Today, after a busy Monday with Joint Venture Meeting and Site Inspection, I came home to my appartment on the 20th floor of 'Tian ci yuan' (a huge appartment complex), opend the light - just to realise that it got dark again. 'Meo venti'... no problem. After the last simlar incident I know all fuses and also have the key for the electricity booth on the floor. But, as often I activated the fuses they sprung out again immediatly. Pity. Ice cold showers last winter and sitting covered with blankets in a 8° cold living room came into my mind. And, after my foreign country health insurance is already expired for weeks I had found a new one this morning. I wanted to sign in most urgently. Also I wanted to continue my internet research about crazy visa and permit regulations for Tibet travels, my next holiday task. Last but not least they showed the opening game of Women Soccer World Cup on CCTV the sport channel of the state controlled Chinese television. Argentina against Germany: an unique TV opportunity! TV is pretty much useless here hence the language problem, censorship and the fact that the only program that is well understandable without words, sport, is mainly destinated to Volley Ball, Ping Pong and other disciplines where Chinese are successful as well as endless discussions of the commentators and interview guests.
I called Winnie, my English speaking landlord. She informed the appartment management department. After 10 minutes 2 guys knocked at my door: a young guy who had some idea about electricity and a security. After 2 minutes at least the light was working again. Yet I needed the plugs. I called Winnie again. It took one hour, I had good time to do short shopping on 'Wandezhuang', a night market street and bought vegetable for dinner: Italian noodles. After one hour the young guy came back together with an electrician and after one more hour, when I had finished preparing the noodles they happily showed how every single elctricity plug was working again. Was I grateful! In invited them for the noodles (of course they rejected) and thanked a thousand times.
After they left I started television. Germany - Argentina: 4 - 0. Decided! I saw the 5:0 of Birgit Prince and felt that the game is a little unfair because some of the German girls seemed twice as big as the Argentinians. Now that I get to the end of my story even 10 - 0! I feel sorry for the Argentinian goalwoman who helped with at least 3 German goals.
Wash up and internet now. I will appreciate it! Also, after I had complained a lot about China and Chinese in the recent past I learned one more positive thing (beside the better weather: Germany had chilly 12° and lots of rain, when I came back to Tianjin a nice 26° sunshine welcomed me): In Germany it would be impossible to get any handyman after 6 p.m. or at the weekend. In China they are at service nearly all night long. Next week the Women Soccer World Cup goes Tianjin! We will buy a flag and paint our face when we go to the stadium.
