So It's a little after 1 AM and I can't sleep I for some unknown reason am not feeling so hot.  My sinuses have started acting up, I can't really breathe and I believe the smog and dirty air is starting to get to me.  Its really late here right now and because of the not being able to breathe good thing, I'm fantastic.  I figured I would write and update since I haven't done that in a while.  I've been bugging some of my friends and telling them they should update but I suppose to do that I actually have to update once in a while...So! Where to begin

To catch everyone up, the past week has been relatively uneventful.  It was going to be an exciting weekend but that got nixed.  Tabatha and I were supposed to go to Hangzhou and visit our friends that were participating in study abroad there.  However, about two days before our bus was to leave for Hangzhou we were told by our boss that it was canceled due to lack of interest but we had the fantastic option of going to either Zhenjiang or Nanjing; both of which we are rather bored of :-/ We ultimately decided to go to Zhenjiang on Saturday and Nanjing on Monday to visit the zoo.

Zhenjiang was interesting and a little different that we remembered.  It was our first time in the city by ourselves (Insert scary music here).  We walked around a bit and did some shopping in the little street marts.  I bought some gifts and trinkets and Tabatha bought some clothes being the girl...Always needing clothes.  We then did lunch at KFC!  This was an amazing experience.

We walked in the door and there were about 6 registers to order at but no lines.  Instread, there was a giant mass of people just kind of huddles at the entrance to the place.  Tabatha and I were standing back looking rather confused for a bit and we tried to figure out exactly what the proper procedure was here.  After about 5 minutes we had caught that to order, you just kind of stand in this huddled mass of chinese people and 2 white folks and wait for the busy register girls (who, might I add were wearing very attractive KFC pink polos) to raise their hand signaling they could take someone new.  Upon beating out a hungry Chinese family for the next register spot, Tab and I started by asking the girl, "Engu ma?" meaning "English?".  She looked rather confused by this and handed us a menu.  We confered amongst ourselves and decided pointing might just be easier.  Tab got a fried chicken sandwich, biggie sized fries, and a drink.  I got a chicken wrap.  Upon grabbing a table which took a while considering there were over 100 people in KFC and only about 60 places to sit that we could tell (granted there were several floors to this place but we just stuck to the first floor) we began.  The fries were the first thing we went for.  It has been over a month since I have had French Fries and let me tell you they were amazing!!! I next went for my chicken wrap.  In 'Mei Guo' (the United States), these come with lettuce, tomato, and a spicy ranch dressing.  In 'Zhong Guo' (China), this wrap comes with cucumber and soy sauce.  I was in for a nasty surprise.  I'm not exactly what you would call a fan of soy sauce.  oh well.  Granted, Tab had pink chicken so it was to be expected I suppose.  We then finished it off by having ice cream sundays which were AMAZING because they were just like the ones from home with the hot fudge on top! OMGOSH they were to die for!!!

After lunch, we walked around this park for a little bit and then into some back streets.  We really didn't know where we were but figured walking to the right would get us out since we had already taken 2 right turns already.  On our way to freedom from the backstreets of China, we found this fancy barber shop - we were both really confused at this point considering the fact that we were not really in what you would call the 'busy' part of the city.  However, we went in and decided that we would try out hand at getting our hair cut in China.  I had ultimately come to the conclusion that I would just go for it, try and communicate what I want, and if I screw up the worst that can happen is I end up bald again...Tabatha had a bit more to lose as she is getting married soon so she was much more careful.  The wash, rinse, shampoo, head massage, hair cut, re-wash, rinse, shampoo, and head massage only cost about US $4.  I could have just gotten it cut for $1 but the extra stuff was um...interesting and I didn't know how to communicate I only wanted a trim.  Needless to say, Tabatha and I spent and afternoon at a hair salon.  We look sexy now...ready for our hot dates with the Chinese locals!

We then did a bit more shopping and returned home - but only after hitting up this amazing Chinese bakery!  The food there was so good and we got lots of goodies!  I was excited.  We then almost had a scare though as after we left the bus was not were it was supposed to be but it showed up and we headed back.  You never would have thought how much information pointing at things and waving your arms around frantically like a flailing monkey can get you...well, it got us back to the mill :o)

The next day, Tab and I took a break.  On Monday we were going to go to Nanjing but I was not feeling well.  I had a few days were I was kind of sick but I think I'm better now.  Tabatha ended up going to the zoo without me and she had a great time!  Check out her blog for how that went.  I hear there were bears riding bicycles there...we will probably go back just to get pictures...

We then went through a fairly dull and boring week.  We have been searching through operation manuals all week and not much was going on.  However, on Thursday things got more exciting for us!  We went to vist a friend of ours Skyler in the Research area of the plant and she offered to take us to Suzhou this weekend on an overnight trip!  As we were making our way out of her office we went into the main hallway but we couldn't really leave.  Apparently it was breaktime after lunch where everyone did exercises.  It was like a bad Richard Simmons video.  It was probably a dozen or so chinese people half heartedly kicking their legs, jumping around, and flailing their arms to a voice that was counting in Chinese with what seemed to be like encouragement to get healthy.  It was very interesting as we tried to walk through them.  They all smiled at us as we left.

That night, we got back to the dining hall and upon seeing the selection of unscaled fish, cow stomach, and this seafood gruel with octopus in it, we decided tonight would be a wonderful night to take a trip to Dagang and eat at Tumen again.  We showed up and in a second they had brought out a table and chairs for us.  They do not really speak english but we have a little card that Kirk made for us on our first visit.  We honestly just kind of point and hope all goes well.  We get something different every time so that is exciting.  This time was just amazing though.  She made us homemade southern style french fries and sausage sauted with onions.  Next she brought out a large bowl of made-from-scratch mashed potatoes with some bacon and I could not believe it - cheese on top.  We also tried some grilled mushrooms and washed it down with the 'Chinese Water'.   It was an amazing night :)  We caught a little tuk tuk back to Gold East.  Cost us about $1 and that was expensive.  They charged us more because we were foreigners however we just really wanted to get back as it was getting late so we didn't argue to much.  Tabatha was so worried on the ride back as it was this tiny 3 wheeled cart.  We all decided it best if I sat over the double wheel to ya know, balance it out. We got back safely though and went to sleep.

Tonight, Tabatha and I were told that Skyler could not go with us to Suzhou as she had work to do in Shanghai but Ben (her boyfriend) said he would come with us instead so we are still very excited.  The hospitality is again so great here.  Our new friends are dropping their plans for us and while we don't want to be a hassle, it just seems to be the way things are here.  I believe we American's could really learn alot from this culture.

Zaijian
Big Papa



Posted by rwpridge ( Jun 13 2008, 01:10:07 PM GMT+08:00 ) Permalink Comments [2]