30-day countdown

Beginning on June 1, I will offer a daily post that showcases some of the everyday stuff we see here. Since we've been here for 10 months now, some of the things we once marveled at have become mundane. As we prepare to return home, I intend to chronicle some of these things and share them with you all. So, check back soon, and get ready to count down the days with us!

A Traumatic Day + bonus (non trauma) photo

Some of you may already know that D an I will be returning to the U.S. in July. As you can imagine, my big concern is Jameson, the cat. It was hard getting her here, and it's going to be hard getting her out. There are 10 million bureaucratic hoops to jump through, made all the more difficult because they're all Chinese hoops that are in Chinese.

So, in addition to me tracking down all the paperwork/vets/officials that I need to to get papers to allow the cat to leave the country, I've got to coerce a bi-lingual speaker to go with me to translate. Gah.

Today I had to take Jameson to a vet. In order for China to allow her to leave the country, she needs to be vaccinated against rabies. Never mind that she received a 3-year rabies vaccination in the U.S. before we came -- they don't recognize that here.

Without going into too many of the details, let me say that the lowered standards of cleanliness that apply everywhere else here apply to the vet's, too. Some things were similar, of course -- for example, corporate pet food displays. And just like at vet offices in the U.S., this one had its resident pets. Only here, the pets were kept in a tiny cage with bars for floors without food or water. Nice.

Anyway, Jameson received her shot, we got a certificate for the shot, and the next step is to go to the city quarantine office to try and procure a health certificate for the pet. Oh, to add to the fun, Jameson is reacting badly to her (probably tainted) vaccination. She's been barfing her head off. But, she is hardy, so hopefully she'll be okay.

In other news, the corn here is growing like crazy. The rule "knee high by 4th of July" simply doesn't apply. Photographic evidence (I was talking when D took the photo -- and check out my sweet sun hat that has a neck-protector flap in the back):

Runningburro, Superhero

Last night after my hour on the treadmill (hello, Wineglass Marathon training), D and I were in the Tangjia square using the ATM.

The square is a big paved area in front of a sprawling multi-story plaza. It's basically used as a multi-purpose area by everyone in the village. On the side of the plaza is a jumbotron television that broadcasts Chinese T.V. at night. So all the locals sit squat in the square and watch some telly, snack on meat-on-a-stick, and so on. In one area off to the side, couples dance for fitness. During the day, the dancing area is used by kids as a skating rink. There's a pool table area, too, where the local dudes rack-and-break while sipping beers and smoking, smoking, smoking.

The square is also home to a few carnival (knock-the-the-bottle-over) type games, a big inflatable trampoline cage that's always over-filled with little kids, and mini go-carts that kids can rent and drive around. As you can imagine, this is all quite hectic. Oh, did I mention that it's also used as a parking lot?

Anywhoo, I was waiting for D to finish his business at the ATM, and I was watching this little kid play with an inflated balloon. This kid was mobile, but he wasn't able to talk yet, so he was pretty little -- baby-ish. He dropped his balloon on the ground, and the wind kicked up carried the balloon across the square away from him. He protested, "EEEEeeeeeeeeeeeee!" His mother looked kind of distressed.

BUT, guess who was standing exactly in the path of the renegade balloon? That's right, me! My super-aunt ninja training skills kicked in and I subdued the balloon and handed it back to the kid who wasn't even old enough to be all, "hey, mom, foreigner!" He just smiled. (His mom thanked me profusely).

It's nice to be of help, especially when I feel like I always the one who needs help around here.

People power

One of the most fascinating developments in the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake is the grass-roots response it has encouraged. Everyday people are organizing on their own to provide relief and support. This might not seem like a big deal to those of use in populist countries, but it is a big deal here. Sentiments like this one (quoted in this article) probably make the central government here nervous:

“I haven’t done this [spontaneous volunteering] before,” said Mr. Hao, 36, as he straddled his mountain bike on Saturday evening. “Ordinary people now understand how to take action on their own.”

The college at where I work is organizing its own support. It's planning to raise money to build new schools. And the students here have decided to hold a talent show to raise money.

Apparently, tents are the most needed item right now. Official numbers place the homeless population in the earthquake region at 5 million. Can you imagine?

If you want do do something to help, take a look at this list. It was compiled by the NY Times, and it's a pretty comprehensive overview of charities that are working to alleviate the hardship of those in Sichuan province.

There are also some ideas in the comments section of the post. For example, one commenter claims that habitat for humanity will be in the region helping to rebuild homes.

Open your mouth, and close your eyes . . .

This sign was posted in a Hong Kong Starbucks. Any guesses as to what the nice surprise is?

Well-adjusted? Moi?

I took an online quiz called "What Kind of Ex-Pat are you?" It's designed for those of us in China. If you're curious, here is how I scored:
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Your Result: Well adjusted Ex-Pat --

China might not be everything that you expected, but you can accept it for what it is. After all, it would be no fun if you knew everything before you came, and it's not as if China is being like that just to spite you.

China has it's good points, which are very good, and its bad points, which you don't dwell on.

You also accept that you can't really make much of a difference and so you don't really try all that much.

You have a small collection of open minded Chinese friends with whom you can talk openly about touchy topics, but, for those who are not open minded, you know not to press the point too much. All in all though you are more interested in hearing about them and China, than in telling them about you and your country. And you have no intention of spoiling a good friendship by inserting your foot into your mouth for the sake of a debate.

You can speak some Chinese and, even if you are not very good at it, you still try. When you get home, you will show off your Chinese language skills to your friends.
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I'd say that this is mostly true except for the language part. I do know some Chinese, and I do use it on a daily basis, but it's nothing that I could "wow" my friends with.

China Quake Photo "Essay"

This photo essay has been posted online. It's not for those with weak stomachs or sensitivity to carnage. The images are no worse than those that we saw after Hurricane Katrina, but those images were heartbreaking.

There are several bright spots. First, people are being very generous with their money. Our college alone has collected a sizable donation for the relief effort. It will be handled by the Red Cross in China. Second, the world-famous Giant Pandas seem to have escaped harm. Those critters are already on the endangered species list, so it's a good thing they didn't get smooshed.

12,000

That's the current death toll from the massive earthquake that hit Sichuan province on Monday afternoon. The only effect we've felt here is emotional; a number of my students are from that province.

Some of the details are particularly devastating: 900 students buried under the rubble of one middle school; thousands of workers killed in one factory. It boggles the mind.

Scarier still is the hand, foot, and mouth disease tearing through Anhui and Guangdong province. That's a bit closer to home. My colleagues with small children are a bit worried.