Only in China

A couple of pictures that our friends took that we thought you would enjoy.

Say what?

We're often amazed at the misinterpretations we see printed. Native speaking english speakers must charge a pretty penny to do translations. As you can see, cheaper second language translators can make big, entertaining mistakes. I can only assume this means, "Don't litter".

Cooking Class in Ubud

At home everyone probably works with one or two travelers.  When you're heading somewhere thats a little off the beaten path, this person has always been there or at least in the same region and can offer some advice.  Imagine working in a community where everyone is a world traveler and has advice when you are planning a trip.  This is our school community.  Most of the teachers aren't here to learn chinese, they're here for the experience of living in another culture and for the travel opportunities that the job allows.  Also, we all like to share these experiences so you can learn some do's and don'ts in regards to your next place of travel.  A coworker of mine recommended this cooking class in Bali.  I knew it wasn't just a typical place when she said that she'd returned to the same class on two separate visits to the Bali.  Bri, Brooke, Tyler and I decided this was a place to visit during one of our days in Ubud and we were not disappointed.  I think the best way to share this day is using pictures alone.

Balinese families live in small, walled compounds.  One of the fun parts of the class is that we were in the families home for the day.  This is the extravagant main gate for the family compound.

This photo is from the open dining area across the back yard into the kitchen preparation area.

This was our view over the short backyard wall for the morning and afternoon.  You could see various fruits hanging from the trees.

When we arrived all of the ingredients were laid out beautifully.  There was still more prep work to do however.

The fire pit area of the kitchen.

Here they are boiling fresh coconut water until there is only coconut oil remaining.  Then we used the coconut oil later for stir frying. 

This mortar and pestle are used to make the yellow paste that was used in a lot of the dishes.  There was about 17 ingredients in the paste.

Tyler is making the peanut sauce that was mixed with vegetables to make gado gado.   

Following orders like we're in my Granny's kitchen.

Carefully observing our feast being cooked.

Tyler and I are making a hot and sour mushroom soup.

Tyler and Brooke putting on a nice show for the camera.  I however remember that Tyler had just said something stupid and was getting the stink eye from Brooke as we awaited our first course.

Preparing the tuna to be steamed in banana leaves.

Ready to put in the banana leaf.

One of the helpers cooks our minced coconut curried chicken on bamboo sticks over charcoal.

Brooke and Bri taking a break...again.

Gado gado and curry chicken amongst other things.

 

Ready to feast with our new acquaintances. 

 I'm so hungry after writing this blog....  check this place out when you visit Ubud.

www.paon-bali.com

Coming in October…Kastner party of three!

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We found out Bri was pregnant in Bali which made our trip even more exciting.  Our news and our current living situation have led people to ask many questions.  We would like to address a few, let us know if you have others.

1.     Does that mean you are moving home?

No.

2.     You are having your baby in China?

That is the plan.  So if everything goes as planned, yes.

3.     Does this make you nervous?

Of course, but we’d be nervous to have a kid in the U.S. even at a great hospital.  Having a child is a pretty big commitment.  What if we don’t like the kid and we’re still stuck with it for 18 years?

4.     How is the medical care?

Shanghai has a diverse range of medical care.  The top hospitals are staffed with western trained doctors, English speaking nurses and all the technology you would expect to see in an American hospital.

5.     Do you still get to come home for the summer?

Fortunately, yes! The flight home at the beginning of August may not be comfortable for Bri and baby but we will be making the trip from mid-June to the first week in August.

6.     What are you going to do about baby gifts?

Sell them on ebay and pocket the cash.  Kidding, but those do pose a problem.

7.     Who is the father?

We don’t know yet.  Bri says it is mine.  I say we’ll see how cute it is first.

8.     Will your baby have Chinese citizenship?

No, babies born in China are not granted citizenship unless one of their parents is a Chinese national.  It is unlikely Bri and I will be applying for Chinese citizenship soon as we don’t meet the necessary requirements and we both still bleed red, white and blue.  Mostly white and blue though now since it is baseball season.

9.     Are your parents coming out?

At some point, yes we expect to see some grandparents in China flocking to hover over the breathing barf chamber.  We hope they come bearing foreign foods we’re craving and not toys we’ll have to take to our next home.  There are plenty of toys in China for the little one and nowadays they even cut out most of the lead paint.

10. Are you still going to work?

Bri will get 8 weeks off which gets her through Christmas break.  Then she plans to go back to work.  Luckily, since we live so close to home we’ll get to see the baby at lunch and if needed for little snippets of the day.  We'll have an ayi at home to care for the baby when Bri returns to work.

11. Are you going to find out the gender?

Yes.  We're planners!  

12. How is Bri feeling?

She had a rough first trimester.  Between the nausea, dry heaving and case of food poisoning that put her in the hospital she’s maintained a slightly less than positive demeanor.  She is happy however with the figure produced by a low caloric intake (due to nausea), involuntary daily abdominal contractions (due to heaving) and swelling mammary glands (due to hormones).

13. Will you come home after next year?

We don’t know what we will do after next school year.  We plan to apply to positions overseas and see what we are offered.  If something is appealing we will take it and if not we will point our compass towards the states and starting looking for jobs.  Those decisions won’t be made until at least November next year and as late as… I’m not sure….it could be pretty late.  So as usual we should have a lot of exciting times in the next year.  

Thanks for all of your positive vibes.