I needed to get a few last items, plus more. There is a whole floor just for kids toys. Every booths is packed either to the ceiling or piles upon pile. I was going to get a book or magazine for the kids on the ride home, but then I saw Xilanglang(Pleasant goat) travel aqua mats!
I saw Hello Kitty mahjong! So cute! We used to play mahjong with my in-laws years ago, and hopefully when the kids get older we can play it again. It's more complicated than rumikub and lots of variations like poker, mixed with a lot of luck like euchre.
The kids are ready to go home and ask daily now how long. I think they might be nervous because they said their teacher told them they can't go back home. I also learned that the principal likes the students to call her mommy. This is just wrong(but goes along with their weird culture of calling everyone your family).
It's so hot, after school we head indoors and don't go out until after dinner or 7 pm and stay outside until after 8. I'm probably the only person who sends their kids to bed that early here, as many are just heading out at this time and you can hear kids out in the courtyard up until 10pm.
Maybe it was the heat, but it was temper tantrum after temper tantrum with the boys. I want to do this, someone took something from them, they had to give it back, don't turn the tv off.....They got their 1,2,3 Magic and then I let them cry and turn my back to them(don't give them attention). They aren't hurt. So my in-laws come in to try and stop the crying (of a temper tantrum because he was told no). I told them to get out. You can't let them cry, they will hurt their throat. Aghhhhhh! I am the mother, you are spoiling them them so they will keep doing this, is what I want to say.
So this morning, another child has a temper tantrum when he didn't want to wait for me to finish putting on my shoes before I open his candy. Crying. He is pick him up and cottled by the in-laws trying to get him to stop, saying they will open his candy. He didn't want them to open, only me. I told him after he is done crying, he can ask politely. Imagine that he did, and I didn't cave into the demand of a 3 year old.
First time we got the Chinese elephant ear, they sprinkle the dough with red sugar, then fried. Red sugar is like super dark molassessy sugar. This of course is healthier than regular sugar or brown sugar we have back home, so they say. Only 2rmb, less than $.50. Last time I bought an elephant year at the carnival was at least 2 years ago and it was over $5.
I also learned why the bathrooms smell horendous, other than the obvious. They don't flush the paper, they put all toilet paper into the waste basket, even after poo! At the kids school, they give the kids one square to wipe and if it's 3-ply, they give them 1 ply at a time! Gross.
Summer is a time for tanning. Not here, being dark is looked down upon. That is why they cover up, have all the skin whitening creams, use sun umbrellas and have gloved sleeves to wear when riding their bikes. I've only seen trial sized sunscreens. But boy does it look strange when only your face is white.
Beggars. I have not been to the area where all the foreigner restaurants are, but I here this is where all the child beggars are. I have seen an infant and a small girl being used to beg on the subway. When you here music on the subway you know a beggar is coming through. Yesterday someone was crawling with a bucket around their neck.
Chinese Elephant Ear
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