June 7, 1933

Dear Mother and Dad,-

Well we are moved and have we green and orange curtains or haven't we. I sewed all day yesterday making them and they certainly look nice. We are getting a wicker dining room set and a table to go on the porch, then we will be fixed. It has been very warm here but our house is so nice and cool that it is quite pleasant. For five dollars we got eleven pots of plants, and now we have a sort of garden on our porch. As I told you, here they line the porches with flowers instead of having them in the yard. I have two nice pots of Chrysanthemums (purple ones), two of Cockscomb, two ferns, two palms, two daisies, and two of some little pink flower. Gwen is making curtains too. and we have a lot of fun sewing them. The Terrills live about five blocks from us, on the other side of the golf course. We live right on the golf course, and we certainly have a beautiful view from our bathtub. You ought to see the golf course. It is all grass, with dirt putting spots. It is simply alive with coolies carrying their wares to market, and interpressed among them are a few foreigners trying to drive a golf ball in a corkscrew line so as to go between the coolies instead of hitting them. They raise an awful rumpus if anyone is hit, but they make no effort to keep them off the course.

Night before last stu and I went to my second chinese dinner. It was given by General Wong at the Aviation Club. However, neither Stu or I can abide Chinese food- it is awful. You eat with chopsticks of course, and instead of napkins they bring around hot towels with soap and water after every course, and there are about ten or twelve courses. Most of the dinner consists of chicken. Chicken and walnuts, chicken soup, sharksfin soup (which is really chicken soup with sharksfin in it), chicken and mushrooms etc. That sounds as though it might not be bad, but by the time they get through preparing it, it doesn't taste like much. Every dish if full of some kind of slimy paste. They bring in a big bowl full of stuff, and it's every man for himself. Everyone digs in with chopsticks and goes to it. And can we manage chopsticks, In a case like that you have to learn or starve.

The man just came for the rent. What a time. In this country you don't even trust yourself when it comes to money. The rent collector couldn't speak English, and I couldn't speak Chinese. Our boy was the interpreter. I wrote down a receipt for the check, and asked him to sign it. Not reading English he wouldn't sign. He had one in Chinese, and I not reading Chinese wouldn't sign it. The boy translated mine to him and his to me, but he didn't trust the boy, so finally we got a sheet of paper and each wrote what we wanted, and both signed. He is bringing his brother who reads english tonight, and I have promised to show him what he has signed. I have to take the boy's word for what I have signed. However the check is the important thing and it is so sewed up that you couldn't squeeze another letter in if you tried. Chinese business is the funniest thing in the world. You must always be friendly to start and friendly at the finish no matter how much you fight in the middle. Money is the primary interest in China. Every talk or conversation, is in terms of money. The other day I went down to the compradore and had a real set too. He shouted and I shouted and the people in the street gathered around as they always do when ever any exchange of any kind takes place. The fight was over thirty cents that I wouldn't pay because I had not signed for it. An argument over money is the breath of life to Chinese- they love it, and to the victor goes the admiration. If you let them cheat you even ten cents, you lose their respect, or as they say here- lose face. Face is a very important thing here. Well I won that fight. At the close of every argument they offer you a cigarette, as a no-hard-feelings token, and you must part friends. Bargaining is without question the national sport.

So far Stu and I have not added to our weight, but everyone says in time we will get fat. I think the hot weather isn't conductive to to gaining. You perspire gallons the minute you leave the house. I am getting so that I hate to go out. Our house is so pleasant and cheerful, but you have to walk some to get exercise. Our doctor told us that exercise is very necessary here. We certainly get the fresh air. Our house is just one big window.

We think about you all a great deal, and wish you were here to see all the funny things. We often wonder what you would think of it all, and what Dad would do if he tried to play golf here. We don't ride in rickshaws a great deal, only from store to store if it is especially hot, but would like to see mother in one. They way they pull you through the traffic, she would be right on the coolies back.

When we went down to the river boat to get the case the other day, we were so amused to find the purser in shorts and barefooted, with a weeks growth on his face. It was good. You are greeted by people in every conceivable state of dress or undress. I cannot get used to going into a fairly nice looking office and finding men (Chinese) in undershirts, shorts, and barefooted. They come up to you speaking the most perfect English, and very business like. If you closed your eyes you would think you were in an office at home, but when you open them the sight is incongruous.

Stu and I often wonder how you pronounce our address. Tungshan is pronounced T(a cross between d and t) Tung (like toong, oo as in moon) shan (as the English pronounce dance) -the a, that is.

I have been typing this off while waiting for Gwen. We are going down town to see Mrs. Anthony who has been sick, and I will mail this on the way.

Lots of love to all,

Jeannette.