Little Tidbits...

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So, part of my personality involves complete randomness from time to time...it's entertaining and you know it. 😉

With that in mind, I've decided to jot down a few little details, facts, etc that I've found interesting.

First and foremost, I watched a news segment on tv last week (the only English channel in my flat) and an Indian professor had a fascinating analogy:

"If a door is shut, look for a window;
If a window is shut, look for a ventilator;
If a ventilator is shut, look for a crack in the wall."

In other words, be persistent; and from what I've learned in China...the Chinese are very persistent.

Second, the British is killing me over here. It's a good thing I knew a little of those British slangs and terms, but dang...it's rough.

Differences: Plaster (UK) = Band-Aid (US)
Rubber = eraser (UK) while rubber = condom (US)...that's a funny one that I forgot. hehe.
Flat (UK) = Apartment (US)...Yes, everyone knows this, but my point in writing it is to remind people to not poke fun when I come back to the states.

Pronunciation: H in the UK sounds like Heich. And Z is Zed. -> Imagine the look on my face when my editor said, "Samantha, can you take a look at the 'Heich - R' companies?" Uumm...yea but, what is Heich - R? Ooooh, you mean HR (Human Resources). K, got it - two minutes later. Oh, fun stuff let me tell you.

Third, my roommates (flatmates, whatever you call them):

Riina - Amazing. We have tons in common and it's really nice to learn more about Finland - it's not just a naturesque kind of country. Ha, just jokes. Seriously though, many people believe that Finland is just like Sweden. Part of that is true. Many Sweds live in Finland and many Fins live in Sweden. In school, children learn both Swedish and Finnish - both languages are pretty sweet. According to Riina, it's imperative that one doesn't confuse a Swed with a Fin. Now, I'm not sure how everyone else attemps to avoid this, but normally...I just try not to guess where people are from to begin with. I just ask. It's a simple process and it could save you from getting into a fistfight.

Also, you know those select few (well, actually, there are several) people out there in the world who enjoy talking during movies. I'm sure everyone has met one or two. Of course, it's not a bad thing; and I do enjoy a random comment or two during a movie. But then, there are people who talk throughout the ENTIRE movie and about nothing relevant to the film...Riina would be one of them. LOL! We "attempted" to watch Burn After Reading one night - keep in mind that BOTH of us wanted to watch it. By the end of the film, I had no idea what happened, who was who, the main plot...nothin'. The best part about it was three-quarters of the way through the film, Riina said, "Ha, I've been talking throughout this entire movie." My response (while curling my fingers into a fist-shape), "Yep, you sure have." Hilarious though - I love the girl.

Andrew - Pleasant guy...huge mama's boy. Now, I have NOTHING against that type at all...most tend to be great guys; however, sometimes, there's a slight (teeny-tiny) loss of manhood. And for SOME, like Andrew...they know it. It's hilarious.

Exhibit A: Hates bugs, freaks out over the little ones. (I am officially the bug-killer wherever I go - even outside the U.S.) There was a fly flying around in our apartment last night and while we were talking he got so distracted by the little fly (about the size of a small pebble) that was flying near him. He started swatting and everything...it was great.

Exhibit B: He had no clue where to buy toilet paper. He didn't know where to put dishes and pans after washing them in the sink (drying rack right next to the sink). 😉 Didn't know how to put detergent in the washing machine (a washine machine that is in Chinese - a language he can speak btw). And the list goes on.

Exhibit C: Just before my trip to Beijing he came out of his room and ask me if I've ever deposited money in an ATM - yes, of course. He then proceeded to tell me that he was worried about all his money outside because people might come after him. Being the nice girl that I am, I offered to "stand guard" while he deposited the money in the ATM. It was great.

Please don't take what I've said (or observed) about Andrew as negative. That's not my point. There are just so many different people out there and you really get to know someone once you live with them. It's a completely different experience. And it's also fun to help them out too, if needed. 😊

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Comments

[Grant]

SAM!
Hey friend. Been reading your blog. You are hilarious. Good to see that China is magnifying your already amazing sense of humor. Keep the updates comin! :) G

[Samantha Grace]

GRANT!
Holy balls, I miss you lots man! Thanks for reading my blog, you're a real pal. And I'm glad to hear my sense of humor is increasing over here. How's D.C.?!

[Amanda]

LOL
Oh, I miss you so much Sam! You're hilarious!