To begin:
How cold is it in my house right now? It's cold enough that I'm sitting here in sweatpants, socks, slippers, the same hoodie I've been wearing since Thursday (yeah yeah it's gross) and the hat that Gina sent with pom poms on the top, wrapped in a blanket. Just for the record, I did not teach class in this outfit. I changed.
It's cold enough that in the mornings, I get up and get dressed as quickly as possible and then put on a coat and sit around wrapped in a blanket until I have to leave. Well, I've reached a new low. Since going to the mirror would require me to leave the comfort of my blankety cocoon, I've started using CD's as mirrors. They're not that flattering--kind of like fluorescent lighting--but it's good enough.
Before you start feeling terribly sorry for me, a good chunk of the problem is not that it's cold. It's that I'm a wimp. I have three times as much body fat as a Chinese person, so I don't know what my problem is. I come to class in two or three layers and a coat. My students come to class in track suits. Whatever. I have no problem being the ridiculous-looking foreigner.
I bought a crock pot and a heater today. I am moving up in the appliance world! My crock pot has a terra cotta...well...pot. It's absolutely fabulous, and I'm very sad that it doesn't fit in my suitcase. I tried. I'll enjoy it while I can and bid it farewell next summer.
I got boxes today from my mom and Gina. (THANK YOU GINA! I was soooo excited! And THANK YOU MOM! But you already know that.) I got a ton of socks, a hat, mittens, fruit snacks, a scarf, Chapstick, clothes, shoes, tuna, chocolate, beef jerky, slippers, letters, and a bunch of other stuff. I made it all the way to the real mayonnaise and dryer sheets at the bottom of my mom's box before I started crying.
A few boxes ago, I got Mark's hoodie by mistake. In the most recent box, I got one of Laura's shirts, probably by mistake :) Sorry Laura! I seem to be taking a collection of clothing from the family. If you are missing a clothing item, I probably have it. And I'm not sending it back, suckers! :) I love having things that belong to you guys close to me. It makes me think of you.
A note on Chinese bus drivers/taxis: Riding in Chinese buses and taxis is a little like what it would be like if you handed a 7-year-old the keys to a car and told them to have at it. But I don't see too many people walking around missing limbs, so I guess it works.
Remember how last time I told you I found Dove chocolate in the grocery store? Well, we also found Snickers. But when we went to the register, they wouldn't ring up and they wouldn't let us have them. They could've gone to look up the price, but I think they are imposing a diet on us. It was funny. I'm sure it was even funnier to see the looks of horror on our faces as they put our Snickers next to the register instead of in our bags. Next time, I'm fighting for it. I'll just keep saying, "Wo yao!" (I want!) until they give in and walk the thirty feet to do a price check :)
Well I am off to sign for my salary and beg Charlie to fix my light, drain, and electricity. I have no doubt that it'll be a conversation to remember. . .
posted by Sara @ 11:09 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home