3 green bell peppers...2.10 RMB ($0.33)
1/2 kilo of tangerines...3.30 RMB ($0.52)
1/2 kilo of cauliflower...2.10 RMB ($0.33)
1/2 kilo of snap peas...3.50 RMB ($0.55)
...no long lines and a friendly face behind the counter... gotta love this place!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Walking to Work
Bundle up to brave the wind. Take the elevator down to the first floor (the Chinese don't like having a "floor zero.") Walk out the door of our building into the crisp, cold air and swirling winds, and think again about how I need to invest in a puffy, down-padded jacket like everyone else. Walk through our security gate and down through our local village market place. Many others my age and older are hustling on foot, bicycle, and scooter to get to work. Many of the grandparents are already out and about with their adorable grandchildren for a walk.
I weave through the street sweepers with their aged, wrinkled faces and their swishy-scrapity traditional straw brooms. Once clear of the street sweepers, I smell a mix of delicious and fishy scents coming from the outdoor "fast food" breakfast sellers...their tables full of tasty-smelling breads and other interesting-looking items. A few people stop by the tables to pay for their breakfast and leave with a full plastic bag of food to be eaten later.
It is at the corner of our little village street, just past the local junk food kiosk and the salesmen with their table brimming with nuts of all kinds for sale, I again reflect that I am so thankful to have a job, and to be teaching. I then turn the corner and walk down alongside the bustling Tianshan Lu. People driving fancy, black cars honk irritatedly at slower-moving 3-wheeled, motorized carts. Cars weave around each other, looking for a quicker route to their destination...although on the days when the traffic cops are out, most people behave themselves. To get to work, Changjiang Lu--another major road--must be traversed with care. Even when pedestrians have the green light, you have to watch out for those turning left onto Changjiang, and those turning right onto Tianshan, who also have a green light. Might makes right on these roads...so unless you are walking in the cross walk with a thick enough mass of people, you must let the turning cars zoom on by first, or risk having a really bad start to the day. As one of my friends said, it's kind of like playing Frogger! Once safely across Changjiang Lu, it's only half a block to the large, white gates of Yew Wah.
Just another walk to work.
I weave through the street sweepers with their aged, wrinkled faces and their swishy-scrapity traditional straw brooms. Once clear of the street sweepers, I smell a mix of delicious and fishy scents coming from the outdoor "fast food" breakfast sellers...their tables full of tasty-smelling breads and other interesting-looking items. A few people stop by the tables to pay for their breakfast and leave with a full plastic bag of food to be eaten later.
It is at the corner of our little village street, just past the local junk food kiosk and the salesmen with their table brimming with nuts of all kinds for sale, I again reflect that I am so thankful to have a job, and to be teaching. I then turn the corner and walk down alongside the bustling Tianshan Lu. People driving fancy, black cars honk irritatedly at slower-moving 3-wheeled, motorized carts. Cars weave around each other, looking for a quicker route to their destination...although on the days when the traffic cops are out, most people behave themselves. To get to work, Changjiang Lu--another major road--must be traversed with care. Even when pedestrians have the green light, you have to watch out for those turning left onto Changjiang, and those turning right onto Tianshan, who also have a green light. Might makes right on these roads...so unless you are walking in the cross walk with a thick enough mass of people, you must let the turning cars zoom on by first, or risk having a really bad start to the day. As one of my friends said, it's kind of like playing Frogger! Once safely across Changjiang Lu, it's only half a block to the large, white gates of Yew Wah.
Just another walk to work.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
First Bus Ride
I have finally taken my first step...onto the public transportation in China. Today I stepped into, paid my 2 yuan (roughly US $0.30) for, and jostled for a position on the bus. I think the 2 yuan to get across town totally beats the 40 yuan it is for a cab going the same distance...even if it does take double the time.
Now before you are too impressed, I did have friends with me who had been on the bus before, and could lead the way. Zach and I have taken the bus around Sacramento and San Francisco before, so I am not completely new to public transportation. But there certainly is something intimidating about trying it out in a foreign country. I was so thankful to have my friendly guides (or guiding friends?) with me.
Unfortunately, there were no seats available when we stepped onto the bus, and we did stand the entire 40 minute ride to our destination. This wasn't so bad for myself, with the exception that my arm was just exhausted after 20 minutes of gripping the hand holds above my head. It was a different experience for one of my bus companions, however. An elderly woman standing next to my friend found a comfortable head rest upon the arm of poor Steph. This went on for almost the entire trip, until Steph's utility as a human head rest was relieved by a man sitting next to said elderly woman who switched to leaning against the sitting man...and was practically sitting on his lap.
Yes, it was crowded, and yes, it was in some ways more of an effort than taking a cab, but all in all, it was not a bad experience. I will be taking the bus again--that I am confident of. Now I just need to convince a certain someone else to get on that bus someday!
Now before you are too impressed, I did have friends with me who had been on the bus before, and could lead the way. Zach and I have taken the bus around Sacramento and San Francisco before, so I am not completely new to public transportation. But there certainly is something intimidating about trying it out in a foreign country. I was so thankful to have my friendly guides (or guiding friends?) with me.
Unfortunately, there were no seats available when we stepped onto the bus, and we did stand the entire 40 minute ride to our destination. This wasn't so bad for myself, with the exception that my arm was just exhausted after 20 minutes of gripping the hand holds above my head. It was a different experience for one of my bus companions, however. An elderly woman standing next to my friend found a comfortable head rest upon the arm of poor Steph. This went on for almost the entire trip, until Steph's utility as a human head rest was relieved by a man sitting next to said elderly woman who switched to leaning against the sitting man...and was practically sitting on his lap.
Yes, it was crowded, and yes, it was in some ways more of an effort than taking a cab, but all in all, it was not a bad experience. I will be taking the bus again--that I am confident of. Now I just need to convince a certain someone else to get on that bus someday!
New Apartments in China Video
Hello everyone! We have a new video uploaded to our photo site. This is a High Resolution version of our Apartment Tour video.
High Resolution Video
The lower resolution is still up, and can be seen here:
Low Resolution Video
Let us know which is better, if they load ok, etc. As always, we want feedback! You can reply to any of our posts, or message us through our blog. If you cannot post properly, email us at admin@thekoppers.com.
Zach and Mikaela
High Resolution Video
The lower resolution is still up, and can be seen here:
Low Resolution Video
Let us know which is better, if they load ok, etc. As always, we want feedback! You can reply to any of our posts, or message us through our blog. If you cannot post properly, email us at admin@thekoppers.com.
Zach and Mikaela
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