Welcome Home!
Some of you might remember that last August (2011) Mark and I took a VERY quick trip to China to check it out. I think they call that a Looksee or something like that. I think we were in China for a total of FOUR days and each day was crammed full of activities. We mostly toured one rental after another after another. At first we only toured the rental properties available to us in TEDA (Tianjin Economic Development Area) the city in which the factory and facilities are closest to. We decided that we just couldn't stomach the high rise apartments (with an awesome view and all) and we didn't love the other available apartments that our guide recommended we look at Tianjin itself. It is a bit of a drive to the factory but for the same price as the apartments in TEDA we get a house. With a tiny backyard. And the school right across the street. Works for me!
So, while we don't love the extra time Mark has to spend in the car (albeit productive time as he gets to keep on working while our driver worries about the roads and traffic) this place does seem better suited to our particular needs.
We chose this house- it's three stories tall with our "office space" and guest suite located on the third floor. Some of the things that crack me up about this house- like the upper kitchen cabinets are in a perfect location for a giant- someone at least 7-ft tall. Or that many of the cabinets are just facade- they hide various pipes. Or that we have have a nasty drain pipe odor that can sometimes be overwhelming in the kitchen. Oh! And did I mention that we have TWO kitchens? No? One kitchen is the main, "pretty" kitchen and the other smaller kitchen houses the cooktop. It also smells the worst. We're working with the landlord to get the drain pipe smell taken care of. Oh and the sometimes ice-cold shower is amusing. Not! The landlord is here right now to help us figure it out. We'll see if he and Mark can communicate enough to straighten it out. Oh, and the neighbors have a super barky, mean-looking rottweiler dog. I feel sorry for that poor beast as it has a tiny area to be in. I guess I'd be cranky and mad if someone locked me up in such a tiny cage. We've heard that having dogs is sort of a status symbol (but I guess taking good care of your dogs isn't. sigh) I probably also forgot to mention that there is a >tiny< chicken coop next to our backyard. I assume that someone is raising these for meat and not for eggs (just a guess since I haven't seen any nests or nesting boxes; not like I'm a chicken-raising expert!). And speaking of eggs, I've seen lots of eggs for sale in the grocery stores that were sold in large boxes but NOT in the refrigerator case! ???? How can you be sure they're safe if they're not refrigerated? Anyway…. I have to remember that we're in China and they do things a little differently here. Very differently.
😉
This is a tiny play ground located about one minute away from our house.
Trying out these finger-pinching or foot-pinching contraptions (take your pick):
The walk home from the tiny play ground. To get to our house just hang a left at the gazebo thingy and it will be the second house on your left.
And is with every post I've done, I realize now that I haven't taken enough photos!
Chinese New Year starts tomorrow and we bought some fireworks to add the mass noise and air pollution that is likely to be prevalent tomorrow. We heard that the fireworks and firecrackers will be going off non-stop from tonight through Monday morning. Let the festivities begin! I can't wait to see (or hear!) what that will be like. Here's hoping that we get some sleep tonight! :-)
Comments
5 responses to “Welcome to our house!”
Eggs are sold without refrigeration in most parts of the world, Europe included. Also, they are unwashed, which is why they do not need to be refrigerated. Washing removes the protective coating forcing them to need refrigeration. They will last for three weeks, unwashed and in a temperate (not hot) setting. So enjoy the eggs!
Most of the houses here in Malaysia have two kitchens as well. Only the expat housing has kitchens like we have grown to expect in the US. And while there may be ac in the rest of the house, there is never ac in the kitchen, something I can’t quite figure out.
Hope you get some sleep! But then, what’s a little lack of sleep in lieu of a great cultural experience!
Keep posting! I love it!
Glenda
Glenda, I have heard other expat moms tell me that you have to be careful when purchasing eggs as many of them are rotten. Have you had problems with lots of rotten eggs? I have found a source of supposedly organic eggs (local). We will just have to test the waters…slowly. 🙂
Funny, I can’t remember how the eggs were treated in Austria- I only remember a delivery van dropping off our orders at our apartment. Come to think of it, I don’t think they were refrigerated until they got to my Oma’s kitchen. Hmmmm….
I remember when i was young, my grandpa raised chickens on his farms. Eggs are good for several weeks without refrigeration as long as they are not washed.
The house looks good. Your right about not picking an apartment without a yard. It was really uncomfortable for us without moving room in that tiny apartment in Dubuque. I am just so glad that you have space, and a playground and good school.
I read this post with Havanna. She loved seeing where Ava lives. We miss you! I think one day you should skype with Mrs. Muldoon and the kids so they can all chat again! Does she know about your blog? I bet she’d love to show the kids.
Your house looks really nice! Sorry about the odor and the dog…hope you get it all figured out;)