Picture This
The girls have gotten into the routine of meeting me on the webcam each evening (Guangzhou time), about the time that I arrive at the office each morning. We leave the webcam connection open as they go about their business of winding down for the day. I go about my business of getting the day started. We talk as we take care of other things, much as we would do if we were all home together. Then the girls get up in the morning as I am winding down for the day and we reverse the process of spending time together. This makes the separation more bearable.
One of them will go take a shower, then return to the camera while drying their hair. Then the other one will take her turn. Bad Cici, Ping might say. You got the bed wet when you came out of the shower. Let's use the blow dryer to get it dry. Look at the jewelry Mama bought, Cici might say, showing it to me. She pronounces it jewery. We had a mosquito in the bedroom last night, they told me yesterday. Ping ended up with 5 bites and Cici had 3 bites.
We also talk about things we need to do to prepare for school. Cici needs a sketch pad and a few other supplies. There are forms to fill out and sign and turn in at the school. There are books to be picked up and the class schedule and locker assignment and combination. We discuss and make decisions about these things via web cam.
With me back in the kitchen while Ping is gone I have noticed that some of the things she changed upon arrival are now back the way they were when I managed the kitchen. She learned that there was a reason I did these things a certain way. Like using a small size of liquid dish washing soap to squirt the soap when needed, then refilling it from a large container of soap. She didn't like that method and wanted to use a container with pump action, which I thought was too much trouble. She apparently reached the same conclusion.
But there are other things that are much more conveniently arranged now. Ping spends more time in the kitchen than I did, so over time she made some significant changes in where things are stored. It isn't my kitchen any longer. but I am happy to give it up to her.
One of them will go take a shower, then return to the camera while drying their hair. Then the other one will take her turn. Bad Cici, Ping might say. You got the bed wet when you came out of the shower. Let's use the blow dryer to get it dry. Look at the jewelry Mama bought, Cici might say, showing it to me. She pronounces it jewery. We had a mosquito in the bedroom last night, they told me yesterday. Ping ended up with 5 bites and Cici had 3 bites.
We also talk about things we need to do to prepare for school. Cici needs a sketch pad and a few other supplies. There are forms to fill out and sign and turn in at the school. There are books to be picked up and the class schedule and locker assignment and combination. We discuss and make decisions about these things via web cam.
With me back in the kitchen while Ping is gone I have noticed that some of the things she changed upon arrival are now back the way they were when I managed the kitchen. She learned that there was a reason I did these things a certain way. Like using a small size of liquid dish washing soap to squirt the soap when needed, then refilling it from a large container of soap. She didn't like that method and wanted to use a container with pump action, which I thought was too much trouble. She apparently reached the same conclusion.
But there are other things that are much more conveniently arranged now. Ping spends more time in the kitchen than I did, so over time she made some significant changes in where things are stored. It isn't my kitchen any longer. but I am happy to give it up to her.
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