Qingdao - Day 1 of Sailing

August 9th

Had to be to work at 10a today. It was the first day of sailing, so things were a touch more hectic.

There were a few delays due to lack of wind. But it eventually got underway.

Basically, I can’t do much of my work until the sailing is over. So I sit around most of the time – waiting.

I left the compound a little after 7.

When I was returning, most everyone was on their way out for the evening. The Opening Ceremonies for Qingdao were happening a couple blocks from the hotel – but not until around 8:30 or so.

I really didn’t feel like going out.

I went over to the Carrefour again. God I hate that place (even more than I hate Wal Mart)
I got a few office supplies because I am sick on not having so much as a stapler in our office.

I also got a little fan for my hotel room because it gets really hot at times. Plus I am having issues with my laundry drying.

I send out all my normal laundry to be done. But I refuse to send out my underwear and bras – I don’t know who else’s undies are being mixed with mine! So I wash them in the bathroom sink and hang them around the room to dry. Since it is so freaking humid – it takes over 2 days to dry. So basically, they are musty smelling before they are dry.

So I got a fan for about $7 USD and now things are magically drying!
Plus, it makes my room much cooler.

When I got back from the Carrefour, I discovered that my fridge had stopped working. There was a puddle in the bottom and everything was warm. I decided to deal with it after dinner.

I ate at the hotel bar. The “burger” had been suggested by one of the editors in my department. He also is a little picky when it comes to food – and is from Italy – so has to have good taste, right?

So I had the “Classic Beef Burger” – when I ordered a “cheeseburger” – they didn’t know what I meant. I pointed to it on the menu and the server said – “oh Classic Beef Burger”. Apparently they memorize the menu names and have no concept of what it actually is.

Anyway, I also ordered the Tsingtao Beer & Onion soup.

After about 40 minutes, it arrived. The burger was about 1 inch thick and 3 inches in diameter. Very rare. It did taste and feel like hamburger, so I was relived. However, the way they marinated it – I could tell – I would be burping this one up for the next week! So I ate almost half.

The soup – well it was like boiled onions with a pound of rosemary mixed in. Plus it came in this HUGE bowl. There was like 4 cups of it!

I also ordered Orange Juice & Vodka. They don’t get the concept that you want them mixed together. It takes a lot of miming to get them to put the 2 ingredients into the same glass.

I got a bucket of ice before leaving the bar because there is not an ice machine to get your own. I wanted some to add to the warm wine in my room.

So upon returning to the room, I decided to deal with the refrigerator situation. I decided to put the ice bucket in the fridge to help cool it down since everything was now baking in it.

I called the manager on duty – as I have learned it is the only extension that speaks English. They sent a housekeeper to my room (who didn’t speak English). After a lot of miming, I gave up and sat down at my desk as she stood in the doorway saying something. I just kept saying “Xie Xie” (thank you) and she eventually left.

30 seconds later, the phone rang. The manager on duty told me “the refrigerator is not broken - -please understand it is not intended to keep ice frozen.”
AGHHH!!
I tried to explain that I knew that and that I only put the ice in there as an effort to cool it down. That didn’t translate well. She said something in Mandarin that I assumed was curse words about a stupid American woman.

30 minutes passed and I had given up…. Then the doorbell rang. Opened the door and there were 2 ladies standing outside with a new fridge!

In the meantime I had done some laundry which is EXTREMELY frustrating! The sink takes literally 5 minutes to drain. Do I buy my own Drain-o or attempt to get them to fix?

Sorry - no photos of today :(