November 7, 2008 - Answers to Some of Your Questions
Time to answer your questions!
Mandiantin asked "I'm also wondering exactly HOW cold it gets, especially as most people have no heating in their homes or work. Do you have heating in your home?"
Well, this is our first winter in this particular city. But I guess that the lowest temperature will be around 30 degrees F or 0 degrees C, right at freezing. Local people say that's not cold enough to warrant heat. (I beg to differ!) We do not have central heat, but we have air conditioners in most rooms that also blow warm air, so we do have heat, albeit not very efficient.
Barb commented, "I was just noticing that the mannequins don't look Asian at all. I thought that was sort of strange."
That is a good observation! Baby dolls are not Asian either. They are pale skinned with blonde hair. You see these kinds of contradictions all over Asia. I'm constantly telling Asian women that their dark skin and black hair are beautiful. They do not believe it. (Just goes to show that we humans are basically flawed and never happy with what we have.)
Barb also asked, "Nothing like a good Dorito to liven up a lunch! I wonder what the "D3" on the label means. Any ideas?"
No idea at all; I wondered the same myself.
The flavor, by the way, is called "rock taco." I guess that means hard taco? Again, it's sort of mysterious!
Lisa commented, "Green tea flavor? Odd. Does it taste.... ok? But HOW FUN to find great junk food! And cereal - awesome! Will the stuff always be available or is it something special?"
Yeah, it's okay. You have to change your perceptions. I mean, think about taking a big drink of water. But then when you take a swig you realize it's grapefruit juice. It's a shock. It's not that you don't like grapefruit juice, it's just that you weren't prepared for that. So if I change my thinking, it can be enjoyable. I thought like this, "I'm drinking green tea and munching on a bit of chocolate." With that mind set it was good.
But with the mind set of "Woo hoo! This is a mint filled Hershey bar!" no, it was very disappointing.
As far as the things being special, YES THEY ARE! You truly never know if something will be there the next time. We've learned this the hard way time and time again. If there's something you want, you'd better buy it because it probably won't be there the next time. Or at least you can't really count on it.
Comments
November 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
That's so true about buying up stuff when you see it because you may not see it again for a very long time. I'm in northern China. There were 4 small containers of sour cream at our big Carrefour a few months ago, and I bought them all. Then I was there again last week hoping to see that again - nope! Who knows if I'll ever see that again here. It was sure a special treat though - hadn't seen sour cream in China in over 5 years!
Katie
November 7, 2008 - Too Funny
Posted by Anonymous
I was just popping over to see if you answered my question about the mannequins...and here it is in its own post!
I find your part of the world fascinating and it has actually spurred us on to consider a whole "world cultures" course next year with the boys on a high school level.
Your blog has made the world seem smaller and the people seem more real. I have traveled a bit in my life but my boys haven't had that opportunity yet so we are seriously thinking about learning more about different places and using the internet as a tool.
Thanks for everything,
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
PS I laughed at the "rock taco" flavor Dorito.
November 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Sheri
Rock taco makes me think of "rock lobster" and now i'll be singing all day...
have a good one!
(http://theshadesofpink.blogspot.com)
November 8, 2008 - not jealous.....ok kinda
Posted by Anonymous
we have a friend in living in Cambodia and she said that she is pretty much expected to have household help, almost like you are denying someone a job if you don't. She also said that it's very, very, inexpensive and that she enjoys it for the same reasons you do!!
November 8, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by drewsfamilytx
Mint and green tea are definitely not interchangeable!
So how many boxes of cereal did you get? Did you totally stock up and are your friends jealous if you have cereal and they don't?
November 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by madiantin.blogspot.com
Oh my good gravy, that's COLD to have inadequate heating. Do you get used to it? Or do you bundle up and freeze all winter?
