Sardines

Bill and I went to a new shopping area called "Victory Plaza"  It has some restaurants on the top, like Pizza Hut, KFC, and traditional Chinese ones. It's a really pretty area that reminds me of San Francisco's Pier 39.   Well, the actual shopping area is underground, so we took the escaltor down, which was amazing that they even had one.  When we got down there we couldn't believe the set-up.  There were 4 more floors down and each level probably had a couple of hundred shops in there going each direction.  It was like a city within a city.   How is this possible you might ask?  In China, their businesses are about 20'x20' areas, with multiple shops rt next to each other.  Like on the streets, you might have 20 businesses in one block.  It seems most people have their own income source.  Now, there are the regular types of stores also, but a lot less of these.


After browsing we tried to leave but couldn't find the escaltor, so it took us about 20" to figure out where it was.  I didn't want to climb 4 steep flights of stairs at 8 at night.  It wasn't like I hadn't already climbed a thousand of more steps during my day!


We ate at Pizza Hut for dinner.  It looked like a fancy restaurant, not the kick back style we're used to.  I really wanted a pizza so it sounded like a good bet.  If you think you're going to get western food, think again.  They don't even have the most common topping....pepperoni!!!!  We finally settled on Hawaiin since it seemed a safe bet.  It was good, but I had the runs later, so whatever!!!  However,  I was impressed with the restroom facilities.  It was the cleanest I have encountered in China other than our hotel room in Beijing!  It had a western toilet with a seat on it......toilet paper!!!!!!.....soap to wash my hands.....and a hand dryer!!!!  Miracles never cease.   I  went twice just to remember what it was like back home....lol.   The only negative aspect, was that when I opened the door to go into the restroom from the restaurant, I almost fell on my face!   Immediately, you had to step up before entering.   I think the Chinese believe it is unlucky to enter anywhere without multiple steps and stairs!!!


Finally it was time to take the bus home for the night.  Bill and I have learned that 8am and 5pm are times to avoid buses due to the crowds.  So we figured it would be good at this time. How mistaken we were!   By the time we had gone 2 blocks, the bus was packed beyond capacity.  There were about 120 people on our 1 bus.  I couldn't believe it until I started counting.  I actually tried to take a photo, but I couldn't raise my arm to do it.  We were packed like sardines.  The whole ride I was butt cheek to butt cheek with a stranger.  Bill lifted his leg once cause it was cramping and when he tried to put it down again, there were four feet in his place.  He just stepped on them to get them to move.    It was actually sorta amusing just looking at the absurdity of the situation.  In America, if we saw a bus that crowded, we would wait for another one.  But not here!    


Since I'm having problems posting my photos, they'll go up on FB.  Sorry!

The Park

While I'm working, Bill gets out and explores on his bike.   He really gets to experience the whole culture more than me.  Anyway, he found this really cool park, named Zhongshan Park.  Although all the squares and parks in Dalian are beautiful, this is a really unique one.  It seems to be the most popular with the locals.  When you go into the area, all around and as you walk, are people dancing, doing martial arts, tai chi, singing, playing cards etc. There are two main gazebo areas that usually house local wanna be bands of older men, and one that seems to attract the ladies who want to sing and dance.   There's no rhyme or reason to the order within the park.  One area seems to be set up for playing cards, and other areas are open to whatever someone wants to do.  Bill likes to go play our native american flute there, and I like to go and listen to scripture or just people watch.

It's funny when we go though, because we'll be just walking, and all of a sudden someone will run up to us and say hello as if we were long lost friends.  It's a little surprising at first, but they just like to practice their english.  Everyone's watching us as usual, and I'm never sure how long I should stand there and talk before moving on.  










On Saturday when we went, we sat in one of the gazebos.  A lady came up to us and was talking in Chinese, which of course we don't understand, and smiling and asking us questions.  Fortunately, there was a high school student there who did speak english ok and translated.   The lady and her friend were singing for us a traditional chinese song that welcomes us to China and wishes us much happiness.  A man next to them began to play an accordian.  It was strapped to him like a backpack and had a sheet over it so I would never had known it was an instrument.  As they sang, one lady danced around the floor.   Then when they were finished, they wanted us to sing, which we politely refused.  karoake is not my cup of tea...haha.  
  



















All in all, it was a very touching and entertaining experience.  As we were leaving, the high school kid and his friends stopped us and gave Bill a present.  It was a bracelet made of tiger eye stones.  Very beautiful and sweet of them.   They wished that it would bring us great peace while we were in China.

Welcome

Last night the CEO of the school hosted a banquet for the staff and new teachers.  He presented us with gifts of the traditional Moon Cakes.   Monday is the Mid-Autumn Festival day which is like our Thanksgiving holiday.  Families get together to celebrate and they exchange Moon Cakes as gifts.    These are round pastries that have a variety of fillings.   Lotus seed paste and red bean paste are very common, but more extravagant ones are filled with Peking duck and even ice-cream.   Ours tasted like it had almonds and dates in it.


The Chinese take their banquets serious no matter how small or personal they are.  We had about twelve people in ours and we all sat at a round table with a rotating center.  The dishes were placed, and around it went with everyone grabbing bits of food to their plates with chopsticks. Great fun, unless you couldn't hold on to that slippery piece of fish.....lol.   The food was superb with classic Chinese fare and some western tidbits like french fries also.  There were a couple of items I intentionally didn't try, maybe next time.  However, I did get to eat some abalone, which is very expensive and difficult to get.  It was creatively prepared and served in it's half-shell.   That was my main courageous act of the night.  


Another identiying characteristics of the Chinese people is their obvious love of beer!  Whenever we would go out to eat, we'd see anywhere from 5-10 empty beer bottles on the tables of people dining, especially the men.   So, I can't begin to tell you how much alcohol was consumed during this banquet.  Toasting is traditional at these formal meals.  At the start, everyone joins in for a group toast.  Then afterwards, and all during the meal, people make toasts.  Sometimes it is a toast between individuals, groups, high-ranking staff, the host, or whomever.   They LOVE to make toasts!!!    The amount you drink at each toast can vary. Sometimes it is a sip, and you just tap your glass on the table.  Other times the person making the toast will say "ganbei"  or "bottoms up", and you have to drink it all and then turn your glass over to show there's none left.   There were way too many of these.  I was drinking soda, but if it was a "ganbei" toast, the host filled my glass with beer, and to the top!   The host will do at least one of these toasts with the guest or guests of honor to show sincerity and friendship.     There is also a toast where the person will drink the entire bottle of beer!  We had one of the Chinese staff, Jack, who did this.     They do love to drink and love to have you drink with them.   After 40 toasts, not all "ganbeis", I stopped counting!!!!    To be safe and stay sober hopefully, always start with tea or soda at these events.  That will cut down on the amount of alcohol consumed.

Eating Out

Eating out in China is really interesting.   The first time we ate in a restaurant was in Beijing.  We sat down and the waitress brought a menu.  Not 2 menus, just one.  I kept waiting for her to bring another because it was taking too long for Bill to decide.  Since we could only order by the pictures of the food inside, we really needed two.   Finally, I got up and grabbed another one.   We lucked out this time and got a really good meal.     Later, after dinner,  I 

was reading a book I bought in the airport about 101 things a foreigner needs to know to understand the Chinese.  It clearly stated that only one menu is given per table no matter how many people are seated.  It is expected that the main person will order for everyone!

The last couple of times we've eaten out, I would go to pay the bill according to the check, and the server would tell me I was off by 2 yuan.  I kept checking the bill and could not figure it out.  However, since a yuan is only .16 it really wasn't a big deal.   Finally, it dawned on me.  In these restaurants the dinnerware is sealed in plastic wrap and includes a glass, bowl, saucer, spoon and tea cup.   When your meal arrives you usually have a bowl of rice or noodles and you both serve yourself from the entree.  Therefore, you really don't have to use the other stuff. If you open those, like we do to use the glass for water or the saucer as a plate, they charge you 1 yuan each.    Rather strange but common.  By the way, Bill and I had dinner tonite for $6 total which included 2 sodas, 2 entrees, rice, and dinnerware.    Lunch today was $2.50 for the same.    It is definitely cheaper here.

So far, we have found about a half dozen places I am comfortable eating at.    I have also ordered at least a half dozen dishes that made me want to gag.  So it's a hit or miss thing but eventually you get the hang of it.  The school gave the teachers Chinese menus with food written in Chinese as well as English.   The servers get a kick out of it when we pull these out and point to order.  It is a lot safer this way for sure.      Well, this is just one of the many eating out chapters.  There are many other to share as well, but too many to cover in one night.    

Never Ending!

Be aware before coming to China that it is constructed of never-ending stairs.  If you have an aversion to these steps, China should be avoided.  Too late for me though.  I am on the 4th floor of the apartment building which is really the fifth here.  In other countries the 1st floor is 0 floor.    Sooo...5 flights of stairs up and down at least 3 times a day there, then 3 flights at the school, multiple times.   Everywhere we have gone has numerous steps or stairs to climb.  I have never seen so many steps in one city!

The positive part is that my calves and thighs will be getting stronger.   But, on the down side,  my knees are quite frequently aching.  3 knee surgeries don't make stairs the most appealing sight.  However,  going up is easier on the knees than going down.  

The Neighborhood

Every day I learn more and more about the Chinese culture.  The girls always walk around arm in arm or holding hands.   The guys will carry their girlfriend's purse for them.  Although the Chinese rarely show affection in public, the youth are changing that tradition.  Boyfriend and girlfriend will hold hands as they walk, but a married couple won't.  The woman will often walk behind her husband.   


The other day a student, Jason, (they all take an American name by the way), took Bill and I to Friendship Park.  Although it was raining, we really enjoyed the outing.  Jason informed me that by day the Park was for families and kids, but by nite, the areas were left for lovers.  I have been warned about walking around a park at nite, unless I want an x-rated experience!


I've found that everywhere I go people stare at me.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm wearing a cross necklace, or just obviously a foreigner.  I do know the Chinese find overweight people funny.....haha,  not really!   But, I think the latter is the real reason.   When we were at the park standing under a tree to get out of the rain, some people asked Jason if I was a Russian woman because they are BIG women!     Embarrassing...........feels like being back in elementary school.