I Love IKEA

Today Jodie, Louie and I went to Shenzhen to go to IKEA and Metro.  I got some things for our home that weren’t too Chinese-ey.  Metro is like a Cosco or Sam’s Club and is the only place to find some International (American) favorites.  Unfortunately they didn’t have Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Cheerio’s.  I got some imitation Cheerio’s and we’ll see how that goes…I am picky about my cereals.  I did buy some other snacks and butter (very expensive in China).
When I got home I decided to go to the grocery store to pick up things for dinner (I know I should have just gotten things in Metro, but we live right behind a food store…so it’s easy).  I picked out what I hoped was Chicken Breast (it was!), you never know here, some fresh veggies and a bag of sugar.  I came back to “clean” the vegetables.  I was told to soak them in salted spring water to really clean them, rinse them in spring water and then dry them off.  I cleaned the chicken breast and made stir fry and a salad.  The simple meal took about 1 ½ hours (including cleaning veggies).  I have a feeling taking care of things at home can be a full time job, even without kids. 

Macau

Our first trip in China together.  We went to Macau for the day with Adam’s Durham and Malaysian co-workers who are here for the tool instillation. 

Adam's coworkers on the ferry

Adam and I in front of the ferry

We had a blast.  The cool thing about Macau is all the signs are written in English, Chinese and Portuguese.  We didn’t run into anyone that spoke Portuguese but Macau (like Hong Kong) is independent of Chinese rule and they used to be ruled by the Portuguese.  We saw a church that had burned down years ago and the only thing they built back was the front wall.

We had a noodle lunch (apparently they were known for their noodles so we weren’t allowed to order anything else), and went out to the Casino’s.  We each started with $400 RMB (about $50) I won then lost then won then lost and eventually gave up.  Adam wants me to say that he did very well playing roulette and made our trip cost neutral with his winnings.  I played the 10c slot machines and Adam played the high rolling games.  We had dinner at the Hard Rock Café in Macau

Cree people having dinner

and took the Ferry back.  All in all a WONDERFUL trip, so wonderful in fact that I booked a hotel for the weekend of Adam’s birthday so we could spend more time exploring, hopefully find some Portuguese restaurants and I am counting on Adam to make that trip cost neutral as well (even if it is an inexpensive trip thanks to the Chinese cheap ticket website.

Domestic Goddess?

Can I still be a domestic goddess if I have a cleaning lady and send out most my laundry?  I decided rather then submit most of our clothing to the washing machine I only wash socks, underwear, rags and undershirts.  Jeans can’t dry outside, towels won’t dry, there is nowhere to hang sheets and I am not willing to let any more of our shirts become deformed.  I hired the cleaning lady because a) I feel very blessed with our lifestyle here and she needs the money and b) she will clean EVERYTHING (including scrubbing the oil caked walls in the kitchen that I have made a dent in by scrubbing the walls daily).  I decided a while ago that I didn’t feel right when I didn’t have children and I don’t have a job hiring someone to do the housework.  I still do 4 loads of laundry (at least) a week…small washer and limited drying space, I still spend a few hours preparing food, I still go to 3 grocery stores to find what I need, I still hike through the wet market and I still work to make sure that our life here is wonderful!

Nothing Like Fresh OJ!

Where the Chinese people think Heady foods cause illness, I believe germs mixed with not taking care of yourself (not sleeping enough, not eating meals etc…) cause illness.  Where the Chinese believe eating non heady foods and drinking non heady drinks make you better, I believe that a little time, some good sleep and vitamin C help a person get better.  At work Adam’s Chinese coworkers fill him with whatever is considered non heady at home I made some fresh orange juice with my new juicer.  After peeling 6 oranges and making a huge mess, I had ¾ of a small jug of juice for next to nothing. 

There was juice ALL over the counter

 

Adam's Downfall = Heady Foods

According to the Chinese people Adam’s cold is because of the Heady foods he has been eating (anything cream based or fried).  According to them the only way to get better is to stop eating heady foods and to go to a Chinese pharmacy.  While in Shenzhen Adam went to a pharmacy with his coworker, they explained his symptoms and suggested some natural remedies (including snake liver oil).  We will update you on the results (although both Adam and I believe that colds just run their course…so there is no way to prove if it’s the remedies that worked or if the cold is just over). 

Taking The Boys To Lou Hu

Today Adam, and a couple of his coworkers (one visiting from Raleigh) went to Lou Hu with me.  Adam had never been before (and I have a feeling he thought I exaggerated my description of it).  We bought DVD’s, designer bags and Polo shirts.  They loved it!  Then we went to the Shenzhen version of walking street.  I think they really enjoyed it but Adam said he probably wouldn’t go to Lou Hu again.  Looks like our Sat. night date night turned into a group outing in Shenzhen but it still counts.

Chinese Kindie

I had been hearing a lot about “kindie” from Jodie.  We talk about the differences in Chinese, American and Australian kindergartens, her view from the parent, me of course from the teacher.  By the way I love calling it kindie and I thought it was a Jodie thing but the headmistress (and English woman) called it the same thing.

Today I got to spend some time in an unusual Chinese Kindergarten.  I say unusual because they are focused on exploration and discovery (kind if Montessori) where the “western” advertised Chinese schools allow play but it is very structured (and not in a good way).  Chinese Kindergartens are what we would consider pre-school/daycare.  Children start at the age of 2 (yes TWO) and go to kindergarten for 3 years before heading to primary school.  School starts at 8:00 and ends at 5:00 (yes 5:00, however that includes a 2 hour nap…yeah…2 hours). 

I observed the English class that children attend each day.  They go for 40 min. of English instruction and it includes theme weeks.  This was Pirate week, they talked about pirate clothing, sang pirate counting song, read pirate books and did a pirate craft.  All in all I love it.  They don’t have a full time position available, but that’s alright with me.  They did say that I could come and help whenever I want!

Sometimes China Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be

Sometimes the little things are the things that annoy me the most.  This morning I woke up and took a shower.  I had a cold shower (and haven’t had a proper warm shower since we moved into the apartment).  Then I washed dishes and burned my hand (boiling water stuck down a rubber washing glove).   I wouldn’t have had a cold shower in the US and I would have used a dishwasher, saving my hand.  I had to go to 2 grocery stores to by chicken breasts for lunch.  I got a lighter to light the candles (taking away the smell of china during meal times) and they apparently sell lighter fluid separately.  I ruined shirts in the wash because the washing machines here are brutal!  They stretch and tear fabric.  I asked Jodie later to show me what I was doing wrong but apparently that’s how Chinese washers are made.  I ran out of water and had to call someone to deliver another (not as easy as it sounds).  Not to mention the internet that should have been installed 2 weeks ago is not installed.
I made a wonderful lunch, it took forever since it involved cleaning veggies and meat before cooking.  The visit with Jodie was the best part of the day (not to mention watching Louie crawling all over my area rug).  I made a plan to stay in tomorrow and just pretend I was in the US.  Apparently that is something that helps a lot of people here…to have a no China day.

Home: Where No One Knows My Name, Where I can’t Speak To 95% Of The People, And Where I Will Never Fit In…I sure did miss it!

I came home and spent the next couple days running errands in the usual places.  Our stuff isn’t coming until the end of May (at the earliest) so I bit the bullet and started buying things to make our apartment a home.  It’s amazing what knick knacks, floor mats, towels and fresh flowers can do for a home. 
Adam and I went to a Cree luncheon to celebrate the successful installation. 
I took a second trip to Ikea and bought some proper sized plates and glasses, an area rug and other odds and ends that we needed.  I went to Lo Hou and got a painting framed, bought a framed sewing, fabric for throw pillows, for Adam’s pants, shorts for me, a shower curtain and a cute camera strap, took the fabric to the tailor (they will be ready in a week) and got some more DVD’s for Adam and I.  (One difference in Hong Kong and Huizhou…I would have spent a fortune that day, when in fact I spent under $300 US…including the tailoring.

Date Night...BACK ON!

We went to Sushi for dinner.  BORING!  We decided we needed something else to do other then watch movies or walk around malls.  We bought the Game of Life!  The game is in Chinese and in English and it is something we can hold onto forever as a memory.  Oh and I won!

Norwegian Bar In China!?!

I got a text from Jun (leader of the Expat community in Huizhou) inviting us the “Norwegian Bar”.  I of course got excited, and Adam was skeptical that it really was called a Norwegian Bar.  Well, it was called Norwegian Wood.  I figured that it was named after the Beatles song, Adam said I was crazy and that there was no such song…and if there was only Norwegian people would know about or like it…I know, what an insult to the Beatles and Norwegian people everywhere.  After meeting the Bar owner he confirmed that I was right!  Settle something for me…who has heard of the Song and who enjoys it?

“Your husband let you come here by yourself…lots of pickpockets (pickpockets are mostly from the mainland)”

I had a very exciting trip to Hong Kong!  Monday night after checking in at the hotel I decided to go have a foot massage and a quick dinner in Causeway Bay.  I got myself a metro pass (I figured we would come enough that it would be worth it) and had a lovely evening wondering around.   

Tuesday I set out early to find the fabric market…I got information off a discussion board and guessed from there.  I figured if I left the hotel at 8:00 I could grab a bite to eat and then explore the fabrics and accessories before the crowds.  I found a McDonalds and had pancakes (yum).  An older man sat at the table next to me and saw I had my travel book and my map out.  He asked me where I was going and he said that the fabric markets wouldn’t be opening until at least 11 and even then is early (sigh) and plus yesterday was a holiday so they will be closed (YESTERDAY WAS A HOLIDAY SO THEY WILL BE CLOSED TODAY????). We had a wonderful conversation, he thought I was be Indian but commented that my skin wasn’t dark then he motioned to the henna tattoo on my foot and laughed.  I told him I was living on the Mainland and that Adam was there, he was very concerned (title quote), defended Hong Kong Locals and bashed Chinese citizens all at once.

 I figured for sure he was wrong…but after 2 more trips on the MTR back and forth to another market I realized that Chinese people don’t run like the Dallands.  When someone tells me to be at a shop early I am early (5:00 am on Black Friday…I’ll be there!).  The books say get to the markets early because they get crazy in the afternoons…someone should say that early means after lunch.  Anyway most of the booths were closed but I quickly realized this was not a Lindsay friendly experience.  There were rolls and rolls of fabric all different colors sizes styles makes and patterns piled on top of each other and you really have to dig through literally hundreds of rolls to find what you want (this is at each booth) then there are shops with small samples of any fabric you can imagine floor to ceiling and in narrow aisles.  I was totally overwhelmed but I did enjoy the accessory shops (which were all open).  There was a shop with just zippers, tons of shops with just buttons or ribbon or pins or thread.  I got some ribbon and some really cool buttons for next to nothing.  There is also a Ladies Market which sells bags and silk and souvenirs.  Everything I saw I could get better quality and cheaper on the mainland. I met Jodie and Louie for dinner at an Italian place, which was wonderful!

Wednesday Jodie and Louie dropped off their Visas and we had a wonder around the Arts and Antiques district.  We spent most of the day there then went western grocery shopping and to dinner.  We didn’t get home until 10:00.  Louie was a great sport being strapped in the stroller all day with his rain cover on.

Thursday we crossed our fingers as we picked up Jodie and Louie’s visas (everything was good), we went to breakfast and taxied to the train station.  We went through the border crossing and got through OK (you never know in China) and met the driver on the other side.

Our Pretty Much Finished Home

All we need now is our stuff.  After a couple trips to Ikea, some trips to the tailor and picking up knick knacks along the way our apartment is beginning to feel like our home.  I think of my apartment as my sanctuary.  It is clean (unlike outside) it is quiet (unlike outside) and I put on my music or DVD’s of American TV and I forget I am in China. 

Kitchen

The Office

Shoe Closet

Master Bedroom

Living Room

Decorative Accessories

Pictures

I LOVE living here but sometimes you need a break and sometimes you need to hear English spoken through Taylor Swift or the cast of Big Bang Theory.  I posted more pictures of the new things and of my pictures hanging on the wall (after 3 weeks of searching stores looking for wall hanging materials and buying 1 box of materials before realizing the walls were made of plaster and creating a huge hole in the wall).  Now, if I could only find a lighter or matches in a country where a ton of people smoke.

Singapore In A Nutshell

Singapore is like an American TV sitcom.  Everyone looks nice (no tacky here…other then the random tourist with mixed patterns), everything is clean, everyone is fit, the city looks brand new and everyone speaks English.

Andrea’s condo was very nice and not too far from downtown.  We went to Mexican for dinner the night I got there and had delicious Mango Margaritas. 

Friday we went to Little India where we got Henna Tattoos.

Saturday we took the boat tour,

went to a shopping area (I think half of Singapore is shopping malls) where we saw a Gap, I found shorts in my size and they weren’t the biggest in the store…I was happy.  We went to see the movie “Remember Me” it was wonderful!  Sunday we had a wonderful Easter service at Andreas church followed by an amazing Easter Brunch and another movie (Diary of a Wimpy Kid…also great) and watched the best Easter movie ever, “The Easter Parade”.