I have thought about writing several times this week, but for one reason or another, I haven't had a chance to sit down and put "pen to paper," or in this case, fingers to keys. It's been busy, but it's been good.
Last Monday, I celebrated my thirty-second birthday. I had been sick all weekend, badly so, but Monday I felt "ok," and so I ended up having people over that evening. A few of my girlfriends from work came over and one baked a cake for me. I had some wine and veggies out with the ranch dip I had brought from home (the packets with which you mix sour cream). That was a big hit. I later found out you can get those packets here, so I'm feeling even better about locating items of "necessity."
One of my newest guy friends, someone I "met" on Facebook while still living in the states, also came over. I enjoy hanging out with Enrico because he's Italian, but also because he's hilarious. As a matter of fact, he just texted me and asked if I had plans for the next 32 hours, who says that? FYI, Enrico is married and our friendship it totally platonic. He just cracks me up. My other funny friend, Antoine, was at home in France, so he didn't get to make the party, but luckily for Enrico, a colleague and friend of mine, Cecil, later joined us. Cecil got double brownie points that night because, a) he brought me wine from Puglia, and b) he helped me figure out how to use the surround sound speakers in my flat. I love when boys are around to fix things!
Tuesday through Friday went quickly and very well. We hadn't had school on Monday because of the mid Autumn Festival, so the short school week flew. My kids took their MAPS test this week, wow, and we had lots of other things going on. I did my fun Oreo lesson for moon phases to relate to our weather kit and the Moon Festival. The children really enjoyed that.
I had an appointment for physiotherapy on Thursday and randomly, several other friends from work also had doctors appointments that day so we all went together. I had my first acupuncture, only on my lower back though. I asked if I could find an ice pack anywhere in China and my therapist said, "maybe in Hong Kong." Wow, I have to go to HK to get an ice pack for my back? I just told Mom not to worry about sending one because I was sure I could find here. I suppose I'll be making my own out of ziplock bags for a while.
When my gal pals and I finished at Global Doctors, we all headed to One for the Road, an English pub I hadn't yet visited. Carlsberg were buy one get one free for happy hour! I actually had a really tasty barbecue chicken sandwich and chips, which was enough for two meals, so I took the "dao bao" for lunch the next day.
After school on Friday, I was exhausted, so although the gang was heading to Murray's (recently renovated and painted a strange pistachio green rather than the dark green of Ireland's pubs) I opted to go home. I had been to Murray's on Tuesday for the soft reopening. The manager there, Matt, allowed Cecil and me to make a new playlist for the bar, so we worked a while on getting all the Dave Matthews, Allman Brothers, and other good Southern music we could together on a flash drive, but wouldn't you know we couldn't get our Macs to convert correctly for the bar's Windows computer. We'll have to sort that out later. It wasn't a total bust; we had all the Tiger beer we could drink for free (I had three) and dinner. I finally got the fish and chips and they were quite good, despite the rumors I'd heard.
At home last night, I ordered pizza from my fav delivery spot, Pizzeria Calzone. I had a nice 12 inch pizza with tomato sauce and mozzarella, covered also in onions and proscuitto. Yum. I drank a couple of beers and saved half my pizza for lunch today (I had also had a Tuscan salad for dinner, so I didn't need all that much food).
This morning I woke up rather early, 6 am, but not so uncommon here for me. I called Mom and chatted for a while, then T'Lene (my sister). I texted with Edgar (my brother) and then got to work cleaning my apartment. I haven't hired an ayi yet, but I think I may try to get one to come every other week and help with ironing, etc. I think especially now that my friend, Katy, is coming for a month, it'll be nice to have an extra set of hands for the laundry if nothing else. It takes over an hour to wash. If I'm drying the load, it takes over three hours. Hanging things to dry is great, but then they're really stiff, so everything has to be ironed. It's life, and I'm used to it from Ireland and Italy, but still, if I can afford to have someone iron for me, I will. I will have her mop too, because the short little mop I use every weekend is killing my back.
After all the cleaning was done this morning (clothes still hanging to dry as I write), I went out on the bike to check out a place called the "Factory Outlet." I'm not sure if that's the real name or what the expats call it. It's behind All Good, the super market where I spent over $150 on groceries last weekend and had them deliver to me. Yeah, I don't think I mentioned the fun from that afternoon. In the pouring down rain, I road my bike home and had the groceries brought to me later. When I pulled up to the door to get off my bike, I stepped off to one side but forgot to turn the bike off first, then I slipped in the water and my hand hit the "gas," so forward we went, bike and I. I landed knees first, then chest, and slid into the entryway like I was sliding into home base. I looked up, humiliated, and saw that my security guard was luckily NOT there. I laughed out loud, got up and took the bike inside, pride and knees bruised, but not too badly. I just giggled honestly; what else could I do?
So the "Factory Outlet," as I was saying, is behind All Good. I went in today and was so pleased to have discovered this place. It's three big "stores" in a pretty abandoned "mall." I bought about $40 USD worth of items including a cookie sheet, some kitchen utensils, stickers, Halloween, Easter and St. Patrick's Day decorations, and a lamp with a paisley shade...very me, very T'Lene. I was also very happy to see other items there, like a tailgate chair. This place is by no means nice, as a matter of fact it's not air conditioned and it has things lying all over the place, covered in dust, but there are some great "TJ Maxx" type finds. I'll be back for sure. I was surprised, too, that the lady spoke English.
After shopping, I came home and dropped my off goods, then went back out on foot to check out the gym next door. Yesterday, on my own, I had gone by the management office at the apartment building and asked for a new door swipe card for when Katy comes. The guy spoke very little English, but between the two of us and our hand gestures, I was able to ask for what I needed, pay, and understand that the next day I could pick up my card from the security guy. I love my doormen...they are so cute. Today, I went down after dropping off purchases, and said “Ni you meiyou?" I wish I could add the correct accents so you'd know how to say that, but it's essentially "Ni yo mayyo?" It means, "Do you have?" Then I added "zheige," pronounced "jigga" for "this," and pointed to my card. He said something in Chinese that I took to be "what apartment number," so I wrote it down and voila, I had my extra card! I walked away with the biggest smile on my face..."xiexie" I said, and went on my way.
The gym near my apartment is called Tiger, and is a great big place with all the equipment one could need and several rooms for hot yoga, pole dancing, ahem, hip hop dancing, spinning and other classes. There's also a juice bar and a wine bar inside Tiger; yes, a wine bar.
The two young guys who helped me were very kind, although neither spoke much English. They seemed quite taken with me though, and were so polite they even walked me out of the gym. I'll be back, although it costs 2,980 RMB (that's $496 USD) and has to be paid up front for the two year membership.
I had planned on going with a few friends to Corner's Deli at One Mall this afternoon, so I left the gym and came home to shower. We all headed out around 3:00. I'm the only ISD employee in my building (one of four towers), but there are other expats here. I took the elevator down with my next door neighbor, Danny from Hungary. He and I have only met one other time, and I feel I should reach out more. He is sick now, but I've noticed in general, he has take out A LOT. Maybe I should make the poor guy a home cooked meal. I certainly can do and love to.
Two of my colleagues and I went by taxi to Corner's, which until today, I hadn't visited. I was in Heaven. I'm sorry, but I like food, I love to cook, and I really enjoy entertaining. As a matter of fact, I'm having a group of ladies over on Monday night and I'm making homemade guacamole and creamy chicken enchiladas for us. I went a little crazy purchasing things, much like last weekend at All Good, but my pantry is nice and stocked now. I bought De Cecco gnocchi, two things of Swanson's chicken broth, frozen chicken breasts, spray for rinsing fruit and veggies, tortilla chips, organic broccoli, avocados and bell peppers, raisons, oatmeal cookie mix, a baking dish, two things of cream cheese, a bit of parmesan, some Colby Jack, heavy cream, packs of taco, onion, and ranch mix, then some wheat and spinach soft tortillas. Oh, I got some "American style" sandwich ham too. I spent something like 800 RMB and got a VIP card, so I can go back on Wednesday's and get discounts, and I'm hoping have other perks too.
I'm back home now listening to Spotify, thank goodness for internet radio, and writing this blog. I made myself some noodles earlier with soy sauce, red chili pepper, garlic, and ginger powder. So yummy and so easy. I threw two pork buns (they also have spinach inside) in the oven and had those when I wasn't quite full. I don't have chopsticks at my house yet, and I honestly felt funny eating tonight's dinner with my fork.
I am heading out for game night at a friend's house shortly. It's so nice actually, because another person said earlier today that she was really glad I was here (with another one of the newbies). I responded like my Aunt Sandra would, sarcastically, but I am totally thrilled that I have found great friends here and I'm grateful for all the experiences I've had in the short two months I've been in China. I thought about this earlier this week, and I know I'm still really new here, but I think I'll miss Dongguan when I move. I don't want to be here forever, and two years might be just about as long as I can take it, but I honestly love my job, my home, and my group of friends here. I miss Charleston, Dublin, and Milan, but for now, China will do.
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