Phone, wallet, keys....no you're forgetting stuff

          Perhaps I was spoiled in the states that when I went out literally all I needed was a credit card, ID, phone, and keys. The utter simplicity of it seems like a bygone time. I don't think that it is living in the city that is causing me to have to carry so much damn shit around. It's living in China. Apart from phone, wallet, keys you never leave without an umbrella or tissues.Being the camera-queen that I am, I need to always be prepared for photo ops. That being said, I need a bigger purse.

         Your umbrella serves many purposes. It has become my permanent accessory, like a wristlet that does nothing. People here don't really wear sunglasses, your umbrella doubles as a parasol. It's said to keep your skin fair and the sun out of your eyes. I can use it as a parasol all day, but I'll always have olive skin. The skies can also open up at any given moment. With the flip of a switch sunny and beautiful turns to monsoon. I learned my lesson one day while walking to Bao'an stadium for a coffee. I showed up in the shop like a drowned rat wondering if they were going to serve me in my state. They did, I dried off while enjoying my coffee. About three minutes into my walk home it started pouring again. Umbrellas are essential.

          Tissues? Why would you carry tissues? A personal story. My friends at home were in the habit of teasing me for always carrying baby wipes and ibuprofen. "You're such a mom!"they would say. And there were many moments when they were legitimately needed. I don't like to cook on the beach with sand hands, or get sun headaches, ergo my mom kit. Here, toilet paper is rarely provided so tissues are a must. Oh and the toilets. You best practice your squats. At first I was quite opposed to using them. I wondered how people didn't pee all over their shoes. Or if they did and it was normal to walk around in pee sandals.The sooner you get used to them the better.

    I had my first hot pot experience. It is a broth with vegetables and spices and you can choose the meat you would like in it. They serve it on a stove in the middle of the table. I had the pleasure of sitting right on top of the propane tank. There were a couple of occasions where the metal ladle heated up and I nearly dropped it. We asked that it not be too spicy, they must not have listened because I was dripping sweat halfway through the meal. We had duck, sheep, and lamb. All absolutely delicious.

 

   I also had a night out in an expat area. It is at the a worthwhile ride on the metro, Sea World. It looks like a downtown Disney without the Disney. We found an Indian restaurant, which I immediately had to see their menu. Not like I don't already overindulge in curry. Then there was a German place. I also had to see their menu. Come fall I am constantly craving German food. I occasionally miss my habitual pretzel with spicy mustard to accompany my beer.  Then we found an Irish bar and took advantage of the shot special. When in Rome.