Now, I feel like I can get pretty much wherever we need to go, provided I have an address, or can find it on a map.\u00a0 I can speak enough \u201ctaxi talk\u201d (left turn, right turn, etc.) in Chinese, to guide our taxi driver, even if he can\u2019t read or figure out the taxi card.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ve figured out how to deal with most sales people, either in stores or the markets to get what we need.\u00a0 I know where to go to buy our \u201cstaples\u201d, and how to get them home.\u00a0 I know to make sure our water and electricity aren\u2019t going to be shut off.<\/p>\n
As I walk to the Marriott everyday, I\u2019m enjoying watching the people around me as they go about their lives.\u00a0 Since the New Year \u201cwork holiday\u201d has ended, the city has begun to get crowded agoin.\u00a0 Walking across a street can be a little like \u201cFrogger\u201d, wondering from which direction the cars are going to come, and if they\u2019ll slow down.<\/span><\/p>\n There are a few things I still want to explore.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t climbed on a bus yet.\u00a0 There are no bus routes\/schedules in English, and they seem dirty and crowded every time I see one go by.\u00a0 The teachers I know who have ridden, really like them.\u00a0 They\u2019re cheap (half the cost of the train), and stops are much closer to most destinations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are several markets I haven\u2019t visited yet.\u00a0 Each one I\u2019ve visited has been a little different, and there are always so many varied shops and options.\u00a0 The big lesson I\u2019ve learned in dealing with market vendors is not to bargain price, unless you\u2019re ready to buy.\u00a0 If they move down to my price, they expect me to buy it.\u00a0 Walking away at that point is really frowned on.<\/span><\/p>\n Fireworks are still going off, all day long.\u00a0 I saw a big display last night at 10:30pm, about a block from our apartment.\u00a0 The fireworks stalls are still stocked up and selling.\u00a0 If I understand the celebration, it\u2019s supposed to end after 15 days, with the Lantern Festival.\u00a0 It began on January 31, so it should be finished after February 14.<\/span><\/p>\n I went to the flower market yesterday to shop for Valentines flowers.\u00a0 There were 15 vendors selling roses and other fresh flowers.\u00a0 They were really busy.\u00a0 Roses are also a way to celebrate the Lantern Festival, so this is an important season for these vendors.\u00a0 I managed to find half-dozen roses, and a really nice vase, for about 110 rmb ($19), after bargaining over the prices for a while.<\/p>\n These three days have been pretty much the same.\u00a0 Judy goes to school, works hard, rehearses Annie during the day, and also after school, on Tuesday and Thursday.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ve been doing schoolwork, travel and financial planning, and walking back and … Continue reading ![\"IMG_0845\"](\"http:\/\/gordonandjudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/IMG_0845.jpg\")
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