This morning we visited a family's home. They live in an apartment that they have purchased. The size of the apartment is very similar to the size of my apartment that I rent but a different arrangement of the space. They purchased it for over half a million dollars and it would rent for $6,000 per month compared to my apartment renting for $600 per month. The cost of living is so much more in Shanghai than in Lincoln.
I showed them pictures of my daughters and talked to their daughter. I was able to show her a picture of my daughter's bedroom and she allowed me to take a picture of her bedroom to show my daughters. Her favorite color is purple and her bedspread had pinks and purples in it just like my daughter's room is decorated in pink and purple.
The daughter has a pet hamster which she let me hold. I didn't realize how much faster hamsters are than guinea pigs. Luckily, I was sitting down and holding him near my knees when he scrambled off my hand and fell to the floor. The daughter and her friend were laughing and screaming as the hamster ran under the couch and then around the room. The three of us from UNL, the two girls, and the two dads were all trying to catch this little hamster!
We made dumplings with our host family. I rolled out the dough they made, we placed pork and celery in the center, and then we sealed the edges. The mom then boiled the dumplings and we ate them with vinegar and soy sauce. I rolled out some dough and it was very similar to how we roll out tortillas in my family. Carrie rolled out dough after me and the woman asked, "Do you do much cooking?" Carrie and I laughed because Carrie doesn't cook and I do and the woman picked up on that after just one dumpling each!
This afternoon we visited the Shanghai Museum, did some shopping in another market area, ate curry Japanese food for supper, and took the Metro back to our dorm. Today was just as busy as two days ago but we walked slower rather than rushing through everything. I felt much less stressed. I didn't get to see the whole museum but I'd rather see some of it at a more relaxed pace than to "see" it all at a rushed pace that I couldn't enjoy what I experienced. Likewise, I didn't see all the stores at the market place but what I did see was at an enjoyable pace.
Today I bought training chop sticks for my daughters. They are chopsticks that are held together at the top so the kids can learn the squeezing motion without dropping one of the sticks. These are held together by a Hello Kitty figure at the top; my girls will love these! Then I found a set that I wanted. The woman wanted 100 yuan. I had seen them yesterday for only 25 yuan so that's what I offered her; she, of course, said no. She came down to 40 yuan as I stood there saying no. I paid for the Hello Kitty chop sticks and still told her no. Then Carrie asked how low she'd go if we each bought one. The woman said 40 yuan. We then talked her down to 30 yuan each! It was so much fun and productive!! That's $5 for each set!
I asked one of the Chinese students what the piece is called where you rest your chop sticks so they don't get the table dirty. She pondered it and asked another student and they decided it is just called a chop stick rest. We all laughed at the simplicity of the name!
I am tired of Chinese food. I just want some crusty bread and some of my normal foods. I am tired of rice and tired of spicy foods. I am tired of steamed or boiled breads. I am tired of struggling to get food to my mouth, but I do think I am getting better at chop sticks.
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