The Chinese art of moving

Moving, even if you’re not the one changing addresses, tends to wear a person out. This statement probably seems strange considering the fact that we’re in China and it’s unlikely that we’re switching domiciles. You’re one hundred percent correct -- we didn’t abandon our lovely apartment, but we helped some friends of ours with their move on Sunday. Though it was a long and chilly day (and I’m curled up in long underwear, a fleece, and a blanket as I write this entry), Jean-Jacques and I enjoyed ourselves immensely because we were able to assist the couple.


The adventure began with a text message at eight o’clock am. At this point in the morning, Jean-Jacques and I were deeply sleeping, so I barely recognized the slight buzzing sound that Jean-Jacques’ cell phone makes when it’s on silent and receives a text. I filed away the information, rolled over, and fell back asleep. An hour and a half later, when I was more cognizant, I remembered the sound and went to check the phone. We had received a message asking us to be ready at ten o’clock. Jean-Jacques quickly called our friend to confirm the meeting time; as it turned out, our friends weren’t ready to meet us either, so we agreed to see one another in about two hours. This gave Jean-Jacques and me the opportunity to shower, eat breakfast, and drink tea in a relaxed manner.


Our friend met us at the No. 1 Middle School gate and led us to his current home for lunch. The neighbor was extremely generous and made guōtiē (pronounced giaozuh) for the meal. We ate with our teacher friend while his wife was busy with final preparations. The two had hired a man with a motorcycle-truck to assist with the move and the man was stronger than about twelve oxen; the most amazing part of it all, was the fact that they only paid him about 200 kuai for a day’s work. That’s not much money considering the amount of time and effort he put into the job. However, I guess the rate makes sense since food is so cheap; the man could probably feed his family for about five days for one day’s worth of work. Everything is so inexpensive in China. 


As we assisted with the move, we learned some fascinating things: 

1. Many Chinese follow feng shui rules for important events, like moving. The good weather is less important than good feng shui, which is why we helped the couple move in the rain.
2. Chinese set off fireworks on special occasions, like moving. We even got to experience the ear-splitting custom and breath in the lung-stinging fumes.
3. Bamboo must be the first thing that enters a new home. Jean-Jacques had the honor of carrying it in the apartment.

The hired worker did most of the loading, but we assisted with the unloading. (Well, I really mean Jean-Jacques, because I acted as guard for the two loads: one time I was sitting on a couch in the apartment and the other I was standing outside in the rain while absorbing mass quantities of precipitation into my clothing.) However, I also did some dusting in the apartment while the wife and I were waiting for the guys to gather, pack, and drive over the rest of the items remaining in the “old” apartment. 


After the move, the couple invited us (and the woman who made the guōtiē for lunch and her daughter) to a celebratory/thank you dinner. We ate at a fun restaurant that had a charming decor of East interprets West; there were a number of pictures of famous Americans on the walls and the dining area was filled with tables in chairs in the Western fashion (we all ate together, not in special rooms, like you often do in Chinese restaurants).


Chinese people are shockingly strong in many ways. Not only have they discovered how to lift incredible amounts, but they also manage to survive in the winter without heat. I’m not sure how they can endure the cold, but somehow they manage and sometimes they even leave their windows open for “fresh air”. Wow. We probably are going to be taken over by the Chinese soon. Plus, they have amazing work ethics.