Eclipse, Ice Cream, Plane Tickets and Peaches

So as you may of heard, the longest solar eclipse was this past week on Wednesday. It passed over a large part of China, including around Shanghai. No, we did not get a view of a total eclipse in Beijing. In fact, we did not get ANY view of it. Stupid weather! It was just really over cast that day, so we could not even see the partial eclipse in Beijing. The sky went a little darker during the eclipse, but that is all we could tell. Apparently, if you had the patience, you could see a little bit of it through the clouds every few minutes, but I did not have that kind patience. We did see some videos on line of it, and it would be very cool to see in person. I have never been in an area that is even close to the eclipse, so It was a little sad that we could not see it at all. The next eclipse that is to pass over Canada is in 2024, including a bit of the total eclipse in Montreal. Road trip anyone?

Friday we decided we wanted to treat ourselves. We went to a Japanese restaurant close by, which is reasonably priced (Just over 7USD for the both of us). This is a treat to us, as often spend about 5 USD/day for food for the both of us. We just wanted to have some fun, and as long as we don't do it too much it is fine. But here is where we really treated ourselves. We decided to go to the Haagan Daz store there as well. In China, it is set up more like a cafe, with comfortable chairs, menus, ect. You just don't go in and get a cone to go, but sit and enjoy an amazing ice cream creation. We got one treat to share, and that one cost about 11USD!!!! It was really fancy and tasty and filling! Check out the picture and description at Lost in Manhattan! This is not something we do a lot, but it was fun.

So we are headed home, Chelsey on the 21st of August, and myself on the 29th. Chelsey has to fly before her 36 week, which is the 24th. We decided that I should work that last week, just to make sure that we have enough money to pay our rent while we are gone. We are also looking at the option of having someone 'house sit' for us, and then they could pay our rent. Whatever happens, we are headed home to take care of the baby and visa stuff. But believe you me, getting Chelsey's plane ticket was a hassle!!!! We were first going to send her on Air Canada, but the partner airline Air China that would get her to Vancouver does not let pregnant women fly past their 35 week (meaning, if you are at 35 weeks, you are not allowed on their airplanes). So we started looking for other flights, as we did not want to be separated for two weeks. We found on on China Eastern Air, that takes her to Vancouver, then a West Jet flight to Calgary. So we go to buy this ticket, and it refuses my credit card. I try calling both the website that was providing the ticket, and China Eastern, but I could not get a hold of the website people, and China Eastern air (at least their new york office) was less then helpful. They suggested I try calling the Vancouver number, which had a wrong number listed on their website.... go figure.
We called my dad, and had him buy the ticket for us. He had to try two different cards as well, but we finally go the ticket, as well as the conformation that it is bought. Hassle it was, but we got it done!

It is peach season in China. All the fruit vendors on the street are selling deliciously ripe peaces, most of them very large! We love fruit. And there is always something in China that is in season! YUMMMMM!!!!

What's cooking goodlooking?

Who would have known that you could do anything in a toaster oven that you can do in a standard oven? Not me. I would have thought the heating would not be even enough for baking. The things you learn when you are in a foreign country, without an oven, and you have a craving for moist rich chocolate cake or good old traditional biscuits and eggs for breakfast. Some friends from church who moved back to the U.S. sold us their toaster oven for really cheap and so we have been baking up a storm ever since. The toaster oven fits an 8'x8' pan (there abouts), which is about perfect for the two of us. We have seen some that are slightly bigger. Most expats in Beijing use toaster ovens to bake with. We managed to track down some baking powder and baking soda, thank goodness we are in Beijing and not in rural china, it is a little easier to find some familiar things here. We also found an enormous 3 kg bag of grated mozzarella cheese. So we have been indulging in all the foods that we miss from home. We have made lemon loaf, chocolate cake, biscuits and pizza all in a toaster oven. Chili burgers and enchiladas are on the menu and whatever else we get a craving for. Beijing has a great climate for baking cakes. They come out so moist and soft. Then again it could be the flour that makes the difference considering I have no idea what kind of flour I am using because the labels are all in Chinese. Even after we move back to Canada we might decide to keep a toaster oven around. Especially for those hot summer days. Toaster ovens don't heat up your house like a standard oven does and they use a lot less energy.

Go home or not?

This is a question we have been studying out for some time. We want to do what is best with all things considered. I have felt sad that our families would not be able to be there to share the joyous, miraculous feelings that newborns bring, especially considering she is the first grandchild on my side of the family. It would be something very special for both Mike and I. Beijing visa regulations are constantly influx. Near big holidays the rules tend to tighten and then loosen afterwards. During the Beijing Olympics they really tightened from what I have heard. Coming up soon in September is the 50 year anniversary of the Chinese revolution, pretty big deal in china. Visa regulations have already started to tighten. We are needing to change our visa status and considering the Chinese Revolution coming up it would be very difficult and expensive to get the visa status changed while remaining here in Beijing ( the capital city of all places). Needless to say our work is not willing to fork out that much money so they gave us two choices, both involve leaving the country in order to have the visa status changed. One: we can fly to Thailand and hang out there for a week or Two: we can fly back to Canada. If you were given that choice, which one would you choose? especially with a baby on the way. That is exactly what we are thinking! What a great chance! Why not take it! In what other circumstances would Mikes work allow him to take a two month vacation. But they were the ones that suggested it so why not!!!
What a chance is what we are thinking. Go home at the same time the baby is due, which is right before our current visa's expire, and be able to share the special moment with our families. We aren't officially announcing our coming home yet because things could change but not likely. It looks very promising that we will be coming home. God has blessed us so much, we feel so greatful. Thing have just worked out. It is the Lords hands and so we have confidence that what ever happens will be for the best!

An update on the bean

So Chelsey has entered in her third and final trimester, Monday will be the 29th week.

Chelsey is happy because she is finally looking pregnant rather than 'plump'. Her belly button is becoming an 'outie', soon to pop. If she is laughing or coughing, her belly button pops in and out. It is actually quite funny to see! Bean is also getting stronger, and sometimes Chels asks bean not to sit in some spot - she does not usually listen right away... something we will have to work on later!

Beijing is getting HOT!!!!! We are frequently hitting 40C or more, and stays around 30ish during the night. At least there is a breeze most evenings that cools things off a bit, but our first purchase of next payday is a fan (or two). Other good news is that the buildings we work in all have A/C. We also have it at home, but we are just too cheap to use it very often. Many parts of China use a 'pay as you go' system with electricity, and it is kind of nerve-wracking watching the money go down so fast when you use it. To give you an idea, on average we use about 5 units a day of electricity (I think its 1RMB/unit, or about 0.15USD). If you have the A/C on, you use that in a mater of minutes - and that is having it set about 26C. So if you have it on for a few hours, you can just go watch the numbers move quickly towards 0.

Work has gotten our visa stuff started, and we went up to a clinic up in the north west corner of Beijing to do a health check. They took blood, height, weight, checked eyes, ears and throat, heart (including an EKG) and blood pressure, as well as a chest X-Ray. Chelsey did not have to do the chest X-Ray as she is pregnant. Essentially, there were four or five doors, and you just go to one, then the next - there is no order to the way you have to get it done, as long as you get to all five doors, and takes about 40 minutes total - including filling out the forms, paying, ect. This clinic is the only spot that we are allowed to do it in all of Beijing, which is really stupid because there are about 3 hospitals within spitting distance of our apartment, but to get to this clinic it took over an hour each way to get there. Stupid way to spend a day off, but it is something that we had to do. It was easy, just ate up a lot of the day.

Not much else going on. We hope that everyone had a good Canada Day (or a good July 4 for our American friends!) One thing we miss is BBQ! It's just a little hard to do it when you don't have a balcony. At least there is Chuar! Yummy meat skewers roasted over coals. They are dirt cheap and available all over - usally only costing 1-1.5 RMB/Chuar. Most of it is lamb, so Chels does not eat a lot of them, because she prefers the beef or chicken ones - neither of which are readily available near our home. She does like the Man Tou slices (steamed buns that are skewered, roasted and seasoned). This is making me hungry... I think I'll end there and go get some Chuar!

Mikey