Stuff

Last night we worked for several more hours doing translating. Didn't actually get that much done, because we kept getting caught up in conversation. That was really interesting too, though, because he enjoys telling me all about Mosuo culture, as well as other things that are going on in the community and his ideas about things. I also record some of the stuff he says. Last night we covered everything from courtship to birth and funeral rituals, discussed language use by older vs younger generations, and upcoming changes in the education system. He teaches grade 2 so he knows all about this, whereas most people don't realise it is about to become compulsory to send children to middle school, and that people under 25 will soon be sent to evening classes if they've never been to school. The teachers will soon have to go out into the villages and survey each household to find out how many children are there, whether they are at school, etc.

During weekdays, I'm fairly free, as he doesn't come around till about 3.30pm- after school finishes. This morning I went around to the home of some people I had interviewed last time I was in town. They had asked for copies of some of the photos I took of the family. Brought them around. Only one woman was there. She looked at the photos, then sat me down in front of the tv while she brought out freshly toasted pumpkin seeds and tea. Haven't actually eaten pumpkin seeds before and find them a bit perplexing. They have little shells that are quite soft, so am not sure whether to shell them before eating in the manner of a sunflower seed or peanut, or whether shelling them is equivalent to peeling grapes- unnecessary, weird, time-consuming behaviour. I'll offer some to my friend this afternoon and watch how he eats them... I plan to offer him some anyway, because as I left she gave me a huge bag of them. I tried to refuse but was unsuccessful. Maybe I'll give them to him for his family. They're actually a bit boring to eat and I don't think I want to carry them back to the other side of the lake tomorrow.

Yes, my time in Sichuan is coming to a close. Though, had I realised this guy would be so good to work with, I might have come back here earlier. He is very patient and good at explaining things so I can understand. The only thing I hate is that he smokes a lot while we're working- in my motel room, so I leave the windows and doors open. Last night I told him that in Australia it is banned to smoke inside public places, because smoking is very bad for your health. He seemed quite surprised and said it was okay, he was used to it. So then I had to explain how he would feel fine now but that it would affect him when he was older. Looked up cancer in the dictionary, and remembered how to say heart disease. The anti-smoking message clearly hasn't even begun to penetrate here. I guess it's a revenue earner for the government.

As I was walking back from the lady's house this morning, I saw that a fire hydrant, which was set in a field, had been switched on and was pumping out water to irrigate the field. Just a little way in front of it, about four ducks were going completely nuts. Squawking and splashing in the water, like someone had created an amusement especially for them. It was sooo funny.

Two weeks to go now until I leave China. Can't believe six months is nearly up. It has gone pretty fast. Though slow at certain times- particularly when I was sick and weather was cold. At the moment the weather's gorgeous, sunny and mild. Mmm. Wonder if I will manage a swim in Lugu lake before I go. Then everyone can stare and point at the 'laowai' (foreigner) who is swimming in the lake. That will be fun for them.