So much to report that I don't know where to start?

It's been a few days and the only excuse I have of why I haven't written on the blog is just plain craziness! So, today is the kids second day of school. We had orientation on Tuesday and the kids seemed pretty psyched about starting school and yes, Momma was psyched too! I love my children, PLEASE do not get me wrong! I just love my alone time too! and I have been on Momma duty for months and ready for them to start school and not hear the fighting anymore. Maybe the Chinese have it right with the one child policy? hmmmm, nah, I know they are loosing up on that too because supposedly there is going to be way more men then there are woman in the near future and the Chinese are starting to freak out about that from what I understand. Anyways, lets get back on topic.

So the kids had their first day of school on Wednesday and not much was planned for Asia's first day. She reported they did a lot of "team building" activities and getting to know your classmates things. She did get her locker which was one of the things she was most psyched about when we chose the Dalian American International School vs. the Maple Leaf International School. She was however, a little disappointed in the one she got. She said she got a bottom one and it was smaller than the others. But then she was quick to report that at least she got one because they ran out and some kids did not get one. Guess she is learning to look more on the bright side than prevously. Thank goodness! She is being tested in math today to determine where she is going to be placed and wanted to brush up on her terms so she would be placed in the higher class, such the over achiever! Today she will get her schedule and tomorrow the actual instruction begins. Javi reported he enjoyed his first day and was happy to report there are only 15 kids in his class. Javi said he met a few friends and was looking forward to the next school day but NOT manadarin class. He had his first lesson on the first day and said "it's HARD!" however he already has his numbers down which is the only thing they went over. How is that hard if he got it on the first day? I told him I was really counting on him to learn all he could in Manadrin because he and Asia were going to be translating and negotiating for me! I know he will be an asset to have when I am shopping because already many Chinese have come up to him and touched his hair or smiled at him because of his light eyes and blonde hair and him being a boy is a bonus with those features! I know it sounds bad to be plannining on using him for negotioations but it's ruthless here when it comes to deals and price! It's that what we had kids for anyways? to help us and do what we do not want to? hahaha...

What did I do the first day I was kid-less you ask? What else? I went shopping with my friend Linda and her driver, David. Now I had planned on using our driver since it was my idea to shop because I needed a few things for the house and wanted to get some stuff and just plain get out of the house! But Linda really does not go anywhere without her Driver David and now I know why. He has great English and is a good driver. She really does count on him as her right hand so to speak and definitely her voice when it comes to speaking to the locals. Linda and her husband have been in China a year already and she does understand a lot of chinese and also speaks some. She calls David her day time husband and he laughs and smiles when she says it to him. He is married and I think he knows like any many no matter what nationality they are, easier to agree than correct. David took us down to the "Korean Market" so I could look for dishes, I left ours in AZ because I hate them and did not want the weight for shipment plus I wanted to take the opportunity to buy GOOD dishes and not pay an arm and a leg for them. We did not get the China we wanted when we got married so why not get something really nice and have it to enjoy. Anyways, we stopped at several places and I was looking for China with RED in it. I wanted something that was pretty but not to girlie and also that would be timeless. After walking the entire "china" area, there were two sets that I liked. We went back to start the negotiation process...until I realized that the sets included only one "AMERICAN" sized dinner plate. The Chinese do not use huge plates like we do in the U.S. What bigger is not better? it makes sense though now that I have thought about it. Americans eat WAY to much and really if you use a "salad" plate, it holds the right amount of food for one meal. If you need seconds, get it but more than likely it will be veggies or non meat dish here in China. After we all talked about it for a few minutes, I decided I was not sure if I wanted to buy anything yet, even though I told Linda, "dishes! that is what I absolutely have to buy, no matter what!" so I passed. We had passed a "farmers" market style places on the way into the building and I wanted to pick up some fruits/veggies and some garlic after we got done inside. On our way out, I got some "good' bananas that were more than the regular bananas, I was willing to pay more here because it was obvious the "good" bananas were in fact good and better than the regular bananas. I paid 15RMB for four bananas as opposed to 10rmb for four...about $2 vs $1.50, bargin in my book. Blueberries were fresh and local and they were 2 pints for 15RMB at one place and then 2 for 10RMB at another...I bought them at both places and will do a taste comparison to see if there is such thing as "good" blueberries worth the extra 5RMB. Will get back to you on that one. Finally we were at the garlic place and was told "no" What?? is it because I am a round eye? I wanted it from there, it was so fresh you could smeel is and why not??? no, appearently they only sell wholesale? but I protested a little to Linda and she said "No, T.I.C. you are not going to get your way, they said "no"! as she giggled. T.I.C.??? what the heck is that? she and David both said, "THIS IS CHINA!" I then laughed and realized I needed to adopt this saying so be ready! I was hungry and we needed to eat quickly so we stopped at IKEA, yummy meatballs..a little taste of home. I have been eating dumplings every day since I got here so I welcomed the idea of meatballs and mash potatoes from Ikea. True to form, Ikea did not disappoint! I did however almost cause an international incident by grabbing a glass that I thought was for water but not after all. I was promptly taken to the one cook who could speak english who said if I used a glass, I would have to pay 5RMB but if I used a bowl, water could be free! Bowl it was, when in Rome right? UNTIL I saw the line for water...I guess everyone else had the same idea. I got all the things I needed at Ikea, like a few flat sheets(the kids beds only had the down comforter on it and hello, it's summer!) and a drying rack and yes I have a dryer but it takes 2 hours to dry things! and finally a few other things but the total was 440RMB! My gosh, Ikea needed to adjust their prices for China. I can not see the average Chinese person spending that kind of money there when they usually only make about 200-400RMB a month! Anyways...on to the next part of our shopping day...the BUTCHER!

Now in the U.S,, the butcher is in the grocery store and you can go to get it at all one place. You can do that here but I am not about to take that chance for convienence. The Jin Ma has it all in one place but the butchers there do not have the meat refrigerated? so everyone I know goes to "the Butcher" He must have a GREAT American base of clients because everyone says to go to the butcher. I watched him wash his hands, like him already! and then grind up the steak right there to make my hamburger. It was pretty cool. We actually had to ask him to put a little bit of fat into it because Linda said the last meat she got was dry because the meat was so lean. There is definitely a difference in meat here. It tastes so different. I think it's because of what they feed their live stock, no growth hormones, no nothing. The animals eat grains or grass or whatever is necessary to keep the animal healthy in order for it to mature naturally so it can then become food. A lot of times they are free to roam on the ranges/farms. Taste totally different but in a good way. I also picked up some pork ribs(that was cut up right in front of me after the butcher showed me the slab of ribs) and some chicken breasts. Prepackaged and prartially frozen, like they had just been put into the freezer. Walked out of there for 140RMB and the hamburger was the most expensive thing I purchased!

Finished up the day with some more shopping for veggies and yes garlic. Also went to "Eddies" for some BBQ sauce and a few westerner items. We had a great dinner of hamburgers and a cucumber salad. It almost felt like home...the kids seemed to enjoy them but Javi did say he really did not like the meat that much? guess the additives and hormones that are used in the U. S add flavor, hopefully Javi will adjust to FRESH meat flavors, I already have a hard time trying to feed him because he's so picky!