santa, why are you still here?

When I was here in Beijing over Christmas, the city did not lack for Christmas decorations-- trees, cardboard Santa cutouts, lights-- but there didn't seem to be a celebration because no one understood what to celebrate for Christmas. People here don't know the Christmas story of Jesus and the manger and I don't think people have any idea who "Santa" is supposed to be. Santa Claus loses his meaning in translation with his Chinese name meaning basically Christmas Old Guy (圣诞老人, sheng dan lao ren).  But I'm not kidding when I say most stores here have a picture of Santa taped on their front doors even today. My office building lobby still has a giant Christmas tree and Santa pictures on every floor. When will Santa leave China?

I don't think people know that Santa already came bringing gifts and left. He's back in the North Pole by now. These are a few pictures I took this morning of Santas on doors right outside my apartment (grocery store, dry cleaners, internet bar, another store) Notice how all the Santas look the same-- like everyone in the city ordered from the same catalog. 

i'm going to have to cut down on my illegal activities

I found an apartment! And I've moved in though there was a bit of drama before I could actually sign the lease. My Chinese friend and coworker, Rebecca, helped me look for places to make sure that I got a good deal from the landlord. We looked at what felt like a hundred places before I finally found a place that I actually liked. I met the girl who lived there before and she informed the landlord that I wanted the place. He was not so sure about letting a foreigner move in and said he'd have to meet me in person. If my Chinese language skills were not good enough and he didn't think he could communicate with me, he wouldn't let me have it. So, I studied vocab all morning that I thought would impress him and it worked! He was a nice guy and I signed the lease with my Chinese name (台美芮). His wife was not so nice. She told me that I looked really fat in my passport photo. Thank you?

Anyway, the day I moved in I noticed that there is a police station attached to the bottom of my apartment building. Normally I'd be glad because that might mean less crime in the area, but I'm more afraid of police than I am of anyone else in China!

-mk

breakfast bao zi

I wake thinking about this stuff and rarely forego buying some bao zi for breakfast on my way to work. This picture is of a bao zi stand near my office. I'm still searching for my favorite place. This lady makes the vegetable filling bao zi with a little too much garlic for my liking in the morning.

I can eat 10 of the rou bao (breaded bao zi dumplings stuffed with pork and onions) by myself.

-mk

recognize these restaurants?

I didn't think so. I was riding my bike around the city when I saw these two random stores next to each other. They didn't even bother changing the logo colors!

-mk

funny Chinese signs: crack on aisle 9

This is by far my favorite Chinglish sign I've seen so far courtesy of the local supermarket by my boss's apartment (where I'm living at the moment while he's out of the country). Here's what it actually is...

chips. Trust me, don't ever try the Cheetos with the picture of the chicken or steak on the front. No need to thank me.

-mk