My new found past time of watching football does not seem to be sanctioned by the gods. Up until now the games have been played at 7:30pm, 10:00pm and 2:30am. One game during each time slot. Now there are two games at 10pm and 2 at 2:30am. Last night England played Slovenia and the USA played Algeria. So which game do you suppose they aired? England of course. I spent 30min online trying to find a live stream. I finally gave up and went to bed praying they would play the Germany vs Ghana game.

At 2:15 I woke up and headed to the living room. I settled in for the game and was thrilled when the German teamed lined up. I figured I’d get the game going then check the score for the American game. Just as they were about to kick off the TV shut off! I wanted to scream you’ve got to be kidding me!

I ran to the landing to be sure, yup sure enough our power had run out. Of all times! No game and I still was clueless as to the outcome of the US game.

 So utilities here in China are metered by cards. When you run out you recharge your box with a card. I knew where the water card was but had no clue for the electric! As much as I wanted to, I refrained from calling James at 2:30 am. So no game for me. Back to bed, I was fuming. At exactly 7:30 I texted James asking him to stop by on his way to work.

To my horror it turns out the electric card is in the same spot as the water! Oh well I got more sleep than expected last night, that was a plus. And both teams won! I still can’t believe the USA will advance to the next round.

Our ever growing shoe collection

I decided last year that shoes where no longer welcome in my house. I’m convinced it is not a cultural curtsy but a hygienic necessity here! I would gladly lick the bottom of my shoes in America before I’d wipe the bottom of my shoe here against my jeans. For a country so concerned about health I’m appalled at the lack of hygiene. I started leaving my shoes against the wall for easy access and polite reminder to guests.

During the winter we had all our shoes out. Kelly counted once and there was something like 30 pairs. I never anticipated a downside, well, until this evening that is.

I needed to go to the office on the first floor so I quickly slipped on a pair of slippers. They are fuzzy on the inside so I didn’t think much of the tickle on my toes. I just wiggled them around a bit and finished my copying. When I got back to my apartment I just couldn’t seem to satisfy the tickle so I reached down take off the slipper when a millipede crawled out.

Not exactly the company I like to keep in my shoes!

Kelly you better thank me because it took everything out of me not to scream and wake you up. I don’t consider myself squeamish around bugs per say but when I say the pinchers on that thing and that fact it had been crawling all over my toes for the last 20min, well I thought my reaction showed quite a lot of self control! I did grab the stapler like any sane girl.

The stapler was even PINK!

I can’t find the camera cord so I’ll add pictures in the morning. Now if I could just stop imageing bugs crawling all over my feet I could go to bed. I just might have to start wearing socks 24/7. I hate wearing socks but I think I’ve found something I hate worse!

The funniest part of the whole situation was right before Kelly went to bed I complained that bug season was starting. We’ve had an extremely cool spring, and the bugs have only just begun coming out. So I can officially say bug season is HERE!

The Chinese LOVE promotionals. They take promotionals to a whole new level here. They have this tape that reads    Promo促销Promo促销 of course it is with their favorite colors too, red lettering on yellow. Throughout the store you will see the most random things taped together. My best find so far was a computer mouse pad taped to an Oreo package, score!

Common sights are cups with soda, Tupperware with cookies, or cloth grocery bags with milk. Promotions are common jokes amongst the foreigners. We often wonder if we could get a hold of the role or tape and have a hay-day with it. We doubt anyone would notice our chosen combinations.

Scratch n' Win - On every receipt

I’m convinced one shopping trip I could successful purchase at least half my list while only selecting promotional items. Mind you I would have to steer clear of my brands at times but I’m determined to do it one trip. I’m convinced the Chinese have the promotional thing figured out. For example, I was not planning on purchasing Oreos that day but I needed a mouse pad so I picked them up.

Along with promotional two for one deals the Chinese LOVE Scratch ’n Wins. At the end of EVERY receipt in China is a Scratch ’n Win section. The prize is redeemable at the front counter. I don’t pay much attention to those as one a few kuai don’t seem worth all the trouble it would be for me a foreigner to figure out how to redeem it and two half the time I can’t figure out if I’m a winner or not.

Y2 winnings!

The other day at the grocery store with Wendy I was slipping the receipt into my wallet when she stopped me and asked  if I was going to check if I won. I playfully scratched and showed her the characters expecting a defeated look. Oh contrair, she was all smiles when she said you won! Really I did a double take. You won Y2. Well hey money is money no matter the amount right. So with Wendy’s help I redeemed the receipt and walked out of the store with winner’s spirits.

Nothing makes you feel more unprepared then a crisis. Well maybe there is, a crisis with five children sitting around your table.

Now before you panic please remember I tend to exaggerate, no need to jump on skype and see home I’m doing. I’m fine.

Last night I was in the middle of tutoring when the lights went out. It was the only time I was grateful my parents have continually remained at my apartment during the lessons. I teach the children in the large hall with no outside facing widows. When the lights went off our area was pitch black. The parents entered and helped calm the excited children. Here’s another universal, turn of the lights and Children go crazy. They can find a thousand things to do in under two min, then proceed to do all of them in under five.

Utilities here work on prepaid cards. When the utility is used up you swipe another card at the appropriate utility station in your apartment or building. I’ve had only one power out so far but it was during the day and James had it sorted within min. But as I looked around campus there wasn’t a light to be seen. So it was obviously not due to a late electric bill.

Thank heaven for fathers who insist daughters take essential items such as flashlights.

Luckily Kelly and I both had flashlights. I worked the class out with the parents and was able to send all the children home early. I don’t even want to think how I would have had to keep their attention for another hour in the dark. Soon they were gone and the boredom set in.

NO lights, NO TV, NO Internet, but worst yet, NO computer. My computer has become my life here. What was I to do? Kelly and I decided to take a walk. Night walks are always fun and there was a bright moon out.

As soon as we opened the door the storm started. We stayed in the door way for a few min enjoying the fresh storm. I love the way that storms smell. Unfortunately in China, that wonderful smell is at times interrupted with a whiff of China which your nose often feels it will never recover from.

The wind was incredible, the rain started pouring in a matter of seconds.

The large earthquake in Western China had not phased me until this night. I’ve been truly blessed in my life never to be in any natural disaster or any disaster for that matter. It wasn’t until this evening that I got a little shaken. It wasn’t the power out as much as the vulnerability. I soon realized we were out of drinking water but hadn’t yet call in a new bottle. With the power out we had no methods for which to boil water. Without power I also had no ability to contact my family. My cell was only getting interrupted signals which was making calling out extremely frustrating if near impossible.

This evening I have come to truly appreciate my parents and their preparedness. So, mom don’t convert my bedroom yet I just might be bunking at home for the rest of my life.

For anyone who has stumbled across this post I hereby warn you, you read at your own risk. For sake of journaling I want a complete blog, and let’s be honest this experience was most definitely journal worthy. It was most certainly a life changing event that will impact my future shopping experiences in China.    

Thursday evening we had a girls dinner. It was a last min deal and only Katie, Kelly and I were able to get together but a girls night is a girls night. After a delightful meal of McDonald’s we decided to go window shopping in the underground shopping street. We looked at glasses, stopped for smoothies and generally browsed. As we passed a bra shop Katie mentioned she had seen some large bras in Tailor Alley. She had noticed them the day before and had remembered I was on the lookout for my size.    

As a reminder you read at your own risk.    

I have most assuredly inherited my mother’s full figure. Something I’ve learned to hide with Bali minimizers and restrictive bras. Coming to China I’ve never been more consciences about my bust size. Most girls here can barely fill an A cup WITH padding. Bra shopping has always been discouraging in the States and China only exacerbates those issues.    

So when I look for a bra I need wire, plenty of support and most definitely NO padding. As we passed yet another bra store, Katie suggested we look, you never know maybe they do carry your size. We stepped in and I began to browse. I got the largest bra I could find and bust out laughing when I held it up to myself, this was not going to work. The clerk rushed over assessed the situation and headed for a storage drawer. After rummaging around for a few mins she triumphantly pulled out the largest bra she could find. She looked it over then looked me over and nodded. She then grabbed a second bra before sending me into the dressing room.    

I stepped into the dressing room and closed the curtain. I begin the usual process, when in the middle of putting my arm through the bra the curtain is ripped open. I don’t think I’ve ever put a bra on so quick in my life! Before I knew it there was a FULL hand inside my bra and BOTH of mine where braced at my hips! The look of surprise or horror was all over my face as I relaized the clerk was doing all the adjusting.    

.  

Not exactly my usual white or beige.

To be fair I think my bustyness was just as embarrassing to the poor clerk as I was with having her hands in my bra. I doubt she’s ever had a customer my size. As she would rearrange one side the other would fall out. She was getting frustrated as the largest bra she had was just not holding all the bust I had. She finally left only to return with an extender. When she finally seemed satisfied with the results she threw open the curtain once again and beckoned for the girls to come over. Suspecting me to be dressed again Katie and Kelly sauntered over. Nope that was not the case. All Katie could manage was “Wow, you are busty!” Thanks Katie, I didn’t know that. Most people don’t realize my talent for hiding that fact. Now you know why I’ve been discouraged about finding bras in China.    

After all opinions were weighed in I decided to purchase both bras. I don’t claim to be a bra connoisseur so maybe the following features are standard but not on the bras I usually purchase.  

Netting on the side I just can't figure out what to do with.

Netting at the top, it helps me from falling out the top.

Wired structure on the side.

This pushes everything front and center not exactly the most effective minimizing technique.    

All in all I learned Western Comfort Zones and Boundaries are not shared in the East. 

“Many Westerners plan their schedules at the beginning of the day, or perhaps a day of two in advance. If you would like to meet with a Westerner, you should generally call at least a day in advance. If you want to invite a  Westerner to dinner, you should plan it about one week in advance. If you are planning a party, you should give one or two weeks advance notice. If you do not, the person might plan something else during that time slot. Some people may have a flexible schedule and do not follow this pattern. However, in the Western culture, having a schedule is stressed as a form of good planning and organization in one’s life. “  – pg 26 Challenge to Speak Student Edition

Now if I could just pass that passage around to all the Chinese I come in contact with. Just to be clear I’m not asking for the two weeks notice here, I’m just saying TWO days would be nice. I can easily rearrange my schedule with two days notice.

Last week I’d made plans to go out this evening, they’d changed of course over the week but by this morning they were set! At lunch James springs on me that today was the Korean girl’s birthday. Oh by the way, there will be a dinner for her at 5:30. I couldn’t brush off another dinner. As by the end of last semester I’d stopped rearranging my schedule last min. I called around made new plans and headed for the Dining Hall.

Dinner was pleasant, the usual mouth watering meals, octopus, jellyfish, radish soup, etc. I’m still trying to get use to being the one explaining the ropes to the newbie. Banquet etiquette is a big one and I tried my best.

Towards the end of the meal Shiggy asked if we were still going out as we had invited him to join us a few days ago (note the advanced invitation). He asked if we’d left the school yet today. I was a little puzzled by his comment and admitted I hadn’t yet left the school. He then, much to my horror, began to relate the current state of construction at the end of our road.

James soon chimed in to confirm that the buses were no longer running to the front of the school or along the main road due east of the school. Essentially we have been cut off from town. No cabs, cars or buses are allowed along Qingnian Rd until construction is finished. They are currently trying to update and widen the road as it is becoming a main artery into town. James then recounted oh by the way, the projected completion date is June 22. Yes I typed that correctly the MAIN ROAD along the river will be closed for 3 1/2 months! Well that inconvenient truth merited another round of drinks for everyone and left me fuming. The closest place to catch the bus, as James learned by sad experience this morning on his commute to work is 1.5km up the road!

Well so much for going out tonight that’s for sure. I was ranting the entire walk back to the apartment. Katie and Brad both got more than they bargained for when they took my call this evening. If its not one thing it sure seems to be another around here. Just as I was warming up to the idea of sticking around this school for another semester or so I’m reminded why I want to leave so bad. Location, location, location. Really people how do you cut off a main road like this for 3 and 1/2 months!

I guess I have a weekend to assess the damage and find a solution. Hey life’s all about learning to live with the bumps right?!

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.

Nothing Screams Practical like TP and Laundry Detergent!

I’m becoming more and more like my mother everyday, which is a very good thing! One such thing is the belief that practicality really wins the heart!

Like all recognizable holidays in China the faculty is presented with a gift.  For Women’s Day each female member of the faculty received 2 bundles of Toilet Paper and 1 bag of Laundry Detergent. With two females in our apartment it looks like we are set for the semester!

One must really admire the Chinese sense of practicality, last semester I received such gifts as boxes of pears, milk and dates. And to be honest I was going to run to the store today to stock up on Toilet Paper as we were running low.

Another trait I learn from my mother, one can never have enough Toilet Paper in storage, that and femine products, which again knowing I was coming to a country with limitations, I’ve got that base WELL covered.

So I’ve debated typing this post but I might as well get it out in the open, once I tell a few people its going to get out there anyway and blown out of proportion so I might as well get my side out….

Goodness knows I could count the dates I’ve been on, on one hand but could someone please define what qualifies as a date because I think I accidentally went on one with a complete stranger I met on the train.

I got home from Weihai at 11:30, cleaned up, packed up and headed to Qingdao by 5. I purchased a ticket last min and hoped for the best. There was a huge line at the gate already so stupidly I went and stood in it. Why, I don’t know after five months in China you would think I’d wised up by now. Mom please skip the following paragraph.

I stood in line and then they open the gate. Here is where my stupidity comes in. Lines mean nothing in China, as soon as the gate opened the line turned into a mob. Forgive the expression but there is just no other way to explain it. You feel like you are back in the birthing canal. I’ve learned to throw a mean elbow while here and being a foreigner and a head taller than everyone else it tends to work quite well. But today that wasn’t even helpful. I’ve never been pressed so bad in my life. Never understood the concept of stampede until today. I finally gave up struggling and just let the crowd push me. Some lady’s carry on caught the back of my legs but luckily the crowd kept me upright as she pulled forward.

Anyway I finally made it to the platform relatively unscathed and headed for my car. As if going through birth for a second time wasn’t bad enough I soon realized there was no seat to be found on the train. Great, two hours to Qingdao and I get the aisle. Okay truth be told I had a second option, smoker ally between cars. I figured relatively smoke free air standing in the aisle getting hit with a food trolley every 15min was better. I found a bench to rest against, turned on my kindle, put in my head phones and zoned out as best as possible. I did notice the decent looking guy standing next to me but kept my scowl to myself as the the trolley and I danced each time it past.

An hour into the ride a kind gentleman offered and held his seat for me when he disembarked. The guy who had been standing next to me soon found a seat across the aisle. He leaned over and began asking about my Kindle. His English was definitely not the best I’ve encountered but he was nice, okay sweet. The fact he said he read Plato gave him major points. Before I knew it he was asking me to coffee. I didn’t know what to say so I tried to mumble under my breath, as his English was not great he  took it as an affirmative and started suggesting places.

I figured I would lose him once I got to the station, but he helped get my backpack off the rack and insisted on carrying it for me. (It was only after did I realize how bad that could have gone if he had decided to run, Passport and Y2,000 bad.) Him having my bag and all I decided not to lose him. We caught the 304, he insisted on paying my fare, and headed into town. We decided on Coffee Spark as it was located on both our bus routes. On the bus he began helping me with Chinese. A few points in his favor. One, his is one of the first Chinese people who have actually wanted to help me learn Chinese rather than just wanting to speak and learn English. Two, when teaching me Chinese he actually spoke slowly and clearly, repeating words often, wow what a concept when teaching someone a language. (In China like many places people often think it is the volume that makes foreign words magically become understandable.) Lastly, he encouraged learning Chinese Characters as he feels it is a vital component of learning Chinese.

Now before you flip out and think I’ve completely lost my senses, I did text Victoria and let her know the change in plans. I also asked for a bailout call come 8:15 if wasn’t on the bus to the University yet. My Chinese lesson was going so well we missed our stop, but he had a contingency plan apparently. He quickly suggested another place that was just two stops further. We went to Starbucks and I ordered a Hot Chocolate, after a brief argument over the bill he said something curt in Mandarin to the cashier and she refused to take my money. He ordered two and found a table.

We sat and conversed for about 45min before I had to head out. Between his minimal English and my non-existent Chinese I was surprised the conversation lasted as long as it did. It did come to an interesting point when I finally asked for his name. Okay yes one would think before we got to Starbucks names would have been established but in China names are just tricky. Family names go first, then first name. To top it off you refer to new acquaintances by their family name. His name is Hu pronounced ‘who’. When he asked for mine I of course gave him Kayte, he was a little taken back and asked if he should call me Miss. That was a definite NO! Names got squared away and numbers exchanged. I was soon on my way to Victoria’s before the designated bailout time.

Overall the evening was fun. Most definitely not a usual evening for me but if China has taught me one thing it is taken every opportunity thrown at you.

So back to the original question, if he asked, escorted to and paid for everything was it considered a date? If so I guess I just went on my first Chinese date. Oh and for all those wondering he is barely my height but hey he’s not shorter!

The center of life!

 After dinner I was shown to my kang in the adjoining room. One thing I’ve learned the Chinese pull out the red carpet for foreigners. I felt truly guilty when I realized they had given me the large Kang in the Master Bedroom, all to myself no less. There were no heaters in the house so I went to bed in thermals skeptical of the kang’s ability to keep me warm. Wrong decision! I soon learned the errors of my ways as I began stripping layers, then I was glad no one else was in bed with me as I eventually got down to my skivvies and still had to throw the blanket off at times. Holy smokes who knew!

Full Squid, hummm, did I really say that was the great dish?

 Friday morning I woke at 8 and entertained myself until I heard Wendy get up in the adjoining room.  Breakfast was leftovers from dinner and a larger dish of what I had commented on the night before. My bad, it was squid. Okay I hate squid unless it is battered and deep-fried and smothered in a cocktail sauce but I had to admit last nights did taste good surprisingly. But now it was the full squid not just strips.

Peter's Junior High

There is just no way to describe the loss of feeling when you finish this one.

Who said Exercising couldn't be entertaining?

That was a good stretch.

On to the Open Air Village Market. I was the only foreigner obviously and mostly likely the only to have ventured there. I was shocked when I few asked if I was Peter’s wife. Did not see that one coming. We finally just stuck with Wendy’s little sister, Can’t you see the resemblance?

Village Outdoor Market

A relative of Peter's, he gave me two free Candied Hawthorn sticks.

Oh no, please don't, oh great Peter just bought that for lunch. Umm do I have to I mean really what is it?? Oh just Pupas well in that case of course.

Then a quick spin to the beach, on the way we stopped at Shandong International College. The campus was dead.

Shandong International College

Can we say a little Europe in Shandong?

 

This was a random building on the campus. We never did find out what it was for but it just seemed so out of place.

Wendy says this place is packed in the summer.

I'm going to miss these two!

Sea farming

Are engines damaged when they get water logged?

Everyone does it! "Happiness to China"

Peter has quite the arm.

Collecting shells, I collected shells, Peter collected rocks and Wendy just shook her head asking what we planned on doing with them.

 

Beach homes of the rich.

We soon headed back for lunch, which I must admit I was not looking forward to as I knew the menu!

Don't these just scream yummm? Yeah I didn't think so either.

I'll try anything once, the second time is optional.

Pupas are Peter’s favorites it turns out so I turned to him for eating tips, wrong idea should have just waited for his dad. I tried Peter’s way first, pop the whole thing in you mouth and chew don’t swallow the casing just the creamy inside. After a few that way, yes I had a few, his dad came in a insisted his method was better, I have to agree with his dad. Pull off the end and using your teeth to squeeze/suck the filling out. I think I had about six although Lao lao didn’t think that was enough. I never could bring myself to eat the heat sack on the inside it was hard, after the gooy insides I just couldn’t bring my self to chew something crunchy.

Lunch with the family

Friday evening I watched “The Founding of the Republic” the Chinese film about the birth of China. It was on television and had English subtitles, surprisingly good subtitles to boot. I was also surprised at the sypathetic way in which Chang Kai Shek was portrayed throughout the film.

Saturday was colder than Friday so we remained in doors most of the morning. I took the time to study Chinese with Wendy.  A’yi and Lao lao made fish dumplings for lunch which were to die for.

A'yi and Lao lao making dumplings, yumm Now there's a wok.

After lunch I asked if I could take a walk around the village, Peter volunteered to give me a tour. It was fun just walking and looking but the guided tour made it amazing. He showed us all his old haunts and favorite spots.

Main Street

Peter's home village. Looking down Peter's street back to the Main Street.

 

Peter and his childhood home. His home is at the end of the lane.

Side Street

Nothing like a good game of "Arrows & Bows" Peter's favorite growing up.

The boundary between villages, crossing over

The villiage across the river - This is where Peter attended Elementary school.

Before garages where needed this was the original parking space.

This is a piece that has been up since Peter's childhood days, I'm guessing the original from the 50's. Where is Mao?

Exploring the villiage in the late afternoon was picturesque, now if I could only learn to capture that.

The family garden.

Saturday evening I watch one of Wendy’s favorite films, a good Chinese Spy movie. When I discussed the plot with Victoria upon my return boy did she have a good laugh at the historical inaccuracies of the aligencies portrayed in the film. It was intriguing and the subtitles were dencent. If you haven’t caught on by now the quality of the subtitles is something of a running debate in China. There is no point in commenting on the quality of the film, I mean what do you expect from bootlegged copies. But really are subtitles suppose to be legit no matter the picture quality?

 

Sunday Morning A’yi and Lao lao woke early to make a fresh batch of dumplings in China it is a tradition to serve dumplings prior to a departure as a sign of good luck. The dumplings resemble little boats and the attached saying is equivelent to “Smooth sailing”.

Sunday's farewell breakfast. Traditional dumpling sendoff.

You enter into a courtyard and rooms are situated along the right and back walls. The front walls are storage and pig pens there is only the outhouse along the left wall and a staircase to the roof.

 

 

Feeding the Kang

 

* The Kang is heated from outside. Corn husks are dried and stored all winter to feed the fires lit beneath the stone beds.