To the extreme

In the past several days I have had two local experiences that are extreme in comparison. (Warning: graphic bathroom story to follow) Last Friday night a friend and I went out to celebrate her 25th Birthday (which was not actually until Monday but we decided to celebrate twice). We started out with getting our toes painted (please let me reiterate that this is not a regular pedicure, I do all the nail trimming and skin smoothing at home, they just do the paint) and then headed off to Old Town to a restaurant called the Tower--some amazing western food, I had Chicken Parmesan. So far so good. Until after dinner when we headed to The Sweet Tooth (a wonderful place run by some deaf believers) where I was enjoying some Italian coffee and peanut butter pie with Oreo crust and my stomach decided now was the time to revolt. I don't know what caused this mutiny but battle had begun. Since The Sweet Tooth has no bathroom I ran down the street back to the Tower. Looking at no one I ran straight to the rest room took care of business and went back to join my friend and finish my dessert. By the time I finished I realized WW II was about to start. I was too embarrassed to go back to the Tower and I desperately wanted to avoid an 'Oops, I crapped my pants' situation (thank you SNL for a great phrase) so my only choice was to go to the public restroom and pay 5 mao, equivalent to about 7 cents, and use the squatty. During all of my trips here I have avoided this. Peeing not a problem but to squat and do more serious business, not an exciting thought. Of course here I am faced with a squatty or a 30 min bus ride with, well you know. I ran into the sqatty, did my business--embarrassing noises for all to hear--and came out successful. I did it! I know this seems like a disgusting thing to be proud of but this was something I knew I would have to conquer at some point and what better way then practically being forced. So take that borderline IBS.

Now on to the more pleasanter of extremes. Last night we had celebration #2 for the Birthday girl. This celebration was dinner out and then on to have a massage and facial. This place was amazing. It uses French products, was clean and reminded me of the couple of places I have been to in the States. We started off in a steam room and then a nice warm shower using their products. After that we headed to our room where the three of us had a back massage and then a facial. This was my first facial and it was wonderful. Usually I don't like to have other people touch my face but I have to tell you this was so good I momentarily forgot where I was. If anyone come to visit we will be sure to go there. Now before anyone starts to think that all I do here is go get my toe nails painted and have massages please let me clarify that this is all for the same cost as a drink from Starbucks and a movie. Since we have neither a Starbucks or a movie theatre, activities for time out with the ladies is limited. Date nights even more so. I have already decided that I want Stan to get me a basic membership to this Spa place--the only name appropriate for a place like this--as my Christmas gift. I think it would be nice to forget where I am occasionally.

On another note, our visa situation is temporarily solved. I have a 6 month visa since I only plan to study one semester at the school and then go to all private tutoring. Stan paid tuition for a whole year so his visa is for 11 months (we have no idea why it's not 12). The boys are able to be under Stan's visa (and I will be able to as well after my current one expires) but we are still waiting on their birth certificates to make it in the mail. So with out the bc's we could only extend their tourist visa for another month. Once they arrive we will be all set.

I also had my first day of class today. Not so bad. I am pretty sure one semester will be just about all I can take.

I almost forgot, we felt our first earthquake. It was really mild in our area and we had absolutely no damage. The linked article does mention our city proper (Dali) as one of the places hit. Our friends living in the capital described what they felt as worse than what we had. I do have to say it was extremely strange to experience. We could visibly see our walls moving and the doors were swaying. We came through with no harm and the boys didn't even know what happened--I don't think they felt a thing.