Ice Sand

Time really flies. I didn't realize I hadn't posted for over 2.5 months. With our move in mid-September, visitors from the States in late September/early October, hiring a new housekeeper, and a busy autumn for DiploWhat, we found ourselves approaching Thanksgiving in the blink of an eye. We got our art hung a week or so before T-day, and then spent a nice holiday with a few friends over a big feast. And now it's December already.

After feeling refreshed from home leave, we've tried to take a new attitude toward Beijing, and so far it's been... okay. Perhaps that comes with the realization that we've crossed the halfway point, and have less time remaining than we've already spent here. Probably also moving into the new place has a lot to do with it. I'm really trying to look at this place in a new light, but still the little things gnaw at my resolve:

• Our housekeeper can't seem to figure out how to put things back where they were when she cleans -- kitchen items, toiletries, even our shoes get the "random shuffle" treatment twice a week. I know, I can't really complain since we actually *have* a housekeeper, but finding things in different places twice a week gets annoying fast.
• Drivers here still make me crazy with the stupid maneuvers they pull just to get ahead at others' expense -- and what's worse is that everyone lets them get away with it, reinforcing or even rewarding the behavior.
• My co-workers decided to rearrange where supplies, records, and general workflow items are placed, resulting in a less efficient setup (in my opinion). Further, our newest colleague, a recently-naturalized Chinese American, leaves the shared workstation of postal stamps and other supplies in total chaos when she's done with it. I guess it's kind of like the housekeeper's inability to put things back where they were.
• And there are other little things, like some unknown person trying to thwart the magnetic lock on our neighborhood gate by twisting copper wire around the bar to prevent the magnets from touching and locking -- and then, the day after removing said wire, finding that the electricity to said magnetic lock has been cut.
• Or even smaller things, such as our mailbox is labeled "Paul Steiner." First and most obvious, that's not even my name. They couldn't even be bothered to refer to sources that have my actual name. But really it shouldn't even have my name on it -- it should have D-What's name since she's the actual diplomat whose name is recognized around here.

And the icing on the cake is that the few people we've befriended here are reaching the end of their assignments and are steadily departing. At least there are still a few good restaurants we can hit up for goodies like "mango coconut bursting egg ice sand."