26 March 2011
Greetings all from almost Spring in Shenyang!
I'd like to welcome some new people who just got added to "the list" of this update. Seems it's getting rather popular! Just to set the record straight..I feel no pressure! I write these things spontaneously..whatever comes out comes out...I rarely edit!
We've been here almost 1 year...our visas are now renewed we're good for another year. Hard to imagine we've been here a year already!
When I last wrote, I was getting ready to hit the road and before I left, I had bought some fabrics to have some blouses made...they turned out beautifully!
Silk blouses made for me and ready when I came back to town!
It is almost spring here in Shenyang...lots of sunshine and 46 deg F today. I think everyone is out and about, and we were out with them! Today, we went to a part of town where we've been before, but never to just look and shop. It's called "Middle street" and it has some nice shops and stores and a huge upscale mall.
 |
| The Mall at Zhong Jia in Shenyang |
Mall on Zhong Jia (Middle street) in Shenyang. Yes, those are marble floors and it's still very clean!
On of the other very interesting things inside this mall was the bathroom. Many of you have heard us tell that the bathrooms here in Shenyang are not good...not clean and smell horrible...well, today, I found a wonderful exception. Clean bathroom ...and it had toilet paper! Rod went into the men's room and came saying he "saw a first"! Now coming out of a toilet and hearing that I admit, I was almost afraid to ask...well, almost! When he told me, I sent him back in to get a photo! Check out the "kiddie toilets" in the mens room...they didn't have these in the women's side...
 |
| Rodney in awe of the little toilet in the mall |
Check out the size of the kiddie toilet in the Zhong Jia Mall men's room!
It's always interesting to see things on the Middle street where the mall is...
 |
| Rod trying his hand at sweeping the pedestrian walkway on Middle street (he said the broom didn't quite fit his hand!) |
The brooms are all hand made with lots of twigs...nothing goes to waste here! The most amazing thing I've seen is the people who sweep the streets...with these brooms! People buzzing by in cars and trucks etc...and there these people are sweeping the streets seemingly oblivious.
Right down the way from the broom was a construction site on the Zhong Jia. Some of you all know that my previous job with Michelin was in the Health and Safety area...well, suffice to say that this sling would not have passed inspection in our manufacturing plants...but here it just keeps on giving...
 |
| Worn out sling at an active construction site here in Shenyang |
A sling that should have long been out of service ("when the red is showing, it's time to throw it away" is the OSHA rule) I'm sure there is an equivalent rule here in China...but enforcement is, shall we say...a bit lax...or maybe it's that since they couldn't see any red, it's OK...they obviously couldn't see the red...because it was too greasy to see any red!) Let's just hope that bucket doesn't drop on someone working below when this thing is in service!
 |
| Sarah on the Zhong Jia in Shenyang |
Still late winter here in Shenyang, but spring is on the way, shopping on the Zhong Jia (middle street)
That's about all for this week.
Thanks for all the prayers and emails. We really do enjoy hearing from you!
Rod & Sarah
No comments:
Post a Comment