Our First Trip to China

Hello All!

It's been raining non-stop since Tuesday!! Crazy, torrential rain, thunder and lightning storms for the past two days. Here's a link to the CQ Daily News if you want to read about it:

http://english.cqnews.net/

I've never seen anything like this. In a matter of minutes the water level on the streets will rise and before you know it a busy boulevard becomes a river! The street behind the training facility flooded yesterday and we watched a few cars and trucks get stuck in the rising waters.

Today as we were leaving to return to the hotel for lunch the walkways from the gymnasium to the lobby and boarding area for the bus were flooded. The water got as high as the curb and to get across to the lobby we would've had to take off our shoes and socks and wade in water that was above the ankles.

Yeah...right...I don't think so!

THIS was water that was overflow from the sidewalks, streets, and the sewers that surround the training facility...the same sidewalks, streets and sewers that people walk on with their dirty street shoes; throw their snot rags and food scraps and other random garbage into; where dogs and cats walk around and relieve themselves; AND where (just like at home) disgusting old Chinese men hock-a-loogie left and right - - you have GOT to be kidding me!!

So as I was surveying "Lake Lungbutter" and trying to figure out where the most shallow portion was located so I could tip-toe daintily across the scum pond...the Chongqing Sifu was watching me pace back and forth, looking up and down with my eyebrows furled...I think he became impatient with my hesitance so he said to me in Mandarin "C'mon, hop on my back...I'll carry you across"

WOW! Clearly this guy did not know what he just volunteered for...

I mean...look at me...I'm a "big girl" by China's standards...

Every woman in Chongqing looks like a former Unicef Poster Child...only older with very badly over-processed hair...

I could be like the next "Chongqing Jenny Craig Spokesmodel"

And...I'm actually BIGGER than the Sifu...

I could see the bus waiting on the other side...I had to get on that bus somehow...

My gourmet lunch banquet and western toilet were waiting for me back at the hotel...

And besides sheer size...that's kinda bitchy and spoiled of me to have him carry me across...after all - the other Mom's took off their shoes and crossed over...why couldn't I?!

I struggled with my thoughts...

I am a guest in his country...he is training my son...he and his wife have already done so much for our kids...it wouldn't be right to impose...I'm an independent adult raising my own child for goodness sakes! What's a little dirty water on my feet and ankles? Lungbutter...Ewww-Ewww-Ewww!!!"

As I was torturing myself on my mental see-saw he said to me again..."C'mon...let's go...hop on!!

So I jumped off my "shame spiral" and jumped right on his back and took the ride across the way!!

The barefoot and soaked Moms tortured me all the way back to the hotel.

I looked around for our boy and saw that he was the only one who still had his fancy American leather sportshoes and socks on...just like his Mom. I pointed at his pristine shoes and said..."Hey...how did you get across?!

"Sifu carried me."

He looked at my bone-dry fancy American leather sneakers and socks and asked me, "You too?!"

"Yep."

We gave each other a knowing smile and we looked over at Sifu and smiled at him and bowed our heads and said "Sheh-Sheh"

The "Princess" and her "Little Prince" are dry and well in Chongqing.