This Great Work

 A haircut! We only had 29 days from the time we received our visas to the time that we flew out and with all of the doctor, dentist and vision appointments we had to squeeze in, not to mention all of the Covid testing, packing, saying goodbye to family and friends, our time was very tight.  So hair cuts didn't happen and we were in much need of one.   Since our passport photo experience , we knew we should expect anything.  But we had to take the risk at some point. We have seen several places that cut hair, but on a walk on Friday some of the employees from a salon came out on the street to talk to us. (See note below.) So we decided to go back there on Saturday.   The cost: $4 each. This includes: 🌀 A 10 minute head massage + wash. While you get massaged, you get to look at the large collection of shampoos and conditioners and wonder which ones they are using on you.  Or you can look at the screen on the ceiling with a galaxy on it. 🌀A lovely purple turban thingy to wear:  🌀A

 I'm not sure how many posts are going to be called "Food".  Perhaps I should get a little more creative with my titles.  But for now, it's such a big part of this adventure so there is much to be written and "Food" is inclusive enough to house all musings.  Food is a persistent problem.  This part of our adventure is giving me a run for my money!! 1)  I don't have much cooking equipment (pans, dishes, utensils, appliances...) and I don't want to buy it if is going to be arriving in the shipment because storage is going to be a problem.  So *what* I can cook is severely limited. In addition to this, we are slowly acquiring things like plastic wrap, hot pads etc---things you don't always remember you need until it's too late! 2)  What food I do know how to cook is limited because I can't get ingredients.  For example, you can't buy salt in the grocery store.  Thankfully I found some in packets at Sam's Club, but it is table salt an

Jacky told us Waston was having a welcoming party for us on Thursday night.  "For the whole family."  Not knowing the culture and what to expect, we asked what the dress code was: "business casual".  That was a loose term because we were easily the best dressed.  Besides President and Mr. Hu, everyone was in jeans, t-shirts, tennis shoes etc.  We didn't feel over dressed, but it was just very interesting to observe since it was a very classy event. It was at the Sheraton and we arrived with wide eyes and with no idea what to expect!  I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted to; the girls thought it too much of a spectacle, but I'll share the few that I got. It didn't start with any fanfare.  After the servers had all of the drinks poured, President Hu just started dishing up his plate and began eating. The food was very fancy!  It was on a turn table in the center; and you turned it and took what you wanted onto your own plate (Chinese family style

After our passport pictures , we were whisked away by WJ to tour Waston-Ortho. We met Luke (the global sales manager) and he gave us a tour of the facilities beginning with the displays of all of their medical devices.  They produce a lot of products and sell them all over the world. Something like 58 countries.  They have lots of plates for joining different bones back together, but also stomach staplers and a host of things I could not figure out.  It was pretty impressive. This is their wall of Chinese doctors that use their products.   It was all very impressive. Then we went into the building where Waston-Ortho is housed. They have a pretty impressive machine shop that will manufacture the parts (orthopedic implants). Tom was very impressed with all of it. They are making him an office --with carpet and a conference table and who knows what else-- just off of this area.  We did not go in it because it isn't quite finished.  They won't let him start work until it is finishe