Dennis went for a walk and brought back 4 liters of water for drinking. He was upset at himself because he paid $20.00 and it should have been $2.00. The next day he was filling the small water bottles and had a large drink; well it wasn’t water; he says it tasted like 50% battery acid and 50% drain cleaner. The rest was dumped down the drain. At least we didn’t spend $20.00 on just water.
Another time he went for a walk and also planned to buy a gallon of water. Buying water wasn’t a problem but unwinding his path was. After passing a clothing store named Red Dragonfly; you would guess it’s not like 7-11 on every corner. So stop to think (typically I do not have to think anymore.) Oh yea; I crossed the street to buy the water. That looks like I saw that store before so cross the road, circle the block – hmm no city park still. I don’t want to say I am lost but I don’t know where the park, hotel, or water store is. Let’s see no phone, no map, no name of the apartment. After seeing Red Dragonfly store the 4th time; I considered admitting that I am lost instead; hmm I hadn’t crossed the river before so I better not now. Hey maybe that is the water store; this time I went into the store; yes this is the one. To end this part; I did get back about an hour later and came in through the front door while I left through the back door.
We enjoyed our time with Lidia, saw some of the city and helped her with her paperwork. We were able to encourage her because her sister had passed away the week before. She wasn’t able to go home for the funeral.
On July 10th, we headed to Japan. We spent 2 days in Tokyo; then traveled to Hiroshima and spent 3 days there. It was amazing to see what we the US did to this city. People today are still seeing the effects of the A-Bomb. After this we traveled to Mishima; we were very close to Mt. Fuji. We took a bus to the 5th station and climbed a part of the mountain. Then we traveled to Koyto; an ancient city with lots of temples and history. We then traveled to Tokyo and spent the night waiting for our flight the next day back to China. We arrived in Beijing on July 22 (our 42nd anniversary) and spent the night and took the train back to Handan. Japan and Taiwan are very clean cities and the people were very helpful. There are lots of people but they don’t mob, crowd, push, or force.
We are back in Cixian ; the city where we live. We are learning where the stores are and other things that we need such as the bank, post office, and the school where we will teach.
When we want to go to a bigger town for more shipping options; we take a bus, train, subway, and another bus. It is an all day affair so we only do it every 6 weeks or so.
We have had several chances to experience life here and through a bit of evaluation; we have concluded.
The first moment that a driver notices a situation that deserves attention; their first reaction is to toot the horn, thus the many horns. This drivers’ second reaction is to toot the horn, thus the many, many horns. The third reaction is to get eye contact and toot the horn an extended time, thus quicker eye contact and of course blow the horn because the toots didn’t cause a change. Now the drivers’ fourth reaction is to decelerate, and to blast the horn to show its discontentment that he had to decelerate. The fifth reaction is to look for an emergency plan just in case the next horn blast doesn’t cause favorable actions. The sixth reaction is to maneuver left, right, or stop, causing a situation for a nearby unexpecting driver.
This was written in my mind as biking through town.
Remember we are in China and pedestrians NEVER have the right of way.
The driver with the loudest horn wins.
No school for 2 days. Well today is September 5; this weekend is a holiday here in China; it is Mid Autumn Day or Mooncake Festival. We are on our way to Beijing via the bullet (fast) train, going approximately 200 KPH or 180 MPH. We will spend 3 nights there. We are going to the Beijing Opera. We will also do some shopping for some American products. There is a big warehouse store similar to Sam’s Club but it is called Metro. Dennis also needs new shoes; so we are shoe shopping for size 11 or 12; almost impossible to find but we will see.
Well it’s a week later and we are home from Beijing. We had a wonderful time. We did find shoes for Dennis; it’s a good thing his feet aren’t any bigger; we bought the biggest size they had.
The opera was very interesting; the costumes and makeup was amazing. After 1 ½ hours; we were ready to be done; the music is very high pitched. We came home with 2 suitcases; 3 bags; and an overfilled backpack. We found macaroni & cheese; salsa; corn chips; tortillas for tacos; and cheese (not as good as Simon’s) but good for Chinese standards. In order to get home; we took a taxi; a train; 2 buses; and another taxi.
We visited an antique shop and Dennis bought 2 clocks (in need of repair) that we will be bringing home with us.
Oh by the way; its official we will be home in February. Probably February 1.
We are getting to it; our original contract ended December 10 but with our new school placement; they wanted us to stay until the end of the school year. This would bring us to the end of July. The company was being very generous giving many extras as an attempt to persuade us. Our response; wow you are giving a lot; but NO. But if you maintain your generosity; we will stay until the end of 1st semester mid February. They said no as they needed the full length contract to achieve a profit. Our reply was OK; we will depart mid December. No, no, no, no, no; (most times their seems to be an echo when someone says no it is 4 or 5 times.) The school will not accept us for such a short term. Our reply was OK but that is your problem not ours. After the sting of the moment; they retracted one section of the previous offer and we agreed to the end of 1st semester.
Because this is a private school; exact dates are hard to pin point but definitely before their Spring Festival of mid February; to make things simple; we say early February. Well that is a long way to say; we will be home in approximately 4 months.
Enough about the future except to say we are looking forward to some of the “good life” such as steak or even identifiable meat. There are food stores here in our city but they don’t have several things that we would like and I am sure you take them for granted. So for about half of what we want is 2 cities away. A ¾ hour bus ride at 6 RMB each ($1.00); another bus ride across town; only 1 RMB; a fast train at 100 RMB about 1 and ½ hours; then a subway ride 20 minutes at 8 RMB; bus 2 RMB up to an hour.
OK so now what is on our list; peanut butter, cheddar cheese, hamburger, mac and cheese, canned soup, dark chocolate, cashews, peanuts, ground coffee, canned vegetables, tortilla chips, salsa, spaghetti sauce, mayo, lettuce, and salad dressing.
We try to buy several months supply as the trip takes most of the day and transportation is about $75.00 or about 500 RMB.
Our first grocery day, we didn’t know what bus to use and also advised to use a taxi. A taxi is not allowed near the train station so that adds ¼ mile walk and 30 to 100 RMB. Some things would be cheaper if I looked more Asian; I never considered that being TDH (tall, dark, and handsome) would be a disadvantage.
Please excuse the 2 week delay in writing. I know you are interested but some days I don’t have the energy or ambition to write more. Another excuse is if something of interest or humor; Sue puts it on Facebook and later when I write about it there is less pizzazz (this is a word that I will not teach as it will loose a bit of its oomph.)
We had a great time last Saturday; we Skyped with our 2nd exchange student Anne from Denmark. She is doing great. She still has the same laugh that we forgot how pleasant it is to hear. Also she is just as beautiful as 1995; boy haw time runs. They are expecting their 2nd child in a few months. We did watch Alfred play with his toys; although he wasn’t interested in us. It is odd what things spark another as all last week; I was craving pop tarts (Anne’s favorite snack.)
Other things that interest me; so I write about them and maybe they will interest or entertain you. My foreign coin collection forced me into an antique shop recently. They didn’t have any coins but I did buy 2 antique clocks. Neither work as one stops after a few seconds and the other takes only a few seconds for an hour. And now I really miss my Grandfather clock, or as some Europeans call it “standing wall clock”. Thank you Felix and family; we love our clock.
I bike to school about 1 ½ miles most of it is just fine if you don’t obey the rules and drive as a local. I don’t mean a person that is from this area instead I suggest crazy. One section, I found it easier to get off and walk as the congestion and general chaos is difficult to maneuver through.
I have previous written about the use of horns, I have a new theory. I suggest that there is a type of magic. I haven’t mastered it yet as my bike doesn’t even have a bell. My theory is; all vehicles are invisible. It may sound odd but possible it’s true. As a car is moving down the road and the sidewalk or the bike lane; the driver will see an obstacle (me) and want me to move but assume I can’t see it. However, because the driver believes his car is invisible so I can’t see it; thus the need for the magic horn, and now the car is visible so I can clear out of its way. Reality is proving my theory. Of course; a bus or truck will need more power in its magic horn that is why they come equipped with the much louder air horn, also the motorcycle or e-bike needs less so their hum is sufficient.
To further my evaluation, obviously I am invisible and I don’t have any magic so they just keep coming as they don’t see me. I have found a temporary solution until I get a horn / bell for my bike. I have discovered that kicking or pounding on the car’s also helps. The driver assumes to be invisible so becomes aware of me; however it is proven to not be effective on buses and I haven’t tried it on semis.
It rained here for 4 days because of the typhoon that hit southern China. I was so happy that it stopped raining. We bought a small toaster oven (Dennis calls it an easy bake oven). We can now make toast (the little pleasures). Yesterday I made chocolate chip cookies (not as good as Karen’s) but still good.
It is amazing how hungry you get for things that we can’t get there. The first month back we will by busy eating all the foods that we have missed.
We had 3 days off for October 1 to 3 for National Day (a holiday to remember those who fought in the wars here.) We went back to Beijing and visited a different part of the Great Wall and also The Summer Palace. We had fun but it’s nice to be back in our smaller city. Beijing is just too busy, with too many people. We are planning on returning February 1, 2015. Our last day of teaching is January 31, 2015.
We are so sorry that this blog is way overdue.
We will try for an early December posting.
Dennis and Sue
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