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Published: March 3rd 2007
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Drum
Lunar festival. One activity they did have was banging on this really big drum. I am confused. The fact that I went to Shanghai, and did several very interesting cultural things over my holiday went uncommented on. The Indian man comment attracted the most attention. First let me put everyone’s mind at ease. The love of my life is a very famous Indian actor. I made that comment for my friends here in China who have spent countless hours watching his movies with me and trying to find his next bollywood movie. There is no one in my life and perhaps that is why no one leaves me any messages. Because ask anyone of my friends or watch any good TV series and love is what keeps peoples attention. I am confused as to why whom I am with is more interesting then what I am doing.
I am surrounded. While I can't understand it seems that people have the desire to be involved in my personal life. First there is my best Chinese girlfriend who insists on setting me up with every guy she knows. Which is awful because I am not good at conversation and most of the time they don't speak my language. Second, the boys I hang out with are
Snacks
While walking around you can buy these very strange snacks intent with me setting them up with the girls I know. And then lament to me their love woes. For my birthday I was given all the episodes of Ally Macbeal with the note that the main character reminded them of me. This is my new favorite show but who really wants to be compared to a love depraved, crazy, lawyer. The last straw was when my boss pulled me into his office to tell me he thought I should date more. He said he was glad that I was pursuing a career but shouldn't I make men a part of my life equation. Ahhh I know I turned twenty-three but I feel like I turned thirty.
Back to, this is what I did and NOT whom I am with, section of my blog.
I am tired. Okay what was fun and still is sort of but ... being awakened at 3 am because someone is setting off fireworks outside the window is not fun! The car alarms are getting old as well. I went to of the most famous lunar festivals and was really disappointed. It was just a mass of people buying lots of
stuff
The most popular thing to buy were these colorful whirly things. craps. It seemed everyone had to have one of these whirly gigs. If there were performances I could not find them and I looked hard. I did get some cool pictures out of it.
I am scared. I have discovered that I like to get dressed. I like pant suits and skirts. I wish that I had a job that required me to get dressed. I would love to wear grown up clothes. Don't get me wrong I still love my blue jeans and I really love my tennis shoes. But there is something so fun about wearing a professional outfit that makes you walk a little taller and seem older. And to me that’s important.
I am determined. I have started going swimming everyday now because its warm enough that I can walk outside with freezing to death and if I am going to start dressing better I am going to have to be able to fit in Chinese size pants and right now I am at the top end of the size limit. I was not prepared for the pool women’s dressing room though. In America, yes, it says you should shower before
entering the pool but no one really does. Or if they do they stand under the water for five seconds with their suit on. But in China they take full fledge baths. I have never been more uncomfortable then standing in a shower line with five other Chinese women who are naked. And then they started talking to me in Chinese like we were standing on a street corner and not sharing a shower in our birthday’s suits! Strangest time of my life.
I know when Uncle Dan and Aunt Linda came back they had lots of Bathroom horror stories. Well I really kind of avoid bathrooms and if I do have to use them I find the nearest KFC. Which while still squatty potties are individual stalls with doors. I have had two horrible bathroom experiences, which have left me scarred.
One when there was no avoiding using the bathrooms at the primary school. The bathroom is just a trough with half partitions and no doors. As I was using the bathroom one of my students walked in stood in front of me and attempts to have a conversation with me! Nothing absolutely nothing came to mind to
parade
There was a parade with people dressed in old costumes i have been trying to discover what it all means but have been unsuccesful. say. The other time was when there were doors and I could not get out. I started having a panic attack because one the smell is overwhelming, and you can't climb under the door because the floor is well lets just say not sanitary. I was literally trapped. I was between classes what was I supposed to do not show up to class because I was stuck in the bathroom stall? I backed up as far as I could and heaved all my weight against the door and the latch broke freeing me. Very nerve wracking experience. I have not seen but I have been told about the bathrooms at the summer palace. They are western style and when you flush the paper cover on the seat is flushed away and a fresh paper seat is pulled into place.
In preparation for the Olympics Beijing is trying to become more modern and improving their bathrooms is on the list. Also on the list is to ban spitting. Unless you live in China there is really nothing like the sound of men and women hacking and then spitting. It's this sound that just makes my nerves stand on edge. It's so
parade
Everyone was fighting to touch the red cloth carried by this heavly adorned man. distinct. The other day I was walking and this very nice looking young man business suit tie was walking towards me and I made the decision to change direction rapidly. As I did I heard the sound my step paused and I looked up. Suddenly what would have been a very large ball of spit hurled in my direction was checked sending the man into spasms of choking. I did not know what to do. Does one apologize for causing someone to choke on their spit they almost hit you with?
Also on the list of improvements is smoking. In China you can smoke anywhere. Restaurants, lines, stores, anywhere. They are trying to create designated smoking places but that is not working. The other day I got ash flicked on me while standing in line to buy a subway ticket. I hate smokers.
If I were creating the list of improvements I would put lessons on waiting in line. You would think they would be really good at this because in china you spend half you life in line. But they don't know how to form a line. They just form a mass clump and whoever gets their
first wins. They do this for the bus for the bathroom, and in KFC. I stood patiently behind this one man in KFC and paused for one second and the man to my right ordered. Then the man to my left. As I was getting change the woman was taking orders they’re no pause to wait just push to the front.
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Grandmama
non-member comment
Oops!
Trisha, I wrote a long "comment", accidently touched the wrong key and it all disappeared.Anyway, I,m so happy to hear from you. Your Mama is back on the hill and that is comforting. By the way, are you learning how to spit ? When you come back we expect you to be able to teach us all the behaviours of polite society. (Also, if he is tall, handsome, speaks English fluently,and has at least one million in the bank bring him home. We would all love to be his friend.) Grandmama