That's just what you do

My newest  adult student is Rita. 30 year old, married Chinese lady with a newly born American son. Both her and her husband (an engineer) are Chinese. You ask how this is possible...well let me tell you. She was 7 months pregnant when she went to LA along with her 6 other pregnant Chinese friends (how are you even able to board an international flight being that far along is beyond me). They worked and shopped under a 6 month work/tour visa respectively until they all popped out their kids with U.S. birth certificates. They were allowed to stay a few months longer after giving birth (I have no idea how that's even possible) at which point they all flew back to China. Most of them cannot speak English nor are they trying to learn, except Rita. Rita works for a film production company in Shanghai and is very anti-China. She only buys and uses foreign products. She's working on her English so that her American son can be in an “American” feeling environment. I'm not sure about the legalities of this but its truly insane, in my opinion, for people to go to these extremes for a US citizenship.

During our first few classes we've discussed everything from bottles, teething rings, formula feeding, to what to buy for diaper rash, and “how can he get free education in middle school?”. I know what you're thinking. All of this is wrong for so many reasons and on so many levels. I told her during my first English session with her, “I don't have kids and I might not be a good reference on this topic”. Her reply “you are American and you were a baby, right?”. I could not argue both of those facts. I then told her that I believed you needed to be a taxpayer to get in on that free education (tried to explain in my horrible Chinese). To which she replies, “my son has a US birth certificate so that should be fine”. Again I could not argue, because I'm not a lawyer and I have no idea. Rita is very happy, smart and loves LA (I should've been more suspicious of this before). I tell her that I think she would need to research her options as far as the future for her son. I don't feel comfortable giving her my input. She cheerfully tells me “but I'm asking. I can listen to it or not listen”. Once again, valid point. I try to practice everyday English conversations and it somehow its turned into us shopping on amazon.com and her drilling me on the newest baby toy or cartoon or whatever American/baby thing she thinks she needs.

Its crazy to me that there are probably hundreds of babies in this situation. Parents patiently waiting for their kids to turn 21 in order to apply for and get a US passport.  The things people with money will do.

How am I still being surprised by this place? Cause its China. It's like no other.

~Anne
 

Skinny jeans and Leggings as pants

I've been that person wearing skinny jean and leggings as pants outside in public. The 1st time was an accident (I was tired and rushed out without putting my skirt on). After that I realized that my sweaters* where big and long enough and no one could tell or really cared. Besides grown ass people are walking around in matching flannel teddy bear/hearts/colorful pajamas with church shoes...I think I'm ok.

*I have a guy that I go to for sweaters once every few weeks. He sets up just outside the cheap street market selling stuff out of very large trash bags that smell like lavender and lemon for $2 USD- $8USD. I don't judge and the sweaters are nice. He calls me hei mao, black cat . I think because of my ninja like moves as I look through his bags . I call him laji bao shu shu, trash bag uncle, and he seems to enjoy it for some strange reason.

Anyway a few months ago the weather started changing and it hit me that I was not prepared. I could have quickly had some things made for cheap, but I somehow ended up at Uniqlo and Forever 21. Uniqlo had a sale on EVERYTHING. I got 2 sweaters, a vest, and 4 pairs of skinny jeans (that I might add look good on me) for 500RMB approx. $80USD. Soon after, I popped over to Forever 21 with my friend because so many Chinese people will not shut up about it finally coming to china I walked into this 6 story insane metropolis that is full of people. I ask my friend why the hell does Forever 21 have 6 floors? She said "I don't know, but lets start from the top and work our way down". So we did. I didn't do much damage...5 leggings, 4 shirts (for layering friends, I hate big coats. Plus its no Chicago winter here hahaha), and scarf. All for a grand total of 160RMB approx. $25USD. Stores in China seemed to had recently discovered REAL SALES and discounts. Now if we could only get a Target or TJMaxx up in here...dangerous.

Anne's missing you all :)

Happy New Year

"Life is like a camera,
Just focus on what's important and capture the good times,
develop from the negative and if things don't work out,
just take another shot.” 

I'm not going to over analyze 2012 or set crazy expectations for this year. I'm just going to keep trucking on. I'm busy with the school and private students. My goal is trying to save money and pay off debts...

Moving forward is my only focus. Dealing with the headache of Joe being absurdly busy and his family extremely crazy, I decided that I can't change things that I have no control over. So no more stressing out about that.

I'm going to work on going to the spa more and get back into shape. I've seem to have somehow been hanging out with the roommate in the mix of frustration/absence of Joe and that's insane. Ivanne came to me a few weeks ago and said that she wants to be a better person. I said ummm ok and then she asked me what she can do. I asked her why she she thought that I could answer this question for her. She exclaims that I seem to have it together. I laugh at her and say nothing is ever as it seems I tell her that I had 12 years on her to learn how to do things. I'm always learning and making mistakes. She says that she wants to do something with her life, but not sure where to start or what to do. I tell her that she can start from there and that no one can give her the answers. I told her that she needs to stop being so damn lazy if she wanted some advice. That was as much as I was going to provide. Hell, no one is mapping things out for me. I'm taking one day at a time too.

Anne is still in China...