Geneal Sounds Off...Winter, Starbucks, and Chinese Haircuts

Ah...winter...it has arrived in northeast China! Temps topped out at about 38 degrees today and the locals here don't really get it when I tell them that in my home state, our lows rarely drop to 38 and it is unthinkable as a high! In the first few days of cold, Emma and Erin would be ready to head to school in long-sleeved shirts and sweaters. Poor little things...they have entered a new world of layers topped off with heavy jackets, hats, and gloves. If you happen to be from a cold climate, you are probably scoffing at me and that's okay...I know how pathetic I must sound. And if you happen to be from Arizona, you are smirking because you think I have this coming to me because I may have made a comment or two about our 85 degree days on the beach in July while you were roasting in the Arizona oven (anyone remember my comment about searching out the twigs of shade in the parking lot?). And so it is...soup for dinner, Michelin Man jackets, and the discovery of a couple of yummy, hot drinks from Starbucks.

How about that segue to Starbucks? Read on...I have discovered two new loves: caramel macchiatos and toffee nut lattes. Unfortunately on the long list of things you can get mega-cheap in China (name-brand knock off purses, custom made cashmere jackets, produce, etc.), Starbucks is nowhere on that list. My new drinks of choice cost 33 RMB each - about $5 US. And...unfortunately there is only one - count 'em ONE - Starbucks in our area. And by "our area", I mean 30 minutes away. If cost and lack of convenience isn't reason enough to avoid Xing Ba Ke (that's Starbucks in Chinese), then the parking lot is a definite deal breaker. The Starbucks in question is located in a mall and although there is something like a kagillion people here, there are only about 40 parking spaces and ABSOLUTELY NO logic as to how people drive - head-on with no room on either side to veer is common OR park - wherever the hell they want including blocking the one and only end so you can't loop around but rather have to back up to exit the single car exit which also happens to serve as the single car entrance. Among my many "China experiences", sitting in a van while it makes a 27-point turn is on the list (somewhere between using a squatty potty and seeing men pee along the side of the road on a daily basis). I am quite certain that making my driver take me to Starbucks has shaved years off his life. Does that mean I will give up my latte? Nah, I just told him today that next time he can drop me off along the road and I will walk in from there. My wonderfully-sweet, super-protective, and ultra-professional driver responded, "Good idea, Geneal!" Just imagine him saying that with his thick Chinese accent and it's very cute and quite telling about how he feels about the situation.

And lastly, I have overcome one of my biggest fears about living in China and here's the bottom line: it's not awful...but...

I had my first haircut in China yesterday and the good news is I will not have to wear a hat every day for the next month. The bad news is I have come to terms with the fact that I spend a lot of energy and drama on what is my HAIR. Many of you empathize with me on the sensitive subject of hair and many of you probably want me to shut up already! However, the topic is in my title so I will sound off and then be done with it. Here it is: I decided in September when we were in the states that I had had enough of the long (long for me) hair and had it cut to my preferred short style. This means more maintenance but it was worth it and I was ready to be brave in China. So, I went (alone) to a salon in a hotel that a few of the teachers had spoken highly of. Lily is the stylist's American name (also my niece's name so it was fate...right?). She doesn't speak English so we did some pointing, some finger measuring, and some nodding...it was all good, no miscommunication there! Then I got to experience my first "dry wash" which involves her putting a giant blob of shampoo on my dry hair while sitting up in the chair. She then rubs a little, sprays a little, rubs a little, sprays a little - you see how this goes. I did get a normal rinse and while lying there I considered making a break for it. Wet hair and a windy, 40 degree day just seemed more risky to me than just getting on with the haircut. She began to snip and snip and snip with no apparent focus or direction. I'm pretty sure I didn't breathe for the duration. She then proceeded to 'thin' every inch of my hair - the bangs I was growing out? Well, I'll be starting over. Anyway, it's way too late to make this long story short so I will just say that my friend had to trim a few strays when I got home (thanks Yukiko!) but today when I styled it, I realized (with enormous relief) that it's not that bad. I can live with it...hopefully until December when I can visit Andra and sit back and enjoy my time in the styling chair; relaxed, breathing easily, chatting away, no Kung Fu grip on the arms of the chair...

Thanks for reading! And today if you're in Arizona, open your windows and enjoy the warm sun on your face. And if you're in the mood for Starbucks drive on in and park without anxiety or the urge to go monster trucking over a row of cars. And next time you're off to the salon to see your beloved hair stylist, give them a hug.

Happy Halloween!

Where can you fully embrace Halloween for what it is (or what it should be): a child-centered excuse for playing dress-up, going door-to-door essentially begging for sweets, leading to what can only be described as blissful, massive, candy-consumption? Where can you enjoy all that Halloween has to offer without cowering under an umbrella of "political correctness" or fearing that you may offend someone, somewhere...CHINA, that's where! The girls' school spent an entire afternoon enjoying festivities - Halloween-themed games (ghost bowling, anyone?) in each classroom and a costume parade. Then we went over to Campus Village - where we live - and had more games, a petting zoo and hayride, a kids buffet of Halloweenish foods, and a costume contest (Erin won a free smoothie from the cafe!) Here are a few photos of our celebration...

I helped in the second grade station - ghost bowling! Good times...

My little "Super Girl" in the mummy wrapping station.

My little "USA Diva" in the costume parade. She is following her teacher - all of the teachers dressed up too. What fun!

Here is Emma on the hayride. They rode all around the neighborhood (she was itchy and cold but had a great time).

Erin is with her friends - they always divide everything by age groups here. Fine in theory, but it makes it hard to take pictures when the kids are split up.

They even made homemade piñatas!

There were about 100 kids trick-or-treating in our community. The girls received lots of Chinese candy (yuck) and some candy brought from the states - thank goodness for the "parent tax"!

Fortunately all Halloween activities were on Friday, a crisp, clear fall evening, because on Saturday we were hit with middle-of-winter type temperatures. It lasted through the beginning of the week. When we walked to school Monday, it was 27 degrees!

If you haven't checked our website in a while, go there now! (web.me.com/fendog) There are pictures from September (the girls in a Chinese wedding and our trip to Dandong) and from October (our trip to Beijing and more Halloween).