28 November 2009
In an effort to improve my blogging, I’m introducing a posting schedule that should make updating the blog easier for me. (If I don’t have a concrete plan I’ll just procrastinate endlessly.) I’ve designated Saturdays as my Weekly Round-Up day. The Weekly Round-Up is a review of the past week written in a more personal, diary-like style. Want to know what is happening in my life? Check in on Saturdays. The complete posting schedule can be found here.
We’ve had a short autumn here in Linyi this year. The past few weeks have been cold, with temps between 0 and 10C. Everyone’s got their long johns and puffy coats on. The skies are gray and mornings foggy.
Flying at the school has been hit or miss with the poor visibility, but the DH is keeping busy training multi-engine students in the FTDs (Flight Training Devices – a big computer with mocked up airplane complete with instruments and controls, kind of like Microsoft Flight Simulator on steroids.) Meanwhile, I am busy studying more advanced aviation theory with the idea of getting my advanced ground instructor license, allowing me to teach instrument, commercial and airline transport courses. I’m hampered in that I find it all a bit boring. Shh! Don’t tell the DH, he loves this stuff! On the bright side, should the need arise, I will be theoretically capable of flying a 737 or A320… Well, maybe not, but I’m sure I’d do just as well as Kurt Russell!
Back to the winter weather, the DH and I have already had our annual “first heat colds,” the colds we get every winter immediately after turning on our electric heater. Thank god for White and Black, China’s version of Day/Nyquil. Between that and China’s version of the clementine, (but so much better in my opinion), we’re now just fine.
Actually, the arrival of cold temps is quite fortuitous. Starting about two weeks ago, our refrigerator decided it wanted to be a freezer, turning everything inside into ice blocks. We’ve pondered calling a repair man, but never mind, our kitchen is now so cold we can just leave all the food out on the counter! [Cultural note: Chinese kitchens are usually small and unheated. They are meant to be used behind closed doors and an eat-in style is rare. Most normally resemble a closed in balcony. Thus, they can be very cold in winter.]
Speaking of kitchens, I hope all the US Americans had a nice Thanksgiving. The day went by mostly unnoticed here. In big cities like Qingdao, Beijing and Shanghai, Americans can go to hotels for holiday buffets. I had a bowl of leftover fried rice while the DH did some night flying with his students. That sounds kind of pathetic, but don’t feel bad for us, we’re really Scrooges when it comes to the holidays. [Warning: sappiness ahead.] As long-term expats, the DH and I have come to appreciate that as along as we’re together, everyday can be a holiday.
That said, I have a travel announcement. I just bought the tickets yesterday and will be spending the holiday season in Texas and Colorado. I’m excited to see the US at Christmas time and I’m really looking forward to buying myself my Christmas present – a new Apple MacBook Pro. Yoo-hoo! Lord knows I need it. My PowerBook is only 4 years old but is so hungry for more hard drive and memory that it thinks about every action 1 minute before doing anything. Sooooooo sloooooow. Soooo000 annoying! And since my laptop is my life-blood, I can justify the expense.
I’m sitting at McDonald’s writing this and I’m having a lovely time observing a fight in the parking lot while drinking free coffee refills the counter girls were kind enough to give me. The street in front of the parking lot has been torn up and workers are jack-hammering the heck out of it, so I’ve got lots of interesting things to watch. Up next is a walk to the supermarket where I expect to be oogled and pointed at while I buy bread and yogurt. Good times!
Enjoy your weekend!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Your new MacbookPro is gonna be the best bought you ever do. Im jealous, but I will have mine for longer. A big hug
Hello fellow Mac lover! I don’t know if I should be so excited over a computer, but you understand, right?!