Things I Will Miss

I wanted to take the time to write about the thing I will miss most here in Shijiazhuang.

I will miss the team here. They’ve been positively fantastic. Honestly, I wish I could stay. Perhaps I’ll just have to come back.

I taught for a month, and I know I’ll miss that. I miss some of the friends I made during that time. I’ll miss the dynamic here. It’s a vacation time, so things are laid back. Varied.

No, the thing I’ll miss most is this little girl who lives in my building.

In Dong Wu Li where I live there are approximately 17 buildings, 6 floors high. There are three doors, each with two or three apartments on each floor. Each apartment usually has a large family inside. Most of them don’t have AC, so they spend time outside, where it is slightly cooler. The children play, the adults talk or run errands.

Outside my building there are around 5 or 6 kids who play. I can often hear them playing when I am cooking. Luckily my kitchen window looks down onto the street they play in. They know me by now, and they’re not too shy given that one of our team couples lived in that building for a while. One of them taught them how to say Hello and Bye-bye. I’ve taught them to give me a high-five, as well as continuing the pounding the fist that Dale taught them.

Most the time, they’ll be playing, see me and shout, “Hello!” and run up to me wanting a high five or something.

But this little girl, who is also close to Dale’s heart, could melt a heart of ice. I could be having the worst day of my entire life, and if I saw her, the day would become better. She has the best little voice, and uses it well, as each time she sees me she shouts, “HELLO!” With a cute little smile she runs up and wants several high-fives. One time she ran all the way down the length of the building to see me. Another, I was just standing there outside the complex and heard a loud, “HELLO!” and she was next to me, out for a treat with grandma.

Yesterday, she ran up close to me and I squatted down. She stared at me, and I stared back. The Chinese are not used to facial hair, so pretty soon she was playing with my facial hair. Totally innocent. Totally cute.

Each time I arrive on my bike or by foot, and she doesn’t see me, her grandma will get her attention. She’s a shy little girl, in fact, grandma had to help me get these photos, but we have some good times.

I will miss that little voice, that “Hello!” each time I go out. That sweet little smile that warms the hardest of hearts.

So, little girl who’s name I never have learned, I will miss you.

(NOTE: The pictures are links to larger photo)

Proxy

So, I finally found a good, working proxy service online. For the first time in two months, I’ve seen my blogspot page. Not too bad.

They recently started blocking Wikipedia again, so this comes at a good time. I can once again satiate my desires for random, useless information. They seem to have things like rolling blockings. The Olympics are coming, which means tighter security. Additionally, I understand that the 5-year election is coming up.

Election? In China?

This is the People’s REPUBLIC of China. They have a Congress. Or something like that. Anyway, it’s not well organized, as I understand it, and advertising is nonexistent. BUT, they do have some semblance of elections for their representatives. I think it goes by county, then by province. Similar to ours, I think.

It’s also sort of similar to the old examination systems. Sort of. If you’re curious about that, all you folks can Wikipedia it.

And not use a proxy server.

I bought my ticket yesterday. Three or so hour flight down to Xiamen. It gets in at 11:45, which means it’s going to be a long night. I’ll have an extra day until my fellow students swing into town. In that day, I hope to get my passport off as soon as there is daylight.

Ok not that early, but you get the point.

I’m not really worried. The worst that happens is I end up back here (not bad if you ask me) with Mike Company or I end up at home working during the bleak winter.

Ok maybe that last one is bad. Winter in Xiamen (Average of 70-80 degrees F) or winter in AK (there is a sun?)

Anyway. That’s the story. When I leave on Monday, I don’t know when I’ll reestablish contact. It could be shortly. It could be a long time, as I might be leaving the country.

I should write at least once more before I leave.

Reasons

The question was posed asking what other things I did besides try to make mashed potatoes.

Well, I’ve been busy, so I haven’t been able to answer.

Ok, sort of busy. I have limited internet, and I really only have times in the morning to go over and use it. Usually I check and respond to emails (thank you for all of those, friends), make some phone calls, make sure the world is still in one piece, then get on with my day.

Things are slow and quiet, which is great. Perhaps some would be chaffing at this point. I’m in China, after all.

Friends, I’m here to learn about working in China. I am interning with a registered teaching company. I am learning about working in China. I am learning about LIVING in China.

I have been meeting with the leaders here, outlining some goals for our time. Many of these are more mentoring than anything, but much of what I’ve been learning has been by observation. We have bi-weekly meetings where I am able to see the order of business and life. Additionally, I am living here, in an apartment. I must go to the outside market and buy vegetables, fruits, and meat. I must navigate the insanity of the streets on my bicycle. I must learn the names for my favorite ice cream and popsicles. I must learn to cook with the things I have.

Now, mind you, this is all apart from my regular studies. I am reading a book for my upcoming schooling this fall. I am also reading a book assigned by my leader here. Within these, I am learning much.

This is a time for much reflection. All of you know of my struggles with visas. Of course, I’ve learned that this struggle is not isolated to just me—it’s the age old battle for any foreign worker in China. The tides change rapidly in China, and so must we. As one seasoned worker said to me, “In China, the only constant in change.”

This problem with the visa has, of course, been on my mind quite a bit. But, being as this is a time of reflection and learning, it has not been as hard on me as I had anticipated. My heart could palpitate, my breath become short. Perhaps I begin to lose sleep. These things are not the case.

No, the case here is trust. I am learning to trust. Today, as I conversed with one of the leaders, she related to me stories of their struggles. I was encouraged by these, and especially by her words, “What is the worst that could happen?”

Well the worst that could happen is I get denied visas on all counts. I have two options. One is I go home. I’d not head back to NU this semester. I’d go home and work. The other is I call my good friends here, they pull some strings, I get a work visa and teach some of their night classes.

Well, holy smokes. That isn’t bad, is it? In fact, I’d almost rather that than go to school! But, I must eventually graduate. The time for work will come later, unless that is the plan.

So, my days are filled with things from cleaning offices, helping move things, working on some audio things, reading, learning, trying to speak Chinese, and learning how to live life in a foreign country. Sometimes, I think we glamorize the life of living abroad. It’s foreign! Different!

Well, that’s all true.

It’s also hard because it is different. Additionally, there is the sentiment that asks, “What good is teaching English anyway?”

Well, friends, that is for another time. Let me say this: I want to do this. For the rest of my life. I do not need to flurry around and do busy things. I need to learn the daily things. The routine. The grind. By learning these things now, when I finally arrive for a much longer time, I can flurry and do busy things until I collapse, but I will have this:

I know how life is. I know how to buy meat in the market. I know how teaching is. I know the “politics” with the Foreign offices at the Universities. I know how important relationships are. How much a struggle visas are.

I am prepared.

And that is exactly why I am doing this.

Housewives

This post goes out to all those housewives, past, present, and future.

I am living in a fully furnished and mostly-supplied apartment. It’s all tile, like the majority of homes here. No one has lived in this apartment yet—it was there for future people (myself, and a guy coming in a few months for much longer). So, I’ve set about to cleaning and organizing what I have.

Now things are all tile. I am still in the process (after catching this death plague) of sweeping and mopping the entire place. Meanwhile, my feet are brown with dust, even though I normally wear house slippers.

In the kitchen, I have a three foot counter space and a totally rigged table top for more counter space that is DEFINITELY not OSHA approved. I have several shelves. No dishwasher (that would be me). I do have a two burner natural gas stove that rocks my world.

Now that is picture has been painted, allow your mind to think of the amount of work this can be. I always have something to clean. Dishes are by hand.

Laundry, of course, is more or less the same, just minus the dryer. There are rooms for drying that have these really neat hanging systems. So laundry takes longer.

So my time has been spent cleaning, laundry, sorting, cooking, then cleaning—rinse, wash, repeat. This isn’t ALL my time, but sometimes I get on a roll.

At one point, I was juggling a load of laundry, dinner, and cleaning (as my dad says: clean as you go). It was then that I realized that this is all a lot of work! No wonder being a housewife is a full time job. Of course, I cannot imagine having a few kids running around, making messes, etc.

I’ve enjoyed the work. It’s been fun. Gives me time to think. However, I have earned a huge respect for housewives (or housePEOPLE. Let me be PC).

Cooking has been fun too. I got some meat at the market and one of the girls loaned me a George Forman, which REALLY makes life easy. I don’t have a rice maker, so I’m continuing to experiment with better ways to do it the old fashion way. I still think I need to increase the water ratio… Currently it’s coming out a bit hard, but fine for eating.

So rice, chicken, and a tomato or cucumber for dinner. Man it’s good.

On Sunday, we had a big team gathering at lunch. So we all chose a dish to bring. I wanted to contribute, and someone suggested mashed potatoes. So I used my three, borrowed three more, took a pot that someone left in my place when we were moving things, and proceed to make mashed potatoes. I only wish I had sour cream or plain (not sweetened. All plain is sweetened here) yogurt. Milk sufficed, but they could’ve been creamier.

I dedicated that pot of mashed potatoes to my wonderful parents, who for so many years forced—err graciously allowed me to help with holiday dinners. Without them, I would’ve been cooking blind (albeit with some intelligence. It’s not hard to make, seriously).

Which is a fancy way of saying they made me make the potatoes for Christmas last year.

The next chapter

I think I’m getting sick.

At least I hope so. I sure hope it isn’t allergies. I think it more plausible to be the first.

Anyway, this is my second full day in my apartment.

Good news is, I have had power for those two days.

Two bedroom, one bath is too big for me. This apartment has never been lived in, so I am in the process of cleaning, fixing, and making sure things work. Tomorrow we’re going to get my gas working so I can cook. So, I’ve been doing laundry. I think I actually enjoy doing laundry because it is mindless. Like doing the dishes. Or cleaning. Or most the other things I’ve been doing when I’m home. Here, there are no dryers.

Now, I want all of you WITH a dryer to be thankful for them. Next time you do laundry, please, remember me.

Then go drink a glass of milk.

Honestly, those are two things I miss. Milk and dryers.

And now you’re wondering if I’ve lost it. Admit it.

But seriously. Dryers are fast, they shrink your clothes, AND they get rid of lint. On hot days, I know things will dry fast. 100% cotton shirts? Oh look how they get bigger! I just pulled my black pants (which I think I’m going to have the lady a few building down hem) out of the wash to see them covered with lint.

I swear, pretty soon my socks will be to my knees.

But I did get fabric softener today (which I’ve never used in my LIFE. I guess cause my folks never did) and I hear it makes a difference. Otherwise, things can be stiff.

But I enjoy it. It’s different.

The neighborhood is large. There are 17 buildings or something. At night, under street lights, groups gather. I’ve seen cards, mahjong tiles, and just talking. The children all rollerblade or run around wildly. Any time they see us they all say, “Hello! Hello!” and gather around. Today, they helped me lock up my bike. The other day, they helped me with my groceries. Dale has taught they different hand shakes. So I give them a hand shake or a high five and talk with them in English as they talk with me in Chinese.

Favorite moment? Today, while locking my bike up, I said in Chinese, “I am American.” They all laughed and giggled and said, “American!” in Chinese (meiguoren). Then I stopped suddenly, caught their attention, and said, “You are Chinese!” And they giggled again and ran off.

I know you’re laughing. But I’m pretty sure that’s the most complicated thing I can say. I think I can say what name is. And, “I want ____” (insert random food words or drinks that I know). I think the girls are working on a Chinese name for me.

It’s pretty easy when the verbs for “to be” are the same. We have am, are, is, was, were, will be. They have one word (shi and I forget the tone. Say things fast and no one cares).

I’m thinking about teaching them a word or a song maybe. They repeat everything you say. I also want to go watch a game of mahjong sometime.

EDIT: I am sick. A cold, nasal congestion. I'm a bit relieved. Everyone is taking good care of me.

Recap

(Written 8.5.07)

Classes are done. Exams have been given. We’ve been in Beijing for a while, which is why I’ve been quiet.

There is a saying in China:

You are not a real man until you’ve climbed the Great Wall.

Well, I’m a real man now. Unfortunately, it was incredibly foggy so we couldn’t see that far. I’m holding out for when I come back in the winter. Nonetheless, it was incredible. The place we were at was STEEP and it was definitely a workout.

I also went to acrobatic show which made everything I’ve ever done with my life seem worthless. I’m pretty certain someone sits around and goes, “Ok, what is NOT humanly possibly… Oh! Let’s do it!” I have a few photos of that, but yea, it was crazy. I’m glad it was an hour. I don’t think my nerves couldn’t handled much more.

Went to Tiananmen. Saw the Monument to the People’s Heroes, all the buildings around it (People’s Congress, National Museum of the People, more monument, Mao’s Mausoleum, some cool gates and towers), and the ever famous entrance to the Forbidden City with Mao’s photo.

And, naturally, we went to the Forbidden City. A lot of the main parts were being renovated for the Olympics, but again I’m holding out for the winter.

At all areas there were tons of people and poor visibility. I’m hoping in a few months things will be better. Regardless, it was breath taking. My favorite? Probably Tiananmen. The history there is enormous. Why not the Great Wall? I couldn’t see a lot of it, although it was incredible. Plus, the section we were on was only built during the Ming dynasty (~500 years ago). There are some sections that are near 2,000 years old. Ok, I know I’m picky. It was all good, but Tiananmen seemed so fresh. Seeing the monument, the Congress building (where the magic happens), and seeing Mao’s photo over the Forbidden City… this is TODAY. I love yesterday, but today is… today. Real. The expanse of the Forbidden City is incredible. 32 emperors from the Ming (started 1,300 AD) to the Qing (ended 1911) resided there. It took us almost two hours to get through and we didn’t stop long. We missed an entire side of things AND some of the areas were closed for renovations. Huge.

Anyway. Time has flown by. Goodbyes are truly sad. I return to Shijiazhuang tomorrow (at least when I write this. When I POST this will be a different matter…)