HOT JOUT ZI

Yesterday was such a busy day....I knew it would be and had trouble getting out of bed and getting the day going. But the day did start and Jim took the kids to the school where we teach the children and I got Joseph ready for our outing. I had been invited to my new friend's home (the friend I met at the grocery store) to meet her husband who would fix us lunch.Yeah! Joseph and I headed out all bundled up and went to the nearest mall/market to buy something so we'd be very Chinese and not go to a home for the first time empty handed. I finally decided to buy fruit as my "thank you for inviting me to your home" gift but found all the fruit vendors packing up when I got there.....I'm not sure why they were boxing up all their belongings......but that's just how things work for me sometimes. So I glanced around and saw a nut vendor. This woman had every kind of nut and I remembered how nuts are one of the most favorite snacks, so a bought half a jin (similar to a pound) of pistachios.....who wouldn't love that! Joseph and I then headed for a taxi and began our journey across town. My friend told me to call when I got close, but because I've never been there that was hard to do. The taxi stopped in front of a building so I got out and called my friend. She came down from her second floor apartment and led the way for us.
This was my first time in a Chinese home. I was kind of surprised by the apartment. It was considerably smaller than ours and there were very few belongings. The furniture was old and simple and the kitchen had no modern conveniences. My friend's husband (a doctor at the city hospital) was busy making jout zi (dumplings) for our lunch. He carefully rolled out each piece of dough while sitting on a short stool at a table mayber 9 inches off the floor. They were very hospitable to Joseph and me and made sure we sat in the warmest part of the floor (everyone's heat is thru the floor) . My friend and I visited and waited for lunch. Her husband's English is not as good as hers, but I could understand his questions. When lunch was ready they carried the short table from the kitchen into the living area and we ate home-made dumplings filled with pork, celery and onions. YUM! My friend's husband showed me how to eat them, and even though I've had them many times, I watched him and did as he did. I, too , picked up a dumpling with my chopsticks (it took me a longer time) and dipped it in the soy sauce and vinegar mixture and popped it into my mouth and I wasn't done until I took a bite of raw garlic with a mouth full of dumpling. I was doing good until I realized how very hot the inside of the dumpling was. I tried to act big.....I didn't want them to think I didn't like what was in my mouth, but WOWEEE was it hot! And I still had to bite the garlic clove.......I did my best......but was not lady like at all! I had to prove I liked it and that I could do it the same way. My mouth was burned in several spots, but I it didn't slow me down too much. I ate all the dumplings given to me and some of Joseph's rice porridge (made especially for his visit). Right after lunch I had to leave. Joseph and I made it home in time for me to drop him off, touch base with Jim and the kids and get to my English classs.
Jim and I both now have busy teaching schedules. I get done at 3pm and he starts at 3pm. I go home and our helper leaves at 4pm. Well, when I got home, I got a phone call that a reporter was at the Foreign Language school and wanted to take our family picture for an article he was writing about our time in Hunchun. What a crazy request! I didn't have time to bathe the children, or even dress them in nicer clothes. We ran a brush thru our hair and headed back to the school When Jim got done teaching we were ready for the picture but the reporter was 45 minutes late. Finally he arrived and we ended up having a photo shoot with another American teacher and her infant son. The reporter posed us with Jim at a dry-erase board like he was teaching us and we looked at him like he was saying something profound......it sure was hard! We kept giggling and the reporter wanted us to smile or just look at Jim. I'm still confused why we got our picture taken this way. If you subscribe to the Tumen newspaper then you could see the picture of us.
We now have an extra child every evening from 5 to 8 pm. We babysit fellow team member's son (one month younger than Joseph) while they teach English each evening. The kids love having an extra baby to love......and Jim and I enjoy having the extra baby in the home, but both agree we don't think we would do well with two the same age for more than 3 hours at a time.
Last night was our evening at the orphanage. So we packed up both babies, bundled up the kids and took our bi-weekly walk to the orphanage. We had a good time, as usual and have made plans with the orphanage directors for lunch this Monday...just us adults (and Joseph of course). My nine month old friend ,Feng Sian ,was sick. He had a fever and cold and looked like he felt awful. He still didn't like me, but I think it was because he doesn't feel well....atleast that's what I'm telling myself.
Once home, and the kids in bed I curled up on my bed and reflected on the busy day. I'm concerned about Feng Sian, so I will make an extra trip to his home tomorrow to check on him (and take him a treat so he'll like me). I also thought about my home and my friend's home. We live so modestly compared to our US home, yet so extravagantly compared to a typical Chinese family. I think I need so much, but after visiting that home, realize I don't NEED anything......besides food, it's all WANTS. I'll never fully live Chinese, because we are not a Chinese family, but I did learn something. Our household is truly blessed. We live very simply and I like that. Too much stuff will bogg us down and we won't be able to stay focused on our tasks ahead.