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Went shopping yesterday (Saturday). The best shopping areas are around Tian'anmen, which makes it kind of fun. The current Chinese solution to the increasing traffic problem is under-street pedestrian walkways (they accommodate bikes, but it doesn't appear the ramps are wide enough for wheelchairs. Figures.) As in some other big cities, crossing major streets at intersections is not permitted. So I spent a good part of the day walking down to and through these dark corridors. Even though I can see that there are lights overhead, they don't actually cast any light on the pedestrians. Most passageways are therefore so dark you can't see faces. But leave it to the Chinese--the souvenirs sold in the underground passageways light up. I saw glowing Buddhas and Hyun Zhong brought home a light-up Tian'anmen monument.
A western food report (for those who care): While the bagels and Pizza Hut pizza wouldn't fly in the states (so to speak) (see my Pizza Hut message for details), I had a right fine chocolate glazed Dunkin' Donut near Tian'anmen and I must say the KFC smells just right. Doing some field research for Mark, I went in one to see that the menu is the same as in the US, but with less selection. The prices are close to those in the states, that is to say at least 2 to 3 times the price of a simple Chinese restaurant. The KFC is so luxurious that there's a roll of good quality toilet paper at the entrance to the women's stalls. One roll for the three stalls. And, KFC has its own souvenir shop. Seriously. I was hoping for a Col. Sanders/Chairman Mao statue, but that hasn't been made yet. I give it three years max.
I haven't been inside any of the McDonald's yet, but my spies tell me (pay attention, Art) that the Chinese treat it as they would a Chinese restaurant--they order a bunch of burgers, nuggets, fries, drinks, whatever, then take over a couple of tables and spread the food in the middle of the tables. My friend says they all share the various foods (I'll need to go in to see how they share a hamburger in a restaurant that, I assume, isn't big on knives or chopsticks) and make an afternoon of the meal!
One of you said that it sounds as if privacy is at a premium. It is. While I thrive on the small-town and international atmosphere of Beijing Language and Culture University, I must say I relish the rare quiet times when Hyun Zhong and Janus go out on the town. Many of the foreigners go out at night drinking and dancing. One 19-year-old American goes out drinking pretty much just because he can in this country. Me? I guess I'm old. I'm generally in bed by 10. I've yet to experience the exhilaration of trying to wake a building attendant and convincing her to unlock the doors and let me in.
School is getting a bit tough as the grammar becomes more complex. Many of us wonder whether there's going to be a final exam, but none of us want to (or know how to) ask. It's funny, isn't it, but I am actually worried about the final exam.
I was showing a picture of our new-ish kitten, Gromit (sorry, Jewel, for not introducing you to him earlier--we adopted him just before I left), to some friends. One American who clearly knows Chinese less well than she thinks tried to say, "He misses you," but it came out "He resembles you." Tones, folks, it's all in the tones.
My Chinese friends, on the other hand, had trouble with the kitten's name. (Yes, I know, many of you guys do, too.) One man's face lit up and said, "Oh! Like 'grammar'?" Yes, I said. Another misremembered the name as Grandpa. I'm kinda tickled by both names. So, friends, what do you think--shall we change his name from Gromit to Grammar or to Grandpa?
In 1986, I brought my own chopsticks to China. I'm pleased to see that every restaurant now uses disposable chopsticks hygienically wrapped, so I no longer need to carry my own.
[pause]
Tried to send the above message yesterday, but the power went out in the store and once it was started up again, I couldn't access the 'net anymore. My technical support here isn't half as good as my technical support at home (hi, Mark) or at Kaiser (hi, Jim).
So another message follows this one.
Love to you all.
Debra.
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