For all the tea in China - LittleWanderingWren

Mum’s Youth Hostel is open again

Never a dull moment!

This week we’ve had two teachers from China

move in for a couple of weeks.

They arrive bearing a wonderful gift of Chinese tea.

I can already tell we’re going to have a great time…

For a start they are fluent English speakers

which always makes things easier for a good natter.

I love exchanging information about our lives.

With our previous students I often have to resort to

my not-so-fine acting skills…

Secondly these ladies are here with

sixteen of their hospitality students,

not staying in our house, in case you were wondering.

There is a limit to my hospitality!

But before we know it

they are offering to help left, right and centre.

This is a massive bingo moment,

I do not expect our Home Stay guests to help in any way,

but I sure appreciate the offer.

They tell me they teach hotel management

Holy Moly!

Do you think they will notice

that I didn’t iron the bottom sheet on the beds?

Answer: If they did, they won’t say anything.

They are waaaay too polite.

They are an absolute delight to have in the house…

Could they have a mop

as they have a little water from the shower on the bathroom floor?

Can they do the washing up?

I love them already!

They are impressed with my husband who before dinner

emerges with a humungous pile of shirts from the laundry

to do his weekly ironing.

‘He’s just showing off‘ I say.

I’m wondering why we need to have the entire

contents of the laundry scattered all over the family room.

The very same room
that I have spent the entire week tidying up?!

Men!

We have a good laugh as I ask them

whether they iron for their husbands?

Apparently the answer is Yes!

‘I have never ironed for any man’,

I say proudly

‘That’s a man’s job’!

‘In Australia all men do their own ironing?’

they ask incredulously.

I can tell they are already impressed with Aussie life…

Now how to answer this one?

DH replies he would like me to do his ironing

but I am really bad at ironing shirts!

Talk about having our ~~dirty~~ washing out in public…

I tell them years ago

I perfected the technique of being really bad at ironing,

it’s a great skill to have!

They smile politely…

On the first day they return home with profiteroles
their students have made at school that day.

I’m impressed and worried.
Do you remember the Japanese Food blogger
I had staying with me last year?
The pressure to serve up every meal
ready to be showcased to the world
on a food blog nearly killed me!
We lived off baked beans for weeks after they left…

‘Do you teach cooking?’ I ask

Thankfully the answer is No!

Although anyone who has Chinese Facebook friends
will know 98% of their Facebook posts are food photos.
I can’t entirely relax!

I’m rather pleased that I have chosen to serve up
a three bird roast in honour of their arrival.

After the first course our delightful guests offer to do the washing up!

‘No need’ I say ‘we have a machine’

At the same time DH
reaches forward to collect their plates…

They smile, incredibly impressed.
First ironing, now washing up…

He has gone from ironing hero,
to mega dishwashing machine hero.

‘In Australia all men are washing up machines?‘ they ask
If you’re lucky I reply!

Tea anyone?