Pandas!

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

"Do I look better from this angle?"

Pandas are not camera shy. This one kept making different poses

for the group of visitors taking its picture.



Apparently pandas have no tolerance for false modesty.








Despite the numerous signs requesting quietness, many of
my American compatriots didn't feel the need to heed them.
I was slightly perturbed.




My brother and I used to play like this.

"But Mommy, I don't wanna go inside."

Red Pandas

Red Pandas are closely related to the North American raccoon.

Unlike the raccoon, they are endangered, yet dangerously cute.

"I'm pretty sure it could fit in my carry-on."

The center has a fabulous gimmick.

¥50 to have your picture taken with a Red Panda.

Sounds like a lot, but really it's less than $8 US,

and now I can say that I've held a red panda.

And now for something completely different...

After the pandas I got a haircut. I didn't know how to tell them what I wanted in Chinese, so I used pantomime (seriously, that's all you really need to survive). I guess it was taking a risk since I didn't know exactly what I had agreed to have done, but even if they shaved my head bald I'd have three and a half months to grow it back before auditions in the fall. One of the stylists asked in English if I wanted a cut or a wash. I asked how much for both, and he replied ¥50. You can't get a wash and a cut in the states for $8. I have never had a more thorough hair washing in my life, and the whole time the guy who spoke a little English kept talking to me (in Chinese) and making me practice speaking Chinese (that's two stylists attending me). Yet another stylist cut my hair. At one point, I had three different stylists combing my hair with another watching. I guess they don't work with hair like mine often. For both the wash and cut they had me sit in the chairs closest to the window so pedestrians would surely see. I think it was to show off that even foreigners prefer their salon. The cut turned out great. When I went to pay, I handed the English speaking stylist ¥50. Turns out I had miss-heard him. It wasn't ¥50, it was ¥15. Yes, I was attended by four stylists for a wash and cut and paid less than $2.25.

Something un/Familiar.

Can you tell which can is which? All of these are widely sold in the US.

One of the amusing things about buying food or anything here is seeing what familiar US products look like in China. Periodically I will post a picture like this so you can see the similarities and differences.

P.S.

As some of you may know, China blocks certain websites. I'm not going to type the huge long explanation why, but I cannot see the comments that you post on my blog. Please, by all means do post them. I've asked my brother to copy and paste them into an email for me, but if that doesn't work, I'll at least get to read them when I switch hemispheres. If you want to ask me a question, I have created a new email, mskirstenolson@gmail.com. For those of you who know my brother, yes, it is similar to his. This is the email I will keep after I graduate college, so even if you don't email me while I'm in China, it would still be good to know.