Christmas shopping {China-style}

I have mentioned how different grocery shopping is so many times that I am sure that you might be a little sick of it. But humor me for the sake of a good story.....

Saturday, Becca and I were out and about accomplishing various tasks -- post office (which was an experience in itself and probably deserves its own post), Christmas shopping, and of course, the grocery store. This week we are hosting all the managers that work at Andy's company for Christmas dinner. I have made turkey the past several years and we wondered if they were getting sick of it. He asked them and one of the managers piped up that he would like something else. But since that meeting, we have heard rumors that everyone except that person wanted turkey. Because that manager was older and respected, no one contradicted him. Andy, being the blunt-American that he is, asked everyone to vote who DID want turkey (to which most people said yes). I had thought that I would get out of making a turkey, but due to popular demand, I will be making turkey AND another meat. Ok, that was a crazy-long-digression about why I was even on the hunt for a turkey! In previous years, I have found the turkey on the other side of the city (home of all the import stores). But Izumiya, my Japanese grocery store that I love has come through for me again. They had 2 turkeys and I bought the larger of the 2. I thought this was the perfect opportunity since B and I had e-biked and I wouldn't have to lug the 15-pound bird the couple blocks home. However, we had done some other shopping which left us having to figure out where to put the bird so it would not fall or slide off the e-bike in the transit. 

Can you guess where it is? I will give you a clue.... it is NOT in either of the bags.

It took Becca and I several tries to get it in. After we did, we danced and around and rejoiced in the bike parking lot. I am sure that others were amused by the crazy foreigners.

To top off the story, our e-bike was just about out of power (which of course, I didn't discover until we were en route). Once before when this happened, I made Becca get off and run beside the bike as we went up a small incline. Another time it completely died and I had to push it home. Thankfully, this time we had enough power to get home. But I did have to Fred-Flintstone it to make it across an intersection in enough time. Then I had to explain to B who Fred Flintstone is and why I was calling it that. 

And this is why even just going to the grocery store can be an adventure.....

My ride

Friends of ours have been back in US for a while and I have been borrowing their e-bike. They are coming back tomorrow and [gasp] I will have to give it back! Andy has already conceded the inevitable -- there is an e-bike in our very near future. And I have been pondering exactly what I want in a bike. But above you can see the kids and I after eating out with friends. I must say that while it is really common to have more than 1 person on a bike (actually, who are we kidding, it is really common to have more than 2), the 3 blondes kind of take it to the next level. And we get quite the looks with all 4 of us on the bike. Now before you get super worried about me transporting all the kids this way, it is not like being on a bike in the US. Most roads have a special bike lane and the cars are just much more used to watching for bikes. All that being said, I still only have a very limited radius that I will take all the kids on the bike with me (1-2 blocks). So I have gone from a minivan to this. Quite the change, don't you think?

Morning Communte

Just another morning commute for all of these people (this photo was taken as I was waiting for the bus). . .

Even though there are more and more people driving cars in China, the bike and e-bike are still the most popular ways to get around. Did you know that there are estimated more than 120 million e-bikes used in China? Isn't that crazy?! It is estimated that there are about 200,000 e-bikes used in all of the United States. I have read that between 700,000 and 800,000 e-bikes are used in Beijing alone. This number is hard to gauge because there is no license required to operate them. I have been pondering buying one. But in the meantime, I have been borrowing a friend's while they are back in the U.S.. Can you imagine me (with several kids) on one of these?

WHAT is that on the bike?

When you need to transport something and you don't have a car, what do you do? Clearly, you transport using what you have. Can you see what this man is carrying on the back of his bike? A tank containing goldfish and small goldfish bowls. He is ready to park somewhere and sell his fish! As long as they make it to the destination without sloshing over the edge. :-)

Dive bomber

As we were on the top of the Bell Tower, it provided a great view of traffic. At this traffic circle, the bikes would generally cross at the crosswalk and then continue on in the bike lane. Now this is not always the case. In Suzhou, bikes and e-bikes seem to be in the thick of traffic a bit more. But in the center of Xi'an, it seemed that most bikes were staying in the bike lane, except. . .

But there were some rebels that took on the full traffic experience. Now it is a common sight to see more than one person on a bike or e-bike. And I have seen the person on the back doing all kinds of things: putting on make-up, holding an umbrella, . . . But I think if I was the woman on the back of this bike, I would be paying attention and not texting. But maybe that is just me.

Rain or shine

One thing that struck me when we first got to China was the sheer number of bikes and e-bikes that are used. Now this is not like in the U.S. where people are trying to be "green" and conserve on fuel. For most people this is their only transportation (and really the family vehicle). With that being said, people ride rain or shine. No fair weather riders here! Just because it is raining, you still need to get to work or grocery shop. The Chinese, being the inventive and practical people they are, wear huge poncho-like things that fit over the person and over the whole front of the bike. These are appropriately called: 雨皮肤 (rain skin, pronounced: yu pi).

A whole gaggle of e-bikes. I particularly like the 雨皮肤 that have slots for the mirrors to stick out. Somehow they make me think of cute bugs with antennae. Yes, I know that I am silly!

A bike, well sort of

The other day I realized that there is much about China that I take for granted and haven't really shared with you. So, every now and then I am going to "play tourist" and try to share various things. The "things on a bike" category has so much potential, but I often do not have my camera with me or even ready and then the opportunity is gone. Believe it or not, this is a bike. If you look closely, you can see the front bike tire. This 3-wheeled bike has been modified into a family vehicle. My favorite part is the fringe.

Things on a bike

I have a game that I like to play.... I like to find the person carrying the most unusual thing on a bike or electric scooter. Let me tell you, I have seen some REALLY crazy things! Or another twist to this, is to find the most people on a bike. Unfortunately, most times I don't have the camera with me. Yesterday on the way to church we saw this:

He is carrying at least 2 large flower arrangements. Here is the view from the front:

My question is, how in the world can he see? Let me just say, I am so impressed by the bike skills that most Chinese possess. I am happy if I can make it home from the grocery store with 2-3 bags! Necessity truly is the mother of invention.