I just had the most unique lunch. I decided to get out on my bike. The journey took me about 12 minutes by bike away from home in a familiar direction. I parked the bike, walked another 10 minutes or so until I saw a few words in English, “Dumpling house.” I walked in to see no more English. I waited in line to order some food with the lady behind me literally grinding against me. There is no concept of personal space here. It’s a hoot! My turn meant that I pointed and smiled and shook my head side to side. After pointing at three (two too many) side dishes the young attendant pulled a menu out with some English on it. Whew! I ordered and paid for 6 large dumplings, a huge bowl of black bean soup, and three large side dishes of vegetables. Next I walked my little slip (after paying nearly $4.75) 12 feet to the kitchen window and waved it until the young lady with a face mask on took it and poured my bowl of black bean soup. If I did not wave the slip I would still be standing there. Here I must speak up to get attended to. It appeared that the onion and pork dumplings that I ordered were still cooking. While waiting I thought about how difficult it would be to go back and get my sides. I also enjoyed the view of the three young men making dumplings from scratch behind the young lady filling orders. Everyone wears masks and hats in the kitchen.
The line never seemed to get smaller or larger. The folks waiting to order were standing 10-14 deep. All of the three rows of 4 tops seemed to be full. Each row had 5 or so tables in it. The folks waiting for their orders to get filled – along with me- always seemed to be three deep. Once I received my steaming hot dumplings and bean soup I went back for my sides. They were gone so with a smile and a bunch of pointing I received them again. I took my food to a table that had not been cleared. I straightened up the two trays and then they were quickly taken away. I was not sitting for five minutes before an older gentleman sat with me. My soup needed salt but I did enjoy it. Because I ordered enough food for two people I took half of the soup and four dumplings home. The young lady at the food window neatly packaged my extra dumplings and soup for me after I had finished my greens and two of the tasty breaded dumplings.
I still don’t have internet in my apartment. The landlord finally (after I spent 1.5 hours biking round trip and $32 purchasing a new router) said that internet is extra. I went to the management office- They took $38 more and today I’ll go (attempt to) return the router. Saturday or Sunday they will call to install my service. I must be there. Those are my two big play days. By Monday I’ll have internet in my apartment and all will be better. It’s not stressful. It’s humorous. It’s a tick.
In China the rules are made up as we go along. On top of it all- the folks here are so nice and warm and friendly. The foreigners living here are so educated and hard working. I love it!
I’ll bust out the camera again this weekend and get more material for a new video. I feel as though I am definitely getting better at the video editing. In the meantime I am working on my websites, planning a buying spree, and working on my record keeping/ accounting stuff. As of right this moment I don’t want to ever leave. The food is good. I’m experimenting by trying new foods regularly. I had a massage two days ago that I slept through. They tell me it’s really good when I sleep through it. I don’t know about that one.
“They” call “them” ticks. I like to break “them” into more categories. Sometimes the “ticks” are positive, sometimes they are negative, and sometimes they are just what they are…. “ticks.” “They” are folks who are not originally from here. “Them” are things that occur on a regular basis. Examples are plentiful. Yesterday I enjoyed Tex-mex food with my Texas friend, Chris, in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. We figured it most appropriate to do so. The menu that we received was reasonably (enough) priced. It was lunchtime and Chris had been there before at lunch. He asked (more than once) for the “lunch” menu before it was brought to us. The prices and selections were fantastic. The regular menu was at least twice as expensive as the lunch menu. They appeared to be hiding the LUNCH menu from us at lunch time. This is one example of a “tick.” Once the margaritas arrived, we added our own tequila from the bottle we brought in with us. Nobody said a word to us about it. We left our bottle on the table for all to see. This is another “tick.” These are normal occurrences here. Different people adjust entirely differently to this environment. I find that with a bunch of patience and a really open mind it’s fun and fairly stress free. The transplants are extremely intelligent and hard working. The locals are warm, friendly, and extremely hard working.
I purchased my own bicycle in order to never have to take a cab again here. I now take five minutes to get to the grocery store by bike. The city just got a great deal smaller to me. With my subway pass and bike I now get to go anywhere relatively quickly. The two hour cab rides (for me) that go a distance of 4 miles or so are history. I also found a park near my temporary residence. It’s lovely- photos to follow.
After a little more than a week I feel settled and adjusted to the time. I have noticed that the food I miss from home is iced tea, chips, and salsa. I can find iced tea, chips, and salsa here so I’ll be fine.
My daily routine is still getting figured out. I enjoy the challenge. My productivity level increases daily. The computer button punching is good. Without my central Texas distractions I get so much done. It appears that a foam party will occur here in ten days.
Chris, Karen, Meagan, Craig, and I rode bikes through Beijing for nearly three hours before arriving at the Strawberry music festival in Tong Zho. (sp) To say that its way out there is an understatement. The experience was exciting, fun, and stress free. For the return trip we packed all five bikes into a minivan and sent them back into town with Chris while the other four of us cabbed it back. The vehicle ride back into town was nearly thirty minutes. There are two options to view the video evidence of the adventure. Click here for the mobile me version or view below for the photo bucket one.
We did listen to music for a few hours before heading back home. I am still having trouble finding a place to have regular internet service. I do need that do work on several of my projects. I also need to get my own bicycle.
Friday I visited with Thomas at the Apple store Genius bar. It was such a foreign (Austin, Texas) experience. The place is identical to every other Apple store.
More photos of my apartment from the outside.Sharon and Elizabeth are two of my new friends from my hiking group. Tracy – Lucy’s friend, is the real connector. She and Elizabeth are buds.
Today, Sunday, I am going to the Beijing Strawberry music festival with Chris, and a bunch of new friends. Our bike ride through the city may last an hour as it is way over ten miles. Tomorrow for the May day holiday I’ll be cooking with friends at somebody’s apartment. My dish will be gumbo! I slept in til almost 6am this morning.
Photos of the temporary residence prove that I now have peace of mind. Come visit! I mean it. I purchased kitchen and bathroom supplies already. I intend to get the local experience more than in times past.
I just made the walk from my apartment to the Village in about 7 minutes. There is a fruit cart right outside my building. I think I’ll even hang things on the wall…. I thought the jet lag skipped me but I have just noticed that after sleeping through the night I am ready to sleep again at about 11pm Texas time. That’s 30 minutes ago. I am working through it by staying up and active.
I ate a most wonderful local dinner last night. I got my own subway pass. I spent two hours in a cab today going what seemed like about 10 km. That’s enough to make me sick. NO more cabs for awhile. I love to walk and I love the subway. I’ll call Tracy (my connector friend) this evening. I also need to see Steven, my new bowling buddy. They are both courtesy of Lucy.
I am GLAD to have my own place. It’s walking distance from all the social stuff for days and nights. I walk to a grocery store too. I am attending a Strawberry music festival this weekend in Beijing. You can google it. There is also a car show that I may pass on.
As usual there have been some road bumps and I take them in stride:
cell phone was locked and not working; I tried the back-up phone- no battery- paid $5 and got a replacement battery- no charger- got a charger- free – now the original phone got “unlocked” so it works fine now – the old sim card expired – I had to get a new one- no big deal – I spent 2 hours today in a cab going about 5 miles – That drives me CRAZY and I get car sick. It’s a strange culture here- It’s cool to ride in the car. The subway is so much quicker- I got a subway pass. I’ll be using that when I am not walking from now on. With my slick apple computer it is nearly impossible to get it hooked to the internet. It’s a bit frustrating. I’ll get it corrected to have internet in my apartment- otherwise I’ll spend days in Starbucks- that’s right – all the way to Beijing to spend hours each day at a coffee shop- I don’t even drink $5/cup coffee or free coffee.
In the grand scheme of things- I am getting settled in Beijing. I know my way around – I have cash in pocket- I am all good. As soon as I figure the Apple computer/ internet thing I’ll need a new challenge- maybe I’ll leave it as it is.
That’s it for this very moment. I am also finishing up a (potentially) very large project. All good things.
Right now I am down in the lobby using a cable out of another computer that I plugged into my laptop. I already purchased soap, shampoo, a knife, cutting board, fry/ boil pot/ pan and a few cleaning supplies from the supermarket. I also bought towels
I arrived nearly 24 hours ago. I was TIRED by the time I fell asleep. It was past 10 pm Beijing time when that occurred. The journey to get here lasted nineteen hours from the Austin airport to the Beijing airport. My trip from the Beijing airport to my first night’s stay lasted another hour.
I am now in the process of finding a residence for my time here. The first one that I picked out fell through. I’m not scared. Also, my old China phone number expired. My slick phone that I thought I would use is locked. These are all small issues. I had trouble getting on the internet for a good while as well. Again, all small issues compared to other goings on around the world.
As of this moment I have a phone number and phone that both work. I am using the internet on my computer, and I am about to meet with a person to discuss my temporary residence. This evening I have exciting plans. I will attend an auto show tomorrow, have dinner with an old Austin friend Friday night, and then experience a local music festival on Sunday with more western friends.
In the meantime, my video editing skills will get better, the Partymachines.com website will get a full on overhaul, and several other projects will be tackled.
Photos will follow. The most important part so far is that I am safe. Secondly, I slept through the night and remembered where I was when I awoke.
All sorts of things come to mind as I prepare for my next adventure in China. Each trip over gets more exciting and comfortable. This time I arrive during my busy season in the U.S. so it will be more challenging for me to be okay being away. As always, I am challenging myself to be more productive (work and play) than the last trip. I imagine the warmer (than January) weather allows for much more opportunity. My living arrangement will be much more “local.” I move into an apartment versus a hotel this trip.
My hiking trips will occur each Saturday. I intend to be bowling at least each Sunday, and I will explore more on Sundays as well. A Cinco de Mayo celebration will occur with my fellow Texans in Beijing. Photos to follow….
I arrived home in Austin on February 4. 61 hours after that I flew out to Orlando to exhibit at the American Rental Association’s annual conference and trade show. We watched the superbowl at a restaurant in Orlando. The week following the ARA we attended the ACA show in Denver. The Denver trip (from Austin to Denver and back home) was 41 hours in total. We arrived home about midnight on a Thursday, slept at the warehouse, and unloaded a container of Chinese goods the following Friday morning.
I stayed in central Texas all the way from February 19 through March 5 before heading out to Chicago for a three day weekend full of social media lessons and a meeting with a large distribution company who may distribute my foam machines.
Right now I am sitting at the Chicago O’Hare airport waiting to board a plane home to Austin. Tomorrow, Tuesday, I head out to San Antonio for a three day show with the Snowman. I intend to be home in Austin for the five weeks following my San Antonio trip.
Sharon and Elizabeth are two of my new friends from my hiking group.
