It’s SATURDAY; and a sunny warm day it is too! Chuck had to tutor and then he had something that he had to do this afternoon so Nate and I have been hanging out here at the apartment. After I did the laundry and spent an hour doing some Incubator music ministry work, I went to the market…Gongren Street Market and you know that you go someplace a lot when you get waves and smiles from the vendors! LOL What can I say, I like my shopping but today I didn’t go to shop so much as just to get outside and enjoy the day. Nate had a list of things that he wanted to accomplish here in the apartment and he made that list last night and was sticking to it so I went by myself. I did get lunch out and both an ice tea then I took a walk in the park next to the market, I didn’t want to go back inside yet. In the park I was drawn by the sounds of the er hu 二胡 a two stringed traditional Chinese instrument. My tutor told me that I will have to say er hu as there is no word for it in the English language. I also saw two other instruments that I’ve not seen before one looked like a banjo and the other was some types of wind instrument. My tutor loves music so I’m sure she will be able to help me out here. I have pictures of the musical instruments so if you know please let me know. Anyway between eating lunch (meat pie and tea) and the park with the music I stopped and got an ice cream. Everyday it is an adventure to see what type of ice cream as red bean filled ice cream looks similar to chocolate coated ice creams. Today it was chocolate. The center was yellow custard with chocolate coating over it, then vanilla ice cream with another layer of chocolate. I didn’t mind the heat or walking around because I was REALLY enjoying that ice cream.
I had a seat near the music and just sat and enjoyed the music, at first I didn’t care much for traditional singing but it has grown on me. I can’t say I love all traditional singing, but today the music group had a singer and I enjoyed her singing very much. After taking pictures and video I decided to walk back to the market and get a tea to drink on the way home. I asked for heqizheng herbal tea 和其正 a new favorite of mine. The first time I had this was when we got off the plane in Beijing 9 months ago. It comes in a bottle that is similar in shape to a coke bottle and it is the same shade of dark carmel as coke and not reading Chinese I got it thinking it was coke. It’s not and I was not happy at all because it can’t be mistaken for coke once you try it. Fast forward to now and I’m liking the taste, amazing what 9 months will do for your taste buds. Anyway the vendor, someone I’ve seen often at the market just stood there and looked at me when I asked for this drink I have gotten lots of drink at his stand, but this was the first time I’d asked for a Chinese beverage (this is actually the same place that Chuck got sugar cane juice from in the fall) I had to ask again and tell him that I liked the taste before he would get me the drink. On my way home from the market, I stopped into Gaga, a women’s clothing store that I’ve been wanting to try since we got to Zhengzhou in August. I can now say that I tried something on in that store, but I don’t think I will be back anytime soon. Number one, I really do have enough clothes and number two there are parts of my body that I would like to slim down before I get more clothing, perhaps this fall I’ll take a plunge again and buy something for fall there.
Well, I’m home now Nate is playing a computer game with his friends online and I need to start dinner soon. Last night we went out to dinner at the restaurant across the street from our apartment and tonight since it will just me Nate and I, I’ll throw something together.
I had a seat near the music and just sat and enjoyed the music, at first I didn’t care much for traditional singing but it has grown on me. I can’t say I love all traditional singing, but today the music group had a singer and I enjoyed her singing very much. After taking pictures and video I decided to walk back to the market and get a tea to drink on the way home. I asked for heqizheng herbal tea 和其正 a new favorite of mine. The first time I had this was when we got off the plane in Beijing 9 months ago. It comes in a bottle that is similar in shape to a coke bottle and it is the same shade of dark carmel as coke and not reading Chinese I got it thinking it was coke. It’s not and I was not happy at all because it can’t be mistaken for coke once you try it. Fast forward to now and I’m liking the taste, amazing what 9 months will do for your taste buds. Anyway the vendor, someone I’ve seen often at the market just stood there and looked at me when I asked for this drink I have gotten lots of drink at his stand, but this was the first time I’d asked for a Chinese beverage (this is actually the same place that Chuck got sugar cane juice from in the fall) I had to ask again and tell him that I liked the taste before he would get me the drink. On my way home from the market, I stopped into Gaga, a women’s clothing store that I’ve been wanting to try since we got to Zhengzhou in August. I can now say that I tried something on in that store, but I don’t think I will be back anytime soon. Number one, I really do have enough clothes and number two there are parts of my body that I would like to slim down before I get more clothing, perhaps this fall I’ll take a plunge again and buy something for fall there.
Well, I’m home now Nate is playing a computer game with his friends online and I need to start dinner soon. Last night we went out to dinner at the restaurant across the street from our apartment and tonight since it will just me Nate and I, I’ll throw something together.