Madness In The Middle Kingdom

Well … 4 days in and 10 more to go in Jixi (or something like that .. still making return plans). Alice is having a wonderful time visiting family and finally got to play Mahjongg (or Ma Jiang) which she has been dying to do for a loooong time. She won 18 RMB last night (about $3.00 Cdn) so I am thinking about retiring early. Carter and Nathan have been having adjustment issues (nice way to put it eh?) about sleeping and napping and as the fireworks leading up to Chinese New Year are bound to get louder and louder I don’t see any relief in the near future. I spend my days lounging around in long underwear (trust me it is what the Chinese wear around the house and it is liberating I tell ya) and dreaming up ways to entertain myself and the boys. My most immediate project is to learn how to make fresh noodles and also to make mantou (a steamed bun that is fairly plain but tasty with a cup of coffee).

Two nights ago many of Alice’s relatives dropped by to give cash to the boys as a present for Chinese New Year’s and it was reminiscent of a scene out of Goodfellas when a mobster gets married and each person that comes by kisses the groom and bride and drops a wad o’ cash in their hand. They don’t have the kind of money that gangsters do but they were all very generous.

The weather has been unseasonably warm but today the snow fell and the temperature dropped to a not too bad - 12 Celsius. Carter, his cousin Rong Rong and I took the opportunity to head outside and tromp around in the snow. The forecast is calling for -18 or lower by the end of the week.

Well to add some spice to this otherwise boring post .. some photos from the last few days.

Alice with some of the womenfolk.

Me pretending I understand.

Carter and Nathan’s cousin Ma Ling Wei more affectionately known as Rong Rong

Nathan (8 months) and his second cousin (10 months).
Moments later Nathan open hand slapped him in the face.

Carter and Rong Rong. Bob the Builder ginch baby! Check ‘em out!

Rubber Ducky you’re the one. You make bath time so much fun!

2 photos of our snow day romp