At the Shanhaiguan District train station in Qinhuangdao Sean and I were greeted by Sophie (my daughter-in-law) her mother, aunt and cousin. When we got to their car her uncle was standing by it with the back door open and there, stretched out along the back seat and taking up most of it was my grandson, Lucas – not quite 3 years old and absolutely beautiful!
Off to my new apartment with Lucas in my arms (that’s right, no car seat in this car) where Uncle had to go in search of the building’s electrical station to insert the prepaid card so I would have power. The gas meter which is in my kitchen, also takes a prepaid card
7/31
It had been overcast with several torrential downpours for three days and the city carries a musty, slightly moldy smell; the only places that seem exempt from this are those that keep their air conditioning on at some level 24/7. Yesterday was a beautiful clear day, even the pollution haze that covers this city seemed to have moved on. Unfortunately when I woke up this morning, even with the a/c on low I could smell the return of the haze and humidity.
During the past few days I have learned about the Chinese custom of shopping by committee. I would pick up an item and discuss it with Sophie, the only other person in the group who spoke English, and put it in my cart. About a quarter of the time someone would take it out and put something else in. Pointedly putting their choice on the shelf and taking back the original seemed useless, so I would just re-grab what I wanted and lose the replacement somewhere along the line. At the checkout, someone decided that the coke I bought was too expensive, so they just told the cashier to take it off the bill and return it to stock.
Interestingly, the cashiers can tell how many bags you need by looking at what is in your wagon before it ever hits the counter and the charge for them is the first thing on you receipt.
8/4
Just learned that typhoon David has done far more damage than I knew. The train that Sean and I had taken from Dalian to Qinhuangdao had four of its cars fall into a river today, one known dead and five still missing. The regional flooding has been horrendous.
Train station where Sean and I arrived in Qinhuangdao. Yes, it looks like a possible planned photo op to me too. Of course, lots of people break into smiles when news cameras are pointed at them.
According to Beijing News we were hit with over 45 inches of rain on August 3rd & 4th and over 93 million people fled 4 provinces. I guess back to back typhoons (#9 Sura and #10 David) can do that to a huge, heavily populated region.
From the Beijing News :
It is reported that at 3:00 on the August 3rd to 4 days from 7 pm 24 points, in addition to moderate rain outside the individual townships, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, the other around the greater than 100 mm of heavy rain, the emergence of the harbor area of Qinhuangdao City, Shanhaiguan District, and other places serious urban waterlogging.
Go to http://news.qq.com/a/20120805/000036.htm for further information in Chinglish. If the page should come up in Chinese, under the Google banner is a place to set the translation from Chinese to “English”.
8/15 – Haven’t gone anywhere or done anything particularly interesting however, a few things have caught my eye. Like the super-stretch moped with two adults and 3 children on board, this contraption had a wire basket baby seat attached to the handle bars with a child of about 8 months in it.
Where you would expect to see graffiti, there are advertisements with phone numbers that appear to have been placed by a giant rubber stamp (yes, I know, stencil and paint roller).
I saw a worker on top of a six story building throw a few shovels full of dirt to the ground.
When the internet people showed up to get me connected there were four of them, three inside and one in the doorway to watch – took them an hour and a half and when I stopped them from leaving and pointed to a hole they had left in the wall they laughed at me
In the supermarket there is very little in the way of frozen foods, no Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine, just bags of stuff, some recognizable, some I really didn’t wish to know about.
There is a 50 gallon tank with 14” to 16” fish swimming around, and no Fred, I have no idea what they are. When I asked what kind of bird has blue/black skin that was in the prepackaged meat section I was told it was chicken. My only possible reaction at the time was: “No. Really?” I did purchase skinless, boneless chicken breasts which looked and tasted like I thought they should.
From the Beijing News :
It is reported that at 3:00 on the August 3rd to 4 days from 7 pm 24 points, in addition to moderate rain outside the individual townships, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, the other around the greater than 100 mm of heavy rain, the emergence of the harbor area of Qinhuangdao City, Shanhaiguan District, and other places serious urban waterlogging.
Go to http://news.qq.com/a/20120805/000036.htm for further information in Chinglish. If the page should come up in Chinese, under the Google banner is a place to set the translation from Chinese to “English”.
8/15 – Haven’t gone anywhere or done anything particularly interesting however, a few things have caught my eye. Like the super-stretch moped with two adults and 3 children on board, this contraption had a wire basket baby seat attached to the handle bars with a child of about 8 months in it.
Where you would expect to see graffiti, there are advertisements with phone numbers that appear to have been placed by a giant rubber stamp (yes, I know, stencil and paint roller).
I saw a worker on top of a six story building throw a few shovels full of dirt to the ground.
When the internet people showed up to get me connected there were four of them, three inside and one in the doorway to watch – took them an hour and a half and when I stopped them from leaving and pointed to a hole they had left in the wall they laughed at me
In the supermarket there is very little in the way of frozen foods, no Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine, just bags of stuff, some recognizable, some I really didn’t wish to know about.
There is a 50 gallon tank with 14” to 16” fish swimming around, and no Fred, I have no idea what they are. When I asked what kind of bird has blue/black skin that was in the prepackaged meat section I was told it was chicken. My only possible reaction at the time was: “No. Really?” I did purchase skinless, boneless chicken breasts which looked and tasted like I thought they should.
I find that most foods don’t taste quite right to me, so far chicken and a few vegetables fit my pallet, but things like bananas and watermelon tasted just slightly “off”. They were ripe and there were no ill effects – this will take some getting used to.
Purchasing a loaf of bread can be a real adventure. While at a bakery, Sophie assured me that a particular loaf contained only butter and cream. Imagine my shock when in the process of making a grilled cheese sandwich I sliced the bread to discover the entire core was filled with some kind of chocolate nuggets. Not very good ones either. Good chocolate is a rare commodity in China. Arrrrrggggggggggggg!
Every few blocks in every neighborhood I have ridden through one of the side streets and even on the main street sometimes, you will see a string of stores that are mostly small restaurants - some so small you have to eat outside
I have been doing a little English tutoring and in one two hour session earned enough to pay half a month’s rent. Food, soda, snacks and cigarettes are very cheap here, the average adult earner income per month in Qinhuangdao (cheen-hwong-dow) is between 2000 and 3000 RemMB or Yuan (US $317 and $476).
Purchasing a loaf of bread can be a real adventure. While at a bakery, Sophie assured me that a particular loaf contained only butter and cream. Imagine my shock when in the process of making a grilled cheese sandwich I sliced the bread to discover the entire core was filled with some kind of chocolate nuggets. Not very good ones either. Good chocolate is a rare commodity in China. Arrrrrggggggggggggg!
Every few blocks in every neighborhood I have ridden through one of the side streets and even on the main street sometimes, you will see a string of stores that are mostly small restaurants - some so small you have to eat outside
I have been doing a little English tutoring and in one two hour session earned enough to pay half a month’s rent. Food, soda, snacks and cigarettes are very cheap here, the average adult earner income per month in Qinhuangdao (cheen-hwong-dow) is between 2000 and 3000 RemMB or Yuan (US $317 and $476).
8/17
Today for the first time I ventured into a restaurant by myself. It looked like a nice place and they had the word Coffee prominently displayed on their sign in wooden letters, they asked for it.
I signed to the two hostesses that I was alone and they led me inside to their English speaking (sort of) coworker who led me to what can loosely be described as a booth along the outside wall which consisted of two plush Queen Anne style sofas, which have very high backs and wings, and a wooden appearing table which turned out to be composite. When another waitress arrived with an electronic menu I passed on the coffee with orange sections on top of the foam and went for the one with chocolate swirls.
Behind beaded curtains in arched alcoves along the inside wall are two three person couches with a table. Above them is an open second story with a few more similar arrangements and another section with stools and tall tables.
Today for the first time I ventured into a restaurant by myself. It looked like a nice place and they had the word Coffee prominently displayed on their sign in wooden letters, they asked for it.
I signed to the two hostesses that I was alone and they led me inside to their English speaking (sort of) coworker who led me to what can loosely be described as a booth along the outside wall which consisted of two plush Queen Anne style sofas, which have very high backs and wings, and a wooden appearing table which turned out to be composite. When another waitress arrived with an electronic menu I passed on the coffee with orange sections on top of the foam and went for the one with chocolate swirls.
Behind beaded curtains in arched alcoves along the inside wall are two three person couches with a table. Above them is an open second story with a few more similar arrangements and another section with stools and tall tables.
The background music was old standards sung in a Joni Mitchell style, Starry, Starry Night and Remember, The Times of Your Life in an unrecognizable American woman’s voice.
While I couldn’t swear to it in a court of law, I do believe there was coffee in the bottom of that cup. The swirls were real chocolate – hard to find here – and the foam was thick and sweet and there was a hot liquid under it all, I just couldn’t be certain about its genesis.
This is an example of what comes up when I try to access a harmless site on the internet:
Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /outdoor/blog/34498/would+you+eat+this+albino+burmese+python+its+sweet+and+tasty+seriously/ on this server.
This is an example of the fine work performed by the Great Fire Wall. This happened to be a picture of a birthday cake that looked like a snake. It’s comforting to know that I am protected from such horrors!
While I couldn’t swear to it in a court of law, I do believe there was coffee in the bottom of that cup. The swirls were real chocolate – hard to find here – and the foam was thick and sweet and there was a hot liquid under it all, I just couldn’t be certain about its genesis.
This is an example of what comes up when I try to access a harmless site on the internet:
Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /outdoor/blog/34498/would+you+eat+this+albino+burmese+python+its+sweet+and+tasty+seriously/ on this server.
This is an example of the fine work performed by the Great Fire Wall. This happened to be a picture of a birthday cake that looked like a snake. It’s comforting to know that I am protected from such horrors!
The Big Day
Lucas and I finally get to spend our common birthday together. And yes, he was a wonderful birthday present three years ago. Birthdays, even children's, are not the big deal here they are in the U.S. Lunch at a nice restaurant with a few out of town relatives plus a few gifts at home is the extent of it.
In the center of the table is a huge Lazy Susan which ended up having about a dozen different plates of food on it. Each person serves themselves, which I think is a great idea, no committee pushing something on me here successfully. Unfortunately, the Chinese do not use serving utensils, they use their chopsticks to get food from the serving plates, I had no choice but to follow suit with my knife and fork - yes, this restaurant did have then, but I usually carry my own, heaven help me if I have to go through security somewhere.
This restaurant is huge. Sophie had told me it was known for its fresh fish, confirmed by the 20 or so fifty gallon fish tanks to the right inside the main entrance, and yes, people were standing there discussing and selecting their lunch preferences. Some of these fish had to be 15 or 16 inches long, I have no idea how to estimate their weights.
Sophie made sure there were at least three items that I could eat, having taken into consideration my diverticulitis and aversion to their extremely spicy foods. Everyone had a good time, Lucas was a charmer until the inevitable time came for him to run around the table. Thank goodness they had requested a private room on the second floor. He got to burn off some of the energy the food had given him and he only once tried to really spin the Lazy Susan.
On the way in I had calculated that there were at least 60 tables that each seat 10 or 12 people and the place was packed. The shock came when we were leaving after our leisurely lunch, the first floor was a disaster, literally. There was food everywhere on the tables and floor, the bus staff was treading so carefully that some of them moved at a snail's pace at times. I was told that this was normal. Unbelievable! And the Chinese do not tip, nor will the staff accept tips. Can you picture an American wait staff putting up with this?
One of the things here that an American can't help but notice is that most corporate workers wear uniforms. Bank employees, those working for big retailers and TV and internet companies, except for the installers, of course. The people that I see every day such as the local shop keepers that I pass seems to have 2 or 3 outfits and that is it.
From the beginning of middle school on students wear uniforms - militaristic in style. Most frequently I see button down shirts with epaulets and khakis. One 13 year old girl that I tutor wears green camouflage pants and jacket. This certainly avoids the problems associated with tweens & teens dealing with peer pressure.
It seems that these kids are very limited in their TV viewing habits - mostly I hear about the talent shows they watch - and there are several on the air here including The Voice, China and Asian Idol.
One issue is most of the washing machines sold here are very small and only agitate - everything then has to be wrung out by hand and there are no clothes dryers. At any given time you can see clothes hung in windows of even the nicest apartment buildings, many enclose their small balconies and use it as a clothes drying room year round.
This restaurant is huge. Sophie had told me it was known for its fresh fish, confirmed by the 20 or so fifty gallon fish tanks to the right inside the main entrance, and yes, people were standing there discussing and selecting their lunch preferences. Some of these fish had to be 15 or 16 inches long, I have no idea how to estimate their weights.
Sophie made sure there were at least three items that I could eat, having taken into consideration my diverticulitis and aversion to their extremely spicy foods. Everyone had a good time, Lucas was a charmer until the inevitable time came for him to run around the table. Thank goodness they had requested a private room on the second floor. He got to burn off some of the energy the food had given him and he only once tried to really spin the Lazy Susan.
On the way in I had calculated that there were at least 60 tables that each seat 10 or 12 people and the place was packed. The shock came when we were leaving after our leisurely lunch, the first floor was a disaster, literally. There was food everywhere on the tables and floor, the bus staff was treading so carefully that some of them moved at a snail's pace at times. I was told that this was normal. Unbelievable! And the Chinese do not tip, nor will the staff accept tips. Can you picture an American wait staff putting up with this?
One of the things here that an American can't help but notice is that most corporate workers wear uniforms. Bank employees, those working for big retailers and TV and internet companies, except for the installers, of course. The people that I see every day such as the local shop keepers that I pass seems to have 2 or 3 outfits and that is it.
From the beginning of middle school on students wear uniforms - militaristic in style. Most frequently I see button down shirts with epaulets and khakis. One 13 year old girl that I tutor wears green camouflage pants and jacket. This certainly avoids the problems associated with tweens & teens dealing with peer pressure.
It seems that these kids are very limited in their TV viewing habits - mostly I hear about the talent shows they watch - and there are several on the air here including The Voice, China and Asian Idol.
One issue is most of the washing machines sold here are very small and only agitate - everything then has to be wrung out by hand and there are no clothes dryers. At any given time you can see clothes hung in windows of even the nicest apartment buildings, many enclose their small balconies and use it as a clothes drying room year round.
10/7 - finally got a couple of major things done. My chests of drawers were finally delivered, couldn't reach Sophie for her to tell the delivery man what I needed done. However I was able to show the delivery man that I wanted them stacked and the top taken off the lower one (in reverse order of course). He understood completely but needed something from me and I had no idea what it was. He showed me a prying motion on the feet of the upper chest and like anyone else of my generation I went to the flatware drawer and got a table knife. He shook his head no so I tried d-i-l again and still no answer, so I called the only other person in my phone that could speak both languages, Ray, a young man who has been helping me get tutoring work. After they spoke and the phone was handed back to me Ray wanted to know who the guy was, what he was doing in my house and did I know him. Obviously he hadn't really listened at the beginning at the call, but it is SO Chinese to react like that, everyone looks out for older people and they are treated with respect and consideration. I guess I now have a third son, which is pretty handy since Denny is in Saudi Arabia and Sean is 11+ hours away in Dalian.
Also finally obtained a water dispenser and had water delivered. Although the water here has been through a processing plant and is fine for bathing, it is not drinkable and I thought it best not to temp the fates as I have been well since arriving here.
Been getting more tutoring work, I am having a good time with a group of four 11 year olds, they are anxious to learn and I am giving them cliff notes versions (although what they sell here is even shorter) of books to read and discussing them - they are enjoying the class and stretching their vocabularies.
I have a 16 year old boy who is supposed to be going to school in Canada in the spring - with the effort he is putting into it, I think it will be spring of 2016 before he is even close to ready.
10/18
This afternoon I will be teaching seven 10 years old the "Do-Re-Me" scene from The Sound of Music (not my choice) to be performed on TV on Saturday - this ought to be a laugh riot. How do I get myself involved in these things? Oh, yeah, I have to teach them the song too.
Been getting more tutoring work, I am having a good time with a group of four 11 year olds, they are anxious to learn and I am giving them cliff notes versions (although what they sell here is even shorter) of books to read and discussing them - they are enjoying the class and stretching their vocabularies.
I have a 16 year old boy who is supposed to be going to school in Canada in the spring - with the effort he is putting into it, I think it will be spring of 2016 before he is even close to ready.
10/18
This afternoon I will be teaching seven 10 years old the "Do-Re-Me" scene from The Sound of Music (not my choice) to be performed on TV on Saturday - this ought to be a laugh riot. How do I get myself involved in these things? Oh, yeah, I have to teach them the song too.