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I had a spat with Nanny Zou today, through Chris. Poor guy. He is stuck in the middle of our bickering because we can only communicate through him. It began innocently enough. Zou mentioned that we were about to run out of laundry soap so she would pick some up in the morning and bring it with her. I told her not to worry about it, because I'm planning a major shopping trip tomorrow afternoon and I'll get it then. Zou says that won't be soon enough because she'll need it in the morning. Ok, I say, I'll go get it tonight. I have to go to the store anyway to get milk for breakfast. Zou then goes to the kitchen and brings out the oil jug to show me that we are almost out. She says she'll get it in the morning and bring it. No, I insist, I'll get it myself. Zou points out the Chris and I are both sick (and we are. We have quite the horrific colds right now) and she's just trying to make it easy for us. It's ok, I reply. We need milk, I have to go to the store. I'll get it.

Why, you may wonder, was I so insistent upon getting these things myself? Wouldn't it make more sense, logistically, just to let her do my shopping for me? After all, she was quite insistent that she wanted to do it. Ah, you see, you thus far ignorant of the events that took place last week. Let me fill you in: Zou arrived one morning with her arms loaded down with grocery bags. This was a surprise to me because neither Chris nor I asked her to pick anything up. As a matter of fact we had gone to the store ourselves the night before. Of course, Zou bought several of the same items we did: sugar, bananas, juice, etc. When I pointed out to her that we'd also bought these things, she kind of made an exasperated "oh!" sound. Then she proceeded to tell Chris that she wished she had known we went to the store. Turns out she got up early and rode her bike to Carrefour in the cold (maybe it was raining too?) This made me angry. We didn't ask her to shop for us, she took it upon herself, yet she's going to try and lay a guilt trip on us?

I've learned by now that this is simply her personality. She needs to make sure we know everything she does for us. She needs to make sure we know how much things cost, how inconvenient things are, how long things take, etc, all for our sake.( We had another incident a couple weeks ago over concert tickets. )

So now do you understand why I was so insistent that she not do the shopping? I don't like her making me feel guilty over things I didn't ask her to do. I can very well do the shopping myself. Besides this odd sort of power struggle between us, she's still as awesome as ever. Also, her job has gotten more challenging this semester. She's alone with the kids for 3 hours every morning while I attend class. It's more difficult for her to get stuff done, and I think that is stressing her out. I've started doing more around the house, so she won't feel overloaded by what's not getting done. She really does take her job seriously. Maybe that's what I need to understand.

And now, because I want to keep rambling ( I shall continue behind the cut )

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This cold is kicking my butt. Today I laid down for a nap while Zou took the boys outside. I was awakened by my cell phone ringing. It was Chris telling me that the boys and Zou were right outside the door and had been knocking for several minutes trying to wake me up. She called Chris and asked him to call me. I was just so wrecked from this nose clogging, cough inducing, voice stealing cold.

I feel guilty for bad mouthing Zou in my last entry. She has a good heart. And, as Chris explained it to me, her "guilt inducing" actions aren't meant personally. It is more a Chinese-thing. Ah, cultural differences.

My Chinese teacher, Gao lao-shi, talked to Chris today. She told him he must be helping me study a lot because I was doing so well. He replied that he'd hardly helped me at all, I was just smart :) I had planned on having a study session with Pangeline tonight with the dinner invite, but I had to cancel. It really is quite inconvenient not to have my own transportation. I needed to go to Metro for a big shopping trip. The trip was planned for today after lunch. I find out at lunch that the trip had been moved back to 4. *sigh* I wasn't home until after 7. If it were up to me, I would never choose to go grocery shopping so late in the day. However, since we have to coordinate among the faculty, students and staff, this is the result. If I want a free ride, I have to go when they tell me I can go.