The reason for the absence is that I've been really busy and this past week has been full of...hmmm...let's call them "challenges". Won't go into detail except for this one... I was"sick" from the horrendous, choking pollution last week. It manifested as a scratchy throat, but other cold- like symptoms are common. Oleg has a bit of a cough. Last week was stiflingly hot & humid and you literally could see & taste the air. My northern European DNA was begging for some relief. All the Chinese women never broke a sheen of sweat, while I dragged myself from place to place, raccoon eyes from melting mascara and frighteningly frizzy hair. Thankfully, storms swept through over the weekend and the air is soooooo much better, the skies are clear, and the weather is fantastic.
Oleg had his first playdate last week. His new friend Max, from New Zealand, invited him over. I'm hoping this will boost his confidence and spur on some more friend-making. He's been having a hard time and feels like no one understands him. We keep reassuring him that friends will come with time.
Last week I visited a special needs orphanage outside Beijing, Shepherd's Field. Awesome experience! We got to spend a lot of time playing with the kids, which is so important for their development. Here are some orphanage pics-for my adoptive parents that have seen Russian orphanages, the Chinese orphanage was very similar.
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| Donation from Millennium Residences |
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| Wall of tiny adopted hands |
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| Mangy orphanage dog-I just like his expression of pure boredom |
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| Cribs |
What is hot pot you ask???? Why, only one of the most delicious, ingenious foodstuffs on this planet! Picture this-if you dare! Scorchingly hot "pots" of spicy broth over open flames on your table, raw beef, lamb, shrimp paste (sounds gross-seriously good) noodles, & veggies just waiting to be dipped into your boiling cauldron. Delicious dipping sauce of your own making. Giant jugs of ice-cold Chinese beer. Sigh.....I could eat this stuff 2-3 times a week.
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| Enjoying hot pot |
I warned you this would be random.
Beijing has the most awesome public transportation system ever. Not only can you get a taxi at virtually any point in the city, the subway can take you anywhere. I'm new to the subway and had been spending an average of 15-20 RMB ($3-4) per taxi ride and was feeling badly about it. You know you are more than a tourist when a $4 taxi ride starts to sound expensive. Plus Steve & Oleg take the subway all the time and I can't have them "out-beijinging" me. So, today I ventured onto the subway which cost 2 RMB ($.30!). Why I didn't do this before I don't know. If you can get over the idea of personal space as well as having to throw an elbow here & there it is the best. I also love it because I can just go where I want to without talking to anyone.
The city of Beijing, like any city with nasty water and 20 million plus people generally smells like some sort of burning rubber, dirty butt and vomit combo-EXCEPT during lunchtime when all the food vendors are out hocking their spicy, fried street food. Then it smells delicious.
Here are some pics of my organic farm delivery hauls & one random pic of my dog, Schnitzel. Normally the vegetable delivery is bigger, but I only needed a few things this time.
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| Big white bag is sea salt. Salt is really hard to find here. MSG is not. The potted rosemary is the start to my window herb garden. I can never find anything except for cilantro in the market. The organic farm has every organic potted herb under the sun. |
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| Yeah, Wondermilk! This isn't my regular delivery amount (usually more). I just pulled a few representative items from my fridge. The purple box is drinkable yogurt with purple rice in it-sounds weird again, but really yummy. The little jars are the reason I'm so fat. Creamy creme brûlée type puddings with a flan kind of caramel-ly liquid in the bottom. |
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| This is Schnitzel's tiny face photographed up-close to look huge |
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