Farm Chicks, Food and Fails

Next weekend is the first weekend of June. This means that next weekend is The Farm Chicks show, an antique and crafts show in Spokane, Washington, that holds a special place in my heart! My family has been a part of the show since 2003 and I've been attending and helping at it since 2004, half my life ago. 

This first picture comes from 2011 since I couldn't find any pictures from the show any earlier than this (before saving everything on the internet and at some point at this time, my parents' computer crashed, losing the older pictures forever). 

If you've been following by blog for the last year, you probably know why this year is different. 

You see... I live over 6,000 miles (9,600 km) away in Beijing, China. I can't go back to Spokane for a weekend, it would cost a ridiculous amount, I'd be useless at the show due to jet-lag induced exhaustion and I'm (unfortunately) unwilling to take time off of work just before the end of the school year. 

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Over the last year or so, I've learned that growing up is a process. The moving from home, financial independence, and cooking my own dinners: those changes were easy... mostly. The hard part of growing up and moving away has been missing experiences that have been with me for over a decade. Not playing and coaching fast-pitch softball with my dad has been one of these experiences. Missing out on Farm Chicks this year has been another. 

Now, don't get me wrong! I absolutely love having moved abroad and all that I've learned through doing so! 

I'll just also miss all the Farm Chicks traditions that have formed over the years:

- Cleaning random pieces of furniture of cobwebs and spiders... so many spiders  

-Selling a ridiculous amount of one item (whether that be 250 apple crates, over 100 cherry buckets or an ungodly number of chicken feeders)

-Going on Starbucks runs and coming back juggling 8 or more coffees

-My personal favorite: decorating the front display with whatever fun, crazy and awesome idea Serena (the amazing founder of the show) has thought up!


​While I won't be at the show in person this year, I guarantee that I'll be Skyping in to see it!

Alright, new topic: Food! Really, this is more of a rant of how much I don't like Chinese breakfasts.

​Most of the food: awesome; breakfast: not so much. 

You won't find waffles, bacon or hash browns (my personal favorite) in a Chinese breakfast. Instead you find Congee (粥) which is a watery rice porridge or gruel. In this, you can put Chinese sausage (not a fan, it has a really strange aftertaste), cabbage or cucumber. Peanuts, hard-boiled eggs and steamed buns are also popular.

The only place you'll find a good selection of cereal, aside from plain Cheerios, is a foreign-food store and it is super expensive. If I wanted a box of Frosted Flakes, for example, a single box could cost up to $10, but averages closer to $7.

I'm very excited when I go to the US this summer is to get a bagel with cream cheese!

​For now, I'm sticking with fruit and scrambled eggs for breakfast. 

Last, and most entertaining topic: Fails! I went to Shanghai and Suzhou this last week on a spring trip with my students. For some reason, on the trip I found a gold mine of  ridiculous signs! Please enjoy!

Didn't know that I was living in a tv soap opera drama but this sign thinks otherwise.

​"To Be Continued"

Found this one in a mall...
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​"Interesting and Interesting. Don't be Brilliant"

At the top of the Oriental Pearl Tower. Not really a typo or translation error but I like the bluntness of it!

"Pregnant Woman Ban"
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"Violent Sports Ban"

This one might be my own ignorance... but can milk be in a cult? If I'm completely misreading it, I still think the phrase is funny!

​"Culty Dairy"

And best for last, found this one in a bathroom! Wonder what issue led to this sign being made.

​"No Smoking, No Crying"

That's all for now! One more very busy month until I'm back home for (most of) the summer!