The Box of Cantaloupe

I was walking back to my apartment tonight when I say a truck with a man outside selling fruit. I had seen him before but I did not have money with me, and he usually leaves before I get home after school. I decided to stop and went up and asked him how much the cantaloupe was. I want to point out that I asked him in Chinese!!! So I said 多少钱. They understood me but what ensued was not quite so smooth. They told me how much it was 二十五, which unless you know Chinese means nothing. (I hope I am writing the correct characters, if I am not I apologies for my lack of knowledge.) I knew that 二 meant 'two' and 十 meant 'ten' but I did not remember what 五 meant. Since this is China there were plenty of Chinese people who also do not speak English there to help. Two other customers started pointing and saying things in Chinese when they saw that I was not understanding the price. Others on their electric bikes or those standing near by settled in to watch the foreigner buy cantaloupe on the side of a rather busy intersection. After sometime, maybe 20 seconds, of pointing I understood that he was not selling individual cantaloupe but a box of six. I was then wondering of the price, which I understood to be two and ten which means twenty, but since I did not know the last character I was not sure if he meant two hundred yuan. Which I thought was rather a lot. The customer who had just bought his box showed me fingers of two and five so then I thought it was 250元. We finally got it figured out when he, using the cash in his hand, showed me 75元  which I thought was the price. I have him my 100元 and he gave me the 75元. I took it and the box of six cantaloupe that I just bought since I still was not completely sure on the price and walked towards my apartment. A few steps out I realized that the 五 meant five. So, he was telling me that the box cost 25元. I felt stupid for not understanding that since I do, somewhat, know my numbers. I then walked the rest of the way home happy that I just bought six cantaloupe for 25元 which converts to roughly .67 cents a cantaloupe. Now I just hope I can eat them all before they go bad. I would say for today I get a B+ for using Chinese with locals since I successfully completed a transaction.

After a few hours . . . and actually counting the cantaloupes I realized that I bought five not six . . . >_< that brings the price to .81 cents per cantaloupe. 

Mid-Autumn Festival . . . similar to Western Thanksgiving without the thanks or the giving . . .

  So . . . Chinese Festivals, if you are the typical Mid-West American or just American and I asked you to name a Chinese Festival you could probably name only one (if that and not in Chinese) . . . two if you had a Chinese friend. I am not meaning this to be negative about Americans at all, but in all honesty those in the United States tend to not know that much about China's holidays unless they meet someone who was Chinese, lived near China Town or paid really close attention to the small amount they were taught in high school. We just do not know that much since we do not encounter it very often or at all. If you do know all about Chinese Festivals especially 中秋节 and are upset about me clumping you in with a generalization, then you do not need to read this post, I am sorry for offending you, and congratulations for being so knowledgable! If the majority of you are like me, you might have heard 中秋节 (in English it is Mid-Autumn Festival) before but you have no idea what it is or even to which country it belongs if we were not talking about China. So, I will share with you my newly gained knowledge about this Festival.
  If you live in America think Thanksgiving, that is the easiest way to explain it. Now, I do know that Thanksgiving is an American things that happened because people came to a new land and it has Christian meaning in that they were thanking God for his blessings, but I want you to forget that part (this does not happen in China). So what is left when you take those elements away? You get spending time with family, enjoying each others company, while eating certain traditional foods. This part is Mid-Autumn Festival, you just need to swap the turkey for mooncakes. Every year on 15th day of the 8th month in the Lunar Calendar (which is based on the cycles of the lunar phases as apposed to the Gregorian calendar (that 'all' countries use), a solar calendar based on the revolutions of the Earth around the sun) the Festival is celebrated.
  This year, of 2015, it was on September 26-27th. Which was just a regular weekend, but in China since they still 'go' to school on Saturday was a day off of school, which made them and me rather excited. One of the reasons for the lunar calendar date is that for the festival the moon has to be full. Thus, a tradition on this festival is to gaze at or appreciate the moon.

(full moon for your enjoyment)

So, just how Thanksgiving is more of a quite family get together celebration in America, unless your the Macy's department store and want to have a parade, so is Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Every family can celebrate it a little differently just like we do Thanksgiving where some families have the traditional football game in the yard while others attend a Thanksgiving church service and eat ham instead of turkey. Here they choose not to eat mooncakes. Now you know on a very general level what the holiday is, which is all you really need to know however, for those who want to know more I will continue!

Mooncakes

  So you may ask 'what is this mooncake that you talk about?' Well, it is round symbolizing the moon and wholeness. Which connects to the idea of the family being together; once again being complete. Below are some mooncakes that I bought. It is a dense bread on the outside with a filling on the inside. The filling can be anything from spicy meats to sweet fruits. As you can see they have something written on the tops in red (which is a lucky color in China). I do not know enough Chinese to tell you what it means. Each has different writing so use your imagination to guess what it says, which is what I do most of the time . . . 

 

  The mooncakes above are baked and have a homemade taste to them, albeit a very, very dry taste. You can also get ones that are completely processed and I am sure are more unhealthy, like the one I had below. 

  When I went into stores the amounts, different packaging, types of mooncakes, so many choices it was akin to Easter candy in the United States. I should have gone out on Monday and looked for sales . . . oh well. Below are some pictures that I took of the mooncakes. The first one is of the fancy boxes that you would give people as gifts. The second and third are of the homemade looking ones were you picked what kinds you want and the store workers put them in a bag for you, which is what I did. I just pointed and hoped it wasn't spicy. The mooncakes that I bought were 8元 which is  $1.34 each. The last picture is of the stacks of extra mooncakes that were sitting out for replacements when the ones in the displays ran out. When I was buying mine they were selling like hot cakes.

  Now these last mooncakes were given to me by the school right before the holiday. They are special mooncakes in that they are ice cream mooncakes. That is right!! They have ice cream in the center and are covered by chocolate. They are delicious and officially my favorite type of mooncake.

The Legends and not Legend of Mid-Autumn Festival

  There is a story behind everything we celebrate, so it would not come as a surprise that their is one for Mid-Autumn Festival as well. The one story that I have hear the most (aka read on the internet) is this:

  Once, long ago there were ten suns that shined their light and heat onto the world. One year there was a terrible plight for humanity for they all rose at once scorching the earth making it hard to survive. However, as with all good stories there was a hero names Hou Yi who possessed great archery skills. To save humanity he used his great skills to shoot nine of the ten suns out of the heavens leaving only one to provide its light.* Am immortal in the heavens upon seeing Hou Yi's great feat gave him a elixir of immortality which would take him up to heaven to live forever with the immortals. Hou Yi however, did not want to leave the world yet for he was married to his one love and could not bear being immortal without her. He returned to his home and gave the elixir to his wife, Chang’e, to keep. It was not to end there for Peng Meng, one of Hou Yi's apprentices, knew of his immortal elixir and desire to take it for his own. One day when Hou Yi left he broke into the house and demanded that Chang'e give him the elixir.  Not wanting such a an evil man to take the elixir that her husband trusted into her keeping and ascend to the heavens she drank it herself. Instantly, she was taken up the heaven to be immortal. Since she still loved her husband so greatly she choose the moon for her resting place in heaven for it was the nearest place to earth. Upon arriving home her husband was greatly grieved that he shouted her name to the sky, hearing the voice of her love Chang'e showed herself from the moon. Seeing his wife he gathered her favorite fruits and cakes and displayed them in the yard as sacrifices to his love. Those around, hearing of Chang'e's fate felt sympathetic at the her being separated from her husband that they to gave sacrifices. Since she was now immortal they also sacrificed and prayed to her for peace and good luck. 

* alternated ending with a lot less true love: At this point the hero, Hou Yi, was made king by the grateful people, however his good qualities fade away and he become a conceited and tyrannical ruler. Wanting to keep his power and live forever he asked an immortal Xi Wangmu, Queen Mother of the West, for an elixir that would make him immortal. Since he had preformed such a great feat of destroying the suns she gave him what he asked. Chang'e, the wife of Hou Yi, did not want his cruel reign to last forever and on the 15th day of the 8th month she stole and drank the potion to keep it forever out of his hands. When Hou Yi discovered what his wife had done he shot arrows at her. To escape she fled to the moon where she has resided ever since as the moon spirit. The reign of Hou Yi did not last long for he was filled with great anger and so he died. The people, saved from the one they made king, celebrate Chang'e by giving her sacrifices on the 15th day of the 8th month. The end (of both stories).

  Take your pick on the ending you prefer (I personally like the love story but the other one has a pretty good plot line). There is one more story that I would like to tell you that took place less than one thousand years ago that has been recorded in the history books for us and I would say is as true as history one thousands years ago can be. 

  In the later part of the Yuan Dynasty circa 1271-1368 AD, the government had reached a point of cruelty that the people could no longer stand. They wanted to rise in revolt. Their leader Zhu Yuanzhang who (surprise, surprise), was the founder of the next dynasty known as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) was able to unit the different resistance forces in a combined front against the government. However, their efforts to make everyone across the empire aware of a combine date to start the revolt was hindered by the Yuan governments carefully monitoring of communication. It appeared like the revolt would not success for if everyone did not rise at once the government could stop the rebellion. It was then that counselor Liu Bowen brought forth a great idea. They started spreading a rumor too the people that a disease was going to come in the winter that would only be stopped if one ate mooncakes. The people upon hearing this began to buy mooncakes to protect themselves from such a terrible fate. However, the mooncakes were not just any ordinary mooncakes, they had a hidden message within. Liu Bowen idea was to hide a note in each mooncake that read, "uprise on the night of August 15th." Disguised in this way Zhu Yuanzhang was able to get his message out to all the resistance and on August 15th the rebellion was a success. Zhu was so happy that he then gave all of his subjects moon cakes on the following Mid-Autumn Festival and since then the custom has continued as part of the festival. The end . . . or the being of the Ming Dynasty!

My Job in China Part 2

  I have explained how I found myself going to China, what came next was a week of classes that prepared me for my time as an Oral English Teacher. So my job is not a teacher of English in the sense that I do not teach the ends and outs of English grammar. My job is to get the students speaking English in a way that is understandable while also trying to correct any mistakes that they make. I would not be the English teacher that most Americans are use to having in high school.

  I arrived at the airport around 2:00 in the afternoon following a 13 hour plane ride from Vancouver Airport to the Shanghai Airport hoping that I would be able to find the person that was promised as the way of getting to the hotel. I knew that other people from the AYC program were going to be on the same plane as myself but I did not meet any. I did have the pleasure of sitting next to another English Teacher who was with another program headed to Beijing to teach. With so much in common it is needless to say we passed the majority of the plane ride talking. So, I did not get the sleep that I should have on that flight. When we were landing all that I saw on the ground were squares of fields with plants that were, and remain, unknown to me as well as some building, quite a few having a bright blue roof. I did not see any people and it was a foggy, drizzle of a day.

  Taking my first step in China, or the ramp from the plane, I took a deep breath and once again thought, 'what in the world am I getting myself into?' Loaded down with a book bag filled to the max and a messenger bag holding my candy stash I followed the crowd. Just like customs in any other airport you have to go to the 'border' where you: figure out the correct line, stand there for several long minutes, go up the the border officer, and then hope that they will let you enter their country. I passed without a problem, except for looking a little like a deer in the headlights when he told me to look at this camera and I was all 'what camera, where?' I am sure the picture looks strange.        

  Successfully crossing the Chinese border, I then moved onto the gathering of my luggage. This was the biggest hurdle due completely to the fear that my luggage was lost. I am pretty sure that my luggage was at the end farthest from the door. I waited for at least 15 minutes in which I 'spotted' my luggages about five times. Both pieces finally appeared and I stared it down as it slowly came my way making sure that no one picked it up. It was not getting away from me!!! 

  Luggage in hand I walked towards the exit. I was confronted with many people holding signs and a curving wrap-around walk-way. I found my sign, which was held by a young Chinese man and walked around the rest of the way to reconnect. On my way I came across a young Chinese woman holding another AYC sign who directed me to a group of foreigner. We all had our luggage, were tired, and wanted showers but everyone still wanted to meet everyone else. So, for the hour we waited until the bus was there to take us to the hotel we got acquainted. There is something about people who are willing to travel half way around the world and teach that makes them more outgoing and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice and friendly everyone was (not that I was expecting everyone to be mean or anything . . .).

  When the buses arrived we all piled into it and headed towards the edge of the city where our hotel was located. I was given a welcome bag and room number, that I then took to the front desk to check into my room. I had to give the front desk workers my passport so they could take a copy of it to registers my location with the government . . . so they knew where to find me. I then headed to my room for a shower. Once feeling all fresh and clean again I went down stairs to the room they told us to go to for dinner. My first meal in China . . . was interesting. If you want to see it I posted it in the post titled 'First Blog from Within the Country,' and do not ask me what it is because I have no clue!!!

  The following days consisted of lecture style, which was the majority, and one or two short teaching demos. I took classes on Chinese culture, teaching Oral English and the methods that were helpful to use. At first all these classes seriously stressed me out. It was pretty awful, and the entire time I was thinking, 'what am I doing,' 'I don't know how to teach this,' and 'if this doesn't make me go crazy I hope I become better person.' I was my mid-life crisis break down in the Neo-Sunshine hotel in Shanghai, China. Now that that is over I will have nothing to worry about when I hit my 40s and 50s, besides menopause . . .umm . . . back to China. My classes would last from 9:00am to 4:00 or 4:30 every day. The first two days were taught through Ameson and several distinguished Chinese professors while the last four days were taught by TEFL Certified teachers. 

  On Sunday we were required to give a 20 minute mock class in groups of three to our fellow AYCers, where in we were told to act the actual age of the students the mock lesson was geared towards. This got a little out of hand for some of the presenters gave lessons that were for first or second grade students, which 20-somethings aged individuals can have lot of fun with. Luckily my class was not to bad. I had two other partners in my group and we gave a lesson on ordering food from a restaurant. After the mock lessons we had lunch, then took a multiple and short essay test to complete our training and earn a TEFL certificate. 

  Here is my lunch. I really liked reading the names under the dishes because if I had to eat them because of their name it would not happen, but it was China so I ate the Black Fungus Fried Meat.

  Throughout the week, since we were free in the evenings, many of the other AYCers went out to visit the great city of Shanghai and enjoy the cheap and sometimes free, due to our foreigner states, alcohol. I decided against the drinking for a trip to the city center, the opportunity to get a Chinese sim card, a visit to a near by Chinese Thames Town which housed a pretty sweet library and a chance to flash mob the Macarena in a square in the middle of Shanghai. If you do not know what a flash mob is you can check out this Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_mob) or watch this random YouTube.com flash mob video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQLCZOG202k). Ours was video taped but it was not as smooth or random as the one that you will see in the YouTube.com video. The picture directly below is of all of us in our AYC shirts standing around before we started our dance. As you can see we all stuck out of the usual crowds with our AYC shirts and the majority of our groups lack of Asian features.

  The next several pictures are of the center of Shanghai, The really tall purple looking tower is called the Pearl of Shanghai in English and is the thing to see, it is also in many pictures of Shanghai. It is the Willis/Sears Tower of Shanghai. 

   Here are two of the pictures of the Thames Library that I was able to go to. It was pretty amazing and, wouldn't you know it, most all of the books were in Chinese, so I got a Chinese book with pictures!

  The next day after we took the exam people started to head to their schools. I was told through text that a English Teacher from my school would be arriving at the hotel to escort me back to Changzhou and my school. I was quite nervous for I really had no idea what to expect. I meet my escort in-between the lunch and the exam on Sunday. I was not sure how old she was or to what extend she would be responsible for me during my time at the school. I was able to ask her several questions but there were so many more that I knew would be answered in time. The most important question on my list though was when exactly would I start teaching the students. School started for the students on September 1st which was on Tuesday. I was keeping my fingers crossed that I would have at least one full day to prepare. When she told me that I would start on the 6th words could not fully express my happiness. After the exam I had to sit through a lecture on Chinese regulations, which was mainly telling me that I could not legally be a private tutor and get paid nor could I spread any ideas religious or political that would be against the Chinese governments wishes. Dinner followed then a quick trip to Thames Town, back to the hotel room and then sleep. I was scheduled to leave by high-speed train at 10:04 the next day for Changzhou, my home until next summer.

Opera Singing Bicycle Rider

  I was walking home the other night from an after school run to the store for some much needed chocolates and other unhealthy American foods when I saw, or rather, heard something strange. Focusing on exactly how much of my food I was going to devour that night and how much to save for the rest of the week I noticed a high pitch singing coming from across the street that was getting louder. Taking a look to my right I expected to see someone sitting by a radio or a group of women getting ready to do their evening dances (will explain about this later) or someone singing for money but I only saw people walking or riding bicycles. I glanced up and a little bit around trying to pinpoint where the noise was coming from. After a few seconds I realized that one of the bicycle riders was singing and it was a young man at that. He was sing in a high operatic voice and making hand motions to go along with his singing. I did a double take as the singing that I was hearing and the person emitting it did not appear to me to go together in the least. Realizing that I should not be surprised by anything I see or hear I just kept walking and watched him ride away, however I did give the incident a head shake/eye roll combo.

Note regarding replying to Comments . . .

  I just want to say that for some unknown reason I am not able reply to comments posted on my blog . . . I do not know why besides that fact that life happens. So, I just want to let people know that I am reading them and I am mentally responding to them.
  By the way Mel, I have taken your advice and again tried to my hand at cooking rice, the results were much better. Deveana I do not know if you did this but I have been keeping count of the none Asian people that I have seen. Not counting the other teachers that are in the same program I have seen 3 Indian men, and 2 White men, I think one was British and the other American, since coming to Changzhou.

My Job in China Part 1

  I am going to be here in China for the next 10ish months, and I am getting paid to be here, how did this happen you may ask, I shall tell. Well, it started with an email forward that I recieved from a Professor at Saint Joseph's College. A company called Ameson or the Ameson Education and Cultural Exchange Foundation, that had been around since 1994 bridging the gap culturally between China and The United States, started Ameson Year in China (AYC) Program. Wanting to allow those with Bachelor degrees a chance to enhance their resumes as well as experience another culture while providing China the benefit of Oral English Teachers they created a program that interests and helps citizens from both countries. I looked into this program and felt that it was where the next step of my life should go so I applied to the program at the end of May. I was accepted one week after I sent in my resume and completd my Skye interview. Between June and when I left on August 22 I mostly waited. To go to China an American citizen cannot just jump on a plane and land in China, if you would do that and not have the correct paper work . . . well good luck with that. For me to arrive and work legally I needed to apply for a Z Visa. To apply for a Z Visa I need a Letter of Invitation as well as a Foreign Expert Work Permit.

  To obtain a foreign expert permit for the purpose of Teaching one must have a Bachelor's Degree, that is why only holders of such a degree can apply to the AYC program, as well as two years of Teaching Experience. These laws are recent changes in China and anyone who does not meet these qualifications are teaching illegally in China. When it comes to the Ameson program these two years of Teaching Experience are waved by the Chinese government for two reasons. The first being Ameson's twenty years of beneficial and productive friendship with the Chinese government and the second being that all participants were trained by Official TEFL instructors employed by the Chinese government earning the TEFL in China Certificate, which is the Chinese governments set standard for Oral English Teachers in China. So in short because the Chinese government likes Ameson and Ameson is making sure its teachers are Chinese government level approved for teaching I am able to forego the two years of experience, so I am here legally in the eyes of the Chinese Government. To my knowledge, Ameson's AYC Program is the only one of its kind . . . I could quite possible be wrong though. So after I received the two required papers by mail from China I took a train up to Chicago to the Chinese Consulate, (it actually was not located in the actually Consulate but a block away) and turned in my passport, required prison looking photo, and the papers from China. I was able to stay with a friend who is an impressive culinary student for one night (I was also able to sample some of her baked goods . . . they were awesome!!) while I was waiting for my visa. However, I did not do all my homework for I did not realize the Chicago Chinese Consulate no longer did same day/next day service so I had to head back home and return four days later, by train again, to pick it up. Once I had my visa in hand it was time to start getting serious about packing. 

  I carefully selected a new, and quite large suit case that barley fit international flying size limits, as well as my smaller well traveled suitcase to accompany me on my China flight. I figured out what products I was going to need a years supply of and what products I would brave buying in China, for they would have shampoo in China but they quite possible might not have the shampoo that my hair likes. So after ordering a years supply of many of my daily products as well a enough of the others to have myself covered for the first few months I set about packing my luggages. When it comes to traveling, especially for a year, there are question you have to ask yourself such as; can I really go without this sweater for a year, will I regret not bring this along, which books do I want to take with me the most, do I have EVERYTHING I will need? These questions appear like they might be simple but they are critical, in my view, for a smooth transition. Instead of freaking out over finding things you need when you need them you can focus on exploring the area around you and mentally noting, when I run out of my two months supply of toothpaste I know I can get more at this store. It is also really nice to use things that have the directions in English when everything else in your life is in Chinese, because when I am wondering how to use my toothpaste I know I can confidently read the directions and use it correctly!!!

  So, back to my journey, after my suitcases were packed and my ticket was bought I was just waiting for the date to near, saying goodbyes to friends and family, which is really difficult as well as getting everything at home figured out for the next ten months when it came to bill (aka, students loans and tax information). The thought did enter my mind that this might be the last time that I will ever see this person. But then, people can leave their house in the morning for work and that could be the last goodbye they ever give their family. So, really, it is not the person dying or that fact that you could dies that is the sad part, it is the realizing that for ten months you will not be in that other persons presence. With the increase of technology I do think it is getting easier to live distances apart. The hardest goodbye was when my parents and youngest brother took me to the airport. They waited until I was through security and could no longer see me to leave. I was then on my own, not really knowing a single soul and heading to China . . . as usually everything has worked out fine an I have now completed my first week of teaching. 

  So that is how I am now where I am below I have added a picture of China because this many words needs a sweet looking picture of China!

Giant Inflatable Bouncy Slide

  So, for the past several nights when I have walked back to my apartment after work, usually between 5:30 and 6:30, I have seen this; a giant inflatable bouncy slide. There are parents around it talking to each other looking after their children. Several times I see these cylinder looking vehicles, which I really do not know how they work. Every morning when I leave to go to school the slide is deflated and folded up. I never see it getting put up and never see it getting put away. I do think it is rather neat that this is by my apartment for families to entertain their children in the evenings.

The Red Box

  Today, which is Sunday, I returned to my desk after finishing teaching my first class and I found a red box on my desk. I thought it was rather neat and every teacher had this box. I ignored it for a little while since I had my Chinese lessons and one more class to teach. Once everything was done and I had a chance to sit down I opened this red box with a baby's face on the front. I thought the baby face was a interesting decoration, actually I did not really think about it. Inside the box was candies and sweets and this red package with two ovals inside that were vacuumed wrapped. I had no idea what they were since I could not read Chinese nor could see through the packaging. So, I decided to ask the teacher who's desk is next to mine what it was. He told me it was egg. At first this confused me because I was thinking to myself, 'did he just say egg, why would someone give a sealed package of two eggs to someone?' He assured me that they were in fact eggs, then he also told me that people do not normally eat them when they are given as a gift in China because they do not taste very fresh. This of course reminded me of the never ending fruitcake tradition that apparently is said to occur in the United States. He then, seeing that I did not understand the reason for the box in the first place, preceded to expanse its presence. Apparently, whenever a teacher gets marries or has a baby every teacher at that school is given, by the new parent or newlywed whatever it may be, a red box to celebrate the occasion. As you could have guessed, by foreshadowing that occured earlier about the baby on the front of the box, a baby was born. I wish congratulations upon the new family and now sit here enjoying the sweets, but not the eggs!

Home Sweet Home . . . At Least for the Next Ten Months

  So, here I sit, beside my window that looks out over Changzhou, China from the fifteenth story. I have just finished cooking rice in the rice cooker tonight and the end result tells me that I still need to perfect the ratio of water and rice as well as the minutes I let it cook. I am at somewhat of a loss of what to talk about, which is part of the reason I have not posted sooner. My brain would best be described as being in overload. So many things are the same yet they are so different. So I decided just write down a some ramblings.
  If at this very moment you asked what it is like to live in China the best answer I have it this: Imagine you live in a word where when you shop you must rely on the actual object or if it is in a box the pictures on the packaging to know what the item is or what it does. The cleaning supplies that you need to keep your living space presentable such as dish soap or toilet bowl cleaner you must heavily rely on picture for you do not want to mix up what is what nor can you rely on brands that you are familiar with. You want to ask a question about where an item is located, well tough luck for you better be very good at charades for I would have no idea how to go about making hand gestures for the toilet bowl cleaner, if you have a good one for that please let me know. The very appliances in your home such as your washer you have no idea what the settings are because you cannot tell the risens settings from the delicate setting. The schooling that you may have hated has given you the ability to read everything from the directions on your laundry soap to what you are ordering on a menu (ya, I have to go to restaurants that have pictures or I must cross my fingers and hope that I get something that I would find appetizing). Without a doubt you can survive but your ability to read saves much time and many trials by error. 
  Earlier today I walked to a huge mall, and by huge I mean the largest mall area that I have ever seen, about five blocks away to buy a few more needed items. I walked there, then came back to drop off my items, then went back to find a pastry shop that I was shown on Thursday. This took about three hours to do, in which I failed to find the pastry shop and also saw many, many people. In these many, many faces I did not find one face that was not Asian in its appearance. I did not realize when you leave the major cities the ethnic diversity that I am used to in the United States just disappears. Throughout this walk I was stared at by many. This feeling can get disconcerting rather quickly and I found myself quite frequently glancing in the reflecting store windows to make sure my appearance was okay. If you feel like no one notices you in life, you just get passed by without a second glance, then come to China.

  I have so many others thoughts going through my mind but I will try to get them a little more organized before I write down more. Tomorrow I start my first day of teaching so I am rather nervous. I will post more later.