Milk tea is this wonderful drink that's very popular in Taiwan and can be found in some areas of mainland China. It's cold and it's simply black tea made with sugar and milk. I'm not exactly sure if it's just regular sugar or sweetened condensed milk but it's fabulous. Phil's actually the biggest fan in our family but I really like it too. It comes with these little black "pearls" that are some kinda of gummy tapioca like stuff. I don't really know what they are but they're a little weird and don't really add to the drink so we usually request that they not be put in our tea.
So there are at least 2 shops that sell milk tea near us. And the most important detail is that it's REALLY GOOD milk tea. We've had milk tea in other parts of China and it was not good so this is a really great thing. Maddie and I were out for a little shopping this afternoon and we bought 2 for Phil and me. I started telling the lady what I wanted and she said, "I know". She recognized Maddie from when Phil had been there. So, Maddie's already working out really well for us.
Maddie and I were photographed today. I heard the squeal of bicycle brakes and turned to see a middle aged man nearly crashing into a fruit stand trying to see us walk down the street. I smiled at him because I figured he deserved some sort of recognition for risking so much for us. We went on with our business and as I came out of a flower shop he was there with his camera. I must have been in a really good mood because I stopped, smiled and let him take several pictures. People were slowing down in their cars and taxis to see if they recognized the famous whities. I thought about charging him but I figured the humor would be lost on him. A lady took a picuture of Maddie yesterday with her cell phone while I was buying a bottle of water.
I mainly just wonder what they tell people. "Honey, look! This is a picture of a baby that I have no idea about. I don't know if she's a boy or a girl. I don't know where she's from. I don't know how old she is. I don't know anything about her parents. But I have her picture and she's foreign so that's just an opportunity you can not pass up. Plus she has banana smeared all over her face, up her nose and caked in her eyebrows. So I couldn't resist".
I admit that I have taken photos of Chinese people and if I'm totally honest it was because they were doing something that was foreign to me. Like the man and women making noodles and hanging them to dry. I can hear him telling his friend, "The other day these foreigners took a picture of me and Sally making noodles. We both had flour all over us, the shop was a wreck and the noodles were not nearly long enough. Why in the world did they want a picture of that?" So, I guess I'll stop wondering why others do it.
Today Maddie waved when someone said "Ni Hao" (hello). I was shocked. I'm not sure if she just chose that exact moment to practice her wave or if she really knew that she was being greeted. I'd like to believe she knew exactly what she was doing. She is really smart.
I know she's getting more comfortable here. Today as we walked around shopping she was blabbing most of the time and really loud. She does that at home and sometimes on our walks around the complex but she's been very quiet on the streets. It makes me really happy to hear her talk.
This morning we decided to feed the fish again. This time it was great. We met some really nice grandparents and parents with their kids. I was pretty much invited to join them every morning at 8:30. At least I think that's what the man told me. He could have said, "Please try to avoid this area around 8:30am" but we're going again in the morning. I'm hoping they're all really patient and can help me with my Chinese. I've already learned new words concerning teeth and breast feeding. Words you don't always use when practicing with strangers on the street. "So how many teeth do you have?"
I've felt really good about China today. I think we'll miss Wuhan.
So there are at least 2 shops that sell milk tea near us. And the most important detail is that it's REALLY GOOD milk tea. We've had milk tea in other parts of China and it was not good so this is a really great thing. Maddie and I were out for a little shopping this afternoon and we bought 2 for Phil and me. I started telling the lady what I wanted and she said, "I know". She recognized Maddie from when Phil had been there. So, Maddie's already working out really well for us.
Maddie and I were photographed today. I heard the squeal of bicycle brakes and turned to see a middle aged man nearly crashing into a fruit stand trying to see us walk down the street. I smiled at him because I figured he deserved some sort of recognition for risking so much for us. We went on with our business and as I came out of a flower shop he was there with his camera. I must have been in a really good mood because I stopped, smiled and let him take several pictures. People were slowing down in their cars and taxis to see if they recognized the famous whities. I thought about charging him but I figured the humor would be lost on him. A lady took a picuture of Maddie yesterday with her cell phone while I was buying a bottle of water.
I mainly just wonder what they tell people. "Honey, look! This is a picture of a baby that I have no idea about. I don't know if she's a boy or a girl. I don't know where she's from. I don't know how old she is. I don't know anything about her parents. But I have her picture and she's foreign so that's just an opportunity you can not pass up. Plus she has banana smeared all over her face, up her nose and caked in her eyebrows. So I couldn't resist".
I admit that I have taken photos of Chinese people and if I'm totally honest it was because they were doing something that was foreign to me. Like the man and women making noodles and hanging them to dry. I can hear him telling his friend, "The other day these foreigners took a picture of me and Sally making noodles. We both had flour all over us, the shop was a wreck and the noodles were not nearly long enough. Why in the world did they want a picture of that?" So, I guess I'll stop wondering why others do it.
Today Maddie waved when someone said "Ni Hao" (hello). I was shocked. I'm not sure if she just chose that exact moment to practice her wave or if she really knew that she was being greeted. I'd like to believe she knew exactly what she was doing. She is really smart.
I know she's getting more comfortable here. Today as we walked around shopping she was blabbing most of the time and really loud. She does that at home and sometimes on our walks around the complex but she's been very quiet on the streets. It makes me really happy to hear her talk.
This morning we decided to feed the fish again. This time it was great. We met some really nice grandparents and parents with their kids. I was pretty much invited to join them every morning at 8:30. At least I think that's what the man told me. He could have said, "Please try to avoid this area around 8:30am" but we're going again in the morning. I'm hoping they're all really patient and can help me with my Chinese. I've already learned new words concerning teeth and breast feeding. Words you don't always use when practicing with strangers on the street. "So how many teeth do you have?"
I've felt really good about China today. I think we'll miss Wuhan.