notion still lingers as I’m troubled by and rather annoyed with embracing my new climate. When I look outside and see clouds I scoff and insist that they will pass with no effect on my day. Oh little do I know about monsoon season! I’m coming to realize that the definition of monsoon means that 20 hours a day some form of precipitation WILL fall.

These forms vary from downpours to sheets of mist that envelope you making an umbrella pointless and cumbersome. I have often wondered while in flight what it would be like to stand within a cloud. Now I know the feeling and wish I’d never wondered. Weifang has been enveloped by one giant cloud. The humidity on a good day hangs around 74%. Other days you just pray it will rain so at least you will have the satisfaction of being soaked by a liquid other than your own sweat.

For all my gripping I must admit the vibrant foliage around town almost makes it bearable. For as much as I love a good dry heat the color brown does not register as appealing to me,thus Tulare in the summer has little appeal. So beautiful scenery or dry heat? The jury is still out on this one. So for all those enjoying the Tulare heat, pull out a lawn chair and sun tan for me for one hour. With this cloud coverage there is just no point here.

Summer is here, therefore the oh so glorious, much sought after in the west, tanning rays of the sun. But to an impressionable young Chinese girl summer does not bring the hope of a splendid, hair hiding, leg lengthening tan but the never ending battle of Sun vs Parasol.

My students are always oh so horrified when they see me in shorts, cap sleeved shirts and sunglasses. I am most obviously missing the most essential summer accessory my Parasol! While I am trying desperately to get back my usual summer tan my students run from shade spot to shade spot precociously angling their parasols for the most shade coverage. Don’t get me started on the number of girls who where tights in this sweltering heat.

Beauty is relative to where you live. In America thin, tanned, well curved girls are the standards to which we strive while here in China it’s the anorex, white, flat as a board girls who get the attention. Humm how well do you think I’m fitting in.

I promise to add pictures of more Parasol sporting girls but for now the following will have to suffice.

While Katie, like myself, is trying to accomplish the western chore of a even natural glow Thomas has taken a more Chinese approach to his summer.

Oh Thomas...

At one time it was Katie’s yellow purse that I looked for in a crowd but now Thomas’s Purple Parasol, a good three feet above the rest, is so much easier to spot.

The Qingdao Beer Company had a three week mini festival outside of Jusco this month. Kelly and I finaly went to check out the festivities, come to find out, on the last night. Now I know and boy am I looking forward to next year, I’ll be there everynight! The BBQ is amazing and cheap!

The entire area in front of Jusco was taken up by a massive stage and surrounding stalls.

Kelly tried her hand at darts!

The stage - the tables were packed

There were a variety of performances, from the alto clarinet to very very bad karaoke.

At one point the MC turned into a auctioner, the scrolls were beautiful.

The first time I saw it I was horrified, now I giggle.

 The store carries all your military gear, complete with US patches. Humm does anyone else find that a little odd? The mannequin in the window is dressed in camos with a USA patch, and a skeleton handkerchief around his face.

To be honest I’ve never ventured into the store, no real appeal. And I try to avoid anything to do with military here, that includes the uniform outlets.

Bei Da Huang has become one of my favorite restaurants. Unfortunately, tonight it did not hold up to all the hype I’d dumped on it when showing it off to Katie and Thomas. They still enjoyed it and promised to return but I was disappointed in the usually fantastic meals. 

One of the reasons I love it so much is the amazing picture menu! You don’t need to know a character to order your favorite food.  I had originally planned the dinner so Wendy and Peter could meet Victoria but Wendy didn’t feel well at the last minute. I hadn’t backed out of the dinner knowing with out Wendy I could still order clearly. That seems to be the catch at trying to restaurants.

Pumpkin Fries dipped in sugar

This dish is the reason to live. Yes, Pumpkin fries dipped in sugar. The two best things to happen to food, a deep fryer and a sugar coating. This is the costomary results of the dish, delightful deliciousness. 

Today however the oil was old and saturated with the previous dish FISH. Yes it was as horrible as it sounds.

Luckily Katie and Thomas knew no better and enjoyed the rest of the dishes immensely. I guess we will just have to return to remedy the bad experience.

While I was home in February I would often find myself recounting various daily events that I’ve never blogged about as daily events seemed inconsequential and boring here.  My father on the other hand was quite intrigued and asked for more pictures of daily life. So here are a few.

Not too many resturants can beat street food.

Street food is the new Take Out. I’ve been quite fortunate, knock on wood, my stomach has not revolted against the greasy and sometimes questionable street food I often partake of. I’ve decided I’m just building my immune system each time I try a new vendor.

Recycling is a living for some.

You can often find people rummaging through trash cans to find recyclable materials. Cardboard and plastic are the two most commonly collected items. The various modes of transportation are also quite inventive here. I’ve never seen so many peddled vehicles.

They start 'em young in the family business.

I was out one afternoon and came across someone hammering away. I just couldn’t help but take a picture when I realized it was a 3 year old kid.

IT’S SNOWING!

Snow is falling all around, on the house tops on the ground.

The heats been turned off in a gesture of good faith that the weather will warm yet it hasn’t. Thank heaven I bought that Contraband space heater. Better go dig it out and plug it in. On the bright side I only have one early class today so I can spend the rest of the day cuddled on the couch with hot chocolate! So today is looking bright after all!

The only way out!

We set out and sure enough upon exiting the campus we noticed an empty street. (Just to be clear on school faces north two city blocks west of Qingnian Rd) We walked to the end of our road where it meets Qingnian, a blue construction fence had been put up overnight.

A narrow cut out allows pedestrians and cyclist through. 

Upon exiting our street I was astounded at the sight beyond. With the speed of deconstruction I could hardly believe the finish date to be so far off. But I guess here in lies China’s personality, tear it all up, let it sit for a while then get back to it to finish it up.  

 

Finding the gate to my street is a maze of sorts.

When we returned this afternoon the path back to our road had changed. Yes, we are walking through an active construction zone with only party decorations separating  us from the more dangerous areas.

Qingnian Road – When they rip up a rode they rip up a road!

 The outer fence of the blockade was up and plastered with advertisements just as quickly. The closest bus stop is now a brisk 30 min walk.

When I saw the advertisements I knew I was doomed.

  

Only in China does heavy construction take place within a hop and skip of the walking path.

Weifang – International Kite City

I don’t think that title fits today. You release a kite today and it will be torn to shreds in under a min. I’ve never experienced wind like this. Rexburg didn’t even compare. One positive, it was a warm wind. The freezing Siberian winds decided to take a day off.

As Kelly and I clocked our new hike into town we had to adjust for wind factor. I’m just grateful I wear glasses for an added shield, but even with glasses I had to keep blinking particles out of my eyes!

At one point I was walking in front of Kelly and I heard a short scream. I turned to find Kelly recovering from an attack by a stray piece of cardboard. The most nerve racking sight on blustery days is the swaying of light poles. I’ve seen the arms move in an occasional storm but not the post!

Oh the blustery days I endure in Weifang. I enjoy wind to be perfectly honest, it cools things down and is well entertaining. The only drawback in Weifang is the dust it kicks up. The dust and debris in the air did a number of visibility for the day.

It was like somebody put a sepia lense on the sun!

What flag do you fly after red for bad air quality? Black? Today Weifang should have a black flag billowing in the wind, but I doubt it would last.

This morning I awoke to warmth, not something I had anticipated. Today is March 16th. March 15th is the final day of heat for China. The government controls the heating for buildings throughout the country.

At first I did not understand how the government could possibly control the heat until someone explained the heat in China is provided via the coal factories. Come March 15th the coal factories are then turned off? (That’s my best uneducated guess) Anyway,  who really cares about the logistics I was just bracing for the repercussions. So, I was more than pleasantly surprised to find the heat still on upon waking this morning.

Katie and Thomas had mentioned, they’d been informed the heat would be extended through the beginning of April but I didn’t dare hope it was true. Apparently it is! Hip Hip Hooray for the Chinese Government, and thank you for severe weather conditions in Northern China.

The day’s have been getting warmer and my blood has seemed to thicken. I even brave the classroom at times and remove my winter coat, much to the horror of my students. We reached all the way to 40* the other day, Heatwave! 

Side note:  Today’s crazy picture worthy moment, which I did not have my camera for was a women on the corner of the street tending to a campfire in the gutter. No joke full on campfire! It looked like a nice Tepee set up with great ventilation and an ample supply of kindling.