Wood and Chilacas

I drug Ileana with me for today's adventure. I couldn't do this one on my own. At 11:30 we left with Mr. Xue. Our first stop was Yong Hor. It's a market in Tanggu. We were on a mission to get Tobias a birthday present. We got there and walked around but they didn't have anything we liked. It's always an adventure at this place because people stared at us and we continually heard "hello".

Back in the van. Our next stop was the lumber yard to buy some wood. This is why I had Ileana with. Our bed had suddenly become very uncomfortable. It needed some 2x4's or something to make the base solid. We walked in and found wood. We immediately had an audience. Mr. Xue started talking to the very nice lady. Ileana and I found a big sheet of thick wood...sort of like plywood. We were discussing if it would work. Mr. Xue asked how much. The lady said 60 RMB. Awesome. That would only be around $18 for 2 pieces. She then showed us something she thought would be better. Yeah, it seemed a little more sturdy but when we asked how much, she said something ridiculous like 300 RMB. That would be around $100 for two pieces. Ileana and I started to laugh and I said "tai guile" (too expensive). Everyone started laughing.

Mr. Xue asked me if it was for the bed. He did this by holding up his hands, folded together, eyes closed, and a snoring sound. Yep, we work well with charades. It's funny but it works. I answered yes and him and the lady started chatting. Her eyes lit up and she took us around the corner to more choices. The two of them and two other guys did a lot of back and forth talking. The lady told me these "sheets" of wood were 180 RMB...about $50 for 2. Ummm, ok. But the best part was during the conversation, Ileana got involved sometimes. The lady really liked her. Every time Ileana would answer in Chinese the lady would repeat it then laugh. Sort of like she couldn't believe the Mexican could speak Chinese. It was amusing.

So finally we agreed on the two pieces of wood I was buying. The two men laid them on the floor and measured. I needed them 2 meters long and 1.8 meters wide. As they were measuring I decided I had better call Todd. I explained to him what we were doing and he asked who was helping. I told him 4 Chinese and Ileana and I. He said ok but to cut the wood at 90 meters wide so they would be equal pieces. Good thinking. We were going to have 120 meters (the width of the board) and then a 60 so good thing I called him. I told the guys I needed 200 meters long and 90 meters wide. They looked at me confused. I explained in Chinglish and charades and they seemed to understand.

Mr. Xue was totally in charge of this project. He watched the guys measure and make the cut lines. Before they started to cut he remeasured everything and then had me look again. He then gave the ok for the men to cut. He stood over them watching like a hawk. In the end I got my two pieces of 200 by 90 pieces of wood for a total of 200 RMB. WHAT? I thought they were 180 a piece. Yep, Mr. Xue talked her down for me. It only cost me $32. Yay. Mr. Xue has really come around and I'm really liking him much better.

Mr. Xue checking the measurements.

Mr. Xue watching closely as the man cuts.

Getting my wood cut.

Next funny step was trying to watch the 3 men get the wood in my van. It finally worked and we decided to go home and drop the wood off before we continues our quest for a birthday present.

Trying to shove the wood in the van.

We got to the apartment and Mr. Xue put the wood on the elevator. He then stood in it and told me to go up. He has never been upstairs before. The three of us ride to the second floor and he unloaded the wood. I then decided he could put it right inside our door in our apartment. I opened the door and he carried in the first piece. It was funny because he was trying to be so sly and look around at the apartment and he sat the wood down. Same thing with the second piece. It was funny.

Back in the van and back to Tanggu to Tesco. We searched for Legos or Nerf guns but they had nothing. Back in the van. Mr. Xue grabbed KFC for lunch but didn't have time to eat it because we were too fast inside. He drove us to the Tesco in TEDA. He ate this time but we still didn't find anything for Tobias. Finally need up at Jusco. Everything there is expensive bit we had to have something. I found a Nerf fun that was in my price range. Ileana was going to get just a box of Lego's but they were way too expensive. I saw a bigger Nerf fun that I thought Tobias would like so I to.d Ileana we could split the cost and have it be from both boys. She thought that was a great idea. We paid and when we took the bag the sweet girl gave us a packet of Nerf darts for free. Bonus!

Back in the van. We arrived at home at 2:35 and I had to leave again at 2:50. Just enough time to get a drink and go to the bathroom. What a crazy, funny afternoon. At least we got everything accomplished.

All the kids were over playing before the birthday party. I told Carrie it was the calm before the storm. She had a little time to mentally prepare before I sent them all downstairs for the rest of the night. Ainsley was up too. She hung out with me. She watched me frost the cupcakes and cut cheese. She had samples of cheese too. She was full of questions. She is a talker. It was fun having someone to chat with. She is a funny girl.

At 4:50 I had the boys clean up and I kicked them all out. Cameron quickly jumped in the shower, gathered his stuff, and went down to the party. Todd and I tried to prioritize some of the major purchases we will need when we go back home in July. At 6:30 Cameron was back up so he could do his breather one last time. He has been having some difficulties breathing for some reason. He went immediately back downstairs.

At 7 Todd and I went down to Carrasco's. Jose Luis and Luz were finally going to teach us how to make real stuffed chilacas. Fredy even was home around 7:45 which is unusual. We watched Luz cook the shrimp in butter and garlic. We watched Jose stuff bacon and cream cheese into chilacas. Todd jumped in and stuffed a few as well. These things are a lot of work. We sat down to dinner at 9:00. The first chilaca I tried was the bacon and cream cheese. I have never in my life had cream cheese so I was a little worried. Oh man, it was delicious. I went for the shrimp chilaca next. It was awesome too but I'm going to have to say the bacon and cream cheese was my favorite. We love our Mexican friends and we will let them cook for us anytime.

Getting dinner started.

Todd started stuffing chilacas.

Luz is making the shrimp.

Not sure how these two are so much alike but they are.

These are the cream cheese and bacon chilacas.

These are the shrimp chilacas.

I had Alejandro take our picture.  Pretty good except for his finger.

I played some Wii with Alejandro. He was the only kid home. Poor thing. I accidentally beat him in dodge ball. He said "don't get too excited because hockey is next". I quit because I knew he would smoke me. The adults sat around talking and laughing until 12:15. It was such a fun night. We have great times with great friends.

Side note: I had two firsts tonight. I ate cream cheese AND I had guacamole for the first time. I have to say both were good.