China Loves

Hello, and Happy Friday! It's probably my Saturday at the moment {or late Friday night}, and more than likely I'm getting ready for one of my longest days at work. My weekends are usually Tuesday/Wednesday instead of Saturday/Sunday because the *actual* weekend is our busiest day. Since being here in Tianjin, I've started noticing more little things to be appreciative of. The 7 kuai hot cocoa {or mango green tea}, sushi in the Korean supermarket, grits in the bulk section of the big grocery store. Here's a list of little things I've come to love about China:

1. No matter how terrible my Chinese, most people have been extremely accommodating and helpful. And sometimes, if they speak a bit of English, you can usually ask how to say things in Chinese, too!

2. As stated above, I found grits in the grain section. 1 lb of yellow grits for 4 kuai {that is, 65 cents or so}. Yum.

3. A fabulous co-teacher who is patient when we have translation issues and who helps me find cheap food and great glasses!

4. Walking through street markets and finding fresh vegetables, meat {still not brave enough to buy it} and blankets.

5. 7 kuai {about $1.10} hot cocoa. Enough said.

6. Yarn stores in open air markets where nice ladies try and show you a scarf pattern. I'm not a good enough knitter to know what they were doing, exactly, but I got the jist and am working on a warm scarf as we speak.

7. The local import store that has so many things from home! I don't go often {expensive! and in general I like the food I can get in local stores and restaurants} but they now carry Dr. Pepper!

8. Co-workers who are becoming friends.

I'll admit, it's hard being so far away from family and not being able to pick up a phone and call whenever I want. And, it's cold here {brrrr!}. But slowly, this place is starting to feel like home.