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Published: November 7th 2007
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Hi! I'm still alive 😊 Just slow with updating you on what's happening here, plus last weeks have been real busy. My good old friend Johan has visited and I've prepared for midterms at the same time. How are you???
Johan arrived to GZ a bit over two weeks ago, and left to Hong Kong yesterday. He's been staying with me in Guangzhou, we travelled together to Xi'an for four days, and he headed to Beijing for a few days on his own. It's been great to have him here!!! And sad when he left yesterday. Nice to just hang out and chat about everything and nothing, not having to just catch up on the latest "life news". And even though I love having my own flat, I sometimes miss having someone around.
Xi'an was wonderful, and the terracotta army the absolute highlight! The city is half GZ's size (only 6 million people, hehe) and located about 2 1/2 h north west of GZ by air. We stayed from Thur to Sun at a simple but cute and pittoresque youth hostel in the centre of the city. Xi'an is China's oldest city with a history dating back thousands of
years. We went to a museum telling the history of the old dynasties, visited the city's bell tower and walked the city walls. We also went for a dinner show; a Chinese traditional performance that used to entertain the emperor and his concubines.
Early Friday morning we got on the bus and travelled an hour out of Xi'an, to the spot were a farmer in search for water found the first terracotta pieces, in 1974. With a guide by our side we started the exploring of this astonishing sight, were an army of about 6000 terracotta soldiers and their horses were buried under ground 2200 years ago - to protect the grave of China's first emperor. The soldiers are human size, all of them with unique characteristics - truly amazing!!!
Back in Guanzhou Johan and I have been on a river cruise, on safari, visited Jennie's grand mother, strolled around GZ, seen my friends, plus eaten lots of lovely vegetarian food! I've been to Uni and work during the days, meeting up with Johan during lunch and in the evenings.
Having a "fresh" foreigner visiting has meant seeing China and Guangzhou with new eyes! After a year
and a bit it seems like I don't pay as much attention anymore, to all the "strange" habits Chinese people have - only occassionally when they're driving me crazy, hehe. Like how they put a million and one stamps on things, how they use a straw for everything, how they casually spit out food on the table after chewing for a while with their mouth wide open, or how you have to go to three different places when buying something in a mall.
It's also been cool talking to an old friend being able to (in the truly Swedish way) use loads of irony and sarchasm, without having to worry too much about misunderstandings. We discussed this and other cultural differences at a seminar dinner arranged by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce a short while ago. The Swedes living here were talking about how us Swedes frequently use irony and how we like to translate proverbs and sayings. And how confusing this is to Chinese!
Like when I tell Jennie: "It's very important that nothing falls between the chairs." 😊 Jennie's and mine work relation is really good; but sometimes it is a little challenging having been good
Chinese performance
Once upon a time... this used to be the emperor's and his concubines' entertainment! friends from before and hence used to only talking and laughing about the cultural differences between us. Then working together, and practically dealing with those differences. But, so far so good. I think it works well mainly because we are both trying to be open towards differences and talk about things we find weird or confusing.
In general, life in Guangzhou is good! I'm still studying Mon thru Fri and my teacher is as harsh as ever, hehe. But it does get me and my class mates studying! Just a bit fed up with all the charachters; would like to focus more on speaking. But, with mid terms now passed we're half way through. And after Uni I'll take private classes instead, with more talking than reading.
Some more Swedish people have recently moved to Guanzhou and there's now a group that wants to meet up once in a while. Even though one main reason for me to like Guangzhou is because it's so Chinese, it's really good to have a mix of Chinese and foreign friends - plus Swedes will always be Swedes. 😊 Last Sat we were a big group of different nationalities getting together for
Tea cermony
Trying different teas in cute, traditional Chinese cups Mexican buffet dinner and on Thursday there's Swedish after work!
Sofia and I have started playing tennis Sat mornings, with our own coach - Mr Li 😊 I'm crap, but it's great! We're playing on a tennis court on Shamian Island, which is the former French quarters just next to the river; so it's a beautiful surrounding! Have also started belly dancing and Chinese danccing classes at my gym; so am alternating classes with with young, hip girls and old, graceful ladies. 😊
On Sunday my dad is arriving again, staying for less than a week this time. Hence, a lot of meetings and factory visits next week. Sunday evening I'm joining my first Chinese wedding! It's my former student from EF who's getting married.
I'm staying in China over Christmas, but am coming to Sweden for 10 days from Feb 25th. Going back though, for a few more months after that. I didn't feel like staying in China a day longer than February when I was home last summer, but now everything is going fine. I like my life here and really want to get a decent level of Chinese. Plus, more chances for you to
come and visit me!
Missing you loads!!!
Hugs Emma
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hej hej, gud vad fort tiden går! Nu är det snart 1 år sedan vi landade hos dig. Sen blundar man och det enda man blir är äldre ;) Men det är kul att läsa och se bilder från din vardag... Gör det oftare! För det har du väl tid med :) här allt toppen men det börjar bli kallt - tror att snön trillar ner vilken dag som helst nu. Gillar det iof. Jobbar mkt - lugnar aldrig ner sig. Hopplöst! Annars är det suvve! Ska nog flytta... Fast inom sthlm. Det ska bli kul. Hörs snart! Ha det gott, thomas hälsar, stor KRAM L