China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => Ask An Experienced Member => Topic started by: JimB on February 02, 2010, 06:21:46 pm
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On my way tomorrow morning. It will be my fourth trip in a little over a year. This time it will only be for a month as my daughter needs me back here. She is pregnant and the Dr. says if she keeps going this way she will need bed rest for the final 3 months. She is due in May.
Anyway things are looking good so far. Except the hotel my wife got for me will not allow foreigners. She didnt think to ask about that when she first found it, So she got another one. Still not bad, 240 rmb per night, we will only stay there about 10 nights then move into her dorm. All of her room mates will be gone home for the holiday and her Mother and sisters are coming up to see us. Fortunately they will also stay at the dorm with us. At least I will not have to pay for an extra room. Qingqing is staying in Wuhan until the 24th. Gina and I will have at least 2 weeks alone before everyone comes in. i was really hoping to make it to the party in GZ, but it really doesnt look like it. I cannot tell mama to go home or just leave her there especially when she is coming all the way up to see me. Oh, well, plans always change so maybe we can still make it somehow. This trip should be pretty tame compared to my other ones. She and I are just spending the time together. But, I will check in from time to time.
Jim and Gina
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Jim,
Have a safe trip and a wonderful time. I was still relatively new to this site when you took trip #3. Some of your stories are etched in my mind forever. I know your last trip was good with a few bumps but this time I pray no bumps.
Shaun
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Sarge have a good safe trip.Enjoy what time you and your wife have together.
Maxx
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Jim bring them all to the dinner here in gz
the more the merrier
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was wondering about the no foreigners allowed hotels?
what is their reason for that or does this just happen
in the smaller cities here
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Ted from what I understand.It happens in all the cities in China.I don't know why.But this is what my wife and her friends have told me in the past.
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Jim,
Have a safe trip. Enjoy your time together.
Don
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was wondering about the no foreigners allowed hotels?
what is their reason for that or does this just happen
in the smaller cities here
I have never been turned away from a no foreigners hotel. I know we are in one when they refuse my passport and take my wifes ID.
Willy
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I think it's a licensing thing. They have to have a license for foreigners to stay there. I read that somewhere?
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Pops,
I also have travelled to China four times in the past year. Funny how some time ago, you and I were preparing for our FIRST trip. Have a great time ! :icon_cool:
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buses and trains???? never saw that at anytime over the years here in china????
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Hope it goes well for you!
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Best of luck Jim, was looking forward to meeting up with you, it not going to be the last time either of us will be in china so lets just take a rain check.
Regarding the foreigner only hotels, it is simply a licensing thing, some hotels are allowed to register foreigners with the local police and others are not, simple as that. I asked Sunny about it as I was very surprised when I ran into it before and she explained it.
However as mentioned some buses are also no laowai..and there is nothing to do with licensing about that..but |I don't want to get into it, i experienced that in Beijing and found it rather unsettling (it was a tour bus to the great Wall not a public bus I should add).
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Sarge, have a fantastic trip! I know you will enjoy yourself. I am so happy for you that you are able to go again.
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Jim have a great trip mate, and enjoy yur time together...
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enjoy the time and post some pics for us to see
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I have landed in Tokyo/Narita. Will never fly Northwest again. No entertainment centers in their 747's and the stews are all over 60 and ill tempered. Seriously one looked like a freakin vampire. she had so much white powder on with blood red lipstick. They do everything on the cheap too. Nothing but KAL for me from now on. I can never sleep on the plane anyway but this was miserable. I was in the very back of the plane and the one movie screen was 40 rows up and of course all 7 footers sitting in front of me. i am going to try to change to Kal for my return. i know it will cost me, but it is worth it. Right now i am waiting for Gina to come on QQ. Talked to Dinger a few minutes ago.
Chonger, Son, it does seem funny how fast time flies some times. Gina and i were just talking about that. we have only been married 6 months but it really seems longer than that. but when you look at waiting for her Visa, it seems like forever.
I was going to wander around Narita but they are having some sort of thing here and are keeping us with tickets in the boarding area. dont know what is going on, but am not going to push it. I am tired and if I start, i will probably end up in the clink. They make you pay for the internet here though. Unlike Seoul and no real comfort areas here like Seoul either. so all in all I will take Seoul over Narita.
Will post again in a couple of days.
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Jim,
I was trying to book Northwest or Delta for my trip next month. After reading your post, glad now that I didn't get it done. However, I did book United. I have a feeling it could be much the same. I'll be going to Narita also, before going on to Beijing. I'll let everybody know how United works out. That is if I ever get out of Chicago.
Don
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Jim,
sorry to hear about the flight. usually when you have a bad flight at
least you can flirt a little with the good looking stewardess but i guess
that didnt even work in your favor
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Sarge sorry to here that.I had a good time last time I had a lay over in Narita.
Don United sucks.But it is always cheaper then the rest for me.
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Don United sucks.But it is always cheaper then the rest for me.
Thanks Maxx,
Something to look forward to.:icon_sad:
Don
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I am here in Beijing. Long flight. Could not sleep at all. So as soon as we got to the hotel I took a shower and crashed. Gina is great as usual. Doing everything to make me comfortable and to take care of me. Not crazy about the hotel. The elevator doesnt work and we are on the 3rd floor. Very small room, but it does have a king size bed, a western style shower, toilet, internet and is clean so i cant gripe. Only $34 a night. We are going to relax today to help me get my body clock changed. Tomorrow we have dinner with younger brother, his wife and Suzie Q. Then go from there.
The smog is down to almost nothing but I still coughed like crazy last night. Today is better. Will let you know what is going on.
Jim
By the way, that includes breakfast.
By the way. paperbus does not work from Beijing. does not connect to any of the proscribed sites.
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i have always had good experiences with united out of san francisco
larger comfortable plane, pleasant chinese stewardesses who being i
cant sleep on the plane on the late flights kept me filled with coffee and
snacks while they chatted with me in their space of the plane were they
prepared everything. i always enjoyed the chatting with them as we talked
about china and the usa. and i had the movies available in the headrests of
the seats in front of me. i think it was air china who just leased planes from
united but ot sure?
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Jim,
Which hotel are you staying at? At that price, I'm guessing a business or economy hotel. Depending on where in Beijing, I would recommend something like Jinjiang Inns. Pretty clean, double or queen size beds. Internet (you have to have your own laptop) is free. Only issue is that the rooms look like they're not the newest. But it's decent and it's around the same price. Someone also recommended Super 8 to me, but I've never tried them before.
There is also a new series of hotels call Bestay (my girl recommended it as she just stayed at one). Quite cheap (~120RMB/Night). Not sure how good they are though, but the rooms seem quite small.
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I am not really griping about it. At the price I am paying it is well worth the money. It is called the 7 Days Inn, it is in the 4th ring. Pretty convenient. Wal Mart directly across the street. big mall wthin a 10 minute walk. All sorts of restaurants within easy walking distance. KFC and Pizza Hut across the street also. The only thing is it is out of town a ways in the 4th Ring. For me it is perfect as my wife works here at the hospital. It is about a half hour to Tiannemon Square by taxi, but only costs about 30 RMB.
Days inn Forbidden City is about a 15 minute walk to the Square and Forbidden city, Nice place. I have stayed there before. It is about $65 a night.
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havent been touring in bejing yet but we are going there this summer
will have to remember these ideas as paying a lot for a hotel isnt a good idea
all you do is sleep and shower in them rather have more money for the outside
adventures
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i also heard they are using the olympic places for special displays. like the birds nest
stadium right now has a chocolate theme display which would be interesting to see the displays
and you can try your hand at making something out of chocolate. will close when the
weather gats warm and i guess another venue will take its place
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4th ring? Ouch. Definitely try some of those other places. The Jinjiang Inns that I stayed at was off of Changchun St. (100 meters from the subway station of the same name). Very convenient. I have also been hearing good things about the Jinjiang Inn at Tian Tan (and same for the Bestay there).
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My wife got called in to work tonight. (She is the senior surgical nurse on staff.) So I have been cruising the site. It is snowing here in Beijing, a light snow but snowing none the less. we were supposed to go to Shanghai but things did not work out that way so we are staying here for New Years. Cold and snowy. I am glad at least this is not vacation time as I have none so the time isnt wasted. Finances are the only thing I have to worry about now. I hate to sell any stock right now as I would take a beating on it. Trying to hold on long term to recoup at least my initial investment. But you never know. A couple of my banks went under, I will get my money back but it takes a long time for FDIC to come through. So it looks like a part time job when I get back. My retirement takes care of me but does not leave a lot for traveling and staying here for a month or two. Hopefully her visa will come through in a few months time and she will be with me there. I am planning on us doing the four corners of the US on the Bike in 2011. That will give her a good look at the US. I would like to visit a couple of the brothers then also. I am really looking forward to that. Need to get Qingqing hooked up first, LOL. When she is made up she looks quite beautiful and has a models body. I think she could do well in the US. She does OK here. Already has an agent. She hasnt told her father that she is leaving here yet for the US. gina has full custody so she doesnt need his permission to leave with her. Besides she is almost 18. She has finally, I think, come completely around to me. Knowing I will not take all her mothers love away from her. I wouldnt say she loves me, but, she likes me enough now so we can live together. Once we get to the US though her spoiled days are through. i kid you not. She is in Wuhan with grandma and her boyfriend and will come to Beijing to stay with us for my last week here. I brought her a couple of gifts so she is happy with me for the moment.
Speaking of gifts. I gave my 5 year old niece a backpack that she wanted, it said American Princess on it. but her mother was looking at it and on the inside it said, "Made in China", she started laughing. I just groaned.
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that is to funny JimB i have had that happen to me a few times
and we all laughed about it. So i started to bring uncirculated
paper money and various coins with me and they love that:icon_biggrin:
that goes over very well
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I have been here 10 days now and not much has happened. But, we moved back into her room and her brother, his wife and daughter is here until mama and the sisters arrive. We have pretty much been just hanging around. They taught me to play Mahjong. At first my Bro in law wanted to play for money. Then after 7 games, I had won 4, my wife 2 and him 1. he decided he didnt want to play for money after that. lol
I taught him Gin Rummy and them crazy eights. They are pretty competitive so it has been fun. It is too darn cold to go outside much. This morning I thought WWIII or a Coup de etat was happening. At 6 am their fireworks started, now I do not mean little firecrackers, I mean the big stuff, cannons, rockets, etc. And this was just the preliminary. Tomorrow is actually New years. I am not exaggerating one little bit. We were out to dinner last night and walking back to the main street one went off, I actually dove for cover. Of course they started laughing and after i cooled off, I did too. I know what the sound of Chinese artillery sounds like. I remember from Viet Nam. That is what it was. It is funny how the body reacts automatically. Especially when the sounds of gunfire open up and you see little Asian men running around. I thought this would have been a good idea. maybe not. I might have to go back and see the shrink. hahahahaha
But it has been great to spend time with my wife and her family. My brother in law told me that the family actually likes me and not just accepts me. I thought that was pretty good. No accounting for taste though. maybe they just are trying for a ticket to the USA.
I babysat my 6 year old niece for a few hours a couple of days ago, we had fun. She is the smart one. I was teaching her English, everything I said she remembered and by the time her parents came back she was actually talking in English sentences. Broken to be sure but still sentences. Quite amazing. so she has been helping me translate now. Her mother asks her about something in English, she turns and asks me and then she ways it back to her mother. this is just 3 days.
Also last night Lisa came over and we all went out to dinner. My wife and Lisa have become good friends once the jealousy had subsided. Anyway, my wife was sayhing how she and Lisa wanted to start a business together in the US. So when she gets there she wants to send for Lisa to come live with us while they get it going. Well, I could not pass that chance up. I said only if i could have her for my number 2 wife. I thought it was funny and so did Lisa but my wife did not. So after I got down on my hands and knees begging for forgiveness she relented. LOL. I should have learned from the last time. Wont make that mistake again. Even this morning she said it was not funny. I will pay for that remark for a while.
that is about all for now. I hope every one else is having a good trip.
Jim
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Ok, let me say this, my ears are still ringing, (The one that didnt already ring), I have never in my life seen or heard such fireworks in my life. They actually started at about 6 pm non stop and I mean non stop until 3 am, then it started to settle down. at noon today it is still going off once in a while. Millions (I am not exaggerating) of firecrackers, cannons, rockets, bottle rockets, 30 foot chains of lady fingers and this was just in our neighborhood. We went out at midnight and had to plug our ears. In the middle of the street people were setting off their fireworks. Cars were driving thru them like an obstacle course. A bus came flying through and knocked over a rocket setup and people scattered like crazy as it started shooting at them. I imagine the people whose cars it hit were not happy about it. Anyway that didnt deter anyone else. We stood out there in the cold until we couldnt stand it, our lungs were full of smoke and our ears ringing. Poor little Suzie Q still liked it even though she couldnt hear much afterward. Their New Years is similiar to ours in all other respects. I waited to see the dragons but there were none here. Sort of disappointing but we would have had to make our way downtown and that would have been almost impossible so we just stayed here.
It has been very good with gina's brothers family. we have had a good time. Mainly my sister in law could not lose at Gin Rummy, she is so cute when she wins. She just squeals and claps her hands. Especially when she beats me, her teacher, which she did quite often. Explaining strategy is very difficult, but she caught on without my help, obviously. The rest of the family is coming tomorrow. Gina took me out to buy me some Chinese New Years clothes. Couldnt find any to fit. lol. So I am wearing anything close to red as I have. That is the color of the day. Red here is a happy color.
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Jim Sounds like your having way to much fun.Enjoy as much of it as you can.
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sounds like everything is well except for the celebration noise hahaha
same here in GZ
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I was wondering if it was the same all over. I assumed it was, but Beijing being a larger city. I just didnt know. By the way, we went to a fair today, waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy to cold for me. Froze my butt off. the streets were already cleaned. That surprised me as it was a mess last night.
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Haha Jim, so nice to readf your report. If there's one thing I would give you for new year's gift, that would be EARPLUGS !!! :icon_cheesygrin:
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Jim,
It is early in the morning here i been trying to read up on the forum for a couple hours and I got to your post number 34 and started laughing so hard i was afraid i would wake Linda. Her home is what she calls a small town between Shenyang and Tieling. What you talked about is exactly what i experienced, people shooting these rockets off in the middle of the streets and cars driving around them and people running for cover when some were knocked over. One shot off side ways and hit the front of a building. We were about 50 yards from this and Linda and her family only was looking up at the display. I could not watch the fireworks because i was in awh of what was happening on the ground. These are some crazy SOB's here. I cant help but wonder how many people get hurt during all this celebration.
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it was crazy in Guangzhou also with everyone having such a good time
and the mess all around town was cleaned up by the next morning. and
i do mean a mess. it amazes me as the cleaning crew had it all done in about
5 hours
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That's because they have an enormous workforce in the refuge and cleansing dept's in China. Stay up late one night, and watch them, ....like an army of ants busying themselves away!!...haha!!!
David....
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and they are probably paid only 1000 to 2000 rmb a month
but work like hell to get it done
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It has been a few days since my last post. Nothing has changed much except I have come down with a nasty cold. New Years day we went to the Temple Fair. That was a mistake. So many people you could hardly move and below 0 in temp.(that is where I got the cold) we walked from one end straight to the other and then tried to get a taxi. No go, I was so cold my ears were numb. We walked a couple of miles to get a taxi.
The family has been having a great time together. The women all wanted me to give them their English names. So I thought about each one and did. they seem to really like it. I kept them all starting with a G. Gina of course my wife, my brother in laws wife is Grace, Younger sister is Gayle and older sister is Gwen. The girls are Suzie Q and Sarah. I also showed them the meaning of each name. It fits them and is a heck of a lot easier on me to call them by their English names as I get tongue tied on their Chinese names and my wife usually refers to them by their place in the family. Older sister, younger sister, younger brother. The first name I came up with was Georgia and they all laughed very hard. I said what is the matter and they said that it sounds in Chinese like toenail. So they stopped that one. Every once in a while they still call Gayle, toenail. Even my brother in law wanted one. So I gave him David, dont know why just liked it. He loves it as he said David was a very handsome man in history. Which is true. So now everyone except Mama has English names. She did not want one and anyway everyone calls her Mama. The two teenage girls already had English names. We have had a really good time together. I was nervous at first, but even the bathroom has been ok. Ten people and one bathroom. I usually get my shower about midnight. they have of course a small water heater about 5 gallons of hot water. the third person usually ends up with cold water. The sleeping arrangements are Gina and I have our own room, we are the newlyweds. 4 adults and 3 kids in the other bedroom and Mama sleeps on the bunk bed in the living room. It is like camping at the cabin. lol In the evenings we play Mahjong and Gin rummy or crazy eights and rotate. I have taught everyone the card games and go fish to the kids. they love it. Grace is winning at everything. It is fun just watching her when she wins. She squeals, dances around in her chair and claps her hands. Mama does not like gambling so no one plays for money, otherwise Grace would have all of it and she knows that too.
This afternoon everyone is gone except me. It is nice and quiet. When they are here the noise is loud. If you didnt know better you would think they are fighting but it is just their way. My wife tells me in their family they never fight, ever.
Three days after new years and the fireworks are still going off. Now I hardly pay attention to them. they tell me this will go on for 15 days. I would love to be a vendor of fireworks at this time of year.
There is not a thermostat in the rooms. It is controlled by a central console outside of the apartments. And it is always chilly. They dont mind, they just put on extra clothes. it is what we should really do, but of course we wont. They have the old fashioned steam pipes. One in each room. if you are warm, you can put the cover on. The central government controls this. I cant remember the start date my wife told me, but i remember she was freezing in here because even though it was very cold outside they had no heat because it was too early.
I got a message from my sister to call her as soon as possible. My phone is not covered here as we have my wife's phone, so I called her on skype. She told me that my mother is in serious condition in the hospital and that on Friday they would have the results of the tests on her heart. It looks as though one of her valves need replacing. She is 78 years old and with her medical conditions, she is not a good surgical risk. So if she is going to have surgery, i will leave here on Friday and go back to the US as the earliest they can do the surgery would be on Monday. Unless of course she goes critical. I hate leaving my wife early but of course she understands. I keep debating with myself about going anyway, so tonight when I get my sister on the phone I will leave the decision up to her whether I should go now anyway. she is the one closest and has the best feel.
If I miss everyone in GZ, have a good time and I wish we could be there, I really do.
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Jim,
Sorry to hear about your Mother. My thoughts and prayers to your family and your Mother's health. I know how you feel. My mother will be
91 this summer. Seems like something happens with her everytime I plan a vacation. Just before I went to China last year, she ended up in the hospital. It's always a tough decision,..."do I cancel and stay home, or go ahead with plans?" Hope everything turns out ok.
Don
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Jim good updat as usual...
Sorry to hear about your mother, my prayers are with you...
Rob
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Jim ... Qings and my Prayer's are with your Mom and the Family .
Hope it all will go well .
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hope all goes well for you and the family
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Sarge I hope everything turns out allright.
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Hiya Sarge...I hope everything turns out for the best.
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Jim your mother has my prayers and your family on both sides of the ocean.
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Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts. We are still waiting. I asked my sister whether I should come home now. She said I should wait for all of the test results which will be in on Monday. I still think i should head home now but she is the one on the scene. Mom is stable right now so I think I will wait for Monday, but I will go home then.
On the brighter side, my Chinese family decided on my Chinese name. I had not had one before just my wife called me her Panda, for obvious reasons. hehe But Mama said because I have brought so much happiness to my wife and now the whole family my name is Shi Ja Foo. As she says it means bring joy and happiness to the Shi family. ( At least I hope it means that. It could mean suckered by the Shi family.) I am not sure of the spelling either as mama wrote it in Chinese. Anyway, I thought it a pretty good honor by her.
Today I videotaped her making dumplings for me. We spent a couple of hours doing this. I only taped the different sections. The longest obviously is the stuffing of the dumplings as she made a ton. I helped do that part. I am getting better at it this time. At least this time they look like dumplings and not some roll. hehe.
I really have had a good time with them. it is relaxed fun. None of the forced gaiety that you sometimes do in these situations. I really feel a part of the family now. Being the oldest male has its priveleges. I get seated first, I eat first, they wait on me hand and foot. I do not fill myh plate, they do it and if anything needs to be cut or peeled my wife does it for me.
As I said before I have been teaching them English and Suzie Q has really picked it up fast. Last night my brother in law, his wife and Suzie Q had a dinner with one of the big shots at his new hospital. He didnt know that they did not speak Chinese and he does not speak Russian. But the English I taught them came in handy as they spoke it. They asked ZhouZhou her name and she replied without hesitation, Suzie Q. The man looked at my brother in law and asked why he did not give her a Chinese name, all he could do was laugh and explained that I had given it to her and in speaking English that is her name. And Suzie Q actually helped them translate so they were very happy with me for that. They are leaving for home in Wuhan tonight. They are taking the sleeper train as it is 8 hours. I will miss them. So tomorrow we move to a hotel again as her room mates are all coming back from their home leaves.
more later, It is dumpling time!!!
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Shifu was the teacher in Kung Fu Panda. I think Shifu means master...so good name.
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I am curious as to the meaning of Jia Fu. My wife's cousin's husband has this same name.
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Martin my wife says it means.The rule of the house. Example when you come in the house you need to take your shoes off.That is my wife's and mother inlaws rules in there houses.
I asked her if it meant ruler of the house she said.No just rules.Of the house.
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I am curious as to the meaning of Jia Fu. My wife's cousin's husband has this same name.
Not sure about Jia Fu bu Jie Fu is the husband of an elder sister!
Willy
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How I thought it originally meant was: JA FU or Just Another Fu__ Up
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There are numerous combinations of characters and meanings... Here's a possible combination...
Shi (?) teacher/master/expert
Jia (?) home or family
Fu (?) husband/man
I'll let you guys draw your conclusions from this (assuming it's right).
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I asked my brother in law again. to make sure. He told me it is Jia Fu. Shi Jia Fu. Shi is the family name, Jia is the soul or the inner core of the family and in that context Fu is happiness of the soul of the family. So to them in Wuhan it means happiness to the soul of the family Shi. I will accept that meaning. that is what they meant and that is how I will take it. I am happy with that. I am honored with that meaning. So anyone can take it or leave it or make anything else they want. End of discussion. The end result is that I have been completely accepted by my Chinese family, I have brought happiness to them and they have brought happiness to me. that is what I care about. Any other translation is meaningless to me.
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but post 56 was funny jim at least you have a sense of humor :icon_cheesygrin:
and congrats on the family saying your the soul of the family good honor
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My mother is stable, they did a test on the lump and it came back benign, but her heart is still a problem.
they are going to do more tests but next week, so I can be home for them.
Had dinner with the General and his wife last night. (I am really unsure of posting his name anywhere, at least until I know him better) For those who dont know or remember, when I came here to marry my wife, I had lunch with My wife some people from her work, friends and the Generals wife. She was a patient and became friends with my wife. (That seems to happen a lot with her) i am proud of her for that. anyway, while eating lunch the generals wife said that she was going to introduce Gina to an officer that she had picked out, kiddingly I picked up the knife from the table and told her she was taken. she said, I have a gun and know how to use it. I returned to her and said so do I and I have used it a lot have you? She put her chopsticks down, came around the table and gave me a hug saying I was alright. we have been friends ever since. I had never met her husband until last night though. we did not get into any details about what he did, but for sure he was not a troop commander, he just does not have the presence so I am guessing he was either in logistics or intelligence probably logistics as his wife is very brash and speaks her mind so I dont think he would have made it. Her father was also a general and I expect that is why he made it like he did. Of course this is all speculation. we are having lunch with them tomorrow so I will find out more because it will be in their home.
I still have a damn cold, it got down in my lungs so gina is bringing home IV's to give me every day for 3 days to help knock it out. I adore my wife. She is so great. Always thinking of me first no matter what we do. At times I get embarrassed about it. The other night, she clipped my toenails, fingernails, cleaned my ears and trimmed my mustache. When I protested, she said it was her job to take care of me. I honestly do not know of a western woman who would do that without an ulterior motive or lose a bet. Speaking of which, she has beaten the crap out of me in gin Rummy. it has been too cold and with my cold she wont let me go outside if we dont have to. So we have been playing a lot of Gin. we play for massage time. Every game is 20 minutes. My hands were dog tired the other night. Of course the massage has other benefits also as does staying in. Besides I have seen most everything in Beijing anyway. So all in all it has been a very good trip. Only have 5 days left. This month has just flown by. However, I do miss the warmth of Savannah and next month it will be time to get the bike out. My first summer that I am not working, so I should have a lot of time to ride. I do want to find something to do a couple of days a week. I am going to do volunteer work at my granddaughters school 1 day a week.
I do plan on taking Gina when she gets here in the fall and do the four corners of the US on the bike. Quite honestly she is not really excited about it, but, once we get started she will be great. If not I plan on taking it easy, then maybe trailering the bike and touring once we get to an area. I do want to visit some Bros on the trip and she is excited about that. But that is for later. First she has to get here and Bobby needs to get home from Afghanistan.
Jia Fu and YunXiang
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sounds as though everything is going terrific there
she will like the bike she is probably just basing it on
how they drive here:icon_cheesygrin:
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Had lunch at the generals house today. He seems to be very old school. Doesnt care much for Americans. He has been nice but barely, if you know what I mean. He welcomed us in the house, then went into his bedroom until lunch, then came out to eat. I tried a couple of times to get him into a conversation, but he would not really respond. After lunch he said he was taking a nap. then when he got up he went out. I asked him what he did in the Army and he just bypassed it like I never asked. When I asked his wife, she did the same thing, so I guess it must have been intelligence or he just didnt want to tell me. She is very talkative. I taught her Gin Rummy, but she cheated the whole game. Looking into the others hand to see what not to throw away. trying to play out of turn, when she wanted the card. I really didnt like that. So we played just a few games. I mean not a bad afternoon but could have been better. She made us feel right at home. Her whole family is/was in the army. Her three sisters and brother. Mother and father both also. He retired a general and she retired a nurse. The odd thing is that her mother died last year because of a mistake by the hospital that no one caught until it was too late. All of the females retired as nurses, I had no idea what the men did. Not one of the children are or are going into the army. Not one of her nieces or nephews either. One more way that China is changing. Better opportunities outside of the government.
The more I am with Gina the more I see that we are alike. yet there are cultural differences as you would think. she wants to learn and is trying really hard. She says after I leave she will go to English class every night to try and get better. i can see a difference from when I got here. So I know she can do it. Of course Qingqing hasnt even tried. I just cant see her making it in the US. I give her 6 months and she will want to go back.
I leave in four days, dont even want to think about it.
Everyone has taken to calling me JiaFu. Even Gina does now. Sometimes it takes me twice before I realize she is calling me.
We had freezing rain this morning. Decided to stay in bed until about 10:30 before we left for the generals house. I love the cuddle time. I am going to miss that a lot.
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Jim, Who knows what's up with the general? From a military stand point I can't see not liking the US with the training help they get. Something must have been personal to him? Some US military yokel might have been showing off? or gave some attitude? So he thinks we're all like that.
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a lot of the older chinese men are like this so i wouldnt be to concerned about it.
they are just very old school and are still in the Mao era not really rude just not
interested in life in general outside of China nor interested in people that are from
abroad. might have went to take a nap at his young girlfreinds place that he pays
for. :icon_cheesygrin:
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I think Ted hit Closest to the Mark.With the the general.Ive gotten some attitude from the older generation.These are the guys walking around in there old military Jackets from the Mao era.I wouldn't take it to personell Sarge.The evil empire stuff was drilled into there heads real hard.Back in the day.
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I am not worried about it. In fact i can understand it. As Maxx said that stuff was drilled into them from day one in the military. He might even have been an advisor to the North Vetnamese back in the day. We were told that too. the Chicom weaponry we fought against, the support had to come from somewhere. maybe he thought I was going to be nasty to him for it. Who knows. His wife showed me pictures of when they were young officers and he looked like your typical young Lieutenant dressed in his uniform. But strangely enough, now that I think on it, no pictures from that time on. Just old pictures. One of her parents, none of his. I bet he has an interesting story. Maybe someday. Maybe not. Different cultures, different prejudices. My wife's family all hate the Japanese. Because of WWII. A lot of cousins died at the hands of the Japanese. Whole parts of the family wiped out. There was a Japanese BBQ place I liked to go to and my wife was always iffy about it. Once I heard the story of the Japanese and her family, I understood and dont even talk about going there.
Today is the last day for New Years fireworks. Thank God. At 10 am it started here and as of noon has not stopped. Every night since the 13th, fireworks are going off. I wonder if they take the ammo from the army at this time of year, as who would know that a revolution was started. hehe I know there are cannon as I clearly remember what their sound was. Just waiting for my wife to come home for lunch, she has to work today. Later
Jim & Gina
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was wondering about the no foreigners allowed hotels?
what is their reason for that or does this just happen
in the smaller cities here
Mostly they suck, dingy rooms, squat toilets, water from copper pipes coming outta the wall, wake up to the sound of throat clearing & spitting, etc. I stayed one night in such a place in Beijing, about Y100/day. Give me the foreigner hostel anyday! Cheaper, and so much cleaner, and better company. Only Y30-50/day, the last time I was there.
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Mostly they suck, dingy rooms, squat toilets, water from copper pipes coming outta the wall, wake up to the sound of throat clearing & spitting, etc.
I cannot remember you staying at my place Ted????
Willy
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Don't piss the general off, he may have a chinese Burrp gun hidden under his bed. Let them win at cards...haha
:icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin:
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very good Willy
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I have been satisfied with the 7 day Inn. Very clean, cheap. I would not object to staying here again. They go out of their way to clean when I say so. they will wait until I call then come up within 10 minutes. Or I will tell them when we leave and when we come back it is always clean. My wife likes that they leave the little grooming kit everyday, which of course she puts away. They change the bedding every other day, they would do it every day if I asked.
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Haha Jimbo,
Just don't get yourself confused with the supermart "Jia Le Fu" or (have you guessed?) ......
Carrefour :icon_cheesygrin:
I believe the text is : ? ? ? .
which should be good for you to know since your name, going by the meaning, is ? ? .
BTW who is Suzie Q? I think I'm old enough to remember a song of that name by CCR?
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yes it was a song made popular by ccr brings back the younger days hahaha
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Exactly, CCR. Suzie Q. That is where I got that name. She bops around, loves the camera and is very very smart. Plus she is spoiled.
Had dinner with my wife's friends last night. I was told that he was the headmaster at big high school here in Beijing, so I was anxious to get his input on English teaching jobs in the area. I am not really interested right now but I thought it would be valuable to talk to the horses mouth so to speak. I was really disappointed that he didnt speak any English at all. Of course I dont speak Mandarin and my wife's English is ok, but not very technical. So when we got there I found out that he was a headmaster in a high school but only in the design classes. He was in home design. So that blew that. we had a good dinner anyway. we sat next to a big window on the third floor and had fireworks going off all around. It was the last night for them. they ended at midnight. thankfully.
This AM we had 3 inches of snow on the ground. Will sure be glad to get back to warmer weather. Cannot get rid of this cold. Just 2 more days here and it is flying by. we are making decisions on what to take and what not to when she gets her visa so it feels better anyway.
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Well, I am back in the US. It is good to be home, but it was the hardest time yet, leaving my wife there. We did not do anything special except just be a couple having fun with her /my family. I miss her so much already. I feel like an ass leaving her there.
I will not be flying Delta/Northwest again. I know the weight limit on bags, but I was only 5 kilos over and they charged me 50 USD. There was a prblem with the plane so we sat on the runway for 2 hours. Now I dont want to leave with a problem but I dont want to have a problem to begin with. That put us late geting into Tokyo, I literally had to run to get on my flight, then it was back into an old 747 again. The attendants were all ready for retirement plus we had a real queen as an attendant. I kid you not. He walked and talked just like a woman, no question as to what he was. I am not a homophobe by any means but first a vampire then a queen. Lousy food. terrible service, lousy planes. Then the lose my luggage. I had already gotten them in Atlanta, but they lost it from Atlanta to Savannah. This is the second time they have don this. My last trip was the same. it took them two days to find it. Now I am into the second day on this one. This time was all of my clothes plus the clothes my wife bought for my new grandbaby. Only KAL for me from now on.
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Jim, Delta has changed and as you can see not for the better. I had enough sky miles for a free flight to anywhere in the world and Delta stole them. My complaints were useless. After that happened I called a friend who has worked there over 20 years and he confirmed that things have changed; not for the better of consumers. I won't fly them anymore either.
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Well, I am back in the US. It is good to be home, but it was the hardest time yet, leaving my wife there. We did not do anything special except just be a couple having fun with her /my family. I miss her so much already. I feel like an ass leaving her there.
I will not be flying Delta/Northwest again. I know the weight limit on bags, but I was only 5 kilos over and they charged me 50 USD. There was a prblem with the plane so we sat on the runway for 2 hours. Now I dont want to leave with a problem but I dont want to have a problem to begin with. That put us late geting into Tokyo, I literally had to run to get on my flight, then it was back into an old 747 again. The attendants were all ready for retirement plus we had a real queen as an attendant. I kid you not. He walked and talked just like a woman, no question as to what he was. I am not a homophobe by any means but first a vampire then a queen. Lousy food. terrible service, lousy planes. Then the lose my luggage. I had already gotten them in Atlanta, but they lost it from Atlanta to Savannah. This is the second time they have don this. My last trip was the same. it took them two days to find it. Now I am into the second day on this one. This time was all of my clothes plus the clothes my wife bought for my new grandbaby. Only KAL for me from now on.
Hey Jim,
Sorry to hear about the bad experience, but great to see you're back home safe.
I would suggest that if you have time, write a letter to the airline and the airports involved. You might not get much, but if you don't say anything, NOTHING gets done and someone else will have to suffer.
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Jim B,
Not sure what KAL are like these days, but i've heard of a lot of bad stuff about the standard of pilots at KAL. There safety record in the air isn't much to inspire confidence either!!
On the project i worked on in Libya, the Korean contractor were operating there own twin engined turbo prop 20 seater. The client insisted that the Koreans have a western pilot of the same rank as the korean pilot they had employed (ex KAL) The British/Canadian pilot they employed, was never happy with his Koraen counterpart, complaining that he took too many risks and failed to employ the safety measures set by the aircraft manufactures.
So maybe the Delta/Northwest planes and flight crew maybe getting on in age, but at least you know that they are experienced, and get you to where your going.... hahaha!!!!
David....
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do to the amount of time spent in the air all the flights stink hahaha
wish there was a faster way to go back and forth and i would make the trip
more often