More Shopping

Tuesday, August 26.

Work on blog in the morning. Lunch in school cafeteria for the first time. Not bad. We get a lunch card from our school with 150 rmb on it each month. If it isn't all used up, the extra money goes onto the next month.

We ride the bus to the other side of the river to the city center. Look in Dohia for mattress topper to make bed softer. They have something that looks quite good but costs more than $100. May be worth it since our beds are hard as boards (in fact, they are boards with only a little padding on top)! But apparently the Chinese like hard beds. Nick told us they believe that sleeping on a hard bed can make you grow taller, and JuJu said she had a difficult time sleeping in England because the beds were too soft! Apparently, this is what is meant by cultural differences. :) In the meantime, my back is starting to hurt. We decide to see if Carrefour has anything less expensive.

Then to Carrefour to stock up on more things. They too have mattress "toppers" but again, I've bought too many things and can't get one because too big and bulky. Also, haven't decided between one at Carrefour and one at Dohia which definitely has a thick rubber cushion. Most of the mattress toppers are just soft-filled like a quilt. I do, however, get a small set of wooden shelves to put in kitchen as there is literally no place to put dishes other than in dish sanitizer and no place to put food. And tools. And a mug and a glass (so will have something other than plastic cup). A couple of small (2' x 3') scatter rugs. And a desk lamp so I can have more light in "living room."

The light fixtures in our kitchen area and living room are simply inadequate. The one in the kitchen area must have a 40 watt bulb in it, and the ceiling is high. It would be a great night light! The one in my living area may be 60 watts but still not enough for that space.

Nick meets us at Carrefour and goes with Tiffany to the main post office next to the train station to pick up a package that her mother sent while David and I check out our purchases. Apparently, this is where we have to go to pick up packages. It appears that they aren't delivered to our school. Tiffany got a notice in the mail at the school. The nice men in the guard house hand us anything that has an English name on it!)

We take cab back to apartments to drop off stuff, then meet Ashley and Kelly for dinner at Yendi Square. Nick recommends restaurant, and it is very nice and not too expensive. We actually manage to pay for his dinner over much protestation on his part. He says we have made him very happy by speaking English to him; we say he has made us very happy by helping us with so many things and it makes us happy to treat him to dinner.

After dinner, the young people go out and meet up with Bridget, Ryan and Vinny who have been traveling for a few days. I go home to assemble small pine bookshelf for kitchen with my new tools!