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Published: April 27th 2008
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Shao Kao
Shao Kao, first night home! Something in the way it feels out here makes me so happy
Settling in here and starting to get really comfy. Although I’m still lacking things I feel are essential I am enjoying my time here. Time has been disappearing so quickly since I’ve arrived here, and now with only a few months left lately I’ve been wondering what the end of the contract will bring for me. There are so many options that for someone like me who wants to do everything I feel more than slightly overwhelm at times. My comfort in those thoughts is that I don’t have to decide right now, and in fact, I might not have to make a final decision, but kind of do them all. That is perhaps just me thinking of the unreality of life, and will eventually come to my senses and decide where and what I will be doing next.
Going back to those essential things I feel I miss out here, close friends, pubs, cheese and granola. Some of course have more importance over others 😊
I’ve been meeting a ton of people, both foreign and local. All in all though, it seems like there is
an invisible bridge separating me and the locals disenabling me from getting that bond that close friends share. The Chinese people are extremely friendly and welcoming, yet distant as well. I believe it is their concern for making me, as well, as the others feel so welcome that they forget to just relax and chill out. I don’t expect them to pay for my meals every time, or serve me before themselves when we go for dinner. Sometimes they even feel it necessary to ‘show me around town’ instead of just taking a walk and hanging out. Or the common scenario of ‘lets get together and hang out’ turns into ‘teach me English’. The bridge that we both can’t see is so clear in our conversations and transactions that we both know it must exist. I know I will always be their ‘foreigner friend’ as supposed to just a ‘friend’. It is a difference I am still not used to, and miss the effortless way of making friends back home. On the other hand, the foreigners I do meet out here are friendly and cool, and perhaps they share similar feelings to mine about the locals, because we usually tend
American Breakfast
Rock, Dusty and Jane all full from eating a home cooked American Breakfast by Jane. to stick together. I enjoy their friendship, but I feel a little resentment because I wish to experience this with the locals. Why be in China and hang out with other Canadian?
I have a new companion with me these days. I met him a few days ago in a darken alley coming out of a ‘shao kao’ which is a Chinese BBQ in the early morning of a drunken night. Once I saw him I knew I couldn’t leave his side and must take him home. He now sleeps in my living room in a beer box. My new little friend is a tiny white bunny, who I have named Shao Kao. My roommates didn’t seem to mind that much, and in fact one of them wasn’t that surprise that I would one day come home with a stray animal. I believe Shao Kao escaped from the nearby night market and was hiding in the alley when I stumbled upon him. So dirty from the passing of the rainy days we had just before, I took him home and gave him a bath. For those who think I’m going to die from a strange Chinese rabbit disease all
American Breakfast
Proud moment for Egger, who uses the fork for the first time and does so well! I can tell you is… he seems no more dangerous than eating street meat that has been sitting in the sun all day or fruit soaked in unfiltered water, both common occurrences that Chinese people do daily. Do as the Chinese do then, get a rabbit and drink hot water (it’s good for your healthy!)
I have just finished enjoying four days off work. In those days I did nothing, and spent my time aimlessly walking the streets discovering new markets, new restaurants, sleeping in and of course saving a rabbit. Now having to work this weekend to make up for some of the classes I have a busy week ahead of me. May Day holiday should be coming up this week sometime. The one thing my school really lacks, and maybe it’s not just my school on this one but China’s way of doing things, is the idea of letting people know when a holiday is. The though of actually planning a weekend trip has completely vanished for me. Seems like I will be doing those little travel trips I want to do at the end of the term. The week also brings an invitation to attend a wedding.
Reeb
they are so clever! I’m looking forward to this experience, should be an interesting time. The wedding is out in the country, so I will get to breath in some “fresh” country air, and eat probably some really crazy “food”. Alright, lets get the cultural bus rollin!
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Cory
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Bunny...
Cute Bunny!!! Hope you have fun at the wedding!