The return of Jesse

By now, we were all falling into a rhythm, like it or not. This was not anyone’s normal routine, but it was our routine. Despite the obvious issue of not having our family or friends close by, there are also a number of creature comforts we must go without. One of which manifested itself 2 days ago, and somehow I forgot to mention it. You would think I am busy lecturing and instructing and working 14 hour days or something. Why does this have to be salary, again?!? This small problem we had is laundry. Obviously spending a month in China would necessitate the need to do laundry. Hotels do this, no problem, right? Well, our hotel certainly did it. And they also charged an exorbitant amount to do it! How does 15 yuan ($2.50) for a pair of socks or underwear sound? What about 30 ($5) for a t-shirt or pants? Or even 35 (close to $6) for a shirt? Surely I can’t be serious. I am. Let’s just say that it was a total of 328 yuan ($55) for me and over 700 ($120) for Paula. Again, I am completely serious. We could have gone shopping here and purchased the same clothes we just washed for at least half the cost! There is one thing to provide us a chance to catch our breath – we aren’t paying for it. Regardless, there is something very wrong here. And unless we buy new clothes, there isn’t a damn thing we can do about it. Ludicrous. So now you are all caught up, at least until I remember something else I may have forgotten!

Today was more of the same from yesterday, lots of lecture in the morning, skills stations in the afternoon. We are starting to become more adventurous, as evidenced by my McDonalds excursion yesterday. In this respect, Paula had to go to a Starbucks. One of the translators, Leo, knew of one real close. So Paula, Leo and General Dave went. They got americano’s, I had them get me hot chocolate and Paula also purchased some coffee mugs. There was supposed to be pictures, but we forgot. It happens. They also said this Starbucks was in a mall, and there was a KFC there. Boom. We would be going there again. Creature comforts, and the comforts of home are necessary. We need them because we all miss them terribly. If we can’t be with family and friends, then dammit we would have something from back home!

We now interrupt your regularly scheduled blog to bring you an excerpt from Paula! 

Paula adding in after reading the blog for the first time:  1) Sound like a lot of drinking and eating?  Well, yes.  But mom and Lena, don’t worry. J ha!  When the doctors come to toast, they use liquor….and we use a tiny bit of wine.  We can’t handle anything but that, or beer.  So, no we are not getting drunk…I promise.  Jesse is taking care of us, and making sure they respect our wishes.  So needed to make it clear that I’m “technically”, not keeping up.  Ha ha, don’t want you to worry.  Plus, it makes me want to smoke.  And check this out, I am a nonsmoker now.  Woo hoo!   2)  Mom, guess you know know what you’re getting from Starbucks. Ha. I was giddy as a little girl, when I finally had my nonfat, Hazlenut Latte!!!!!!!  Note, to Nick…..no more telling them what I buy.  J  And, thank you for keeping everyone updated.  This blog is fantastic.  I miss everyone, but this experience is like none other.  I know we will miss it here.

P.S.  I still hate the toilets.

…..and now back to the regularly scheduled blog!

Skills stations were fun, with a lot of hands in skills. The students even placed General Dave in the KED, and did a standing takedown of me. Paula had a small issue with telling the students to move their “junk” in the traction splint station, but they all blurted out ‘testicles?’ Hearing Chinese say certain words in English is quite hilarious. I imagine this is the same phenomenon as when we try to say something in Mandarin and they all laugh. That happens often. Very often.

After class we went to the Chinese buffet at the hotel with Jesse. He showed up at the 120 center about halfway through the day. Having him around is great. He tells us so much about the Chinese and certain areas that aren’t what they seem. Consider me enlightened. As much as we have loved the people and our experience has been positive there is a lot going on behind our linguistic capabilities that is very disheartening. Apparently, everything here is money driven. If a man asks a woman for a date, she can ask how much money he makes and what he would provide for her before accepting. Jesse says that though love exists, their concept of it is convoluted. For a father son relationship the father feels that I raised you, paid for your food and clothes, you will do what I say. You will take care of me later. It is more about possession than love. Father possesses son or daughter. Husband possesses wife. No displays of affection. I could not live here, and that is a big reason! It certainly helps to understand this culture and the people we come in contact with. I even actually found a dessert I like! It was like a lime flavor custard type consistency and was placed in a tiny shortbread cup. I had several. Jesse tried to get us to eat ‘Chinese medicine dessert’ that was made from grass. It looked like jello, but tasted like grass. No bueno. Welcome back, Jesse! I know you will have us eating more interesting things soon!