My encounter with a wise Buddhist woman

Posted on December 20, 2010 by susan

I meet up with Jane, a mom of an art student. We had a yummy vegan lunch on the top floor of the Jiming Temple which was built in the Southern Dynasties by Liang wu-ti. The existing temple was built in the Ming Dynasty overlooking Xuanwu Lake. Behind the temple there is a section of the palace wall called Taicheng. We decided to walk the great wall to the next temple at Jiuhua Hill Park. It was a chilly afternoon and very few people were out, making it quiet and relaxing to chat about Buddhism, art, food, and just plain girl talk. Strolling on the top of the wall was picturesque to say the least. As we walked along looking down we saw a statue of a golden Buddha nestled between the wall and the hill, in the private quarters of the monestary. It was nice to see monks in saffoon robes going about their daily life, without noticing us.

Leaving the wall we walked up the hill to the temple. As we meandered through the magnolia trees in the park, there was a lovely voice coming from someone singing in the distance. At the top we saw the temple and a pagoda roofed gazebo where we found a beautiful woman standing in front of a monstrous bell, as she sang she would periodically clap the bell. The sounds were ever so harmonious. Jane was curious and we stood and listened. I figured the woman was centering her chi with the melody she was creating. We sat down and the woman came over and sat with us and we had the most wonderful spiritual conversation about praying, God, how Buddhism is accepting of all people. This wise woman is a painter and a writer, just like me! We agreed that our meeting was not by chance. I told her my story of Andy and the happy Buddha, she smiled and bowed with prayer hands graciously and said there is a little Buddha in everyone. Her kindness was delightful. Sun Yu Fen said she would bring me a copy of her writings to our school this week as a gift. Jane had never been around a Buddhist or really spoke about spiritualism and was so happy to translate. We walked down the stairs to the temple, hearing rhythmic chanting. It was prayers for dead ancestors. I was in the right place, it was a good day. I said a sweet prayer for Andy and June. We left the temple with free books in hand and headed down the street. A beggar came up asking for coins, Jane pulled away. I stopped, found a coin in my coat pocket and placed it in his bowl. I told her it was alright. Giving to the man in need is always good, because when you walk away, you shouldn’t feel bad. I know to give will show compassion and I will not have a bad feeling. She seemed okay with my answer and we moved on. She pointed out a vegan shop to buy some vegetarian food to take home. She got a cookbook and I got a package of fake duck. I saw a Tibetan Buddhist shop and of course had to go in. I explained to Jane about the Tibetan singing bowls and bought a small prayer wheel. I asked for any books in English and after much raffling around the store manager found the only one, a very lovely book on Tibetan Buddhism and gave it to me free of charge. It was such a spiritually blessed day. Home we went, Jane now wanting to learn to cook with vegan meats and I very thankful for sweet encounters.

“Little Rock” is born.

Posted on December 2, 2010 by susan

This is Sophia’s new baby boy, Alice is holding. I was able to visit her home and see the baby on Thanksgiving day, what a blessing. The birth of a baby is quite exciting here. You are not allowed in the hospital to visit the mother or baby like in America. The mother and mother-in-law move in with the mom and dad for a month or longer. They have interesting customs and expect the mother to follow. Sophia’s mother-in-law is very much a take charge A-type personality. She won’t let Sophia or the baby bathe for a month, that includes washing hair. Sophia can not brush her teeth, she can rinse them with a tea and salt combination. She is not allowed to eat veggies or fruits only meats. The house is dark and the baby is wrapped in a bundle, not letting the eyes be in the light. Taking pictures with a flash is not allowed. I got one on the sly. Talk about a miserable mother! She said these are old traditions and must be followed but she doesn’t like it. The mom’s won’t let her use the computer either. The baby is darling, with dark pensive eyes, so wise looking. His nick name is “little rock.” At this time they still haven’t chosen a real name for him.

These cute little gifts are from different parents to share in the birth of their child. Eggs are always auspicious. Some are filled with candy and some are real, dyed red and pickled.

This egg has the married characters on it. It was given to me from a friend whose niece recently married. It is fun to get these little gifts from newlyweds and new parents. You give them gifts too. Sharing in the joy is the tradition.

How to install a heater by crawling out a window!

Posted on November 16, 2010 by susan

My heater unit doesn’t work. It is rather cold. So the land lord sent over a new one. The compressor is outside my high rise kitchen window on a small ledge. Why in the world is it on a ledge out a window and not a balcony with a door? It is China, that is why! So I took pictures of the workmen removing it and installing the new one. This is a accident in the making and an insurance law suit in America. Enjoy the pictures. I laughed at the entire event. The two workers did tie a harness to each other. Ha! If one fell the other would topple right out my window with him!

I was counted in the Chinese census

Posted on November 14, 2010 by susan

The amount of people in China, is just overwhelming. Every bit of land is covered with gardens, fruit trees, wheat, canals taking water to rice, sky high apartments or maybe 4-story homes. Traveling I’ve noticed the massive semi-trucks are much longer and higher than American semi’s. Passing trucks of rabbits and pigs stacked on top of each other, it is amazing to see the amount of food going down the road.

Tour boat riding seats many and even had a squatter toilet! No thanks!

One observance is picture taking. The Chinese take pictures of each other and love to pose. They love their children. Some have funny poses! Isn’t it fun to take pictures of people acting up? I have more pictures of me now, because my new Chinese friends, want to take pictures of me using my camera.

Speaking of population, I was counted in the Chinese census. They actually came by three different nights! I think I was an anomaly with four of them on the last night to double or triple check! So we have over 8 million in Nanjing– that is just a guess, more than New York City. Probably when it is all said and done, much larger than 8 mil!

What’s funny — I am counted twice on this planet, here and in the America census last year.

Toilets in China

Posted on November 1, 2010 by susan

So many questions about bathroom facilities. These are the little commodes and urinals at the the daycare connected to the high school in Suzhou. I took a picture as I had never seen a tiny urinal…. It is unusual to see tiny toilets or any western toilets in China.

This is a basic ladies rest room. You squat facing the door, cause if some one opens the door you want them to see your face not your booty, so says Alice my friend. You do not flush any paper products. There is NO toilet paper in majority of bathrooms, so you bring your own. The paper you carry comes in packages like this. You carry a small pack of 10 little kleenex. If you forget, you hope a friend has some. Otherwise, well you can guess. Personally I hold one over my nose when I squat, as the smells are usually horrendous! A friend told me always lean forward or you might fall in. I have heard some people have dropped their cell phones in there! Good bye phone. By the way this is a clean one at the school.

You will notice in my downstairs bathroom, it is tiled floor and walls with a drain in the floor. Can be convenient if you have a water issue! You see a white hose, that is the run out from my washer. I also have a mop sink, very hygienic, don’t you think? In my upstairs bathroom, above the commode or western lou I have a hot water heater for my shower. Never flush the toilet and jump into the shower right after, the water will stop and you will be cold and wet for a few minutes until the water tank fills back up. The water heater in my kitchen heats water for the kitchen and sink in the downstairs bathroom only. No hot water for the washing machine. This is the heater that ignites loudly when you turn the hot water on in the sinks. It does get ever so hot.

High School Sports Event

Posted on October 26, 2010 by susan

October 26, 2010

Friday was our high school all day sports event. The students were bused across town at 6:20 am to the Sports Pavilion. This pavilion is like Cowboy Stadium in Dallas for all the major sports events. The high school rented it for $8000US, so cheap! I think about renting Denton stadium for AHS graduation, in comparison. The western teachers did not have to attend until 3 pm. Some of us signed up to run a relay! Yes, that would be me!

The week before the art club painted masks for the opening ceremony. It is pomp and circumstance when it comes to ceremonies in China. They like flags and each class had a huge individually created flag to march in with. Students had different T-shirts to separate classes and grades. I had helped one group from the public school paint shirts in my room last week. They were quite smart in design and I was given one. My art club won first place for the most creative opening ceremony look! Go Art Club!

Tess, another seasoned western teacher, Dan and I took a cab to the event. Dan, Johnathan and I represented the IB teachers against the Chinese public high school teachers. We are not in the best of shape for running a sprint, ok I speak for myself. Johnathan is fast but after the hand off I jogged to the next runner, causing us to be in last place. The public teachers had a couple ringers, like olympic runners that are teachers.

We won a lamp for our efforts. That lit up my day!

Pizza with the doc and Ice Skating with students

Posted on October 18, 2010 by susan

October 17, 2010

A week and not one blog has been typed although many things have happened from going Ice Skating to seeing more temples, a mausoleum, meeting the other art teachers on campus, going to art galleries and eating so much more interesting food. My internet problems were resolved. It was up and running on Friday. Then I started messing with the computer and wham, I can’t get internet access. So I am hoping Jonathan can fix this tomorrow. So tonight I am typing and uploading some images for the blog tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to Samantha my wonderful daughter, her birthday was today in Austin. I did see her on Skype before I messed up the computer. She had long blond extensions in her hair and was looking lovely. Hopefully her birthday gift from China will get to America soon.

Today my landlord Dr. Wuzhong, his wife An Li, their daughter and I went to lunch on the east side of town where all the universities are located. They wanted pizza, which was just fine with me, because after two months of Chinese food, a good vegetarian pizza was a nice change. My landlord is a cardiac surgeon and his wife a nurse. We drove by his hospital in the downtown area and he was very proud to point it out for me. The doc speaks English and studied in Baltimore some years back. He is very kind and loves his little five year old daughter. She about wore him out today demanding so much of his attention. To our surprise there was a three story Christmas tree in the courtyard of the strip mall where The Cheese Pub was located. All of us wondered why a tree in October? We saw two weddings on our way, one in a procession which the doc followed. All the cars were red and his too. He thought that would be fun. Then we saw another one on a hill and everyone was dressed in traditional Chinese attire. I couldn’t get a photograph as we were moving too fast in our other wedding procession.

Saturday was my day to take the students Ice Skating. My role as sponsor is easy. Esther, our CAS lead teacher drove us to the Sports Pavilion, which is a modern architectural pavilion with red wing like arches. This is where the youth Olympics will be held in a few years. The students took the metro and met us. This “field trip” did not include a school bus, as the Chinese don’t use buses. Everyone is responsible for their own transportation. Afterwards Esther wanted to show me the suburban sprawl. We drove looking at the continuous apartment high-rises that were recently built. I noticed not as many people as downtown by my apartment. It was quiet and nice, reminded me of Frisco in an odd way. We went to the “Wanda” Mall which was large, new, clean and very western. So many places to eat! Esther chose a noodle shop. We ordered a soup fondue pot full of noodles. A large platter of many ingredients came for each of us. Hers was seafood, mine vegetables. What fun it was to cook our own noodle soup. Afterwards she took me to Walmart! Yes, I finally found a Chinese Walmart. It was not like an American Walmart, as I couldn’t find buttered microwavable popcorn, or other western needs! I did get a cozy alternative down blanket which I put on my bed, under my fitted sheet, to create some more cush. I am sleeping better and actually slept in for the first time this morning.

More fireworks must stop writing and watch. Ah—the life of being able to see miles from my windows.

Michael Bolton is a hit in China! Ha, ya’ll!

Posted on October 8, 2010 by susan

October 7, 2010

Up at 6:30 am, I can never sleep in. A Latte is in order, using a coffee filter, tea strainer and IKEA frothier with my S.I.T. ground coffee, I whip up a strong one. Today I think I will look out the upstairs balcony window. Across the way is a young man pacing on his roof top terrace with a book in hand. I saw him yesterday morning doing this. Is he studying for a test? SAT exams are coming up. They are not offered in China. High school seniors planning to go to college abroad or in America will need this test for their application. Students travel to Hong Kong to take it on October 8^th and 9^th. The flight is over two hours, I can imagine the expense. I look further down to the courtyard and there are twelve people in three rows doing Tai Chi. That looks easy so I stand up in my purple night gown and brown fuzzy knee length robe and begin to follow the movements. This is interesting, the movements give the impression of slowly moving your prana around and then there is a quick movement to push it off of you. I like this. It might get rid of bad spirits. Although I moved half way around the world you would think I had gotten away from the bad spirits, but who knows, maybe a little Tai Chi is in order. I brew another cup of coffee and trot back to my perch on the balcony. The class is over but two students remain practicing with red fluffy fans. The movements are fluid and almost hypnotic. This is quite enjoyable to watch, much better than TV.

Alice called last night while I waited on wedding fire crackers to explode and wanted to meet in the center of the city to listen and buy some music. I hailed a taxi and off I went. The city is different at night, with all the lights and many people bustling around. I meet her at a foot bridge and we walked to a side street and into a CD shop. Sawyer is there chatting with the owner, they are friends. We look at music and it seems the Chinese are in love with some of my favorite music from 90’s. Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, and Kenny G are their favorites. To all of my art teacher friends, Mr. Garrott, Miss Gilly and Mrs. Arago you put up with my Michael Bolton posters and music, guess what they are hits here and now! Ha, I told you this was good music. Now a whole country loves them too! I ended up with some old Beatles, Hall and Oates, Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow for 15RMB each. The discussions centered on what Americans listen to now. I had to break it to the shop owner Bolton is no longer a big hit in America. Americans move on to newer musicians and melodies. He just couldn’t believe me!

We walked down the street and there were night vendors set up on the sidewalk. I checked out burlap looking shoes, PJ’s and then my eye went to some old Chinese art books. Ah ha, a find! I ended up with two, one on Ceramics and the other on paintings. They are fabulous, colorful and of course in Chinese. But art is universal, who needs words?

Someone is shooting fireworks this morning, I can’t see where they are coming from in the daylight, bummer. I woke up about 1 am hearing a huge display of Roman Candles go off. In a variety of colors and array of lights, it was like a dandelion explosion. Then a phone call from Possum Kingdom followed. My realtor is renewing my property contract in the Hills over PK. Anyone interested in two acres overlooking the lake? It is too far for me to vacation!

Chinese laundry

Posted on October 8, 2010 by susan

October 6, 2010

Looking out the living room window I see a wedding at the 5-star hotel across the street. It looks like a magnificent event with two or did I see three chefs? Wish I had a pair of binoculars so I could see what’s happening up close. Remember the TV show “Friends” and how they always looked out of their New York apartment window and would see the naked guy in the apartment across? I think I could do that here, looking into thousands of apartment windows and seeing what’s happening. Or they could be looking at the blonde western girl running around in her apartment in a purple night gown! Ha which is funnier? Ok back to the wedding, I hear something in Chinese from loud speakers, are they married yet? What fun, maybe there will be a firecracker event to follow? Maybe I can take some photographs. Hey Alex, I need some help with night exposures and fire crackers. I remember your wonderful photos last year in HL art class. Gee I wish you were here to help me with my photography. This is the fourth wedding party I have seen around the city in the last few days. I was told it is good luck and good fortune to marry during the week of the National Holiday (remember this is China’s 4^th of July! Well sort of, I don’t they are celebrating independence from Britain. Maybe it is just a happy week to be Chinese. I’m happy to be in China and to be living the oriental lifestyle. Shoot some firecrackers, would you!

Speaking of culture, Patti has been curious about the laundry issue in China, so I am devoting this blog to doing Chinese Laundry. My little washer is nice, except it is written in Chinese, so I had it deciphered onto a green post-it. (By the way “post-its” doesn’t exist here; I brought these from the states!) My laundry detergent smells great and we all know how I like good smells. The washer is only connected to cold water and I was told to do a warm wash, you boil water and pour it in. Ok I did that for towels, seems to work. Then after it is “dry”, that’s what the Chinese say, actually it is the “spin cycle” in America. It is now ready for the dryer. Don’t have dryers in China, ok they do but not in my apartment. I actually haven’t seen one here, but know they do exist. Where, I don’t know? So in my case it is a walk upstairs to my master bedroom, open the sliding door and out onto the balcony. This is where I have a clothes line pulley system. You turn the lever and down comes one line which I bought a couple little hanger thingies to hang unmentionables on. Then when this line is full you move the handle to the other lever and roll this pile up in the air and the other line rolls down. I know what a wooden clothespin is, do you? I actually bought some at the Suguo! Cheap ones at that, cause they sprang apart, and I have bits and pieces in my nightstand drawer. My balcony faces the south, which is good luck. This side gets all the sun so clothes dry faster. I like the balcony it is enclosed with glass panels which move and let you open them up and get a nice breeze. Hanging clothes reminds me of my childhood in Plano when my mom did laundry. She hung it out on the clothes line and the sheets and towels would get so stiff. I remember the wind blowing them and me having to hang and bring them in. I am reminded of hanging Ruth Ann’s diapers one after another. Mom will recall when I was three I had a “blankie”, she would wash it for me and I would go hold onto it as it hung to dry. It had a satin border and I recollect how cool it was on my face when I was warm. Now that is a long time ago, and I still like blankets, as I brought my down comforter in the satin coverlet with me to China. Still like that cool feeling when it is hot. Since I don’t have anyone to hang onto, this is a good replacement, soft, cuddly and no emotional attachment.

8 Million and the “Joker”

Posted on October 5, 2010 by susan

October 5, 2010

I was trying to figure out my metal rice box container on rollers located under my kitchen cabinet when Michael called and said meet him at S.I.T (Sculpting in Time) for lunch. Many of the taxi drivers don’t know where this ex-pat place is so I called Alice to get it said in Chinese. The last time I had a driver drop me off, I ended up a couple blocks away and was lost. There are no outstanding landmarks and every place begins to look the same, especially if you can’t read Chinese characters. This time I was dropped off right in front, need to get Alice to write that out for me in Chinese. I met up with Michael and he introduced me to Derrick and Annette, a married couple from England. Derrick and Michael taught together last year. They have an electric bike to buzz around in and said their drive is 25 minutes from their new place in the “burbs!” A long way, but they have more western furnishings, like a “UK bouncy” bed and dryer! The population of the city was a major discussion. I read it was 2.8 million. The men said hardly, it was more like 8 million. In five years it has doubled as people want to be closer to the conveniences of the city and better jobs. No wonder I think it is so huge, it’s like New York. Alice and Sawyer joined up for lunch. Then the three of us took off walking and searching for light bulbs. We actually found a vendor on the street that had what I needed, so I bought three. This business of being able to find specialty items in specific places persuades me to buy extra. I ask for a business card, so I can find his place again. My wallet if bulging with business cards after living here a month and a half.

Sawyer wants to watch movies so we head back to my place. He invites a movie editor friend visiting from Beijing. His name is “Joker” like in the Batman movie. What is it with strange American names, Chinese people give themselves? He brought an old Michael Douglas movie, “The Game.” Joker says it is one of his favorites. It is an old 90’s movie and edgy. I wasn’t too excited about the plot. Afterwards we had a discussion about what Americans watch on TV. He has a preconceived notion Americans watch old movies, like black and whites from the 40’s up to the 80’s! He likes “Bonnie and Clyde” and watches it repeatedly. I am thinking Americans are more interested in new flicks, not old stuff like on the Turner network. The discussion went to political land accessions of China, such as Taiwan, North Korea and Tibet. Are these separate countries or Chinese? Would I be arrested if I wore a “Free Tibet” T-shirt? Sawyer said, nah, not that many people can read English and would just pass me by on the street! Now if I was in Tiananmen Square that might be different. Ok no protesting there! The conversation over democracy whiffs in the air and we decide China is becoming democratic and maybe the US is becoming socialist! Are the countries flipping beliefs? Somehow the conversation drifts to an in depth debate about ghosts. We discuss “The Sixth Sense.’ Joker and I agree it is an intense movie. He doesn’t believe in God or ghosts! Oh my, I can debate this issue for hours. He has no idea what metaphysics or theosophy is so we can’t get to in-depth. I am reminded he just like movies, which is why, he is a movie trailer editor.

I realize without my cell phone, internet or TV I spend much of my time in discussion with people. I like being connected and not distracted. I like the cultural education I am getting.

Susan Tadlock

Eat, Pray, Teach

Category Archives: Daily life in China