早茶

Yesterday was Lily's last day, so I took her to the airport with one of her suppliers that she works with. It was a little awkward on the way back considering he didn't speak any English and the airport is more than an hour away from my town. The night before all the girls and I went to Lily's and hung out. Earlier that day Lily and I cooked together and I made her my famous tofu. It didn't hit me that she would be leaving I guess. I mean I knew she would move, but I didn't realize that life will be different now. I go to Lily with Chinese questions, if I want to have dinner with someone, if I have questions about being sick... basically everything! It's not like I can't ask her questions over QQ or texts, but she's not close now. So after we met up last night, all of us went to get dessert and when Serena and Audre were saying goodbye to her she started crying, so of course that triggered me to cry and I just hate saying goodbye. Usually when you say goodbye you are making a good change and something you're excited about, it's just that at weird moments I cry. Also, I'm going to Lily's hometown for the spring festival so it's not like I will not be seeing her... it's just that she is so self-less it's sad to see her go. She is genuinely deep down inside, a nice person. It's that simple. When I took her to the airport I didn't cry though, because I kept reminding myself that I will see her and that it will be awkward in front of this other guy, and that I am going to have a fantastic weekend in Hong Kong with my friends. It's all about attitude and appreciating what you have.

Before the airport, we went to have Zǎochá, which means "morning tea" in Chinese. I have had 下午茶 (xiàwǔ chá-afternoon tea) before, and this was pretty similar. We went to a restaurant in Guangzhou and had Puer tea, which is black tea from Yunnan (fitting since that is where Lily is going). Actually, Bobo gave me Puer tea when he came here to visit, and yesterday Lily told me it was worth about 200YUAN. I am mentioning this because yesterday she gave me more Puer tea from Yunnan which Bobo gave her... which is worth 1000YUAN (that is about $200). I told her I'd save that for my dad and I to drink, since he likes tea. The older that tea gets, it goes up more in value anyway. I guess the best way to keep this tea fresh it to keep it from moisture, so Lily advised that I put it in a metal container and then place it in the fridge. I guess I need to do this because the weather in Guangdong is so weird, that we need to take extra precautions with certain things (like putting in dehumidifying mini buckets in the closet to keep moisture out from our clothes). Oh, and I just grabbed a metal container from work and my friend told me that before you drink this tea you are supposed to tear it into tiny pieces then wash it once or twice because it has been sitting for five or ten years... Chinese people and their tea. So where was I again? Always going off on tangents. At the morning tea place we ate some bite sized balls made from meat and some vegetables, but my favorite part was the way the tea is served. First, the waitress washes everything off in front of you with boiling hot water. Then she puts a mini tea packet (not like the ones we have in the US, but a 1.5"x1.5" block of tea) into a mini red kettle. It looks like it is made from clay. Then she pours boiling water from a metal kettle into this mini one, and submerges and the tea then covers the kettle. After, the tea tea (minus the leaves) is poured through a sifter/metal funnel into a teacup... also mini. Then we can pour our tea into our cups, which are smaller than shot glasses and sit on a mini wooden plate. And we ate and poured and drank and poured and poured. Imagine, the water is boiling in the metal kettle in front of you, and you have to keep making new tea over and over. The thing is, at least when I make tea at home in the US, I do not reuse teabags, but in China, they use the tea leaves until the water does not because tea anymore. I have also started doing this. At work I drink green tea that I received from Lily or coffee occasionally when I am really sleepy. Now especially, I have been drinking tea because everyone is getting sick since the weather is changing.

About the weather... in the summer, it is hot, sticky and humid here. In the winter (now to them it is winter, but this weather feels like end of summer or even spring) it is t shirt and light jacket weather during the day, but very dry. My contacts always bother me and dry up, so I have been wearing glasses more and more and using eye drops. I guess the people from this area think it's very cold because I see some people with winter jackets on (?????) when I could still be wearing shorts. So healthy. Supposedly it's a good idea to wear boots because the cold and wet weather goes in your body through your feet, so it's a good idea to protect yourself with proper shoes. I mean, it's not even THAT cold out now! This will be my first Christmas without snow actually!

On the topic of health, I asked Lily why everyone drinks hot tea even in the summer. She told me warm beverages are better for you. I mean it kind of makes sense, but she explained it like this: the inside of your body is much warmer than the outside temperature. When you drink cold things, you put your body into a mini shock and it hurts the organs, since they are naturally warm. Your body then has to work to warm the liquids which are cold to create that balance again (when it comes to health, it's all about balance--QI). She also said that women especially need to drink warm drinks because, since the womans organs by the stomach are so vital and important, the body needs to work and keep them warm. Over time, if women drink too many cold beverages, the body will insulate that area to protect it and keep it warm, by storing fat there. Around the stomach and hips is where most women have the most fat... so it DOES make sense. We should not shock our bodies, but treat it like a machine and help it be healthy. So now when I want to drink something cold, I usually opt out and drink something warm and healthy instead. It's all about keeping my body, mind and spirit healthy. I know corny, but this IS CHINA and I want to learn from these people.

So to keep moving on, today is Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving! In the US it's still Wednesday late at night. My dad is in Poland so I wonder what my family is doing for Thanksgiving. I e-mailed my sister, but as always she's taking a while to respond (I know you'r reading this Joanna. ANSWER ME). In the evening I'm going to Guangzhou to celebrate Thanksgiving... no, no turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, etc but there will be things and people I am thankful for. Tomorrow I am going to Hong Kong! I asked for the day off due to Thanksgiving and my gracious company gave it to me! I will tour or shop tomorrow, meet up with friends and go out at night. The rest of the weekend I'm shopping, partying and celebrating being thrust back into civilization, and going to a horse race (hopefully). And better yet, an old friend I've known since HS is in Hong Kong and he's leaving on the 30th, so we have time to meet up! YAYYYY to old friends! I can't wait for Hong Kong. A much needed break away from China. I'm excited to see recent Hong Kong fashion and see what is in style in the fall now. Funny... I am going to HK on Black Friday. I hope it's not like US CRAZY.

Lastly, let’s talk about relationships, GUANXI (关系). Lily always tells me how important relationships are in China and she tells me more by showing me. For example before she left, she bought seven soy milk making machines. One was for her and Bobo, two were for her dad and someone, and the rest were gifts. One gift being to Bobo’s uncle (the one who did not help Lily find a job) and Bobo’s boss. She said she needed to get the boss a gift to make sure his and Bobo’s relationship was good. Now, we might see this as a bribe (considering Bobo has also given his boss VERY expensive presents before) but this is just how it is. To make sure a relationship is going well, you need to give presents or show your appreciation, because then there is no reason why someone would do what you want, or help you out (obviously not from the kindness of their heart!). I guess it’s just deceiving and takes a lot of work to build relationships. What is most concerning is then the “what goes around, comes around aspect”. When you receive gifts are they expected to be given back ten-fold? Yes, good things come from good people, but gifts should be given as a token of appreciation and out of kindness, not as leverage or solidifying a relationship… so this is something I still have to think about and figure out.

To be nice, I took some coworkers out to lunch today. I invited those whom I felt I connect with and who are genuinely nice to me. I invited Jessica who went to school in Hong Kong and comes out with us occasionally, a Cantonese guy who speaks no English but invited me to KTV and took me to the hospital before, a new girl who always is nice to me and is too shy to speak English, my friend Simi who helps me (and EXPLAINS) with whatever, and another new guy who comes to my class, works his ass off it seems, and sometimes gives me a ride on his scooter to work, if I go in early. I took them out because IT IS Thanksgiving and I am thankful for all of them in one way or another. Plus, it’s just a nice thing to do in China. They insisted on going “AA” which means to split the bill, but I wouldn’t allow it. It IS a young Chinese thing to do this, but everyone who takes me out always pays, so why shouldn’t I?