1. Almost every time we have been out to eat with a group it is family style. There is usually a lazy susan in the middle of the table. Everyone uses their chopsticks that they are eating with to get the food from the serving dish to their plate - this is called DOUBLE DIPPING where I come from. You either get used to it or stay home, and I am not about to miss out on the fun so I am dealing with it (quite amazingly contrary to how Rick Dees might think Diane is dealing with it ). At least I eased into it with company friends first (you are certain THEY don’t have any germs) . Since then, we have gone out double dipping numerous times with faculty and students we just met !!!
2. There is no tipping in China in restaurants, hotels, and taxis. It has been said that a waiter will chase you down to give you back the extra money you left on the table for their tip, b/c they think you just mistakenly paid too much.
3. I am finally getting the hang of grocery shopping after being here 5 weeks. It is taking longer than other kinds of shopping. I never seem to have trouble wherever I am finding the MALLS. But the grocery shopping, on the other hand, is another story. Finding western (American) food is quite tricky, and it is not your one stop shopping. None of these stores are within walking distance. They might be anywhere from 30 to 50 minute taxi trips, and you cannot get everything you need at one store. This was very frustrating to me at 1st but I started making my lists and taking them with me everywhere I go just in case we are near one, Dick has been overjoyed to make many grocery store trips with me!! Many times after our Sunday meeting we are going passed one of these grocery stores, so we stop by for a few things. All grocery stores, except one called Metro (like Sam’s) are in the basement of a big shopping mall. The marketers here are very sharp – to get to the grocery store you have to pass through many different depts. like clothing, shoes, makeup, etc. You carefully plan how much you can take home in a taxi and you bring your own sacks to put the groceries in if you don’t want to pay for sacks. Usually you don’t buy things from multiple stores in one day b/c you don’t have a car to put all the packages in. (really rough life over here)
4. We have had 2 different sets of people over so far to eat and we are having more tonight for chili and beans – good Texas food !
5. Lots of salt and MSG are used in restaurant food. They are addicted to MSG b/c they think it adds to the flavor of food. You can request “no salt or MSG” but they try to talk you out of it, saying that the food won’t taste as good. When we 1st came this was kind of a problem, b/c we were eating out so much, but now we are eating at home many nights.
6. You have seen pictures of our western toilets in our apt., but most places (restaurants, shopping malls, etc.) do not have them. They have the squatting kind we encountered in Turkey (somehow I was able to avoid using them there). They are never furnished with toilet paper so you must carry that with you at all times (or wait until you arrive back home)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
random thoughts
Random thoughts March 22
There are no p traps on plumbing, just straight drains. So there is often a little aroma. China has an aroma all its own. And we notice it less and less. Between the street vendors cooking, the raw seafood and air pollution, and inadequate sewer you can see (or smell) why all the aromas. Remember, there are more people here in about 6 square blocks than in all of Anderson County. If in line do not leave any space between you and the next person. You will quickly be cut off by someone. There is no such thing as personal space. If you try to be nice you will get run over. People cross busy streets anywhere and will get about ½ way across and stand with cars going by only a few inches from them. There is no such thing as pedestrian rights. When we try to talk with Chinese people, most are very nice and will try to help.
Random noises like explosions are going off several times a day. No one even seems to notice, they just keep going about their business, and so do we. Bicycles are used like trucks. It is amazing what they can carry on one bike. Bikes are also equipped with loud speakers as they ride down streets advertising some business. People are frequently pushing carts collecting recycle stuff and hollering so the apartment dwellers know they are there to bring down the plastic or cans etc. Everyday you take out trash and just put it on the sidewalk near a cart and it is taken away. At night the street vendors just pile their trash in the gutters. You find it does not bother you after a while because that is just how it is done here.
When you get to a real store nothing is in the same place as it was the last time you were there. We have been told that if you find something you want you better get it now because it will not be there when you come back. And that is a fact. Sunday is the busiest day of the week and the worst traffic day.
Today the wind was blowing 40 mph making about a 20 degree wind chill. It is supposed to be warmer, highs in the 45-50 range.
There are no p traps on plumbing, just straight drains. So there is often a little aroma. China has an aroma all its own. And we notice it less and less. Between the street vendors cooking, the raw seafood and air pollution, and inadequate sewer you can see (or smell) why all the aromas. Remember, there are more people here in about 6 square blocks than in all of Anderson County. If in line do not leave any space between you and the next person. You will quickly be cut off by someone. There is no such thing as personal space. If you try to be nice you will get run over. People cross busy streets anywhere and will get about ½ way across and stand with cars going by only a few inches from them. There is no such thing as pedestrian rights. When we try to talk with Chinese people, most are very nice and will try to help.
Random noises like explosions are going off several times a day. No one even seems to notice, they just keep going about their business, and so do we. Bicycles are used like trucks. It is amazing what they can carry on one bike. Bikes are also equipped with loud speakers as they ride down streets advertising some business. People are frequently pushing carts collecting recycle stuff and hollering so the apartment dwellers know they are there to bring down the plastic or cans etc. Everyday you take out trash and just put it on the sidewalk near a cart and it is taken away. At night the street vendors just pile their trash in the gutters. You find it does not bother you after a while because that is just how it is done here.
When you get to a real store nothing is in the same place as it was the last time you were there. We have been told that if you find something you want you better get it now because it will not be there when you come back. And that is a fact. Sunday is the busiest day of the week and the worst traffic day.
Today the wind was blowing 40 mph making about a 20 degree wind chill. It is supposed to be warmer, highs in the 45-50 range.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Things about the new apt.
As you can see from the pictures of the new apt. , it is much, much nicer and very clean (totally opposite from the old apt.) We are very grateful to our father for providing this for us. It has been totally remodeled and we are the 1st tenants to occupy, so EVERYTHING is brand new inside the apt. It is not a new bldg. however. I will take pictures of the outside and post later.
The apt. is about 1000 sq. ft. and the kitchen is long and narrow (about 12 ft. x 5 ft.).
I have a lot of catching up to do since we moved and were off the internet for several days. I will do my best to write more and send more pics ASAP. We are having a wonderful time here with many, many new unforgettable experiences. What an opporutunity !! More later.
The apt. is about 1000 sq. ft. and the kitchen is long and narrow (about 12 ft. x 5 ft.).
I have a lot of catching up to do since we moved and were off the internet for several days. I will do my best to write more and send more pics ASAP. We are having a wonderful time here with many, many new unforgettable experiences. What an opporutunity !! More later.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Just to let you know......
We are learning more each day as we talk to people, that we are receiving emails through our embarq email, but you are not receiving the emails we are sending your way. I know it seems kind of one-sided if you are not on Facebook, but I have answered every email you have sent to us promptly, only to find out that no one is getting the ones I have sent. I am so sorry. We are moving to our new apt. tomorrow (M0n.) and after we get set up again on internet we are going to try another email acct. Hopefully that will work. Thank you so much for all of your thoughts of us. We are having a great experience. Our father is huge!!!
Updated address for China
After we arrived in China we learned of a little more detail to our address. We would love to receive mail from you and we will let you know when we receive any correspondence from you.
The address:
LNU-MSU College of International Business
Attn: Richard Terry
P O Box 13001 / 850 HuangHe Road
Dalian, Liaoning, China 116029
The address:
LNU-MSU College of International Business
Attn: Richard Terry
P O Box 13001 / 850 HuangHe Road
Dalian, Liaoning, China 116029
Saturday, March 7, 2009
WE ARE MOVING TO A NEW APT. ON MONDAY - PTL -
We are so grateful to all of you for thinking about us. We miss you. We will send pictures of our new apt. as soon as we get internet service set up.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Dick's thoughts on China
We are still, and I guess we always be in the process of adjusting to the culture. China is a country of contrasts. There are many nice malls and department stores. Yet much of the commerce goes on by markets and vendors operating on the streets. Chinese food is very inexpensive when eating in restaurants. You can get a good meal (if you know what you are ordering) for less than $4/person. A very nice Chinese restaurant my cost $5/person. Yet if you look for American food it will cost a lot more, $7-10 per person. Taxi rides are necessary for most transportation to good stores etc. A 20 minute ride will cost 10-14 yuan ($2-3 US). There is no tipping anyone here.
I have five classes with a total of182 freshman level students. About 60% are women. The students are very smart, but many are not as fluent in English as they should be. I love the teaching, so far. I will give my first exam tomorrow. It will be interesting to see the results. These students are very polite. Only one person in my classes has a brother or sister. They are all come from a one child family. They are from rich families. The tuition here is 6 times higher than the state universities. They are all under a great deal of pressure from family to excel. I told the class the first day of class that I was a C and based my beliefs and principles on G and the Good book. Most in the class have no religion. None have asked me anything about religion since.
The faculty is where the real field is ripe for harvest. I knew that university profs were liberal, but I did not expect the anti American sentiment to be so strong. They are all very professional in conduct and really care about these students. I like them. But I am at the opposite end of the spectrum of political and religious belief. Not all are like that, but a vast majority.
Diane and I have made contact and received some assistance from some M people. There are a lot of Americans here doing a work and also many private industry believers. We are still feeling our way around and trying to see the big picture for us here.
We hope to be moving to another apt soon, because the mold in this one we think will be soon making us sick. The paint is literally falling in flakes off the ceiling. There are numerous other issues. Diane was doing great and I am so very proud of her adjusting here. Today was not the best day. She was a little upset stomach, the commode was not working properly, the mold really started bothering her. So, if mama ain’t happy….
It has been really colder than usual. The lows are about 18-20 and the highs are 28-32. It snowed 2 days and is expected to snow tomorrow. The wind blows about 30mph and is is very chilling. We walk about ½ to a store for any real groceries and cleaning supplies. The street nearest us has only a few open markets with limited selection. It is amazing how the days are going by so fast for me because the teaching is a real challenge and keeps me occupied. Also everything here seems to get done at a snails pace. More later,
I have five classes with a total of182 freshman level students. About 60% are women. The students are very smart, but many are not as fluent in English as they should be. I love the teaching, so far. I will give my first exam tomorrow. It will be interesting to see the results. These students are very polite. Only one person in my classes has a brother or sister. They are all come from a one child family. They are from rich families. The tuition here is 6 times higher than the state universities. They are all under a great deal of pressure from family to excel. I told the class the first day of class that I was a C and based my beliefs and principles on G and the Good book. Most in the class have no religion. None have asked me anything about religion since.
The faculty is where the real field is ripe for harvest. I knew that university profs were liberal, but I did not expect the anti American sentiment to be so strong. They are all very professional in conduct and really care about these students. I like them. But I am at the opposite end of the spectrum of political and religious belief. Not all are like that, but a vast majority.
Diane and I have made contact and received some assistance from some M people. There are a lot of Americans here doing a work and also many private industry believers. We are still feeling our way around and trying to see the big picture for us here.
We hope to be moving to another apt soon, because the mold in this one we think will be soon making us sick. The paint is literally falling in flakes off the ceiling. There are numerous other issues. Diane was doing great and I am so very proud of her adjusting here. Today was not the best day. She was a little upset stomach, the commode was not working properly, the mold really started bothering her. So, if mama ain’t happy….
It has been really colder than usual. The lows are about 18-20 and the highs are 28-32. It snowed 2 days and is expected to snow tomorrow. The wind blows about 30mph and is is very chilling. We walk about ½ to a store for any real groceries and cleaning supplies. The street nearest us has only a few open markets with limited selection. It is amazing how the days are going by so fast for me because the teaching is a real challenge and keeps me occupied. Also everything here seems to get done at a snails pace. More later,
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
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