An Apple what???

Interesting Saturday. It was very productive. First I went to Kai Fa Qu to run some errands and met up with Mrs. Jin and Jessie. We went to a small art store. I have been looking for one for a while now. I was so happy to have Jessie there, because she asked the store owner about where I could take some art classes. The store had a back room where they teach art classes, and I was able to get the times and styles of art throughout the week. Next Friday I will observe a Traditional Chinese Painting class, and on Saturday I will observe a sketching and painting class. I assume this will be a class for copying master paintings. I would like to be in a class with many adults so that i can meet more local people and practice my Chinese while also doing something I love-painting. We will see. Sounds like a great opportunity though. The cost is about a dollar an hour for lessons!

After that I went to the technology mall to see if I could purchase a webcam. I had a list of Mac compatible cameras with me. This mall is a series of freelance booths with piles of computer components in them. You have to be careful, because things could easily be old or used in a new box, and the prices are open for bargaining, so you never really know what you are getting. I had the double issue of trying to get something that will work with my Mac. I asked at the first booth and they did not have anything or could not guarantee if it was compatible. I was having difficulty understanding something the woman was trying to tell me and another woman- a customer approached and asked to help. Her english was great and she translated for me for a few minutes. Then she said that if was going to check other booths, she was free for a while and would help me. We spent a while shopping for a webcam. Interestingly, people did not seem to know what a mac computer was. I got questions like, "Can you please tell me what is different with an Apple computer?" "Why do you think the camera won't work? Is the plug different?" "Why don't you just buy Windows for your computer and then the camera will work?" Well, it was not very successful. Also, I was beginning to feel doubtful about the prices of all the cameras. So far Technology has been close to the same price as technology in the states. But the most expensive cameras seem to be priced at 25$ which makes me wonder what I am getting. So my new Chinese friend and translator, May (Chinese name: Dong Mei, or "Winter Flower") , suggested that I return tomorrow with my laptop to try all the models and see what will work for my computer. I can order a logitech camera, the exact one that I want, but it will take several weeks, and may not be as convenient or necessary. We will see tomorrow.

To thank May, I took her to Starbucks and bought a hot chocolate for both of us. She had never had hot chocolate before. Meeting May was my second good fortune of the day, I think, because she has a great personality and has agreed to tutor me in Mandarin for two days each week. She is a collector of information and a native of Dalian, and I think she could help me find things in the area when I am looking for something, like a library, a music scene, an art museum, etc... She is in her final term as a master's degree student, and is writing a dissertation on the Jin dynasty and the administration of that Dynasty. She has extensively studied Chinese history and culture and language, and is currently teaching english at a private school. An excellent connection for me, I think! We shall see. But between Art classes and Mandarin lessons, I feel that it was a great day for connections, and I am much in need of making friends and connections to the community!