Today was Marathon day in Shanghai. Way back at the beginning of the semester, I signed up for the Half. After struggling with my tendonitis for the first month or so, I got back into training by November. This week I finished out at about 50. Its not as high as I wish I was by now, but it is nice to be back at 100% health and running consistantly. My runs for the past month or so have been going well, but it is still to early to consider myself in "good" shape.
Anyway, today was my first long run over 10 since early fall. For that reason I decided not to pound too hard. I went into today's race resolved to run it like any other long run, and just enjoy the fact that I was participating in a cool race.
The "Running Club" that I am a part of on campus (which incidentally doesn't actually do very much running) arranged for a bus to take us to the starting line. I woke up at 5 am, at my usual China breakfast of Chips Ahoy and 2 oranges, and ran the easy mile to the pickup point.
The temperature was in the upper 40s. I consider this pretty warm, so I was wearing a long sleeved shirt and shorts. The "Running Club" kids arrived in winter coats and jeans. They all laughed at me for wearing shorts. I would laugh later.
We boarded the bus. It was sort of cool- even though none of the runners on the bus were serious runners nor was it a real team or a group of people that I care about, it ALMOST felt like getting on the team bus before a meet. Everyone was thinking and talking about the race.
The bus got to the starting line in People's Square at about 6:50. The race started at 7:30, so I felt like we were late. There was not really time to warm up or anything. Fortunately for me I wasn't too worried about performing well or I would have been madddd. The Fudan students were in a panic because they had to find a place to put their winter jackets and jeans. I laughed at them as I lined up for the race.
The race was really big, and all the Chinese runners felt that they were world class athletes who deserve to be all the way at the front line. I found a spot in the first 3rd of the crowd, and decided not to force my way up further. I stood stationary, locked my elbows, and became an immovable object. Rude (and OBVIOUSLY slow) runners tried to force their way past me by pushing, shoving and elbowing. Fortunately, I'm a cross country runner and know how to respond with a solid elbow right to the meaty part of the bicep.
Other than the over anxious Chinese runners, the start's atmosphere was pretty cool. They had a dj and stuff very similar to the start of American marathons. The "Director General of the Athletics Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China" gave a brief introduction, the Chinese national anthem was played (and all the old men in the crowd stood tall and shouted it loudly), and they shot the gun at exactly 7:30. It took me a little over a minute to cross the starting line. EVERYONE was pushing and shoving, and being generally uncooperative to the common cause of getting strung out. My first kilometer was so incredibly slow, I didn't even look down at my watch. It took until 4k before I felt that I had enough space to accelerate. Splits were virtually impossible to get because the kilometer markers weren't always displayed, and when they were, they were small and hardly noticeable.
Eventually, I settled in and began enjoying the run. The natural process that happens in races occurred, which is the runners in your general vicinity become your own personal community. You begin to know their running styles, who you really want to break, who is trying to break you, and you get the general desire to move up to the next community.
The crowds were pretty good. Every time I go for runs in the park in the morning, I see various groups of old ladies practicing dances with fans and silk scarves. (this is nearly as popular as taichi). It seemed like EVERY group of these ladies had desided that this event was their time to shine. Almost every kilometer had at least one long line of these ladies, flinging their fans, scarves, and other props around and yelling "jia you!!" (go- give a greater effort) to the beats provided by drums and cymbols.
Because I wasn't flying at a real race pace, I got this feeling that I always get of ubercompetitiveness. In order to satisfy it without getting into heated races, I began proving the ease of my pace by trying to rile up the crowds. I raised my arms and yelled enthusiastically to the crowds. All the Chinese spectators thought it was hilarious and went CRAZY. It was pretty cool to be the center of attention for something other than my race for once.
The course was pretty flat, well marked, but not through the particularly scenic parts of the city. Traffic was regulated fairly well, though some cyclists on their way to work kept crossing the course at inconvenient times. Oh, and they used almost no cones or race markers. China has so many people, that staff and police were lined up everywhere acting as traffic cones. I thought it was pretty funny.
Well anyway, I finished the 21.09 kilometer course in 86:22. That is about 6:36 pace. I was sort of disappointed that it wasn't faster, but I suppose it isn't too bad for the effort I put in. Ordinarily I can run that on the way to 18 miles. I also count the fact that the first few kilometers slowed down the average a little. I was a little more tired afterward than I would have liked though. Still have a lot of training to do...
After the race, they put us through a series of lines. We returned our chips, and in exchange, we got a few advertisements (including a tutorial about obesity with RIDICULOUS cartoons), an orange, a nasty "Ion Water," a piece of chocolate, 2 Orion cakes, a certificate of completion, a medal, and a cheap (but super cool) pair of China-brand running shoes. They are super cool looking even though they are mechanically a nightmare.
I was hoping that there would be a bunch of shops and stuff like after the Pittsburgh Marathon, but there wasn't. I found a warm spot inside the stadium to wait for Ben. Ben was trying to get to the finish to get pictures, but naturally the Chinese cab system and metro system failed to deliver him even remotely close. He ended up arriving 2.5 hours after I finished. I waited wet and cold for him to show up with my stuff. He took some pictures of the race as he came, so at least I'll be able to put a few pictures of the event.
What really sucked is that it then took 2 more hours to find a cab back to the dorm. I was cold, wet, tired, and dehydrated. I got back, and napped for a while. I hadn't slept very much, being that was up till about 12 am and woke up at 5.
Overall, it was a pretty good day. Oh, and I was 65th in the Half. I suspect that a majority of the people who beat me were foreigners, because the farther up in the race I progressed, the fewer Chinese I saw and more foreigners. I felt a certain amount of satisfaction with this, and was glad that I had decided to pin a small U.S. flag to my shirt. There were a few really old chinese guys that beat me, though, which surprised me. In fact, I was outkicked in the last five yards by a really old man from China. Granted, I wasn't kicking (I was trying to get all the people at the finish to go wild) but I was still surprised when I saw him sneak by.
Can't wait to start doing real racing!!!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving in China... and the Worst People EVER
Everyone in America should be thankful this Thanksgiving that they get to eat real Thanksgiving food and not KFC. That is the closest Ben and I could come to real thanksgiving. Lame.
Lately I've been pretty busy with school stuff, but Ben and I got out this week to do some souvenier shopping. We went out twice. Once last Saturday and once today. I'll begin with last Saturday.
We headed down to a neat old Chinese style market place near the Yu Gardens. This place had old curved roof architecture, which was cool. As foreigners, we have become accustomed to being bombarded with salesmen who try to get us to by their crap. In market places like this, we are particularly targeted. However, we have mastered the strategy of saying in Chinese that we don't want their stuff and to go away. Usually that is all that is necessary. Shop keepers intentionally race the initial prices of things because we are white. Our Chinese helps us to lower the prices. They try negotiating in English with us, which would give them the advantage, but we pretend to be German and that we can't speak any English. This usually helps the price drop, particularly when we say we are Fudan students. They respect that.
Anyway, we got a bunch of crap on Saturday. Negotiating with those people is exhausting, but not nearly as exhausting as it was today.
We headed out to a different market this time. At this one, outside they were selling their usual crap, but they also were selling puppies, and what seriously looks like weed. Who knows.
At any rate, upon entering we were bombarded by the usual sales people. This time though, they were much more agressive. Here is the tale of just ONE of the many that followed us:
He approached us and asked "Buy a watch? Buy a bag?"
We said "Bu yao, xie xie" (don't want, thanks)
He said "Well what do you want, I can find it for you"
We replied (in Chinese) "Sorry, we don't speak English well because we are German. We don't need your help. Goodbye"
He continued to follow us. He spoke primarily in Chinese to us after that, but kept reverting to English, as the common assumption is that white people ALWAYS and ONLY speak English.
We asked him to leave us alone. We told him we were just looking around. We told him we don't understand him.
He countered by insisting that without his help, we are hopeless to find anything that we are looking for. He said "I am your friend, I will help you find it for very cheap"
I said "You are NOT my friend. I do not know who you are. Please leave."
He laughed. He kept following. He poked us and tapped us and yelled HALLO to get our attention. We tried to lose him but he would stay up with us.
I checked my heart rate. It was about 100 bpm- which is rare for me, even after some hard miles. After about an hour of extreme harassment (not just from him) we had enough. Ben and I spun around on the man. Ben looked as big and as mean as he could. I did likewise. Ben shouted "GO" I shouted "GO AWAY! NOW. YOU ARE NOT OUR FRIEND, WE DON'T KNOW YOU!"
Shopkeepers in the area stared and laughed. The man, clearly a little frightened, backed away. Both Ben and I are significantly bigger than all the little Chinese people, and I think we startled him.
He didn't stop following us though. Occasionally, he yelled up to us from a short distance away "You'll never find it without me!" We ignored it, but kept thinking "you don't know what we are looking for...ASS"
Eventually we left the building completely. He and the other people stalking us followed. We entered a different market building. They followed. At this point, we had bought nothing, but were already exhausted. Another man approached with the same bullshit. We said, nicely as if we had been defeated "please. pleaase go away. We don't need your help." He laughed and said "No, we are friend and he can help us find what we are looking for." Ben and I both turned on our heels and left. About 10 guys followed us out of the building, down the street. Waited as I angrily bought some squid on a stick, and CONTINUED to follow until we were across the street and leaving the market area completely. They really don't realize that their pestering made them LOSE MONEY. We had every intention of buying things, but we refused to be hassled. Further, they weren't pestering locals. Only us. This is natural, because tourists usually buy more, but the judgement is made completely by race. They insisted on speaking English. We asked why. They said because that is our language. We lied and said that it wasn't, which could be true, but they make judgement based on race. As we walked through the streets on our retreat, we were stared at on all sides by workers, salesmen, police, shoppers, and everything else- because of our race. Students approach us to teach them English- because of our race. What is the worst is that they INSIST that race relations are perfect in China and that there is no racism. They believe that only America has race issues. It is complete and utter bullshit.
Anyway, after all that crap, I couldn't go shopping any more. I couldn't do homework or eat. I went back to the room and took a nap, during which I dreamed that various friends and family members were stalking me through the streets of Shanghai, ordering me around. It was annoying.
I woke up for Thanksgiving dinner. We took a rickshaw out to the cool plaza near campus where all the western style restaurants are. We found KFC, ordered the largest feast we could find, and ate fried chicken, corn, and mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner. Then we hit up Dairy Queen and got Oreo Blizzards (with crappy Chinese ice cream) for dessert. This was a very high point in the day. I'm very glad that I will be in America for Christmas.
Lately I've been pretty busy with school stuff, but Ben and I got out this week to do some souvenier shopping. We went out twice. Once last Saturday and once today. I'll begin with last Saturday.
We headed down to a neat old Chinese style market place near the Yu Gardens. This place had old curved roof architecture, which was cool. As foreigners, we have become accustomed to being bombarded with salesmen who try to get us to by their crap. In market places like this, we are particularly targeted. However, we have mastered the strategy of saying in Chinese that we don't want their stuff and to go away. Usually that is all that is necessary. Shop keepers intentionally race the initial prices of things because we are white. Our Chinese helps us to lower the prices. They try negotiating in English with us, which would give them the advantage, but we pretend to be German and that we can't speak any English. This usually helps the price drop, particularly when we say we are Fudan students. They respect that.
Anyway, we got a bunch of crap on Saturday. Negotiating with those people is exhausting, but not nearly as exhausting as it was today.
We headed out to a different market this time. At this one, outside they were selling their usual crap, but they also were selling puppies, and what seriously looks like weed. Who knows.
At any rate, upon entering we were bombarded by the usual sales people. This time though, they were much more agressive. Here is the tale of just ONE of the many that followed us:
He approached us and asked "Buy a watch? Buy a bag?"
We said "Bu yao, xie xie" (don't want, thanks)
He said "Well what do you want, I can find it for you"
We replied (in Chinese) "Sorry, we don't speak English well because we are German. We don't need your help. Goodbye"
He continued to follow us. He spoke primarily in Chinese to us after that, but kept reverting to English, as the common assumption is that white people ALWAYS and ONLY speak English.
We asked him to leave us alone. We told him we were just looking around. We told him we don't understand him.
He countered by insisting that without his help, we are hopeless to find anything that we are looking for. He said "I am your friend, I will help you find it for very cheap"
I said "You are NOT my friend. I do not know who you are. Please leave."
He laughed. He kept following. He poked us and tapped us and yelled HALLO to get our attention. We tried to lose him but he would stay up with us.
I checked my heart rate. It was about 100 bpm- which is rare for me, even after some hard miles. After about an hour of extreme harassment (not just from him) we had enough. Ben and I spun around on the man. Ben looked as big and as mean as he could. I did likewise. Ben shouted "GO" I shouted "GO AWAY! NOW. YOU ARE NOT OUR FRIEND, WE DON'T KNOW YOU!"
Shopkeepers in the area stared and laughed. The man, clearly a little frightened, backed away. Both Ben and I are significantly bigger than all the little Chinese people, and I think we startled him.
He didn't stop following us though. Occasionally, he yelled up to us from a short distance away "You'll never find it without me!" We ignored it, but kept thinking "you don't know what we are looking for...ASS"
Eventually we left the building completely. He and the other people stalking us followed. We entered a different market building. They followed. At this point, we had bought nothing, but were already exhausted. Another man approached with the same bullshit. We said, nicely as if we had been defeated "please. pleaase go away. We don't need your help." He laughed and said "No, we are friend and he can help us find what we are looking for." Ben and I both turned on our heels and left. About 10 guys followed us out of the building, down the street. Waited as I angrily bought some squid on a stick, and CONTINUED to follow until we were across the street and leaving the market area completely. They really don't realize that their pestering made them LOSE MONEY. We had every intention of buying things, but we refused to be hassled. Further, they weren't pestering locals. Only us. This is natural, because tourists usually buy more, but the judgement is made completely by race. They insisted on speaking English. We asked why. They said because that is our language. We lied and said that it wasn't, which could be true, but they make judgement based on race. As we walked through the streets on our retreat, we were stared at on all sides by workers, salesmen, police, shoppers, and everything else- because of our race. Students approach us to teach them English- because of our race. What is the worst is that they INSIST that race relations are perfect in China and that there is no racism. They believe that only America has race issues. It is complete and utter bullshit.
Anyway, after all that crap, I couldn't go shopping any more. I couldn't do homework or eat. I went back to the room and took a nap, during which I dreamed that various friends and family members were stalking me through the streets of Shanghai, ordering me around. It was annoying.
I woke up for Thanksgiving dinner. We took a rickshaw out to the cool plaza near campus where all the western style restaurants are. We found KFC, ordered the largest feast we could find, and ate fried chicken, corn, and mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner. Then we hit up Dairy Queen and got Oreo Blizzards (with crappy Chinese ice cream) for dessert. This was a very high point in the day. I'm very glad that I will be in America for Christmas.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
On Hygiene and Safety...
Ok, so China isn't the cleanest place on earth. Apart from its abissmal record for air quality, liter and other varieties of pollution, China's people do a pretty good job of making the place gross.
Before leaving for China, I was advised by most Americans to stay away from the street food. Despite this advice, however, street food has become my main source for dinner. This is for a number of reasons. The vendors are generally kinder than waitresses (that don't receive tips) and reward loyal customers with speedy and quality service. Also, the mystery of the cleanliness is removed. I see them dig their dirty hands into the food that has been sitting out all day, but at the same time I SEE this dirt going into it. Restaurants likely have the same practices going on here (which I witnessed through a window into a kitchen) but what I don't know is what animals, including rats and cats, are living in the kitchen and feasting on my food. A certain couple on the street that makes my fried rice and noodles have memorized my order and start making it for me as soon as they seem me approaching. Another advantage of the food from the street vendors is that about every other night I get to see a fight or altercation of some variety. (the other day I saw a fight between a rickshaw driver and a fat nerdy guy- after a series of shoves and girly kicks, they went at it hockey style and pulled each others shirts up their backs. it was hilarious how the street vendors didn't try to intervene, they just blocked their food from the scuffle).
Sorry, I digress. Food isn't the only hygiene issue of course. A public place would not be complete here without the sound of snot rockets being launched and powerful hocking of loogies. I mean freaking EVERYWHERE. Haha it is hilarious to me. I laugh every time- so I'm pretty much laughing all the time.
I've described before the smell of crap and stale Chinese food that permeates the streets. I've discovered that this is primarily eminating from the man holes. The sewars smell awful. A couple times Ben and I have seen street workers sticking giant long laddles into the man holes, pulling out a steaming soup of nasty water and what looks like spaghetti, and pouring it into a giant paint bucket. Don't ask me what they are doing, but it is weird.
Speaking of manholes- when they are open, or construction is being done, they use a few small orange barriors and that is all. Giant gaping holes litter the city. It would be really easy to fall in and die if you aren't paying attention. Bulldozers operate with no guard or protection. Today when I was running my head was about 6 inches from a bulldozer's shovel as it swung around suddenly...which was...cool...
Traffic. Makes. No. Sense.
Personal hygiene is probably the worst though. Fortunately I have been able to keep up my own American standard of personal hygiene, but the Chinese are different. Nearly everyone has teeth that look like yellow crayolas and fuzzy stumps. Showering is optional, particularly because dorms here are not equip with shower rooms. Showers for local students can be found in a separate building. Therefore students choose to only shower when they "need" to. Hair is greasy, skin is wrought with acne, and BO is rampant. Also, shaving isn't particularly common. For anyone. I have chosen to not shave while in China (and it looks quite awful) but most Chinese students try their best to grow something. Chinese people fail miserably at doing so (even worse than me) so all they get are nasty little mustaches and some random realllly long hairs out of their chin. Girls all have small faint moustaches (which is GROSS). They rarely shave their legs or armpits either, so some of them are growing some thick forests. I was told my my stalker (who has finally stopped stalking) that I, along with all the Americans she has met, have a good smell. I was weirded out by the fact that she sniffed me, but at the same time I was thinking "Well...that would be because I shower every day."
One side note- today while running I saw 3 different brides posing for pictures. 2 of them were in the park where I run and one was on Fudan's campus in front of the history building. It seems like the Chinese love having weddings at places that have a few trees. By American standards, the park is an urban garden. By Chinese standards, it is the wonderful world of nature.
Before leaving for China, I was advised by most Americans to stay away from the street food. Despite this advice, however, street food has become my main source for dinner. This is for a number of reasons. The vendors are generally kinder than waitresses (that don't receive tips) and reward loyal customers with speedy and quality service. Also, the mystery of the cleanliness is removed. I see them dig their dirty hands into the food that has been sitting out all day, but at the same time I SEE this dirt going into it. Restaurants likely have the same practices going on here (which I witnessed through a window into a kitchen) but what I don't know is what animals, including rats and cats, are living in the kitchen and feasting on my food. A certain couple on the street that makes my fried rice and noodles have memorized my order and start making it for me as soon as they seem me approaching. Another advantage of the food from the street vendors is that about every other night I get to see a fight or altercation of some variety. (the other day I saw a fight between a rickshaw driver and a fat nerdy guy- after a series of shoves and girly kicks, they went at it hockey style and pulled each others shirts up their backs. it was hilarious how the street vendors didn't try to intervene, they just blocked their food from the scuffle).
Sorry, I digress. Food isn't the only hygiene issue of course. A public place would not be complete here without the sound of snot rockets being launched and powerful hocking of loogies. I mean freaking EVERYWHERE. Haha it is hilarious to me. I laugh every time- so I'm pretty much laughing all the time.
I've described before the smell of crap and stale Chinese food that permeates the streets. I've discovered that this is primarily eminating from the man holes. The sewars smell awful. A couple times Ben and I have seen street workers sticking giant long laddles into the man holes, pulling out a steaming soup of nasty water and what looks like spaghetti, and pouring it into a giant paint bucket. Don't ask me what they are doing, but it is weird.
Speaking of manholes- when they are open, or construction is being done, they use a few small orange barriors and that is all. Giant gaping holes litter the city. It would be really easy to fall in and die if you aren't paying attention. Bulldozers operate with no guard or protection. Today when I was running my head was about 6 inches from a bulldozer's shovel as it swung around suddenly...which was...cool...
Traffic. Makes. No. Sense.
Personal hygiene is probably the worst though. Fortunately I have been able to keep up my own American standard of personal hygiene, but the Chinese are different. Nearly everyone has teeth that look like yellow crayolas and fuzzy stumps. Showering is optional, particularly because dorms here are not equip with shower rooms. Showers for local students can be found in a separate building. Therefore students choose to only shower when they "need" to. Hair is greasy, skin is wrought with acne, and BO is rampant. Also, shaving isn't particularly common. For anyone. I have chosen to not shave while in China (and it looks quite awful) but most Chinese students try their best to grow something. Chinese people fail miserably at doing so (even worse than me) so all they get are nasty little mustaches and some random realllly long hairs out of their chin. Girls all have small faint moustaches (which is GROSS). They rarely shave their legs or armpits either, so some of them are growing some thick forests. I was told my my stalker (who has finally stopped stalking) that I, along with all the Americans she has met, have a good smell. I was weirded out by the fact that she sniffed me, but at the same time I was thinking "Well...that would be because I shower every day."
One side note- today while running I saw 3 different brides posing for pictures. 2 of them were in the park where I run and one was on Fudan's campus in front of the history building. It seems like the Chinese love having weddings at places that have a few trees. By American standards, the park is an urban garden. By Chinese standards, it is the wonderful world of nature.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Shanghai when it is cold
Here are a few things about Shanghai at this time of year.
Shanghai is at the same latitude as Florida. Therefore, winters here are mild. Up until very recently, we have had weather in the 60s and 70s.
This week, however, has dipped into the 30s and 40s. This is particularly rare for Shanghai at this time of year. Temperatures like this are usually only around in January and February. At any rate, it isn't scary cold, just colder than what we are used to. The Californians are basically slitting their wrists in agony. So are the Chinese, though. It is sort of pathetic to see them all in their giant winter coats, scarves, hats, mittens, boots, etc etc etc. But I've already ranted about this, and I am generally not botthered by it any more.
The heating unit in our dorm room is extremely weak and does nothing. This wouldn't be that bad in this kind of weather, except for the fact that the giant window/door that opens onto our balcony does not come close to sealing. Air leaks in in gusts, and we are consigned to doing our homework in hoodies and whatnot. Classic Chinese products: windows that don't seal and heaters that don't heat.
I went out to buy an extra sweatshirt today. I wanted one that says Fudan University on it. They had such things, but the XXL was extraordinarilly small on me. The sleeves barely reached my wrists. In the U.S. I am too skinny for most clothes because Americans are generally too fat. In China, I am too tall for most clothes because Chinese are generally poorly fed and therefore extremely short. I can't win.
At least I don't expect to see snow until I return to the U.S.
Oh, and I realized that these entries have been leaning more and more toward lists of grievances. According to W&J's extremely helpful (or nooot) packet on how to adjust to a foreign country, I am in the phase of resistance to the culture. I plan on making a conscious effort to shift to a more positive outlook on the country. Believe it or not, I'm actually very much enjoying my experience here. I just hate everything about it. If that makes sense. I know it doesn't.
OK BYE
Shanghai is at the same latitude as Florida. Therefore, winters here are mild. Up until very recently, we have had weather in the 60s and 70s.
This week, however, has dipped into the 30s and 40s. This is particularly rare for Shanghai at this time of year. Temperatures like this are usually only around in January and February. At any rate, it isn't scary cold, just colder than what we are used to. The Californians are basically slitting their wrists in agony. So are the Chinese, though. It is sort of pathetic to see them all in their giant winter coats, scarves, hats, mittens, boots, etc etc etc. But I've already ranted about this, and I am generally not botthered by it any more.
The heating unit in our dorm room is extremely weak and does nothing. This wouldn't be that bad in this kind of weather, except for the fact that the giant window/door that opens onto our balcony does not come close to sealing. Air leaks in in gusts, and we are consigned to doing our homework in hoodies and whatnot. Classic Chinese products: windows that don't seal and heaters that don't heat.
I went out to buy an extra sweatshirt today. I wanted one that says Fudan University on it. They had such things, but the XXL was extraordinarilly small on me. The sleeves barely reached my wrists. In the U.S. I am too skinny for most clothes because Americans are generally too fat. In China, I am too tall for most clothes because Chinese are generally poorly fed and therefore extremely short. I can't win.
At least I don't expect to see snow until I return to the U.S.
Oh, and I realized that these entries have been leaning more and more toward lists of grievances. According to W&J's extremely helpful (or nooot) packet on how to adjust to a foreign country, I am in the phase of resistance to the culture. I plan on making a conscious effort to shift to a more positive outlook on the country. Believe it or not, I'm actually very much enjoying my experience here. I just hate everything about it. If that makes sense. I know it doesn't.
OK BYE
Sunday, November 15, 2009
guilin pictures
i got them all up. they are crappy, unedited, and i didn't cut any out. for a shorter more engaging gallery, check facebook. otherwise, here they all are:
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2872208013/a=107468652_107468652/
please ignore my disgusting beard and wind blown appearance. china has a tendancy to make you look like garbage.
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2872208013/a=107468652_107468652/
please ignore my disgusting beard and wind blown appearance. china has a tendancy to make you look like garbage.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Guilin- Best and Worst
I arrived back to Shanghai last night after a one day trip to Guilin. Guilin is an awesome place, but in general, the people suck. I am almost overwhelmed by the amount of experiences I had in the last day or so, so I will try to hit the major points, but in general, my experiences in China have outgrown a blog setting.
We flew the 2ish hour flight to Guilin. After exiting the airport, we were, as usual, bombarded with taxi drivers who wanted to get the waiguoren (foreigners) to use their cabs. We saw a large lit sculpture that we wanted to photograph, and told them we didn't want a cab yet and that we wanted to look at the art. All they kept doing was following us in a group of about 10 and yelling at us that the hotel was WAYYY too far to walk and we should get their cab. It was extraordinarilly annoying and we eventually yelled at them that we don't want their cabs so leave us alone. After taking a few angry pictures, we cab driver approached us alone and asked if we wanted to take his cab. We did, despite our annoyance with the drivers, because we unfortunately weren't familiar with the bus system in the city.
On the way, we expressed we wanted to take a boat ride on the river to see the scenery. He took us to an agency (that we later discovered he is commissioned to do) and we bought tickets. The employees there clearly delighted in the fact that we were being ripped off. I mean this by the fact that we were required to buy tickets on the boats that spoke English- despite the fact that we were talking to the agents in CHINESE, they said we can't understand enough to ride the Chinese boats (which are 400 RMB cheaper).
We arrived at our hotel, dropped off our things, and wandered around the city for a while. We stopped at a restaurant and randomly selected food off the menu. I think we got some form of pigeon. It was terrible.
Despite our enormous spending already, we bought some KFC to suppliment our dinner. On the way we saw a bunch of cages outside a restaurant with a bunch of animals. Rabbits, turtles, crabs, sword fish, giant rodents, snakes, chickens, ducks, and more. They were on display to show that they were fresh for eating. To us, it was like a zoo, and despite the strange looks, we stood and took pictures of the animals outside the restaurants.
Guilin is a nice city at night- a little cleaner and better looking than Shanghai and less crowded. It was a little ghetto at times though, so we didn't stay out too long.
We woke up at 7:30 to check out of the hotel and meet the tour guide for the boat. We took a bus to the dock, were told the itinerary, and then boarded. From the time of 9:30 to about 3, we road a boat down the river and looked at the hills, agriculture, boats, and locals from the deck. At noon we were served a crappy lunch.
I must say, Ben and I were huge hits on the boat. A small group of Chinese girls thought that we were ridiculously good looking and kept standing near us while their friends took pictures. They didn't realize that we spoke Chinese. We heard them talking about our looks and our clothes for a while, and then eventually asked us in English to actually pose with them in pictures. When I answered in Chinese, they gasped and asked if I understood what they were saying. I said yes and they all squelled in embarassment and laughed at each other for several minutes. It was a mix of annoyance and great satisfaction to embarrass them by letting them know that the foreingers could speak their secret language. They insisted that we take pictures with them for a while. They asked for our phone numbers and QQ names (basically AIM) which of course we do not have. They hoped to take us to get drinks that night, but we were returning to Shanghai. One girl gave Ben a small cloth decoration, which we came to find out is a sign of engagement. They giggled and hovered around us the whole time.
We also met some American girls our age who were on a trip around the world. We were asking them about their trip when the Chinese girls got jealous and started asking me in Chinese if the Americans were our girlfriends. When we said no they backed off. The American girls thought it was very funny when I translated for them what the Chinese girls were worried about.
Meanwhile, some older people from Germany, Holland, and South Africa were watching us. We talked with them on and off throughout the day, and basically they all thought that me and Ben were the biggest ladies men of all time. Despite our reluctance to even talk to the annoying Chinese girls and the fact that the girls from the U.S. weren't particularly interesting, the Dutch particularly kept giving us winks every time we walked by. They thought we were quite successful players.
Anyway, we tried to spend most of the time enjoying the scenery, practicing Chinese with some of the tour guides, and taking pictures. We avoided the girls as best we could on the tiny ship.
At some points small 2 man boats would latch on to ours and start trying to sell fake jade products to the passengers. The first time this happened, we thought they were Chinese pirates, and from then on we called them "The Pirates" even though they were selling, not stealing.
It was a generally good boat ride, but we were mad at the general expensiveness for the thing. Everyone had paid the same- it isn't like we were singled out, but the whole system is racist if you ask me.
At they end they tried to talk us into an expensive tour of the countryside. We opted to take a bus back to Guilin and then head to the airport of our flight. They had some kind of deal with the taxi driver from the night before that he would take us from Guilin to the airport, but I didn't like this use and abuse the foreigner system, so I turned off my phone and we decided to find a cab on our own.
We wandered around the Chinese marketplace where they sold overpriced goods to foreigners and only mildly overpriced goods to locals. I didn't buy anything.
We bought a bus ticket back to downtown Guilin, and we each got a bottle of water. A local in front of us bought a bottle off water first. The woman took his 5, and then looked at me and Ben. She said to him in Chinese- I'll give you you're change after they leave. We came up, and Ben bought the same type of water that the first man did. She charged him 2 kuai. He paid and waited for me. I bought a vitamin water for 4 kuai. Then Ben decided to wait and see how much change she gave the local. He looked confused that we were waiting, and eventually the woman tried to sneak him his 4 kuai change. She had doubled the price for (at least Ben, but I couldn't prove it). Ben told her that he spoke Chinese and knows she owes him change. She got defensive and denied it. Then the bus driver came and insisted we get on the bus. It was a complete rip off and we didn't leave until we had told her that she was a terrible person. Chinese Racists.
We got the bus ride back to downtown. The traffic in China is stupid and Ben and I took some videos. When we got back, we had some time before our flight so we wondered around a bit. Guilin is one shady freaking town when you aren't in the nature area. Some funny videos insued.
We got in a cab to the airport. The driver refused to use the meter. He said it would be 100 kuai because of the meter plus the toll road. We said we will pay the toll road but use the meter. He refused. We got out of the cab.
The next cab driver did the same thing. Obviously standard proceedure for foreigners. This time we were tired and sick of it, so we agreed.
Finally, we flew back to Shanghai, and arrived at about 11. It was a long day.
I have mixed feelings about Guilin. The air is cleaner, the scenery is great, and it was very interesting seeing agriculture and real Chinese lifestyles outside of the cities. I was pretty disheartened, however, by the general way in which all the Chinese people we encountered on the trip were either dishonest, racist, or both. It was really agitating. Coincidentally, when I got back last night there was an article on MSNBC.com about how the Chinese are racists to black people, and how Obama might be treated poorly. Probably not directly to him, because heaven forbid the Chinese let themselves be seen for what they are- but you can bet the abundance of racists here will have some interesting thoughts about him. Too bad the Chinese won't let Obama's town hall meeting be broadcast live.
I'm really ready for some real American food. When I get back I will eat anything and everything. Can't wait to go for runs and only be stared at for being a stupid runner and not for being white. I need to buy Rosetta stone to keep my Chinese up when I get back though. I have a whole list of things I have to buy when I get back. I think I'm going to buy a Malkin or Fleury jersey too. And I can't wait to swipe into the Commons and get unlimited food. Woo.
Oh, I was about to post the pictures from the trip and some other stuff, but it was taking over 4 hours and then the Internet failed. So screw it. I put some of the good ones on Facebook. I might try again with the others later. I'll let you know.
We flew the 2ish hour flight to Guilin. After exiting the airport, we were, as usual, bombarded with taxi drivers who wanted to get the waiguoren (foreigners) to use their cabs. We saw a large lit sculpture that we wanted to photograph, and told them we didn't want a cab yet and that we wanted to look at the art. All they kept doing was following us in a group of about 10 and yelling at us that the hotel was WAYYY too far to walk and we should get their cab. It was extraordinarilly annoying and we eventually yelled at them that we don't want their cabs so leave us alone. After taking a few angry pictures, we cab driver approached us alone and asked if we wanted to take his cab. We did, despite our annoyance with the drivers, because we unfortunately weren't familiar with the bus system in the city.
On the way, we expressed we wanted to take a boat ride on the river to see the scenery. He took us to an agency (that we later discovered he is commissioned to do) and we bought tickets. The employees there clearly delighted in the fact that we were being ripped off. I mean this by the fact that we were required to buy tickets on the boats that spoke English- despite the fact that we were talking to the agents in CHINESE, they said we can't understand enough to ride the Chinese boats (which are 400 RMB cheaper).
We arrived at our hotel, dropped off our things, and wandered around the city for a while. We stopped at a restaurant and randomly selected food off the menu. I think we got some form of pigeon. It was terrible.
Despite our enormous spending already, we bought some KFC to suppliment our dinner. On the way we saw a bunch of cages outside a restaurant with a bunch of animals. Rabbits, turtles, crabs, sword fish, giant rodents, snakes, chickens, ducks, and more. They were on display to show that they were fresh for eating. To us, it was like a zoo, and despite the strange looks, we stood and took pictures of the animals outside the restaurants.
Guilin is a nice city at night- a little cleaner and better looking than Shanghai and less crowded. It was a little ghetto at times though, so we didn't stay out too long.
We woke up at 7:30 to check out of the hotel and meet the tour guide for the boat. We took a bus to the dock, were told the itinerary, and then boarded. From the time of 9:30 to about 3, we road a boat down the river and looked at the hills, agriculture, boats, and locals from the deck. At noon we were served a crappy lunch.
I must say, Ben and I were huge hits on the boat. A small group of Chinese girls thought that we were ridiculously good looking and kept standing near us while their friends took pictures. They didn't realize that we spoke Chinese. We heard them talking about our looks and our clothes for a while, and then eventually asked us in English to actually pose with them in pictures. When I answered in Chinese, they gasped and asked if I understood what they were saying. I said yes and they all squelled in embarassment and laughed at each other for several minutes. It was a mix of annoyance and great satisfaction to embarrass them by letting them know that the foreingers could speak their secret language. They insisted that we take pictures with them for a while. They asked for our phone numbers and QQ names (basically AIM) which of course we do not have. They hoped to take us to get drinks that night, but we were returning to Shanghai. One girl gave Ben a small cloth decoration, which we came to find out is a sign of engagement. They giggled and hovered around us the whole time.
We also met some American girls our age who were on a trip around the world. We were asking them about their trip when the Chinese girls got jealous and started asking me in Chinese if the Americans were our girlfriends. When we said no they backed off. The American girls thought it was very funny when I translated for them what the Chinese girls were worried about.
Meanwhile, some older people from Germany, Holland, and South Africa were watching us. We talked with them on and off throughout the day, and basically they all thought that me and Ben were the biggest ladies men of all time. Despite our reluctance to even talk to the annoying Chinese girls and the fact that the girls from the U.S. weren't particularly interesting, the Dutch particularly kept giving us winks every time we walked by. They thought we were quite successful players.
Anyway, we tried to spend most of the time enjoying the scenery, practicing Chinese with some of the tour guides, and taking pictures. We avoided the girls as best we could on the tiny ship.
At some points small 2 man boats would latch on to ours and start trying to sell fake jade products to the passengers. The first time this happened, we thought they were Chinese pirates, and from then on we called them "The Pirates" even though they were selling, not stealing.
It was a generally good boat ride, but we were mad at the general expensiveness for the thing. Everyone had paid the same- it isn't like we were singled out, but the whole system is racist if you ask me.
At they end they tried to talk us into an expensive tour of the countryside. We opted to take a bus back to Guilin and then head to the airport of our flight. They had some kind of deal with the taxi driver from the night before that he would take us from Guilin to the airport, but I didn't like this use and abuse the foreigner system, so I turned off my phone and we decided to find a cab on our own.
We wandered around the Chinese marketplace where they sold overpriced goods to foreigners and only mildly overpriced goods to locals. I didn't buy anything.
We bought a bus ticket back to downtown Guilin, and we each got a bottle of water. A local in front of us bought a bottle off water first. The woman took his 5, and then looked at me and Ben. She said to him in Chinese- I'll give you you're change after they leave. We came up, and Ben bought the same type of water that the first man did. She charged him 2 kuai. He paid and waited for me. I bought a vitamin water for 4 kuai. Then Ben decided to wait and see how much change she gave the local. He looked confused that we were waiting, and eventually the woman tried to sneak him his 4 kuai change. She had doubled the price for (at least Ben, but I couldn't prove it). Ben told her that he spoke Chinese and knows she owes him change. She got defensive and denied it. Then the bus driver came and insisted we get on the bus. It was a complete rip off and we didn't leave until we had told her that she was a terrible person. Chinese Racists.
We got the bus ride back to downtown. The traffic in China is stupid and Ben and I took some videos. When we got back, we had some time before our flight so we wondered around a bit. Guilin is one shady freaking town when you aren't in the nature area. Some funny videos insued.
We got in a cab to the airport. The driver refused to use the meter. He said it would be 100 kuai because of the meter plus the toll road. We said we will pay the toll road but use the meter. He refused. We got out of the cab.
The next cab driver did the same thing. Obviously standard proceedure for foreigners. This time we were tired and sick of it, so we agreed.
Finally, we flew back to Shanghai, and arrived at about 11. It was a long day.
I have mixed feelings about Guilin. The air is cleaner, the scenery is great, and it was very interesting seeing agriculture and real Chinese lifestyles outside of the cities. I was pretty disheartened, however, by the general way in which all the Chinese people we encountered on the trip were either dishonest, racist, or both. It was really agitating. Coincidentally, when I got back last night there was an article on MSNBC.com about how the Chinese are racists to black people, and how Obama might be treated poorly. Probably not directly to him, because heaven forbid the Chinese let themselves be seen for what they are- but you can bet the abundance of racists here will have some interesting thoughts about him. Too bad the Chinese won't let Obama's town hall meeting be broadcast live.
I'm really ready for some real American food. When I get back I will eat anything and everything. Can't wait to go for runs and only be stared at for being a stupid runner and not for being white. I need to buy Rosetta stone to keep my Chinese up when I get back though. I have a whole list of things I have to buy when I get back. I think I'm going to buy a Malkin or Fleury jersey too. And I can't wait to swipe into the Commons and get unlimited food. Woo.
Oh, I was about to post the pictures from the trip and some other stuff, but it was taking over 4 hours and then the Internet failed. So screw it. I put some of the good ones on Facebook. I might try again with the others later. I'll let you know.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Trip to Guilin
Tomorrow Ben and I are headed on a one day trip to Guilin. We bought plane tickets and hotel reservations last week, and will leave Pudong Airport at 6 pm. We will arevie at Guilin at 8:30. Guilin is famous for its steep hills/mountains, which are distincitive to China. It is also the home of a large river and lake type situation, and is considered super awesome for nature and so on. We return Saturday night (our flight leaves at 8:40 pm. We have been told that it is too short of a time to see everything, but I really just want to see the crazy hills. I don't need multiple days to do so. The weather may or may not be good. We'll see.
I found a park in Shanghai where I can run (and avoid the ridiculous Chinese traffic- though not the staring). I bought a one time entrance for 3 RMB, but a month's is only 10. I tried to buy that, but was informed that I also need a picture. Luckily I brought about 15 more pictures to China than I needed, so I can bring that tomorrow on my run. It is a little park and is primarily sidewalk around a big man-made lake. Why pay to enter? Because the surface is no worse than the Shanghai roads and the crowds are less. Also, the loop is exactly 3 miles from my dorm and EXACTLY 1 mile around. Basically I can do any run exactly at its distance. Sweet.
Despite the Chinese claim to the contrary, racism is a big part of my daily life. I am stared at by all levels of Chinese people, from the street sweepers to the business men. It is pretty annoying, and when I'm running (a time when I am most aggressive, which many of my running partners over the years can attest to) I tend to respond with loud "SHENME???"s (whaaaat??). It tends to make the rubberneckers avert their gazes from me for a moment, just to stare at me after I pass. I often turn and throw up my arms in a "what the hell do you care" manner. It makes me feel better.
My language partners claim that "All Chinese are used to foreigners." I beg to differ. I was lucky enough the other day to have just completed complaining to a Chinese friend when a group of construction workers passed by with their eyes glued to me. It was so obvious and obnoxious that my language parter (who had just finished saying that I was mistaken about the staring) laughed, turned red, and said "I'm so sorry... I'm so embarrassed- I didn't realize..."
I don't blame them so much for staring- less than 3% of the Chinese population is of minority races, most of which are still asian- just not Han Chinese. I am a rare find, even in a business city like Shanghai. I really just resent the claim that the racism doesn't exist. It is extremely obvious.
I found a park in Shanghai where I can run (and avoid the ridiculous Chinese traffic- though not the staring). I bought a one time entrance for 3 RMB, but a month's is only 10. I tried to buy that, but was informed that I also need a picture. Luckily I brought about 15 more pictures to China than I needed, so I can bring that tomorrow on my run. It is a little park and is primarily sidewalk around a big man-made lake. Why pay to enter? Because the surface is no worse than the Shanghai roads and the crowds are less. Also, the loop is exactly 3 miles from my dorm and EXACTLY 1 mile around. Basically I can do any run exactly at its distance. Sweet.
Despite the Chinese claim to the contrary, racism is a big part of my daily life. I am stared at by all levels of Chinese people, from the street sweepers to the business men. It is pretty annoying, and when I'm running (a time when I am most aggressive, which many of my running partners over the years can attest to) I tend to respond with loud "SHENME???"s (whaaaat??). It tends to make the rubberneckers avert their gazes from me for a moment, just to stare at me after I pass. I often turn and throw up my arms in a "what the hell do you care" manner. It makes me feel better.
My language partners claim that "All Chinese are used to foreigners." I beg to differ. I was lucky enough the other day to have just completed complaining to a Chinese friend when a group of construction workers passed by with their eyes glued to me. It was so obvious and obnoxious that my language parter (who had just finished saying that I was mistaken about the staring) laughed, turned red, and said "I'm so sorry... I'm so embarrassed- I didn't realize..."
I don't blame them so much for staring- less than 3% of the Chinese population is of minority races, most of which are still asian- just not Han Chinese. I am a rare find, even in a business city like Shanghai. I really just resent the claim that the racism doesn't exist. It is extremely obvious.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
American Relations
Although I’m obviously learning about China and the Chinese people by living here, I have also increased my associations with another group: Americans from the west coast. Three out of four of my classes are associated with the UC program, so I encounter Californians often. I always thought that I would like people from the west coast, but I am finding that I do not.
The best word to describe them is smug. Some of them are the definition of the “ugly American abroad,” but more importantly, they are completely dismissive about why they are here. The majority of them choose not to interact with the locals or the environment. Instead, they have private get-togethers to smoke, drink and smoke weed. They interact with no-one, and that includes the few of us from the east coast. This doesn’t bother me, mainly because I wouldn’t want to engage in their activities anyway, but their clear superiority complex is rather frustrating.
This extends beyond the social scene and their rejection of any attempt to learn about their surroundings. It is most evident in class. Most of the classes are relatively easy, probably in order to give us time to explore China (which they do not do). Because of the ease of the courses, they can become fairly boring, particularly when you have it for 2 or 3 hours. However, this is no excuse for how they behave in class. They are routinely extremely late. Students arrive up to an hour into class. Today, out of a class of 40, only 5 of us were in the room when the bell sounded. By the end of class, about 20 people were sitting at desks. They skip class more than I can handle. In the course of my high school and college career, with the exception of NASB, I have missed a total of four days. Three were freshman year of college due to a deathcase of the flu, and one was here because of a miscommunication of the schedule. 50% of the class showed up today. They talk and make noises all through class to an extreme. They use their laptops to Facebook, look up baseball results, and even Skype during class. A student snored noisily through an hour of class today. THE CLASS IS EASY FOR ME TOO, but I respect the professors enough to at least pretend to listen.
I think that what is most funny, however, is their attitude toward the few people not from the UC program. They look down on us like our respective schools are the riffraff of the academic world. Because my credits from China transfer back to W&J as pass/fail credits, I’m not too uptight about working hard in the easy classes. I simply need to pass. Most of the grades are comprised of essays and papers. Now the punch-line: UCLA and UC Berkley students can’t write worth shit. So far, with virtually no effort, I have routinely destroyed the UC students in regard to grades. They spent days on an essay that I wrote in an hour and a half. After that essay was graded, mine was given the highest grade in the class, and read aloud by the professor as an example of exactly how the essay should have been written. I do not say this because I think I’m a genius or particularly gifted. I’m not bragging. My essay was fairly poorly written and it was an extremely easy topic. I’m simply pointing out that the UCLA and Berkley kids think that they are fantastic students, but in reality, they are disrespectful and particularly sub-par writers.
Oh, and while I’m taking the time to whine and complain about the people, I should also mention that the Californians are complete babies when it comes to weather. They have been so spoiled with their constant 72 degrees and sunny atmosphere, that I have seen students in class wearing a winter coat, hat, gloves, a hoodie, long pants and SNOW BOOTS in 58 degree weather. My shorts and T-shirt may have left me a little chilly, but someone needs to show them that they look ridiculous.
In the unlikely event that a UC student stumbles across this post, please note, this is not a universal rule of the west coast students. It is, however, undeniably true that this is the common trend. Everything stated above is true, and you know it. I might make apologies on a case by case basis, but I find it unlikely. Most Californians here are too self absorbed to delve into the lives of the people around them.
The reason I went on such a tirade about the Californians is really not because they are the worst people ever. I have wanted to say most of these things piece by piece in other entries, but have neglected to do so. Now I put it all in one entry, and it looks like a big whine-fest. Sorry if it seems like that.
EAST COAST USA RULES
The best word to describe them is smug. Some of them are the definition of the “ugly American abroad,” but more importantly, they are completely dismissive about why they are here. The majority of them choose not to interact with the locals or the environment. Instead, they have private get-togethers to smoke, drink and smoke weed. They interact with no-one, and that includes the few of us from the east coast. This doesn’t bother me, mainly because I wouldn’t want to engage in their activities anyway, but their clear superiority complex is rather frustrating.
This extends beyond the social scene and their rejection of any attempt to learn about their surroundings. It is most evident in class. Most of the classes are relatively easy, probably in order to give us time to explore China (which they do not do). Because of the ease of the courses, they can become fairly boring, particularly when you have it for 2 or 3 hours. However, this is no excuse for how they behave in class. They are routinely extremely late. Students arrive up to an hour into class. Today, out of a class of 40, only 5 of us were in the room when the bell sounded. By the end of class, about 20 people were sitting at desks. They skip class more than I can handle. In the course of my high school and college career, with the exception of NASB, I have missed a total of four days. Three were freshman year of college due to a deathcase of the flu, and one was here because of a miscommunication of the schedule. 50% of the class showed up today. They talk and make noises all through class to an extreme. They use their laptops to Facebook, look up baseball results, and even Skype during class. A student snored noisily through an hour of class today. THE CLASS IS EASY FOR ME TOO, but I respect the professors enough to at least pretend to listen.
I think that what is most funny, however, is their attitude toward the few people not from the UC program. They look down on us like our respective schools are the riffraff of the academic world. Because my credits from China transfer back to W&J as pass/fail credits, I’m not too uptight about working hard in the easy classes. I simply need to pass. Most of the grades are comprised of essays and papers. Now the punch-line: UCLA and UC Berkley students can’t write worth shit. So far, with virtually no effort, I have routinely destroyed the UC students in regard to grades. They spent days on an essay that I wrote in an hour and a half. After that essay was graded, mine was given the highest grade in the class, and read aloud by the professor as an example of exactly how the essay should have been written. I do not say this because I think I’m a genius or particularly gifted. I’m not bragging. My essay was fairly poorly written and it was an extremely easy topic. I’m simply pointing out that the UCLA and Berkley kids think that they are fantastic students, but in reality, they are disrespectful and particularly sub-par writers.
Oh, and while I’m taking the time to whine and complain about the people, I should also mention that the Californians are complete babies when it comes to weather. They have been so spoiled with their constant 72 degrees and sunny atmosphere, that I have seen students in class wearing a winter coat, hat, gloves, a hoodie, long pants and SNOW BOOTS in 58 degree weather. My shorts and T-shirt may have left me a little chilly, but someone needs to show them that they look ridiculous.
In the unlikely event that a UC student stumbles across this post, please note, this is not a universal rule of the west coast students. It is, however, undeniably true that this is the common trend. Everything stated above is true, and you know it. I might make apologies on a case by case basis, but I find it unlikely. Most Californians here are too self absorbed to delve into the lives of the people around them.
The reason I went on such a tirade about the Californians is really not because they are the worst people ever. I have wanted to say most of these things piece by piece in other entries, but have neglected to do so. Now I put it all in one entry, and it looks like a big whine-fest. Sorry if it seems like that.
EAST COAST USA RULES
Names
After making a list of foods, I figured I'd make a somewhat shorter list of names.
Chinese students often choose English names. In turn, many non-Chinese make Chinese names. Although Yang Laoshi gave me a Chinese name for class, I refuse to use it here in China. My name is Andy, and where I am does not effect that. Anyway, I digress. The Chinese SUCK at choosing English names. Some are ok, but others are stupid nouns or adjectives. Here are some of the names of some of my local friends that are in my phone:
Leaf (girl)
Pephone (pronounced Payphone) (guy)
Smile (girl)
Bone (girl)
Noodle (girl)
The rest of the people in my phone are decent English names. Usually guy's names are really feminine and girls names (like Bone) are really masculine. They don't really have a concept of what the names mean.
It only makes it worse that the chinese word for "he/him" is the same as "her/she" so when speaking English, they often confuse the two, and call their mother "he" and father "her."
It leads to a lot of instances of me stuggling to not laugh in their face. I know I hate it when they laugh at my pathetic Chinese, and I'd hate to do the same to them about their English. But GOOD GOD its funny.
Chinese students often choose English names. In turn, many non-Chinese make Chinese names. Although Yang Laoshi gave me a Chinese name for class, I refuse to use it here in China. My name is Andy, and where I am does not effect that. Anyway, I digress. The Chinese SUCK at choosing English names. Some are ok, but others are stupid nouns or adjectives. Here are some of the names of some of my local friends that are in my phone:
Leaf (girl)
Pephone (pronounced Payphone) (guy)
Smile (girl)
Bone (girl)
Noodle (girl)
The rest of the people in my phone are decent English names. Usually guy's names are really feminine and girls names (like Bone) are really masculine. They don't really have a concept of what the names mean.
It only makes it worse that the chinese word for "he/him" is the same as "her/she" so when speaking English, they often confuse the two, and call their mother "he" and father "her."
It leads to a lot of instances of me stuggling to not laugh in their face. I know I hate it when they laugh at my pathetic Chinese, and I'd hate to do the same to them about their English. But GOOD GOD its funny.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Some Foods I've Eaten in China
Pig intestine soup.
Chicken on a stick.
Bread on a stick.
Fish on a stick.
Pea flavored ice cream.
Chicken gizzards.
A fried fish. (if that doesn't sound strange, its because you are assuming it was prepared in more ways than just catching it and frying it. be as minimalist as possible when imagining this fish.) (oh and it was on a stick)
korean bbq (awesome)
chao fan (fried rice)
chao mian (fried noodles)
Chips Ahoy cookies.
bananas.
tangerines.
tiny fish soup (it is soup with whole tiny goldfish-like fish in it. may or may not have been alive prior to boiling)
jiaozi. baozi. shalomba. and a million other things that ultimately means dumpling.
gelatinous bean noodles.
hundreds of cups of tea.
water.
gatorade.
solidified chicken blood.
KFC.
Fried chicken from the street guy.
various mystery meats selected at random from restaurants that only use traditional characters. (dog?)
sushi.
pizza in which tomato sauce was conspicuously absent, but did include corn, beef, pepper, cheese, and some kind of green pepper.
calamari.
RICE. LOTS OF RICE.
Oreos.
Magnum ice cream bars.
mushrooms that look like noodles.
slivers of mold and spices.
potatoes.
chicken bone soup.
mapou dofu (delicious spicy tofu)
I can't think of anything else right now, but my language partners have decided to introduce me to new foods, because they feel like I havent experienced chinese food yet. I'll let you know.
I'm beginning to take notice of a bunch of Chinese cultural things. They are all really hard to express in writing. I suggest reading this book my mother gave me called River Town. So far, it is dead on. Here is an excerpt about the Chinese honking car horns:
"They honked at other cars, and they honked at pedestrians. They honked whenever they passed somebody, or whenever they were being passed themselves. They honked when nobody was passing but somebody might be considering it, or when the road was empty and there was nobody to pass but the though of passing or being passed had just passed through the driver's mind... They did it so often... pedestrians were so familiar with the sound that they essentially didn't hear it. A honk in [China] was like the tree falling in the forest- for all intents and purposes it was silent."
Chicken on a stick.
Bread on a stick.
Fish on a stick.
Pea flavored ice cream.
Chicken gizzards.
A fried fish. (if that doesn't sound strange, its because you are assuming it was prepared in more ways than just catching it and frying it. be as minimalist as possible when imagining this fish.) (oh and it was on a stick)
korean bbq (awesome)
chao fan (fried rice)
chao mian (fried noodles)
Chips Ahoy cookies.
bananas.
tangerines.
tiny fish soup (it is soup with whole tiny goldfish-like fish in it. may or may not have been alive prior to boiling)
jiaozi. baozi. shalomba. and a million other things that ultimately means dumpling.
gelatinous bean noodles.
hundreds of cups of tea.
water.
gatorade.
solidified chicken blood.
KFC.
Fried chicken from the street guy.
various mystery meats selected at random from restaurants that only use traditional characters. (dog?)
sushi.
pizza in which tomato sauce was conspicuously absent, but did include corn, beef, pepper, cheese, and some kind of green pepper.
calamari.
RICE. LOTS OF RICE.
Oreos.
Magnum ice cream bars.
mushrooms that look like noodles.
slivers of mold and spices.
potatoes.
chicken bone soup.
mapou dofu (delicious spicy tofu)
I can't think of anything else right now, but my language partners have decided to introduce me to new foods, because they feel like I havent experienced chinese food yet. I'll let you know.
I'm beginning to take notice of a bunch of Chinese cultural things. They are all really hard to express in writing. I suggest reading this book my mother gave me called River Town. So far, it is dead on. Here is an excerpt about the Chinese honking car horns:
"They honked at other cars, and they honked at pedestrians. They honked whenever they passed somebody, or whenever they were being passed themselves. They honked when nobody was passing but somebody might be considering it, or when the road was empty and there was nobody to pass but the though of passing or being passed had just passed through the driver's mind... They did it so often... pedestrians were so familiar with the sound that they essentially didn't hear it. A honk in [China] was like the tree falling in the forest- for all intents and purposes it was silent."
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