Moving tomorrow

I saw this sign in the bathroom in my clients’ building today. “Do not work if ill.” That’s good advice, because you don’t want to projectile vomit all over your co-workers. Just think of the ribbing you’ll get in the company newsletter! Har har!

I got the keys for the house today. I’m not having second thoughts, but reality is always more anxiety-inducing than imaginary fantasy existence where everything’s perfect in my funky new house.

Now my life is again overcome with mundane tasks – buying sheets, setting up the broadband, finding light bulbs and on and on. Since I just did all of these chores less than a year ago in New York, it’s a drag to do it again. Plus there’s no Bed, Bath and Beyond here. And even if there was, I don’t know the Mandarin words for “bed,” “bath” or “beyond.”

I also noticed some things about the house that I previously missed. For instance the appliance I thought was the world’s smallest, strangest oven is actually the world’s smallest, strangest dishwasher. It’s maybe the size of a shoe box and features just two buttons mysteriously labeled “K1” and “K2.” Luckily, what the dishwasher lacks in capacity or features it makes up for in zany bright lights that flash continuously when you turn it on.

The whole country gets next week off due to some celebration of our socialist workers’ paradise. In exchange for this time, tomorrow and Sunday are WORK DAYS. It’s not just my company, the whole country gets screwed. I don’t have any big plans for the holiday. Andy is coming down from Beijing on Saturday – it will be good to hang out and see a familiar face. I think we'll just relax, eat, take pictures of peasant women pushing carts and see the Shanghai landmarks.

Then next Thursday we're going to Beijing. I think we'll just relax, eat, take pictures of peasant women pushing carts and see the Beijing landmarks.

I will post pictures of the dishwasher later to see if anyone can help me figure out the mystery of “K1” and “K2.” Also, the 672 settings on the dial of my washer/dryer are only in Chinese. Another job for my crack translation team?