China Journal 5/19/06

6:30 am The noise of construction is the first sound I note as I awaken.
Breakfast!! Bokchoy Babies! Snow peas! Green beans! Watermelon! Millet in broth, milk with sugar warmed like a soup, steamed buns with spinach filling! Wood ears, rice and thick sweet coffee. So fine-
Nathan will find us a gym where we can work out together-
A mention was made of the "awful Chinese movies they showed on the plane". I had thought it was routine and typical fare but perhaps it's Nathan's Americanization that has skewed his view of things Chinese-(?).
We walked to Xiao Jing's aunt's apartment-an event of much excitement for all family members (us too!). The aunt (Xiao Jing's mother's sister) frail at age 83 always assisted by oldest cousin, a tiny little lady, stooped but smiling and effusively gracious to me (the mother of Michael), her husband, aunty's husband, hardy and vital at 80 with flawless tanned skin and a curious interest in everyone. We stayed 30 minutes - pleasant gracious conversation, oldest cousin providing glasses of hot water for us. The surroundings were simple. Chinese decorations hung above to mark the occasion. Tonight we will meet again for a Peking duck dinner.
We left Xiao Jing behind and were escorted by oldest cousin to the trolley where we bought our tickets and joined the crowd headed for Tienanmen Square. I noted that we were expected to return the tickets to the porter as we left but she chose not to collect them so I've saved them.


The family reception was wonderful. Cousin, Ling Ge' came for us. Sister, Da Ping (great peace) is second child, Xiao Mei is third child, fourth child is Xiao Wu, fifth child is Xiao Wu. I was lead to the place of honor next to Mu Nai (Xiao Jing's aunt) after we'd viewed fish swimming in tanks and had chosen which was to be cooked for the meal.
Such conversation ensued! A toast to family was made followed by a toast by Michael. The men smoked and there was lots of humor. Much was made of Nathan's size and his haircut.
The women were very solicitous of me and Peking Duck was made much of. It was sliced thin by the chef and served by spreading a dark sauce over a square of fresh bean curd skin, placing a few thin slices of the meat on it and topping with slivers of cucumber then closing it up and eating it. Very savory. Mu Nai says Queen Elisabeth wanted to bring a Chinese chef back to UK to prepare this dish for her. I wondered if the sauce dripped all over her hand as it had mine! I also thought it interesting that she was spoken of with such awe considering the history of England in China.
After dinner we went to our cars but were unable to leave till we coaxed two cars through a small corner space to the road. Vehicles are huge in Beijing, the result of prosperity, and parking is helter skelter. No lines have been laid down to keep things orderly. It's typical of the people to help drivers into and out of car-related jams. Lots of laughter, especially by me! Twenty minutes later we drove to Xiao Mei's apartment. Such affluence! A gated place. Elevator opened to her foyer. Slippers were given to those who wore heels to protect the tiled floors. Huge living room, state of the art treadmill there and nearby a massage chair similar to a Lazy Boy chair. TV, plasma type, the biggest I've seen.
I was fascinated by the kitchen. Xiao Me' has two servants. There is a non-cook kitchen with micro wave and blender etc on spacious counters, a table,chairs. Sliding doors of glass keep frying odors from escaping the cooking area with a gas fired stove top and below this an ovenlike appliance which heats dishes to "remove the bacteria". They do not have dish washers in China.
There is a game room in the apartment and two bedrooms.
Xiao Mei' is a businesswoman dealing in medical equipment. With offices in Europe, China and Canada. She made two billion dollars last year. She is very unaffected. Wears tasteful but not ostentatious clothes, a jade bracelet for good luck.

China Journal 5/18/06

Such long lines to process our tickets and get rid of our luggage.. Passengers are in groups and softly talking to each other as we process through - about an hour. Consummate patience. Once that process finished it started all over again through security. Later -much later- we were able to get a cup of coffee and a pumpkin muffin for me. Nothing for the others, Xiao Jing had an apple for them. Michael refused coffee. "If I can't have a cigarette I don't want coffee". Xiao Jing later said "too much stimulant causes that heat rising that we had thought was the chronic thyroid he had had - debunked by his internist.
It's 9:30 by my watch. I don't know if it's pm or am tho! All the shades are drawn. Nathan says, " It's 6:30 pm."
We've had a meal already fish and vegetables, salad, water-and I've walked and stretched and enjoyed the IPOD. -I finally got out the manual to save my thumb. The battery was surely wearing down with all the scrolling I was doing.
Harry Potter 3 is on the screen. Michael, Nathan, and Xiao Jing are watching raptly. Chinese script along the bottom. I'm content reading the Wall Street Journal etc.
Xiao Jing's cousin, Sharmay met us at the airport. 3 stops comprised the customs inspection then to the ramp garage. Exiting the airport gave us a jolt with our first breath of "fresh" air-grey with dust from the Gobi and smog from the world of China! (Beijing) Huge buildings, wide unmarked highway and vehicles 4 lanes deep weaving in and out with never a beep. Amazing!
Dinner at the hotel after much planning for the week. We ate seaweed/egg soup, steamed fish, eggplant, baby bok choy with porcini mushrooms and of course the rice all of which I finished using my chopsticks throughout.

China Journal 5/17/06

Things went well on my arrival @ Sacramento airport. There was a 15" period after I had yanked my suitcase from the carosel. I had expected Nathan to appear at any moment calling, "NaNa!" as he had in DC last winter but he never arrived. M & XJ were nowhere in sight. Finally I called M's cellphone - busy! I called the house & wakened Nathan. They're not there yet?" "No. Please call M's cell & tell him I'm @ the Jet Blue/KLM entrance @ arrivals." I went outside awhile & re-entered to call Nathan again. As I approached the phones Michael appeared...
After a few sips of Frangelico I went to bed exhausted. Wakened to a pleasant warm day of preparation for the JOURNEY.

China Journal 5/16/06

Suzy brought me to the airport. She picked up the twins at daycare and came right over at 3:15pm. Susan had driven to Lockport with Todd as the licensed driver-her first long (1 1/2 hr.) drive.
I was surprised to know I was able to finish packing and do all the things required to close up a house for 2 months. AND I called Lucy and Yvonne AND I got in my last game of free-cell on the computer (I lost) before I shut it down.
Flight to JFK was good and a good walk to gate 12 for departure for Sacramento was a little tense-but departure was 30 minutes late. No need to eat much-just a slice of kuchen from home-plenty of sitting ahead and then warm weather and a welcome from Michael, Xiao Jing and Nathan. 1 more hour in the aisle seat!

China Journal 5/15/06

To Rochester General Hospital this morning while Susan was at her doctor appointment. There were nine patients to bring communion to. It was a good hour spent. Gave me time to be grateful for my good health. My sore toes after all the walking seem insignificant in comparison.
Charlotte Dibble phoned me. She said she has a sister in China-Beijing. She asks that I bring books to her two nieces. I agreed to try. We will have to phone her to get directions. They live in a poor section by the sound of it. The woman's husband is an architect. That should be an adventure. Charlotte gave me no address, couldn't find that, only a phone number! But addresses there are impossible, Charlotte says. Must be written in pidgin and then translated.

China Journal 5/14/06

Went to 8am Mass. Maryanne (pastoral assistant) is so excited for me. I wonder why I can't quite catch the fire. She hugged me before and again after mass. She told Fr. Rosse of my trip to China and I asked him, "You travel so much, Have you been there?" He paused and said, "Yes, two years ago- but I'd not go again" I was taken aback with his response but I said, "I hope to go to a catholic mass while I'm there" "Oh, I wouldn't know about that. We priests just said Mass for ourselves." I thought, "Not very adventuresome."
I started planning what to pack. I've also been working on a list of things to attend to before I leave and for Susan to be responsible for while I'm gone.
Ordered a pizza for dinner tonight. The refrigerator offers few dinner things other than asparagus and sweet potatoes from the market.
Full of nervous energy today. Did three loads of laundry, made a Williamsburg cake with orange frosting to use some of the buttermilk and because people stop by to visit and there's nothing to offer them.
Kathy was supposed to visit - came by three times and left thinking I wasn't home. She couldn't see my car since the garage door was closed. Never rang the door bell. Oh, well. I was busy with phone calls. It's Mothers' Day.
I started packing today, counted pills for sixty days' supply.

China Journal 5/12/06

Today "formally" begins my birthday trip to California and China. My friends (forever) treated me to lunch at the Rio Bomba Restaurant. Being there brought a flood of memories from the sixties when Mike and I came here on Saturday evenings. Mike had roast duck. I probably ordered something nondescript.
Anyway these dear friends gave me a wonderful send-off and to mark the occasion our waiter took our pictures, the first on a brand new roll of film.
Now it remains to pack, prepare the neighbors (and birds) for my two months absence and try to stay in control of things.