I love you, may I?

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It's 5:20 and already dark in Jinan. I'm sitting in my pyjamas, on the huge chair in the living room, texting back and forth with Sophia and trying to decide what to do with a perfectly open Saturday night. The "peace and love" party is going on at Pyramid tonight, so we might check that out (in my hopes that peace + love = reggae) and there's a new bar down the street on Wenhua Donglu that we might stop into.

I haven't been up to much the last couple of weeks, but I have a few worthwhile stories to share.




The Halloween party at Pyramid was a blast! Came home after work Saturday night with Kerry, cooked dinner and got ready... met Danny at Pyramid and had a few drinks, played the counting drinking game (the more you drink, the more difficult counting becomes!). Kerry had to leave, so Danny and I just hung out for a while until Sophia and her two girlfriends showed up. We danced and drank and danced some more (for those of you back home, don't worry, it must be something about being on a different continent that somehow allows me to handle my alcohol)... I was disappointed with the number of people who even attempted a costume, but hey, I guess I'm one to talk. Carlos made the night worth while though with his get-up. Still have images of that branded into my eyelids. (shudder)

Halloween itself was rather uneventful. Missed being home and the fun I'm sure most of you had, but managed to stay away from all of the junk, as the Chinese just.. don't do candy.

Got a bunch of things in the mail that made my week fly by. Mail always manages to put a smile on my face (not to mention making everyone else in the office curious and jealous!).

Spent another Wednesday afternoon with Sophia, and Jon. Went to re-explore the huge underground shopping mall... imagine walking down about 20 steps or so and through some sticky plastic drapes (hatred!) and before you, there are just too many things to take in at once. There are smells... hot dogs, garbage, WC, "la bonza" (aka corn on a stick), perfumes, leather... there are sights... sparkling jewellry, antiques, purses, colourful clothes, and small stalls wherever you look, all selling the same things but all trying to entice you to stick your head in their stall FIRST. Everyone staring at you, eyeing the huge dollar sign that magically appears on your forehead when you descend into their world. Everyone making use of their one word of English, "hello", to try and grab your attention. You can walk and walk and walk.. clothes, shoes, jewellry, fake everything... and the manequins are out of some other time period (along with most of the clothes), they all have rainbow afro wigs or no hair at all paired with Jack-Nicholson-as-the-Joker-in-Batman type facial features. Well we had a fun afternoon in there.. I didn't buy much but got my nails done (fakies!) for the first time in my life. I figure there's a first time for everything, and for 40 kaui (7 bucks), I figured I'd may as well do it in China. Jon and I both got our eyebrows done. Yes, both. Finally got out of there after about 5 hours... need to go back when I have some spare change.

Went for dinner with some of the C students (used to be my B students) from Oma... Angela, Joyce, "Miss" Judy, and Terry... got sticky pictures and ate some "delicious food" (really was delicious)... spicy potatoes, eggplant, veggie dumplings, salty/spicy asparagus. All Tom's treat, who wasn't even there!

I finally got out with Yue to celebrate her 21st birthday, nevermind that it was a couple weeks late. We met up in the afternoon and went to Daming Lake... looked around the major temple that was there... snuck some photographs (tsk tsk), walked arm in arm and just enjoyed the setting sun around the lake. Went into a little aquarium and looked at all of the hideous fish, and almost had my hand bitten off my a turtle (over-statement, but it was close, really!). Took a 10 kaui ride on the huge ferris wheel to look out over the haze of Jinan but were glad to get back on the ground after the nerve-wracking creak of our gondala. Yue haggled our way into the seal show and I got a seal kiss!! We walked around until it got dark and made our way to Pizza Hut. Getting out of the taxi, I smoked a guy on a bike... whoops. We had a nice (expensive) dinner at Pizza Hut, Yue ate ketchup on her pizza, and we laughed and laughed and laughed. Got more sticky pictures (I'm bordering on addiction), then took our separate busses home.

Spent a Monday afternoon with May. We went to her place for tea and coffee and I made friends with her little Chinese dog, Mau Mau. Went for dinner later and learned how to say egg (zhee dan), though I couldn't quite grasp tomato. We recapped the rest of the Chinese words I know (not a lot, but useful none the less) and May agreed to help me if I ever want to learn more. Danny's offer is there as well.

Sophia took me for out drinks one night.... tequila shots and rum and coke. Stayed out a bit too late and got back to the apartment once the gates were locked. Keyless. And I, with my short legs and blue jeans, jumped the fence. You should see the bruises. Yellow and black. But I did it. Amazing, as Sophia later said.

And here's something to make you laugh... the waiters at UBC are notorious for tripping over hand and foot to be the first to serve you (and in doing so, practice their English). New waiter last week. He stood at my table side for 5 minutes, watching me eat. Finally gathered enough courage to ask for my mobile number, and for my friendship. Gave him my number, and the next day he sent me a message asking if I was working. When I told him yes, this is the text I got in respsonse: "it does not matter I only hope you do not think I am a bad boy because I really want to make friends with you I like English and I like a man who speaks English ,I also love you ,may I?" haha. May he? Hey if he likes a man who speaks English!




Today was a fun day of teaching at JAC. I taught 3 classes: House, Food, and my favourite class, Going To My Friend's Place. Kerry and I had lunch then hit the cultural market at the bottom of Hero Mountain, and she helped me score some good things (secret!).

It's hard to believe that I only have two months left in Jinan. My contract ends on Tuesday, January 10th. My plans post-contract are constantly changing. I had originally planned to travel to Thailand for three weeks before going home, but plans changed when I met Rachel and the band at Pyramid. I was invited to stay with them in Philippines for three weeks, so plans changed. But now, plans are looking like they might change again. Foreigner safety isn't too great in Philippines right now... terrorist threats in and around Manila, riots, and kidnappings every day. Needless to say, I'm reconsidering my plans to travel there. I really had set my heart on it, and may still go, but I have to make a decision soon. If I don't go to Philippines, I've decided that rather than travel to Thailand, I'll travel within China for three weeks. Possibly to Yunnan province or Tibet if I can find a group. Might get down to Shanghai to meet up with Duncan, Xian or Qingdao perhaps. China is such a huge, diverse country, with so much to see and experience. So much possibility.

I think I'll reheat some left over dumplings for dinner, kick back, and watch some Star Trek Deep Space 9 with Jon before I head out to meet Sophia for "peace and love" night.

Update again in.. a while. Still no luck being able to post photos. I'll try to post them somewhere else and post a link.


love. Laura (lì shä)




A few memorable quotes from students:

"Your food is on my face." (Yoyo, SAC class 2)
"You know, penguin is the gentleman of birds." (Eric, SAC class 3)
"10 lies!" (Terry, Oma class C, in reference to my fake nails)

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Comments

[Marianne]

I love reading your Blogs - sounds like you're having so much fun!