China - Day 17, Friday

Amy and I decided to stay home today. I had to catch up on ironing (with my New Ironing Board!!!). I also needed to clean.


So today's blog will be all FRUSTRATIONS/Cultural Differences 101:


Shanghai has so much pollution that the floors get filthy quickly. I mop the floor and the water is black, as if I haven't washed it in years. The dust on the furniture is very thick. Now I am not one to usually dust at home (well maybe a couple times a year). I have already done it 3 times since I have been here. I am running the dry mop over the floors constantly. I even had to rewash the window sills because the dust was thick! AND we haven't even had the windows open because of the heat!  I am seriously considering getting an Aye (pronounced IE, housekeeper) just to keep up with it!


When I first cleaned the bathrooms (when we first moved in). I cleaned under the sink. While washing under the first sink, I found what looked like a hunk of hair wrapped around the pipe. So I removed it - it was a long chunk (about an inch thick and about 12-18 inches long). When I got to the second sink I noticed the same thing. So I left this one ( reluctantly), thinking there might be a reason for it.   About 2 days later we started getting a strong odor from under the sink that I removed the "hair" from. We have tried wrapping a large sheet around the pipes, spraying Glade air freshener under the sink, Arm & Hammer Baking soda to absorb the smell. Nothing helps. Tomorrow I think we will have to call maintenance and see what they can do to get rid of the smell! Maybe they will have to wrap the "hair" around it again!!!


I washed my King size sheets today for the first time. I was not able to do it before this because I needed a second set, since things do not dry very fast here. So I put the sheets into my very small wash machine and they barely fit! Then I went to hang them on my drying rack and they were too big. Needless to say I was only able to do one load of laundry today.


Currently I have the drying rack in the living room, because of the humidity I have given up putting it outside. At least with the air conditioner I have a chance the clothes will dry.




Update on other things: Daniel has decided that he does not like swimming in PE. He figured they would be playing in the pool, but they actually need to swim the length of the (Olympic size) pool and back. He told me he swallowed a lot of water!


I do not know if I mentioned that Randy did not have to go to Hong Kong this week. Originally he had to go there for his Work Visa. He needs to leave the country for some kind of stamp. Well they decided that he should be able to do all that when he is in Thialand next week. He needs to get his work visa and residence permit so we can get our shipment. Our shipment is due around August 30. Not sure if that is when it is arriving in port or when it clears customs. Maybe we will finally have our stuff sometime the first week in September. Can't wait!