Life with a driver...

Looking from afar -- life with a driver seems wonderful...conjuring images of elegant dark limosines. The reality in China is usually a silver mini van (so much more practical...) and a deep appreciation for the skill that's involved in staying safe on these crazy Chinese streets.

But the days of hopping in the car and scooting to Walmart are over. We try to plan our days... Often, John and I leave together in the morning -- he goes to the office and I go to my language class. We can communicate numbers fairly well (I say fairly because poor Yan Shifu has gotten the wrong info from us -- the numbers 4 and 10 sound very similar).

We try to be respectful of his time -- he works 6 days a week. If we're going to a late dinner, we'll often take a cab home.

Yan Shifu has also become my language teacher in the car. He's so proud of me when I get something right...and he'll drill me until my tones are perfect. I get an image of Megan with Madeline...who at 10 months is also learning words...smiling -- encouraging. Meg says Madeline can understand more than she can say -- just like me!

I can't wait until I know enough Chinese to chat in the morning, "How's Mrs. Yan? What's Yan Yan (his daughter) up to? Does she have a boyfriend? Does she want to get married in the park across from our apartment and have the reception at our house?" The usual stuff...

It should be easier...cleaning supplies

First-- imagine me buying cleaning supplies. And if you can make that leap, imagine me stumbling through the colorful chaos of the Chinese grocery store. How I miss my darling Kim and Wanda! They took such good care of us.

But even I couldn't bear to move into our new apartment without making sure the bathrooms were clean. Yes, bathrooms. John was concerned -- he thinks the fact that I'm nice to him is related to the fact that I've never done any housework....

Thanks to the field trip with my Berlitz teacher, I knew where to go in the store. What I didn't know is the day before Chinese New Year is the day before Thanksgiving in the US...times 1.3 billion people!

I was squinting at the endless Chinese bottles of chemicals when I heard a quiet, "Mrs..?" It was Yan Shifu! John told me he calls me Mrs. He followed me into the store to help. And I did just fine -- including a fairly elaborate pantomine to describe paper towels for 8 darling clerks-- you try it!

And yes, I survived my cleaning of the bathrooms. And yes, John's taking me for a lovely dinner tonight to erase the memory.

Tuesday is the big move!

Meet the New China

Most of my friends are Chinese. My Berlitz teachers are now friends --and I had lunch with some smart young girls from the office -- also new friends.

It's been a wonderful way to understand China a little better -- and here's what I've learned. Young Chinese people are smart and work hard -- 6 days a week...7 days a week. When I was working, I helped the company hire the next generation. It gave me a unique perspective on seeing professional potential. And believe me, my Chinese friends are special.

Meet Zhou Ling. She teaches me Mandarin. She lives 10 hours away from her husband and family so her son can have a better education in Beijing. She teaches lessons seven days a week. Before coming to Berlitz, she taught English in a Chinese middle school -- 60-90 students per class was typical. She's smart and she's humble...the sacrifice for her son is worth it.

Meet Angel Zhang and Jessica Ren. These young women are the backbone of my husband's office -- and besides other things, they provide critical support for the expats living here. They're pretty, fashionable and speak perfect English. They both came to Beijing from other parts of China -- the Middle Kingdom's version of Mary Tyler Moore.

Angel is going to teach me how to make dumplings during Spring Festival when John's back in the US. Jessica is headed home to inner Mongolia to see her parents during the holiday.

These girls remind me of our girls back home. Their perfect English makes me despair that I'll ever learn Chinese.

This is the new China -- exciting, growing -- filled with smart, educated, hard working people.

Good Luck Beijing! The Olympics begin for us

We've just attended our first "Olympic" event! The swimming finals in the fantastic new aqua stadium called the Watercube. It's completely translucent...looks organic. And like all things in China, its shape and location has a second meeting -- it's right next to the "Birds Nest" the new area where the opening ceremonies will be held. The Birds Nest is round...and represents Earth. The Watercube is square and represents Heaven. It is the coolest thing ever!














What sweetness there is here in China! Walking into the venue, everyone was working hard and using their Olympic English. "Welcome. We're glad you're here. Have a nice time..." I used my Olympic Mandarin and asked a guy where we could buy tickets -- that's a huge accomplishment in my world.

It was an international swimming final -- and all the Olympics finery was there. A team of girls marching in precision step bringing the small boxes to hold the swimmers sweats. Medal ceremonies -- complete with flag raising and the appropriate national anthem

China had a special compeition for the girls who would be part of the medal ceremony...they had to be lovely, graceful and 5'6" tall. The sports crowd was also educated -- in the past, Chinese sports enthusiasts would cheer madly for their own athletes and be less than gracious to visitors. But today was all about cheering and courtesy.

After our Watercube adventure, John and I went to a classic Beijing restaurant for noodles -- the waiters shout at each other and the food is amazing.

We're going to get tickets for other advance events at these incredible Olympic venues...tickets for the Olympics themselves are impossible to find.

Grocery Store Madness

It had to happen -- eventually, I needed to cook. We've been here a month. And to cook, I must understand grocery stores in China.

It would be simple to go to the store that sells expensive imported food -- but like everything in China, there's a unique energy in the local store.

China is the most colorful place I've ever seen -- even the buildings are decorated with neon. The grocery store is no different...vibrant colors -- and images that are hard to recognize.

The store is decorated for Spring Festival -- Chinese New Year -- red and gold. This is the time everyone gives gifts...money for luck in special red envelopes.

They eat differently here. But it all looks very fresh and appealing...if you avoid looking too closely at the meat cases where you'll see various animal appendages and an occasional pig face. Who knows? It might be delicious...

And in case you were wondering -- I did actually cook some chili...perfect for a cold Beijing day and a taste of home. But I remembered to use only bottled water.

We may be tasting home...but we still live in China.

Our New Apartment in Beijing

We've been staying in a temporary apartment in Beijing while our furniture takes the proverbial slow boat to China -- but it's almost here.


I had a chance to see our new apartment -- amazingly, my cousin Nora...who did the interior design on our house in Peoria -- helped design the new kitchen. From New Orleans to Beijing -- the global community! She found the perfect cabinets -- Hongse (red) of course. I'm so happy with the results.

The apartment is sunny with lots of windows. It overlooks the largest park in Asia -- the Olympics Beach Volleyball will be played there. There's also an amusement park -- specifically we gaze upon a huge bungee jumping platform...though I doubt either John or I will be tempted to take the plunge.

First step of Faith

In the new China -- Christianity isn't illegal...but evangelization is. As we chat in language classes, my teachers talk about horoscopes...lucky numbers...how your blood type can determine what type of person you are. I sit quietly and try to get a better perspective on what being Chinese really means.

Priests in China call themselves "teacher" and instead of Mass they organize a "party". To go to a Mass sanctioned by the Vatican (the Chinese Catholic church is under the government), you must go to a service at another country's embassy...and show a passport to prove you're not a Chinese citizen.

I joined a rosary/prayer group (called a cell) -- and met a wonderful group of new friends of faith...many of whom live in the same apartment complex as us. They're all from the Philippines and Malaysia. They love my name Ning...it makes me one of the girls!

First, we sing the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. It's the same service from EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network -- the global Catholic satellite station) I used to watch every day before work back in Peoria! Then we lift up specific intentions and pray the rosary together. I was moved when one woman specifically prayed for husbands on business trips -- John is having his own adventure here in Asia.

Last night my new friends invited me to their apartment to watch the tennis match! It was like being back in the dorm in college. I actually yelled Hooray after they called -- We had a marvelous time drinking a glass of wine together.

Every day is different...every day I learn something new.