March 9, 2010
According the theFreeDictionary.com Fall means:
1. To drop or come down freely under the influence of gravity.
The last time I checked gravity pulled downward, so can someone please explain how the snow is FALLING sideways out my window.
Everyone is speculating a warm burst for Wednesday this week but I’m not that optimistic. My only prayer is that come March 15th when the heat for all of China gets turned off the government takes pity and leaves it on. I can hope can’t I, and hey they did turn it on early this year due to severe weather up North.
I know here I am complaining once again about the weather but to be fair, I’m getting use to it. Really I just needed a few rather poignant lessons in layering and proper winter attire which usually means donning rather less than attractive outerwear. On a whole I don’t mind as I know I will always return to my toasty apartment and be able to thaw in a matter of minutes. With the heat off I’m afraid I’ll have no respite for my frozen marrow.
Just a quick glance into my life, for a person who loathes snow to a rather unhealthy level at times how is it I always manage to end up in cold snowy places? Rexburg, Id – Jacob Lake, Az – Weifang, China Who is booking my travel arrangements? I should fire them.
January 10, 2010
Okay okay I know, I lied, sorry. I said I’d have my blog caught up before I left for Harbin but that just didn’t happen. I leave in an hour and lets face it I’m just too long winded to finish the 6 posts sitting in my draft box. So another week will pass before I can touch it.
If I don’t start catching up on Friday, I’ve frozen to death in the northern regions of China. So in the Spring thaws the frozen foreigner clutching the hot water bottle in the Red Michelin Man Jacket is me. Will someone please make sure my cremated remains make it back to the mantle in Tulare.
I’m not kidding, Harbin this week was in the -30*F.
December 27, 2009
I’m so grateful we’ve been coming into Qingdao on Saturday rather than making the early morning journey on Sunday.
As the blankets for the homeless have yet to be given out we continued to break them in. I’ve become quite adept at sleeping on hard surfaces, there is no way I could play the part of the princess any more, I’d never even think about the pea! To save money Victoria kindly let us crash on her floor.
Nothing like a sleepover! No worries Katie was in the Middle.
We awoke at Victoria’s to just wonderful weather!
This view just made me want to crawl back under the covers.
Really if you can’t hear the sarcasm just dripping from the text please just move to the next post, I’d hate for someone to get the wrong idea of how I feel about this weather.
The only thing great about this view was the fact that the temperature had to have risen to allow snow so it was warmer than the day before. Also the snow was falling vertically so the wind had died down.
See I’m learning to be positive.
The trek to church seem to turn treacherous once we reached the apartment complex. We meet up with the Yoon’s on the bus so we were quite the pioneer party crossing through the high path.
Brother Yoon found the least slick path
Everyone had a buddy the kids seemed to have the best balance on the ice.
We eventually all made it. Luckily we had started out early the bus was packed and the final trek we all took cautiously. The ground always seems to turn to ice before it snows so even with fresh snow it seems slick.
December 1, 2009
Well as long as it’s foggy its too warm to snow, right!? It has been a little foggy a few times but when I looked out the kitchen window this morning it felt like home.
Out my Kitchen window. The Cantina isn't even visible.
View from my Bedroom.
At least Christmas will have the same foggy feeling as home. I am learning my weather limits here. If I move somewhere cold again, knock on wood, I want to go dry cold. I think I would be able to handle that better. This damp cold just seeps into your bones and makes warming up a real chore.
November 28, 2009
A student came by yesterday to give me yet another lesson on proper shower mechanics. Apparently I’ve been ruining the heat by leaving the water heater plugged in 24/7 not to mention increasing my chances of electrocution. The second part doesn’t really matter to me as long as my water is boiling when I want a shower.
While lecturing she asked about the radiators. I asked when they would be turned on, the tentative date of Nov. 16th came an went ages ago, and she gave a quizzical look responding “They were turned on this morning, didn’t you notice?” Will can we just deduce from the previous question, NO! I touched the radiator hoping for heat but all I got was warmth.
I’m finally learning my lesson about complaining in this country, IT IS POINTLESS! So warmth it will be, I guess. I did wake up this morning to be pleasantly surprised that I could make it from my bedroom to the bathroom without being chilled to the bone by the freezer I call an apartment. So those radiator thingies are good for something once they get going. They take the chill out of the air if nothing else.
I hate to admit this and lose what little sympathy I’m still getting but honesty is the best policy, right. I think I am finally adjusting to life in the cold. Layers, layers, layers and always wear a hat and gloves.
So I’m happy to report I will not be shipped home in ashes* after freezing to death. (Cremation is the norm in China as the embalming process is expensive and they refuse to ship bodies overseas.)
November 24, 2009
Tailor made clothes are definitely one of them. As you know I have been battling the weather now for about a month. Unsurprisingly, weather is winning. As I’ve begun outfitting for winter I thought I’d take advantage of Dantzelle’s tailor here in Weifang.
It is easy enough when you have a piece you want copied and of course a great translator like Adam. So I guess that means I only have about 3 weeks to get the rest of my wardrobe ordered. I decided to go for a pair of wool pants, fully lined of course. I brought in a pair of trousers that I liked, I knew the material was different but as the pants were now loose a less stretchy material would still work.
I think it did. Although my heart sank when the tailor held up the completed pants. I feel like Argentina all over again, the land of anoxia and I’m the giant blimp. Seeing the pants held up does not for the ego but when they’re on it is a different story.
Nothing beats tailor made!
The lining makes them slide on and feel nice against the skin and the shell well its wool so cold stays out. Having pants made, ahh they just fit so nicely and I was able to get the nice wide waist that I love. Great tummy hider. Oh and did I mention the price, Y180. That would be a whole $25 USD for a pair of 100% wool fully lined pants that fit me beautifully. Not meaning to brag but I’m bragging. I think I will get a second pair this week not to mention a few long skirts. I’m learning you can never be too prepared for cold weather.
November 16, 2009
I know that by writing this post I relinquish the right to claim that I will freeze to death this winter. I do reserve the right to complain about the cold weather and remind all those at home that it is bone chilling Sibierian winds I must fight daily to survive.
The only reason I'm still here.
About a month ago people began discussing the coming Winter. It soon became apparent that I was no where near prepared for what was to come. As a California girl through and through my thin blood could not comprehend the temperatures they were discussing nor the wind chill factors they all dreaded. The Idahoans and Utahans in the branch soon took pity on me and began helping me outfit for the winter. Victoria was the life saver, she lent me this beautiful bad boy for the winter. I must admit when she handed it over I almost laugh it was so light. 100% down this baby is. I always thought the only way to get warmth was weight boy was I wrong. Nothing gets past this coat, now if only I could get a pair of pants made of this stuff.
Outfitted for winter! Still taking donations.
This weekend I ventured to Qingdao for church and yet another stage in the winter outfitting process. So here are my spoils from Saturday. Two 10yuan shapeless sweaters (the only down side to this purchase is I now don’t want to pay more than 10 yuan for a sweater no matter how much better they look). Two pairs of fleece lined footie stockings. A pair of insulated gloves, three pairs of wool socks, two pairs of thick socks, two pairs of cheap ear muffs (wind blocks I’ve decided), insulated earmuffs and last but not least a pair of leg warmers, yup Kayte is now a proud owner of leg warmers. The last two items are from Victoria. I have no right to complain the Lord always sends me guardian angels, Victoria is my weather one.
- My shapeless Y10 warm bundle of joy.
Needless to say I no longer give a hoot about looks. I have just decided to be the warmest Michelin man possible and these sweaters are going to be my key to success. Thank goodness I’ve had three months to grow accustomed to stares because now I feel like the Chinese really have something to stare at. My arms just about stick straight out when I walk from all the layers. I definitely shuffle with all the layers on the bottom half and my big Huggs. How they can still figure out I’m a westerner under all my layers beats me. Or maybe it is all the layers that give me away, who knows. But thank goodness I’m not trying to find anyone here because I’m definitely on the pathetic side when it comes to appearances.
November 10, 2009
Well I can’t figure out the heating unit and the radiators won’t be turned on for another week. My shower water won’t get above 65* and I am ready to slaughter the first cow I see so I can crawl inside for warmth!! Needless to say I skipped the shower this morning opting not to catch pneumonia willingly. What’s another day, just add an extra spritz of perfume.
I finally broke down and called James, turns out my water heater is broken and according to James I just needed to hit this button then than button and vua-la it will turn on in few min. Okay so someone will come tomorrow to look at the water heater and I will just head down to Adam and Dantzelle’s until my heater kicks on.
Dantzelle’s heater is working, her room is a cozy 86*. Okay not exactly the 100* I was hoping for but it sure beats my freezer. Well I can live with an apartment at 86* and I’m fortunate enough to have my computer in my bedroom with the heater. Another blessing to a small apartment.
Okay it’s been an hour I’m sure I can venture back up to my room now. By now the heater has to have kicked on and warmed up the place. I don’t even think Mom can imagine the utter horror and panic I felt when I discovered the heater not working upon my return. Not only was my room not warmer it had gotten colder! So I can now add the room heater to the list of broken appliances.
My warm neighbors to the south have offered me their extra bedroom for the night and a warm shower. Although I have a feeling that second accommodation was purely a selfish one as they would prefer not to have a smelly house guest, but hey what ever gets me a warm shower I will take.
So much for finishing up my trip this evening. I’m packing up and moving south for the night. The Journal will just have to wait another day or two. My fingers are already going numb.
Just for the record it should be a crime against humanity to have to wear your jacket in your own home!!!
November 2, 2009
I woke up this morning and started with my usual morning routine. Drag myself out of bed, turn on the computer, grab a cup of water, turn on skype, check for comments, pull up igoogle to…hold the phone the Current Weather icon says it is snowing in Weifang. Well its been wrong before so no biggie, no mail, okay what’s next on my list, oh I’d better go check my jeans, I do need something warm to wear if today is anything like yesterday. That’s when I saw it. Out my drying room window. blast those broken curtains! I could have been content for another two hours! I had to do a double take when I saw the snow. James had assured be earlier this week the possibility of snow was slim at best and not before December.
Out my bedroom window
So the weather hates me. Winter has decided to come early this year but the heat still won’t get turned on for another 15 days!! Does anyone else see the problem here? I mean come on people, snow on the ground heaters should be on!
I have worked it out that I can hold up in my apartment and just make quick dashes to building 4 to teach and Cantina #3 for meals. Sorry Wendy if the weather keeps up, I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it to the Teacher’s Dinning Hall. The trek across campus just might end in frost bite.
Out the Kitchen
Some of you might be thinking, really Kayte its not that bad, just a dusting and it hardly even sticks! Well let me tell you snow in October is just the beginning. The winds died down today and I was still freezing my bum off. What’s next is going to send me over the edge, freezing weather with wind. I’m fairly certain I can survive one or the other but you but both together and I personal don’t think man was ever made to live in such conditions. So for those of you thinking I should just suck it up, remember where you are, in a country where you regulate your heat and you don’t WALK every where!!!
I am finishing this blog way late,so I would like to add the following article Bonnie found a few mins ago. Happily I have now found someone to blame for this horrible weather, SCIENTISTS! This was science induced snow, only in China.
November 2, 2009
Well I’ve finally hit a few brick walls. I’ve been lucky up until this point not having hit any regulations but this one is a bit harsh. The heat in our building is controlled and will not be turned on until November 16th. Can I just say how relieved I am that I will be leaving for 5 days.
So one of my favorite movies is The Saint with Val Kilmer, it takes place it Moscow with no heat! I always thought the concept of a city being completely without heat was ludicrous but obviously not. Weifang will be without heat until the officials turn it on. So for now it is just bundling and lots of cooking in the kitchen to get some heat circulating in the house.
My bedroom heater.
I hear this baby will take the chill off in the winter but not much else. Now I just have to figure out their definition of ‘the chill’, why do I have a feeling our definitions aren’t going to match up?
Why does everything have to be in Chinese?!?
So I also have this bad boy in my room all though I can’t figure out how to work it. James set it up for AC when I first got here but now I can’t get it to switch over. Adam informed me it just goes to 30*C which just isn’t going to cut it! I started hitting buttons the other day on the remote which was a BAD idea now it is on some weird function and I can’t get it back. I’m going to have to bother James again to get it right.
Katie has seen some space heaters around town so I just might be making an investment this coming month. So far I can manage the house but then again I haven’t left the apartment yet today.