OINK

Only IN China; I know China starts with a C not a K but if I had wrote ONIC would you have said oink? That’s what I thought. There are so many things that are commonplace in China that you would never see anywhere else, okay that you wouldn’t see in the States.

If I took the kids out during the winter and any flesh was showing, people would stop me and beratted me in Chinese. I’m sure if I had known what they were saying I would have been offended. Ignorance is bliss. (My Chinese motto.) The Chinese have an innate fear of cold that I don’t understand. Cancer is caused by cold, the flu is caused by cold, canker sores are caused by cold. The problem is, cold seeps into your body and chills your CHI. Not joking, this is the theory. Rich went to a Chinese doctor because his back hurts so much he can’t sleep. He came home with bruises the size of oranges all over his back. He said it is called cupping. A cup is placed on your back, a fire is lit and your cold CHI is sucked out. After ten treatments, you‘re healed! Rich is in so much pain it’s worth a try. I’ll keep you posted. Suppousedly you can buy ‘Do It Yourself’ kits and maim your friends and family in your own home. Maybe I’ll set up a clinic; I wonder how much liability coverage I’ll need?

Another ONIC. Men walking the street in nothing but boxers, rubbing their bellies. I thought summer in Austin was hot and sticky. It has nothing on Shanghai . The temperature doesn’t get as high but the humidity is unbelievable. I am always sticky and since the Chinese don’t seem to sweat, AC is a luxury, not a necessity. To keep cool men walk around with their shirts pulled up rubbing their bellies. I have asked why all the rubbing but know one seems to know.

When it is really hot you’ll have the privelage of seeing men walk around in nothing but their boxers. Typically, only old men do this but it’s not discriminatory. If the heat carries over into the night the men then pull out their bamboo mats and lie out on the sidewalks in their boxers. If you’re lucky they’ll put on a wife-beater. I’m glad this society hasn’t embraced the tighty-whitey, that could be awkward.

That’s how the men handle the heat. The women just wear nightgowns day and night. Which isn’t too bad, unless the material is transparent, yikes!

I know I’ve mentioned food before but I have a few new additions.

Yes, those are real ants.

Donkey meat.

Turtle soup, made in my own kitchen, but not by me.

Snails, Piper can’t get enough.