Rebecca A. Foster

My favorite kind of light bulb is the GE Soft Pink bulb; I had them in every lamp in my apartment in San Antonio, and it was lovely being bathed in a soft, flattering pale blush glow. I tried to make sure all my dates saw me near a lamp as often as possible. Side note: you know how in old movies when things get romantic, the light gets all soft and fuzzy? There should be a way for that to happen in real life too; it would be so helpful! I'd know exactly what was on his mind and I could gear up for it. (I hate surprises. Also, I am a dork and usually thinking about, oh, light bulbs and stuff. I miss the cues sometimes.)  Target in San Antonio carried pink bulbs and it was never a big deal to buy them, but they're non-existent everywhere I've checked here. Where did all the pink bulbs go? I found them online-- $60 for 12, plus shipping. Um, maybe not!  I kept checking and did find a cheaper price, phew! So, I have to have pink bulbs shipped in? Really, light bulbs? I have...

Those of you who have been reading this blog a while know that in San Antonio I lived across the street from a firehouse. Most homes in my neighborhood were gated estates set back from the road, but I walked everywhere I could and ran in my neighborhood at night, so the firefighters would often see me outside and we'd say hello, and then chat a bit, and then we became friends. One year I couldn't go home for Thanksgiving and when they found out, invited me over to have Thanksgiving dinner with them. I brought pumpkin pound cake and we had a delicious dinner. (Firefighters are awesome cooks.) I was pretty honored they'd ask me to join them, and it remains a memorable Thanksgiving. I'm sure it's the only Thanksgiving I'll ever spend in a firehouse. I feel like firehouses are special places; they are setup up just to protect and help. Especially after living overseas, I appreciate that we have these places, and people willing to serve in them. I think nothing rea...

I’m going through pictures and videos I took while in China, and I’ll be posting the ones that I think share a lot about what it was like to live in China and Chongqing and that I hope will be of some interest to you. They’re all short videos, 2 minutes or less. This first one was a common sight on the sidewalk at night; small sidewalk restaurants sold fresh fish pan-broiled in hot spices with veggies. As you can see, there is a basin of oxygenated water keeping the fish alive. You pick out the fish you want and the guy weighs it on the scale; you pay by weight. As you can also see, the fish was flopping around too much. It really shocked me to see this the first few times, and then I got used to it. When he chucks it down the sidewalk, he’s throwing it to the person who will cook it. I know we think it’s gross to kill and eat meat on the spot, but without access to good refrigeration, this was the safest way to eat meat in China for a long time, and now it’s tradition. ...

So, wiser heads than me tell me I am experiencing reverse culture shock. And that it will fade in time. And this is supposed to be comforting, and it is, but it is also scary to me. Because there are some things I don't WANT to fade. Here is one example: I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond over the weekend and I was just unexpectedly furious at all of the crap for sale that no one really needs for any reason other than laziness. You know the front of the store, where they put all the little gadgets and gizmos things on special? I was just disgusted seeing all of that, and sad, because I've seen firsthand the hard lives and smiles and children of the people who make those things. And I want more for them than to spend their lives in a factory churning out crap no one really needs. Some of my students work in the factories in South China in the summer, and I know some of them will end up there permanently. And they have so much potential! What would they be doing instead if this wer...

Today I did a mock shopping activity with my students. I gave them a Target weekly ad and a stack of American play money, along with instructions to work in pairs to "buy" things together from the ad and see who could come the closest to spending all their money without going over. But as I walked around checking their progress, I noticed a couple of pairs with money sitting unused on the desk. They were still talking about the items, but not "buying" any. I asked them why, and they said, "We already bought some stuff, we don't anything else."  What? Shopping at Target and buying only what you need?  Huh. Never occurred to me. I mean, give me $1,000 and a Target, I'm done in 15 minutes flat. I have to work to spend less than $50 everytime I walk through the doors. But here? You buy what you need and save the rest. It's just one example of the mistakes I make assuming my students are going to react the way Western students would react. Some ...

I love that my laptop and iPod run on 100 - 240 voltage and I don't have to carry converters.  I love that I can take antibiotics when I get sick.  I love that I can download silly American tv shows and get a small respite from daily life here.  I love that I can get dimsum 24 hours a day on the street near my apartment.  I love that I have friends who know I am eccentric and have a hard time moving past my mistakes, and like me anyway.  I love that I can still shop on Amazon, Target and iTunes because my credit card address is still U.S. based.  I love cheese. 

1. Amazon.com 2. Target 3. iTunes 4. Google

When I lived in Utah this past winter, I used a SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) sun lamp at my work desk. I bought this one on Amazon, a bit pricey, but the light projected really well at any angle. I set it up next to my laptop and I turned it on for about an hour in the morning and again in the afternoon. If you have a tendency toward SAD, I cannot underestimate the difference a SAD lamp can make. The only bad side affect was coworkers asking me what I was growing at my desk. ;) Our medical office here in China (they are awesome and give us anything we need) gives SAD lamps to people living in high pollution cities because the sunlight doesn't reach us very often. I have been feeling so down in the dumps the last few weeks and duh, I remembered my SAD lamp. It is on my desk right now, I hope it makes a difference. (This one is small and has to be angled toward eye level. I miss my big desk version.) You can also get standing SAD lamps for rooms, but these are even pricier. I...

I love corsets. They just feel good to wear. I had a black satin one custom-made when I was in Thailand and I bought this blue one from seamstress extraordinaire angrylittledeadgirl on eBay (although she has a separate online store as well now). (A little story about this corset: W. took me to a concert at Emo's in Austin for my birthday and this little blonde girl walked by and said, "Wow, great corset!" then started running her hands over it. After she moved on I turned to W., laughing, and told him, "That girl just felt me up!" W.: "Um, yeah. It wasn't bad to see.") angrygirl has some new designs up and I covet this pirate-style one. How great would this be for a night out with some simple, well-cut jeans? And this zipper one. Very fun. And just a wee bit naughty. Which is kinda what a corset should be. But I do prefer them with jeans and boots. I like the casual/formal/wee naughty dichotomy. SugarKitty is another amazing seamstress and a great ...

A couple of random things: 1. Online shopping. Because when you order something it's like giving yourself a gift twice: when you order it, and when the box arrives on your doorstep. Sometimes I order things and then forget about it, so it's really a surprise. Even when what you've ordered is for someone else, still fun to get a package. Two things I don't order online, though: shoes and jeans. You gotta know those puppies fit. 2. Canned cranberry sauce. I put away a whole can yesterday. So good layered atop mashed potatoes and stuffing. I like cutting it along the lines, too. Much more fun than fresh. 3. John Krasinski, cover boy. I don't usually find really tall guys attractive, because, duh you can't reach 'em, but loving those arms and hands. And how cute are those big eyes? Those eyes would actually want to hear how your day went. I'd just hope he were sitting down so I could react appropriately.

There a lot of things I don't splurge on. TVs, cars, and lightbulbs to name a few. But I am a make-up junkie. Because here's the thing: it's your face. Everyone sees it. If you look really made up all the time, you're probably using the wrong products. Makeup, in most cases, should enhance your looks, not change them. (Exceptions? Body painting in Tahiti; M.A.C. body art.) And 'change' is usually cheaper. Because it doesn't have to look good. I went to Sephora and tried on approximately 15 different eye shadow brands in shades of gold and lavendar. (It should be called Sephora: The Make-up Porn Palace.) This is what I ended up buying: Christian Dior 5 Eyeshadow #790 Night Dust. It has shades of lavendar PLUS a brown shade. Combining brown and lavendar was the kicker for me. (I have dark brown eyes.) And it has super-fine pigments, so the colors stay true, blend like a cream and don't crease. If I look AMAZING the next time you see me, now you know why. :...