Camping

My life the past month has sort of been like camping. The city is fixing the main water pipe running through the city, so they have had to turn off the water supply to my area. Sometimes it's a short time (8pm-10am), but at times it's been a much longer time (8pm Monday- 2pm Thursday). It sure makes life interesting when you don't have any water in your home. I went to Andy and David's place to shower. I went to the bathroom in the subway (about a 3 minute bike ride away), and I never cooked so I didn't have to do dishes.

Once, the city even brought a fire truck to my complex so we could fill up buckets of water and use it in our homes. It's like I'm camping...

Then, this morning I woke up and had no electricity! Yikes! Good thing I'm adjusted to life in China. If this was my first year, I would have a hard time with this no water, no electricity thing.

Since it's like I'm camping anways, I decided to do it for real (ok, not really, but I did sleep in a tent the other night) A friend from study is a student at Wuhan University. It's technically my school, but I don't often teach there. He invited a group of us to sleep on top of the old old library in celebration of Mid-autumn festival. It's a time where people celebrate something (to be honest, I'm not sure what) and look at the moon and eat mooncakes.

So, we rented some tents and made our way to the roof. Once we were set up, we played some games, at some snacks, and chatted. I was about to go to bed around 2am, but then some people wanted to dance. I joined a little, but soon crawled into my tent. At about 4am, everyone else decided to go to bed. I fell asleep soon after and woke up 2 hours later from old people doing their morning exercises... It was a short night, an odd night, but an interesting night!

Our "campground"

It's actually on the roof of a current dorm

My tent on the left

The other tents. Altogether about 30 people or so camped out

Year 4

One of my former FoCers asked me how year 4 was going... I didn't say much, just "year four is crazy. So comfortable and so much to do." Let me expand on that.

What is year 4 like? I'm still in a foreign country and things are different and hard at times, but year 4 makes them easier. I "lost" a few good American friends this year. It was hard coming back to Wuhan without them. However, losing them has forced me to find support in other places. When I first came to China, I never thought I'd have a close Chinese friend. I didn't know if I ever wanted to. I didn't want to have to deal with the issues that are difficult to talk about, especially with a different cultural background. That has changed. I now have a number of good Chinese friends. We talk about a lot of things and help each other in life. So, year 4... it's growing closer to those friends.

Year 4 is also so comfortable. I've been told many times that I'm like a Wuhan native. I know the city better than some Chinese who have lived here their whole life. I've had many opportunities to explore this city, so I'm thankful that I know it so well. It makes me feel like I belong, like I can go places I need to when I need to. So, year 4 is... comfort in the city.

I think the biggest thing I've noticed the difference though, is comfort with others. I've met so many different people, had so many conversations, been in so many situations, that working this year will be very productive. I'm not fighting nerves, I'm able to do things naturally.

I can't believe I've lived here 3 years already and a fourth one has already started. There will be lots of great opportunities this year. Thanks to HIM for keeping me safe and sane in this crazy would of millions of people!

Menus

Ordering food in China is a little different than America. When you sit down at the table the waitress follows you, hands you one menu, and stands there. She is waiting to take your order. You pick your dishes and tell her immediately. The whole table eats the same thing, which can be nice because you get a variety, but also not, if you don't like the same foods.

Sometimes the menu is hanging on the wall. You just walk up and tell the lady standing nearby what you want to eat. Those are harder for me because it's almost guaranteed not to have English. However, most menus don't have English so us Americans just start yelling out foods that we know and see if they have them there. :) I love eating out in China, it's relatively cheap, mostly good, and a great time to chat with others. Sometimes you accidentally order some strange foods and it makes it an unforgettable meal!

on the left: wood ear with mountain medicine (the white stuff- not sure of the English name, but this is the direct translation) it's a delicious dish! on the right: Duck... very hard to eat since it was mostly bone and skin, but still good tasting.

Here is the menu on the wall.

Walk to School

I moved from one of the busiest places in Wuhan to another one of the busiest places in Wuhan. This means lots of people and LOTS of buses! Here are some pictures of my typical walk to and from school. I no longer have quite as many options for transportation, but I still have the subway which is by far the most convenient. It's been raining, so I haven't been able to bike, but once it's nice, I'll do that again too!

The buses are lined solidly on my road every morning.

Traffic is at a constant stand-still. I therefore, take my bike or subway!

These cars are also at a stand-still and since the sidewalk is under construction, this is where we must walk.

Sadly, I didn't get any people walking with me. There were others!

Once off the subway, everyone tries to exit. You get used to gliding around to avoid all the people.