I must have died and gone to heaven...

...or done something to shine God's favor on me (like enduring being sick yesterday morning) because the hotel we are staying at is absolutely wonderful.That is to say that th beds are not wood planks but soft and there are many Westwrn ammenities. Apparently when Chinese government officials (like the PM or President) come from Beijing to Qingdao they stay in this hotel. It is right on the sea.



Because of this not only did I get to take an actual shower (in most chinese homes and hotels the showers are makeshift with the entire bathroom serving as the shower basin. Thus, I am always worried I am going to flood the place and opt to use the handheld cababilities instead of letting the water rain down on me like we are used to in the west). Alas, this morning i had an actual shower for the first time in 2 weeks and I got to use soap that is not my shampoo, the rest of me actually smells different then my hair.



But this is not why I think I am in God's favor... When we arrived in the breakfast room spread amongst the usual Chinese breakfast wears of portiage (sp), many vegetables, noddles, rice, and stuffed buns there were fried eggs, ham, and sweet potatoes along with some fruit. Already my stomach was taking a sigh of relief as I went to find a table. But that was when the maricle happenned, my eyes fell on a toaster and a plate of white bread, sitting there next to it was a dish of strawberry jam and wait for it, wait for it... COFFEE!!!!!!



I really do feel like I am in heaven, even though I don't imagine that heaven is quite as grey and drizzly as the weather outside. Nonetheless, with normal western breakfast foods in my tummy I am one happy camper regardless.



On another note, to add to the list from yesterday the sea smells the same everywhere too!


From Qingdao in Shandong Province, this is Ashley signing off.

My First Run-In wth the Zhongguo Jingcha

If you don't understand any Chinese than you should know that Zhongguo is China and Jingcha means police. Yes, my first run in with the Police in China. Don't worry obviously I lived to tell the tale.

As we passed through the toll into Qingdao and paid the 175 yuan toll, the car I was in was waived over to the mobile China police station, i.e., a tent with a table underneath. They looked at the driver's license and registration and when they saw a foreigner in the backseat asked to see my passport. We all got out of the car and another officer asked to see in the trunk.

He asked if I spoken any Chinese. I reponded "a little.". He asked if I was American, I responded in the affirmative. He asked if this was a visa for travelling, I said "dui, lvxing.". He wrote some stuff into a book including my namen the cars license number, passport and visa numbers, then handed me back my passport. The whole thing lasted five minutes and we were back on the road.

I suspected and my hosts confirmed that it is added security measures for the Olympics. For the sailing portion of the Games is being hosted in Qingdao. I say good for China to be proactive, I know that while I will be on guard myself when I attend the games it will make me feel a bit safer. For those that don't know in February the Chinese government announced that they arrested several individuals in Xinjiang in connection with an Olympic terrorist plot.

But tonight at least I am safe, I hope you and your families are as well.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

Similarities and Differences

I have had several experiences during the last several days that I never imagined when I set out on this trip two weeks ago. Nevertheless, I have had to remind myself to not look this gift-horse in the mouth on more than one occasion, when my desire to do things for myself and be in control of the situation has clashed with the Chinese people's euthusiatic hospitable nature.

Chinese hospitality is a different dragon than the US version. I will admit sadly that it led to one confrontation in Tai'an, when I felt a cultural barrier was crossed to the point well passed where I deemed appropriate for the situation. In the end, I felt no choice but to leave. But if the situation in Tai'an ended on a somewhat sour note - a note that I very well wish it had not - it did teach me a very valuable lesson in Chinese generocity and hospitality. That is to say, Chinese hospitality is bottomless, even when you pull the rug out feom under them ir drop in unannounced.

Okay, so I haven't completely tested that theory (as I do make a halfway decent house guest), but I do think that Chinese hospitality is deeper than the American version.

I am never without my own English speaking guide even if she is only fifteen. And I have drank more beer while toasting then I thought possible without bursting. Nevermind the fact that the only time I have managed to pay for anything in the last couple days (and I have tried) was a 10 yuan key deposit and only because my host didn't have anything less than a 100 yuan note and I had a 10 handy, in the end it was only a deposit and I recieved it back! I guess I haven't paid for anything. Someone even paid for my hotel room one night after I had headed up to my room for the night.

I am currently staying with one of the three host families who have opened their doors to me since arriving in Jining - Liye's family, Emma's family and Anya's family, never mind Ben who has arranged this all for me. My dad would be happy to know that while in Jining I have not been out of anyone's sights... period.

These wonderful people have accompanied me up Taishan, to Qufu, Zoucheng, and Qingdao. They have taken me swimming and fishing (though not at the sametime). I have had traditional chinese instruments played for me and I've been properly introduced to Chinese pop music. They have taken me out out to eat, they have cooked for me, and they have taughted me how to make dumplings. In doing so they have introduced me to regional delicacies like Chicken toes; watermellon sushi; grasshoppers and other fried bugs, which I have eaten four; pea poposicles, which taste like green tea with frozen pea bits embedded; digua, a dish of sweet potatoes deepfried and covered in sugar; mazhe which is translated as gingilbi? Any clue anyone? it brown and goes on greenbeans; a fruit called well I can't remember but it is green and has a consistancy of a pear but on the inside it is like a tomato. And much, much more.

But for them showing me all that is unique I have learned that giggling and laughter transcend any language barrier. Pets know if you are an animal person. There are warm pee spots in all pools and soccer fans on all couches throughout the globe. Small kids preforming will always make you smile. The "are we there yet?" wine is universal. No matter where you are when your sick your parents bed is the best place of all, but no one can replace your parents. Medicine tastes bad, period. The fact that men don't like asking for directions and womed love of all things chocolate and ice cream is interwoven into the respective chromosomes. And nothing tastes better than home cooked food.

To finish with a quote from dinner... Your skin may be white and we may call our skin brown, but we drink the same beer.

That's all folks as the crazy pig likes to say. Just wanted to leave a note on my observations, I do promise to post about my trips to see Confucius and Menciucs as well as what a Chinese persons daily life looks like. Hope all is well back in the states.

Ash

P.S. If you picked up on it yes I had a bought of something, but it looks like I am over it. A mix of the hot nights, humid days, too much new food, probably a mouthful of bad water, and not sleeping well due to the wood plank like beds. Oh yeah and I am prone to migraines, but alas, I am well now! But if you would keep me in your thoughts and/or prayers I would appreciate it and I know my parents would too.

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed