My journey is almost at an end and I think that it is about time. I had a wonderful day today and intend to tell you all about it in this email.
My Great Uncle and Aunt left today. I hugged my Uncle he said that he loved me before scuttling away extremely quickly with what I suspected was a tear in his eye. It was a sad but a necessary goodbye, as I think any more time together would have left us less than friends.
I crawled back into bed and slipped in and out of a wonderful hazy sleep until 11, when I roused myself to prepare for A Mee’s 12 o’clock arrival (we had planned with Qu Ping at breakfast that that was when she was to come). When I looked up in the lobby I saw her and Leon’s smiling faces making their way briskly towards me and I had not a clue what to expect. We had not been left alone without a translator before and A Mee’s mouth usually runs like a joyful tap. I have not met anyone besides her mother who has so much to say. She pointed to her phone which read “do you mind if we communicate using this?” on her translator app. I replied that of course, I didn’t and had a little chuckle at the sweetness. We walked for lunch at A Mee’s house which was, as usual, an enormous spread. I was forced to eat the majority of the fish, which after a very large breakfast and a nap felt like a monumental, but not unenjoyable task.
After lunch A Mee led me to the sofa in the living room where I asked if they had WiFi. I intended to conduct some interviews in this somewhat challenging context and was prepared for an uphill battle. Little Leon and his mother sat with me on their couch, translating online and in real life the questions that I had typed out for them. They had the patience of saints and English words began to form more easily in their mouths towards the end. It was extremely interesting to hear their perspectives in contrast to those of the older generation. In fact, at one point I mentioned that my Great Auntie Rosie married a coloured person and it was all hell to pay and A Mee had rolled her eyes and said “oh yeh so bad”, indicating to me that they were well, well past that sort of thinking. It wasn’t what my research needed, but Leon also chipped in to say “as long as I love the person it does not matter” which was a personal highlight.
On the walk to lunch already I had requested that I get my nails done. This was something that I knew I would only be able to do once the older members of my family were gone yet something I felt I must do. Nowhere in the UK would be able to do nails so cheap. A Mee took me to a mall which was all underground and shitty. In China we know what slightly shitty means – extremely cheap! I was so excited. We had been through this mall to get to the fancy one that had (or didn’t have) Aunty Janey’s rice cookers. I am glad that A Mee didn’t feel like this experience would be beneath me, it was right up my alley. I had my nails painted whilst sitting next to a peeled grapefruit which was the size that I would imagine my brain to be (big).
We then browsed the shops and I bought a tonne of things that I didn’t need but also really did. we drank a delicious bubble tea with red beans as we did this from a place called ‘The Alley’ that made me feel like I needed to throw up before I got to the bottom. It was the first time that I had come across that much sugar in China and I loved it.
I bought:
- A neck pillow for the plane which, to be fair I do actually need
- A plushy good luck cat toy because it was £2.50?
- A cute keychain in the shape of a dragonfruit and filled with tiny bubbles
- A retractable makeup brush
- Deodorant finally. A Mee laughed and pointed to it “I have never used that” she said, confirming my suspicions about the Chinese and body odour. What must it be like.
- Travelling liquid containers for toiletries – I always, always need these but never have them
Once I was done we left for dinner. Leon joined us from school and we ate a hotpot style fish, tofu and pickled vegetable stew. And that’s where I am at. Back at the hotel with my new purchases and a whole load of change in my pocket. I cannot wait to smell fresh tomorrow.
Love from,
Kirsten
A little bit of a Hou 