Tuesday, May 25, 2010
I can almost smell it!
I miss home. As going about my day today, home was on my mind. As I folded laundry on my bed, I wanted mom to talk to and I wanted to be folding with her. As I thought about what to do about dinner (and having really no possible options), I missed mom's home cooked meals. I miss having noise in the house. I miss calling mom, dad or Jamie and talking about stuff randomly. I miss driving. I miss the grocery store (I saw it on Gilmore Girls last night and got really excited). I miss the ease of everything. I miss the beach (looks like I won't be going swimming, or maybe not even touching the sand--you have no idea how much that depresses me!). I miss Panera Bread (I think I've mentioned that a few times before)...I miss cleaning (we have a house helper that comes three times a week--what?!...I know, I know...but I really miss cleaning). I miss laying on the couch with family all in one room. I miss drinking daddy's sweet tea after he just sat down on the couch after a long day...haha. Love you dad! I miss pestering Jamie...trying to snuggle in bed with her and her finally getting so upset that she yells...haha. I miss Jared asking me to do something with him randomly. I miss the fridge being full of food most of the time...(it is rarely full here)...I miss the pantry (what is a pantry?!). I miss shopping. I miss just going and looking and trying on but not always buying. I miss just walking in the mall...just because. I miss dressing up and "looking cute" and going downtown with friends. I miss a lot. I miss people. I miss Grammy and Grandaddy being so close to home and riding mom's bike to their house. I miss family gatherings at their house. I miss Grammy's cooking too! Soon...I won't have to miss. I'm kind of worried that even though I'll be home, I'll still be missing all of these things in my heart. How does home do this to us? Love and miss everyone!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
You know you live in China....
...diarreaha has become a way of life.
...cars on the sidewalks seems normal.
...cars on the wrong side of the road seems normal.
...an errand that would take 20 minutes in the States takes 2 hours to do here (at least).
...when people talk about weird things they eat--and it's "normal".
...when children pee on the street.
...when on your way to school you hear 15 peoploe hawk up a loogie.
...when you see raw meat on the way to school.
...when you're sharing your bus seat with a chicken.
...when you see an entire family on a moped.
...when men are riding bikes together.
...when getting back home takes over 24 hours to travel.
...when you can't buy clothes or shoes because you're too big.
...when you get hollared at "hello" while riding your bike (my personal favorite--"hello laowai!" --out of a car. it means hi foreigner!...or that one time the little boy yelled, "Hello! I love you!" haha)
...when time is never really set (dad you'd fit right in here...you can always be late--except to work).
...when 12 people can eat a meal under 100 kuai ($15).
...when you go to the store and the wife charges one price and the husband charges another.
...when you can afford a house helper and a bike guard.
...when everyone is wearing heels while hiking (no lie!).
...when you become the tourist attraction.
...when a random person invites you into their house and treats you royally.
...when you send your kid out at night with no fear or reservations.
...when buildings are torn down to plant trees and trees are torn down to build buildings.
...when the trees have water IV bags hooked up to them.
...when the cars are on the sidewalk and people are on the street.
...when the public bus is only 1 kuai (14 cents).
...when going to the restroom is a social event.
...when you can eat a real hot dog.
...cars on the sidewalks seems normal.
...cars on the wrong side of the road seems normal.
...an errand that would take 20 minutes in the States takes 2 hours to do here (at least).
...when people talk about weird things they eat--and it's "normal".
...when children pee on the street.
...when on your way to school you hear 15 peoploe hawk up a loogie.
...when you see raw meat on the way to school.
...when you're sharing your bus seat with a chicken.
...when you see an entire family on a moped.
...when men are riding bikes together.
...when getting back home takes over 24 hours to travel.
...when you can't buy clothes or shoes because you're too big.
...when you get hollared at "hello" while riding your bike (my personal favorite--"hello laowai!" --out of a car. it means hi foreigner!...or that one time the little boy yelled, "Hello! I love you!" haha)
...when time is never really set (dad you'd fit right in here...you can always be late--except to work).
...when 12 people can eat a meal under 100 kuai ($15).
...when you go to the store and the wife charges one price and the husband charges another.
...when you can afford a house helper and a bike guard.
...when everyone is wearing heels while hiking (no lie!).
...when you become the tourist attraction.
...when a random person invites you into their house and treats you royally.
...when you send your kid out at night with no fear or reservations.
...when buildings are torn down to plant trees and trees are torn down to build buildings.
...when the trees have water IV bags hooked up to them.
...when the cars are on the sidewalk and people are on the street.
...when the public bus is only 1 kuai (14 cents).
...when going to the restroom is a social event.
...when you can eat a real hot dog.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
"Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore..."
Wow!
So today...I went out to dinner with a little girl that I teach at school (cute little Malaysian girl) and her mom with another teacher. We were at this nice little Italian restaurant, right?! Ok...well the owner/waitress/chef/bossy woman is kinda odd...she doesn't have the whole, "whatever the customer wants" mentality. I watched her turn away customers tonight. In case you're wondering, she's not Chinese, she's Italian. She makes all of her customers call in and reserve a table in her little, quaint restaurant (if you can call it that).
Well, so after thinking, "hmm...that was kinda pushy" or "why did she just say that? wouldn't you say something more friendly to ensure business?" She was kind of rude to the mother that I was with, and a little impatient. I understand somedays people have bad days and that effects how they interact with others...but seriously?!
Here's what finally pushed me over the edge: I asked the other teacher if we could yarp before our meal. She agreed that it would be a good idea to do with this mother and daughter and so we asked them if it would be alright. Then, the other teacher began to yarp--thanking Gd for this little girl, asking for peace with their move to another country in a few months, thanking Him for the time we had to spend with them, and finally blessing the food. In the middle of the reyarp, I heard the owners voice and could sense that she was beside me. She tried to interrupt, but was unsuccessful. As soon as we all were done and looked at her, she leaned over the table and said, "You should be thanking me for the food, 'cause I'm the one making it! And, don't ever do that again. Customers get annoyed with that." WOW!
Let's just say the table was quiet for a few minutes until the mother decided to confront the "elephant left at our table" and discuss it and move on...
So today...I went out to dinner with a little girl that I teach at school (cute little Malaysian girl) and her mom with another teacher. We were at this nice little Italian restaurant, right?! Ok...well the owner/waitress/chef/bossy woman is kinda odd...she doesn't have the whole, "whatever the customer wants" mentality. I watched her turn away customers tonight. In case you're wondering, she's not Chinese, she's Italian. She makes all of her customers call in and reserve a table in her little, quaint restaurant (if you can call it that).
Well, so after thinking, "hmm...that was kinda pushy" or "why did she just say that? wouldn't you say something more friendly to ensure business?" She was kind of rude to the mother that I was with, and a little impatient. I understand somedays people have bad days and that effects how they interact with others...but seriously?!
Here's what finally pushed me over the edge: I asked the other teacher if we could yarp before our meal. She agreed that it would be a good idea to do with this mother and daughter and so we asked them if it would be alright. Then, the other teacher began to yarp--thanking Gd for this little girl, asking for peace with their move to another country in a few months, thanking Him for the time we had to spend with them, and finally blessing the food. In the middle of the reyarp, I heard the owners voice and could sense that she was beside me. She tried to interrupt, but was unsuccessful. As soon as we all were done and looked at her, she leaned over the table and said, "You should be thanking me for the food, 'cause I'm the one making it! And, don't ever do that again. Customers get annoyed with that." WOW!
Let's just say the table was quiet for a few minutes until the mother decided to confront the "elephant left at our table" and discuss it and move on...
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