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Published: November 15th 2009
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candied tomatoes
they sound gross and smell even grosser. Hello
So, I thought I would write a general analysis of my life here, as my near 3 month anniversary approaches. It has started to get a little cold so I have resorted to hibernating because I realize just how far my appartment is from everything else. It is a 15 minute walk to the cafeteria, 25 minute walk to the closest supermarket, and almost 30 minute walk to the gate to catch the bus. There are these little golf carts that take people around campus, but I had an altercation with one of the drivers a few weeks back (because he was being a serious douchebag), so now they have all boycotted me and will not stop if I flag them down. (It's all good though, I'm plotting my revenge!) So I have been taking advantage of the Sunday minivan trips to Walmart.
I only have one wok which I have noticed has some rust spots on it,so I have stopped cooking and my daily meals consist of fruits, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and insta-coffee. My heat is blasting all the time but still I get no relief from the cold. There is no such thing as insulation
zzzzzzz
This is an extremely common sight in China. People will sleep anywhere! this car is actually parked in the street! with this man sleeping in it. They be on the bus standing and sleeping. in China, so the entire building is freezing cold, sometimes colder inside than it is outside. The temperature outside is not unbearable, however, the wind is murderous. Which is funny because I remember no wind relief during the hellish summer.
But in any regards, these hideous monster beetles are still with me, there are about 7 of them currently living with me now. Trying to evict them is useless because they will just come back in immediately. I use to be deathly afraid but now they have names and they keep me company when I can't sleep at night.
I have made a few new Chinese friends at English corner, including a post grad student who has agreed to teach me Chinese, so I am stoked for that to finally happen. There are also a few technologically inclined young gentlemen who are helping me navigate through this Chinese version of windows, of which I was extremely confused about for a long time. So English corner is actually helping me out more than I could have imagined, in terms of dealing with life in China.
Teaching has actually suddenly gotten more time consuming for me now as I
what?
uhhh.. please tell me what this is suppose to me... have been asked to give them more homework. I am a writing teacher so grading these papers is often a nightmare, the countless grammatical and spelling errors is mind boggling! I can only imagine the effect that it will have on my own language ability. I am already starting to lose serious vocabulary and yesterday I was talking to someone and called a 'he' and 'she'. And at times, the things they write about are so hilarious I sometimes have a hard time keeping a straight face when I read some of their essays. After this blog, I still have a heap of papers to grade and a mid-term test to write. UGH.
Other than that, in my free time, I venture aimlessly around town trying to get my bearings together and partake in incomprehensible conversations with random people who talk to me. I also go to restaurants and point to things on the menu to try and see what comes out. I'm learning how to bargain now, and it has turned into a mini sport for me so I think I'm getting deals on miscellaneous items (bootleg DVD's, random electonic equipment, slippers, jackets that don't fit right because
sausages
Sausages just chillin in the wind downtown. my arms are too long)
Today, which is particularly gloomy, I was thinking about things that I miss about the states and my list is as follows:
- bath tubs
- convience of automatic water heaters (I keep forgetting to turn my water heater on and have had to take a few cold showers...not fun)
- English..
- recongnition of food and ingredients
- meat with no bones
- annonimity (probably spelled that wrong)
- espresso
- people driving like they want to stay alive.
- the sound of people NOT spitting and hacking everywhere.
- babies that wear diapers
- CHEESE!!! The cheese in China is not affordable and they don't eat cheese with anything.
- watching and listening to things I understand
- clothes and especially shoes that I can wear.
- happy hour food.
- not getting touched all the time
- and of course family and friends
and I think that's about it.
but on the flip side, there are some pretty awesome things about China like:
- all out lawlessness (chaos theory applies here)
- uncouthness (you can behave any way you want especially at the dinner table and it can sometimes be
sugar cane
Deliciousness, but not for the dentally impaired! fun to see just how foul you can get and still no one will think otherwise..i mean seriously dunk your head in your plate...no problem)
- hilarity
- people are actually much nicer and friendlier than Americans.
- Karoke!! is actually really fun.
- variety of food
- the compliments, I've got an increasing following here.
- there are monkeys performing outside Walmart...yes..
- chinese boys hairstyles.
- the acceptance of wearing pajamas anywhere and everywhere.
- no open container laws/ smoking anywhere and everywhere you want.
- everything is cheap here (except cheese)
- tea
- 'everything is good for your health' haha..according to the Chinese.
- people watching is much more interesting
- massages
- holidays that no one can explain the significance of.
So it has been nice thus far, having enough time to do random things and I'm enjoying my stay here. When is someone gonna come visit me :-(
Zaijian
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