Tuesday, June 12

Rehearsal day—we successfully practiced our songs and also got to watch some of the other performers, including Julia’s class in “We’re Going on Bear Hunt.”  The little ones really enjoyed the ‘theater’ experience.  Hope they cooperate tomorrow by sitting quietly!

After lunch, instead of going directly to nap, we joined the rest of the lower elementary school for Sports Day, or Field Day in Marquette parlance.  The 3s and 4s enjoyed the sense of participation and the equipment, even though they were not even remotely competitive or capable of performing most of the games.  The hula hoops were a big hit!  And, as a bonus, I got to watch Julia’s class do a few of the events.  The potato sack race, or, in this case, rice sack race, is something that Julia really likes!  I love her expression of glee, and I love the shots that show children in mid-air; they give a sense of tremendous effort being expended.  I may use this idea for another outing for my group next week when we are the only kids in the school.

Tracey's class joining the field day

The 3s and 4s loved the discovery of hula hoops!

Julia and her class beginning the rice sack race

Sheer exhilaration!

The 3s and 4s attempting another event

And then watching patiently as others compete

Julia's group taking turns at a tossing event

A huge thunder storm slowly rolled in over the mountain and down toward the sea, just as school was letting out.  Julia and I had plans to grocery shop downtown, so we made a dash for it, to reach Carrefour before the storm broke.  We needed some of the international foods that Carrefour carries—and hit the jackpot with tortillas today!  So we bought plastic wrapped slices of American cheese to put in the quesadillas tonight!  We also looked for a bit of a present for Ms. Alice—Carrefour is too much Walmart to produce the right item, however. 

On leaving the building, we noticed that there is a second entrance to the underground passageway that gets one across the 8 lane street to the bus stop---how have I missed this for 6 weeks?!  There were a good number of additional shops on this branch; on a rainy day, it was just what the tour director needed!  We shopped for shoes—hoping to find the variant of Crocs which aide Mia has been wearing, with Elinor in mind.  But Elinor’s size may not be available in China!  Fortunately, Julia was able to justify the excursion by finding a pair for herself—purple plastic mary janes, essentially, but pretty darn cute!  Then we spotted a scarf possibility for Ms. Alice.  I should explain that these shops are a series of tiny rooms selling, generally, one type of product—shoes, dresses, socks, purses, etc.  They are permanent looking, but are they profitable?  It’s a mystery.  However, it is in these shops (on the other side) that we bought the magic tricks, now some 5 weeks ago.  And today we bought at two shops—so we are proof that people will purchase. 

The scarf was in a tiny women’s clothing store where there were bolero sweater tops that I might consider for Elinor.  I indicated an interest, and also a concern about sizes, and the sales lady whipped the samples off the hangars and onto me in nothing flat!  She was clearly complimenting me on the fit, even as any person could see that the next size would be better!  It was kind of sweet.  I couldn’t tell her that I wasn’t considering buying these very young styled tops for myself!  She was willing to support the concept though, if that’s what I wanted.  Chinese women wear a lot of fairly short, very feminine dresses with leggings and dressy shoes, often very high heeled.  The look is attractive on them, generally.  They also wear fairly long skirts, mid calf, which kind of surprises me.  They are pretty, but the style feels just a little conservative and, perhaps, outdated.  I have seen a minority of women in linen, too, that is attractive to me, with a Flax kind of flair.  So, are the Chinese setting the style or just manufacturing it?

At Book City yesterday, we saw several classic American picture books in Chinese:  The Runaway Bunny,  Margaret Brown, Papa, Will you Get the Moon for Me? Eric Carle, and Peter’s Chair, Ezra Jack Keats.    Of course I thought I should buy them instantly (I am at the point in the trip when one begins seriously to shop, knowing that time is running out).  On the other hand, we cannot read them! And the illustrations are identical to the copies we already own.  From what I am told, it may well be a while before anyone in our house reads Chinese.  What to do?!

Julia had the curious experience of negatively reacting to the closeness of bodies, and odors, on the bus today on the way home.  It was packed, as to be expected with the weather.  One can see how the taxi habit can develop.  Living in a city can make you a bit calloused toward your fellow man.  We hardly flinch at the poor sitting by collection cups any more.  And we are slightly aggressive about getting across the street now, forcing cars to take care around us.  An older man offered her his knee for a seat, which of course she wouldn’t consider.  He kept his grandfatherly eye on her the whole way home (and got off at our stop!).  Living in the city can offer opportunities to recognize the generosity of one’s fellow man, as well!  He was pleased that she knew what to do with the yuan and bus cards that she regularly passed up to toward the driver; Julia is an old hand at the bus.