The Gate

I know my gate closes at midnight. I learned that the first time I was locked out. But, some girls were going to watch a movie late on Saturday night and I really wanted to go. I knew I would be out past midnight but I went anyway.
Also on Saturday the American friend who used to live in the apartment where I live now was back in town. I asked him how he got in and out because I know he stayed out late. He said he would just climb over. I asked him how this was possible with all the spikes at the top, but he informed me that on the far right side, where the gate connects to the building it is really easy to climb over. He also informed me that the gate guard keeps the keys to the small gate-with-in-the-gate on the window sill. You can climb over, get the keys, unlock the gate, bring your bike through, lock the gate back, return the keys and sleep in your own bed.
I don't really believe him, but I really want to hang out and watch the movie so I decide to go and figure out how to get in my house when I get home. I arrive about 1 am and of course it's locked. I see a keychain-looking-thing on the windowsill and decide at this point I don't really have another option besides sleeping at someone else's house. I leave my bike on the outside and start the ascent. It really was very easy, just like he said. But, the thing on the windowsill was not the keys to the gate. Now I'm on one side and my unlocked bike is on the other. Back over the gate. I take my bike to the next building over, whose gate isn't locked in hopes that if I park it there it won't get stolen. A third time up and over and I'm in my house and able to sleep in my own bed, hoping my bike will still be there in the morning.
I don't want to make a habit of gate-climbing, but it is nice to know I know have this option after 3 successful attempts. And my bike was safe and sound the next morning.

Why I Love the Concierge Staff of the Phoenix Hotel Inner Mongolia

1. They know everything. (Probably not, but pretty close). It doesn't matter what the nature of my question is, they always have an answer. Work related things, they of course can help me with, but even things like where to buy used TVs, how to hire a handyman, or where the best fresh produce is...they know. Most of them are locals, so they are my go-to guys for everything.
2. They are patient with my pathetic language skills. When we are not actively helping someone, we stand in the lobby near the front doors greeting guests and chatting. We try to chat. Two years without formal Chinese study is evident in these times. They see my eyebrows begin to furrow and my head begin to tilt in an expression of confusion and they already have started an alternate word choice or method of explanation for whatever it is we were talking about. They are willing to explain things multiple times and not give up until we have somehow managed to communicate. They also will listen intently to the mess of words I put together with terribly incorrect tones until somehow (divine inspiration?), they figure out what I was trying to say.
3. They are kind and helpful. Not only professionally with our guests, but they are all just great individuals. Almost all of them have offered to personally help me in one way or another. With my recent visa issues ZW has asked every single day for updates on the situation and sincerely expressed hope that things will work out. On Tuesday HW volunteered to be my handyman and fix some things at my house on his day off. I kept refusing telling him I just need to find out how to hire one. He then gave me a list of all the reasons he should help me. Some of them included: he has lived in my neighborhood for 23 years so he knows where to buy all the tools or anything we would need. He's my coworker and we have a good relationship so I should have no reason to be embarrassed to ask him for help with small things. Living here and living in at home in America must feel so different and feel so far away and if he can make it feel any more like home here, then he has an obligation to do so.
I'm telling you, these guys are nice.
4. They are so fun! One of these guys was the first one up the bungee jump platform during our trip to Beijing. The manager of the department rallied a bunch of guys to participate in the mechanical bull riding, timing each one as a competition, which he later won. When our words aren't communicating clearly enough, none of them are ashamed to act things out in the middle of the marbled-floor lobby of our fancy hotel.
I really do love my job here and having such great coworkers makes it even more enjoyable!

pictures

traveling with coworkers

The hotel arranged for all the staff to travel to some tourist sites in Beijing. My group went over the weekend. I had SO MUCH FUN! It was my first experience to travel in China, with Chinese people, traveling China-style, complete with our tour guide carrying a flag and our travel agency issued yellow hats.
We left EARLY Saturday morning to drive the 7 ish hours there. It turned out to be longer because we sat parked on the interstate for a good hour and half. Who knows why.
The first stop was the Great Wall. I had been before, but not to this portion of it and it's always just as impressive as the first time. It was WINDY and cold, but still fun to take a million pictures with the other staff. We were all cold so we didn't stay long.
We went from there to a zoo. It was a drive-thru zoo where the animals are not in cages and you sit in a tram like thing and listen to the tour guide introduce each animal.
From there we went to have dinner and then an after-dinner party. This was an outdoor bonfire/dancing/karaoke/fireworks party. At this point, I was so tired I just wanted it to be time to go to sleep. One thing that cracked me up about the dancing...you know how we have "dances" that are like starting the lawnmower or a sprinkler or other motions from life? Well, their version of that was to "pull noodles." I was definitely enterntained by that cultural similarity, but with a twist.
Finally, time for sleep. I stayed with 3 other ladies, only 1 of whom I knew well so it was good to chat and laugh with them.
The next day was my favorite. We went to a place called Long Qing Gorge or Valley or something. I'm not sure how to translate. It was really beautiful, but definitely a tourist trap kind of place. When you first arrive there is a huge dragon escalator that takes you up the mountain so you don't even have to hike. This place is complete with: a boat tour, bungee jumping, zipline, ski lift, temples, souvenir shops, two men riding a bike across a tightrope strung between two mountains, an electric bull, a bobsled type thing to ride down the mountain, and horseback riding back to the parking lot. Whew! A long and fun day!
We ate a late lunch and started back for home. I had really good conversation on the ride home, but was definitely frustrated with my lack of ability to communicate about issues that are important to me or to be able to clearly answer questions about America. 2 days of nothing but Chinese was mentally taxing and a reminder of how much I need to be finding a tutor and getting back into formal study.
We got home about 10:30, exhausted, and I had to be at work the next morning. Back to normal life.
Enjoy the pictures!

Fall is here

I think on Sunday it officially became fall. It was pretty chilly and I don't think it's going to get warm again. The only problem with fall is that it's one season closer to winter. I don't like that it's early September and I've already had to start taking a jacket for the bike ride home in the evenings. I know, I need to not think about the frigid-ness that is to come, and enjoy the pleasant, cool, brisk mornings and evenings while they are here.