It all started, I think, with the sidewalks. When I got back from my summer program, all the sidewalks in my area were completely torn up. Not only were the sidewalks torn up, but the new bricks were stacked in the bike lane right next to the sidewalks, so going anywhere on foot, which is the only way I really get around, was nearly impossible.
Then, I had an issue with my stove. Turns out some of that sidewalk mess was our city replacing its coal gas with natural gas for cooking. So I had to have long and involved conversations in Chinese with my neighbor and landlord about changing out my stove so I could continue cooking at home. My neighbor and my landlord are both very kind and helpful, so it got done with a minimum of fuss, just a lot of stress for me to navigate change.
Have I mentioned I don't like change? That I find it stressful, particularly when I have to deal with it in another language?
Then it was the elevator. I noticed when I came home from a weekend away a new "card" spot in the elevator and thought "oh no." These are popular now in hotels in China (do they have this in America?) where you have to beep your card over the button to make the elevator move. Fortunately a Chinese friend has been around a lot recently and was able to read the notice on the door (they do tell you these things if you're literate, which as I'm still pretty functionally illiterate especially for notices on the door it's not so easy to find out). So now tomorrow I have to go buy elevator cards. This also means that my water delivery guy, any friends, and anyone else who needs to come must be escorted by me up the elevator, as I'm 10 flights up. I am so not excited about this new change.
Have I mentioned that I think changes often make things worse not better?
Now it's the water. They're changing out the water pipes apparently, so the water will be shut off in our whole building for four days. Now, these are the first four days my parents will be in town visiting, so we will have to find another place to shower and stay. Oh, and no laundry or homecooked food during those days (or at least no dishwashing or handwashing).
These aren't all the changes September has brought. I do hope that dealing with these increasingly inconvenient life changes helps me change into a better person who reflects the Master better. Ask that I can do that even as the changes never stop. Hopefully changes for the positive in me don't stop either.
Then, I had an issue with my stove. Turns out some of that sidewalk mess was our city replacing its coal gas with natural gas for cooking. So I had to have long and involved conversations in Chinese with my neighbor and landlord about changing out my stove so I could continue cooking at home. My neighbor and my landlord are both very kind and helpful, so it got done with a minimum of fuss, just a lot of stress for me to navigate change.
Have I mentioned I don't like change? That I find it stressful, particularly when I have to deal with it in another language?
Then it was the elevator. I noticed when I came home from a weekend away a new "card" spot in the elevator and thought "oh no." These are popular now in hotels in China (do they have this in America?) where you have to beep your card over the button to make the elevator move. Fortunately a Chinese friend has been around a lot recently and was able to read the notice on the door (they do tell you these things if you're literate, which as I'm still pretty functionally illiterate especially for notices on the door it's not so easy to find out). So now tomorrow I have to go buy elevator cards. This also means that my water delivery guy, any friends, and anyone else who needs to come must be escorted by me up the elevator, as I'm 10 flights up. I am so not excited about this new change.
Have I mentioned that I think changes often make things worse not better?
Now it's the water. They're changing out the water pipes apparently, so the water will be shut off in our whole building for four days. Now, these are the first four days my parents will be in town visiting, so we will have to find another place to shower and stay. Oh, and no laundry or homecooked food during those days (or at least no dishwashing or handwashing).
These aren't all the changes September has brought. I do hope that dealing with these increasingly inconvenient life changes helps me change into a better person who reflects the Master better. Ask that I can do that even as the changes never stop. Hopefully changes for the positive in me don't stop either.
