the ups and downs

We were forewarned about the infamous "ups and downs" that come with living in a foreign country, especially during the first 6 months. Well, Laura and I are no exception to the infamous and maybe even lean more on the "down" side most days. It's no easy task moving your life away from the unfamiliar and into a tornado of newness, but the "downs" are a worthy sacrifice for the the bigger picture :) We want to share with you some of the ups and downs that we experience on a regular basis.

Ups:
1) Tài piányi le! Cheap! Most things here are inexpensive:
-bowl of noodles = $.75
-bus ride = $.15
-2 hour massage = $8.85
-fixings for a salad serving 6 people = $2.28
-a pair of legitimate converse allstar shoes = $7.45
-rent for a 4 bedroom/2 bathroom apt = $213.62/month
*a microwave is an exception to this rule, the price range we've seen is $50 - $500.

2) Lots of attention! (this is also a "down")
-Whether we're walking to the corner liquor store to grab a snack or walking around the tourist area, we're bound to hear a "hel-LLOOOO!" coming from somewhere. The funny part about this is that most people will say it and duck down as if hiding from an offense.

3) Movies!
-Have you ever wanted the newest DVD releases without paying an arm and a leg? Growing impatient waiting for a movie to get out of the theater and onto DVD? Well China is the place for you! New releases on DVD for $1. We don't have movie theaters but we do got bootleg DVD shops....I'm not sure which one is better.

4) Humorous sights and rip off items (see images below)

































Downs:
1) Glitter!
-From bed sheets to flowers, you can't get away from the glitter & glam:















2) Sewage
-No waste treatment plants. Everything just runs downhill, somewhere. City maintenance crews will also open up a manhole, stick a hose down into it, and pump out raw sewage to water the public plants. Also, kids and pee and poop where every they want....yes poop.















3) No gummy candy!
-I am a huge gummy candy guy, and I can't find a thing here. I found a dried fruit called haw that they slice into thin strips and sprinkle with sugar that is pretty good, but I can't find anything else! No gummy bears for me! But here are some pics of more common Chinese snacks: