HARRY POTTER SPOILER ALERT. IF YOU WISH NOT TO KNOW THE CONCLUSION OF HARRY POTTER, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN PAST THIS SECTION. HARRY POTTER SPOILER ALERT.
I finally finished it. After a week plus some change and some would-be spoilers, I decided that I could no longer leisurly read the book and just needed to get it over with.
Last night I read until the wee hours of the morning, deciding to leave the last 60 pages till the next day. I brought the book with me to class and read it during our breaks. As I was reading page 707 and had just finished with:
"But you're dead," said Harry
"Oh yes, " said Dumbledore matter-of-factly
"Then... I'm dead too?"
"Ah," said Dumbledore, smiling more broadly. "That is the question isn't it? On the whole, my dear boy, I think not."
What? He's not dead? After he found out that the only way to kill Voldemort was if he let Voldemort kill him (he contained a piece of V's soul within his own), he ended up in a place of limbo.
Right while I was reading this part, my teacher saw what I was reading and told me: "我听说HARRY死了." (Translation: I heard Harry dies). I was livid. Don't tell me! Let me find out for myself! After reading for 10 years, don't tell me!
I steamed for a few hours after that, but once I finally got to read the end of the book on my own, I realized that Harry does not die, but chose to live.
I was kind of disappointed with the ending. Yes its all happy happy joy joy that he and Ginny marry and have 3 kids, while Ron and Hermione marry and also have kids. However, though it was an emotional rollercoaster, I think JK Rowling took the safe way out. At least one of the 3 major characters should have died!
Oh well, I cried at the conclusion. The conclusion, however, was not as closed as I thought and I really think she can make more books.
END HARRY POTTER RANT/SPOILER
Today's lesson in class was very interesting. We read (in Chinese) about a child who watched an MTV cartoon and imitated it, using matches to burn down his house and kill his older sister. We then had to write a short op-ed about whether or not parents should let their kids watch tv and why.
As the lessons progress, the interest factor also increases. Yesterday we learned about how to break up with a boyfriend who drinks too much. Today, we learned the word for "burn to death" and "messed up". All in all, very useful stuff!
I was going to write more, but I'm tired, so I'll save my thoughts for another time. I think tonight I'll be joining a lot of students to a restaurant/bar that has a trivia night... yay for getting out of the dorm!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Don't let the bed bugs bite...
... because they do.
And sometimes you might have to get up a few times at night to re-apply bug repellent because they keep biting your feet and arms.
Time to get back to HP... hope to finish today or tomorrow. :-)
And sometimes you might have to get up a few times at night to re-apply bug repellent because they keep biting your feet and arms.
Time to get back to HP... hope to finish today or tomorrow. :-)
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Tea and Surprises
Friday night we headed to the Laoshe Tea House for a little show whil sipping on tea. Instead of a tea ceremony it was more like a variety show, offering acrobats, kungfu performaces, magic, and shadow puppetry. The tea was decent, but we checked out the private rooms and they are absolutely beautiful! So we plan on returning. I definately plan on returning because look at what I found at the entrance to the teahouse:
Saw a picture of Clinton on a banner at the Terracotta Warriors site, so I think this makes up for it. Though, don't be fooled, its not bronze. I almost knocked it over!
Saturday was more lackisdasical. My friend bought some badmitton rackets and shuttlecocks. (Each racket was under 5kuai a piece, keep in mind 7.5kuai=$1). We've already had a few badmitton championships in our one day of actually owning these. Before we packed them up and took them to a beautiful park next to the Forbidden City, one of the students got some really bad news.
I was heading from the 4th floor to the 1st, when I saw some maintenence workers bolting to the second floor. When I reached the second floor landing I noticed a loud sound of rushing water, I peaked down the hall and there is certainly was a flood of water coming out of a students room. As I approach the room, I notice a fetid smell. Yes, the sewer pipe broke and errupted in this kids room. It was horrible. His Chinese roommate was there at the time reading Harry Potter. Only the stuff on the floor and the random objects around were affected, but otherwise, most of their stuff was stored in their bureau... thank God.
After the park at Tianamen, a Chinese roommate took a few of us out for Hunan (or Hubei, I forgot) Province food, which is known for its spice. Once I learned that she wanted to order duck stomach, I knew it was going to be a repeat of our past experience. Though, this stuff was good! Lots of garlic, spice, peppers, cilantro (Chinese parsley)...
This is the chicken stomach. I had no problem stomaching the stomach this time. It was served cold and was very tasty in light of the other really spicy dishes that we ordered.
On the way to the restaurant I found this:
No slurpees...
Today is 1.) prepare for my parents arrival, 2.) do homework, 3.) go shopping for funny clothing, 4.) read Harry Potter (I'm half way done) Day.
Ooooh... here's a shirt I spotted last night:
T shirt reads:
NYC is the bomb
Yo! That rapper
Gots the Flava
Saw a picture of Clinton on a banner at the Terracotta Warriors site, so I think this makes up for it. Though, don't be fooled, its not bronze. I almost knocked it over!
Saturday was more lackisdasical. My friend bought some badmitton rackets and shuttlecocks. (Each racket was under 5kuai a piece, keep in mind 7.5kuai=$1). We've already had a few badmitton championships in our one day of actually owning these. Before we packed them up and took them to a beautiful park next to the Forbidden City, one of the students got some really bad news.
I was heading from the 4th floor to the 1st, when I saw some maintenence workers bolting to the second floor. When I reached the second floor landing I noticed a loud sound of rushing water, I peaked down the hall and there is certainly was a flood of water coming out of a students room. As I approach the room, I notice a fetid smell. Yes, the sewer pipe broke and errupted in this kids room. It was horrible. His Chinese roommate was there at the time reading Harry Potter. Only the stuff on the floor and the random objects around were affected, but otherwise, most of their stuff was stored in their bureau... thank God.
After the park at Tianamen, a Chinese roommate took a few of us out for Hunan (or Hubei, I forgot) Province food, which is known for its spice. Once I learned that she wanted to order duck stomach, I knew it was going to be a repeat of our past experience. Though, this stuff was good! Lots of garlic, spice, peppers, cilantro (Chinese parsley)...
This is the chicken stomach. I had no problem stomaching the stomach this time. It was served cold and was very tasty in light of the other really spicy dishes that we ordered.
On the way to the restaurant I found this:
No slurpees...
Today is 1.) prepare for my parents arrival, 2.) do homework, 3.) go shopping for funny clothing, 4.) read Harry Potter (I'm half way done) Day.
Ooooh... here's a shirt I spotted last night:
T shirt reads:
NYC is the bomb
Yo! That rapper
Gots the Flava
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The Cheerio Effect
1.) I got a 96.35 on my midterm. The best so far on any of my tests!
2.) I needed to celebrate
3.) I miss home.
4.) A one Ms. Jaclyn Winkelman (a page friend from GW) was in Beijing for a long weekend.
Since Xi'an I've kind of been in a funk, and needed some reminder of home, so Monday night Jackie and I met up and went to a restaurant called Grandma's kitchen that is notorious among expats. They have authentic "American" food, their wait staff speaks English, and they can satisfy any craving. Since I hadn't eaten a thing for 2 whole days, Jackie and I decided to go down to Chinatown (no pun intended) and order up a storm! We started with this quesidilla:
Then I got my AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS HAMBURGER. McD's has nothing on this. (notice the milk shake)
Then Jackie got her tuna melt.
This was by far the most expensive meal I've had in Beijing (80kuai/person= $10), but it was well worth it and I forsee myself returning many-a-time.
Yesterday Jackie and I planned to meet at the Pearl Market (which is where you buy pearls and anything knock-off). I attempted to navigate the Beijing bus system by myself and much to my un-surprise, I got lost, so I quit and decided to meet her on a familiar place.
We got a few snacks at the Wangfujing snack street. This is coke with dry ice. It tasted horrible and I'm almost sure that it's toxic!
And not wanting to break with our routine of eating not-Chinese food, we went and got some sushi... always good.
The highlight of these last few days, however, was the discovery of a grocery store called "Jenny Lous." It had Western food! Anything from Reeses to tortillas to brie to tv dinners. And as many of you well know, the one food in life I cannot do without is REGULAR Cheerios. Well, they had it, so naturally, I snapped it up, at the cost of $11/box. I think it was the best 85kuai I have ever spent. My purchases:
(Not pictured is colby jack cheese, bagels, and cream cheese)
There is no better way to get out of a funk than to be around things you recognize, especially food. My Cheerio purchase made my week (though, they are stale). I now have the strength to get through my 60 new vocab words a night, and my extra study hours! Thank you, Cheerios!
I've been so busy that I havn't been able to read much of Harry Potter. I'm only at about pg 130/760something. I have time now, so I plan on spending the rest of my afteroon with my favorite boy wizard!
2.) I needed to celebrate
3.) I miss home.
4.) A one Ms. Jaclyn Winkelman (a page friend from GW) was in Beijing for a long weekend.
Since Xi'an I've kind of been in a funk, and needed some reminder of home, so Monday night Jackie and I met up and went to a restaurant called Grandma's kitchen that is notorious among expats. They have authentic "American" food, their wait staff speaks English, and they can satisfy any craving. Since I hadn't eaten a thing for 2 whole days, Jackie and I decided to go down to Chinatown (no pun intended) and order up a storm! We started with this quesidilla:
Then I got my AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS HAMBURGER. McD's has nothing on this. (notice the milk shake)
Then Jackie got her tuna melt.
This was by far the most expensive meal I've had in Beijing (80kuai/person= $10), but it was well worth it and I forsee myself returning many-a-time.
Yesterday Jackie and I planned to meet at the Pearl Market (which is where you buy pearls and anything knock-off). I attempted to navigate the Beijing bus system by myself and much to my un-surprise, I got lost, so I quit and decided to meet her on a familiar place.
We got a few snacks at the Wangfujing snack street. This is coke with dry ice. It tasted horrible and I'm almost sure that it's toxic!
And not wanting to break with our routine of eating not-Chinese food, we went and got some sushi... always good.
The highlight of these last few days, however, was the discovery of a grocery store called "Jenny Lous." It had Western food! Anything from Reeses to tortillas to brie to tv dinners. And as many of you well know, the one food in life I cannot do without is REGULAR Cheerios. Well, they had it, so naturally, I snapped it up, at the cost of $11/box. I think it was the best 85kuai I have ever spent. My purchases:
(Not pictured is colby jack cheese, bagels, and cream cheese)
There is no better way to get out of a funk than to be around things you recognize, especially food. My Cheerio purchase made my week (though, they are stale). I now have the strength to get through my 60 new vocab words a night, and my extra study hours! Thank you, Cheerios!
I've been so busy that I havn't been able to read much of Harry Potter. I'm only at about pg 130/760something. I have time now, so I plan on spending the rest of my afteroon with my favorite boy wizard!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Xi'an
Get ready for a long one...
So, Thursday evening 100+ of us American students, Chinese roommates, and our teachers boarded a sleeper train en route to Xi'an, China, the former capitol of China (I didnt previously know that).
As you may be able to tell (that is my friend, Natalie and her roommate Wen Ju- both are staying through the fall) there are small rooms that have 3 bunks on each side. Quarters were cramped, but overall not too bad. I slept on the top bunk, both ways. I heard such horror stories of the train toilets (i.e.- holes in the ground) that I deprived myself of liquids for most of the day. My tactic worked, and I was not subjected to such horrors. 10 hours later and a 6:30am wake-up call from the ticket-keeper, we found ourselves in Xi'an.
Our program divided us up into teams of 4 (2 students and their roommates). I was partnered with a guy named Kevin, who is, to say the least, a bit socially awkward (good thing my blog is blocked by the govt out here and none of us can see it). Nontheless, we were paired into teams to complete "missions" all day Friday that will help us get acquainted with Xi'an. Xi'an, however, didn't want us to get acquainted with it because it rained the entire day. It was miserable to say the least. Good thing I dont know how to say "miserable" in Chinese, b/c I would have said it every 3 minutes.
Our first mission was to find the hotel from the train station w/out taking a taxi. That was easy. They set us up in probably the nicest hotel in Xi'an right in the center of the walled city. This was our view from our hotel:
The center bell tower. If you were to pan a few hundred yards to the Right you would find a McDonalds and Starbucks, both of which I sampled while in Xi'an.
Oh look, the clothing store next to us got some reject mannequines:
So anyways, long story short, Friday it rained. We didnt participate in the "missions". We visited the "Great Islamic Temple" which was not Great, but was Islamic:
(The temple is right behind me)
Then we went to a "museum" of stone tablets or something. Which was not a museum, but merely a walled in area with a few trees. I found a bench protected from the rain and fell asleep. Then is when my roomie and I separated from our "group" and went back to the hotel for some R&R.
After dinner (hot pot), we went to a Duck temple. Wait, nevermind, its called the Big Goose Temple or something (for reasons unknown), for a "light show":
---------Overcoming obstacles in China moment number #13:-----------
The light show was actually a water fountain show. There was a few football fields worth of water fountain flush with the ground at the base of the temple. For instance, remember those days when you could run through those fountains in some random park or outdoor mall that would squirt up water at random moments and you would get sprayed in the crotch/face/body? Well, this was a huge one that was synchonized to music. (I had to explain b/c I dont have very good pics of it).
All of the onlookers form a barricade around the fountain. Only the brave stood in the fountain inbetween some extraneous water shooter things that shot water horizontally rather than vertically. Here is before the show started. My roommie and another roomie are starting to get in a single-filed formation in order not to get wet from the horizontal-shooting spouts:
Me and my friends followed suit. The show started and we were taking lots of pictures. I was inbetween one set of horizontal fountains, and my friends were inbetween another and we were taking pictures of one another. When it was my turn to take pictures, a Chinese on-looker put his foot over a horizontal-shooter and shot water straight at me. Everyone, must have been a hundred or so Chinese people laughed and laughed at me. I was absolutely mortified. I was wet, I was the only really white person there, and they were making fun of me. That's when my friend Stephen's Chinese roommate (whom we've all had problems with) thought it would be funny to do the same thing. So he sprayed me from the other side. I was holding both Natalie's and my cameras and immediately worried about that, after shouting a few explitives to Song Peng (Stephen's roommate). I was again completley mortified. Natalie attempted to cheer me up so she had the great idea of well, since I'm already wet, we might as well all be wet. Next thing you know, 3 meiguoren (Americans) and one tongwu (my roommate) are running through the center of the water show having a great time. Next thing you know, a bunch of people are running through. We really did turn things around and put the ball back in our court.
PS- My camera was acting up the night of the incident, but now seems to be in working order.
PPS- Sorry for interjecting some Chinese. I find myself talking in Chinglish, with half of my sentences in English, half in Chinese.
------------end Overcoming Obstacles in China #13--------------
After that debacle we went out for some snacks at the Muslim night market. I was so exhausted that I soon followed by going to bed, at 1am. blah!
Saturday we had a bright and early wake up call and made it to the hotel's complementary breakfast. Our first traditional western breakfast since coming to China! Oh man that was so good... Omlettes, toast, sausage links, fruit....
We then took an hour long boss to the site where the Terracotta Warriors were found. They guard the tomb of the first emperor of China, so they're about 2000 years old. Holy crap, that's old. I've been typing for 35 minutes now, so I'm just going to leave you with some pictures. If you have any questions, just ask.
After only about 2 hours at the Warrior site, we had to leave, but not before waiting on the bus for 45minutes b/c 3 girls got lost. Our next desination was Hongqing (or something like that) Hot Springs, which we only had an hour to explore.
After the hot springs we went back to Xi'an and had a few hours to shop around before having to hop onto the train. I couldnt spend money if I wanted to. I tried to bargain for a purse or two, but I honestly think having a Chinese friend with me was detrimental, b/c the shopkeeper knew that they werent going to get a good price out of us. So, I'd have to say that my biggest expense this weekend was my two trips to Starbucks. I did manage to buy some Jasmine tea and a jade disc necklace.
I deprived myself of water once again and slept another night on the top bunk of our "hard" sleeper.
We arrived an hour early in Beijing this morning (7:30am), made it back to the dorm, slept, did homework, then went out into the heart of the city to find one of 2 bookstores carrying Harry Potter. I found it!
I am staring at my book right now. When I read the inside cover and the dedications while waiting for my subway train, I started to tear up. Everytime I've opened this book I started to get the chills. I want to read it soooo bad, but I also don't want to because I simply don't want it to end. If I were to guess, I would have to say that I've been reading HP books for 8 or 9 years now. I know I read 3 of them before we moved to Texas.
I think this is the most excited I've been all weekend. Xi'an was okay. Maybe it was the rain, maybe it was the lack of sleep, but the trip overall was 2 or 2.5 out of 5. Regardless, I look forward to future travel and reading my HP...
Ziajian,
Bugs
So, Thursday evening 100+ of us American students, Chinese roommates, and our teachers boarded a sleeper train en route to Xi'an, China, the former capitol of China (I didnt previously know that).
As you may be able to tell (that is my friend, Natalie and her roommate Wen Ju- both are staying through the fall) there are small rooms that have 3 bunks on each side. Quarters were cramped, but overall not too bad. I slept on the top bunk, both ways. I heard such horror stories of the train toilets (i.e.- holes in the ground) that I deprived myself of liquids for most of the day. My tactic worked, and I was not subjected to such horrors. 10 hours later and a 6:30am wake-up call from the ticket-keeper, we found ourselves in Xi'an.
Our program divided us up into teams of 4 (2 students and their roommates). I was partnered with a guy named Kevin, who is, to say the least, a bit socially awkward (good thing my blog is blocked by the govt out here and none of us can see it). Nontheless, we were paired into teams to complete "missions" all day Friday that will help us get acquainted with Xi'an. Xi'an, however, didn't want us to get acquainted with it because it rained the entire day. It was miserable to say the least. Good thing I dont know how to say "miserable" in Chinese, b/c I would have said it every 3 minutes.
Our first mission was to find the hotel from the train station w/out taking a taxi. That was easy. They set us up in probably the nicest hotel in Xi'an right in the center of the walled city. This was our view from our hotel:
The center bell tower. If you were to pan a few hundred yards to the Right you would find a McDonalds and Starbucks, both of which I sampled while in Xi'an.
Oh look, the clothing store next to us got some reject mannequines:
So anyways, long story short, Friday it rained. We didnt participate in the "missions". We visited the "Great Islamic Temple" which was not Great, but was Islamic:
(The temple is right behind me)
Then we went to a "museum" of stone tablets or something. Which was not a museum, but merely a walled in area with a few trees. I found a bench protected from the rain and fell asleep. Then is when my roomie and I separated from our "group" and went back to the hotel for some R&R.
After dinner (hot pot), we went to a Duck temple. Wait, nevermind, its called the Big Goose Temple or something (for reasons unknown), for a "light show":
---------Overcoming obstacles in China moment number #13:-----------
The light show was actually a water fountain show. There was a few football fields worth of water fountain flush with the ground at the base of the temple. For instance, remember those days when you could run through those fountains in some random park or outdoor mall that would squirt up water at random moments and you would get sprayed in the crotch/face/body? Well, this was a huge one that was synchonized to music. (I had to explain b/c I dont have very good pics of it).
All of the onlookers form a barricade around the fountain. Only the brave stood in the fountain inbetween some extraneous water shooter things that shot water horizontally rather than vertically. Here is before the show started. My roommie and another roomie are starting to get in a single-filed formation in order not to get wet from the horizontal-shooting spouts:
Me and my friends followed suit. The show started and we were taking lots of pictures. I was inbetween one set of horizontal fountains, and my friends were inbetween another and we were taking pictures of one another. When it was my turn to take pictures, a Chinese on-looker put his foot over a horizontal-shooter and shot water straight at me. Everyone, must have been a hundred or so Chinese people laughed and laughed at me. I was absolutely mortified. I was wet, I was the only really white person there, and they were making fun of me. That's when my friend Stephen's Chinese roommate (whom we've all had problems with) thought it would be funny to do the same thing. So he sprayed me from the other side. I was holding both Natalie's and my cameras and immediately worried about that, after shouting a few explitives to Song Peng (Stephen's roommate). I was again completley mortified. Natalie attempted to cheer me up so she had the great idea of well, since I'm already wet, we might as well all be wet. Next thing you know, 3 meiguoren (Americans) and one tongwu (my roommate) are running through the center of the water show having a great time. Next thing you know, a bunch of people are running through. We really did turn things around and put the ball back in our court.
PS- My camera was acting up the night of the incident, but now seems to be in working order.
PPS- Sorry for interjecting some Chinese. I find myself talking in Chinglish, with half of my sentences in English, half in Chinese.
------------end Overcoming Obstacles in China #13--------------
After that debacle we went out for some snacks at the Muslim night market. I was so exhausted that I soon followed by going to bed, at 1am. blah!
Saturday we had a bright and early wake up call and made it to the hotel's complementary breakfast. Our first traditional western breakfast since coming to China! Oh man that was so good... Omlettes, toast, sausage links, fruit....
We then took an hour long boss to the site where the Terracotta Warriors were found. They guard the tomb of the first emperor of China, so they're about 2000 years old. Holy crap, that's old. I've been typing for 35 minutes now, so I'm just going to leave you with some pictures. If you have any questions, just ask.
After only about 2 hours at the Warrior site, we had to leave, but not before waiting on the bus for 45minutes b/c 3 girls got lost. Our next desination was Hongqing (or something like that) Hot Springs, which we only had an hour to explore.
After the hot springs we went back to Xi'an and had a few hours to shop around before having to hop onto the train. I couldnt spend money if I wanted to. I tried to bargain for a purse or two, but I honestly think having a Chinese friend with me was detrimental, b/c the shopkeeper knew that they werent going to get a good price out of us. So, I'd have to say that my biggest expense this weekend was my two trips to Starbucks. I did manage to buy some Jasmine tea and a jade disc necklace.
I deprived myself of water once again and slept another night on the top bunk of our "hard" sleeper.
We arrived an hour early in Beijing this morning (7:30am), made it back to the dorm, slept, did homework, then went out into the heart of the city to find one of 2 bookstores carrying Harry Potter. I found it!
I am staring at my book right now. When I read the inside cover and the dedications while waiting for my subway train, I started to tear up. Everytime I've opened this book I started to get the chills. I want to read it soooo bad, but I also don't want to because I simply don't want it to end. If I were to guess, I would have to say that I've been reading HP books for 8 or 9 years now. I know I read 3 of them before we moved to Texas.
I think this is the most excited I've been all weekend. Xi'an was okay. Maybe it was the rain, maybe it was the lack of sleep, but the trip overall was 2 or 2.5 out of 5. Regardless, I look forward to future travel and reading my HP...
Ziajian,
Bugs
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Midterms
I am officiall 1/6 of the way done with my study! Woot woot!
Today I had my midterm and it went pretty well.
Today we went to McDonalds for lunch. mmmmmm
Today we also went to Houhai to visit a kite-maker. The kites were amazing. I was the only one who didnt buy one... maybe next time.
In about 20 minutes we leave to go to Xi'an for the next few days. In case you live under a rock, Xi'an is where the Terracotta Soldiers are. We're taking an overnight train there and back and staying Friday night in a hotel.
Oh crap, I completely forgot today is Thursday, not Friday!
So, Harry Potter is released tonight at midnight? or tomorrow at midnight? Regardless, I found 2 bookstores in Beijing that carry it. If someone DARES ruin the book for me, I will come hunt you down, and kick your butt myself. I know Kung Fu now.
Ok, until Sunday... adios.
PPS-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!
Today I had my midterm and it went pretty well.
Today we went to McDonalds for lunch. mmmmmm
Today we also went to Houhai to visit a kite-maker. The kites were amazing. I was the only one who didnt buy one... maybe next time.
In about 20 minutes we leave to go to Xi'an for the next few days. In case you live under a rock, Xi'an is where the Terracotta Soldiers are. We're taking an overnight train there and back and staying Friday night in a hotel.
Oh crap, I completely forgot today is Thursday, not Friday!
So, Harry Potter is released tonight at midnight? or tomorrow at midnight? Regardless, I found 2 bookstores in Beijing that carry it. If someone DARES ruin the book for me, I will come hunt you down, and kick your butt myself. I know Kung Fu now.
Ok, until Sunday... adios.
PPS-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Leaving Phase 1
One more day of classes, a day of review, then we have a midterm on Thursday. Yes, already a midterm!
I think a lot of us are starting to get out of the "honeymoon phase" and are now moving into the second stage of culture shock. I looked up the symptoms, but I personally dont think I have many of them. I was especially interested in whether or not my extreme fatigue had anything to do with culture shock, but I havn't found that as a symptom yet.
Today (and a little bit yesterday) has just been exhausting, for no reason. All day today I felt really weird, like a zombie. I couldnt fully awake and I took a 30-minute nap before class, 10-minute nap in between classes, and a 2 hour nap after classes. My mind just feels really fuzzy. Who knows.
Also, I was curious if I was experiencing culture shock because I watch the NBC Nightly News on my iPod everyday and last night I even downloaded a weekly hour-long podcast of Catholic Classes. Who knows.
I found out about 10 minutes ago that a girl in my class that I was just beginning (two gs? I really do think my English is suffering) to become friends with is leaving because she absolutely hates it here and thinks our program is complete crap.
I don't blame her, who wants to deal with this:
(the floor is see-through glass over an indoor pond)
I think a lot of us are starting to get out of the "honeymoon phase" and are now moving into the second stage of culture shock. I looked up the symptoms, but I personally dont think I have many of them. I was especially interested in whether or not my extreme fatigue had anything to do with culture shock, but I havn't found that as a symptom yet.
Today (and a little bit yesterday) has just been exhausting, for no reason. All day today I felt really weird, like a zombie. I couldnt fully awake and I took a 30-minute nap before class, 10-minute nap in between classes, and a 2 hour nap after classes. My mind just feels really fuzzy. Who knows.
Also, I was curious if I was experiencing culture shock because I watch the NBC Nightly News on my iPod everyday and last night I even downloaded a weekly hour-long podcast of Catholic Classes. Who knows.
I found out about 10 minutes ago that a girl in my class that I was just beginning (two gs? I really do think my English is suffering) to become friends with is leaving because she absolutely hates it here and thinks our program is complete crap.
I don't blame her, who wants to deal with this:
(the floor is see-through glass over an indoor pond)
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Lazy Sunday
As previously mentioned, Friday we went to the Lama Buddhist Temple. It wasnt as great as I thought, but it was somewhat interesting. It had about 7 or so temples within a certain space, and within each temple there was a big Buddha to pray to. Outside the the temples, people were encourage to burn and offer incense before going in.
A cool fountain:
Friday night the students in the upper classes put on a "Black and White" party for the program. Our teachers and roommates were invited to attend. We were allowed to openly listen to American music and we even danced with our teachers! While, at first, it was awkward, it quickly became a lot of fun!
Saturday we headed to the Arts district, which was really great. It consists of a bunch of "warehouses"-- more like small one-story buildings-- that each contained a different art collection. We were under some time constraints and only managed to hit one tiny street of art gallerys. It is completely free, and look, the first one we went into even had food and drinks!
I typically don't like modern art, but I thought this artist was especially interesting:
We had to quickly leave the art district (the "798 District") to start our commute to see an acrobat show in the north eastern corner of the city. The acrobat show was fantastic! It had lazer lights, loud music, and comfortable seats. It was, however, a typical chinese acrobat show:
We then started our 1hr+ commute back to campus. The night couldnt be over yet! It was only 10:30pm! So, naturally, we put on our dancing shoes and headed to Houhai, where we found a KTV. My new love. Just kidding.
I Just Wanna Dance with Somebody by THE Whitney Houston
Our finale song, just for Tammie:
After we left the KTV, we managed to find an empty bar. So, naturally, we hi-jacked the dancefloor!
So as you can see, we had a busy weekend. So today will be a lazzzzyyyyyyy sunday! I think I might watch my newly bought Shrek 3 dvd...
Zaijian.
-Ashley
PS- Found this poster of a band at a indie music store in the 798. Much to my shagrin, they didn't sell it
A cool fountain:
Friday night the students in the upper classes put on a "Black and White" party for the program. Our teachers and roommates were invited to attend. We were allowed to openly listen to American music and we even danced with our teachers! While, at first, it was awkward, it quickly became a lot of fun!
Saturday we headed to the Arts district, which was really great. It consists of a bunch of "warehouses"-- more like small one-story buildings-- that each contained a different art collection. We were under some time constraints and only managed to hit one tiny street of art gallerys. It is completely free, and look, the first one we went into even had food and drinks!
I typically don't like modern art, but I thought this artist was especially interesting:
We had to quickly leave the art district (the "798 District") to start our commute to see an acrobat show in the north eastern corner of the city. The acrobat show was fantastic! It had lazer lights, loud music, and comfortable seats. It was, however, a typical chinese acrobat show:
We then started our 1hr+ commute back to campus. The night couldnt be over yet! It was only 10:30pm! So, naturally, we put on our dancing shoes and headed to Houhai, where we found a KTV. My new love. Just kidding.
I Just Wanna Dance with Somebody by THE Whitney Houston
Our finale song, just for Tammie:
After we left the KTV, we managed to find an empty bar. So, naturally, we hi-jacked the dancefloor!
So as you can see, we had a busy weekend. So today will be a lazzzzyyyyyyy sunday! I think I might watch my newly bought Shrek 3 dvd...
Zaijian.
-Ashley
PS- Found this poster of a band at a indie music store in the 798. Much to my shagrin, they didn't sell it
Friday, July 13, 2007
Chinese 101
I just finished my third test. One midterm, one final, and three more tests to go till the summer is over. It's already gone by so fast!
I did very well on my last test and I think I did pretty well on today's test. However, after my oral (which consisted of reading 2 dialogues and reciting 2 stories that I wrote) I talked to my teacher to ask for some advice in speaking, since I have the writing down.
I have been focusing more no fluidity rather than meaning. I aim to speak fast rather than correctly. I may have the correct grammar, and I may be pronouncing the words correctly, but without correctly saying the tones, a Chinese person would have no idea what I'm saying. So here is where my problem lies: tones.
In Chinese, each word has one of 4 tones. - / v \
- = voice is high pitched (stahwp)
/ = voice rises, sounds like a question (stop?)
v = voice inflection goes up then down (stOOoooOOOp)
\ = voice drops sharply, sounds like an exclamation (stop!)
But this is what is given to read 99% of the time:
先从华盛顿感飞到芝加哥.
Translation: First, from Washington DC you will fly to Chicago.
Tones aren't dicated on characters. So, you must memorize memorize memorize.
If you dont have the tone right, the word means something completely different. I could have said "First, from wallfields power to your brothers house," If I say tones incorrectly.
I have certainly never worked so hard at school before. This summer program truly is intensive. I think it'll pay off in the end, though. And I'm glad to hear that I'm one of the top students in my class.
----------- end school ponderings--------------
Last night my friend's roommate drove us to one of his favorite restaurants to celebrate the end of his exams (he majors in insurance and always asks us about insurance, as if we know) and, since we were celebrating his accomplishment, we let him order:
That's right, folks! Cow stomach! Mmmmmmmmmmm
Never again.
Today we're heading to the Lama Buddhist Temple. My friends swear its one of the most beautiful parts of Beijing... we'll see.
I did very well on my last test and I think I did pretty well on today's test. However, after my oral (which consisted of reading 2 dialogues and reciting 2 stories that I wrote) I talked to my teacher to ask for some advice in speaking, since I have the writing down.
I have been focusing more no fluidity rather than meaning. I aim to speak fast rather than correctly. I may have the correct grammar, and I may be pronouncing the words correctly, but without correctly saying the tones, a Chinese person would have no idea what I'm saying. So here is where my problem lies: tones.
In Chinese, each word has one of 4 tones. - / v \
- = voice is high pitched (stahwp)
/ = voice rises, sounds like a question (stop?)
v = voice inflection goes up then down (stOOoooOOOp)
\ = voice drops sharply, sounds like an exclamation (stop!)
But this is what is given to read 99% of the time:
先从华盛顿感飞到芝加哥.
Translation: First, from Washington DC you will fly to Chicago.
Tones aren't dicated on characters. So, you must memorize memorize memorize.
If you dont have the tone right, the word means something completely different. I could have said "First, from wallfields power to your brothers house," If I say tones incorrectly.
I have certainly never worked so hard at school before. This summer program truly is intensive. I think it'll pay off in the end, though. And I'm glad to hear that I'm one of the top students in my class.
----------- end school ponderings--------------
Last night my friend's roommate drove us to one of his favorite restaurants to celebrate the end of his exams (he majors in insurance and always asks us about insurance, as if we know) and, since we were celebrating his accomplishment, we let him order:
That's right, folks! Cow stomach! Mmmmmmmmmmm
Never again.
Today we're heading to the Lama Buddhist Temple. My friends swear its one of the most beautiful parts of Beijing... we'll see.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
#1
I finally made it to the Great Wall! I think the word "wall" conjurs up thoughts of evenly constructed walkways that anyone can simply walk about. I suggest that they change the name to "The Great Steps." My oh my! There are a ton of steps!! We originally had a 30-minute walk (we could have taken a gondola up, but who does that?) up some very challenging steps just to get to the Wall. Once we got up there, we realized that a lot of the wall was steep steps in itself, so it was challenging, but I was so gung-ho that it didnt really faze me. We even climbed to the "top" whereupon we were able to witness the beautiful landscape. I cant imagine a more beautiful landscape... anywhere.
Perhaps the highlight of the trip was leaving the Wall. As the old saying goes, what goes up, must go down. We werent about to walk ourselves down those damned stairs. So, we opted for taking a tobboggan down the mountain. These 1-person get-ups by no means meet American safety standards with a single paltry hand break, but nonetheless, the amount of fun made up for the lack of safety.
I also managed to buy one of the Chinese rice hats at the base of the mountain. I asked the guy how much, he said "80" my friend countered with "15" and he simply said "ok!". That was too easy.
Well, at least I'll be able to return. I expect at least 2 more visits to the Wall. Once more with my parents and another time in the fall with my program whereupon we'll actually spend the night on the Great Wall!
Perhaps the highlight of the trip was leaving the Wall. As the old saying goes, what goes up, must go down. We werent about to walk ourselves down those damned stairs. So, we opted for taking a tobboggan down the mountain. These 1-person get-ups by no means meet American safety standards with a single paltry hand break, but nonetheless, the amount of fun made up for the lack of safety.
I also managed to buy one of the Chinese rice hats at the base of the mountain. I asked the guy how much, he said "80" my friend countered with "15" and he simply said "ok!". That was too easy.
Well, at least I'll be able to return. I expect at least 2 more visits to the Wall. Once more with my parents and another time in the fall with my program whereupon we'll actually spend the night on the Great Wall!
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