Run away from the naked American

This weekend, I had a reminder of a funny situation that I was involved with a few months ago.

Earlier this winter I was using our clubhouse’s sauna. I usually prefer the steam room but it had been broken for several months (but that is a different story for a different time). I, unlike many of the natives, prefer to wear a swimsuit when I am in the sauna or steam room. This particular day, I was just relaxing in the sauna trying to get it really hot. I was standing by the coals pouring water on them to generate the dry heat. I was alone in the sauna. Both the sauna and the showers are in a separate space from the lockers. I heard a knock on the outside of the locker room door and a lady’s voice asking if anyone was in the locker room (loosely translated from Chinese). I realized it was the ayi (ayi’s do the cleaning) coming in to dump the waste baskets and mop the floor. Well, I didn’t respond because I was in the separate room and I was wearing shorts. About 20 seconds later she enters the sauna area and she sees me in the sauna. She said something in embarrassment and quickly departed the locker room. And I do mean quickly, she physically ran from the locker room. I laughed to myself and thought that Management must have instructed her to never be in the room when guests are present.

Now fast forward 20 minutes. I have alternated between the sauna and the hot tub. Very relaxing! By this time, there is now an Asian man – naked – in the sauna with me. He leaves the sauna and is standing in the room cooling off – again naked. About this time the ayi has entered the locker room to complete her task that she tried earlier. She probably assumed that I would be gone by now. Anyway, she walks into the sauna room where I am in the sauna and the Asian man is still standing – still naked. Now, instead of shrieking and running from the locker room due to the presence of a guest, she stands there and has about a 5 minute conversation with the man who just stand there bare-butt naked without even a towel.

It was so odd or I should say, their behavior was so odd. She sees the American (dressed) and runs. She sees the Asian (naked) and stops and has a conversation.

I now assume that she has been instructed not be around a Westerner in this type of situation. As far as the Asian, standing there naked in front of an ayi is no problem but I guarantee you that if it was a person of a higher class than an ayi then he would have run or covered up.

People kind of get use to having the ayis being around in the most personal situations. At work, we have female ayis who practically live in the restrooms cleaning. At first, I was very reluctant to use the facilities when they were present. Now, it is no issue to be using the urinal while the ayi cleans the next urinal over. I have even gotten to a point where I have simple conversations with them in Chinese while I am using the urinal.

I think I have graduated and am ready to try a bath house.

Girl's Night Out

Last night was the Daddy Daughter Dance for girl scouts, so I had a free pass to go out. Four of us decided to head down to the Promenade on Pudong side of the river. We went to Binjiang 1 and had a wonderful meal and good New Zealand Pinot Noir. For the first time in several weeks, it turned out to be a clear night. So we enjoyed the view of the river and all of the boat traffic moving around in the water.

After our fantastic dinner we headed over the Shanghai World Financial Center, the 2nd tallest building in the world. it was my first visit there and I must admit that I was a bit underwhelmed. Our plan was to go up to the bar area on the 93 floor. The bar is a part of the Park Hyatt, which occupies most of the top floors of the building, not sure how many. The entrance to building, which is adjacent to the entrance for the observation tower, is very nondescript. In fact, it was difficult to know if we were going the right way. Of course the two bottles of wine at dinner could have attributed to that problem. But the whole is building is ultra modern, which apparently translates to "make it difficult for simple folk to find us". But we did find an elevator, which took us to the 91 floor, where the hotel check-in is. From there we took another elevator which went to the 92 floor and headed to the Century 100 Bar. However, there was a 400RMB/person charge for a table at a window. What a crock! We decided the view from the bar was OK for us. There was a band playing, so it seemed like it would be fun. Unfortunately it appeared the band was some reject from the US, with the female singer singing rock songs like they were Jazz standards. I do not usually associate The Police "Every step you take" as a normal Jazz song. The crowd was an interesting mix of traveling business men and rich Chinese couples out for a drink and some live music. Oh, and us! While we were sitting at the bar we noticed some crazy tall drink glasses which seemed out of place in such a nice place. Would have more at home at a bar with "Yard of Beer" night. We stayed until 11 so we could get our free drink which they served us in the crazy tall glass. It was a strawberry something and very tasty. Even better was that it was free. Plus the bar tender told us to come back on ladies night when the drinks are more affordable!

After our drinks, we decided to head home. At the main entry, we had to mess with the strange sculpture that decorated the wall near the elevators. Three things reaching out from the wall was too funny for us to take a usual picture. Yes, that is me giving one a kiss on the head. Weird...

But we had a lot of laughs and as always, it is good to have lots of girl talk. So, until the next night away, I toast Kathy, Kathy, and Angie with a big "I love you guys..."

Natalie Loses Her First Tooth

Well, it finally happened. Natalie's loose tooth came out today at school. She got bumped in the mouth by another student and VOILA it fell out! It surprised me today when my cell phone rang at 5:02. She had brownies after school and she is usually not home on brownie day until 5:20. She had rushed home to tell me about some good news and bad news. The good news was that she had lost her tooth. The bad news was that she had lost it! Somewhere along the way, she had misplaced it and it did not make it home. But, she had a plan! She was going to write a letter to the tooth fairy and explain what happened. She was calling to tell me that I HAD to print it for as soon as I got home! Funny little girl.

When I got home around 6.30, she had written the note already. I guess she had decided she couldn't trust the computer! Dad had printed a couple of the pictures that I have added here. She placed the note and the pictures upstairs on her nightstand along with her Tooth Fairy box (she got this special box from the Tooth Fairy when she was born so that she did not have to put teeth under her pillow!). We placed a teeny tiny note in the box to direct the Tooth Fairy to the note which explains why there is not tooth tonight! Lots of work for a bit of money!

She and I talked about how losing a tooth is "bittersweet" for a parent. Her Gammaw explained the "bittersweet" concept this summer to her. So she understands that while it was her "best thing" of the day, it was both my "best thing" and my "worst thing". Because it means she is in fact growing up. She looks so grown-up with the tooth missing!

Well, I better go and see of the Tooth Fairy made it here already...

Natalie's Basketball Experience - Early Season

Natalie is playing in a basketball league this winter. She is a member of the Nuggets and wearing #3. There are only a few girls in this league and Natalie is youngest and smallest on her team. But, we are just proud to have her out there. Up to now they have played 4 games, won 3 and lost 1.

She has only taken about 4 practice shots, and then only because the coach made her. She prefers to dribble and stays away from the ball if possible. She likes to spend most of her hiding behind her team mates. But we are really proud of how she goes out there and plays.

There are huge differences in the levels of play, even at this level. There are some kids that clearly have been playing for a while. They can dribble and shoot into the basket, even at the regular height. And there are a few who appear to not have touched the ball much.

And just like any other kids league in any other part of the world, we have parents who appear to be extra involved with their child's playing ability. It seems especially emphasized by the international mix of kids.

Anyway, enjoy the clips. And we placed a few videos out on You Tube. More to come as the season progresses...