October 2, 2010
I have a Blu-ray. Surprise, it came with the apartment. Sawyer took me to “technology row” in Hunan Village. We got an I-pod docking system that looks like a fat white pig. You touch his ears and volume goes up on one and down on the other. His smiling mouth lights up green. Randy you told me technology would be so cheap in China because it is made here. Got news for you, NOT! It seems the Chinese export all these name brands to America and then to sell them in China they have to import them back, causing the price to rise. So I probably paid the same price for this little guy as I would in the states. We then went to the disc store to buy DVD’s and CD’s. Now this was cheap and fun. I was able to get six Blu-ray movies all top American summer hits for 10 Yuan each, about $1.50 each. We lounged on the sofa and watched “Julie and Julia” last night after Alice cooked dinner for us. We had to get a wok at Suagao for her to cook a delicious Chinese style dinner of stir fried greens, eggs and peas, broccoli with red chilies and a dish of pesto pasta. I made the pasta. Alice can come and cook anytime.
I feel like a kid in a candy shop when we walk around the city and look at the sites. It was the National holiday yesterday, like our July 4th. Four red ball lanterns decorate the store fronts and cafes creating a festive atmosphere downtown. Lively and full of people eating, chatting and playing with their little children we walk into a city sitting area, with a pond and large space to see children learning to ride bikes and roller stating. Two old men are squatting on the pavement selling frogs and dragonflies they have made from bamboo leaves. We buy two. Alice wants a yogurt with these little transparent beads and poppy seeds in it, looking like fish eggs floating on top. Sawyer and I have lemon tea. We walk on and shop.
Shopping is getting to be my favorite pastime, or eating! Jenny, my math colleague and her husband Lynn took me to Ikea in their car. What a treat, driving around and seeing the city. This is one large town. Ikea is great and in English too! I was able to find a mattress pad that is spongy for both beds, duvet, blanket, candles, utensils, glasses, rugs, pans and just all that stuff you think you need to survive in China. The afternoon has been fun unpacking all my goodies.
These next few days I am without the internet, so blogging will be interesting. Sarah the parent of my student Filo, is letting me connect to her internet. Yes that is the American name she picked—strange because it makes me think of flaky pastry dough! Students love to pick their own names for us to call them. I have one named Moon, and I would say that was a good choice for a name. Others named Roy, Marina, Arno, and then normal names like Amy and William. Tomorrow Filo and I may go out shopping. This might be fun to see what teenagers like to shop for.