Well, we've been in Beijing for about 3 1/2 weeks now. In that time, Bethany has been to the doctor for regular weekly check-ups. Everything is looking good so far. The only major unknown is when the baby will come. In a very Chinese fashion, the baby hasn't called or e-mailed to tell us a few weeks in advance exactly what day she'll arrive. Most likely, she'll probably just let us know on the day of. "Hi! I'm coming to the city tonight. Drop whatever else you have planned, and let's have dinner!"
And so, we have very little planned each day, besides waiting, resting, reading, and enjoying our hobbies. What hobbies, you say? Well, besides drinking coffee at Starbucks (mine), looking for rice porridge restaurants (Bethany's), and being on the computer (mine again)... we've decided to use this time to keep up our music skills.
We don't have a piano where we live. But we both love playing the piano. So, we found a piano center down the street that gives lessons, sells pianos, and - most importantly - has piano practice rooms which you can use by the hour. 10 RMB (USD $1.50) per hour. And so, since we found this place a few days ago, we've each been practicing an hour of piano a day. We might just do this every day until the baby arrives. The last time I practiced piano for an hour a day, 3 days in a row was... when I was taking lessons 20+ years ago. And I'm not even so sure that I ever did 3 days in a row back when I was taking lessons.
Having access to a piano has been so nice.
But in addition... I have also missed my erhu dearly. Figuring we would have much to carry - here and back - I decided against bringing my erhu, which means no erhu practice for 6+ weeks. Well, as of last week, I could take it no longer. So... we also found another place in town that sells and rents erhus. And I rented one for a month, for about USD $20. It's an ok erhu, but at least it allows me to keep it up while we're out here. I'm pretty sure that baby has missed hearing the erhu too.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Obsession: Rice Porridge
The place Alvin and I are subletting is conveniently sandwiched between at least 4 rice porridge places. Many of them are 24 hours and they serve rice porridge, Chinese breakfast items, and in the afternoon and night, noodles.
The porridge is very good. As the days are getting colder, I wake up and really would like some rice porridge. I have already tried two of the places already, but I talk about it a lot. I even dreamt that as I was eating the rice porridge, labor was starting. The next morning I went to eat the porridge, and nothing started.
One of the places, if you go in the morning, is all you can eat porridge for 2.5 RMB, which is a little less than 50 cents. They have quite a selection of porridge, but our favorite is the chicken and mushroom. I also like the vegetable one; it makes the porridge green.
The porridge is very good. As the days are getting colder, I wake up and really would like some rice porridge. I have already tried two of the places already, but I talk about it a lot. I even dreamt that as I was eating the rice porridge, labor was starting. The next morning I went to eat the porridge, and nothing started.
One of the places, if you go in the morning, is all you can eat porridge for 2.5 RMB, which is a little less than 50 cents. They have quite a selection of porridge, but our favorite is the chicken and mushroom. I also like the vegetable one; it makes the porridge green.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Eavesdropping
Since most people here can't tell I am a foreigner just from my looks, the people around me don't curtail their conversations thinking I am foreign. Therefore, over the last two years, I have heard some pretty funny observations about foreigners.
At the hospital in our small city, a nurse ran in and reported to another nurse what the foreigners ate at the restaurant she went to: "They had spaghetti and ice cream." The other nurse thought that was very interesting information. Since our city is very small and we recognize most of the foreigners, my question in my head was, "oh which one of my friends had spaghetti and ice cream. I wish they invited me?"
Another time, I overheard a girl tell her boyfriend that foreign guys are better looking than Chinese guys. The boyfriend kept disagreeing. He said, "some are good looking, but some of them are a little obese."
And the funniest conversation was when a girl was comparing two American movie stars in looks: Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise. The guy she was talking to didn't have much opinion, but this girl was very contemplative and brought up the adherents for each star. But, really?? Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise are not even on the same scale. Hmm, ok, so just in case I ever run into this girl again, I can tell her what the blogging audience thinks: So, who is handsomer, Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise?
At the hospital in our small city, a nurse ran in and reported to another nurse what the foreigners ate at the restaurant she went to: "They had spaghetti and ice cream." The other nurse thought that was very interesting information. Since our city is very small and we recognize most of the foreigners, my question in my head was, "oh which one of my friends had spaghetti and ice cream. I wish they invited me?"
Another time, I overheard a girl tell her boyfriend that foreign guys are better looking than Chinese guys. The boyfriend kept disagreeing. He said, "some are good looking, but some of them are a little obese."
And the funniest conversation was when a girl was comparing two American movie stars in looks: Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise. The guy she was talking to didn't have much opinion, but this girl was very contemplative and brought up the adherents for each star. But, really?? Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise are not even on the same scale. Hmm, ok, so just in case I ever run into this girl again, I can tell her what the blogging audience thinks: So, who is handsomer, Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise?
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Happy Programmer's Day!
September 13th is Programmer's Day. Yes, this is a rather new "holiday" - and really, it is only officially recognized in Russia right now. It is celebrated on the 256th day of each year.
(
(
) ) (
) (o) )
( (o) ) ,|, )
(o) ,|, |~\ ( (o)
,|, |~\ ( \ | (o) ,|,
\~| \ | (o) |`\ ,|, |~\
|`\ |`\@@@,|,@@@@\ |@@@\~| \ |
\ | o@@@\ |@@@\~|@@@@|`\@@@|`\@@@o |`\
o|`\@@@@@|`\@@@|`\@@@@\ |@@@\ |@@@@@\ |o
o@@\ |@@@@@\ |@@@\ |@@@@@@@@@@|`\@@@@@|`\@@o
@@@@|`\@@@@@@@@@@@|`\@@@@@@@@@@\ |@@@@@\ |@@@@
p@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@\ |@@@@@@@@@@|`\@@@@@@@@@@@q
@@o@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@|`\@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@o@@
@:@@@o@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@o@@::@
::@@::@@o@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@o@@:@@::@
::@@::@@@@::oo@@@@oo@@@@@ooo@@@@@o:::@@@::::::
%::::::@::::::@@@@:::@@@:::::@@@@:::::@@:::::%
%%::::::::::::@@::::::@:::::::@@::::::::::::%%
::%%%::::::::::@::::::::::::::@::::::::::%%%::
.#::%::%%%%%%:::::::::::::::::::::::::%%%%%::%::#.
.###::::::%%:::%:%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%:%:::%%:::::###.
.#####::::::%:::::%%::::::%%%%:::::%%::::%::::::::::#####.
.######`:::::::::::%:::::::%:::::::::%::::%:::::::::'######.
.#########``::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::''#########.
`.#############```::::::::::::::::::::::::'''#############.'
`.######################################################.'
` .###########,._.,,,. #######<_\##################. '
` .#######,;: `,/____,__`\_____,_________,_____
` .###;;;`. _,;>-,------,,--------,----------'
` `,;' ~~~ ,'\######_/'####### . '
''~`'''' - .'/; - '
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
One of the projects I was trying to do while waiting is to finish a book in Chinese.
So after 15 days, I finished my first book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I read a chapter or two a day, and spent from 30 minutes to an hour reading a chapter. Most people, could read a chapter in their native language in less than 10 minutes. I tried to read it extensive reading style, so I didn't check up any words unless it kept repeating itself. I pretty much understood the book, but it helped that I have read it in English before. Also, since it was a children's book, it was easier to understand.
This week, I think I will stop by a bookstore and pick out my next project. Maybe Harry Potter in Chinese?
So after 15 days, I finished my first book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I read a chapter or two a day, and spent from 30 minutes to an hour reading a chapter. Most people, could read a chapter in their native language in less than 10 minutes. I tried to read it extensive reading style, so I didn't check up any words unless it kept repeating itself. I pretty much understood the book, but it helped that I have read it in English before. Also, since it was a children's book, it was easier to understand.
This week, I think I will stop by a bookstore and pick out my next project. Maybe Harry Potter in Chinese?
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Waiting
This next month, Alvin and I are in the country's capital waiting for the arrival of the baby. We had to get here so early because after 35 weeks pregnant, we are not allowed to fly. (We did have a little bit of a scare when we were flying out at 34 and 6 days. Even with a doctor's note, the gate agents almost didn't allow us to fly.) I think we cut it just a little too close for comfort.
When we first arrived, we were sharing a place with some friends who just had a baby. They live in the same city as us, and they also just came to the capital to have a baby. We spent most of the week studying, going to Starbucks, and cooking for us and our friends. Alvin and I were in charge of almost all the lunches and dinner, and I would say everyone was pretty much fed in the end (even the baby, but not by my food).
After our friends left, we have been focusing on studying here. We also have been reading a lot, taking walks, and watching some movies from the people we are subletting from. Basically, we are waiting.
So here is a picture of me waiting around. Sometimes it look like I shoved a basketball under my shirt:
When we first arrived, we were sharing a place with some friends who just had a baby. They live in the same city as us, and they also just came to the capital to have a baby. We spent most of the week studying, going to Starbucks, and cooking for us and our friends. Alvin and I were in charge of almost all the lunches and dinner, and I would say everyone was pretty much fed in the end (even the baby, but not by my food).
After our friends left, we have been focusing on studying here. We also have been reading a lot, taking walks, and watching some movies from the people we are subletting from. Basically, we are waiting.
So here is a picture of me waiting around. Sometimes it look like I shoved a basketball under my shirt:
Saturday, August 27, 2011
1 Against 20+
Back at 20 weeks of pregnancy, the ultrasound technician at the international hospital, very assuredly told Alvin and me that we were having a girl. We even expressed suspicion, but he said, look, "here is one leg, and here is the other." The implication was that there was nothing in between.
Yet, the Chinese saying is that if the pregnant belly is "pointy" or "triangular" or "only centered in the front," then the baby will be a boy. I have heard that I was having a boy ever since I started showing.
These days, even strangers will walk by me and say, "wow, how distinct! It is for sure going to be a boy." Local friends do not believe that I could be having a girl. Friends actually pulled up my shirt, and one of them said, after looking at my belly, "no, it has to be a boy."
I have never had a single Chinese person tell me it is going to be a girl. As I look at all the clothes that have been given to us or passed down, sometimes I get worried if it turns out to be a boy. Well, game on. Let us see who is right: the one lab technician or the Chinese women.
Yet, the Chinese saying is that if the pregnant belly is "pointy" or "triangular" or "only centered in the front," then the baby will be a boy. I have heard that I was having a boy ever since I started showing.
These days, even strangers will walk by me and say, "wow, how distinct! It is for sure going to be a boy." Local friends do not believe that I could be having a girl. Friends actually pulled up my shirt, and one of them said, after looking at my belly, "no, it has to be a boy."
I have never had a single Chinese person tell me it is going to be a girl. As I look at all the clothes that have been given to us or passed down, sometimes I get worried if it turns out to be a boy. Well, game on. Let us see who is right: the one lab technician or the Chinese women.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
