So for the past two days at around 630am some guys shows up across the hall to deliver a live chicken to the family (or whomever) that lives there. The first time I heard the wailing noise I had no idea what exactly it was, but I did think to myself, "whatever that is, it sounds like it is alive." Irrespective, it doesn't make noise for too long, so I am guessing Mr. Foghorn Leghorn gets a quick axe to the neck and thrown in a pot rather quickly. I think it is a tad strange that this family gets a live chicken delivered to what is a very middle class apartment building. They could run downstairs to the outside market or butcher and get a fresh killed one I am sure. Perhaps they are just traditionalists.
Since we have moved in the toilet in our bathroom has been suspect. Luckily, neither Jon nor I have had to christen it w/ a #2... that is until today. You guessed it, there are flushing issues w/ our toilet. The shower and the washing machine have great water pressure and pretty much work fine, but the toilet is a true underperformer. I had to go back to the rental office today and explain that it doesn't work and that in fact, it hasn't worked since we've moved in. Making a concerted effort to not raise my voice, assist Vivian in forming a response when she was looking for a English word that would be considered slightly advanced, all the while getting my point across that this was a completely unacceptable scenario has raised my blood pressure a bit today. Supposedly a repairman is coming to the apartment tonight around 9pm to fix the plumbing. We'll see if that happens or not. Either way, Vivian understands that she better be ready to pay us back a few days worth of rent if the situation is not rectified w/in the next 18 hours.
Shifting gears here, I would like to broadcast that I get an absolutely delicious breakfast for USD $0.28. For 2 CNY I get these fist-sized steamed dumplings from a street vendor type lady who is located on campus. I forget their proper name, but they are stuffed with a whole bunch of shredded veggies and little bit of meat. They are really good. Can't beat it.
I took some pictures today of an outdoor market that is located in a few alleyways between my apartment and the main road in our neighborhood. This place is real old school. The only thing that has changed on these little streets over the past few hundred years is that now you'll see some of the vendors and tenants wearing Nikes and using a cell phone... Other than that it is an authentic, filthy, small bazaar where you can buy everything from bananas (which I purchased and ate) to different meats on a stick, to eel and fish that are kept live in coolers, to freshly made noodles and so on and so on. I will load those pics up over the next couple of days.
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1 comment:
If it makes you feel any better, a family not too far from my house here in NC keeps a few chickens in a pen (coop?) in their front yard. Granted, their house falls under the "legacy" part of the neighborhood, but still... I'm sure they get very fresh eggs and chicken.
-Andrew
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