Don't Hate Me Because I Live In China

My last post talked about the kooky, sometimes unpleasant aspects of Beijing.  I wanted to balance that out with some good stuff.  

Some of you would never have done what we have done...leave our lovely home, close to our family and dear friends to move half way around the world to such a foreign country.  Most of you think it is a fabulous experience but when push came to shove, you would probably not trade places.  I could be wrong but I've seen the eyes of people when I told them we were moving to China...their eyes got as round as saucers, their mouths dropped and then they were usually speechless, trying to grasp something positive to say.  Well here's something positive...

I have servants!

What the heck?  I have a driver and an ayi (helper).  This is not me bragging, this is me completely shocked at the life I'm leading at the moment.  Both the driver &ayi speak decent English which is very hard to find so we consider ourselves fortunate to have them.

The driver, Hu Bo, is a BIG guy but very gentle & kind and is already smitten with Isla.  His English is good enough that we can chat while driving and I am able to give him errands to do.  He drives us around in a Buick minivan.  I swore I would never drive a minivan so technically I've kept my promise.  ;-)

The ayi's name is Tian and she has only been with us 5 days.  She came highly recommended from another American family and she is living up to the rave reviews.  She works from 11 to 7, Monday through Friday.  She prepares both lunch & dinner (the lunch is usually leftovers), keeps the house neat, laundry, ironing, occasional child care, etc.  Ok...so here is where you might hate me a litttle..her monthly salary is 3600 yuan which is about $500.  And just so you don't think I"m a horrible person taking advantage of Tian, this is a high salary for an ayi.  Ayis can make as much as college graduates.  They are very well paid in China.

So even after hearing the life of leisure I am leading here in China, would you trade places with me?  You still might think the servants don't outweigh the kookiness and the inconveniences and the frustrations but you know what?  It sure does help.  ;-)

Here's a few pics from our afternoon in the Houhai Lake District on May 9th.  In the winter, the lake freezes over and everyone ice skates.  I'll be sure to post pics of that this winter.