Our apartment in Tianjin for training. I love the auburn wood floors.
My lifestyle as I know it is for a year changed till next September 2013, and that is called, ladies and gents, an adventure. I was reviewing my list of interests and realized I am living my dream, of traveling and living in a foreign country. I, a small town-young-20-something woman am doing my dream. I recall in high school people writing out their bucket lists, and usually the top item on their list was to travel. I am living proof friends that the dream of traveling can happen if your willing to put in the effort and to overcome your fears. China isn’t scary, it’s just different. I can promise you that adventure is better than STUFF. Our aspirations can come true.
Below are a list of lifestyle changes in our ADVENTURE:
COMMUTING IN THE CITY: Instead of owning a car we have to use the subway, a cab or the two legs God has given us. Hello small (Go Green) footprint. Walking is still fun right now because in that time my husband and I can catch up and enjoy the Chinese culture.
A tunnel going to the subway.
This caption was taken while using my new transportation method called walking. Denny: “The one child rule is good for dog breeders.”
FOOD: Instead of driving to Safeway, a grocery store, my husband and I have to bring plastic bags (in the future we will buy recycle bags) to the grocery store and walk them home. This requires a muscle man; thank God I have one. Actually according to some a few Chinese man I’m married to superman. [Side note. We were walking and Denny saw three Chinese men struggling with changing a tire. The sweet heart that he is, went over and cranked the tire loose. “You superman”, one of the men exclaimed. End of side note =)]
LAUNDRY:I don’t know if dryers exist in China but we are fortunately blessed with a small washer in our current apartment. We hang our clothes out to dry near the window. Question Readers: For some reason the hand towels smell even after being washed and dried with Tide. Do you have a secret on how to take the stench away? (Note to travelers, jeans take a long time to dry here.)
Our current washing machine. It looks European.
The clothes rod can be rolled down or up.
ELECTRICITY: Lord thank you for electricity. Last week one morning we woke to the electricity not working. We informed our employers and were told to prepay on a utilities card. Now you might be asking yourself, “What is a utilities card?” Well in China Denny and I have learned that a person has to prepay their utilities on different cards at a local convenience store and insert that card into the meter. That was a surprise. Are there other cards I am not aware of? Please, please inform me.
Our electricity box somehow reads how much we have left.
INTERNET: Our internet is so slow here in China so doing a post or anything on the internet can be aggravating. Travelers do you have any recommendations for the Chinese internet (we also have a VPN)? Is it our 300 TP Link Mbps router? Should we get a faster one?
WATER: Yesterday morning at sometime all of our apartment faucets turned off…OFF. We reported it to our employers and they sent someone to put money on our water card. Oh, another prepay card! I joked with my employer that I was thankful that I wasn’t in the midst of taking a shower when the water turned off with soap in my hair. (I spoke too soon.) This morning I was in the course of conditioning my hair when steadily the waterfall from the shower head disappeared inch-by-inch. There should have been a camera there for a picture of my face, because I am sure my expression was a look of dumbfoundness. In my head I was thinking, “Lord no, please turn the water on.” Within thirty seconds later the waterfall appeared as quickly as it had left for me to finish washing my hair.
This experience reminded me to be very thankful for water in general and for showers that work. Remember to enjoy that awesome flow of water that is coming from your shower today.
A wise woman said that periods of deprivation sharpen our pleasures (Gretchen Rubin). I would have to agree with her. When I finally get my gluten-free chocolate chip cookie, it will fully be enjoyed. Yes my American lifestyle has taken a different route than I am used to, but along the way my character is being built while I am also being able to meet more of God’s beautiful children.
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