New Year's Resolutions

Well, have been back in the good ole U S of A for the past 4-5 days, with a rickety bed (aka sleeping bag), overdose of relatives, and very little unpacking. All I have to say is...I still want those homemade chocolate chip cookies!!!

2007 is going to be a big bag of surprises- I know 2006 was. I have to say it is hard to top 2006- as I was in Europe partying it up with Pat, backpacking, and hitting up China where I met some really diverse amazing people that I love. Sooo...let's see where 2007 will bring me. Hopefully beats what the palm reader told me since it just sounds so boring to be just not bad.

Countries I want to visit:
Japan (if I get that Nambu Internship)
Venezuela (end of Dec 2007 with Pat?? Celebrate New Years with my 2 best buds)
Egypt, Croatia, or Romania (if I teach this summer)
Well, the point is anywhere is a possibility and I'm loving it. Especially if I did my math correctly and I might be able to graduate a semester early (ps I suck at math)-- so I'll have somoe more time to do even more travelling...like maybe work and travel...hm...

Anyways, new years resolutions
1) To smile more. :) I think I was a little down too many times the past semester over really stupid things
2) Enjoy my time at AU and make some new friends. I'm sure I will as long as I don't become a workaholic
3) According to palm reader- be more ambitious. Don't do everything half assed. I feel like lately I've lost this motivation or drive to be ambitious after being in China. Heck, I'd use to tell my friends what I craved for dinner and that's what we had! If my taste buds lost some sense in good food, then somethings wrong.

Anywho, Happy New Year, and another 5 or so months until I'm legally able to drink in the US.

Alone in Nanjing...

Today was a semi hectic day. I helped a friend speed pack the rest of his stuff, and basically trying to zipper everything to make it all fit. I really don't know how we did it, but we finished in time, and got ourselves to the airport before our planes left in different direction. I have to admit, I got almost teary thinking about missing him when I was in the cab, but that's why I didn't say goodbye. Goodbyes sound quite permanent, and I hope we'll meet again. Other than that, my zai jians to everyone else were classic short and sweet. I'm so glad I helped him with his stuff (actually I would have no idea how he would have managed it if I wasn't around as well); he had soooo much stuff (5) that it was like when I hauled my ass home from Japan- I was so sick of the situation that I could only think about leaving instead of feeling sad. It was just weird that since I had so much thinking time to the hostel, I started thinking how it would be like with the people I usually hang out with being in Nanjing with me...oh my the voices in my head!!! I'll have fun times with or without them, but I hope they also have those random moments like I do with them.

Since I can't find to China Construction nearby and I basically used all my money for paying cab rides for me and my friend to the airport, to Nanjing Youth Hostel, etc, I am currently...broke. It's all good, I'll look for one tomorrow morning before going to wander around. Nanjing is an interesting place; the cab system works differently and the guy I had was picking people up while I was still in the cab...lol. It was just weird. I think I'm going to give up asking cabbies if they like their job; they always say no. Ah well, just trying to start a conversation. Though if I got a yuan for every person who asked me if I was Korean, I'd be rich. LoL, or Sarah says, I'd have a dollar. Okay, well definitely more than a dollar, make it at least 5.

Blahhh

Okay I wrote this entire entry about how my camera is broken and IE just decided to freeze on me just before publishing and now it's just turning into an annoying day where nothing is going right.

I think its karma; I don't know exactly what I did wrong to deserve this camera dropping incident where now the barrel is jammed tilted and no longer works. But I know its been a past two annoying days where the highlight of this trip is askewed with chinese 1gb usb drive not working properly so now I also lost my terracotta soldiers pictures. Maybe photos were just not meant to be, but it does suck. and karma hit me directly at my weakest spot: my love for electronics.

Guess one thing in life I will always be easily replacing where money is of no object: cameras.

Travels

So, currently writing this on a sticky keyboard in Tibet. Yes, Tibet. I'm going to make this short as I have no idea how long I have at the Internet cafe. But travelling has made me want to pick up my roots and fly away again. Anywhere. But next semester I'll be back at AU. Japan, fall senior year. Life changes. I've changed. For the better. A lot of stories have missed this blogging opportunity but I hope I will have a chance to post them up sometime. Like taking a 26hr train from Xinning to Lhasa, waking up at 8:30am suddenly to see the gorgeous moon and the various blues that go along the desert. So many stories, so little time. Being in all these undeveloped parts make me appreciate the life I have, the opportunities I have selfishly indulged in.

It is so hard to describe the beauty and the downfall of cities in what I have seen. It is sometimes a pity...

Living life one step at a time.

A lot has happened in the past 10 days. Long story very short, Pretty much, a change of course in my future plans. I never felt as freaked out as I have been the past days as I contemplated about the future of my life. I was supposed to go to Japan, had second thoughts, then based it all on whether or not I got a scholarship. Well in the end, I didn't, and strategically (though financially more), it is best to be back at AU. So that's where I decided...as I claimed, officially. I still have time to decide, and as Zach had calmed me down earlier on Sunday (thank goodness he was around), not to count my chickens or eggs before they hatch. Or some similar analogy. After talking to him, I felt so much better as I was going insane about my decision to be back at AU.

After reading an email from my Japan advisor, Heidi, who responded to my "I might not be going to Japan anymore" she made me feel positive of all my decisions. I laughed about my worried feelings on Sunday as it was the first time in years I have felt so mentally unstable with decision making, and felt like I might just as well end up going to AU, take courses and all of a sudden come end of March, and I just book it and fly off to Japan.

Honestly I feel like I have nothing to keep me grounded. When someone asked me where do I want to be, I don't know. Anything has been good as long as I was off and around the world. Nothing has intrigued me long enough to keep my interest and made me feel like I had a place there. Perhaps travelling is my drug of choice...I don't know how it all adds up financially, but I guess it would be almost the same price?? Though saying travelling is my hobby sounds more...sophisticated. LoL, imagine if someone wrote "using drugs" in their list of hobbies...eerrhhh kay.

As people started counting down, which I have down for the past months, I feel like this time I finally have stopped counting. I have decided to just things go with the flow, and finally am back to myself. It's a nice feeling going back to normalcy. I've also noticed how I had this sudden realization that I'm over with seeing some good friends I have made here. I'm quite sure I'll see Bennett and Jon around at AU and hang out with them, but some people that I have been hanging around so often I know I definitely won't see them again. Like "ohhh I will come visit you!" etc etc bs. BULL. 99% of them, I can definitely tell it'll be "seeyaaa!" and that will be that.

I know I'll be in Boston for sure seeing some peeps, visitng my bestfriend, killing two or three birds with one stone. But besides that, all of a sudden i look at some and think- well, you say those words so openly that I definitely predict it will not happen. Don't both to even say you'll keep in touch when you don't mean it. I've travelled long enough to pick out who is going to make the effort.

I guess that me being back to normal, I have noticed more and more people's real faces and though I thought I knew some people real well, I can just predict that another layer will just show a face of lies. Then start wondering how long they have been lying and putting up that fake face, or like which words are full of bs. I try to keep my word so I know my deal. But besides that, life is just full of lies, and liars who tell them.

I decided not to take any more shit from people and just do things my way from now on. As one lady said to me outside of Shaoyuan 5- "explanations- friends don't need em, and enemies don't care". If you're a real friend, you'll also take that iniative to approach me first without having to say so. But I have that feeling that, well, if we do meet again in a chance meeting or effort, then it's meant to be that way. But besides that, I'm just to realistic.

Gong An? Gong An??

Anyone call for a Gong An?
公安
That's one word people should know in China. Especially foreigners.

I only came upon that word as the police car was parked outside my dorm for the past 2 days, and came to recognize it from- gong as in public, and an (which i learned in japanese first)- to be at east. So translates to public ease. Finally got that into my vocab and well put at use on my way to Bennett's apartment.

We head into a cab and the cabbie decides to take a left turn out of ximen (rather than the right, which is fastest), and somehow takes the highway. Usually, to Bennett's place its towards Wudaokou on the main road and turn a left before we hit the train station. So that wasn't even a long way, it was probably the longest way possible some sly cheat can conjure up. So, I ask him why he was taking such a long road. In Chinese of course. He ignores me. I call him driver in Chinese. He ignores me. I finally tap on his shoulder and he responds, and I asked him the former question again. He does the Ting Bu Dong (can't understand), and fails to even try the slightest bit to try and understand. So...he wants to play it that way eh??

I whip out my vocabulary, finally well put into use. If he thinks I suck at Chinese, why not? I say in the most innocently high pitched or retarded sounding (wrong tones and all) Mandarin- "Gong Ahn? Gong Ahn?" That got his attention since he was startled. I decided to see how far I could play since I was in the mood to push buttons. Almost an eye for an eye. "Gong Ahn? Gong An? Da den wa gei gong an?" --aka give a call to police? LoL. I decided to play around with that phrase a little more like I was practicing my chinese.

Finally he was about several turns away when I get back to sounding serious and just told him in Mandarin- We know what you're doing, we're not stupid. Loud enough for him to listen if he wants, enough to pretend i was having conversation with my two poorly spoken foreign friends in chinese, though they definitely did not know what i would be saying lol. cab moves along a little faster. Finally there. Bennett takes the reciept this time around, to back up his threat. Karma man, Karma. It'll find him. It's all about honesty.

Buddha, a Christian, and an alien?!

Just being contemplative. Contemplatively artsy.

The past week has been quite a studious week. I don't know why, but I felt compelled to work on my paper till i'm finished with each and every one. To add a fun state to it, rub it in other people's faces mwahaha. Okay I'm kidding.

I've been feeling artsy lately, perhaps after cracking from paper writing. Maybe even ambitious enough to send out christmas cards. LoL maybe. If I find something of that sort. mmhhh to stretch out from my typical group of hangout buds has been refreshing, but nonetheless, I realized how there are just some people you do certain things with and enjoy a lot more. No matter how I want to ween off of my friends here, I realize how I'm a little worried that I'll never see them again, 90% chance of that. It's sad, but that's how paths are crossed. Perhaps I'll see the people that go to my school again, but as for the rest, after the first chance meeting, the second, maybe it means friendships are strengthened. No matter how I say I miss you to some of my friends and really mean it, it doesn't mean anything in the end. However, if we do have the chance to meet again, now that definitely means something. Just let things flow, and see where life takes us. I'm ready to spin the globe and wherever my finger stops, I'll go. My paths have widened up to the point where perhaps it may not be spontaneous, but I have so many possibilities where everything is an option.

Why are we so afraid? I find myself feeling that way sometimes.

Should I be counting down?

As things come to a close, I yet still have another few months here in China. Fall has come and soon to pass. I find myself being in Beijing for a little longer. It's funny how life works: everything falls in place, there is a stage set for the next scene. (yes, i'm feeling a little artsy at the moment and no I don't have a glass of wine in hand).

And then you ponder if you settled without fully realizing? I told everyone that I wouldn't live in Beijing, then ironically, I find myself several days later extending my stay. I try to imagine myself in the next few months, alone. It is refreshing, yet a little sad that the friends I have made here will come and go. Who knows if I'll see them again, who knows what they actually think when they leave. We all split onto our own ways, but I hope some of them I will cross paths with and reconnect, over a cup of coffee perhaps. I really do hope so, as some are quite innovative and I want to hear about their success conquering or making it a better place. I guess I shouldn't be shedding tears just yet, as I have another month with them. But I try to ween myself off, so as to prepare myself for the January alone in Beijing as a young non-studious adult, and for the time that comes to truly part from them. It'll be a lot harder than with the bunch I had in Belgium though I'll confess.

Life Abroad

In a blink of an eye, another month is about to pass. I've never expected that time would fly by so fast, faster than when I was in Belgium. I'm at the point where I suppose I've finally hit that block of panic. Panicking about what? I'm not too sure. I really came here to expect the unexpected, meet some people, shop and eat. Despite the decent program itinerary, I have found that China really grows on you. I've made Chinese friends, talk to a lot of people, and just been more around the socializing scene than in Belgium. Basically I'm turned into a girl. I know way too much about everyone. Some I can handle, the rest I prefer not to know. It is great to have amazing friends here and I realized how if I put effort, I can really get a good sense of what they're feeling. Minus some moments...okay I'm not a stalker lols.

Then while I was in my slump today, I realized that other people's moods really do affect me. If I hang around certain person(s) for too long, I see the negativity in life, and basically end up in some twisted sarcasm that might as well be fit for some murderer. Then I realized how hanging out with one of my really good friends here has opened me up for the better, or well the more vulnerable to being happy. However, the world seems a little wrong when my friend has one of those silent irritated days once in a blue moon and it brings me down as well.

And thus, as I was playing pool today, I contemplated about how I'll be leaving my friends here, my moments of happiness with friends that were forged within a few weeks.Life suddenly becomes either longlasting...or cheap. I will understand if I don't see some of my friends that I made here back in the US one day, for our roads only briefly merged on our way to our goals. But I dearly hope, they will one day remember me, and at least think back to all the memories we had hanging out, and say, we had an awesome time, and she was a great friend (and really meaning it). Cause, I hope I will do the same too.

It's not about me Sunday

As I was sitting in the school canteen about a week ago with Zack, somehow I just started thinking about how it would be so hard to go back to the States after being in China. I've done Belgium and such before, but China is definitely just a different experience. We've reached the one month mark.

After a full week of partying, a range emotions that run both high and disgustingly low, I had a good amount of time to reflect about China and the way my life has been heading. Honestly I can say it is pretty much on track as to what I have wanted to achieve. Perhaps life is more than about achievements and goals, but those are th things I value most.

I asked a friend on day in the cab about my biggest flaw. From his personal point of view, it was atheism. But then again he was raised with strong christian beliefs. Nonethe less it bothered me to know that for some reason. I have changed a lot of my religious ideology since I was a kid, from hating religion, having people stop being my friends due to being an athiest, to having best friends from every religion, to accepting people and their religious beliefs. I feel like I have a adequate explanation for my athiesm and from swaying from a god, and even explaining to people apparently is not enough for them to accept my athiesm. I've had a friend almost divorce her husband after she found out he no longer believed in the religion they married under. Imagine, religion is so strong, it has a divide even in love. It is basically like a racial or ethnic divide that really makes me wonder if people can overlook such simple things and see the real me. It makes me wonder if real guys are willing to see and not get scared by my outward strong ambitious independent female appearance and be willing to take that chance and say- hey she's cool and she can fend for herself and I like that and shouldn't consider who wears the pants in the relationship as a problem. It's sad I haven't met a guy that really fits that category and have the guts to approach me other than phased as a friend, or they are the players or idiots who don't know any better. Oh wait, I do take that back since there was one guy but that was long history (that lasted only a span of less than a week).

I was just considering this because I was in Qingdao the past 3 days and a whole slew of girls were getting married during the mid autumn festival holiday. I then wondered if they really loved their husbands enough to get into a group marriage, or did they marry just to be socially accepted? I'm way beyond social acceptance i realized, but the idea of how some people do certain things to be accepted is a little sad.

An Eventful Weekend

Well, the last post I wanted to put out there was accidentally erased due to the fact I was working on it at my internship on a chinese computer.

Fritday night, a bunch of us went to see the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra play some russian classical pieces. It was a worthy event to get prettied up for, and it was a great time. I found a bunch of the boys skipping out on the back seats and sitting up front, so I just went there as well. It was great entertainment for $15 USD.

A bunch of us then headed up to Yemmi's bday party. It was going pretty well until this guy on the program decided to touch my ass trying to push his luck on the death threats I made to him for the past 2 days. Well his balls are still intact right now but that night I threw my malibu and pinapple juice in his face and told him to fuck off before walking away. I hate those obviously desperate guys who tries to hit on every girl he sees, hoping he'd strike some luck. He should know who he deals with before he tries, I have gotten guys blacklisted by the whole Japanese community at AU before (and basically no longer attending AU). Though I've changed my ways in terms of being violent, it doesn't mean I'll take shit from such shameless lowlife beings. And when I get mad about injustice, I'll strike with a vengence. Hm...maybe I should join up and become the lady yazuka boss!

Anyways, Saturday I went to the Lama Temple and saw all the cool Budda statues. It's a pretty cool thing to see despite the fact I'm an athiest. I wanted to try out those praying incense things everything went there to do, but I thought if I did try it was alittle disrespectful to the culture. Almost considered converting myself to being Buddist just to try it out.

Climbing the Great Wall of China

As my Chinese Political Reforms prof says the saying goes, "You are not a man until you've climbed the Great Wall". Well, though I'm no man, I've climbed it. I feel bad for those soldiers back in the day, those were some pretty hefty steps I hiked. I couldn't believe I hiked so many steps (whatever is in the picture plus several more towers worth). It really wasn't that bad, though my legs are still killing me today. Good times, Good times. 

Beida, Xie men!

First thing one needs to know are Beijing University: how to take the cab back in the middle of the night. Just say "Beida Xie Men" aka Beijing University, West Gate.

Being that I've been here for about 3 weeks now ( and about 2 weeks of Beida), I'm finally getting settled in. Beijing isn't looking so dirty anymore, but definitely I feel like my appetite hasn't fully settled back to my normal (gigantic) porportions. So here's a brief update about the area.

Wudaokou: a straight road from Beida into the lively food and bar area. It's also where you can take the subway. I have found out how cab drivers LOVE to rip foreigners off even driving a straight line back from the clubs to Beida by taking the longer way, and racking up the bill to another 5 or so quai. I hate feeling so helpless in those situations and often yell at them.

In Wudaokou, you have a variety of drinking places to head out to.
1) Beer Garden- its not much of a beerfest there, but for 4 quai, you can get a glass of yanjing beer. Hungry? There are tons of skewer stands surrounding this garden like area with cheap (questionably health hazardous) food. Then again, last night I ate some grilled skewer my friend bought after drinking and I think it was cartilage. oh well, it was 1 quai.
2) Lush- an all foriegner attending bar/lounge, with a pretty chilled atmosphere along with some yummy food. Though I have to say I'm never getting spicy thai noodles ever again since that almost killed me. They do have spaghetti though.
3) ZUB- managed by the same guy from Lush, ZUB is more of a lounge/club with good music. Minus that Saturday that was somehow reggae night. Wednesday is an amazing ladies night with 4 coupons to share with the boys. I've been there twice already for ladies night and just keep on loving it. The manager there is one cool Aussie, though it's not cool he forgot my name the second week. I'll let it slide since he talks to everyone and there's no way he can remember them all.
4) Proproganda- Seen with a nice red star glowing within 5 steps from ZUB's doorway, Proproganda also has some cool parties going on there. To not have conflicting interests, Proproganda hosts the all you can drink night on Wednesdays, whereas it's Thursdays for ZUB.

Now you know where I frequent the most lol. Soooo gotta get outta that area but it's just too fun.

Next: Food.
1) Kro's Nest: After students found out about this little hideaway place, I think they've gone at least 2-5 times. At least for me it's twice. This delectable place has real pizza and delicious food. It's plus or minus a little expensive, at least compared to my 5quai meals on campus.

2) Dim Sum: It's located on the 5th floor of the electronics plaza at this cool restaurant. I went there 3 times already, though the 3rd time it was a little disappointing. If you go at night, they have dishes there for 3 quai each. I heart my chicken feet and cow's stomach.

3) Hotpot: Sam (this chinese guy) brought a bunch of us to this Szechuan hotpot place where it was free beer and amazing food. Zack accidently ate a pepper and was tripping up during the rest of the meal. I heart hotpot and my beef. Definitely a great night.

4) Shaolong bao- There's this 24hr joint that has real soup included shaolong bao. Basically those are steamed meat dumplings with some soup in it that comes from shanghai. I tried out this place last night and was f*kingtastic. Amazing midnight snack.

Deathbed in Beijing

Okay, I suppose I might exaggerate a little. It's about day 5 and I woke up feeling like shit. Every part of my body was aching and by the time it seemed I had a temperature, I finally got off my lazy butt and dug up my Nyquil. By the time breakfast finished, I was drugged up and ready to pass out again. Ahhh the wonders of Nyquil.

I'm still trying to figure out the cause of my sickness. Azusa always said that stupid people don't get sick, which I guess it seems I'm not entirely stupid after all. Well one main cause might be from the fact that yesterday I took a cold shower in the morning (as it only had cold water and it was using solar powered energy). Or it could be from the fact the AC is on in the room 24/7 and it feels partially caused by the bad air from the AC. I'm a big believer in not using the AC unless in extremely hot conditions (as I can survive high temperatures) and not using the AC back in Jersey and now all the time might also be a factor. I'm trying not to think about the comment one guy made about how he had heard China's tap might also contain hepatitis; I don't drink the shit but I do brush my teeth with it, shower, and occaisonally drink tea at restaurants with it. It's getting even harder not to drink beer with a meal just due to the sanitation factor. Well enough about my analyzation of illness, I've been wasting the past couple of days shopping, walking around, and watching Dharma & Greg. I feel like I want to do something else while I'm here, but overall, I know I have 4 1/2 months to do all the touristy things. Getting sick today made me have a split second of reconsideration again about changing my plane ticket and flying home right now. Back to DC where I belong, salvage whatever is left of my friends and begin the new semester with them. Then I had to consider the fact that I'm supported right now by 2- 5 grand scholarships for just being here, would have to pay a lot back if I did fly back to DC, not know what courses to choose, and skip all the fun pampering in China. Due to financial considerations, I guess I'll stay here. The thought of returning after new years and just skipping my volunteer time in Thailand also crossed my mind as well. But I really need it to boost my Fulbright application. blah.

As Prof Sun said~ China isn't the third world~ in a worried questionaire from a fellow classmate, it's true. But it doesn't mean China is a dirty dirty place. Hutong is getting it's pavements and there is an obscene amount of dirt particles floating everywhere. People are spitting all over the streets, if not sometimes in restaurants. Just the preparation for the spit sounds disgusting. I found 2 strands of hair in a cold noodle dish. I'm usually okay about hair in food since that's what ususally happens in my own cooking, but somehow that just bugged the heck outta me. I'm trying to find some good with China besides cheap clothes and pampering, but currently I am finding it difficult. I want to get past the stage of living in a youth hostel and really start my time learning. And I have a feeling vegetarian restaurants hate me: I tried to find 2 different vegetarian restaurants in one day~ one moved to who knows where, the other one couldn't be found. It's difficult to find clean restaurants (so far I only found one and I've been sticking to it like glue) that have the food I eat, and the appetite to eat it. Oh well I hope tomorrow is a better day.

Bargaining for shoes and Beihai Park

Well, yesterday was not too eventful. It consisted of finding shoes. I headed for Sanlituan Market, one of the bargaining markets with 5 floors, each filled with lovely fake products. For 1 yuan (1/8th of a dollar) I took the bus there. I didn't really find shoes during my first attempt up 4 floors, so I took a pitstop to get a pedicure. The guy doing my toes did a wonderful job prettying everything up, and I also got it exfoliated. Walking in flipflops just makes one want to pretty up their feet. I sat next to a Canadian woman who got a french manicure, and she told me that the shoes/bag floor was in the basement. Duuhhh, of course there are basements, why didnt' I realize that? So after my pedi break, I headed down to my main goal: sneakers.

I went around to just take a glimpse of the fake shoe market, and finally decided on a pair of Nikes. Grey "leather" with pink laces. As the receptionist told me that shoes usually cost 50-80yuan, no more than 100, I got prepared to bargain. Before heading down, I only put 90 in one compartment, and the 200 in another. She first offered 400yuan, and I told her I didn't have that much, and she was like give me an offer then. I told her I didn't have that much money on me, and so she asked how much. I told her 80. She said be serious, and slowly dropped it to 200, then to 120 (saying i get a "little" profit) and I kept on telling her I only had 90, and ddn't bring any cred cards on me since my "friend" told me to keep it at home. I told her I can't afford it and only had 90. Finally she said 90, and I was like 85, and said I needed transportation money back home and opened up my wallet. She was like- man you're serious about that 90, and I told her 85, and made sure she had the 5yuan change in her hand before giving my 90. Thus, was my first bargaining experience.

I decided to walk back to the youth hostel, thinking that it really wasn't that far away. It was about 5 big blocks on the map. It turned out to be 11 huge blocks, lots of walking, and total exhaustion. By the time I got back to the nantaoluo road I live on, I couldn't walk another 2 more blocks to the hostel and just stepped to some empty cafe for a cup of tea. Crashed for a few hours, wokeup for an hour or two, then went back to sleep.

Thus today, I decided to do something touristy. I headed to Beihai Park, where there's a huge area of land and the White Pagoda. The lotuses in the water were gorgeous. After paying 20yuan into Beihai, it was another 1yuan to get into Round City, and another 2 yuan to climb up some part of the while pagoda. I opted out of the 2nd one since it felt like I'm paying to exercise. Even though I'm on my feet 10hrs a day waitressing, somehow walking through Beijing for a shorter period took more energy. One thing I realized early on: The smog above Beijing will never clear up for a pretty blue sunny day.

After getting a pedi, I feel like I should start collecting some nice shoes. As I heard in Hana Yori Dango, Good shoes take you to good places. or something like that. In a way, I believe it, or that's just another excuse to pamper myself. :P

Knowing the word "beer" and finding the glory of paved roads

My flight over to Beijing was alright. I sat a seat away from a Chinese man who loved eating those ginseng candies. So during the entire flight he popped in at least 3. I had to endure with that for a bit.

Surprisingly enough, by the time the plane started to move and take off, I was already passed out from the lack of sleep packing till 3am. My strategy was complete. Stretching out in tshirt, sweats, and flip flops, I dozed in and out of sleep, enough to watch the comedy channel and eat all the meals. Continental did a decent job with the food. The steak of course wasn't exactly anywhere near prime, but they did warm my heart with a snack of hagaan daz ice cream. The 13 hr flight felt like it was 7 instead, and I had a piece of eye candy 2 rows ahead in the middle section. During times, it felt like there was an excessive amount of human gas floating around my area, which was a little awful. Then again, when I first walked on board, it smelled like urine.
Later on when arriving at the beijing airport, I talked to that piece of eye candy since I let him and his friend cut in line to save from going all the way to the back. Turned out he was going to be a high school senior, and he was going to spend 2 weeks here to help out at the orphanage. Eye candy no more, it just felt like I was some pedophile. Or maybe not since he seemed a little gay as well. He gave me a little hug though, awww. Enough about that.

The guy who came to pick me up at the airport worked at the youth hostel. After dropping off my bags into the trunk of the car, I realized that the car was a little old. Somewhere along the lines I thought about how I should've also learned to drive stick. When he drove up a curve of the parking lot, the car gave a quick silent death and he restarted the engine again. Sign number one. Along the highway (where a good portion was renovated and had no traffic lines so cars zipped in and out) I realized how the car was moving slower than the others. Finally the guy pulled over to the side to see what's wrong, and after a few good tries, many of which he pressed the reverse and the gas i suppose and the car suddenly moved backward and went kaput, he called a cab for me to send me to the hostel first and said he'll bring my luggage later. I took my carryon for safekeeping and the taxi driver asked me in mandarin where I was from. So I replied the US in bad chinese. Then he went into a slew of mandarin and I just got lost from there. He looked at me and in the end gave up.

When we finally arrived at the destination, the taxi couldn't go any further. There were tons of road construction along the hutong road the hostel was on, and I had no idea which way to go. Of course I pick the wrong direction, and dragged my carryon a good 5 minutes through all the construction work only to find that it was just on the other side of the taxi if I only walked that way. >.> I had laughed earlier about someone's comment on paved roads, but I only realized then how it was a necessity. It was 3pm by then, and I had no idea what to do for the rest of my day, except for a real need of a nail clipper from a broken nail. I met Will from Wales, then Katherine from Canada, and 2 others from Scotland staying in the room.

To shorten things up, I went with Katherine to Carrefour, which is a nice spiffy place to get some drinks, then headed out with Will for a dinner. I had no idea what I was really ordering except 2 lamb shish kebabs, edamame, and beer. My first meal in Beijing I gotta love knowing beer in every language. I wanted some beef, so i pointed on the menu to the only beef dish out there that i could find the word beef. Turned out to be a tofu, beef, parlsey gumbo which turned out to be my meal. I somehow also ordered a leg of lamb, which I was too full to eat. Poor thing, slaughtered and spiced without even being being eaten. Even after paying the whole dinner, it was only $3, well 23 rmb. Man, and Will only had about 28rmb to last 3 days. That's crazy.

Leaving in less than 24hrs.

Though one of my best friends, Patrick, asked me if I was excited, I said yes, honestly my mood swings are up and about like crazy, and the only thing left for me to think is about how Bush sucks. Reading the news sucks, especially about how Bush claims the Iraq war dampened the nation's psyche. Uhhhh now you figured it out you dumbA??! Then there's that lil bunch of anti-abortionist whiners who don't want to approve the over the counter contraceptive pill. As a pro-choice and female, I believe that overpopulation is not the answer. Hoenstly there are people who have accidents, and thus get pregnant. These stupid people should be allowed to easily obtain the pill without a doctor's note. I mean, kids are a real waste of time and money and one of those little accidents might really kill their already bad financial situation. I swear, those anti-Biatches must be real pious absorbing all the church's lies, rich and bored, or just stupid enough to not consider other people's ideas. Okay enough about religion and politics. This was supposed to be a blog about China and travelling.

Honestly, the one thing I hate about packing is the cleaning that comes with it. And I guess I haven't done much of that. But enough procrastinating...I'll be leaving in about another 12 hrs. I guess time isn't on my side now.

Money, Money, Money

as ABBA sings it... but what is the importance of money? I worked a double shift today, and I am mentally exhausted. Usually I'm okay with doubles, but now that Beijing is nearing, I wonder if it was okay to take money over seeing my grandma? As China is also nearing, I realized how I've suddenly stopped my bad spending habits and really started saving once again. Now...if I thought about that before buying my new digital camera, external hard drive, spend so much in DC eating fondue, japanese, and thai. LoL, aren't human beings all like that though? Welll....gotta sleep before hitting another double shift tomorrow. Last day man... last day.

3 1/2 days left- Omlets and hotdogs

Being as lazy as I am, I have finally gotten around to cleaning up my room. I've been tossing out old clothes into the suitecase the past 2 months, and it is extremely full by now. Weirdly enough, I have about the same amount of clothes as I do old paperwork. I'm still debating whether or not I should tell my brother about my storage of unorganized high school papers (now mixed in with my college papers), or to let him learn in high school the traditional way. He's stupid enough, so I guess letting him use his brain once in a while might do him some good. Then again, without my help his gpa might as well end up in the negatives.

During the past few days, I have relearned the joys of American meals. Har har yes, American meals. I wondered what type of meals I probably won't have in Asia, and felt that I should stock up on them now before leaving. Thus to my conclusion: omlets and hotdogs. Haha yes, that's what I came up with. So the last 2 days, I had an omlet for brunch, then a few hours later a hotdog. I also wanted some chocolate chip cookies, but I have a chinese household oven, aka it's stuffed with pots and pans to the point it would be a hassle to take everything out just for a dozen cookies. Since I'm working for 2 1/2 shifts, that only leaves me Monday to perhaps go over to my best friend's house to make some prepackaged cookie dough.

One weird thing lately is that I've been having camera dreams. Okay, I'm a little paranoid about my camera, but it's because it was taken out of my backpack while riding the metro in Barcelona. So I have that right of paranoia and babying my new Panasonic Lumix FX-01. So my first dream was that I was all the way in Beijing when I realized I forgot my camera back in the States, and went wtf when I had 2 digital cameras and still forgot both of them. Then last night I had this dream where I was with some people taking pictures, and we happened to see some extremely vivid Indian or African/animal ceremony with this amazing beautiful blue color, like it was a movie. I used my movie mode on my camera and started getting pissed since the panasonic doesn't allow the zoom during movie mode. Despite that, I was quite proud my camera took clearer pictures than any other camera my friends/classmates had. Okay enough about cameras, I guess I'm a little anal when it comes to my toys. Well, since I have 1 1/2 hrs before getting ready for work, might as well finish reorganizing my room (or that's a codename for i'm going to take a nap).

7 days

And I still don't know how to say toilet correctly. Still got a handful of things to, and I definitely shouldn't procrastinate. It doesn't help that I have to get another set of passport photos done because Ritsumeikan's application is a pain in the bum. Realized how friendly the Beijing group peeps are, but I can tell they are excited and ready to make friends. For me, it's just another study abroad; not that it's awful, but at the same time I'm debating whether to really befriend all of the 39+ group of students, or really try to work on my Mandarin and getting meself some Chinese buds.

Just a reading warning: This post is filled with sarcasm and a twist of meanness. If you feel that your label has been insulted below, then I suppose I'd apologize. Still debating if it would be sincere. I am at times a bit of a hypocrite because I usually don't slap a label onto myself, but I do so for many sad sad bunches. Yeah, I sometimes do bite.

I honestly need to find a spa bud, and just a group of friends I can chill out with and have adventures. If all 39+ students answer the adventure ad on the facebook wall, I'll hang myself first than be dragged into another one of those silly dramas. Imagine, seeing a group of 13 students forming groups (while I'm in Belgium), only now it's 3 times the amount. If it turns out to be catty little girls who don't have a handle on their life or personality, I'll flee. That is my reason for hanging out with guys often. No hassle. Except when the other girls start gossip and think I'm flirting with the boys or hooked up with one of them just because we hang out often. It's like~ Sorry, my life is not as shallow as you are~ Sometimes I gotta knock on their coconut hollowed heads and tell them to get a life that revolves around something besides desperatism. Though I have to admit it's fun at times mimicking dumbasses. Ohhhh man, and I hope there aren't any LBHs out there either, but I'm certain that since we're going to be in Asia, there's gotta be some yellow fever with a few of the boys.

Definition of LBH: Taken from Corrinne, it stands for Losers Back Home. It is pretty apparent with some of the boys who try to get some ass thinking of the ideal obedient asian girl, thus flocking into the land of Asians. I knew a guy at AU who was like that, and loved the (fake) Asian culture. Tall and lanky, already not good looking, thought a huge black filled dragon tattoo down one side of his back is the coolest thing in the world. He landed himself a Japanese girl (my friend) and decided to have a lame ass player personality (he doesn't have his own) and really mentally mess the poor naive girl up with lies. Afterwards, he got blacklisted from the whole Japanese community and a year later dropped outta AU. True story. A good percentage of guys going to Japan usually have that yellow fever. I'm sure it's contagious all the way to China. Guess I won't be finding meself a guy anytime within the next year. Zannen.

And for anyone out there reading this and may be going on the program with me, sorry but I'm just stating the truth. I sometimes kick everyone in the balls in that aspect. Sorry for the language here. This time I really mean it.

And truthfully I'm not too psyched with the language since I've been finding it frustrating. I usually have a good hold on languages, but maaaan it's Chinese. I can't get the tongue right even though I do Canto. Plus, a string of unknown and butched kanji crashes my brain. I wonder how long it'll be before I figure out Chinese.

Sacrifices

I try not to think about the sacrifices I've made to get my way. Sounds a little selfish, but I prefer to call it ambitious. But after spending 4 days in DC just to run errands and see (what's left of my) friends, I realized how much more I've missed them. Maybe they'll never know because I always flock off and do my own stuff. But I just wanted to put it out there I miss them tons already, despite the fact I was just in DC 8 hours ago. That's what 6hrs on a bus and train can do to ya. Think. A Lot. Though it seems like this post ended up talking more about what's to be said below, I sincerely want to say I am very happy I have the friends I do have, and the ones that stick to being my friend even after not seeing each other for long periods of time.

After that, I went to eat korean bbq with my managers and coworkers. It's sad to say I drank more than I could handle, and cannot remember parts of my 3hr dinner and drive back. I do remember confessing my love for the series the L Word to my lesbian coworker despite me not being a lesbian. It's hard to share this tv show interest being that only my gay friend and I watch it. And the entire lesbian community which I don't belong to. Man, I want to find straight people who watch the L Word. She probably doesn't think much about it all, but for me I hope she doesn't think I'm some closet basket case. Now if I do some reverse psychology on myself, it makes it sound like I am, and trying to defend my stance a little too much. Honestly, I wouldn't mind being a lesbian, except the big fact that I can't stand being around girls and practically hang out with mainly guys. Okay, I guess that was too much info for random readers. Oh yes, back to the korean bbq main point. From now on I decided I'll only have 3 drinks a night. I don't want to act stupid anymore, and getting drunk was never the reason why I started drinking. So let's go back to the taste of alcohol. Oh and the fact that it felt like i kissed someone. Definitely i don't remember if I did, but I truly hope the current feeling on my lips were from my pillows. bleh. And to tie this back up to the first paragraph, I also want to say for the sake of my friends, I am also cutting down on drinking for that reason. Who would want to have that responsibilty of taking care of a stupid friend anyways?? True friends do and say it's no problem, but at the same time it's about time I stop popping those brain cells.

Beyond Bare Essentials...The Luxury

Okay, I guess I do like to spend. But when I'm in Beijing, I'm definitely going to take a good vacation. Haha yeah I know what you're thinking, studying abroad is a vacation in itself. Partially true, but I'm gonna live it up like a princess.

Starting with massages. http://www.asiaandaway.com/travel_destinations/china/beijing/blindmans-buff_188

I can't wait till I get squeaky soft and clean on Tuesday- heading to the city to get a korean boy scrub and korean deep tissue massage at Spadium with coworkers. The Korean Body Scrub is basically an old Korean lady hovering over your naked body with special gloves and scrubbing you like a slab of meat, flipping you over on every side possible, and cleaning every since spot that has skin. Then they give you a cucumber facial before/after a full body massage. It's painful but it gets out the kinks, definitely not made for sensitive skinned Americans. Poke poke- owwww that hurts!! Manager's got a friend that used to work there, the entire day of relaxation is only $110. Which is about 2hrs of work on you, then personal time in the steam rooms. Gotta get clean before getting dirty again in Beijing!!

Maaan Koh Chang will even be better!!!

The Bare Essentials In Life

I guess after overpacking coming home from Japan (a long nightmare-ish story I might add) and the fact I survived out of a rolly carry on suitcase for a whole month throughout Europe might do the trick. Packing and having to carry all the shit around from just 2-3hrs to 40+ days has an effect on a person. Trying to look suave while carrying more than you weigh can only lead to frustration. Throwing out unneccesary shit, bringing only a few pairs of jeans, watching what souvineers you buy all add up. Probably not every girl can pack like me, but I guess I'm not really girly either. LoL and the guys in the Belgium program actually had larger luggages than the girls when it came to pack for the 2week trip around the Balkans. I wonder what they had in there.

Thus, as my 4th time out there in the world (I count backpacking and belgium separate), I decided to bring even less. I have some feeling that after being in oh so cheap asia, I'll probably also need the space. And currently, I have filled up half of the rolly duffel bag, which was packed to the brim when I went to Europe. I haven't put in my school textbooks in, but I think that's about all I'll bring. I thrive on tank tops since I'm not a fan of t-shirts, so I guess I'll just have to buy some in China. :) That'll mean i'll have about another bag and carry on to bring back lovely designer knock offs. My Paradise.

So It's Settled

Where to find me:
Aug 22-Dec 17: Beijing, and occaisonally other parts of China
Dec 18-Jan 2/3, '07: Hong Kong, unless I get to party with my cousins elsewhere
Jan 3- Feb 3, '07: Thailand, baby!! Teaching English in Koh Chang 4hrs a day, 5days/week. Then spending the other time elephant trekking, beaches (note the plural), scuba diving, national parks, and trekking over to Cambodia. Afterwards, eating, pampering myself, meeting new people. Totally psyched that I got my placement there, it's just the perfect plan after a million other ideas.
Feb 4-Feb 17th: I want to be in Malaysia, maybe Singapore?, then fly to Vietnam. Using the train to go into Hong Kong. I wanna hit Laos, but time!!!
Feb 18- Feb 20: Celebrating Chinese New Year!
Feb 21: Going back to Jersey, USA. How boring.
Feb 22- March 20?: Either going to Venezuela to visit Cristina or staying in NJ to get some spending money for Japan.
March 20- early Aug: Japan! (that is if life goes the way i planned).
Other places I want to fit in this year but probably can't: South Korea, Aussie, Kiwiland, Fiji, Indonesia.

So there you have it, my year in a nutshell. It's going to be another wacky year, hoping to meet lots of crazy weirdos (if you are one, that's a compliment), and learning about life.

ps. for not so exciting news, I got new glasses in Chinatown today. Pretty spiffy for $100 total incl ultra thin lens. Might get designer frames when I'm in Hong Kong just to add to my once a year vanity appearance.
And my oh so fav Dim Sum restaurant Grand Harmony on Mott St. is closing down for half a year for renovations after today. ;( They have the best chicken feet in Chinatown, and the ladies wheeling the food carts were so nice giving us extra food since it was the last day. I'll definitely go back there once I come back to the US. Hopefully those people will still be working.

23 days, but who's counting?

Got some email exchangings going on with a guy going to be on the program. It's pretty cool, but at the same time I wonder if I should do my exchange a little differently this time. To actually hang out with Chinese students, really try to be immersed in China and speak the language. I will probably need a pampering buddy to hang out with though, that's for sure when I go get those foot massages and hit up all those tasty restaurants. ah well, life will go on.

24 More Days...

It's not like I haven't gone through the procedure before: cleaning up, packing, throwing junk away...but it always seems like I don't have enough time at the end. I still have to finish up my Japanese application for Ritsumeikan, some Japan scholarship, pack, work, meet up with friends...which is the main thing I need to squeeze in between working, and getting a korean body scrub. Not to mention nag some Austrailian guy who has my photos to pleaaase mail them to me. it sucks not to have lost my photos...twice. in one trip. who could be more stupid than that? Guess it's just me.

Thoughts and feelings about China? Definitely don't know what to expect. I may be Chinese, but I have no clue how to live like one. Good news though, I decided I'll be volunteering in Thailand for a month in January, to pump up my resume just a little bit more, and to boost up my points for government fellowships. Okay, that and knowing I've done some good deeds in the world, and I want to try and get a scuba diving license while I'm at it :) Plus good food. I think that's my only requirement to travel to some country. Now you also know why I want to go to Vietnam. Of course to try those Vietnamese noodles! ^_^

Tickets booked, now the countdown... 57 days

Okay I guess I just came back from my last adventure about 2-3 weeks ago, but I'm already ready for my next destination~ Asia. Got the ticket booked for August 22, 2006, Gotta be at Beijing University dorms Aug 31, Orientation starts Sept 1. So that leaves about 8 days to explore around Beijing on my own. After I figure out how far everything is from Beijing, I might head out of the city to perhaps places the class might not get a chance to see as a group.

Program ends Dec 17, but I got my ticket heading outta Hong Kong Feb 21, 2007. Yup, staying a bit longing and flying out from Hong Kong so I can hit up Chinese New Years to see how the Chinese throw parties ;) I don't know what my plans are in between, but I'll have time to either extend my internship or go visit Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam perhaps. Gotta get a nice guidebook to do some planning. :D

Was bored to death yesterday night and looked up tickets to Bahrain after Feb 21 to mid March since, if according to plan Isa and I get accepted to Ritsumeikan school will start in April, it was pretty cheap~ 1100$, which was a lot cheaper than i expected. But then again I don't think I'd really be invited to Bahrain since I'm a girl and Isa once said the only way I'd be able to hang around with him in Bahrain is if I dress up like his sister or something so people won't talk. So if I ever really do decide to go, I guess I'd be staying at a youth hostel and just pop up at Isa's house and be like "Surprise!!" Okay that's how far my little imagination went. It's also tempting to go to Egypt and see the pyramids....

Park 2

Park 2
Originally uploaded by sanachan0503.

just testing it out :P

hullo

So uhm...I guess this is like the 5th or so blog I've created. The other ones either had to be shut down due to insane stalkers (long story), died off, or just isn't for the public eye to see. So I suppose someone's gotta know I'm alive and since I'll still be away for a bit longer, I decided why not make one of my travels? I'll try to keep the bitchings to the minimum and on another blog alright? So righty-o mate.