Things I have seen or done this week:
- For those of you who are fans of the TV show, “Friends”: Ugly Naked Guy is real and must be at least a quintuplet. Apparently it is common practice to leave the curtains open and parade around the apartment au natural. The good news is the Ugly Naked Guy'(s) wives don’t believe in the same practice.
- I’m starting to figure out why it is so difficult in China to find an electric alarm clock. The sun rises at 0500. Therefore, since the curtains in my apartment do not block the light, so do I.
- Our ayi does not speak English, or Chinglish. She is convinced that all of our clothes are Ron’s, the ironing board belongs in his bedroom, air conditioning is for evil people, and deadbolts are not needed. I think I solved the air conditioning this morning. I will know when I get home if it worked. I had the translator at work write down phrases for us to show her tomorrow to try and fix the other things. The complete saving grace in all of this is that we do not have to do these things ourselves. We figure if the worst thing that happens is our clothes are cleaned and ironed and we have to sort them out, life is good!
- If we could actually catch the flies up here and eat them, we would never lack for a meal. They are very fast and bite. Since no one can seem to find flyswatters, you hear people’s rulers smacking against all kinds of objects during the day to try and kill them. I am getting better at it and will always have targets.
- We got misdirected (not lost; we knew we were in ZJG) leaving the restaurant last night. The cool part was that we ended up walking in a big square to get back to our starting point. On our way to the restaurant at 1900 we passed a storekeeper and his family. They stared at us a lot when we went past, and we just laughed. The best part was that we walked past them twice while we were seeing the city (again not lost) (once in each direction). The second time they were much more receptive to our appearance. We’re not sure if it was because they were sizing us up for a mugging or just laughing at us. We did find a store close to our apartment and ended up using our mad Mandarin skilllz to buy a pair of flip-flops and some gum.
More later…Mark
3 comments:
Hi! - Sounds like you need to take some fly swatters back with you this summer and maybe some bug spray. These flies are in your office the way it sounds. Don't they have doors and screens?
Maybe you could take back some room darkening shades or blinds as well so you can sleep in past 5.
Hope you get your AYI straightened out and she lets you run the air and lock your doors. Locking the doors will be a good thing.
I talked w/ Natalie this morning (needed that sticky bun recipe of hers)and it sounds like everyone is doing well. I told her I could really use her help this weekend with a shower I am in charge of.
Oh well!
Time to get back to work!
Love you.
Mom B
I agree with Grandma Berg--it wouldn't take me long to buy a few fly swatters when I come home. It fact there are some that are battery run that just zap them. It is almost fun. I wonder if the bitting ones are like our black flies that bite me when I'm mowing. They are absolute beasts. They leave a nice hole in your skin! You alos swell up pretty good too.
You know Natalie, Margo made some room darkening curtains for one of her rooms. They work wonderfully!! I appreciated them to no end the other week!!!
Have a great day in the Lord! The same Lord that watches over us is watching over you!!
Aunt Carol
Too bad you can't catch those pesky flies...they might make a good source of protein.:-) I concur with the advice to stock up on flyswatters when you're here. Maybe you can take back extras and bless all your new Chinese friends with them.
Here in G.B., we can't enjoy eating out on our deck these days without being dive-bombed by the carpenter bees. They have a thing for our deck. At least they haven't bitten...yet.
Won't even comment on Ugly Naked Guy, except to say I hope he finds his jogging boxers soon...
Who is this "Ron" person that all your clothes belong to, according to the ayi? Is this the new Chinese baby everybody's talkin' 'bout??
Blessings to all,
Betsy
Post a Comment