Chinese Tea

I'm a fan (decaf of course)!  So I'm kind of new at this tea thing but I am finding that I like it.  I like how natural it is and I think some of it can be an acquired taste but I think it's definitely possible to find something to please any set of taste buds.  One of my co-workers from China was constantly walking around with her tea bottle all the time. She always had flowers, plants, and other unidentifiable items in her water so I asked her about it and then she took me to the store and showed me some things I could buy t make my own.  I bought roses, chrysanthemum, some sugar rocks, and some fruit thing that I don't know what it is.  I've had a sore throat the last few days so my other friend bought me some lemon and this other swee something or other plant thing to drink in hot water too.  so far it seems to be helping.  A few weeks ago, my friend Sherri and I went to a park where there were all these vendors selling clothes, shoes, food, etc... and there were several booths of people selling flowers, leaves, herbs, and other things for tea.  The bins and canisters were huge.  The Chinese love their tea and I'm now the proud owner of a tea bottle!

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NCPA - CARMEN

Last night I went to the National Center for Performing Arts Beijing Opera production fo Bizet's Carmen.  After a disappointing production of La Traviata in February, I wasn't sure how this would be but it was SUPER FABULOUS!!  Not at all a disappointment!  Set and costumes were extremely well done and the stage direction was soooooooo much better than La Traviata which made a huge difference. It was a traditional performance and everything was bright and colorful.  They even had some small children from an acrobat troop do a few summersaults - totally cute!  The singers were all fabulous although I was slightly disappointed in the baritone who played Escamillio.  A woman named Viktoria Vizin played Carmen and I really loved her.  She just performed the role at The Met so it was great to see her here in Beijing. Great voice and I enjoyed her portrayal of the character.  I think Carmen would be such a fun and exciting role to play because she is so distinct and different than many other female opera characters.  She is so much of what I am not - super fiery, passionate, seductive, and she can be a total witch too!  Don Jose was played by Brandon Jovanovich and I was really looking forward to hearing him for the first time.  I had heard of him before and he was wonderful!  I'm a fan!  
 
My friends that came with me had never seen Carmen before.  My friend Joseph had never been to an opera.  I was very grateful it was such a great production so they could all have a good experience.  I would have to say that Carmen is one of the best operas to take someone to who has never experienced opera.  Most people are familiar with the music and don't even know it.  The story is easy to follow and the music is outstanding. The company has a several more productions in the next few months so I look forward to attending those as well.  

PROSTITUTE NEIGHBORS

I have prostitute neighbors.  I noticed a few weeks ago that one of the apartments in the building next door had lights up in the windows.  One window had the number of the apartment and the other window had a Chinese character in blue lights.  So of course I had my suspicions but then a friend suggested that maybe the apartment was for rent and they were advertising.  So I took a picture of the window and asked my Chinese co-worker what the symbol meant and apparantly they offer "foot massages".  So then I joked around about what would happen if I showed up at their door after work wanting an actual foot massage and not their version of a "foot massage."  Ha ha!  
 
Then a few days ago and I left my apartment to get on the elevator and there was a girl in the hallway dressed in a total hooker outfit - super short leopard print dress and outrageous heels, the hair and makeup totally overdone.  I haven't figured out if she actually lives in the apartment nearby or if she was you know, there on business. I don't want to know really.  But seriously, it's crazy how these prostitute girls just walk around all day and night like normal people.  It's disturbing and sad.  Whether the woman chooses that option or is forced into it, it makes me sad that they are living this way.  I wish they realized their true value and meaning as women.

ETERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

Before I came to China I received a church blessing from my uncle.  In the Mormon faith we can ask for and receive blessings to help comfort us when we deal with illness, trials, or just need to feel peace regarding our present circumstances and choices we are faced with. I can best define it as a special prayer given on your behalf. Because I wasn't sure what to expect from my China experience, I asked for a blessing to help me feel at peace about what lied ahead for me.  One of the statements my uncle made several times was that I was going to China to develop friendships and relationships with others that would be eternal.  I know that the people we meet in this life will continue to be a part of our lives even after death.  God would not be a loving and perfect being if he were to allow us to create such special and wonderful bonds and relationships with others, and then not allow us to continue those.  I have met some wonderful people here so far in China at work and at church.  I can definitely say that many friendships are being formed and I am so grateful that these friendships will continue.  
 I have been very happy here in China.  There have been a couple of rough spots but hardly anything to complain about at all because I've been so blessed and taken care of since my arrival.  Heavenly Father has truly looked out for me more than I can say and more than I've ever imagined and I find it hard to put it all into words even when I pray.  I feel nothing I say can truly express my gratitude. For this reason, I feel that the most important "eternal relationship" I've developed here is the one with God.  After struggling the last couple of years and dealing with a crisis of faith to an extent, coming to China has truly brought me back to a place in my mind and in my heart where I feel much more reconciled with my true self as a child of God.  I am truly grateful that my trials have brought me to a better and stronger place within myself.  Many of the people I have met here are truly AMAZING!  I am so grateful to know them and for the example and inspiration they provide for me.  I hope to write about some of the fabulous people I have met in future posts so everyone can see how many wonderful people exist in our world!

NEWSPAPER HEADLINE FAIL

This photo was on the front page of the Metro section in the China Daily newspaper.  It's disturbing on many levels.  I'll be interested in your comments.  I am seriously going to submit this to the failblog website.

VIVA ITALIA!!

Last Saturday night my new good friend Samily invited me to a restaurant opening!  I had never been to a restaurant opening before so I was a bit excited!  The restaurant was a new Italian place owned by a man who used to be co-owner of a popular Italian chain here in Beijing.  He struck out on his own and invited my friend since she is a reporter for a paper here in the city.  The food was mostly good except for the noodles were a tad undercooked.  I was waiting in line to get my food and there were three older, good looking Italian men in front of me waiting as well.  As soon as they saw me behind them, they all moved aside and started speaking to me in fabulous Italian to go ahead of them for my food.  I insisted it was no problem for me to wait my turn but these fabulous Italian men wouldn't have it!  I was forced to go ahead of them and I also met a woman who was with them from Spain.  They were all super friendly and most spoke at least 3 languages.  I am learning here that Europeans are super friendly and passionate and I love it!  So I returned to my table with my yummy Italian dishes and joined my friend and two of her reporter co-workers - one from Portugal and the other from Brazil.  They were both super nice. So as we all left the Italian place to head over to another restaurant to listen to a local band play, exiting behind us were my new Italian and Spanish friends from the buffet line.  So  we started talking again and the nice woman from Spain wanted all these photos of her with us which I thought was pretty random.  We had no idea what anyone's name was but just stood outside enjoying a brief conversation.  Well we took a couple of photos of all of us and as we said goodbye, the Italian guys gave the traditional "hug with a kiss on both cheeks" goodbye which I had no problem with whatsoever!  It was seriously the most action I had in about 7 years (subject for another future blog post). 

DIRT MARKET

Last week I went to the "Dirt Market" with my friend Sherri.  It is a super huge outdoor market where people sell all sorts of things - Mao collectibles, antiques, fake antiques, furniture, jewelry, etc...  This place is really big and I went on a random weekday so it wasn't nearly as crowded as it usually is apparently.  Sherri said there are many more vendors on the weekends that bring all sorts of items from Mongolia and Tibet as well.  I ended up buying a book that is probably about 40 - 50 years old. It is a replica of a scroll that depicts the story of a city in China and I forgot the name so I will have to blog about specifics later.  I liked the way the book looked and several vendors had the book so I am curious as to why there are so many of them around.  I really liked looking at the different calligraphy scrolls and hangings.  There was a man painting traditional scenes on large pieces of paper and I'd like to go back and get one of those later to keep at home.  One item I found to be extremely cool and beautiful were the used calligraphy brushes.  The handles are made out of all sorts of materials - wood, porcelin,colored stones, etc...  I'd like to find some really beautiful ones for a collection.  The other thing I really, really love are the shadow puppets.  They are so beautiful and intricately made.  Most are made from leather and very pretty colored paints. I am hoping to make it back to the market on a Saturday to see more vendors. 

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