There are certain things....

that show that you are adapting to your new culture.  You learn to accept a new normal and find that things you once thought were unusual are actually pretty usual.

You accept that you will almost be hit by a bus, car, taxi or motorcycle almost every day.

You accept that babies don't wear diapers and that relieving oneself in public is not unusual.

You learn why you never wear your shoes in the house.

You learn that this is what your morning commute looks like.

You no longer look at families on motor scooters and think "That looks dangerous."

Adaption means....

that you accept that milk comes in boxes and can be stored in your cupboards.

You accept that yogurt comes in bags and that you drink it.

You accept that this kind of parking will not be ticketed and that it is, in fact, fairly par for the course.

You know that these girls holding hand are just good friends.  Same with boys.

You know that it is not going to rain, even though they are carrying umbrellas.

You understand that traditional religion is alive and well in China.

You know that you have never worked as hard as this man.

You are thrilled because you can read this!

You come to expect the unexpected while on bike rides.

You know that there are some people here with unbelievable difficult lives.  But you also learn that some are professional beggars, stealing children to do their dirty work.  You learn to say no to those people.

You learn that any service can be gotten anywhere.

You know that this sign is not as schizophrenic as it appears.

You learn to expect unexpected beauty.

Adaption means thinking critically about culture-both your own and your new culture.  It means seeing the beauty and flaws in both- signs of the fall and signs of redemption.  It is exhausting work but so very much worth it.

China Culture Test!

It's a holiday here in China.  It is celebrated more strongly in the South of China and in Taiwan.  Nevertheless, there is still special food for sale and some traditions are upheld.

So what is this?   Bonus points if you can name what kind of egg is on the plate.

Another view.

These branches were for sale all over the city today.

What are the branches and what do they symbolize?

Guess away!

Sunday in China

Our lovely daughter is off in Yunnan on her service trip.  So Paul and I are getting a feel of what our life will be like in two years.  So far it's tidier, a little quieter and a little strange!
Anyway, it's Sunday.  We started out our morning at our group of like minded foreigners where we had excellent teaching and a very thoughtful time.  We came home and took a short nap and then rushed off to our Chinese afternoon group.  After an hour and a half of teaching and singing in Chinese (I can now read 3 out of five characters up on the song screen!), we taught a class.  Monday through Wednesday of this week are days off for the Dragon Boat Festival.  But university and high school students have to make them up over the weekend.  So our class was a little low.  After class, we all walked over to a school where a basketball game had been arranged between the Chinese students and the international school staff.

Playing at a local school

Philippines, Fiji and the USA.  The World Cup has nothing on our teams!

Who won?  I'm not sure anyone knew.

After the game ended, we rode past this group who greeted us cheerfully.  We had garlic chicken, rice and green beans for about $3.00.  We bought a new toilet seat from a small store.  We bought apples, bananas, cherries from a fruit stall and mushrooms and carrots from a vegetable stall.

Paul bargained for a fan.

Fan in the back, toilet seat in the basket!

Home around 9:00 to crash!

Wordless Wednesday

Ling Du

Yesterday, a Chinese woman came over to make jiaozi for us.  Jiaozi (dumplings or pot stickers) are a Northeast specialty.  We've made them with Chinese friends in the US.  Trust me, you could taste the difference between the ones that the Americans made and the ones that Chinese people had made.  So we asked our friend to make them for us.
We checked our supplies the day before.  We needed jiaozi flour, ground pork, da bai cai (napa cabbage), some spices and soy sauce.  Our friend picked up the supplies and came over.
I was still at language school when she started (Elisabeth and Paul were home) so I came home to cute little rolled up jiaozi on my dining room table.  I walked into the kitchen where I saw this.

That is Coke Zero, or as it's called in China "Ling Du."  "Ling" means zero and "du" is the word used to indicate temperature.  Now, the only person who drinks Ling Du is me.  Our fridge is tiny so I usually buy one bottle at a time.  I had bought one on my way home yesterday and opened it.  I thought that maybe Paul had bought one and left it open on the counter.

Our friend kept saying "No lid" and picking up the bottle.  I was a little confused, since Paul said it wasn't his, so I gave her my Coke bottle lid.  She put it in the fridge, cooked up some of the jiaozi and froze the others.

Later that afternoon, I went to get the Ling Du out of the fridge.  I took a sip and immediately spit it out.  It was soy sauce!  Somehow, our friend brought soy sauce into our house and put it in the bottle.   She may have told us and we may have completely missed it.  She speaks a rather strong dialectical Chinese and she is fast talker!

It really was a hilarious and it makes a great story.  

I reminds me a little of the time I cooked chili with peanuts! http://walkingtochina.blogspot.com/2010/01/when-things-are-not-as-they-seem.html

It's just a great reminder that humor is key to survival overseas and that you must be able to laugh at your selves.  Also, to be sure you know the Chinese word for soy sauce!

On the streets where we live!

Anything can be moved on a bike...including bikes.

Complained about your job lately?  No helmets or safety net.

This woman was on the bike of a motorcycle with an umbrella to protect her skin from the sun.

More sun protection with sun umbrellas.  I've used one in the summer and it really does protect you from the heat!

Look closely at her arms.  They are covered with full length sparkly golden gloves.  Again, they are for sun protection.

Fresh, cheap watermelon off of the truck.

The street where we often buy our vegetables.   

Neighborhood Watch Committee.  Never underestimate the power of the old woman!  They see all, know all.

Big verbal fight.  I have no idea what this man and woman were arguing about.  He was walking behind her car and started yelling at her.  She got out of the car and yelled back.  Everyone gathered around to watch, so I just decided to join the party and took a picture.  Eventually, people separated them.

The Lemon Motel- a charming and creative building in the middle of fairly monotonous buildings.  I am totally charmed by this building.

Wordless Wednesday