First Few Days in China

Our first day (Thursday) was met with a spectacular hotel breakfast buffet.  I love how the Chinese eat mostly savory dishes for breakfast – fabulous meat and vegetable dishes, cogee (a savory porridge) and dim sum! Many western dishes were also provided, but I am not usually a fan of the sweet carb dishes that are typical of America.  I tried to post a few pictures of the breakfast offerings, but I always forget to get a picture until I have eaten part of it! It’s so good! 

A new fruit we ate is the dragon fruit (see fruit with pink skin and black/white insides).  It is very sweet, soft and good.  I enjoy tea and have started trying the country’s popular green teas, like Jasmine.

Sam’s employer took us on an orientation later the first day and we were able to get our communications and banking figured out, pick up our luggage at the airport (YAY it arrived!!!) and go to a grocery store.  We also got to drive along some of the scenic highways along the Yellow Sea.  

There is a new mall next door to the Hotel, so we went there for dinner (as well as many future meals).

A few things to note – the Chinese people are often very friendly and curious!  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; there are surprisingly few foreigners here.  But many know at least a few words of English (which is so humbling – how many Americans know a few words of Chinese? I sure didn’t until we started preparing for this trip! ) And so much of everything around here has at least a little English.  Much is being done to cater to westerners/foreigners.  It is very humbling and makes me ashamed of how my own country can be so inhospitable to foreigners.  I have been very convicted over the years to the importance of hospitality and welcoming/opening your home to people no matter what it looks like!  My short time here has already reaffirmed that conviction!

Another interesting item in my naivete – the Chinese people here are tall!  I had a stereotype that they would be short and thin.  However then I read that north China has very tall people (some of the tallest people in the world are from China!) – men average at 5’10 and women around 5’6 or so.  It is true!  It is not uncommon to see men taller than Sam.  And while I don’t see many overweight Chinese, they do look well fed!  South China, people are shorter.  Anyway, it is interesting!

Day 2

We are struggling with Jet Lag! Waking up way too early and wanting to fall asleep much too early.  By Day 5 when I am writing this, we are still struggling with Jet Lag.  We are told we might struggle with it our entire visit.  Sam goes to work and the girls and I settle into our homeschool routine and check out the indoor hotel pool after lunch.  It is cold!  The weather here is already quite brisk!  Mornings are in the 50’s!

And for my homeschool friends who were so worried about me making my kids do actual work while in China – we did do actual work, but we did incorporate China into everything we could – reading about China, writing about China, etc.

Day 3

It’s Saturday, so we decide to go for a walk to the Yellow Sea.  Our middle child puts up quite the resistance, but we eventually get everyone to the beautiful and GIANT 5 year old Dalian Convention Center, which is next to the Yellow Sea.  We also find a rental contrivance that can hold our family and be powered by petals.  It was pushing me out of my comfort zone, but we did it and our family had a great time!  It was a beautiful day and we got in both a walk and a bike ride! 

We are working on trying to control spending with the Yuan and making sure we are spending our money reasonably and wisely.  It takes a little while to get used to making all the conversions.  And on ordering the food.  We have learned that we only need to order about 2 items from a menu and maybe 2 or 3 bottle waters (it is not recommended to drink the tap water or get ice cubes, which comes from the tap water), and we can usually split it 5 ways easily.  In China, meals are meant to be shared; they are not usually designed for 1 person like in America.

Also getting used to brushing teeth with bottle water and using hand sanitizer all the time.  And being careful not to drink shower water or pool water (which you shouldn’t anyway).  And caring our passports everywhere.  The raw foods usually look really appetizing (like salads, sushi, etc.) but we have been advised by several people to not eat them. Sigh.  We still eat fruit, but only after its been peeled.  One time when Sam and I were on a mission trip in Mexico, our hosts offered us a meal with some salad and we didn’t want to offend them, so we ate it and had TERRIBLE stomach problems for 7 days.  Lesson learned.  Don’t eat the raw stuff.

Day 4

Sunday we got to meet with other expats for a time of fellowship.  It was surreal to sing songs that we sing all the time in America with strangers all the way in China.  Some from America, some not.  And it was interesting to hear a sermon by a man of a different denomination (who did a good job by the way).  Very new experience and thankful for it.  I am starting to get an idea of what so many families living abroad go through.  It has not always been an easy transition (especially like not being able to send the kids outside to play when they are driving me crazy or getting in time with Sam or other adults without kids.  I think there’s a pattern here lol.).  And having to be careful about what we say and to whom we say it.  I am so thankful for my life in America!

By the way – Mandarin is hard!  We are practicing the words we know all the time but I still mess them up frequently!  Been using the Chinese skill app and that has been helpful.  Starting to learn a few of the Chinese Characters. 

Lots to do around here.  Hope to see a portion of the Chinese Wall some time– the closest one borders China and North Korea (yikes!).  Planning to see a Chinese Temple and the Dalian Zoo (and their Panda Bears!) later this week.  Gotta remember to bring our toilet paper and be prepared to use the Chinese hole in the floor toilets!  Been trying to mentally prepare the girls for it – we have been able to avoid it so far!

Day 5

Today we met up with Sam's coworker, Tony and visited the Dalian Forest Zoo! 

It is a national public holiday in China.  The People's Republic of China was founded in 1949 and a ceremony celebrating the forming of the Central People's Government takes place on October 1st every year. 

Sam's employer is closed in China M-W due to the holiday, so we were able to go explore.  The zoo was very busy but very nice!  Many types of animals (including the rare Pandas!) were available and in large quantities!

 Normally when I go to zoos in the US, there might be 2 or 3 giraffes, a few bears, a few lions, etc.  But at this zoo, for every type of animal they had, they would have dozens!!  It was incredible to see such a large zoo.  I couldn't help but wonder how they are able to maintain so many animals - the kids were all free and Sam and I paid around 100 yuan each ($15 pp).  It was quite the bargain!

We did have to suck it up and use the bathrooms with holes in the floor, but it ended up not being so bad. :)

It took us about 4 hours to see half of the zoo.  Thankfully the weather was nice.  Our family was almost another exhibit at the zoo.  Literally at least 50 different families asked to take pictures of our kids or family (mostly of the girls).  We took a few pictures of the girls with some of the local children:

Sam's Coworker also brought us some tasty Chinese treats like a cookie similar to shortbread, a spongy cake, and some mooncakes.  I was able to get pictures of all but the cookies.  They were gone before I could get a picture lol.  I have asked for the name of the cookies/cake and will share it when I receive it.  Everything was delicious!

Tomorrow we head out of town to see a Buddhist Temple with another of Sam's coworkers.  Should be an interesting day!