from "Jasmine Tea and Jiaoz" blog As things have turned out, Ross will finally arrive in China after most of my teaching obligations have wrapped up for the semester. And it's just as well, I suppose, that he is coming when I have the time to relax, explore the city and do a little traveling with him. My time so far has mostly revolved around classes, students and doing lesson plans. The last few weeks have been particularly hectic, with individual oral exams for almost 80 students, another 35 oral exams for external clients of the school, a little freelance tutoring, a new corporate client for Business English and a one week summer camp for middle school students hosted at the campus where I work. I have a few reflections about the end of semester that I'll post in the near future.
I spent today catching up on housework and realized that, although my apartment is large and under-furnished, every available bit of horizontal space -- window sill, table, coffee table, desk, shelves, has been colonized by my "stuff." My clothes, my girl stuff, my teaching stuff, and other debris. I had to rearrange things to make some room for Ross's stuff so this can be his home as well. So he'll be pleased to know he has a nice sturdy cardboard box for a side table for his side of the bed. And there's room for his toothbrush in the bathroom. Speaking of dental hygiene, I have used up the tube of Colgate I brought from Canada and tonight I'll start my first tube of the best-selling local brand -- Darlie. Its logo has intrigued me since I first spotted it but I didn't take the time to Google it until tonight. Why is there a dapper looking minstrel-type man on the box? Why is it called Darlie? This blog post by another ex-pat explains all, but does not settle the uncomfortable and awkward feeling I get from looking at the picture. Is it racist to admire a set of brilliant white teeth contrasted against a dark complexion? I think so. But I digress.
I spent today catching up on housework and realized that, although my apartment is large and under-furnished, every available bit of horizontal space -- window sill, table, coffee table, desk, shelves, has been colonized by my "stuff." My clothes, my girl stuff, my teaching stuff, and other debris. I had to rearrange things to make some room for Ross's stuff so this can be his home as well. So he'll be pleased to know he has a nice sturdy cardboard box for a side table for his side of the bed. And there's room for his toothbrush in the bathroom. Speaking of dental hygiene, I have used up the tube of Colgate I brought from Canada and tonight I'll start my first tube of the best-selling local brand -- Darlie. Its logo has intrigued me since I first spotted it but I didn't take the time to Google it until tonight. Why is there a dapper looking minstrel-type man on the box? Why is it called Darlie? This blog post by another ex-pat explains all, but does not settle the uncomfortable and awkward feeling I get from looking at the picture. Is it racist to admire a set of brilliant white teeth contrasted against a dark complexion? I think so. But I digress.
Anyway, finallly, Ross's flight is scheduled and he's booked to fly to Beijing, arriving Wednesday night. We've lived apart for four months and one week. He's been doing his own shopping, cooking, laundry and cleaning. And he had to keep the mobile home spotless because it was for sale. And me -- all my married life, I could just hand a problem off to him -- like a flat bicycle tire, or a slipped bicycle chain, or the water hose running to the washing machine cracks and water sprays everywhere, or the mirror falls off the bathroom wall and breaks the bathroom sink -- I've faced all these little problems in China without him. And I suspect that we've both grown a little by taking on roles we don't normally do.
But on the other hand, heck, why should we grow and change at our age? I mean, seriously.
Ross's many friends threw him a surprise farewell party at his gentlemen's club, aka the Bunkhouse. He even got a cake decorated with Chinese characters. It says "farewell." This seems like a good time to say thanks to our friends like Mark and Kris who helped Ross handle all the details involved in home selling, packing, storing, and tying up the financial details. And thanks to those friends who have let me know through one channel or another that they are following the blog. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts -- we both really appreciate it as we set up our lives on the other side of the world.
So I'm taking the fast train to Beijing tomorrow. (Might as well get some shopping in before he comes). Two more sleeps!
But on the other hand, heck, why should we grow and change at our age? I mean, seriously.
Ross's many friends threw him a surprise farewell party at his gentlemen's club, aka the Bunkhouse. He even got a cake decorated with Chinese characters. It says "farewell." This seems like a good time to say thanks to our friends like Mark and Kris who helped Ross handle all the details involved in home selling, packing, storing, and tying up the financial details. And thanks to those friends who have let me know through one channel or another that they are following the blog. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts -- we both really appreciate it as we set up our lives on the other side of the world.
So I'm taking the fast train to Beijing tomorrow. (Might as well get some shopping in before he comes). Two more sleeps!
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