Box of Joy

I have learned with great joy and celebration that the address above will make things from America come to me in China. I received my first care package from home, and am now amply supplied with drink mixes and decaf coffee and candies that I could not find here no matter where I went. I practically rolled in the bags of hot cocoa, hugging jars of smokehouse almonds to my chest, trying not to choke in delight on the delicate perfection encompassed by my resealable bag of pistachio crisps.
Basically, Trish granted me and my coworkers an early Christmas with one huge box of delights. I took a bunch of the Reese's she sent me (the one candy I have identified as having absolutely no presence in China, even in the more Western stores, probably since peanut butter and chocolate are not a common mix in the rest of the West) and shared them with my coworkers. Some of my friends were at a meeting, so I left chocolates at their desks. This morning, I received a call from one of those friends thanking me for the candy. I was happy that she enjoyed the chocolate and peanut butter ball of joy enough to call me about it, but I was pained to think how seldom my Chinese friends would have an opportunity to enjoy the blessing of Reese's here.
I took some of my candies with me to the market where I shop every day that I have time but no food. I have a few favorite vendors. One just made it onto my list the day prior. I have never purchased anything from him, but he caught me trying to use a yuan (like a dollar) in place of a mao (like a paper dime). I nearly paid 1.9 yuan instead of the intended 1 yuan. In truth, the monetary significance of the mistake was not worth much to me, but he worked quite hard trying to make sure I did not overpay another vendor (who, by the way, was also trying to correct my error, but she was on the other side of a large counter while the man was standing right beside me). To prevent me from making such a mistake again, he took my 9 mao and gave me a yuan in return -- shorting himself by a mao. I thanked him and the mushroom vendor from whom I had been purchasing part of my dinner profusely for watching out for me. It gave me no end of pleasure to return the next day with exotic candies for both of them and some of my other market acquaintances. After I had completed my rounds and made most of my purchases, I returned to the man from whom I had never bought anything and asked him how much his green onions were (because, at that point, I wanted to buy something from him, and green onions were the only thing he had to offer that I had not already purchased elsewhere or the day before). He grabbed a handful of the long green shoots and stuffed them into my bag, not accepting any payment but my uncontrollably broad smile. This is the kind of thing that makes me the very happiest -- not getting free stuff, but connecting with people in new and wonderful ways.

If you haven't seen the update about my trip to Wuxi, read below!