Day 44 ~ Week ending July 28

Not too much to blog about this week.  We did another trip on the high-speed train to Shanghai to pick up the suits, the red coat, and the white shirts that we ordered last week.  Upon our arrival, we found that the sewing factory had been shut down for a day so our merchandise wasn't ready.  We shopped a bit more, and I found someone that we make me a very warm (fake) chenille coat.  It was quite the bartering feat, but I finally got them to an affordable price.  Stay tuned for a photo.  I think you will like my creation.

This awesome structure is being built right across the street from our apartment.  It is a huge building appropriately named "The Pants".  It is part of a huge mall that is being built.  There are also two more towers going up each side.  It will be fabulous when it is finished, but for me is it a great landmark because I can see it from all directions.  Although, I feel much more comfortable now and don't worry too much about just getting on the green bike to head to a store that I've noticed while out riding in a taxi.  The city is laid out pretty straight forward.

Day 37 ~ Week ending July 21

This has been a slow week for adventures as Donn was in Shanghai on Monday and Tuesday doing an audit with a perspective buyer.  Also the weather has been very rainy again.  Monday I had a job interview with Dr. Wong at GIST International College.  Apparently there wasn't really an opening, but he liked my CV so he called me in for an interview.  The driver Mr. Chen picked me up one hour and ten minutes before my scheduled interview time.  I arrived 45 minutes early.  Nothing says punctual like arriving that early.  Come to find out they actually had fired one of their teachers because he was never on time.

I ventured to a new grocery store called The Summit.  They were having a sale on yellow cake mix--only 15 RMB--$2.38 (which is a very good price as they normally run 45 RMB--$7.14).  Keep in mind that this is the exact same cake mix we all buy at Albertsons or Smiths for $1.25.  Expats have a good network to let others know when things go on sale.  Thanks McLemores!!

On Saturday we headed to the market that houses lots of custom clothing vendors.   Jace and CeCe went with us.  CeCe's parents know the vendors very well and she helped us get rock-bottom pricing.  Donn wanted to order some custom suits and white shirts.  He is sweating too much on Sundays in his long sleeve "Nordstrom" shirts.  The material is just too heavy.  We decided the best way to get there was by high-speed train.  This train travels over 300 km per hour.  That's at least 180 mph.  By car it takes 2 hours, by train it only took 23 minutes.  We upgraded on the way there and rode in the first class seats.  I also ordered a red cashmere pea coat.  We will pick these items up the next time were are in Shanghai.

High-speed Train to/from Suzhou/Shanghai 7-21-12.

While waiting for CeCe's driver to pick us up from the train station, we stopped by Ajisen Ramen to grab a bite to eat.  This was my first time at this restaurant.  It is one of Donn's favorite.  We ordered dumplings and a breaded chicken.  Both were delicious.  We also ate some edamame beans.  They were good--not to mention healthy as well.

Grape, Banana & Apple.

I also found one of my favorite US treats--Hi-Chew.  This was the first time I had ever seen the banana flavor.   My initial thought was that when I came to China I would give up sugar.  That hasn't happened yet as I keep finding all kinds of good treats.  The DQ two blocks away is NOT helping either.  My son, Adam, lost 20 pounds when he lived in Macau for six weeks.  Unbelievable!!!  Maybe if I were doing something besides sitting on the couch blogging and practicing Chinese things would be different.

A couple of my survival Chinese phrases:  Suxui Rd (pronounced Sue show Lou)  This is the road we live on.  Also helpful is tienuh rChi Horizon Resort.  Not sure the Chinese spelling or exactly what it means, but that is how I would say it phonetically and it gets me to the apartment. 

Day 30 ~ Week ending July 14

It is had to believe, but we have been in China for exactly one month.  I'm not sure if it makes sense when I say that time is passing quickly, but at the same time very slowly.

Gu ayi (our awesome housekeeper)

On Monday our ayi (housekeeper) came over.  Her name is Gu.  We played charades for a while as I showed her what I wanted her to do and which rag to use for dusting, cleaning mirrors and cleaning the floor.  We played again when she needed starch for the ironing.  It was fun, but I think I definitely need to learn some housekeeping Chinese.  Also I may have to get her to teach me how to cook Chinese food.  Donn is already tired of Ramen noodles.  We went grocery shopping on Saturday, but really didn’t have a lot of luck finding things to buy.  But I really think the food here is so cheap it is just better to eat out.  

Monday's dinner was with Don and Lee Preston at a Muslim Restaurant.  We had what I would call a taco pizza and some yummy caramel apples. 

I am proud to say that I did finally cook my first real dinner Thursday.  I made very tasty stuffed green peppers.  It was actually fun cooking again.  We also had invited Jace Stoker over as I had promised Denna that I would feed him occasionally.  As you can see by the picture, my kitchen is very small, and I don't have a lot of space. 

We had our first talk in church on Sunday.  The topic was patience.  It was interesting to see how impatient I have become since moving to China.  If you aren’t aggressive the Chinese Nationals will walk right over you--what I really mean is run you down.  I experienced it first hand while waiting to get my produce weighed.  People would just reach around me and put their stuff on the scale.  After having five people in a line of 20 just cut me off, I grabbed by squash and aggressively set it on the scale.  The lady looked at me a little strangely, but then she smiled.  I decided today that they reason they are in such a hurry is because they are surrounded by 6,000,000 people and if they don't push and shovel, they can never get where they need to go.

The Bensons had us over to dinner at their home on Sunday and then another dinner and game night on Tuesday.  Julie is a good cook and it was nice eating “normal” American food.  We took a taxi there which cost us $32 RMB ( ~ $5.00 U.S.).  We rode the bus home which cost us 2 Yuan (~ .33 cents).  I think we will be taking the bus a lot more.  Time wise it was about the same.

On Wednesday Ashley and Jeff McLemore took us to the shopping center called Metro.  I would compare it with a Sam's Club or Costco, but twice the size.

Masseuse #66.  No names, just numbers.

Saturday was a quick green bike trip to Walmart and then 2 hours of badminton.  We were very excited to try out the new racquets.  Again we had a great time, but I am a little stiff and sore from the drill work that Lim made us do.  A quick trip home for a shower and then off to Namaste  Restaurant.  It is located in Restaurant Alley.  It was delicious Indian food.  We ordered a variety of chicken, shrimp and lamb dishes.  Also my first time trying naan bread.  My favorite thing was dhania tomato soup.  It was fantastic and for those of you who don't know me well I don't like tomato soup. Then we headed off for our first foot massage since arriving.  (See Lim in yellow shirt.)  It was a 75 minute neck, back, arm, and foot massage. 

Lim, Donn, and nail trimmer technician.

 This amazing view is right off our balcony.  It was raining so the light reflection is amazing.

Night view off of balcony.  You can see the Frazier Towers.  Their manager's name is Peter Pan!!

Day 23 ~ Week ending July 8

Monday, July 2—The contracts have all been signed and we finally moved into our apartment.  The name of the apartments is Horizon Resort Phase 2.  We are in building 16.  There are a lot of expats living here.  (An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing.)

 It is a very nice apartment, but there is quite a long list of items that don’t work.  Here a just a few of the obvious one: 

• The lighter on the stove doesn’t work, so I use a cigarette lighter.   
• My doorbell doesn’t work so I never know if someone is visiting.  (We have double doors.  So even if you knock I won’t hear you).   
• The clothesline doesn’t go up and down.   
• There are only about one-third of the light bulbs that work.   
• My bathroom door doesn’t shut nor does the toilet flush properly.   
• The electrical outlet in my bathroom doesn’t work.   
• The light in the laundry room won’t turn on.   
• And last but not least, we have ants that have moved in with us as well.  For goodness sake people, we are on the nineteenth floor—that’s a long ole hike for those pesky fellows.

Horizon Resort Phase 2

Lots of TP choices!!!

Tuesday—even shopping for me is a whole new type of entertainment.  Similar to the Ramen Noodle soup aisle, here  are all the varieties of toilet paper.  

  

When I get to the cashier, she says something to me that I don't understand.  Lee told me they are asking me if I want plastic bags.  I am getting pretty good about remembering to grab a bag on my way out of the apartment.   So I answer bu xie, which means no thank you.  (I think!!)

One of many purse shops.

Since Donn is taking American holidays, we headed to Shanghai for another trip to the Shanghai Science Museum.  It is a giant underground shopping place.  You barter for everything you buy.  I got some really good prices.  I got such a good price at one story, but I'm pretty sure that she will never let me back in her store.  She sold me the socks, but wasn't too happy about it.  I felt a little guilty, but it wasn't really something I needed so I really didn't care if she agreed with the price or not.  We stopped by a very busy restaurant, but once we sat down, everything was Chinese and we just didn't have any idea what we were ordering.  I finally just got up and walked out the door.  We ended up eating at KFC.  I really like eating the local food when someone is there helping me make some educated choices.

You can see the Ferris wheel in the background of the light show.

On Friday we came back to Suzhou.  Donn headed off to meet with the local government officials and I made me a quick PBJ.  I got a chunk of bread lodged in my throat and I thought I was going to suffocate.  It was really truly my most scarey experience that I have every had when eating.  As I am standing over the sink trying to get a breath.  I realized that I didn't even know how to call 911.  My body finally starting throwing up and I was okay, but it really messed up my emotions.  I was fairly depressed most of the evening.  Donn even took me to an amazing fireworks extravaganza, but that didn't help too much.  This place is two blocks from where we live, and we see and hear fireworks every weekend.  It is a really neat place.

Day 16 ~ Week ending June 30

We spend Sunday and Monday in Shanghai.  We went to Din Tai Fung.  They served the best dumplings and fried rice I have every tasted.  Jeffrey and his wife Rita (from DLG) were the hosts.  Between the nine of us we ate about ten baskets of dumplings.  The also had the most delicious fresh apple juice.

On Tuesday, I met Donn, Dave, Stewart, and Lim for lunch at the Food Loft Restaurant at In City Mall.  We ordered Laska soup which I really enjoyed.  It had shrimp, rice noodles, bean sprouts, tofu, fish cakes and boiled eggs all in a delicious broth.   Mine was plenty spicy, but most of the guys added the extra spice to theirs.  Donn, of course, wasn’t a fan because it had shellfish in, but I thought it was delicious. It is more a Singaporean soup than a Chinese soup.

I just got back home when I got a text from a lady in my ward named Lee Preston.  She had agreed to take me shopping to kind of show me the ropes and the brands of things that they have found to be good.  She wanted to meet at In City Mall so I decided that I would try the green bikes by myself.  I had no problems getting there, even though I overshot it by a block.  Getting home was a little different and I started to panic and wonder how I would ever get back to the Courtyard Marriott.  My stress level had grown quite high when I spotted the Rainbow sign.  Once I saw that I knew exactly how to get back to the hotel.

Lessons I learned today:  Don’t pick a bike that doesn’t have the seat raised up for a regular-sized person.  Lesson two:  Don’t wear skinny jeans when you are going to be riding a bicycle.  I had a really, really hard time pedaling.  (Note to readers:  I learned that the seats are adjustable and now I can wear anything.)

On Tuesday Lim invited us to come and play badminton with him and his friends.  Since Donn and I are quite athletic, we thought "fun".  These people here are very good.  We had fun and just smiled at all of our mistakes.  We picked up some racquets at the Shanghai Market and will be practicing.  It was actually fun and very good exercise. 

On Wednesday Jace Stoker took us to a fun food place.  We discovered these yummy dumplings that have sausage and a hot soup inside.   I bit into one and had the hot soup squirt out and burn my lip.  I had a huge blister for over a week.  These four buns are only 5 Yuan. This is less than $1.  What a great place for a quick snack.  They also have delicious fruit smoothies for 9 Yuan.



Saturday morning was our scheduled trip to Tiger Hill.  We rode the subway as far as we could and then hopped into a taxi for the rest of the trip.  It was very high humidity that day, but it was still enjoyable.  

Just outside of Tiger Hill

You can see the huge pagoda in the back.

The history of the Pagoda