7/22 Oops--Going Back a Couple of Days

[Here's a post from Mum from earlier this week--shopping on her own, Kacie's arrival, first day of school, and another foot massage. Sorry it got lost in the shuffle! --Jen]

July 22
If you're following my life in Beijing on Kodak Gallery, then you already know a lot of what I'm writing about today. It is fun, though, to think of the words to describe the days. Monday was my last vacation day: Ying and Duo were busy all day, doing the final things at the Business College to get ready for the beginning of classes on Tuesday. Kongli would arrive from the States at 2:30, and Kacie from Australia at 9:30 PM! So I had the day to myself, which was actually lots of fun.

After feeding the koi (don't forget, the koi-the Chinese call them carp-are my pets here. I still really miss my kitties!) My fish expert, Sue Morash, told me that koi only have to be fed every other day-pigs they could be, she said. Well, you tell that to my koi! If I don't give them at least a snack, then they splash and jump and won't leave me alone. So a sprinkle a day. They are really friendly. My friend Emma told me that koi will let you pet them. That is not going to happen in this life. I have too much cat in me to think seriously that a fish is something I'd like to hug or snuggle with.

Okay, I had a list of items I needed to buy, so I got my bag and sunglasses and ventured forth. This time I turned in the right direction, which is left, and headed for big Maliandao St. (I actually live on Tea Street East.) It was walking along that I saw the woman ahead of me swinging a plastic bag full of roundish, brownish things, which I assumed were peaches. When I zoomed in with my camera, I discovered-WHAT! She was carrying about two dozen eggs piled up in that bag. I thought about our cardboard 12-packs and wondered if that much packaging is really necessary.

My attention was almost immediately diverted, though, because a cyclist went by (a common occurrence), but this one made me stop and gape. She was a gray-haired woman and riding on the back was a little guy, maybe 10 months old-he could sit up by himself. No helmets. Oooh. I didn't say anything, of course, and didn't even have time to get my camera out. It worried me, though. I haven't seen anyone wear a helmet in Beijing, although I do see that people sitting in the front of cars do usually hook up their seatbelts.

So I on my way to Carrefour's, huge department store that dominates the block, I passed by some specialty shops. One was an umbrella store, and I was able to find a very sparkly purple one for a certain three-year old. Inside the big store, found what I've been looking for-washcloths (1Y -14¢--each), fountain pens (a calligraphy set for 9Y), numerous small gift items. I desperately wanted to buy a copy of Harry Potter 6 in Chinese, but wondered what I would do with it when I get home. (If any of you reading this wants a copy, let me know!)

After that, I walked to Tea City, which is on the corner of Maliandao and Maliandao West. Inside this huge building there must be 100 small tea shops (hundreds and hundreds more line the avenue.) I went inside, determined to have the first (of many) “tea parties” that I will enjoy in the coming weeks. Of course as soon as I walked in, the beautiful young women standing outside the shops smiled and said, “Ni Hao, Hello, would you like to try some tea?” in English or Mandarin. After saying, “No, thank you” in English and Mandarin a dozen times, I finally (arbitrarily) went into one shop. There was a beautiful hostess seated at the teak tea table and her two assistants. They asked what kinds of tea I like, and all I knew to say was “Oolong, green, and (one I just learned) pu-er (a local tea that Duo had told me about.)

My hostess made me tea-three separate times-using, for the oolong, a traditional small clay pot and a bamboo scoop to put the leaves into it. She poured the hot water onto the leaves and let them steep for about half a minute, swishing the pot around. She poured that potful out onto the bamboo mat (I assume there was a catch basin underneath) after rinsing the strainer with the first brew. Then she brewed another pot for about a minute, and she poured that one onto the clay pot itself and the little clay animal figurines lined up at the front of the tea desk. Then she brewed the third pot, which is the one she served me. Goodness, the tea was good: delicate and flavorful. As soon as I had taken a couple of sips, she refilled my tiny cup--two or three tablespoonsful at the most.

The ceremonies for the green tea and the pu’er (Duo had told me it is very popular here) were similar, except that the tea was brewed with water not-yet boiling and steeped in a heavy glass, not a clay pot. The green was fresh-tasting, like grass at Jamba Juice, and the pu-er was smokey, like Early Grey. I bought some of each, and went on down the aisle to another shop. I wasn’t going to buy any more tea, but the woman (who spoke not one word not one word of English!) just happened to be scooping up some chrysanthemums. I loved chrysanthemum tea when I was here the last two times, so I had to go in. This woman, who worked the shop alone, was not nearly as elaborate as the other in preparing the tea (again, in a thick-sided glass), but the tea was delicious. I bought some of that, too, and then fled out the door. It would not do to spend my entire gift budget on tea the first day of tea parties.

The rest of the day I stayed home--it was 96° out and I didn’t want to walk anywhere else--and knit on Nico’s sweater and watched episodes of Season 1 ER (thanks, Cindy.) Kongli and Ying called and said that Kacie’s flight was delayed, so they wouldn’t be back to the apartment until near 11. I said I’d wait up--why not?

At a little after 11 P, Kongli called me from the airport--Kacie hadn’t been on the plane--or at last she hadn’t shown up at the gate! He wondered is she had emailed me, and I said she hadn’t. We were all quite worried. But 15 minutes later, they called again--Kacie had gone through a different gate, and had been waiting for them there. (Poor Kacie’s version of the story is that she had NO idea what to do--she had no one’s Beijing phone number!) Kacie seemed enthusiastic, pleasant, and tired. The next would be our first day of teaching.

The first day was not easy. Kacie and I each teach the two groups--professors from Beijing Business College and students ranges in age from 12 to 16. Most of the professors are actually very good in English--because BCBUU has a relationship with colleges in the US, many have spent a semester in either Scotland or England already. Many of the lessons we had planned (using the Side by Side books--basic ESL--that Kongli had given us) are too elementary. Students in both classes were reluctant to talk--they were nervous & they aren’t used to speaking in class. Both Kacie and I wondered what we were going to do, and she (with five years teaching experience) and me with 38 wondered if we had ever taught before. I have to admit that I have had other first days like this--not fun.

But the evening’s activities made up for the insecurity of the first day of school. We were guests of Ying’s father at the Quanjude Roast Duck restaurant at an elegant hotel--we had out own private dining room with two servers. The meal was exquisite--12 courses before the duck. Chinese wine for those who drank it and lots of thick mango-like juice for those of us who didn’t. Kacie and I were presented with certificates for the ducks we ate (two were served to the eight of us)--mine is the 20,267th duck served at this restaurant since it opened in 1864. Hmm. Ying’s father had invited a couple of his business friends, and they gave many toasts. Kacie, when toasted, quaffed her aperitif glass on wine, knocking it back like a shot. She was applauded and cheered by all. Mr. Lui and his friend both gave me many complements--I don’t look old enough to have taught school for 38 years, I have an elegant style and my dress is beautiful (thanks, Memsy, for the aqua dress & jewelry), and I have a good smile. I loved it!

When we got back to Maliandao East and were walking to our apartment, we went by groups of people playing hacky-sack with badminton shuttlecocks. They gestured for us to join in. I didn’t because I never have been able to hacky, but Kacie jumped right in, kicking the birdie around. Again, she was applauded by all. She is quite a vivacious young woman, lots of fun to be with!

Sad to say, in the middle of the night, I was struck with what we will call Empress Cixi’s Revenge. Thanks to Cipro and Imodium, I think I nipped it before it go too bad. Yesterday, though, was not an easy day. Teaching went VERY well--the students talked, they were well-prepared and lively. Whew--both Kacie and I remembered that we do know how to teach! I didn’t eat anything, though I did drink a Pepsi and lots of water.

Afterwards, Kacie and I had foot massages (this will happen often) at the local beauty salon--again, amazing and wonderful. I came back and went to bed. I slept for 12 hours! Am now getting ready to teach for the third day. Yikes!

More another day. Thanks for reading.