A bit about the fam...

Other than the massive language barrier that exists between my host parents and me, I haven’t written too much about the fam.

<-- (Me and mom at a park)

Mom and Dad, or Mama he Baba, or 妈妈和爸爸 are really awesome. Our personalities are really similar in that we are all pretty goofy. Conversations are always tough because I simply don’t understand what they are trying to say, but whenever I do get it, there is usually a laugh that follows.

My Mom works at some sort of supermarket or store and she sells things. I know that sounds pretty vague, but between their accent, no annunciation, and my massive vocabulary – I was pretty excited when I figured it out. Mom leaves the house at 5:30, and Dad wakes up and starts cooking my breakfast.

Breakfast in China sucks.

My dad cooks my breakfast for me every morning and walks around the table while I eat it to make sure it tastes good.

Dad: Hao Chi ma?好吃吗？Taste good?

Me: Hao Chi. 好吃。Tastes good.

Dad: Chi le!吃了！Eat

Dad: Duo Chi Le!多吃了！Eat it all

Dad: Chi! Chi! Chi! 吃吃吃！Eat Eat Eat

Dad: Hao Chi ma?好吃吗？Taste Good?

Me: Hao Chi….好吃。。。(you get the idea…)

This is my typical breakfast routine each morning. When I am done eating, he takes my dishes into the kitchen, washes them for me, and then leaves to go exercise. Speaking of, I’m not allowed in the kitchen. IES told us that we should not enter the kitchen until our family invites us. I didn’t think much of it until I saw how my parents would always close the door to the kitchen when they were done using it, especially when I was in the room. But back to my dad.

Dad is a retired GE employee whose life consists of cooking me food, doing my laundry, and watching TV all day. He discovered my laundry pile on day 3 of being in the house and when I got back from school my clothes were folded neatly in my cabinet (this man is a machine). I really want to help them out with chores (such as laundry) but both of my parents have such a servant attitude towards me and refuse to let me do anything. I am more like an honorary house guest. I tried to help clear the table the other night and my mom told me to go study. (Xuexi!) 学习！

I have hidden my laundry in two other places and he still manages to find it. I can just imagine him going through my room when I leave for school hunting for my clothes; it’s awesome.

When I come back from school there are more failed attempts at conversation while they cook dinner. Dinner is, for the most part, pretty good. There have only been a couple of dishes that I didn’t like; lotus stem/root being one of them. I have also consumed roughly 2 plantations worth of green tea in my stay. Ironically, my family drinks nothing at dinner, but at every other moment green tea is available. While I am studying in my room they constantly come in to refill my glass. All in all, great family!