Training

Today we spent all day at the hub--it was time to train the Chinese on how to operate the scales. We did wind up needing an interpreter, as most of the workers speak little, if any, English. As we walked into the office building, they were erecting a scaffolding out of bamboo--and climbing on up to get to paint. We broke for lunch, which for us consisted of the snack foods I brought along and bottled water. One of the local employees came back from lunch with a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken for us. We thanked him profusely but said we had already eaten--a little afraid to try that--we have been warned about being careful with the food! So we gave the chicken to the security guards and they were REALLY excited to get it! I spent some time taking photos of the class, then settled in to do some reading. The classroom portion of the class ended about 3 and then they had to go up into the hub for some hands on learning. Theft is a real problem here, so nobody leaves anything laying around if they want to see it again. There really was no need for me to go with them, so I stayed back and watched the computers, etc. while they were finishing up. One of the local employees got tickled, looked at me and exclaimed, "oh, guard woman!" At 5 we headed back to the hotel and had probably our most hair raising taxi ride yet. We pass a small village as we leave the hub and school had just let out--bikes everywhere and nobody wears a helmet. The kids are all in their uniforms and are so cute. Also, babies are very often in a basket tied to the back of the bike, or in the middle of two adults on motor bikes--sure is different. Some of these pictures are kind of blurry, as we go by them in the taxi at lightning speed, but they will give you the idea! Most of the shops are nothing more than a garage door with goods inside. We decided to stay at the hotel for dinner tonight and ate at the Cantonese restaurant. I'm liking noodles more and more!!! I ordered noodles with beef and peppers--it was very good, but it really didn't taste like beef--I think I'm better off not knowing. John had crayfish and noodles--biggest darn crayfish I've ever seen--and it really didn't look like any in our area! Steve went for the filet of emu--I was brave and tried a piece--it was really very good, but it was so spicy my lips started to burn. Some of our other choices tonight were: fried sea slug, shrimp with black fungus, cold jellyfish and shark fin soup. I'm really just not that brave when it comes to eating. I also had the fried seasonal vegetable--I have no idea what it was, but it was delicious. Steve and I had the black tea--they make quite a show during the preparation and serving and it was very good. John stuck with good old bottled water. Tomorrow is scale calibration and then the weekend is playtime.