The Diaries

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March 15, 2009

3.15

Posted by Kelly

The title of this diary entry is actually the title of a holiday in China. From what I gather on March 15th the government allows citizens to buy appliances at a discount and offers good warranties. So, if something you bought on this date broke, you can take it to court and get a refund. It seemed like a weird holiday, but a good deal? Whatever the holiday is, it sure drew large crowds and there were lots of festive dancers to watch!

On Saturday I did go to the Downtown area with Evian and another FESCO employee. Unfortunately the city tour bus doesn’t begin until May 1st, so we did our own mini tour. We walked around Shanghai Square-- largest square in China. It was really nice, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it wasn’t so windy. I was numb to the bone after we finished walking around and taking pictures. You also have the opportunity to rent bicycles to ride around the square, but I’m pretty sure the wind would have blown us over! Maybe that would be something to try when it’s nice and warm outside.

After our trip to the square we warmed up by eating a hot pot lunch. This was my first Chinese Hot Pot experience. The food was very good! A hot pot is where you get your own individual pot with a burner. They put in a few vegetables and a liquid which has milk and bone marrow? I’m not quiet sure, but it tasted OK. We then added our own sauces to make it more spicy. After it boils you’re ready to add pieces of raw meat and vegetables to cook. The meat consisted of pork or sheep cut into really thin pieces so you don’t have to let things cook too long. I’m not sure if I cooked my meat all the way, but it tasted really good, so I figured it would be OK.

After our filling lunch we decided it was too cold and too late in the day to stop at more scenic spots, so we went to IKEA. Dalian is home to the largest IKEA store in Asia, and the 2nd or 3rd largest in the world! I’ve been to the IKEA in Chicago and Minneapolis so I was curious to know how they compared with each other. Surprisingly the IKEA store in Dalian is exactly like the store in the states! I was fun to walk around see all the Swedish products. I did buy a good smelling candle and a cute clothes hanger that looks like an octopus (that sounds odd, but it’s really nifty!).

By the time we got back to DDA it was time for grocery shopping and signing up for my gym membership. After eating enough Hot Pot for a week, a gym membership is a great idea! I didn’t actually use the facility, but on Monday I will give it a go.

On Sunday morning I met with my English student, Chen. We had to meet later than usual because she had a math class on Sunday morning. Can you imagine any American 8th grader getting up early on a weekend to go back to school to study more math?!?! I think the requirements for grade school and high school are much more demanding than the American school system. Chen (in 8th grade) goes to school from 7am-5pm Monday through Friday. She said her classmates usually stay up till midnight working on homework! I told her that reminded me more of college than grade school! She also commented that Chinese colleges and universities aren’t as demanding and you have a lot of more free time. We got into a long conversation how we both agree that when you’re young you should be able to have free time and have lots of fun instead of waiting till we’re old and go into retirement.

We spent the morning walking up a scenic trail on a mountain side. It was such a good day to be outside-warm, sunny, and only a slight breeze. On the top of the mountain there was a big bronze ox. When I say big, I actually mean Huge!! The story behind the ox is that it early in Dalian’s history many people tried to inhabit the mountain side. Wars broke out and the land was becoming too populated. Finally a leader (the ox) took over and said that no one should live on this mountain. So, now it’s a beautiful place to visit. (Or at least that’s what I remember of the story!  )

After pictures by the ox we walked down the other side of the mountain to walk on the beach. The beach isn’t one where I recommend a good swim, but it was nice to visit. They had a few carnival rides, billiards, sea weed pickers, and even wedding photos being taken! There was a lot going on!

After my meeting with Chen I met with my friend Joanna to chat and eat dinner. It was funny to think that we met in an aisle at the grocery store just a few weeks ago. We have so much in common! Who knew? She promised to take me to see her University, meet some other girls from her school, and even KTV! KTV = karaoke. Now I have an awful singing voice; I think dogs would even complain. So, I hope I don’t embarrass myself too much in front of Joanna’s friends. I did warn her though!

For dinner we ate meat with tofu, a cold dish made of cabbage, cucumbers, tofu & carrots, dumplings, and cooked eggplant. All of it was delicious!! Again, I left feeling wayyy too full! Another good reason to head to the gym! I thought it was funny-we got a 2RMB discount since I was a foreigner. I wonder if I can use my foreigner-status at all restaurants??  I guess being the outsider has some advantages!