I feel like it's been raining for 99 days straight. Actually it's only been raining for about 8 days straight.
It's Friday afternoon and I just returned from class and the supermarket. And apparently our campus has bats, but I have yet to see one. Three of my teammates have seen bats while they were walking to class or in class teaching. A couple of days ago a bat flew right at Joelle's head as she was walking down a hallway. Today there was a bat on a curtain in Jonathan's classroom, which Shannon noticed when she visited his class. She was taking a picture of it when the flash from the camera startled it. The bat flew straight for Shannon. One of Jonathan's students then decided to try to attack it with a broom (the choice weapon for battling bats and rats). The bat went crazy and flew in circles around everyone's heads while the girls screamed their heads off. Then the bat exited the room.
The day continues to be bizarre and sort of strange. I came home at 12:30 and was trying to boil water for noodles on the propane burners. Rain was leaking from the windows and ceiling onto the burners, so I decided to move the burners away from the window while the propane was on. Pretty dumb idea. The propane line or whatever got disconnected from the burners, so I watched in horror as flames engulfed the stove range and that whole area of the kitchen. The flames were growing by the second, so that part of the kitchen was truly on fire.
In emergencies I tend to freeze and just stare in shock, which I was doing. Then I decided I had to do something or the whole building was going to burn down. I thought about tossing water on the stove, but quickly realized that was an even dumber idea. Then I looked around frantically for a fire extinguisher, but of course there isn't one. Then I thought about how to call for help, but also realized I didn't know the number or any Chinese to say so. But then I did the smartest thing, which I should have done in the first place, and managed to turn off the propane tank. Duh!
The flames immediately disappeared. But now our whole place reeks of propane. Nothing was really singed, because everything looks blackened already. The only thing the flames touched were the burners and the tile and windows. My heart was racing so much and so I ate half of a chocolate bar. I decided not to make the noodles for spaghetti.
After that episode, I ventured to the supermarket, like most Friday afternoons. I thought that maybe the rain would wash everything on the streets away, but it hasn't really done that. I still had to jump around huge puddles that had collected piles of trash already.
It was pretty uneventful for a while, although the store seemed a lot more crowded than usual. People seemed extra eager to see me, even though I come every Friday. When I was leaving the supermarket, the streets were pretty empty, except for a scene playing out just a few yards in front of me, where I needed to head toward. I saw people shouting at each other and a couple people waving sticks and a big stone. I was really confused and was wondering how I'd go around them. Then a police SUV sped over and two officers jumped out. Everybody was yelling now, and I just stood a short distance away, pretending to fumble with my umbrella. We've been told not to be near scenes like that, because sometimes foreigners can be blamed or involved without even realizing it. I didn't feel like having an adventure like that. Finally, the police shoved several of the people into the car and raced away. I have no idea what had happened. I'm just glad nobody noticed me.
A few minutes ago, one of my Chinese friends came by to drop off the notebook I write Chinese lesson stuff in. I had lost it a few weeks ago. I guess I mentioned it to her a while ago that I think I had left it at English Corner outside. After that I forgot about it and started a new notebook. Then today she called me to say she had recovered it! She had tracked down the English Association chairman and he had my notebook! I really didn't care much about the little notebook, but I was amazed that the English Association people had it. I was more amazed that my friend spent all that effort getting it back. She really didn't have to go find it, but she called around until she got it back. Oh, only in China! If people say they're your friends here, they really mean it.
So now I'm sitting in the relative quiet of my apartment. We have Chinese lessons in about half an hour for 2 hours. I think this time I'll bring a pillow to sit on. Those little peg stools aren't the most fun to sit on forever. And of course I'll bring my newly rediscovered notebook...
That was my wild day and it's only half over. Thanks as always for thinking of us. I'm feeling much better, as are many of my teammates.
It's Friday afternoon and I just returned from class and the supermarket. And apparently our campus has bats, but I have yet to see one. Three of my teammates have seen bats while they were walking to class or in class teaching. A couple of days ago a bat flew right at Joelle's head as she was walking down a hallway. Today there was a bat on a curtain in Jonathan's classroom, which Shannon noticed when she visited his class. She was taking a picture of it when the flash from the camera startled it. The bat flew straight for Shannon. One of Jonathan's students then decided to try to attack it with a broom (the choice weapon for battling bats and rats). The bat went crazy and flew in circles around everyone's heads while the girls screamed their heads off. Then the bat exited the room.
The day continues to be bizarre and sort of strange. I came home at 12:30 and was trying to boil water for noodles on the propane burners. Rain was leaking from the windows and ceiling onto the burners, so I decided to move the burners away from the window while the propane was on. Pretty dumb idea. The propane line or whatever got disconnected from the burners, so I watched in horror as flames engulfed the stove range and that whole area of the kitchen. The flames were growing by the second, so that part of the kitchen was truly on fire.
In emergencies I tend to freeze and just stare in shock, which I was doing. Then I decided I had to do something or the whole building was going to burn down. I thought about tossing water on the stove, but quickly realized that was an even dumber idea. Then I looked around frantically for a fire extinguisher, but of course there isn't one. Then I thought about how to call for help, but also realized I didn't know the number or any Chinese to say so. But then I did the smartest thing, which I should have done in the first place, and managed to turn off the propane tank. Duh!
The flames immediately disappeared. But now our whole place reeks of propane. Nothing was really singed, because everything looks blackened already. The only thing the flames touched were the burners and the tile and windows. My heart was racing so much and so I ate half of a chocolate bar. I decided not to make the noodles for spaghetti.
After that episode, I ventured to the supermarket, like most Friday afternoons. I thought that maybe the rain would wash everything on the streets away, but it hasn't really done that. I still had to jump around huge puddles that had collected piles of trash already.
It was pretty uneventful for a while, although the store seemed a lot more crowded than usual. People seemed extra eager to see me, even though I come every Friday. When I was leaving the supermarket, the streets were pretty empty, except for a scene playing out just a few yards in front of me, where I needed to head toward. I saw people shouting at each other and a couple people waving sticks and a big stone. I was really confused and was wondering how I'd go around them. Then a police SUV sped over and two officers jumped out. Everybody was yelling now, and I just stood a short distance away, pretending to fumble with my umbrella. We've been told not to be near scenes like that, because sometimes foreigners can be blamed or involved without even realizing it. I didn't feel like having an adventure like that. Finally, the police shoved several of the people into the car and raced away. I have no idea what had happened. I'm just glad nobody noticed me.
A few minutes ago, one of my Chinese friends came by to drop off the notebook I write Chinese lesson stuff in. I had lost it a few weeks ago. I guess I mentioned it to her a while ago that I think I had left it at English Corner outside. After that I forgot about it and started a new notebook. Then today she called me to say she had recovered it! She had tracked down the English Association chairman and he had my notebook! I really didn't care much about the little notebook, but I was amazed that the English Association people had it. I was more amazed that my friend spent all that effort getting it back. She really didn't have to go find it, but she called around until she got it back. Oh, only in China! If people say they're your friends here, they really mean it.
So now I'm sitting in the relative quiet of my apartment. We have Chinese lessons in about half an hour for 2 hours. I think this time I'll bring a pillow to sit on. Those little peg stools aren't the most fun to sit on forever. And of course I'll bring my newly rediscovered notebook...
That was my wild day and it's only half over. Thanks as always for thinking of us. I'm feeling much better, as are many of my teammates.
(The picture is a cool one Allison, a girl on the Zhengzhou team, took of us sitting on the bus. Her camera setting was just showing pink colors or something).
1 comment:
Oh, my goodness, what a day! LBBS you go through so much! We are definitely publishing your journals or making a movie out of them! It would be a best seller! I'm thankful you are safe and not a burnt little crisp. I admire you for having a positive attitude throughout your days - you are such an encouragement! I love you so much!!!!!!!
P.S. "Rainy Day 99" sounds like the name of a rock band! We should start one! And the cover of our first CD can be that cool picture on your blog! ;)
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