There is no day light savings time in China. In fact, the entire country is technically in the same time zone, Beijing time. So the far western reaches of China basically have part of their day as night and vice versa. It doesn't really affect as I, of course, live in Beijing. However, it is now only the mid-part of September and it is totally dark by 6:15pm. And it's only going to get worse. Granted days are getting shorter in the States too but not that early!
Tried to buy a pair of shoes today for the American Chamber Ball that I am going to on Saturday. It turned out to be a total disaster because the silly cashiers couldn't figure out how to use my debit/credit card. Now this is not particularly unusual in China. For some reason Visa/Mastercard work differently here...however, I've used every card I have at the store I was in. I've used them all in the grocery store as well as the department store portion. So tell me why couldn't I tonight! Grrr...The experience trying to find an appropriate cocktail dress was also a catastrophe. I have never seen so many ugly clothes in my entire life. Imagine every piece of lace, sparkling non-sense, and bows to the max all over a dress--that's formal wear in China. Not so cute. I also tried to have something made which didn't turn out so pretty either. I still can't figure out why I didn't bring a cocktail dress and shoes to China. I have tons of stuff that I like and most importantly CAN FIT INTO at home. The Chinese aren't exactly built like I am so shopping ends up as a self-esteem destroyer rather than booster.
In other news, the job is going. I've not been so effective as I keep having to wait on others to complete my tasks. I never knew it could take 5 weeks to translate 25 pages of a website or that just not responding to emails for two or three weeks was acceptable. Apparently, China takes the concept of things moving slow like they do in the South to the extreme.
Also my new friend, Jen, from Alabama, moved away this past weekend. She and her boyfriend are going to work in Oman at a university. Sounds scary to me. That has to be the worst part about being an expat. Everyone eventually leaves. I've made and lost more friends in the past 3 months than I have in the past 3 years.
Will write more later when life gets interesting again!
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