The Jinan Facebook groups are a buzz with the news that a Western style cafe downtown has started serving brunch!
We got up, went for a run (our first in our masks, as the air isn't great today) and headed over there. The cafe is super cute and comfy. In fact, we were there for a couple of hours just chatting and relaxing. We sat near a window and had a view of the intersection (great for people watching).
We got up, went for a run (our first in our masks, as the air isn't great today) and headed over there. The cafe is super cute and comfy. In fact, we were there for a couple of hours just chatting and relaxing. We sat near a window and had a view of the intersection (great for people watching).
After brunch we wandered a bit and then went to the post office to try to send a couple of small packages back home. Alas, it was a failed experiment. We found what I had read online to be true. It's tough to ship things out of China to the US. There are a lot of rules, but they aren't official, so post office workers have a tendency to make them up on the spot. They didn't want us to send 2/4 of the things we wanted to (I'm avoiding being specific, in case we do manage to send them- I want the surprise intact). We decided we'd try a different post office in the coming days. I might ask one of our coworkers for advice or help.
Having failed at the post office, we decided to check the movie theater to see what was playing in English. The only English language film in that theater right now is Jobs, and we say that in Prague. Another bust! There are some American movies coming in October, and there are several other theaters for us to check. I did get some pictures of the epic movie posters while we were there.
Having failed at the post office, we decided to check the movie theater to see what was playing in English. The only English language film in that theater right now is Jobs, and we say that in Prague. Another bust! There are some American movies coming in October, and there are several other theaters for us to check. I did get some pictures of the epic movie posters while we were there.
We knew we had a package at Bayi (our campus) to pick up, so we hopped a bus over there to grab it. It turned out to be our two giant packages from home. We (read: I) couldn't carry them (about 40lbs each) so we waited for an available cab. We flailed our arms at each and every one we saw, but it took about 30 minutes to get one. The driver helped Ian load the packages into the trunk. They didn't fit in all the way and it wouldn't close, but no matter! The driver hopped back into the driver seat and sped and swerved until he got us home. I was certain we would lose one or both on the way, but we didn't.
The boxes were beat to hell, so we were nervous opening them. Luckily, there was no real damage (our pictures got a bit smooshed and my body wash opened and soaped a few things, but nothing was ruined or really damaged). The Chinese post seems a bit ...different from the Korean post.
The boxes were beat to hell, so we were nervous opening them. Luckily, there was no real damage (our pictures got a bit smooshed and my body wash opened and soaped a few things, but nothing was ruined or really damaged). The Chinese post seems a bit ...different from the Korean post.
Birthday present from Mom (second present, as she bought me my iPod Touch before we left). Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut butter (like Nutella, but better), Pumpkin Spice Starbucks VIA (their instant coffee, which is actually delicious), and a bracelet with a beautiful Murano glass bead from Venice. Thanks, Mom!!
And, lastly, some random photos that we've collected over the last few days: