I’m a big fan of IKEA. I love the Swedishness of it all, the order, the witty labeling (the product names are exceptionally clever if you know Swedish, trust me). IKEA in Guangzhou, however, is unlike any other IKEA I have experienced.
According to a friend, IKEA has developed a brilliant marketing strategy for GZ, namely making IKEA a place to sit down in a comfortable chair or to enjoy a nap in a bed in the middle of the afternoon. Almost every piece of furniture is being used by a customer. People are talking on phones, enjoying snacks, spending an afternoon in sleek Scandinavian furniture comfort. IKEA is not quite affordable for the average Chinese person yet. However, if Chinese customers feel at home with IKEA products, the hope is that when incomes allow, IKEA will be the home furnishing shop of choice. It explains the escalator in the middle of the store that doesn’t allow for carts. Imagine my surprise on my first shopping foray to IKEA this week when, with my 6 bags of goods, I had to unload my cart and carry everything up the escalator. I was baffled. It was only after I was informed that most customers go to IKEA not to shop, but to enjoy the furniture, that I understood why few customers seemed bothered by schlepping their newly acquired goods up a level. In the future, I’ll limit myself to two bags per trip.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
I'm on a boat...
As a getting to know Guangzhou activity, the new staff took a Pearl River cruise. A good time was had by all and no one fell in. GZ loves it some neon!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Of Aiyis and Alligators
There is nothing quite a comical as trying to communicate with someone that you absolutely don’t understand. Case in point, my aiyi, Lin. I met her yesterday when she rang the bell to my apartment promptly at 8 a.m. Good start. I managed to use the internet to translate a note in Chinese, which may or may not have been what I intended to say and showed that to her while pointing to things in the apartment in a meaningful way. I was successful in communicating “please use the money in the drawer to buy laundry soap,” and “refill my water cooler.” I was less successful in trying to have my refrigerator magically fill with chopped fruit. Next time. I also tried to get her to tell me how to say goodbye in Cantonese, but that was a dismal freak show. I said goodbye in English and pointed to myself then back to her. She said goodbye back to me in English and looked at me in a very puzzled way as I repeated this behavior for the next 45 seconds. I’m going to have to learn how to say goodbye somewhere else. As I didn’t have to be anwhere until 9:15 but found myself in completely awkward situation as I had already said goodbye quite ineffectively, I fled the apartment as Lin needed to do her thing without me trying to be super mime. It was 8:05. Fortunately, or not, depending on how you look at it, I have a McDonald’s on the ground floor. There is plenty of Coke Zero in GZ, so I got one of those and read a book for an hour while listening to Norah Jones and Louis Armstrong playing in the background.
My next task consisted of visiting the police station to register my presence here in GZ. That involved one of the ladies from the office doing a lot of talking with the man behind the desk while I smiled and nodded at what seemed to be the appropriate times in a polite but not obnoxious way. I’m still not sure if I am registered, as my landlord was not there and apparently that was an integral part of the process, which led to even more negotiating. The form also had to be filled out twice as the use blue ink was not acceptable. After much smiling, nodding and talking we were told we were done and headed out to another police station to engage in a similar process. It seemed to work, and hopefully I am now officially registered, as that seems essential.
In the afternoon the new faculty was taken on a shopping trip to Metro, a German owned warehouse store chain much like Sam’s Club. I immediately filled my cart. No, really, immediately, as I found a microwave, giant toaster oven and a slow cooker in the first few minutes. It put a dent in my ability to get other things, but I was determined not to be thwarted in my resolve to bake in China. I wandered through the rest of the mammoth store looking for things that would rest on top of my appliances and eventually made my way to the seafood section, where I saw the craziest thing I have ever seen in a grocery store. There it was, packed in ice, a headless but otherwise clearly recognizable alligator for about $7 a pound. My eyes popped out of my head a little bit like a cartoon character. This was even crazier than the smiling goats, skinned but for their happy faces, in the meat case in Venezuela. I had to ask a few other people if they had seen it, as I didn’t quite believe it myself, but there it was. I didn’t get any to bring home to try out in my microwave, oven or crock pot. I am certain alligator would be best prepared in a crock pot. So far, China has not failed to disappoint. Next stop, IKEA. Nothing says China like IKEA.
My next task consisted of visiting the police station to register my presence here in GZ. That involved one of the ladies from the office doing a lot of talking with the man behind the desk while I smiled and nodded at what seemed to be the appropriate times in a polite but not obnoxious way. I’m still not sure if I am registered, as my landlord was not there and apparently that was an integral part of the process, which led to even more negotiating. The form also had to be filled out twice as the use blue ink was not acceptable. After much smiling, nodding and talking we were told we were done and headed out to another police station to engage in a similar process. It seemed to work, and hopefully I am now officially registered, as that seems essential.
In the afternoon the new faculty was taken on a shopping trip to Metro, a German owned warehouse store chain much like Sam’s Club. I immediately filled my cart. No, really, immediately, as I found a microwave, giant toaster oven and a slow cooker in the first few minutes. It put a dent in my ability to get other things, but I was determined not to be thwarted in my resolve to bake in China. I wandered through the rest of the mammoth store looking for things that would rest on top of my appliances and eventually made my way to the seafood section, where I saw the craziest thing I have ever seen in a grocery store. There it was, packed in ice, a headless but otherwise clearly recognizable alligator for about $7 a pound. My eyes popped out of my head a little bit like a cartoon character. This was even crazier than the smiling goats, skinned but for their happy faces, in the meat case in Venezuela. I had to ask a few other people if they had seen it, as I didn’t quite believe it myself, but there it was. I didn’t get any to bring home to try out in my microwave, oven or crock pot. I am certain alligator would be best prepared in a crock pot. So far, China has not failed to disappoint. Next stop, IKEA. Nothing says China like IKEA.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Hello Guangzhou
As I sit on my couch (powder blue with a really interesting floral pattern) and look out of my window (29th floor) I can see twenty or so people doing early morning tai-chi in a courtyard. I’ve been up since 5:30, an improvement over yesterday, when my eyes popped open for good at 4:30. My early morning hours have never been so productive.
After two full days in Guangzhou, so far, so good. I’m really, really happy with where I live. I’m on the top floor of my building and I have a great view of the Pearl River from the balcony and a number of windows. I also discovered to my absolute delight that my apartment has a jetted bathtub. Now I don’t have to sell my soul to get one of those; I’m so pleased. I am sure my new co-workers are a little puzzled by my delight over my bathtub, as I tell everyone, but I don’t really care. I’m still exploring the neighborhood, but food (McDonald’s on the ground floor) and pedicures (two blocks away, less than $10 and foot razors to shave off the dead skin, banned in the US, but not in China, hooray!!) are readily available. I’ve made an appointment with one of the other new teachers living in my building to return regularly to the pedicure establishment. My toes are so happy. Transit also won’t be a problem as there is a subway stop right under my building. My apartment karma is very, very good in Guangzhou.
There is much settling in to do. My school has been very helpful with getting all of the necessary moving-in things done, which is great, as I am baffled by the Chinese language in any form. I have a full calendar of work and social appointments to help me get oriented to the city. I have been out to dinner with other new staff members every night since being here. Last night we went to a traditional Cantonese restaurant. The food was excellent. It’s true, you haven’t really eaten Chinese food until you have been to China. So fresh, so tasty. I’m not kidding about fresh. As we entered the restaurant, dinner was waiting for us. There were lobsters and fish in tanks, live silkworms, water beetles, some type of eels and a super-cute unsuspecting duck staring up from a cage. I thought about taking him home to live on my balcony, but decided against it in the end. It’s interesting to be in a place where people aren’t so removed from the source of their food.
Today I meet Lin my Aiyi (maid) and go to the police station to register my apartment I’m super excited about having someone to clean my house and basically run my domestic life for me. I may never cook again. Hurrah! I am also going shopping at a German version of Sam’s Club called Metro. I’m looking forward to trash bags, hangers and other life essentials.
The tai-chi session has ended, which means it’s 7 a.m. and time to head to Costa Coffee to get a mango smoothie and access the internet (can’t get it to work in my apartment…sigh). It’s going to be a great day, and if it ends up not being great, I can guarantee it will be interesting.
After two full days in Guangzhou, so far, so good. I’m really, really happy with where I live. I’m on the top floor of my building and I have a great view of the Pearl River from the balcony and a number of windows. I also discovered to my absolute delight that my apartment has a jetted bathtub. Now I don’t have to sell my soul to get one of those; I’m so pleased. I am sure my new co-workers are a little puzzled by my delight over my bathtub, as I tell everyone, but I don’t really care. I’m still exploring the neighborhood, but food (McDonald’s on the ground floor) and pedicures (two blocks away, less than $10 and foot razors to shave off the dead skin, banned in the US, but not in China, hooray!!) are readily available. I’ve made an appointment with one of the other new teachers living in my building to return regularly to the pedicure establishment. My toes are so happy. Transit also won’t be a problem as there is a subway stop right under my building. My apartment karma is very, very good in Guangzhou.
There is much settling in to do. My school has been very helpful with getting all of the necessary moving-in things done, which is great, as I am baffled by the Chinese language in any form. I have a full calendar of work and social appointments to help me get oriented to the city. I have been out to dinner with other new staff members every night since being here. Last night we went to a traditional Cantonese restaurant. The food was excellent. It’s true, you haven’t really eaten Chinese food until you have been to China. So fresh, so tasty. I’m not kidding about fresh. As we entered the restaurant, dinner was waiting for us. There were lobsters and fish in tanks, live silkworms, water beetles, some type of eels and a super-cute unsuspecting duck staring up from a cage. I thought about taking him home to live on my balcony, but decided against it in the end. It’s interesting to be in a place where people aren’t so removed from the source of their food.
Today I meet Lin my Aiyi (maid) and go to the police station to register my apartment I’m super excited about having someone to clean my house and basically run my domestic life for me. I may never cook again. Hurrah! I am also going shopping at a German version of Sam’s Club called Metro. I’m looking forward to trash bags, hangers and other life essentials.
The tai-chi session has ended, which means it’s 7 a.m. and time to head to Costa Coffee to get a mango smoothie and access the internet (can’t get it to work in my apartment…sigh). It’s going to be a great day, and if it ends up not being great, I can guarantee it will be interesting.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
O Canada
I was talking to one of my favorite Canadians this evening and she reminded me that I spent Canada Day in the company of a multitude of Canadians in Trafalgar Square in London. There was street hockey, Tim Horton's Donuts, Mounties in uniforms and maybe even some poutine. The Maple Leaf was flying everywhere. A good time was had by all. Everybody loves Canada Day, especially the Brits. Terra (and all lovers of Canada) this is for you!
Target, Wal-Mart and other drugs
Aah, Target...I will miss you. I have managed to spend more money at Target this week than I have spent there in the past several months. If I were a great-white, Target would be chum. Sweet, gory, irresistible retail chum. In the past three days, I have bought the following things at Target: two sweater cardigans, four tank tops, two pair of pants, one dress, one pair of pajamas, two bottles of shampoo, four containers of dental floss, one tube of toothpaste, 6 sticks of deodorant, and one package each of finger paint and play-doh (those were for my niece). Those are just the things I can remember. And that doesn't include my shopping at Kohl's, Wal-Mart or the mall. Even though I am moving to the place where just about everything is made, I still need a six month supply of essentials. I hear the Chinese don't feel the same way about deodorant as Americans do. I hope all of this crap fits in my suitcases.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Here I go again...
About seven years ago, I thought it would be a great idea to spend a year or two teaching internationally. I worked for two years in Valencia, Venezuela. That wasn't quite enough so I signed up for three more in Dubai, UAE. I then decided that it would be really great to get home, to be close to my family and to put down some roots in the good old US of A. Didn't stick. On Saturday, I get on a plane for my next international school post in Guangzhou, China, the biggest city you've never heard of. It's about 100 miles from Hong Kong and boasts 10-12 million people, depending on who you believe. In addition to my fabulous day job, I am looking forward to experiencing Chinese culture and learning some Mandarin. I anticipate that will take a while. A very, very long while. I also hope to conquer my dislike of crowded spaces and people cutting in front of me in line. Yea China!!!
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