pandas

Glad this message is getting out there

Today, the kids and I went to The Giant Panda Breeding Center, just outside of Chengdu.  Their mom drove us out there, and we took buses back.

Negotiating the bus system is relatively stress-free with them.  People give us curious glances, a few ask the boys about me.  I try to act confident, like I know where we're going and what's being said, but I'm sure I look every bit as lost and confused as I am.

They handel all interactions for me, but that's not helping me learn the language or negotiate day to day living.  Now that I'm slightly getting sense of the language tones and sounds, I need muster the courage to get out there and try speaking.  Gulp!

Some things that tell me I’m not in Idaho/US:

• I saw a whole gutted pig on the back of a very small motorcycle.
• Cars have the right of way, so crossing the street is life threatening.
• Helmets are rare, and drivers, both cars and motorcycles, disregard bikes too.
• The tap water is contaminated and has to be boiled.  Giardiasis is in the tap water!
• For food, we need to wash and peal, or wash and cook all fruits and vegetables because of serious pesticide use and general contamination with fecal material, various viruses and bacteria.  We are currently getting more immunizations for rabies and Japanese Encephalitis.
• I got on an apartment elevator yesterday with a man and his motorcycle.
• People walk slowly.
• I haven’t seen beggars.
• The street scene is a sensory overload with a cacophony of noise, motion, and smells, bordering on chaos.