Spain/China 2023, continuing (39)

[aadler]

Twenty-fifth day in China – August 05 Saturday

Long day. I may shortchange it, just from there being so much that I forget to note it all down.

I woke up at somewhat after 8:00AM, wakened Susan somewhat afterward. Kevin sent us a WeChat notification that he wanted to meet us for breakfast at Baker & Spice, across the street from us.

We went there just after 9:15, and he was there with Amber. We had rolls and drinks, just something light for breakfast. Afterward, the four of us walked next door to a combination coffee shop and flower shop (yes, they did that), and Susan bought a purple orchid for Mei‑li and a yellow one for Laura, Mei‑li’s mother. (During this time, Kevin and I got into another of our arguments, this time about the implications of government policy, and it went on to the point where I wound up telling him that I didn’t want to talk to him anymore on this because he did nothing but argue. He was less upset than I was, but even so he got a bit annoyed with me over my intransigent attitudes.)

Kevin and Amber left to go back home, as did we (except our ‘home’ was just upstairs). He contacted us again later, and we arranged to meet again for lunch, this time at Gaga, where we’d eaten on our first day in Shenzhen this year. Meanwhile, I’d talked with Susan to articulate why I disagreed, not just with Kevin’s arguments, but with the attitude from which he seemed to argue; and he had sent me some texts apologizing and saying that his disagreements were done for the purpose of intellectual exploration, and not intended to convey any disrespect. Even though I had got irritated enough to shut things down, I didn’t bear him any lasting grudge, and we talked through these things when we met and ate at Gaga.

Susan wanted to buy some teas while in Shenzhen, to deliver to friends once we returned to the States. We went to a tea shop (Bama Tea) that had been closed when we swung by earlier. Luxurious place; the lady in charge of it didn’t speak English, but a regular customer showed up right after we did, and he spoke English and had studied in the U.S. and was a friend of hers, and we had a long conversation with him while she served him and us, and he and Kevin wound up adding each other to their telephone contacts. We’d just gone in to purchase tea — which we did before we left — but that came at the end of at least an hour of tea service and interesting conversation.

Kevin came back up to the apartment with us and visited for a bit. I had indicated that I wanted to purchase something for Logan before we left, and previous visits had established that his preference (at least within my price range) was strong liquor. Kevin took me to a specialty store over on the next block; I’d intended to buy Johnny Walker Red Labor, but instead got Jim Beam double-oak bourbon.

Once again Kevin returned home, but it had already been understood since last night that he and Mei‑li and Amber would tonight, with us, be joining the family of one of Amber’s schoolmates (they had come to her birthday party, and Kevin teaches English to their two boys). We went to the restaurant where Kevin had bought me a beer a couple of weeks ago, and had a very long dinner that was ordered for our western appetites: beef, chicken, pork, spaghetti, pizza, and pitchers of both red and white sangria. (The kids got orange juice.) Lots of talk and mixing and stories, before and during and after the food. Susan drank enough to get silly, but little enough that it wore off quickly once the dinner evening ended and we got back to the apartment.

Kevin brought her up — I’d gone ahead of them, needing to get to the bathroom as quickly as possible — and stayed for hours, the three of us talking about many, many things. We’re drawing close to the end of our visit, and I think he was taking the opportunity to spend as much time with us as possible, since he’s been working so much since we got here. It was a very, very rewarding evening.

I spent some time catching up on my travel account (this one, which I’m finishing for tonight), and then Susan and I to bed before midnight.