toby of the day, 3.17.2008

Today toby and I hung out in the park watching the ducks. Actually, toby had no interest in the ducks but was intent on finding and eating my cell phone. At one point a young Chinese girl a little older than toby came and laid down on our blanket. Her mother and grandmother then came over and, rather than collect the girl, proceeded to take her picture while she petted toby’s head. Toby of course played hard to get while continuing to eat the phone. The family then tried to leave, but the girl wouldn’t budge. at first they just left her there, but then a few minutes later they returned and carried her off. it occurs to me that I perhaps should learn a few phrases in mandarin should such a situation arise again, like “hello” and “it’s a pleasure to meet you” "nice weather we're having" “no, no, he is a boy, he just has a lot of hair” or “wait, don’t forget your child that is sitting on our blanket”