So last Friday I met Jimmy from the company at 9 in the morning to go the the police station on the otherside of the city. I lost my camera over 2 months ago, but recently got a "receipt" for it from Jessica. So we went to a Police station near my Uni here where the camera 'got stolen' on 'Thursday' in a 'shop' near the uni campus where I 'live'....Luckily the Police didn't speak English so took Jimmy's description with no further questions from me. I had a Police report written but had to go the the main office to pick it up. Like everything in China it was shut for its 3 hour lunch break so I said goodbye to Jimmy and met Vikki near the Beijing Zoo because we heard there were good markets there...It's a lie, or if they are we found the wrong ones because they were not much fun and we got pretty sick of being stared at.
Had the rest of the day free so jumped in a taxi and went back to the good old faithful Silk Market where we met Rosie and her Mum who was leaving the next day. Vikki and I ended up buying some singlet tops for travelling and some Polo's and ugly sports shorts that were long enough to still be appropriate at the Kindergarten. This is because the last few weeks haven't dropped below 30 and although I brought plenty of summer stuff I didn't take into consideration the Kinder and I don't think they'd appreciate bordies and a singlet...Also the chinese population doesn't seem to beleive in the importance of deoderant (nor have I seen a single female that isn't sporting a wonderful bush of hair under her arms no matter the age!!) As it's near impossible to find and very expensive, so i've been sweating it up in 33 degree heat in jeans and long sleeve shirts dancing around singing Little Peter Rabbit had Fly apon his Nose!!!
This week has been much better in the way of heat with my trendy sports shorts and Polo!
Vikki came back to mine and the Maid wasn't home so I decided to become a bit domesticated and try a chinese dish I'd seen her make...very complicated including anything in the fridge that is green and egg and alot of oil...It was going fine until the maid walked in and looked like she'd been hit by a bomb when she saw me cooking in the kitchen! we still don't know if she was overly happy or overly angry but she couldn't help but take over then proceeded to cook us a whole extra dish as well! we watched a movie then wandered down the street to the local market where we saw a yukky fight and even though fights make me sick to watch the chinese men trying to punch looking more like slaps did bring a smile to my face. Don't know what it was over but there were bicycles, and skirts, and market junk flying everywhere as they attacked.
Had dinner down a little side alley that when you don't know whats safe you just say mientiao - noodles, which usually ends up being the biggest and best bowl of noodles you've ever had even though you can see in to the disgusting little kitchen and watch the man with tiny dirty hands rolling our noodles himself! Two bowls along with Iced teas cost 17yuan which is about $3!! I love street food, and we're hoping to keep that budget up on our backpacking adventure in July!!
Saturday was Chinese...the last class before the test. We all think we're going pretty fine until you actually hear anyone speak at their normal pace and we realise how little the ability we have to actually hold a conversation.
Sunday I woke up to singing out my window...and noticed a row of men standing out the front of the realestate chanting and singing some form of chinese music. I soon realised it was the relestate employees, no one blinked an eye and I remembered this isn't the first time I've heard them. I laughed to myself imaginging all the workers in Australia having to sing out side before the work day begins. I took a photos but it was from my window so a little far.
I also cut my hair off. I noticed a hairdresser near the community a few days ago and after a bit of an impulse decision walked inside and asked if anyone spoke English. Obviously not but I'd gone to far to back out. I knew 'long hair' in chinese and said. "long hair not very good" and acted cutting it. It worked a charm and an hour later walked out with much less hair then I would of liked as the guy just kept snipping away and there was nothing I could say to stop him!
This week I heard that the principal (who can never be pleased) now has another bone to pick with me....supposedly my accent is incorrect! My accent being the only English speaking accent in the school??!! apparently it's not North American enough and I am saying words incorrectly! hahaha All I could do to stop myself burning the whole place down was laugh...Anyway!!!....only 28 days of teaching to go so they can put up with a good old aussie accent till then.
Mum and Dad arrive on Sat morning and Tomorrow I'm meeting Vikki and Rosie in Chaoyang Park for a picnic as we've basically done all the touristy things in the city.
your hair is beautiful!! I want a maid...
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