Haven't Heard That One Before

Talking with Titus' preschool teacher (in Chinese). Titus is on my hip...


Teacher: You shouldn't hold him like that, it's bad for him.

Me: Huh?

Teacher: Because you're pregnant.

Me: Oh. Sorry, it's not clear -- do you mean that since I'm pregnant, if I hold Titus it could harm the baby inside my abdomen?

Teacher: No, because you're pregnant, if you hold Titus, Titus could get diarrhea.

Me: Really? Titus could get diarrhea if I hold him?

Teacher: Yes. Don't hold him.

Me: Ohh. Thank you. :)


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600 Chicken Legs

We foreign English teachers -- six of us, teammates -- at Changsha Univ. of Science & Technology, have been busy developing our hospitality skills.

This Saturday we had a dinner party for about 20 students. Two Saturdays ago just Drew & I had a party for about 50 students. Last Saturday? Lunch for 120 students!

The sophomores had an anxiety-causing standardized test on Saturday morning. To ease their minds and say "good job" we made them a big BBQ-style lunch followed by games, dancing and a showing of The Princess Bride. With our little toaster ovens we roasted 600 chicken legs! Plus we served buckets of mashed potatoes, coleslaw, mixed vegetables, bread, pineapple, watermelon, cookies and glass bottle cokes. The students appreciated it all and forgot about the pressure. A little hospitality goes a long way in this culture.









Thanks for stopping by our blog!

Drew & Rach

Please Don't Take My Veggie Market Away

Recently, the condemned buildings around our local vegetable market have been torn down, and with them, many of my favorite vendors -- my friends -- are gone. I really love this expansive veggie market. It's got a lot of nasty stuff like raw meat hanging out unrefrigerated all day, trash & sewage, blood and guts running down the uneven pavement, and slithery things like snakes, squid and turtles for sale...but I really do love it.

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Sophomore Dorm

There's four in a room.
They each have a desk with upper cabinets, but no clothes closet.
Each room has a sink for washing clothes and brushing teeth.
Each room has a squatty potty and a cold shower.
Each room has a little balcony for drying clothes.
No heat or AC.
Junior High style pin-ups of Chinese hotties and Avril Lavigne.
All the English majors live on the same floor, for a good study environment.

They really seem to enjoy dormitory living, and I'm happy to visit.

-Rach

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