Saturday, August 25th: The Beginning Accomplishments

Well, I haven’t even been in China for 2 whole days, but it feels like way longer!  So far I have....

-unpacked (best way to fight jetlag when the only thing you want to do is pass out)

-gotten a health check (I may or may not have passed out after giving a blood sample.     

      Not surprising for those who know me; I DID get candy out of it, so score.)

-gotten a ultrasound. my baby is healthy.  JK!  It was part of the health check.

-met the other new international teachers at my school

-gotten a bank account

-bought a phone (it’s way cooler than yours.  not really.)

-gone on a scavenger hunt to find my local market, bakery, McDonalds, etc.

-learned the chinese character for “female” (it looks like a picnic table with a cup on it that’s about to fall over). Important stuff.

-used my first squatty potty.  Success.

-explored a flower and fish market! (My first paycheck WILL go towards a pet sting ray)

The veterans on my team have been SO incredible in helping us out and setting us up, and I’m really liking Beijing so far!  It’s different than I thought, at least where I live.  It’s not like manhattan with lots of skyscrapers packed together with thousands of cars and people on the streets.  For my Spain friends, it reminds me more of Canillejas.  We even have a little garden/park area 2 minutes away, and restaurants claim the sidewalks as their patio.

Speaking of eating out, we’ve eaten out every meal except breakfast.  Apparently, eating out is cheaper than making your own American-ish food.  Good thing I like chinese, and good thing it’s less than $3 a meal.  I do have 7 survival tips I’ve acquired relating to the dining experience...

1. Take your time positioning the chopsticks in your hand.  A good grip is key.
2. Place a napkin or menu on your lap to save your pants.  Drippage WILL occur, quite possibly on the person next to you too (sorry, Liz).
3. Once the food comes, GO for it.  Don’t be polite or take your time.  Newbies will be the slowest with chopsticks, and you will be left in the dust and leave hungry if you don’t go as fast as you can.
4. That said, be aware that you might be stuffed before the last couple dishes come.  It’s a risk you have to take.  
5. Once you find something you really like, just scoop a bunch on to your saucer plate.  It might get passed to the other side of the table, and you don’t want to risk an across-the-table grab with your chopsticks. (see “Drippage” on tip #2)
6. Ask a (nice) friend what this favorite dish is called so, when in doubt, you can order it at restaurants.  So far, I’m liking Di San Xian (meaning “Earth Three Good”--potatoes, eggplant and green peppers).
7. **I’m saving this tip for after I eat my first scorpion-on-a-stick tonight.  Video footage will probably be involved.  Stay tuned**