I have now started to hear the familiar *POP POP* of firecrackers and today when I went on a walk with Mom I saw, what I call, “Firework Square”.  On a small intersection, all four corners of the sidewalk are covered in huge firework stands!  I am still confused why they would all set up in the same place considering it’s probably bad for business, but maybe they are all owned by one person or company.  Any way, I get so excited looking at the HUGE boxes of colorful fireworks and also the  small toy fireworks for children!  Recently, I was awoken to the sound of several strings of firecrackers going off at 7am, and I know it won’t be the last time this week!  Because we live on the 8th floor we have a wonderful view of most of the big fireworks that are set off around our  building.  In fact some fireworks are right at our eye level!  Also, because we live on the 8th floor, the noise is not as deafening, but there are still times when we pause our movie waiting for the firecrackers to stop!  I am so blessed to be able to experience this interesting new culture during this time of the year!

Recently many of the community of people working with LDI have been moving out of the apartment complex, Fu Kang.  This is mostly because the leaders decided to sell all of the units that LDI owns in this apartment complex.  So my close friend, Amelia, had to move to a different apartment complex.  Unfortunately its a bit of a distance away;  I can’t walk to it or anything, I have to take a taxi or public bus.  It is definitely very sad that I am here and she is there making it more complicated to get together.Recently I went to see her new house for the first time and she is really excited with it.  It is a nicer environment because they have larger window and are up higher where as before they were on the ground level with smaller windows.  Maddie, Josie (Amelia’s sister), Kelsey (another of Maddie’s friends), Amelia, and I all went out to a Korean food place that was next to their apartment. It was so delicious and we all had lot of fun just talking and eating.  It’s always fun when you go out to eat all by yourselves and stuff!   Also, one thing that is right next to her apartment is a large man-made lake (or pond, it’s hard to tell).  Because it has been so cold here the whole thing has frozen over!  In addition the lake/pond is pretty shallow so we gingerly walked out on the ice!  After inspecting it’s safety we just walked down the lake and talked.  It was so much fun and was very beautiful out there!

For staple household items like toilet paper, shampoo, peanut butter, etc., I taxi to a retailer called E-Mart.  But for produce, meat and eggs I frequent a local market about a 10 minute walk from our apartment.  Since the kids are out of school for the Chinese New Year holiday, Michael and Jessie decided to tag along with me this week.   You may be very surprised at the way certain items are displayed!The main shopping street going through the market is decorated for Chun Jie.  Vendors sell door and window “blessing” banners and other holiday paraphernalia.

Along the main street there are small entrances into this indoor vegetable and meat market.  Vendors also sell dried spices, pasta, beans, and sauces.

Here’s the lady I buy pork tenderloin from.  This week I bought pork ribs and tried them out in the crock-pot.  Yum.

Look closely behind Jessie’s shoulder in the top left, follow the blue arrow (a whole goat hanging by a meat hook)