I'm out this week for National Day. Don't ask me why you get a week for a day. I'm not Chinese, and I most likely wouldn't understand. Tomorrow is the Day itself. I plan to head down to Tian'anmen Square like every red-blooded Chinese and celebrate. I really don't know what to expect, but I read that the whole square is covered in flowers in celebration of the People's Republic being another year older. I'm excited about the possibility of going, and I very well may do it alone.

The rest of this week is up in the air, but I have some homework to do and I need to study some Chinese language.

I'd like to take a moment to recommend that everyone stop what they are doing and go read East of Eden. I will finish it tonight, and I had forgotten why I love Steinbeck so much. I read The Grapes of Wrath a couple of years ago, and this book is right there with it. Go read it if you haven't already.

I want to do something beautiful with my life. I just don't know what that means yet.

T

Watch as the person shifts from first to third to second to first.

I realize that this blog of mine has been sparse lately, and I apologize. It seems that life has been coming at me quickly of late.

Yesterday, I in fact did not buy a bicycle. Instead, I went with the other guys on a Beijing adventure! Actually, we were just looking for a bookstore, but we went the wrong way and got a little lost. Eventually, though, we found a Subway (as in the sandwiches), a Starbucks, and the foreign bookstore. That said, this was not a good night for Mr. I'm-on-a-budget. (That's me.) Actually, it was a really good night, but I have to be careful the rest of the week. I've been tracking my spending all week thus far, and it's been a bit on the high side, but at least I'm aware of that. By the high side, I mean I've spent around $30 US for three days' living (food, transit) and about $10 of that was on a book at the bookstore.

The book I bought is titled Lhasa and it is an Immersion Guides book. In case I haven't said so yet (and how would I go back and look? It's blocked...) I really want to go to Tibet in January/February. Really really. At this point it is admittedly a pipedream, but it needn't be! The Lhasa guide (Lhasa is the capitol of Tibet, people) tells me how to get there on the cheap, where to stay, where to eat, and how not to be strapped to a tour guide. I kind of just want to go and see the temples and palaces and try drinking some yak butter tea. Maybe hang out with some cool Tibetans, perhaps spin a (subversive) prayer wheel, and ride the train across China. I'd get to see the Himalayas. I'd probably meet the Dalai Lama. He lives in Lhasa, you know.

I'm met with a couple of problems:
1. It is illegal to go to Tibet without a special permit by the same friendly folks who give you visas. And to get one, you have to be traveling with a tour group. (The book reminds you that you can just choose not to call the guide when you get there.) Anyway, a tour package is always more expensive than a plan it yourself trip with a train ticket and a hostel reservation.
2. This brings me to the next problem. I've got about $0.50 to put toward this trip at the moment. That may change, but most likely not by much.

So it's time for a bit of shameless internet whoring. Who wants to see a twentysomething American in China not be able to get out of Beijing? I mean, he'll be off for a month between semesters. Stuck watching the ugly pink of the dorm walls? Now, who wants to see that same twentysomething living an adventure? Who wants to see pictures of his face as he tastes yak butter tea? Who wants to get him to offer a Christian prayer for them in a Buddhist temple? I thought you might raise your hand. Yes, I see you. You see, they don't have Christmas in China. I'll still be in school until mid-January. So, your last minute charity donations might be sending me to some Autonomous Region of western China. I bet that gets written off the taxes, eh?

Ok, now I really do feel a bit sleazy, so know that I really do want to go, but I'm kidding about the tax write-offs. Also know that I understand how fortunate I am to be here and be living in Beijing. I know how much my plane tickets have cost, and how much I've paid for tuition and dorm room, and how little of it I worked for. I know that I'm in an amazing position, and that I'm sounding spoiled.

So I leave you with a quote from Lhasa:
"Yak butter," of course, is arguably a misnomer. A true yak would be no more likely to produce butter than Mike Tyson would be to successfully breastfeed a baby kitten. In Tibetan, the word "yak" refers only to the male of the species - the females are called "dri." Therefore the punctilious term would be "dri yoghurt," and "dri milk." Luckily, foreign languages don't know any better, and yak in English refers to both genders. Somehow "dri butter" just can't compare to the therapeutically intoned hard finals of "yak butter."

T

Well, well, well. I'm feeling somewhat better. My head and shoulders are achey, but otherwise I'm mostly well.

Classes are going headlong and harrowingly forward. The vocabulary is a tremendous amount of work, but I don't suppose one speaks the language without words to say.

I hope to go buy a bicycle today, and that will mean transportation! Hopefully it won't be too expensive-- a decent bike is around the $40 US mark. Insanely cheap by American standards, but I like it like that.

I'm out of school all next week for National Day, so that's pretty exciting. I hope that it is a relaxing time, and that I'm able to do some touring around Beijing.

More later, but I'm off to buy some wheels!

T

A brief history of time.

It's been so long.

Friday my computer died (again) and I haven't been able to resuscitate it yet. I'm trying, though. Tena and Will, I wasn't trying to ignore you, that's what happened! I had come back to my room before my second class because I wasn't feeling well. I got online, then when the lappy died I went to bed. Friday night the guys and I went to a place called Pyro's Pizza. It was very American feeling. It is a pizza-serving sports bar, I guess. The three of us sat with some students from Beida (Peking University) and they nicely yelled at the fuyin (waitress) for us and told her to hurry up with the pizza.

Saturday I went to the Great Wall. It's great! I was amazed at how long and high it is. It seems to run the crest of a mountain range, and it makes me wonder at how people built it at all. I know that a large part of that reality has to do with slavery and inhumane working conditions, but the end is nonetheless a feat. At the end of my Great Wall tour, I got on a toboggan and slid, zigging back and forth down the mountain, down a metal chute with only a handbreak to slow me. It was probably the single coolest thing I've ever done.

Sunday we went to International, and it was the best Sunday I've had in months. My American friend and I spent the afternoon and evening studying in a little park we found on campus. It was really nice.

Last night I think I got a bit of a fever. I woke up feeling dehydrated and so I drank some water and took some ibuprofen. Then I went back to bed. I finally got up later and spent a leisurely morning reading and journaling and studying a map. Finally my roommate and I went to lunch, and I had a chef's salad. Then in class this afternoon I started to get a headache again. I think my fever returned. So I crashed after class. I rehydrated, took some more ibuprofen, and laid still for a while. Then I went down to the corner store (I understand the name convenience store now) and bought some orange juice (well, it's kind of like OJ if you removed all the actual juice), instant noodles, and more water. I had a nice dinner of instant noodles, and I am about to study.

I am studying here more that I have ever studied in my whole entire life.

So, that's what's going on with me. What's happening outside my bubble?

T

Blow Me Down!

It's Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day. I had no idea! I found this joke online, and I laughed out loud. Mild, pirate-intrinsic language which I didn't know how to edit out. Anyway, here 'tis.

A bartender looks up from the bar and sees a pirate with a peg leg, a hook hand, and patch over one eye.

Startled, the bartender asks "What happened?! Just a month ago your body was relatively whole, now..."

The pirate responded:
"Aye, 3 weks agor a conn'n ball took me leg. Now juss this peg to use.
"Thin 2 weks ago I gave up my h'nd in a sword duel.
"Thin 13 days agre a cursed bird shat in me eye."

The bartender, perplexed, said, "But you have a patch over it; certainly a little guano would not cost you an eye."

With a chagrinned grin the pirate told him, "Well, it were my first day wit der hook..."

------------------

That made my day. This morning's class was kind of less than good. I'm realizing how hard I need to be studying. Ouch. So today I made flash cards (yes, flash cards) of all the vocabulary we've covered thus far. I made 113 flash cards-- character on the front and pinyin (phonetics) and English meaning on the back-- today from lunchtime until 2 something. Then an American friend of mine and I studied them all afternoon and evening. We stopped tonight to eat some PB&J, then we studied a little more. Finally he left to go to the café across the street, and I did my written, turn-in homework for tomorrow.

Mandarin does not come naturally to speakers of other languages. It just doesn't. If I need to study a full three hours a day, then I will, but that stinks. I hardly ever study in the States. I'm one of those sob-stories who never studied in school. And I really don't study much in college, either. Maybe this will encourage me to have better study-habits. I spent most of my afternoon in the park near the center of campus, and that was cool. I almost met some people. I think it could happen. I talked to some random girl who wanted to know about my textbook.

T

Life is complex, indeed.

It rained today. It washed some of the smog out of the air. I can see the mountains from my room's window. I'd told my roommate that he was crazy for thinking that, but he was right. Mountains, check.

(in the middle, yo)

I'm finding a way, though I don't yet know if it's the right one. I think it could be, though. I had lunch today with four others: two Australians, one Filipino, and a Swedish Brit. It was far better than some outings I've been on lately, and I'm glad of it. Today I intend to study with a friend from Mississippi. Also, today I'm going to register for a weekend trip to the Great Wall of China(!!), about which I'm a little excited. It'll be touristy and all, but I couldn't care less.

I am a bit concerned about people back home. I've been reminded (perhaps too often) that my life is here now. But I know all too well that my life is only here for 9.5 more months. After that, to what might I return? Home. That is, the States, my state, the cities I live in, my friends and family. I can be concerned if I want, and I feel I have good reason.

T

You Ought To Be Here With Me

If you think it's lonesome where you are tonight,
Then you ought to be here with me
If you think there's heartache where you are tonight,
Then you ought to be here with me.

'Cause with you I'm whole
Without you I'm cold.

If teardrops are fallin' where you are tonight,
Then you ought to be here with me.
Loneliness callin' where you are tonight
And you ought to be here with me.

'Cause with you I'm whole
Without you I'm cold.

So, if you think about me where you are tonight,
Then you ought to be here with me.

Roger Miller wrote that. Even though I've never listened to his stuff, I understand that he's an important figure in country music. I just know him because he wrote the words and music for Big River, which is perhaps my favorite musical. It's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and it reaches some deep material (as did Twain with the book) even as it presents itself as a story of a drifter-boy and his adventures down the Mississippi River. It's really about his descent into the world of slavery, his realization of the cost of freedom, and the importance to right versus the status quo. It also deals with loneliness and waiting for a better day.

(If you don't know the show, you should. It's excellent, and I bought the soundtrack on Amazon a couple years ago.)

------------

I guess I said all that to say that I'm feeling lonely. It's probably because I had a good day, and someone wants to ruin it. I went to an international gathering this morning, and it was alright. I'm hoping that the other campus is better, but it was nice to be with others like me anyway.
Then I read a bunch of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (only 100 pages left!) and studied Chinese.
Tonight I went to a dinner party that happened before the housewarming that was postponed until tonight. It was nice just to chat with a bunch of fellow international students. The food was not bad, either, especially these fried glutinous balls with sesame seeds around the outside and a sweet bean paste inside. I referred to them as China's Krispy Kremes, and they're probably the closest one would get to a KK here.
On the way back to the school, my roommate and I spotted rambutan at a fruit stand. I didn't stutter. Those of you who are long-time readers understand the beauty of the rambutan. We bought about a kilo of them.

------------

There is very little sunshine through the smog here in Beijing.

T

I speak in squiggly lines.

This American expat in China has completed a week of actual school. It went decently, and I'm realizing that this language is not entirely beyond my reach. This morning I talked to the maid. No, I still can't tell her my lamp's broken, but I did tell her not to clean our room. She understood. That's something.

Last night some other Americans and I took a short taxi ride to a movie theater to see No Reservations, which was the only thing playing in English. In the taxi, the driver was asking us something about where we were going, so I told him, "我们喜欢看电影。“ That is, "We want to watch a movie." He understood, and said something about Chinese movies. I didn't tell him we were going to see an American movie in English, but it's ok. The movie was decent, and the Chinese subtitles at the bottom of the screen were only moderately distracting. I really think that it might not be a bad idea to watch movies now and again with the subtitles running, because I could pick out a character here and there.

Today I intend to be lazy, to read and relax. Tonight I'm going to a housewarming party. I hope that's fun. I won't be the only one not drinking, so that's a plus.

It's lunch time.

T

China=Zhongguo

I'm getting used to classes, and I really like my conversation professor, Zheng Laoshi. Laoshi (lao sounds like "allow" and shi sounds like "sure" (The Beijing accent puts an "r" sound in a lot of places it shouldn't really go, because shi ought to sound like "ship" with out the p, but it doesn't.) (Lots of parentheses!)) means teacher or professor. I think it literally means old master, but it is used as a sign of respect for an educator. Zheng Laoshi is my only male professor, and he is probably in his late 40's. My other professors are women, both in their mid to late 20's, perhaps early 30's. I am getting on well with all of them, and I am even understanding bits of what they are saying, which is really all I ask for at this point. Classes are taught almost entirely in Mandarin. English keywords are thrown out once in a while to help reorient us, but the instruction itself is in Chinese. The curriculum is based around speaking mainly, and so we do a lot of in-class conversational exercises. This helps us build our vocabulary (which is laughable at this point, but that's expected) and our use of grammatical structure. This total immersion in the language is hard, but it is going to help, I hope. I read some words on a sign in my dorm today. That's a start. My goal is to be able, by the end of my stay, to tell the maid that my desk lamp doesn't work. And I hope to not have her stare at me, but to get it fixed.

I've done my homework already, and I did some studying and reading on a personal basis today, as well. I think I may start doing homework in the park on campus. That way, I might meet some actual Chinese friends, as opposed to the internationals that I've met so far. Not that internationals aren't fun, but I'm in China, after all. Oughtn't I have Chinese friends? I agree. I must remind myself of two things: this is only the first week of school and I'm only here for nine and one half more months. That means don't rush, but get busy! A healthy tension in my mind arise from this, and I know that I must be a good steward of my time, but I must not force friendships. I listened to a podcast the other day, and the thing that stuck out in my mind went something like this, "You will accomplish more in the next two months developing a sincere interest in two people than you will ever accomplish in the next two years trying to get two people interested in you."

-----------------

And now for the funny story of the day! I had lunch after class today with a friend I've made. Her name is Chanell, and she is ethnically Asian, but from Sweden and the UK. Don't ask. Anyway, we went and had lunch, and we were discussing the upcoming National Holiday. Chanell said that she's thinking about going to Singapore or Hong Kong. I said, "I've been to Hong Kong once. I got laid-over there."

She stared at me like I'd just said something ridiculous and too personal. She said, "What?"

I said, "I got laid-over there."

She started laughing and said, "You had a stop-over there?"

"Yeah."

"You know what I thought you said?" She was really giggling at this point, "You got laid over there."

I joined her in the laughing. "Yes, it was a stop-over, then, if that's what we're going to call it." And I proceeded with whatever I had to say about Hong Kong.


Note to self, et. al: When dealing with people who are not from the US, be careful in referring to lay-overs in the past tense. It may sound more salacious that you ever intended.

T


p.s. I went to the second largest mall in the world today. It was quite big.

I got placed into the beginner/remedial classes for Mandarin. I kind of hoped so; I want to learn it well, not just quickly. I know how little training I've had, and even though this will be a bit below my level to begin with, I think it will catch up soon enough. Did that sound conceited? I didn't mean it that way if so. Also, I've bought my books for this semester. The 4-book set cost all of 220 RMB. That's $29.19 USD. That's less than one college book back at the U of CA. Here's to not paying $300 for books a semester!

Yesterday I got to see some friends I spent time with over the summer. It was cool to hang out and have a meal together. I've missed seeing them all the time. I even got to play with Butterbean and his older brother. Tita D was there, too. I'm so glad she was able to come! On the way the guys and I took the Beijing subway system, which may be called the Metro, I'm not sure. Anyway, it's pretty easy to use, what, with signs and announcements. The problem was that we got off at the wrong stop on our second train, so we found a helpful Chinese man, and he walked us down to where we needed to be. It was really good of him, we showed him the map and the name of the restaurant we were aiming at (actually, the name of the restaurant in front of the one we were aiming at) and he walked us almost the whole way there. People have been really helpful in that way since I've been here.

Today is my first day of school! I know kind of where my class is, and I have my books. Unfortunately I don't know which books pertain to the classes I have today. I'll be in class today from 1-4:35. I thought it would be a morning system, too, but it's not. It's classes different times on different days, like back home.

T

Outsmarting the system

As previously stated, I think the Zhongguo Yinhang can go sit on a tack or what have you, because they have been utterly unhelpful. Save that one time they did almost what I needed. Given all of that, I discovered that once my ATM limit is raised, I can pull money out indefinitely as long as I make multiple transactions. Yes, I did outsmart the system. No applause needed.

Another system I have outsmarted is the one that keeps me from reading my own blog. I still can't read your comments (thanks, though) but I can go back in as if to edit the blog and review what I've already written. It sounds narcissistic, and it might be, but I like to scan memory lane's written summary now and again. I wanted to use the word peruse in that last sentence, but did you know that peruse means "thoroughly examine"? I didn't until I just looked it up. Knowledge is power, you know, but don't take my word for it.

This afternoon, after the party, which had surprisingly no discernible agenda, and after the ATMing, I came back to the dorm and put my laundry on to wash. Shortly thereafter I went to McDonald's with my roommate for some late lunch. Then we returned, I collected my laundry from the utility room down the hall, and I made him put our joint drying rack together. I didn't force it, but he said he would, and my laundry was wet, so what should I have done? Then I hung my laundry on the rack, on the shower curtain rod, in my window, on the towel racks, and over almost every other available area. I have a good bit of laundry. I'll be here for ten months, after all.

I fell asleep listening to a podcast earlier while waiting for my second batch of laundry to finish. I like doing that, though I regret missing the end of the podcasts. It's somehow soothing to fall asleep to someone teaching. Maybe it reminds me of home. (Yes, I realize what I just said. And I'm chuckling about it.) It was a short nap.

Tonight I'm hoping to watch some borrowed chick-flicks and eat instant noodles while curled up in my bed. I don't particularly love chick-flicks or instant noodles, but their combined power to let me be relaxed in my room is intoxicating. My roommate is going to watch rugby, and I've seen enough of that in my lifetime. My new American acquaintance/friend (is it too early to be a friend? We just met the other day, but we've spoken a few times), Florida Joe invited both my roommate and me to hang out in a bar tonight. We are graciously declining, especially since one of the things he touted about the bar was "American beer" and the idea of that made me throw up in my mouth a little. Hopefully, though, we might get to know each other better. He seems like a cool guy, even in spite of his penchant for the pijiu.

T

Working through the weekend

There is an enormous amount of hustle and bustle going on outside, and the fact that it's Saturday nevertheless disturbs me. I attended an opening ceremony and orientation this morning; I had to be down in the lobby at 7:30 to walk there. The opening ceremony was in Chinese and translated to English. The orientation was in Chinese, then translated to English, Japanese, and Korean. That means it took 3 times longer than it might have. After that, my fellow English-speakers and I were sent to a lecture hall where we were informed of the laws of China, instructed on how to convert our visas to residence permits, and given the name and address of the best pub in Beijing. That last, of course, is a matter of the opinion of the officer who was giving our lecture.

In a little less than an hour, I'll set out for a party which is being thrown to let the new internationals meet one another. This hold equal parts promise and suspicion in my mind. Friends being the promise. Suspicion lurks in the corners of my mind for anything that seems entirely benevolent. ...what is the agenda? It's rare and lovely when there is none.

I also have still more banking to do today. One day this will be straightened out. That one day will only happen when I don't have to deal with the Zhongguo Yinhang or Bank of China.

T

Studies are important.

Yesterday I had a bit of an "I Hate the People's Republic" Day. It started when I took and miserably failed my language placement. This was no surprise, but if you know me, you know how much I hate failure.

Then I went to the Bank of China to withdraw money using a cash advance on my credit/debit card. I got a number and waited for over an hour and a half. Then I proudly walked up to the desk, gave them my card, number, and passport, and asked for 30,000 kwai. The man looked at my Batman card and told me it was a debit card, to use it at the ATM. I told him I'm well aware of the uses of the ATM, but I certainly can't get 30,000 kwai from one. I told him I know it's a debit card, but the MasterCard symbol on the corner implies that it can be run as credit. That's what I wanted them to do. Run a 30,000 kwai credit, give me the money, and let my checking account pay it back. That's the essence of a cash advance. He told me that there was an ATM outside, and that I should use it out there. I told him I've done a cash advance at that bank before, and I know they can do it. He told me to use the ATM outside to withdraw cash. I reminded him again that I know about the ATM, but that it won't give me enough money. He told me to use the ATM. I sighed heavily and said, "Right." And I left.

After lunch I took a nap. Then, when my roommate came in, he asked if I was going to go somewhere. I told him, "China isn't being very nice to me today, so I'm not being very nice to China." Which is stupid, I admit, but there is some serious culture stressing going on. Then we went to WuMart (laugh if you must, but it's a lifeline) and bought sundry things. I bought food, and I am only going out today if I choose to. I have some instant noodles, biscotti, juice, water, and chips. I also have a teapot to make hot water. I'm kind of planning on reading Harry Potter 7 and watching The Office (which I bought on iTunes), and otherwise being a bum today. It's because I have stuff I must do tomorrow and Sunday mornings, and I need a day of rest.

T

A most fulfilling blog post

Chinese TV is not very good.
I'm not saying this to down the Chinese people, I'm just saying that to me, the TV is less than entertaining. Not always, but usually. Right now it's on behind me, and some guy is playing his accordion in concert, and there are Chinese language titles in the lower third. The only English channel was just playing a story about a painter, which could have been interesting, but it was in Chinese. There were English subtitles. Last night was a bright spot of sorts, though. The movie from the 90's, Nine Months, with Hugh Grant and Julianne Moore and Robin Williams, was on. It was in English, but not on the English channel. Also yesterday I watched an American travel show filmed in Miami, but it was overdubbed in Chinese. I enjoyed seeing pictures of the U.S.

I finished the 9th Bowge of Circle 8 of Hell today after waiting in a single line for two hours, then going downstairs, back upstairs, getting a document stamped, and then running away in fear that they'd ask for another document. I escaped! So tomorrow morning I get to take my placement exam and let them know how Mandarin ignorant I am.

Today I was feeling particularly hard pressed on every side. So, I had some study time and a good bit of conversation. An image came to my mind:

There was a person stooped in the middle of a sidewalk which was overflowing with people all walking the same way. And then one person walks up behind the one stooped, and he stops behind. This man, in a grey suit and with a tie, created a barrier. His body, him stopped, keeps anyone from trampling the one stooping. The best I can figure is that I'm stooping. And once I get up, I'm to look for someone else who is stooping. I will be the barrier for others that He is for me. That is why I'm here.

T

Today I went and did all my registration except the final step. That means that I get to go out again tomorrow. But who cares, really? I got my insurance policy checked, picture taken, medical records checked, and I paid. I also received a goody bag from the university which included a t-shirt. It doesn't fit, but I really think it's the thought that counts. Something happened with the last line, so I received a number to come back. I didn't feel like waiting around forever to get that number, so I'll just start anew tomorrow in that line. After I do that I'll get to take my placement test. Not excited. I don't love failing tests. I know I'm a beginner, why put me through that? It's kind of like there should be a box to check when donating blood that says "I verify that I am a virgin and have never tried intravenous drugs," this would cut the awkward time in half. Likewise, I have only taken one semester of Chinese, so I doubt seriously that I'll be advanced.





A couple hours later...

A lot has happened today. I went to a three story Wal-Mart. And there have been bank card crises. Things will all work out. I'm just too tired now to really tell you what all has gone on. Think about me and my comrades.

T

Dim sum and red hundreds

Today was interesting. I went to an enormous bank twice. The second time I actually did business. I have enough money in cash to enroll in school tomorrow morning. Sweet action! I don't particularly like walking around with huge sacks of kwai, but if it happens, it happens. This brings me to an interesting note. I don't really know how to refer to the money here. I've heard three conflicting stories about it. The money may be referred to as yuan (you-ann) or as RMB (are-em-bee) or kwai (kw-eye). I know that those pronunciations are mostly superfluous, but I felt like it. Anyway, I don't know which is which, or if there is any difference. The money itself says 1 yuan on it. The exchange boards all say something about RMB. Some of the people I've met call it kwai. It is a conundrum, I suppose.

My documents and money are in order now, so I will be registering for school tomorrow. Hooray! I can see visions of standing in endless lines all morning. I can also see visions of not standing in those same lines tomorrow, which is really a good thing. I still need to pay housing. My poor Batman MasterCard debit card is getting tired these days. I've been swiping the heck out of it, because I have to pay everything (tuition, books, housing, fees) all in cash. I feel like buying a bulletproof briefcase to walk across campus to register, it's that much money. I have 22,900 RMB in 100 RMB bills in my safe in my room. That's a lot of bills. I'm glad to be getting them out of my hands tomorrow. That comes to right around $3,061.49 USD. In $13 bills. 229 of them.

Tonight I had my first authentically Beijing-made dim sum. It was pretty good. I like dim sum, and it is cheap, so that's good, too. I also had a bowl of rice. Those of you that made rice jokes should can it. You get used to plain white rice. There's no real flavor, but it fills you up. And it's not hard to eat, even with chopsticks. You just remember to scoop, not pinch.

T

Tears for Fears strikes again!

Well, what all happened today? Let's see.

I went to WuMart this morning and bought several things to get shop properly set up here in the dorm. It went ok, found the store fine and most of what I needed. Then my roommate and I decided we needed to buy an iron to use between the two of us. So I waved a worker person over and said (in sort of Chinese) "We want that one" and pointed to the display model iron. So she climbed up on a step stool and got one for us. Well, she got one kind of like it for us, but there wasn't the one we wanted, so I told her "this one is fine" and then she wrote a ticket and said some stuff I didn't understand and waved me toward a woman standing behind a small checkout desk. So I took the ticket to her and she stared at the ticket, then stared at me. So I went back to the woman who wrote the ticket, took her to the desk with the other woman. Then they talked (argued?) and some kind of receipt was written, and then they both stared at me. Then woman number two pointed at the number on the receipt. So I paid.

Later today I bought a Chinese cell phone. It's fine, but I can't figure out how to enter people's names to store numbers. When I do, it treats it like pinyin, and then the characters pop up in the place of the letters. That's pretty not cool.


This afternoon I bought Horton Hears a Who in parallel English and Chinese. It's pretty amazing. I also bought a Mandarin phrase book to help get me through living here before I really know the language. I've gotten amazing at saying things like "That one!" and "Here is good" and "I don't have ___" and "I/He/We need to buy ___" all in Chinese. I can also say the normal stuff like "I'm sorry/excuse me" and "Thanks" and "You're welcome" and "Right" and "Hello."

I speak fluent Chinglish.


Tonight I went with a couple of guys to go have dinner, and we got a little lost. I finally told the driver "Here is good," and we got out. Then we walked for a while and met a couple of Chinese people in their 20's. They were really friendly and nice and wanted to listen and talk to us in English. So we did. Then they took us to show us a free art exhibit at the school they attend. This is also known as being scammed to the teeth by Chinese people. The ploy was to get us to buy some of their crappy prints which were masquerading as paintings. However, my roommate figured this out (as did the rest of us, though a moment too late to not go in the first place) and so he called someone on his phone and we pretended to be in-demand elsewhere and graciously bowed out. It was really fortunate that we got out then, because it would have been embarrassing for the con artists (it's a pun!) to learn that even though we're Americans/white/foreign/young, we don't have money to spend as it is. We only had enough on us for dinner. As I pointed out later, you can't get blood from a turnip. And though there were no turnips directly involved, I feel this is still somehow related.


As a result of our fervor to get out of that immediate area, we walked for a while before finding a place to eat. Subsequently, we came upon what is forever to be heralded as a diamond in the rough: Mexican Wave. It is a Mexican restaurant in the middle of Beijing. If you're keeping score at home, that's about 11,000 miles from Mexico. Apparently this place is a big ex-pat hangout. It was not strictly Mexican food, that is, there was pizza and beef sirloin or whatnot also. But it was all pretty decent. And how can you really complain too loudly about the quality of the Mexican food that is served to you by someone who has never heard Spanish actually spoken? I mean, it's the capital of China. Any kind of chip and salsa combination is lauded. An added bonus was the guy who played the guitar and sang the song "Everybody Wants to Rule the World."

Recap: Beijing + Enchiladas + Live cover of 80's British Pop = Multicultural Experience

T

So, I can write in this blog, I just can't view it. Go figure. Thanks, China.

I have used so much of my very limited Chinese today, it has been incredible. Who even knew that that one semester back in the States would help? I mean, yeah, exposure, but it has really been useful. Xiexie to Wu Laoshi back at the school.

Today I moved into my dorm room. It's shaped really strangely. It is 30 ft long. Part of it is 5 ft wide, and then around the bed area it expands to 8 ft wide. Then at the door it is 7 ft wide. So it's like a long hallway. Also, the walls are pink. With deeper pink for the trim. Gorgeous.


I'm in the market for a new cell phone. That is, one that works in China. So I'm doing a little research online. I would love to get the iPhone knockoff, but I don't know if I want to pay that much for it. Here's what it does. Looks familiar, huh?

I suppose that's all. Tomorrow will be more settling in, methinks.

T