Paying Bills

I imagine I am in good company when I say I don't like paying bills. However, I confess I sometimes envy those of you who can write a check, stick it in an envelope and be pretty sure that the bill is paid.

Today I needed to pay our utility bills before we travel. Let me explain the system here. Each utility- like water, gas and electricity- is paid at a different place. When I say a different place, I don't mean I have to send three envelopes to three different addresses, but have to go in person to three different banks to pay the bills. You are never quite sure when you go if you will actually be able to pay your bills or not. After 4 1/2 years of doing this in the place we used to live, we figured out we could open a bank account that would take out the money each month. But just when we thought we had it figured out, we moved.

Here it is actually not so much that we are paying a bill as that we are "buying water" - it is a prepaid system. We have to prepay a certain amount of units of water or electricity or gas on a card and then physically stick the card into a meter in our apartment to add the money. When you run out of money, the electricity or water or whatever just stops. So it is good incentive to pay your bills. The problem is you aren't always sure how much is left. And you cannot just put money in a bank account to take care of it.

So back to today. We paid enough on our gas meter to last 2 years I think so I just needed to pay water and electricity. I can never remember which bank is electricity and which is gas and they are right next to each other. So i went to the one I thought was electricity, but a man whose job I can only guess is "bank greeter" or "person who tells you to take a number and wait in line" told me you cannot pay electricity here, it must be at the bank next door. So I (well, Austin and I ) went next door to discover a much longer line. Instead of waiting in line, I asked a lady at the wealth management desk if I could pay electricity here. She said, only if you have our bank's credit card, then you can pay at an automatic machine. Well, I didn't and I knew this must be the wrong bank.

So we troop back to the first bank, where amazingly there is only one person in line ahead of me. So I go to the actual counter and ask if I can pay electricity. She says yes. Great! So I hand her the card. After swiping it she says I can't pay it now- I must not have held it in the meter at my apartment for over 1 minute. Sigh... so I decide to come back during Austin's nap (my helper would be at home). He was screaming to get down from his stroller and clearly bored of paying bills (I couldn't really blame him).

So we go to pay water, which is at the office of our apartment complex. Now, there is no such thing as a simple water bill at our current apartment complex. Instead you pay separately for hot water, cold water and toilet water. So they told me how many "dun" (the unit of water, maybe means a ton but how much that equals to I have never figured out) of each I had left. I randomly decide how many "dun" I should add to each- hot water being the one that was about to run out and cold water since I was already there. Good news- last time I had paid the maximum amount of toilet water allowed so I wouldn't have to pay so often. That equaled to about $12, or 100 dun about 4 months ago. Well, as of today, there are still 94 dun of toilet water paid for...which means I won't need to pay for toilet water for years to come. :)

So we go home. After Austin is down for nap I put the electricity card in the meter for well over one minute and walk back to the bank. No line, since everyone is home taking naps. I hand the card back to the same girl and she puts it in the slot.

bank girl: "You still can't pay now"
me "Why"
bank girl: "you must have too much money left on your card. so the card can't take any more"
me: "So how much money can you still have left and pay?"
girl "Well, when it is almost done. The red light on your meter will blink and then you can pay"
me: "sigh. ok thank you"

So, after three trips to the electricity bank, I was still unsuccessful in paying the bill. Or "buying electricity" actually. I was hoping to since we may have friends staying at our place while we are traveling, but i will just have to hope that 300 some units of some kind of electricity will last a month while running A/C. I still have no idea how many units equals how much use of electricity.

So, that is my long story. I won't even share about paying the phone bill in this blog episode. Here are some pictures to confirm the story.

This is our toilet water meter, conveniently located inside the bathroom wall. As you can see, it makes a lovely hole. When we moved in the landlord had duck-taped a large piece of tile over the hole, but it will no longer stick. So even though I have paid the toilet water for the next three years, we still have this lovely hole open just in case we have a sudden overuse of toilet water.

These are the three cards used for paying water, electricity and gas, kept safely in our file cabinet. I shudder to think what would happen if we ever lost one.

Who needs toys?

Well, sorry for the blog silence this week. I have been busy running around doing errands. I am reorganizing our office- I bought a new bookshelf, lots of organizing folders and sort of going crazy trying to go through the amazing amount of papers and stuff we seem to accumulate. I am also trying to do some last minute decorating to our apartment that I never got around to when we moved in (I have lots of empty wall space right now). I think I am having some early pregnancy "nesting" attack. I realized that I will be gone for most of July and will come back 8 months pregnant to a very hot city that is hosting the Olympics! Which means I will not want to leave the house very much in August, then it will be September and the baby comes and nothing will happen with the apartment for months.

So, thus the blog silence this week. But i did manage to take some pictures and video of Austin. Before he was born, Chris kept asking why did we need to buy him toys- kids will play with anything. Granted, Austin does really like many of his toys (very few of which we have actually bought though- thanks to all the doting grandparents, aunts, uncles and adoring Chinese friends), but he also can entertain himself very well with other random items. See below for some examples.

This was a Saran wrap roll that I purposefully did not throw away. Austin soon discovered the noises that could be made if you talk through the tube and was entertained for quite some time.

This plastic box usually holds some of Austin's smaller toys. Lately hide and seek has been the definite favorite past time. The funny thing is now when he is hiding, he likes it when i ask him where he is and he always answers "no" (for example,
me: "Austin, are you under the bed?"
Austin; "no"
Me: "are you in your highchair?"
Austin "no")
until he "reveals" himself. Sometimes he is actually hiding behind a curtain or something that conceals him, but often he just covers his face with his hands or uses something (like a clear plastic box) to "hide" behind. We play this game about 20 times a day, at least.

An oven mitt.

I mean...

Today was a pretty quiet day at home for me and Austin. It was gray and cloudy outside and had rained last night, so we spent only a little while outside (which resulted in muddy shorts for Austin). There isn't too much exciting to report on the blog, but Austin was very happy today and continues to make me laugh by what he says. Here are a few of the things he said today which might make you smile too.

"I mean" I was talking to my mom on the phone, and I don't even remember what we were talking about, but I guess in between sentences I said "I mean" and then something- well Austin imitated me exactly, with hand motions and all. When I said it I put my hand out as a gesture and Austin imitated the words, hand motions and even the way I enunciated it. I tried to capture it on video but didn't happen. But even tonight he would go around putting his little hand out saying "I mean" "I mean" and laughing. I guess he knew he was being funny.

"Piggy boo" Austin loves peek-a-boo, I think I have mentioned that. Usually when we play, we just say "boo!". Well, tonight after Chris had gotten Austin out of the bath and was putting pajamas on, they were playing it and Austin would cover his eyes with his hands and say "piggy boo!" piggy boo!". Then he did it for me.

"Eah" Chris usually gives Austin a bath at night. Sometimes Chris call to me from the bathroom to bring him something he needs me to get (clean washcloth or towel or whatever) and so will call out "Leah" "Leah" (I am usually cleaning up from dinner so I don't always hear him right away). Well, the past two nights Austin apparently wanted me to come into the bathroom while he was in the bath, so he started calling "Eah" "Eah" (he didn't quite get the L in there). I am mommy the rest of the time, but somehow he associated my name with Chris calling from the bath. It was pretty funny to hear Austin calling me by my name.

Well, that's all the news from here today.

Day Trip

Today we went on a day trip with some friends to celebrate a couple who is returning to the States after more than 20 years here. We went to a "farmhouse"- a renovated, old-style home near a section of the Wall and had "gourmet noodles". I was not sure what gourmet noodles were, but they were very yummy hand-made noodles with various meat, vegetables and toppings you mixed together. We rode a bus to get there, ate outside and were able to hike around the area before leaving.

Austin came along and enjoyed playing in the farmhouse courtyard, riding in the backpack carrier while hiking and did well despite getting no sleep. He did fall asleep on the bus at 4:15 on the way home for 30 minutes, but that was it. He also enjoyed playing with several of the aiyis and shushus ("aunts and uncles"- other adults that came along). We are tired out now after a day away and headed to bed soon.

Here is a picture of lunch taken right before diving in. We could watch the cooks actually making the noodles- taking long pieces of dough and stretching them as far as their arms go apart and banging them on a table and doing it again until they are long and thin.

Austin found lots of flowers, grass and big rocks in the courtyard of the restaurant. He also copied some of the big kids in playing with a trashcan top. Thank goodness for instant hand sanitizer!

Happy Daddy Day!

Happy Daddy Day - to all our daddy-readers, but especially to our fathers - Richard and Doug! This morning I was attempting to teach Austin to say "Happy Daddy Day" (since father is not really a word he knows). But every time I said, "Say happy" Austin would respond "birthday!". He never would say Happy Daddy Day, but said Happy Birthday instead. But it was cute and at least he knew (well, not really sure what he actually understands) it was something to celebrate. We cooked a special breakfast for Chris, went to church, went to TGIFridays for lunch with some of our other playgroup friends and had a good afternoon at home.

Chris and Austin spent some time wrestling on the floor. Austin discovered it is fun to straddle Daddy's back and ride like a horse. He wanted to do that over and over again. Here are some fun Daddy-son pictures from the day.






I was thinking today about the ways Austin takes after Chris, so i thought today would be an appropriate day to list them. Here goes:

They have big heads and lots of curly hair.

Left-handed (well, I can't say 100%, but Austin seems to prefer left over right)

Love music. It is kind of a joke in the family that we cannot eat without Chris first putting music on. Well, either Austin has picked up on this or just loves music that much himself, but now if Chris is not home when we eat a meal he says "dance, dance" (which means- I want to listen to music). In fact, another new word of his is "Ipod". I mean, how many 19 month-olds know the word Ipod? Tonight he saw the speakers (without the ipod) and walked around the house saying "ipod go? ipod go?" ( as in where did the ipod go?) until Chris found it and played some music.

Language ability (well Chris is obviously good at languages. But, I was an early talker and so is Austin.) But Austin has started saying more Chinese words- often he knows the English and Chinese. Every time he sees a picture of an elephant now, he says "elephant, da xiang" and for pig "pig, zhu". For fish it is reversed "Yu fish (this one he says as one word)". Either way, his ability to communicate continues to amaze me.

Ok, well that ends our Daddy Day.

Rainy Day Fun

Well, unfortunately last night's thunderstorm did not only NOT bring blue skies today, but brought more rain. It pretty much rained all day long, which meant - no outside time today (which was sad for both Austin and Mommy). SO, Austin and I made biscuits for Father's Day breakfast tomorrow, he colored a card for Chris, we read some books, and then...it was still only 10:00 am. So, i decided to make a fort of sheets and pillows in Austin's room. At first he wasn't so sure about it, but after a few minutes he discovered it was great fun. The tent, as he started calling it, provided over an hour of entertainment. First Austin would get inside and then I would say "where's Austin?" (hiding and peekaboo are a favorite game at the moment. He is much more sophisticated in playing peekaboo than when he first started liking it at 6-7 months old). When he could tell I was getting near the tent he would just laugh and laugh and shriek with delight when I popped up the side of the sheet and found him.

Then we laid on the pillows on the floor inside for awhile- I would grab him and tickle him and he wanted me to do it over and over. Finally, we read books inside, which was way more fun than reading them on the couch or rocking chair. I took it down at naptime and we went to our neighbors' for part of the afternoon, but after dinner Austin kept asking for the tent (though it took me awhile to figure out that is what he wanted) and we put it up again. When it was bedtime, he was NOT happy that we had to take it down. But now I know the next rainy day we have might actually be something to look forward to!

Here is the "tent" set up between Austin's crib and two chairs.

This is inside the tent - so fun. While we were playing I was baking the biscuits. So I kept saying "I'll be right back" and went to go check on them or pull them out of the oven. Soon Austin thought this was part of the game. So started saying "be right back" and then going out of the tent for a few minutes and then coming back in to say "boo!". It was really funny to hear him say "be right back".

Boo!

Bubbles

We have discovered a new way to spend time outside- blowing bubbles. Austin was given some bubbles for his birthday, which then sat in the wardrobe until recently. I got them out and now he always wants to take them when we go outside. He likes to chase them, try to catch them and say the word "bubbles!" a lot. Here is a little clip.




Austin also has a new word that is in the same category as "again", but maybe worse. It is the word "now". As in, go outside now, milk now, get down now, video now etc. I don't think he is trying to be as demanding as it sounds, but he does get emphatic with it.

We had a big thunderstorm here late this afternoon which has finally stopped. Hopefully that will mean a clear day tomorrow.

Performing

Well, we have had a busy week, as you can tell from my lack of blog posts. My sister called and was worried about us because I hadn't posted anything in awhile. We are fine but have had a full week. Chris and I had a fun lunch date Monday- we went to see Prince Caspian at a nearby theater. This was our first movie we had seen in a theater since moving here. Tuesday Austin and I went to visit our friends Emily and Sydney (from playgroup). They live about an hour north of the city. Austin liked the bus ride, playing with Sydney's toys and the park behind their apartment complex. I will have to get pictures from Emily later- she got some fun ones.

Yesterday Chris (with the help of two friends) gave a lecture/performance at a music conservatory on American folk music. He played a range of songs on mostly mandolin and a few on guitar, ranging from 18th century folk music to modern day (like Nickel Creek) and ended with some of his own original music. He performed very well and had a warm reception by the students. Here are some pictures and video of it.

Again

Well Austin has a new word and I am not sure I am excited about it. It is the word again. As in, read it again. And again. And again. It came out today as we were reading books. We would finish a book and he would say "again". I would say "You want to read it again?" To which he replied "ok,ok". It was fun the first time or two he said it, but I can see this becoming a favorite word soon. He also wanted to watch a video again, which got a resounding no to that request.

Tonight we went to our neighbors the Shaffars for a birthday party for Mark. It was a "block party" with all of our (foreign) neighbors we know invited. We grilled out, ate ice cream sundaes and tried to keep the total of 12 kids from getting too out of control. Austin stayed downstairs with the younger (3 and under) kids and had a good time I think. He is definitely teething though, his right incisor is in and the left is not far behind, which has made for a cranky day at home. But getting out does him (and me) good. Now Chris and I are lounging on the couch, getting ready to gear up for a new week tomorrow.

ZOO

Well, we made it to the zoo today and all had a good time. Austin started cutting his right incisor tooth today and had a little temperature, but we went anyway and he acted like he felt fine. He definitely enjoyed seeing all the animals he sees in his books and videos. We went as volunteers to take a group of children from a home for children of incarcerated parents and were paired up with two boys, age 12 and 8. The younger one had never been to the zoo and his favorite animal- no surprise- was the panda. Our older friend likes the tiger best. It's hard to say what Austin liked best, but probably the monkeys ranked near the top. Here are some pictures from the day.

All the boys- posing in front of a big (statue) of a turtle outside the reptile house. The alligator was the favorite of the group from the reptile house.

Austin mesmerized by the monkeys at feeding time.

Elephant!

This jie jie (older sister) took an immediate liking to Austin- and he liked her pretty well too (which he demonstrated by letting her carry him around without protesting).

Our two buddies as we left. We were impressed with how much our older friend took care of the younger one.

Zee-ba! I was not sure that Austin knew what a zebra was, but he sure acted like he did after we told him the name. I did remember he does have a baby animal book that has a zebra, but he doesn't read that one as often as some of this other ones. Nonetheless he liked them.



Monkeys. Unfortunately we didn't quite get to capture Austin's enthusiasm for monkeys on film - he didn't "perform" for the camera, but he really did get excited and kept repeating "monkey, monkey" for quite a long time.

Babies!

Sorry I have not been a good blogger this week. I had a video I attempted to upload several times and it always failed. I later realized it was bigger than the blogspot limit of 100 mb. So I will have to put it on snapfish for those of you who follow that later.

Today was Friday, playgroup day again. Since last week, we have added a new baby to the group. Angie gave birth to Jeshua Evan on Monday and hosted playgroup at her house today- pretty impressive I thought. Here are two pictures from today.

Here are Isaac, Bree, Austin and Sydney sitting nicely at Bree's little table. This lasted about one minute, but it made for a cute picture.

This is Jesh, Bree's "didi" or little brother at 5 days old. Isn't he cute?

In addition to meeting Jesh, we also took dinner to our friends Paula and Hamilton this week, who gave birth to a baby girl about 10 days ago. Austin liked to look at her and even gave her a kiss, but the minute I held both of these new babies, his eyes welled up with tears and he kept saying "Mommy bao bao (hold me)"- not in an angry voice, but in a scared one. We will have to work on not feeling so insecure around babies in the next few months!

Tomorrow we go to the Zoo with a group of underprivileged children. I am sure we will have some fun pictures and we hope Austin will have as much fun as he does reading books about zoo animals.