The Arrival

Picked up my new Guzheng today, isn't she beautiful! Sounds amazing. I feel like I should apologize to her because I'm still learning ;-)



When I improve a bit more maybe I'll let you hear her too ;-)

励志警句

"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it"

Buddha

Tiptoe through the tulips

Amsterdam? Pinch me am I dreaming? Nope, I'm still in China! Well, that's what it felt like today when we ventured, not very far, infact, stayed in Yichang and even stayed in my part of town. An international flower exhibition that they somehow manage to keep running for something like 6 weeks.

It shows of their agricultural/horticultural skills and shows an amazingly impressive array of famous flowers from different parts of the world.




You could even wander around and check out the water grown vegetables and how the green houses work.

Very interesting, a really HUGE display of many different areas and a massive splash of colour to what can sometimes be a rather grey environment.



Like I said, you could easily be forgiven for thinking you'd somehow entered the twilight zone or teleported to another country...or even at least rocked up to some spectacular in a big Chinese city such as Shanghai or Beijing.
Well done, Yichang. What a breathe of fresh air.

Australian Easter in China

My last post mentioned habits I've formed since arriving in China...I guess it works both ways. Look at the girls enjoying their Easter Eggs whilst watching "The Wiggles" compliments of Grandma and Grandpa in Australia and of course "The Easter Bunny" :-). This morning I walked onto the balcony to see Carol eating Cocoa Pops (She often eats cereal like Cornflakes, Fruit loops etc) for breakfast whilst Nettie ate bread, butter and vegemite ( a taste which as she puts it"her body has now totally accepted" :-)
Back to Easter...The girls seemed to really enjoy themselves searching for Easter eggs and decorating eggs...and of course eating the Chocolate. Most Chinese people have heard of Christmas but very few have heard of Easter.

China habits good and bad?

Actually I'm not sure if I have posted about this already at some time, but I often think about it so it maybe warrants a mention, in case I haven't :-)
As I was skipping over the wet areas on the pavement yesterday, it made me think about what other Chinese habits, good or bad, that I have taken on.

The avoiding of wet areas on the pavement thing may sound a little strange to those not accustomed to life in China but it becomes kind of obvious why when you live here. The same logic also sees me take of my shoes and don a pair of slippers upon entering the door of my apartment, which of course is probably a much more familiar custom for you to read about :-)

Unfortunately along with the Chinese people I often wash my hands much more regularly than is probably considered normal. At first I found it funny that no-one in Macca's would touch their hamburgers etc with their hands, always holding everything in the wrapper, but now, I fear I follow suit...BUT...If I go to Macca's I usually order a big Mac, which comes in a box, not wrapped and I use a little bottle of sterilizing soap (the kind that you don't need water)...BUT....failing all that(if I forget the soap)...I don't worry about it as much and just eat the food :-)

Still on food, I now drink soup from the bowl instead of using a spoon (sorry mum ;-) and I too spit any bits of bone etc onto the table near my bowl if there is not little plate provided to put it on.

I can't bring myself to eat the skin on fruit and vegetables anymore...ie apples, pears,potatoes, tomatoes etc. They just won't do it here, which makes me think...why??? is the fertilizer and pesticides really that bad that it doesn't even wash off?When in Rome... but let me tell you peeling grapes is not my idea of fun and unfortunately I'm lazy enough that it puts me of eating much of the stuff when i know there is so much preparation to get it in your mouth.

I use old traditional Chinese folk remedies for minor ailments...often turning to steamed pear and rock sugar for coughs or brown sugar water for women's problems :-)

I seem to sometimes come out with strange mixtures of Chinese and English when I talk.

I'm a little obsessed about if I'm warm enough, people here are always constantly say "Make sure you keep warm". The weather here in Yichang is so changeable that it's not unusual to see people walking around in a down coat when the weather has hit 25 degrees +

I'm sure there are many many more, which I can't think of right now. Ahhh the things we do!