Breakfast with Allison

May 19, 2007 Saturday

There are a group of people here, who work for the English Language Institute. This is an organization that provides English teachers to universities all over China and Tibet. (perhaps more places, but that is what I know about.) Chuck and I met them in the supermarket across the street.

Today I went out for breakfast with Allison. She is Canadian and she and her husband have been in China and Tibet from the early 90’s. They have an adopted Chinese daughter, Emily who is 11. Allison suggested that we go to the newly opened Hilton hotel, because she had never been there to eat. The first plan was to take the bus, which I was quite excited about, but she rethought it. It would take too long to get there by bus because it is on the other side of Hefei. We taxied instead. We had the continental breakfast with LATTES.

We had a fine time. It was great to talk fast English with another woman. For her, it was probably fun to talk to someone different. She home schools her daughter with another woman who also has an adopted Chinese daughter the same age. This makes it good for all. The two women can share the responsibilities and the girls have a both a schoolmate and a playmate.

Allison had been in Hefei when Emily was small. Emily had gone to the Kindergarten school that I visited. Then they went away (back to Canada and to Tibet for 2 years). Emily lost her Chinese so could not return to the schools here. Allison said that the changes in Hefei have been remarkable. She remembers when the first MacDonald’s came, and when Carrefour got here. Now, they are looking forward to Wal-Mart. It is being built right across the street from the Hilton. This seems a little strange – because the Hilton is a 5 star hotel (really really posh). But she said that the area had been really crummy, because it is close to the train and bus stations. Now it is being gentrified.

(1 flight to the second floor to the Ladies’ room – very lovely and marble!)

We took the elevator to the 26^th floor to the terrace. They have an inside pool. We were not able to find out how much it would cost to swim. It is free for guests, but the attendant didn’t understand that we are outsiders.

Chuck had to make his own lunch – a very difficult task for him. Getting premade tuna fish out of the fridge and putting it on bread are difficult tasks. He was so tired after teaching and making lunch that he napped all afternoon. (4 flights)

Marie called from Paris. She is very busy with her life there and planning a trip to the south of France to visit with her husband’s sister.

We went to Meng Cheng for dinner. We haven’t been there since Mother’s day so didn’t figure that it would be too embarrassing. We were still greeted very warmly

Just one bride in the lobby, but the wedding took up the whole 1^st floor, so we were seated on the 2^nd. (1 flight) then we had to go back downstairs to the food room to order. (1 flight)

For cold dishes we had the radish tower and something in aspic. Then we had 5 spices beef with onions, frogs legs, stuffed peppers and dumplings.

Home again. (4 flights) Chuck is watching a Chinese serial that is on every night. It looks like Shanghai maybe during WW II. He is very interested in it, but can’t tell which are the good guys and which are the bad. It is very confusing.

11 flights