Wednesday, September 10, 2008

My Host Family

Here is a little bit of info on the Fam:

My dad looks to be late forties or early fifties, but with Chinese people, you really can't tell. They "wear" their age very nicely. He owns his own business, and it has apparently paid off. I'm not sure exactly what the business is, but my sister says it is something to do with owning apartments, like a land lord sort of. He always makes dinner and can speak a little English because he has been studying it for 2 years. Other than that, I don't know much. He is quiet but seems friendly. 

My mom is the most caring. I get the feeling she like being the "mom" figure in someone's life, and since my sister is 22, she has to find someone else to look after. That person is me. She seems very content with hauling me around to the police station, school, and other places I have had to go the past few days. She speaks fast, but most of the time I can pick up the gist of what she is saying. She loves to laugh. She likes to watch Chinese soap operas. 

My sister has warmed up to me and I like her a lot. When some weird boy from school was texting me last night, I showed her the conversation, and she and I had a good laugh over it. She works for a company called Atos Origin which is a huge sponsor for the Olympic and Paralympic games, which I will be going to see tomorrow. She has a quiet boyfriend who went to our grandmother's house with us, and he seems friendly. She thinks he has bad acne and wondered if I knew of anything to help it. Bring some Proactiv when you come, mom! 

That's pretty much all I can say about them. Yesterday my mom spit out the living room windows onto the street. I don't know why I felt compelled to include that, but at the time it was interesting. 

I'll write more later,

苏娥利

6 comments:

Joe Sullivan said...

And why ever did you have to visit the police station? Hope you are enjoying the adventure, Doll, and keep on writing! Dad

Dai Laoshi said...

Elle, You're not the trendsetter you might think. You're the second student I've ever had detained by the Beijing police during School Year Abroad!

戴老师
Dai Laoshi

Joe Sullivan said...

Four more things:
1. Stay away from weird boys at school. 2. All boys are weird. 3. Keep wearing that baggy school uniform. 4. Tell your sister to look for Tazorac or Differin, but use sparingly. --Dad

Mama said...

I seem to have trouble doing messages sometimes. I got a Google/Blogger account I thought, but then when I try to send you a message it only goes intermittently. I know it is operator error : )

I'm thinking the police station was because of your missing passport/visa.

Yes, spitting out the living room window would definitely get my attention! I had heard there was a lot of public spitting in Beijing and wondered what that was all about.

Your family sounds super! I want to find a man like your host dad that cooks supper every night : )

Atti wondered how many nights in a row you had to memorize 60 characters!

I'll bring Wellness Formula with me and ProActive too so he can try both. We'll see if I can get through customs with them but will bring a doctors permission slip.

Did you get a bike to ride to school and back or are you taking the bus?

XO Mama

Ellen aka Ellie said...

I spit out my window all the time, it's a holistic way to water my flowers...

You know, if you pick up that custom, then your dad won't have to worry about American boys finding you appealing.

Hey, what's with your mom writing to you twice in one week?

Miss Stewart

Tom Swartwood said...

Ellie: what a great adventure; I am glad to hear you made it safe and sound. I had a run-in with the police when I was a college student in France: wrong way down a one-way street on my mobilette (bike/moped). Thanks to my poor French they simply decided it was not worth the effort to even ticket me.

As for boys, Papa Joe is right; they are all weird, nothing but trouble.
Cheers,
Tom Swartwood