It has been a while…

I’ve been busy! You know, doing stuff like:

• Watching TV – Actually, more like feeling overwhelmed by the 400+ channels everyone gets these days, still, there’s nothing much on any of them.

• Visiting grocery stores – I’ve been doing this much like normal people visit museums. Whole Foods market is beautiful! HEB (Texas grocery store) has an entire aisle devoted to cheese. I find myself at times shocked, repulsed, amazed, impressed and jealous. This truly is the land of the giant PX. (Purchasing exchange, the military’s Wal-Mart, found on all military bases.)

• Going to movies at movie theaters – Much better than watching those pirated DVDs filmed in theaters and much better than Chinese movie theaters. At least in Linyi, Chinese movie theaters are very loud since everyone talks and carries on cell phone conversations. (Movies seen: Prince Caspian, Indiana Jones, Sex and the City, Kung Fu Panda)

• Shopping – Not unlike China, there is a shopping opportunity around every corner here. The difference is, I keep exclaiming with joy and recognition at every corner. It is nice being able to browse and try on clothes without a crowd of Chinese shopgirls watching my every move and giggling.

I have not experienced full on culture shock, but I do feel surprised a lot by things I see. I realize how much pop culture I’ve missed out on over the last few years. (And music! I just don’t have a clue who anyone on the radio is.)

A few things I’ve noticed:

Everything really is bigger in Texas – cars, people, food portions… Maybe this will change with gas at nearly $4 a gallon, but there sure are a lot of SUVs and trucks in Texas and Oklahoma. I’m not shocked by the newness of all the cars, like I was after returning from Costa Rica in 2001, there are a lot of new cars in China, too. It is the size that surprises me.

Excessive seems to be a theme here… The smallest drink available at a fast food restaurant is the large size at McDonald’s in China.

Watching a channel called HGTV – Home and Garden Television – one could easily believe that Americans are completely obsessed with their homes. They probably are, but I have to admit I LOVE the comfort and convenience of the American home. It’s a change from the starkness and utilitarianism of our home in China. (My belongings pretty much fit into two suitcases.)

Traffic rules here are not just considered suggestions, as they are in Linyi. I feel fully confident driving, although I have noticed I am maniacal about looking both ways – multiple times – before entering a road or crossing one as a pedestrian. I’m often amazed that there are no cars coming straight at me, traveling the wrong way down the road and the fact that there are so few pedestrians, bicyclists and absolutely no tricycle cabs.

And perhaps my favorite thing about being here right now – looking at the sky. My sister-in-law thinks I am a freak because I regularly comment on the state of the heavens. “Hey! I can’t look directly at the sun! Wow! Look at those individual fluffy white clouds against a backdrop of pure blue! OMG! Where is the pollution ring!?” There are even stars visible at night. It’s a beautiful thing.

One month down, one more to go.

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