I decided not to go into Beijing on my days off this week (today and tomorrow) because it is way too hot here and thus would be even hotter in Beijing. I slept in this morning and headed to the local store to buy some vegetables with Tana when I got up. We cooked lunch together (a pepper and onion dish made by me and eggs and tomatoes made by Tana) and ate that and some flatbread we ordered from the local restaurant.
After lunch I enjoyed relaxing, working on my Chinese and watching ted talks in my wonderfully air conditioned room. Eventually it was time for dinner and Tana and I cooked together again (cauliflower and pork made by her and eggplant and zucchini by me). She’s a much better cook. After dinner we played a couple of games of chess and both lost in about 5 minutes each to Simon.
I’m looking forward to relaxing again tomorrow and hopefully the internet will continue to work.
On a different note, Tana and I are talking about maybe going to Inner Mongolia -- where she is from -- together at some point which would be seriously awesome!
Showing posts with label chess. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chess. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Gortex Sneakers
I felt like I was back at camp today. It rained...all day...I don’t think I have ever been so happy to have Gortex sneakers as when Mona complained that it felt like she was walking on watermelon--her flats weren’t really meant for wading through puddles. I actually told some people about the fireplace in their house and had them nod approvingly instead of looking at me like I am crazy as they typically do. Apparently it’s the rainy season :(
Needless to say, today wasn’t particularly busy at the Schoolhouse. On the other hand, some VIP group came by for lunch and complained that there was a large puddle outside the doorway. So, Mona and I spent quite a while trying to sweep it away (which didn’t work since the sidewalk is slanted and it was still pouring) and eventually filling dustpans with the water and pouring it elsewhere. We must have looked pretty funny!
I ordered today’s special (as described in yesterday’s post) for lunch and the chicken was even better with the plum sauce! However, this meant that I got caught without dinner tonight because I was checking people in during the staff meal. By the time I got back there was no food left anywhere. So, I cooked some more eggplant, mushrooms and noodles. Tana, who didn’t have dinner either, came and joined me and we shared my food and a patty melt that she ordered from the Brickyard as well as some amazing grapefruit tea. Some of the kitchen staff asked to borrow my chess set so Tana and I watched them play five games or so. They are so fast! Maybe someday I can play against one of them...
On a different note, the one-sided conversation I got to listen to Mona having on the phone had me in stitches today, so I thought I might share it:
- Schoolhouse, hello
- You’d like to confirm your reservation for 8 people?
- Hum...I don’t see you on our calendar. What was your name again?
- Oh well...we aren’t too busy tomorrow, I can put you down. What time would you like it for?
- You’d like the table near what?
- The bedroom?
- Oh, you wanted a house!
Apparently it’s a bit confusing that our phone number for the restaurant and lodging is the same...
Needless to say, today wasn’t particularly busy at the Schoolhouse. On the other hand, some VIP group came by for lunch and complained that there was a large puddle outside the doorway. So, Mona and I spent quite a while trying to sweep it away (which didn’t work since the sidewalk is slanted and it was still pouring) and eventually filling dustpans with the water and pouring it elsewhere. We must have looked pretty funny!
I ordered today’s special (as described in yesterday’s post) for lunch and the chicken was even better with the plum sauce! However, this meant that I got caught without dinner tonight because I was checking people in during the staff meal. By the time I got back there was no food left anywhere. So, I cooked some more eggplant, mushrooms and noodles. Tana, who didn’t have dinner either, came and joined me and we shared my food and a patty melt that she ordered from the Brickyard as well as some amazing grapefruit tea. Some of the kitchen staff asked to borrow my chess set so Tana and I watched them play five games or so. They are so fast! Maybe someday I can play against one of them...
On a different note, the one-sided conversation I got to listen to Mona having on the phone had me in stitches today, so I thought I might share it:
- Schoolhouse, hello
- You’d like to confirm your reservation for 8 people?
- Hum...I don’t see you on our calendar. What was your name again?
- Oh well...we aren’t too busy tomorrow, I can put you down. What time would you like it for?
- You’d like the table near what?
- The bedroom?
- Oh, you wanted a house!
Apparently it’s a bit confusing that our phone number for the restaurant and lodging is the same...
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Happy Dragon Boat Festival!
It was insanely humid today and so even though it wasn’t that hot, it felt gross outside. It was the Dragon Boat Festival today (a big holiday in China apparently) and even though the restaurant itself didn’t do much for it, we spent an inordinate amount of time perfecting the signs we had up on blackboards to make sure they sounded patriotic enough.
It was a busy day for hosting and there were a great number of French groups that came by. I think that they, or Germans, must be the most highly represented nationality to visit us. I always get excited because I can speak French with them, but they rarely seem to appreciate it--must have something to do with being a Quebecer.
Sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves (Zongzi) is a Chinese tradition on the Dragon Boat Festival, so I had one of those along with dinner. The chefs also had Giulia and me testing out tomorrow’s special--really nice chicken with plum sauce. I’m not sure I have ever tasted better plums!
On the way back home, we stopped off for a few minutes to see the old Mayor in his home in order to prepare Sean for a home visit he will have to interpret soon and another (nearly empty) residence I never knew we had that is nowhere near as nice as the one I’m in.
Giulia invited me out to the local restaurant with Jake, Alex, Gina, Emily and a friend of Emily’s and although I had already eaten dinner, I went and drank tea with them. When I came back, I went to see Mona who was on night duty to ask her if she wanted to play chess. She declined so instead I taught Tana. She’s really good! It’s exciting to have a new playing partner!
It was a busy day for hosting and there were a great number of French groups that came by. I think that they, or Germans, must be the most highly represented nationality to visit us. I always get excited because I can speak French with them, but they rarely seem to appreciate it--must have something to do with being a Quebecer.
Sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves (Zongzi) is a Chinese tradition on the Dragon Boat Festival, so I had one of those along with dinner. The chefs also had Giulia and me testing out tomorrow’s special--really nice chicken with plum sauce. I’m not sure I have ever tasted better plums!
On the way back home, we stopped off for a few minutes to see the old Mayor in his home in order to prepare Sean for a home visit he will have to interpret soon and another (nearly empty) residence I never knew we had that is nowhere near as nice as the one I’m in.
Giulia invited me out to the local restaurant with Jake, Alex, Gina, Emily and a friend of Emily’s and although I had already eaten dinner, I went and drank tea with them. When I came back, I went to see Mona who was on night duty to ask her if she wanted to play chess. She declined so instead I taught Tana. She’s really good! It’s exciting to have a new playing partner!
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