4th day in Shunde, Daliang

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Its medical time today which is something we’re not particularly looking forward to. We just don’t know what to expect and hope the place is clean. Once we’re there our fears are put to rest as it is really clean and modern looking. We endure an hour worth of tests, including a chest x-ray, ECG, urine and blood tests and an ultrasound. To be honest, a lot of it seems really unnecessary considering we are at low or no risk for half the diseases they are testing for, but never mind. A highlight for me is having to give a urine sample using a toilet which is a hole in the floor. Anyway, I’ll leave that one to your imagination lol. Once it’s all done, our boss drives us back to the apartment and we have the rest of the day free.

We decide to head out on an exploring expedition, as we’ve not made it any further than Walmart or our workplace so far (admittedly I am totally in love with walmart and don’t need an excuse to go there - apart from the smell from the crazy spiky melon fruit things which is possibly the most rancid thing I’ve ever smelt but that’s a different story). We go in search of the Pearl river which should be right next to our apartment block, but our apartment block is about 1 square mile round, so we get lost just walking around it and totally forget which direction we need to be in. The highlight is that we do manage to find Tesco. It’s not really what we were expecting- they have an awesome health and beauty section with the brands we know and love, but the food section is once again an enigma to us with no tins of baked beans in sight. Oh how much I am craving beans on toast!! The fruit and veg section is really good and better than walmart, and they also stock loose pasta which we decide to buy for when we sicken ourselves of noodles and rice. They also have more meat to choose from which doesn’t just consist of chicken giblets or chicken feet. There is, however, a whole aisle dedicated to dried and freeze-packaged chicken feet just in case you’re that way inclines and can’t get any fresh ones. I’ll bare it in mind.

On the way back, we feel like minor celebrities as every single person we pass has a good old stare – some more discreetly than others it has to be said. I am a particular hit with the males we pass, I’m guessing for one main reason (or two actually) and I don’t think it’s my trainers.

Once back at the apartment complex, we head down to the pool, as it’s really warm and sunny today with hardly any clouds in the sky. It’s still muggy though and after a long walk we could do with cooling off. We get there for about 3.30pm and as we try to walk through the gates, a security guard comes over and tells us no. We’re a bit unsure of what is happening but then realise the pool doesn’t open for another 45 minutes, and we also need to pay 50p each to use it. It’s quite frustrating as the water looks so appealing and why do they have to have rules about absolutely everything? The sign says we can use it against our own peril and I would very much like to use it against my own peril please, but somehow this isn’t so easy to explain to a guy who doesn’t even seem to get sign language. 2 things we have realised so far about the whole communication thing- they are really willing to try and communicate BUT they really don’t get sign language AT ALL, even when it seems really straight forward. Secondly, they take what you say literally- which is why in a restaurant when we’ve asked for something, they translate it literally instead of just ordering a dish containing the ingredients suggested and they’ll say no they don’t have it. Anyway, just an observation! We dutifully wait our 45 minutes and then the lifeguard happily lets us in. After about half an hour, the sun has disappeared behind a big layer of clouds and a wind has picked up making it a bit cold in the pool. We decide to head out and pretty much all of the other people using the pool also vacate at the same time. 2 seconds later there is a really heavy downpour of rain so we sprint back to our apartment block which thankfully isn’t too far away. The chinese must have a sixth sense when it comes to these things.

After we’ve showered and dried off, we take the gamble of going out for something else to eat. This time, we head down to the shopping centre as that has loads of restaurants inside and a lot of them have picture menus which we think should make it easier to order. We find one straight away and it even has some attempt at English translation to accompany the pictures, so we’re onto a winner. However, some of the descriptions are certainly lost in translation as you’ll see from the photos. I end up ordering a pork dish which looks innocent enough as roast pork sliced, and Greg orders spicy 3 pork. After he’s ordered, I exclaim I’m surprised he ordered that as it probably means three parts of the pig, and probably not the 3 parts we’re used to eating back home. Sure enough when it comes it contains pig’s tails and pig’s liver but Greg gives it a go. My pork is a weird one- they’ve shaped it into what likes like the Glasgow armadillo, and underneath is a bunch of hidden pork goodies which again I have no idea what they are. And there is also what appears to be seaweed in there too… The pork on top is quite nice- tastes like bacon but with the fat not crispy. It’s not chewy either though, it appears they’ve boiled it down and it tastes good. I choose to bypass the bits underneath though.

Once we’ve paid, I realise I am still hungry, so when we pass Macdonalds on our way back, I can’t resist but order a cheeky chicken burger. The guy behind the counter speaks English so it’s a lot easier to order thankfully. I guess if anywhere is going to speak English, it’s a western style fast food outlet where probably most of the ex-pats who live here will eat. As we are walking back, an old man on a bike smiles eagerly at us and tips his hat off to us. It’s really sweet and cheers us up. Then in the lift going to our apartment, another woman smiles and says hello to us and we have a quick chat in broken English, or Chinglish if you’d prefer. I am so anticipating this macdonalds burger I have held off until inside the apartment, but am hugely disappointed as I open it to see some kind of fried flattened meat stuck in the middle which still has the skin on and is covered in 5 spice. Don’t get me wrong, it tastes good enough, but I was really hoping for and expecting a proper traditional fried and breaded chicken burger. It’s enough to send me over the edge and I start laughing and then crying. Greg thinks I’m mental and reassures me it doesn’t taste bad, but it’s not really about the chicken burger- I think I am just really missing comforts from home and feeling quite far away from everything at the moment. It’s a lot to take in at once- a new job, a new house, new food and a new language all in such a short space of time and I’m thinking what the hell have we done! I never thought it would be easy, but having lived and worked away before, I guess we thought it would be easier than it has been. I also think the stress of starting our job tomorrow is praying on my mind and hopefully once we get that out of the way I’ll feel better. I’m sure we’ll get into a routine soon enough and make friends with other expats and find out where they hang out/shop and what they eat when they are needing some home comforts.

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Comments

[Leigh]

Eating like a local ;)
Sometimes you just need home comforts but well impressed that you are giving some of the more 'exotic' dishes a go ;) The spiky fruits are durian which is hilariously called 'King of Fruits'. I've tried it and personally think it tastes like rotten onions with the consistency of custard. NOT good! Avoid! As for chickens feet.....I reckon its one of the most pointless dishes ever. The pork thing you liked sounds like pork belly which is yum :) Best of luck with starting your job :)