Going to the Country...

The other evening I was invited to a family dinner in the country side for the Dragon Boat Festival.  My friend Mandy invited me.  The food was amazing, and they made steak just for me.  The Uncle, who's house it was, actually went to the store to buy me a fork.  Luckily, I was able to use chopsticks the whole time.  They also bought Bai Jiu, which is the Chinese alcoholic wine.  It's quite disgusting, but when in China!!!  I'll bring some home :)  I've also become accustomed for the little children to call me ayi, which is "aunt" in Chinese.  It's so cute.

People in the city are more used to seeing a foreigner, but in the country, so they stared even more.  I even walked by a couple of children, and one of the little girls said "wooo, Wàiqiáo.  I asked Mandy what that meant, and she said "Alien".  haha.  the children in the country think I'm an alien. 

These were some pictures I took in the country.

 Here is a Buddhist Temple on the top of the hill.

 Here is the tower on the way to the Temple.

 Here is an old stage with a stone Amphitheatre where they used to put on plays.

China is so interesting.  you can go anywhere and there are Buddhist Temples and huge towers.  Or ducks and chickens...oh yeah, the next door neighbors had both just hanging out all over.

My next thing I will mention is not for animal lovers.  "mom, look away".  We took a walk after dinner to check out this restaurant next door.  They serve fresh lamb.  As we walked around, I met some of the lambs.  Unfortunately, I did not have my camera, but these little cuties were all playing together outside.  They obviously have a grim future, but in the mean time, they were having a great time.

Miss you all.  See you soon :)

Jamie

A View from Above...

Here is the view from my 14th floor apartment.  This is the city of Huzhou.  The Chinese call it a small city, but I beg to differ.  It's pretty freakin' huge as far as I'm concerned.  I am getting more and more comfortable here.  I started taking yoga classes at a studio close to me, and have made many more friends.  I even had a Chinese guy as for my number.  I may have a date :)

 

 There's a big Ferris wheel in the background.  It's like the London Eye, but in Huzhou.  I have yet to ride it, because I have no interest, and it goes soooo slow.

There's the Long Island River and a little putting green.  I do live in a nice area.

 

The other evening I was teaching a middle school class and I was asking the students if they have pets.  A few of them had turtles, which I find an interesting pet, since I can find them in the grocery store.  One had the turtle for over 15 years, and I asked how he survived the winters.  She told me he family would keep it in the garbage.  I couldn't understand what she meant.  Is the garbage warm?  Come to find out she meant the garage. 

 

This got me thinking to other words that the Chinese confuse all the time.  First, in the Chinese language there is no difference between he or she.  There is only one person.  Because of that, they say the wrong person all the time.  It's funny when we're talking about a woman, and they say he, or the other way around.  This may be a "have to be there" thing.

 

They tell me that they like to eat "snakes"...ewww, they mean snacks.

 

They also like to eat "kitchen".  They confuse "kitchen" and "chicken" all the time.

 

I tried to teach them all the shapes, but when they tried to say "square", they couldn't help but say "squirrel". 

 

Mandarin has many of the same words and they use tones to differentiate.  God only knows what I'm saying half the time.  The word "ma", can mean, mother, hemp, horse, scold, or just a question marker depending on the tone.  Although it's funny when the students make a mistake, I realize they are much smarter than I am.

 

So, I'll be home in a little over 2 months.  I'll miss it here, but can't wait to be home.

 

Love and Miss you all.

Public School Pics

Here's my laziest blog yet.  I go to a Public School at least once a week, and these kids are amazing.  Here are some pictures we took!!!

3 months left...

First, I only have 3 months left...yay!!!  I will return on August 15th.

Second.  As many of you know I will be going to Thailand on September 23rd to get certified in Teaching English in a Foreign Language.  I will spend 3 weeks in Phuket (ironically, since the name of my blog, is Phuket).  After that, I am guaranteed a job in or around Bangkok for 4-5 months.  I'll be back home again in March.

There is a mountain in China with a Pagoda on it that you can see in Huzhou.  This is a picture of the mountain from a school I was working at.  The principal of the school, said I should walk up the mountain.  "it will be fun" she said.



ren huan ge

At the bottom.

 

 Confucius say "White Girl not make it to top of mountain"

Someone forgot to tell me that the 40 minute walk up to the top is actually, all stairs. 

This is halfway up.  I wanted to die.

 

I made it!!!!

5 Things I will not Miss in China:  I do like China, but there are a few things I will NOT miss when I leave.  I want to say the fact that they speak Chinese, but that is completely my fault.  Obviously, they speak Chinese here, and I don't speak it.  Although it sucks sometime, it's not China's problem.

1.  The Spitting.  It's gross.  I'm not a huge fan a spitting anyway, but here it's as common as breathing.  I constantly hear the sound of a China-person hawking something up.  I always have to look around to make sure I am not the target.

2.  Crossing the street.  Walking across the street is like an extreme sport.  I think I need a helmet.  The cars aren't that bad, since there are street lights, that they seem to abide to.  The electric bikes, on the other hand, have no rules and come in massive quantities.  I was told that the rules of the road is that the bigger one has the right of way.  Bus beats car, car beats motor bike, motor bike beats regular bike, and they all have the right of way over the person.

3.  Seafood.  Obviously food here will be different from home, but seafood is seafood, right??  Nope,  they keep the bones in the fish and the shells on the shrimp.  I should not have to work that hard to eat my food.  I have asked why they keep the bones in, and I was told it's fresher.  I just think it's lazy.  They also say that the kids can not eat it.  No kidding, it might kill them.

4. Stray Cats.  Everyone knows I'm an animal lover.  My apartment complex is filled with stray cats.  They make me sad.  I want to take them all in.  One day I pet a kitten and it started following me home.  I would probably have taken him home, except after I leave I would have to leave him back outside.

5.  Clothes/Shoe Shopping.  The clothes are cute and cheap, which normally I would love except I'm a big fatty in China.  I would look at certain things in the stores and see the store clerk basically tell the girl I'm with "That will not fit".  Yes, everyone in China is a size 0, and I'm a sasquatch :(  Can't wait to go to Marshalls.

What the Chinese think...

Today is Cinco de Mayo...my favorite holiday.  It's only my favorite day because of the food and drink, (margaritas, coronas, fajitas...all my favorite "as".  Here is a photo of how I will be celebrating in China.

Lime Drink and Lays Chips...Yup, Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!!!

 

As for what the Chinese think.  The other day I was walking home from class and I felt a drip.  It was a tiniest rain drop, and there were only a couple more as I walked.  There must be something in the water, because the umbrellas came up and the people went running.  I literally saw 2 women grab each other and start to run like the heavens had just opened up.  Then, I thought, women are weird about their hair (although I think the hair in China is straight and straight, so not sure what the problem is).  Then I saw a guy in his mid-twenties hoisting open his umbrella.  Seriously dude, just a couple drops.  I have asked around, but have only received mixed answers, from the hair, to acid rain…I’m not really sure what to think.  They don’t melt from what I can see.

Chinese women also have some weird conceptions regarding water and pregnancy.  Like, you can’t drink anything cold when your aunt Flo is visiting (just wanted to make that reference, and there are guys reading).  When you are pregnant, you cannot be around computers because they will harm the baby.  After you give birth, you cannot shower for one month because you will be unhealthy when you are older.  This is information I receive from college educated women, who claim their doctors tell them this to be true.  I’ve never had a baby, but for some reason waiting one month to shower sounds like the most disgusting thing in the world.

Huzhou, where I live is a big city and I'm not much of a big city person.  I did come across this amazing park the other day, called Lotus Park.  It was beautiful, with trees and caves.  People were there reading, and the old folk were playing Mahjong.  It was nice and peaceful.  It also has paddle boats that you can rent.  I hope to do that soon.

I have now been in China a little over 4 months.  I have booked my return flight for August 15th.  I can't wait.  See you guys then!!!

Trip to Hangzhou...

Last week I took my first overnight trip to Hangzhou with my friend Rainbow.  Hangzhou is the capital of the Province I live in.  I finally got to see a Chinese Hotel.  Here is a picture of my room below.  It was pretty typical.

First there was water and snacks in the room to buy.  Then I noticed this in the room.  A basket of condoms and boxed underwear.  It was so weird.

 After we had a great dinner of pork, soup, vegetables, and wine, we came back to our rooms.  Under the door there were some cards...seen below.  Now I understand the condoms and underwear a little better.  I wasn't all that excited to sleep in this bed after seeing all this!!

 

The hotel also had some slippers/sandals in the room.  I tried on the red girl ones first but that didn't work.  I had to wear the man ones.  I guess if small feet are a sign of beauty in China, I am not so good looking.  Sasquatch!!!!

 The next day we went to a beautiful park full of flowers.  There were tons of brides having their photos taken.  We took some pics too.

The funniest part of the trip happened in this park.  As we were taking photos, a group of Chinese tourists surrounded me.  One by one they asked to take their pictures with me.  They were so excited.  There were about 10 of them and each one wanted to be in their own picture with the Foreigner.  The women would put their arms around me screeching our of happiness.  The men seemed a little more shy, but they wanted their pictures as well.  It was too funny.  All in all, it was a great trip.

AND THEN......

 

This is a quick one that I didn't want to forget.  Please note, it is a movie reference, that not all will get.

I was in a new class with only 3 boys.  They watched a short video in English and one of the boys was to re-tell the story.  His English was not great so he would only say one short sentence at a time.  And each time he finished a sentenced the teacher would say "And then...??" One more sentence, "And then...??" and so on.  After about the fourth time, I was laughing so hard to myself, but didn't want them to know.  China's Funny :)


If you want to see the part from "Dude Where's my Car?", The link is below!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7luMp6lb9M