Brrrrrrrrr!

I didn’t hear rain when I woke up this morning, which was a good sign! Somehow, my alarm did not go off, which was not a good sign. My Chinese cell phone resets itself every time I charge it (I have to take out the battery) so the time/date etc. is never right. I have been using my American cell phone (which doesn’t get service) as my clock/alarm. But, since it is always searching for service (it hasn’t gotten the memo that I am in The Middle of Nowhere, China) the battery dies very quickly. Long story short, I decided to put it on standalone mode last night, which I thought just mean it wouldn’t search for service (it told me it would not accept incoming/outgoing calls, which was fine). BUT apparently it also meant, no alarm! Luckily, I woke up (late) but not late enough to have it drastically impact my day!

I opened my door to see snow! Not a lot, but enough to cover the ground. Breakfast was rice and eggs (I did not like it) and then Carrie, Jason and I were off to our Pandas. We cleaned in the morning, just like yesterday, which is a lot of work. Mostly because the broom (which we use for everything) is VERY short (I think it’s even short for Chinese people) so I am hunched over all morning which makes my back sore. We clean the inside of all three cages as well as the outside and then the common area which is usually filled with leftover bamboo scraps, etc. It wasn’t raining today which was great (not having wet shoes makes quite a difference) but the snow was all melting off the trees so basically, it was raining.

I thought ahead today and brought my travel guide to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. It actually works out great because I had wanted to read it in Beijing but just didn’t have the time. So now, between feedings and while Carrie and Jason are writing in the log books, I am able to read. Kills two birds with one stone. I like that.

After the second feeding I asked if I could go for a walk since it wasn’t pouring. I figured I better take advantage of the opportunity. Carrie suggested I walk a bit further to where Tom is stationed. She said the Pandas are younger and more playful. I walked down and saw Tom through the window so he came out and was telling me the good places to see. He had to get back to his feeding so he pointed me in a good direction and off I went.

It was pretty cool to see the Pandas when nobody else is around. They are so funny to watch, especially when they eat! I also saw two Pandas wrestling which made me laugh as well!

It was getting closer to 11:30am (the last feeding before our lunch) so I headed back in time to feed the Pandas their Panda Cake. Then, lunch time for us humans! Carrie, Jason and I stopped at the “tourist shop” on the way. They just have everything Panda you could want. Then, we met everyone at lunch. I asked again if it would be ok if I ordered something for everyone and shared, and I think that was fine. So I ordered rice (although they charge me for it but I just eat from the big bowl on the table) and the tomatoes and egg again. Since mine takes a while I usually eat a little from everyone else’s and then when mine comes out we all share that. Luckily, everyone had some of “mine” and there was still food left over when we were finished, so I think the system we have implemented is working out just fine.

After lunch I came back to the room to warm up a bit and then went back for the afternoon shift. Although, we don’t really do much, just feed the Pandas. The feeding is very cool though because you have to make sure they are sitting properly and that you hand them the food. They usually take it with their mouth, but today She-She grabbed her carrot with her hand which made me laugh. I am so glad I have my travel book because it gives me something to do in between feedings. I think Carrie and Jason are a bit bored too but since they have their logs to do they have less time to do nothing.

I left again at 3:30, mostly because there really isn’t much for me to do, but also because I like to have some time to check my email and take a shower. While I was checking my email I met Amy (who looks JUST like Steve’s sister Christine, it’s like his family is here with me, I love it!) She is from London and through the same program as everyone else and she had just done “Panda Play”. She was telling me you get 5 minutes with the Pandas and someone can take your photos and video etc. But I think that’s really the only time you get to interact with them. I think it is a rip off personally, because I thought I would be doing more of that by being a “keeper” when really we just fed and clean. Now don’t get me wrong, I do think what I am doing is pretty cool, and I do see a different side than a normal tourist would, but I am pretty much just free labor. I’ll get back to that..but Amy said it’s $150 for the 5 minutes or $75 for just a few pictures. I do not like the idea of spending the money (it’s hard when all I do is spend money knowing I am not making any) BUT I was thinking about treating myself for my birthday! Also..you couldn’t PAY me to come back to this place, so I figured it’s now or never.

I know it sounds like I am complaining a lot, and it’s not like I am in hell. Sometimes I stop and remind myself I am working with Pandas, in CHINA! And that is pretty cool. I think the weather has a lot to do with it..it is freezing, literally. I can NEVER get warm and that drives me insane. I’m cold in the shower, when I eat, when I sleep, all the time! I think it would be more enjoyable if I was more comfortable.

Also, I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t quite this. I think I was hoping for more interaction with the Pandas. And I sort of feel like this “volunteering” is really just free labor with not as many rewards as I would have liked.

I know I am going on and on, but I also think there is a LOT of downtime, and I wished that could be filled with, something, anything. My schedule is like this..
We have breakfast at 7:30
We arrive at the Panda site around 8:00ish
Between 8:15 and 10:00 we clean the Panda’s cage and outside (this is when I get tired and sore)
Then there is usually a feeding (takes about 10 minutes) at 10:30 and 11:30 with nothing to do in between
We walk back and have lunch and I warm up and we need to be back by 2:00
Then there are feedings until 4:30
Dinner at 5:30 and that’s that!

After talking with people at dinner I think everyone is a bit disappointed there isn’t more to do with the Pandas. More interaction or more, anything. I felt better about my..well..disappointment is too strong a word, but something like that, about the whole program. Again, it IS really cool; I think I was just expecting more. I was also happy to learn that everyone else expected the accommodations to be a bit more. But, someone was saying they are rebuilding the other Panda base that was destroyed in the earthquake, so maybe a lot of the money is going there.

Will was telling us that his front door was falling off the hinge. But, instead of screwing it back in, the just cut off the part of the door that wouldn’t fit in the frame! It’s things like that that we all just say, what?

I don’t know how this came up, but tonight at dinner it somehow got brought up that I sleep in ALL my clothes (this includes: two pairs of socks, PJ pants, long sleeve shirt, 2 sweatshirts, Northface jacket and scarf). Everyone BURST out laughing and told me they sleep in ONLY PJs!!! I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT!!! WHY am I freezing and everyone else can sleep in PJs? We all had a good laugh and I continued to be interviewed about my sleeping habits all night. I promised all of them I would TRY sleeping without my Northface and scarf tonight.

On that note, I feel bad because every night they usually stay and play cards in the dining room. I would LOVE to stay, but I literally can’t because I am too cold! It’s painful, and knowing I have a bed that will help with my numbness is enough to say, “Sorry guys, I am gonna head back”. We have all talked about how we wished there was a place to “hang out” here with couches or some type of common room. Oh yeah and heat would be nice.

Well I do feel like I have complained a lot these past couple of days. But, alas, I told you this blog was going to be an honest one (as hard as it is for me sometime..) so there you have it!

Hugs and kisses from Mason, Lu-Lu and She-She.