TUESDAY, MAY 26th - YA SHOW MARKET AND THEN HOME!!!

Last meal in China at airport


Last beer in China

Homeward bound

In English

Today gave a whole new meaning to the word "shopping". We got up around 8:00 a.m. and at breakfast, Astri and Lenny decided we had enough time for a quick trip to the Ya Show Market. She wanted to get a few more things to bring for her kids and Lenny just wanted to go for the fun of it! I almost let them go without me but caved in at the last second. After a half hour cab ride, we arrived at the market at around 10:00 a.m. and within one hour we had purchased an "I climbed the Great Wall" teeshirt for Len, a silk shirt for me to go with my new rust colored pants, 2 silk Chinese dresses for our daughters-in-law and Chinese shirts for our sons. With Astri's help and Lenny's new bargaining skills we got amazing prices. Len was told more than once that he was a tough bargainer. It's a big game between the customer and the seller. The game starts off by the seller saying "you my first customer, I give special price just for you" for example 850 yuan which is about $120.00 US. The customer must say, "no, much too expensive" and the seller then may say - "ok,ok, just for yhou 600 yuan" . Then the customer says "40 yuan" and hte seller says "you crazy, just for you "250 yuan" and so on until the customer walks away. If they don't follow you, you know your price is too low, if they give in easily right away, you know you have paid too mcuh. If you walk away and they say "80 yuan" and you originally offered 40 yuan and you settle on 50 or 60 or 70 yuan, you have made a good deal - everyone is smiling and each person feel that they have won! Some tourists certainly pay the $120.00 US but most bargain and get a little off. If you have a sister-in-law who lives in Beijing, she can say - "no no no 850 is way too much, I live in Beijing, I know what this should cost" and the seller says, "ok, what is your best price?" and when told the 40 yuan, there is a little hassle but the bargaining is over sooner and the result is terrific - from about $120.US down to about $7.00 US.

Since the cab was coming to the apartment for us at 12:30, we knew we had to be on our way back by 11:30 and we were in the cab by 11:40, back at the apartment by noon and down in the parking garage just in time.

Here is how the taxi works by their apartment. There are the black cabs which are independent and you bargain with them for a set price for your destination. Phil and Astri deal with Joe who owns 4 cars with drivers. He is very reliable. They always use the black cars when they go to the airport because they will come exactly on time to the garage area below their building so it is easy to take suitcases. They also use them when they are not sure where they are going because they will never leave them until they are in the right place. They are a little more expensive but not much. They try to take regular cabs wehn they know where they are going but sometimes it is difficult to pass by Joe and get into another cab - they want to stay on his good side.

I also want to describe the young security guards in their complex. On the path to and from their apartment there are four to five young guards dressed in formal uniforms who salute you with a crisp heel click - they are quite serious and formal and they stand their for many hours at the same post each day. One youn man, however, is always smiling. Hil and Astri stop and talk to him all the time and in this way he has learned a little English. He became our friend too - "good morning, you fine, I fine, have a good day" - salute and heel click and a big smile!

One other interesting story: A few nights ago, we went to bed with the a/c on and woke up sweating. In the morning we found out that they had lost their power because they hadn't added enough to their power account. Astri had to go to the office to give them cash to extend their service. They are basically living in a cash society. They have smart cards for their services such as gas, water and electricity. If they have a problem, they usually have to get Phil's secretary to call for them as their Chinese is not yet good enough to explain their situation. They also have swipe cards for busses, subways and taxis - almost no credit cards at all though they can use debit cards for certain things. I must say that we have been totally impressed with how well both Astri and Phil have done in learning the language. They are both amazing.

So, at precisely 12:30, we shlepped our 4 check-in bags (two new one) and 2 carry-ons down to the garage and there was our black cab waiting for us. we had negotiated our price of $15.00 US to go to the airport. In the car, we discussed the need to go to the Interantional terminal as we were going back to the USA and the driver nodded and we were off. After driving about 15 minutes, we ended up at the US Embassy - not the airport! Nothing we said could make the driver understand so he called Joe, got it straightened out and we were finally off to the right place. As soon as we pulled up, someone came to the car, loaded our bags on a trolly and accompanied us to check-in. We were well within the wieght limit for United, even with our extra two bags. With almost 3 hours to spare, we had a bite to eat and then headed to the gate. We passed through the temperature area - they are still obviously concerned about the flu. All employees are wearing masks. Got through security without a problem, played some cards and before we knew it they were calling our flight. I must say when we saw those American flight attendants speaking real English, it felt pretty good. O ordered a cup of tea and could actually get a piece of lemon and a diet sweetner for the first time in about 6.5 weeks! No matter whre we have traveled outside the US, no matter how much fun we have had, we are always so happy to come home. We never take our precious US citizenship for granted. This was a once in a lifetime trip and we have tales to tell for sure. We are glad to be coming home.

Beijing to Chicago - United (flight # 18)
Chicago to Tampa - United (flight #19)
Arrival time - 12:10 a.m. - May 27th!

It is totally amazing, that on all 19 flights, our luggage was always there waiting for us and there it was in Chicago and then again in Tampa. We loaded up our luggage cart and headed for the long term parking garage where Lynn Bornstein had parked our car for us two days earlier. We followed her flawless directions, found the car so easily and headed for home.

So, we are home! We don't know yet if it is day or night but we are so glad to be back in Lakewood Ranch - home sweet home! Lynn had stocked our fridge with milk, fruit, cottage cheese, cream cheese, grapes, strawberries. There was a welcome home note and a USA balloon on the counter. What more can one ask for. We are so grateful to have made such good friends here.

Now we will unpack, take a week to recoup and then we will go to meet our new grandson, Caleb and to see Hannah and Mariah and Michael and Kimberley. We will also go to Maryland to babysit for Noah and Eliana for a few days since their Nanny will be away and Matthew and Sara need some daytime help. Once we get home, we hope to stay put in Florida for the rest of the summer.