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.

My mother will probably shoot me for saying this but my new collage is really her fault. I’ve grown up with a fear of blank walls. Our home was always well decorated and inviting, large walls were always covered with pictures.

When I moved into this apartment I was overwhelmed with the large blank walls that stared back at you in each room. This semester I decided to do something with the one behind my desk.

Last year while visiting the SanFransico Art Institute with a friend I pickup a large art brochure filled with Student art. Nick had suggested it as cheap pictures. This semester I brought it back, tore it apart and made a collage. I used the quotes to break up the pages.

Don't judge, I know I was an art major but Art History is far from Interior Design.

After taking Art-Readings I’ve enjoyed collecting definitions of art. Unfortunately the largest definition in this brochure is not one for my usual collection.

“If it disturbs you, it’s art.”

I forgot I wasn’t in America when I posted it up but when that was the first thing James read when he came over I was reminded quickly.

My favorite on the wall is on the upper right, “If it lifts you up in some sort of emotional epiphany or throws your preconceptions to the ground it’s art.”

For now this is my view at the computer, it beats a blank wall.

Oh and the “Attitude is Everything” is a new addition this semester as well, I’m hoping to finally learn this lesson for good!

Let me begin by stating I’ve never claimed to be the sharpest crayon in the box or have the patience of an angel!

Cooking on a hotplate has been a life’s lesson at best, I feel confident I won’t starve to death if now left alone with just that to survive. I missed good baked food, so opted to purchase a toaster oven this semester.

Last night Kelly, Katie, Thomas and I headed to the Tai Hua to purchase one. We’d compared prices in a few stores and settled on the Y270 medium size one at Fresco. Between the three of us we are getting great at charades, mad-gab and correct assumptions when it comes to deciphering Chinese. We purchased the oven then completed the grocery shopping.

Isn't she a beauty? I can just smell the brownies and bread already!

Kelly and I headed home with great anticipation! I was set on toast, my first real slice of toast since arriving in China. We got home and set it up. It looks beautiful in our kitchen by the way but then again I’m bias. I put in two slices and set the time with the temp at 100*. I went to the living room to put in a movie and after 2mins returned to disappointment. The oven wasn’t even warm and the toast was still white!

 Humph I’ll fix that, I crank up the oven to 250*C and turn the timer to 20min. I know, I know, well I know now that was a little extreme. I went to watch the episode and planned on checking it in a few mins. What can I say a great TV show? I soon smelt the toast, thanks to Mom’s excellent cooking lessons I knew if you could smell it it was done. I guess I should rethink that strategy for meals cooked in a closed kitchen and you smelling it in a closed living room.

The washing machine was in use which meant the tap was occupied, luckily there were some water filled bowls in the sink to dowse the smoking toast.

I jumped off the couch and ran to the kitchen to find smoke BILLOWING from the oven. No joke. Can I just say how grateful I am there are no smoke detectors in China. That would have been embarrassing and since it was night when I opened the kitchen window the smoke exiting wasn’t that noticeable.

After assessing the situation I unplug the oven, cracked the door and opened the window, a few mins later I turned on the stove vent. Yes I realized there was a more effective order but eventually the smoke decreased enough for me to stick a fork in a get the lumps of coal, that were originally slices of bread, and toss them in the sink. The smoke was so thick my eyes were stinging which did not help the process at all. Kelly was closed up in the office an oblivious to all the proceedings.

This was after about 10min

It took about 20min for all the smoke to finally clear and the smell to somewhat subside. For the few, Katie and Thomas to be exact, who know the funky smell* my apartment usually has, at least burnt toast is a welcome respite. See, there is always a positive side to be found.

 I think I can safely add yet another means to get my self killed in China, Toaster Oven. As if my poor street crossing skills weren’t sure enough.

*The smell is not of my doing, it was here before I moved in, goodness knows how I’ve tried to dispel it.

I have this huge apartment with just me this term. I grew up in a home centered around the dinner table. I loved every min of it, even when I was sent away to my room,  those mins right before were always worth it!

I was making plans for this place even before I moved in, top of the list was a good dinner get together with the gang, Bonnie and the Japanese teachers. The good old shrimp and french fries was always a hit so I scheduled an evening and set to work.

In my enthusiasm for a good meal I forgot how terribly labor intensive breaded shrimp was when starting from scratch. Katie and Thomas were kind enough to take over the cooking. They got a head start while Bonnie and I were out buying train tickets to Harbin.

They had the first batch ready to go when we arrived and the Japanese teachers came right on time. I know bad hostess still learning, I entertained in the living room while Katie, Thomas and their friend Anna took over kitchen duty, shelling, battering and frying all evening. The food was delicious.

I love the Japanese teachers, Shiggy is hilarious and Mr. Kobayashi is sweet. I have to admit regardless of what he thinks of his English I think its amazing. We talked about classes and vacation plans. Since they were fellow foreigners I related some of my more interesting Student outburst stories. (Please feel free to ask me once I’m back in the States) As we talked Mr. Kobayashi asked if the Korean teachers would be joining us, I had not invited them as I was under the impression they didn’t speak English.

Lack of prep left us a few eggs short and the Japanese teachers were out. I decided to just cross the landing a ask my Korean neighbors, yes the ones I hadn’t invited. I found the word for egg in Chinese hoping they possibly spoke a little Chinese. I muddled through, “I need eggs, please” in Chinese and she kindly brought me a few.

When I returned with the eggs Shiggy asked why I used Chinese, “They speak English.” My jaw dropped. What, now I feel horrible. I had not invited them assuming they didn’t speak English and it would be uncomfortable for them. I specifically remember someone telling me they didn’t speak English. “Oh I don’t think the girls speak it well but the guy speaks great we chat all the time in English” Shiggy said. Really are we talking about the same Korean, the one I pass in the hall and ask “How are you?” to and he gets completely flustered nods his head then takes the stairs three at a time to escape.

Well now that the language barrier has been cleared up two days before the end of term I feel much better about ignoring them this whole time. Okay honest effort next term will be put in to get to know my neighbors.

The rest of the evening went well, learned a lot about Japanese culture. Looking forward to another term with my Japanese colleagues.

Not too much from the back but I think it turned out alright.

 A larger apartment means larger blank walls that need to be covered. I’ve left up many of the things Dantzelle put up and have continued to add things. My first big project was the tack board. While cleaning we came across a piece of Styrofoam  that was originally part of the packaging for my new fridge in apartment 401. Dantzelle had taken in hopes of using it for a project but never got around to it.

Katie suggested I use it as a tack board when we found some pushpins. There was some extra paper and we thought to cover it. So after all the cleaning and arranging was done, I settled down for a good craft project.

Nothing like a good project to keep one busy.

Before

Hanging it was a bite of a challenge.

After - It adds some color

Okay this place is palatial. Here it is.

View of the apartment from the nook to the left of the door.

Living Room, first door on the right. Look at that couch!!

I love the fact that my shower no longer drenches my toilet or vanity!!

Last door on the right, James was kind enough to get me that far table for extra counter space. No excuse not to cook now.

Last door on the left. Kelly's room to be!

(The Office waiting for it to be clean before I take that picture.)

My new bedroom, yes I brought my comforter. First door on the left.

So Apartment 202 is my new home. The size sure makes me feel alone at times but Kelly will soon fill it! I still hesitate and start to knock when I get to the door thinking it is Dantzelle’s house or I skip the second floor altogether.

I can’t believe I can now say I’ve had my own place, and have moved on to my second. I’m not going to lie I’m thrilled I’m getting Kelly as a room mate soon. Not sure I could say that line with too many people, lets face it I’m not a sharer and LOVE my personal space.

So mixed feelings about leaving 401, I came to love the small cozy feeling. It was a perfect fit for a single person and once the radiators were turned on I can happily add cozy to the list of outstanding qualities. I remember my first Lego dream mansion and thinking wow, way to many rooms to clean. I guess it never hit me as a kid once you get a house with that many rooms you usually can afford the maid to clean it. But lets face it I would rather take the loft, clean myself and spend the extra cash on traveling. So goodbye small apartment, with one hour Saturday Cleaning Sessions.

Some things I will miss…

• the free daily, mandatory stair work out.
• quick and easy cleaning.
• the security that comes from knowing if anyone makes it to the fourth floor window three other apartments have most likely been robbed and the cops are on their way.
• (doubt this one is true but is a white lie I kept telling myself) you are above the heavy dust levels.
• No one can look into your apartment, unless they are 300 yards away and by then the view is fuzzy.
• the view of down town Weifang, lit up on a clear night.

No worries I will soon have a list of what I love about living in my new apartment.

So the final round of pictures, wipe a tear.

One last glance around the apartment, with all my stuff out it just doesn't feel the same.

I'm not sorry to leave the chairs in exchange for a couch.

Stripped clean. The bedding went to a student living down in the office, long story.

There is just something so sad about darkened rooms...

would anyone like their number?

Merry Maids of China

I should have taken before and after shots or at least the process. Katie and Thomas through insanity, is my only guess, agree to help me clean and move in.  The came over around 11am and stuck it out til the bitter end at 7pm. Those two can clean an apartment like professionals. They are so organized and thorough. By the end of the day we figured he could count half a year done for home-teaching.  

They dusted, swept, scrubbed, mopped, wiped down, sprayed down and cleaned out. It was such a relief, I was able to pack, arrange, transfer and move. Yes, my list was a lot easier for that I apologized profusely. I know I will never be able to repay Thomas fully for scrubbing the bathroom floor. Really could I please find a guy that is able oh and willing to do that.

By the end we had taken out 3 loads of garbage, done 6 loads of laundry:bedding, rags and towels and moved just about every piece of furniture in the apartment.

The topper of the day though had to be beating the rug. Katie and I took the rug outside and threw it over some exercise equipment across the courtyard. (I promise to add pictures later) Both of us where in short sleeves, and flip-flops from cleaning indoors. We were quite a sight to be seen beating a rug outside with a broom in 30* weather. Of course 3 different students passed and asked what I was doing, I would have figured that was obvious but hey when the Americans do something it is always a spectacle. Thomas came out to join us and we all took turns whacking that thing. Boy is beating a rug therapeutic. I love that scene in the new Sense and Sensibility when Eleanor takes a good whack at the rug, really it helps.

Once all the cleaning was done I told them their slave hours were over but they still offered to remain and help move the last of my things down. Troopers to the end. Thanks to them it was all done by 7.

Unfortunately, the customary doughnuts and take out pizza was unavailable for the moving crew but we were able to settle for McDonald’s after a long day. I felt truly pathetic repaying they entire day with a Big Mac but that was as good as it got.

So here is another THANK YOU, to Katie and Thomas, I could not have done it without you.

Thank goodness my Home-teacher is in town because it’s moving time. I know it’s only two floors down but its the mental moving that is killing me right now. I was hoping not to move for another few weeks but due to some unforeseen circumstances its just best I move this weekend. So tomorrow it is. So fam and friends, who skype you will no longer have to suffer a dirty room as a background. I will have an office in my new place. I feel like I’m moving into a mansion going down stairs.

I’m moving into Adam and Dantzelle’s old place. It’s a 3 bed 1 bath! Of course I will do a full tour once I’m moved in and everything is clean. That second part is the key there.  But it will be deep cleaned before Winter break. I want everything ready for when Kelly moves in!

So many new things wait! Oh, just thinking about a couch makes me want to melt. I am going to be sad to leave this apartment. I’ve grown quite attached. My first real place, not to shabby. And to be perfectly honest I’m going to miss the free mandatory daily workout going up four floors.  Not that I’m complaining about moving to the second floor.

Why is it when you make a plan nothing turns out? Maybe it is just the China way. Last night I went to bed and set the alarm clock for 7am. I have class at 8 and I figured for a change I would shower at the beginning of my day and not half way through. I was banking on shaving my legs to be completely honest, that only comes around once in a blue moon in the winter and its about time I shed my extra thermal layer.

I reluctantly pulled myself out of bed at 7:05, it is required to hit the snooze at least once, that’s why there is one. When I finally made it to the bathroom my hopes where all dashed. Turned on the facet and no water. None in the sink or the shower. Why did I get up early? Checked the kitchen, all was fine. Just the hot water seems to be empty. Funny thing my water heater says its full. Maybe that’s what should have tipped me off. It is never full. It usually sits at 3/4 the entire time.

Oh well what’s another half a day. I’ll just prayer it will fix itself.