Blogs from Wuhan, Hubei, China, Asia - page 16

Just a quick note to friends and family. Yes, we are still alive and well. We have not had internet in our apartment for about a month (since we moved into our new place) and still have another couple of weeks before it will be installed (Mar. 20 or so to be exact). It put a big damper on any computer stuff until we got back to school last week. On top of that, I was down for the count for a few days with a bad cold that is still lingering but mostly gone. But at least now I can check in on things during the day while at work. Right now we are overstaying our welcome at Starbucks to do a few internet catchups. Spring has sprung on the banks of the Yangtze. After ... read more

There are some things that are difficult to find in Wuhan...cheese, butter, baking powder, and .... tortillas. The only thing that we still haven't been able to find is baking powder but we still have a couple of containers of the stuff that we brought back from Canada with us last summer. Tortillas are available but they are quite a taxi ride away and any restaurant we know of that serves Mexican food is also quite a distance away. We both love Mexican food and purchased a Southwest US cookbook while traveling through the states last summer to bring back with us. Over the last few months, I have been making my own tortillas and using the local produce to make some great enchiladas, burritos, etc. A couple of days ago, I demonstrated my new-found skill ... read more

Last Friday night, we all jumped on the bus and headed to a large theatre for a wonderful night of Chinese entertainment. The show consisted of more than a dozen acts including traditional Chinese instruments, classical opera, Peking opera, acrobatics, ballet and singing. It was quite formal but we really enjoyed all the shows. The whole spectacle was organized for all the foreigners who are living in Wuhan. The next night, the temperature plummetted to a bone-chilling -5 degrees and the wind picked up but the temperature inside the Broughtons' apartment was balmy as we got together for a staff Christmas Party. Almost thirty of us exchanged gifts and pigged out for a few hours on a huge selection of appetizers, main courses, desserts and alcohol. Of course, the gift exchange followed tradition according to the ... read more

Just a quick note to say that none of us here are missing the incredible cold snap that seems to be taking over BC this week. The days are sunny and cool but still only wearing our light jackets by the middle of the day. The kids are still playing basketball outside at lunch time so that sort of says it all! I had to upload this little comic strip that one of my Grade 10s did about me! The whole "mei you wen ti" thing has become an institution in my classes here and Mandy has turned it into a cartoon! She is an incredible little artist and is going to produce one little comic strip each week. I told her I would turn them into a book for her when she has enough completed. ... read more

Once again, it has been a long time since I wrote anything in here so I will take a little time and update our life here in Wuhan. Winter is coming and the days are slowly getting colder but everyone, including me, is still riding bicycles and scooters. But I think these days are going to end soon. Last week was still in the high teens but today was quite cool. Many trees are still quite green but most are finally looking bare as the leaves drop more quickly day by day. As I drove along Minzu Avenue today on the way to the local mall, there were a few signs of Christmas approaching, but I had to look closely. It is pretty much a non-issue in Wuhan, but here and there, there were a few ... read more