So, what's the deal with squat toliets...Part 2.

I usually include a photograph with these blogs, but the blog site is not being kind to me at the moment and not allowing me to put up a photo.  I am working on a fix, but in the meantime, I will tell you my recent squat toilet story.  If this is the first time you have read my blog, before reading on I suggest you familiarise yourself with my first adventure with the squat toilets.

Last Friday night, I was invited to dinner by Andy and Tracy (a couple I met from the UK) who were celebrating Tracy's 41st birthday.  There was 8 of us going out to a great restaurant called "Black Sesame Kitchen". If you ever get the chance to come to Bejing, I would recommend it.  It's a small, intimate restaurant that caters for only 23 people per night, and you sit around a table in the kitchen and watch the chef cook your 10 course meal.  Awesome!

I hitched a ride with Andy and Tracy, and their boss Ray (from Australia).  It was about a 20 minute ride to the restaurant.  It wasn't until we were in the car driving to the restaurant, that I felt that nature would be calling on me some time soon.  Damn!  Why hadn't I thought of this earlier? All I could hear was my mothers voice in my head from when I was 10 years old. "Make sure you go to the bathroom before we leave home".  Where was mum's voice 20 minutes ago?

But, having been in China now for almost 2 months, I was prepared.  I knew we were going to a location that most likely only had squat toilets.  And squat toilets are now my friend.  I have mastered the pose, and I know what to expect.

We arrived at around 6:15 and weren't due at the restauarnt until 7.  So we decided to have a beer at a small bar called "Wiggly Jiggly" in one of the hutongs (small, narrow alley).  I excused myself, and asked the bar staff where the toliet was. "Down the street, on the left.  1 minute". So, I gathered a supply of napkins (Ok, I wasn't that prepared) and went to find the toilet.

It was easy to find, and exactly where they said it would be.  Down the street, on the left, one minute.  I walked into that toilet block full of confidence, having tamed the squat toilets.  Head held high, chest out, I would once again take on the squat toilet - and win!

Like my very first meeting with a squat toilet, as I walked in I stopped dead in my tracks.  Yes, they were indeed squat toilets, but with a slight catch. These were the squat toilets that had no doors, and as I walked in,   I made immediate eye contact with the current tenant, doing his business.  He was also on his mobile phone texting, and looked up at me as I entered.  I did what any normal Aussie would do. I acknowledged him with a nod, then moved to the nearest vacant stall.

There is also another highlight of these squat toilets.  The walls on either side only come up to your waist (hell, you don't need any higher.  You're squatting!).  I had already committed myself, plus I was never going to find another toilet where we were.

So again, I took on this new challenge, dropped the dacks, and assumed what I now know to be the correct squatting position - in full view of anynone who chose to walk in the door.  I'm sure there would have been one stage in my life (maybe when I was 2) that I had been in full view of anyone who decided to walk past/in at any moment.  But hey, when in Rome......

The one thing I am glad about is that they build the stalls at right angles.  I don't think I could handle it if you were in a squat toilet, with no door, looking across at the opposite row of squat toilets.   And I suppose the other good things was that it was highly unlikely that someone I knew was going to come in at that moment.  Mind you, if someone I knew did come in, it would make a great story! "Hey, remember that time I walked into the squat toilet in China and I bumped into you taking a dump.  Ha, what are the chances?!"

There it is blog fans.  My latest adventure with the squat toilet, and again victorious.  With that behind me (excuse the pun), I had a great night with new friends in Beijing.

My name is Barry, and today I went shopping!

So, the title of this blog isn't that exciting.  Wow, I went shopping.  Hooray.  Far out.  Really great.  Let's have a party.  Barry went shopping. Woopee!

But let me just clarify a few things that may make you read on. 1) I'm in a non English speaking country, 2) I only speak English, and 3) If the Chinese people don't speak English, they will not talk to you for the fear of "losing face".  

These three factors make for an interesting shopping (well, everyday) experience.

First, let me say that I am learning the language. I am 6 hours into my Mandarin classes and loving every minute of it.  Cici (my teacher) says I am doing "hen hao" (very good) and I am picking it up very easily.  I sort of knew I would because I learned to speak Thai very easily too, and both languages are very similar, conversationally.  I can introduce myself, say where I come from, ask for phone numbers (very handy :)), and also tell you what day Christmas is on (and many other dates too!)

On Saturday morning I had a 2 hour class with Cici, and we learned money, how to ask the price of something, and then how to bargain etc.  So, skipping out of the lesson (NB: I didn't actually skip, but felt confident after my 2 hour class) I decided to go shopping with my newly acquired knowledge for a wireless router (for those non tech people, it would allow me to connect wirelessly to the internet in my apartment).

The night before coming home from drinks with the Internations mob, I saw an electronics store and decided to make my way back there.   Subway system I know, found out the nearest station, and the rest would be easy.  I would dazzle the sales staff with my excellent command of their langauage, and walk out with a brand new modem.

I walk in the main door of Dazhong Electronics in the CBD, and find the modems straight away.  I pick up the (empty) box and try to make out the pictures on the back (because everything was in Mandarin).  Looks good, price OK (RMB 138), now to find someone to help me.  This is where I refer back to point 3 above.

Chinese culture is all about "face".  The Chinese will not do something if they feel they are not good at it, because they will "lose face", or respect.  I learned this at our team bonding weekend in Qingdao.  I wondered why no one would talk to me.  It's because they don't know English, and don't want to lose face.

So, I wandered through the aisles of the computer section trying to attract someones attention, and found no one.  Every time I would approach someone, they would turn away, or walk off.  Of course, it may have been a number of reasons (all going to lunch together?), but I assumed it was because they didn't want to talk to the foreigner, because they could "lose face".

OK, so what now.  I waited a few more minutes, and caught the eye of a young sales guy.  Here he comes, it's time to dazzle him with my mandarin.  Oh no.  A problem.  I don't know how to say 'I want to buy this". 

Quickly searching my memory I realise I hadn't been taught that yet, so in a slight panic, I pointed at the modem, then to me, and said in Mandarin "I like". 

He smiled, and he got the message.  Then he started rattling off some Mandarin.  What I could understand was that this model was no longer in stock, but they have a more recent model, and it would cost me RMB 185 (numbers and prices I know - woohoo! I can understand something).  I replied with "Hao De" (Good), and the transaction was over.  He then escorted me to the cashier, I paid, he got the goods, I left!

Mmm, a bit of an anti-climax and not so much dazzling as I thought, but I did get to say a couple of words in Mandarin. And now the proud owner of a fully functional wireless router. (see picture of happy customer below)

Welcome home!

Hello blog fans, and welcome to my latest entry.  As most of you may know, I have been travelling for the last 2 weeks to a few of the cities where we have radio stations (if you have a map - Changchun, Tianjin, Nanjing and Xi'an).  So, I've been living out of a suitcase, staying in different hotels, and spending a lot of time in train stations and airports.  All while charging it to the company (that's the best part!)

On Wednesday, I arrived back home in Beijing and will be here for at least 10 days while the authorities issue my residence visa (they have my passport, so I can't go anywhere!).  Today, I thought I would invite you all into my new apartment.  

Welcome to Cosmopolite Apartments,  Building 25, Unit 1, Apartment 2208.

It didn't take me long to find this place, plus our finance guy lives here too and he said you couldn't find a better spot to live.  It's a secure compound, with 4 buildings, tennis court, convenience store, dry cleaner, plus I have access to the gym next door and swimming pool (at a fee of course).  It's a 20 minute walk to work (passed the Australian Embassy), and 10 minute walk to the Beijing subway.   It's quite mixed, with a few locals and alot of ex-pats.  

The apartments are fairly small, compared to Australia.  I was shown a studio apartment and a one bedroom apartment, and chose the latter.  A little more room.  I'm on the 22nd floor, fully airconditioned, broadband, satellite TV (well, 8 extra channels!), but most of all, it's comfortable.

A quick guided tour....

This is the living room and kitchen, which are pretty much the same room.  Washing machine, small fridge, hot plates, microwave and water cooler.  Will allow me to cook my own meals, when I'm home.

Bedrooom (with the hardest bed in - the - world!) and bathroom. There is a phone and broadband connection in the bedroom, and a great view out the window (see below).  Whenever we have a clear day (what, in Beijing? Never!) I will have a great view.

There you have it, in one simple blog entry.  My new home!  I know I have chosen the right place, because it was a great feeling coming back after 2 weeks on the road, unpacking, and relaxing.

Tune in next time to find out how my first Mandarin lesson went.