This will be the last post from China. I board Delta at 10am. Then I take to the skies for 14 hours and then another 2 hours from Michigan.
As I mentioned in the last post I have since ventured to Shanghai. Needless to say I miss Suzhou. The hostel I'm staying at in Shanghai may have tainted my opinion, but I have not enjoyed myself. The hostel is in a building built in 1924 by a Jewish family. The building certainly holds these qualities of 1920s architecture and it gives a certain amount of charm. However, it is obvious that the hostel has not kept up with the uptake of the building as it is often unclean. The showers are infested with mold and bugs. My bed is nothing more than a piece of wood with some sheets placed on top.
As I exit the building I am greeted by the smell of garbage and b.o. Down the block is a street with vendors selling everything from vegetables, cellphones, and the freshest of meat. When I say the freshest of meat, I literally mean the freshest of meat. The street is full of vendors with cages of clucking chickens, quails, doves, toads, fish and turtles. The best part is the stench of fresh animal blood and the red stained streets. Needless to say my dislike of meat has only been intensified since coming to Shanghai. So much so that the smell of most meat causes involuntary gag reflexes. Since coming to Shanghai I have gone no where near anything that could possible contain meat, especially an unspecified meat. For instance a travel mate got a noodle dish called 大肉面, literally meaning big meat noodles. I have no clue what type of meat this is, nor do I think I want to know. I have ingested lots of bananas and ice cream since my arrival in Shanghai.
This trip has made me thankful to be returning tomorrow. I won't worry about what my food is. Also restaurant kitchens will seem like sterilized hospital rooms in comparison to the kitchens in China.
Nonetheless, my return tomorrow, though long, will be a welcome relief. I look forward to reuniting with friends and eating all the foods I miss most (CHEESE!).
See you all in the states.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Here is No Why
It seems I fail at this blogging thing. I leave in exactly 3 days and here I am finally writing a blog. In all fairness though I have been plenty busy and the internet here tends to annoy me.
Last week I finished up classes and took my exams.There's not much to report from my last weekend in Beijing except friday we went to the club (like usual) and I didn't get back until about 6:30am. The next days I went to the silk market got some last minute things and ate at a delicious veggie restaurant. The rest of the weekend has nothing to report.
Monday we departed Beijing for good and began our (me and four of my other classmates) three legged adventure. We caught a train that was to take us to Taishan. We were supposed to climb the mountain and watch the sunrise the next morning. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that the train only stopped a total of 1minute at the Taishan station and we missed our opportunity. I was really looking forward to climbing the massive mountain. We decided then to continue on to our next destination Suzhou. We arrived there at around 8pm and then had to find a place to stay (our hostel was not yet available). The next day we made our way to the Hostel. Let me tell you how much I loved our Hostel. Actually I can't, putting my love in words is impossible. I can only say that the area was gorgeous and genuinely Chinese the hostel was as well an old Chinese building with multiple gardens/court yards. I walked around a lot (and one night walked around until 8:30am). We went to the Lions Gate Garden and it was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. It was peaceful and so well designed. I was sitting in a pagoda in the middle of the massive pond and at one point (hundreds of tourists aside) could imagine the Chinese nobles that roamed this garden and how they must have felt being surrounded by it's beauty.
Sadly, our stay in Suzhou came to an end and we have now made our way to Shanghai via bus (which was way better than the standing tickets on the train we had to Suzhou). Not much to report yet. I'm not in love with our hostel here. It's a building built in 1924 by a Jewish family so the architecture is really neat and not Chinese in the slightest. However, it's not awfully clean and the horrible smell from the streets seems to made residence here as well. Tonight we plan to see the breathtaking (hopefully) lights of Shanghai.
That's all for now, I'll try to update once more before monday.
-M
Last week I finished up classes and took my exams.There's not much to report from my last weekend in Beijing except friday we went to the club (like usual) and I didn't get back until about 6:30am. The next days I went to the silk market got some last minute things and ate at a delicious veggie restaurant. The rest of the weekend has nothing to report.
Monday we departed Beijing for good and began our (me and four of my other classmates) three legged adventure. We caught a train that was to take us to Taishan. We were supposed to climb the mountain and watch the sunrise the next morning. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that the train only stopped a total of 1minute at the Taishan station and we missed our opportunity. I was really looking forward to climbing the massive mountain. We decided then to continue on to our next destination Suzhou. We arrived there at around 8pm and then had to find a place to stay (our hostel was not yet available). The next day we made our way to the Hostel. Let me tell you how much I loved our Hostel. Actually I can't, putting my love in words is impossible. I can only say that the area was gorgeous and genuinely Chinese the hostel was as well an old Chinese building with multiple gardens/court yards. I walked around a lot (and one night walked around until 8:30am). We went to the Lions Gate Garden and it was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. It was peaceful and so well designed. I was sitting in a pagoda in the middle of the massive pond and at one point (hundreds of tourists aside) could imagine the Chinese nobles that roamed this garden and how they must have felt being surrounded by it's beauty.
Sadly, our stay in Suzhou came to an end and we have now made our way to Shanghai via bus (which was way better than the standing tickets on the train we had to Suzhou). Not much to report yet. I'm not in love with our hostel here. It's a building built in 1924 by a Jewish family so the architecture is really neat and not Chinese in the slightest. However, it's not awfully clean and the horrible smell from the streets seems to made residence here as well. Tonight we plan to see the breathtaking (hopefully) lights of Shanghai.
That's all for now, I'll try to update once more before monday.
-M
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on, check ignition and may God's love be with you.
Sometimes it feels like I'm on a different planet. I feel so disconnected from everyone and there's nothing I can do. There's a portion in Space Oddity by David Bowie where he sings, "ground control to Major Tom your circuits dead, there's something wrong, Can you hear me Major Tom?" I feel like my circuits dead, it's partially due to distance and partially due to the lack of functional internet combined with the lack of ability to get onto social networks that once allowed me to connect to friends no matter how far away we were from one another.I guess what it all comes down to is I miss you guys!!
This week was rather lack luster. I spend most of my days in class then with my language partner (this "language partnership" has not actually helped me or my Chinese). At night I go down to the cafe called College Perk on the first floor of my dorm and do my homework (and check emails, post a blog if the internet is working). Around 11, 11:30 I make my way up to the 13th floor where I fall fast asleep. Rinse and repeat 5 times. I look forward to the weekends for adventure. Unfortunately, the weekends come and go so quickly it barely seems like a break.
The start of the weekend, Friday, we took two of our Chinese teachers to Hohai and treated them to a rooftop supper, complete with 4 different kinds of huge fish dishes (in China you share everything) and two crates of 30oz beers. Costing us a grand total of 50 RMB each, about $8. We went to Mixs, a dance club, spent the same amount to get into it. Decided 30minutes later it was too crowded and left.
Yesterday (Saturday), we went to the silk market and did some bargaining. I found a nice hand made tea kettle for my Memaw and Pappap and a hand painted scroll for my parents. The scroll may have been my best bargaining deal of the day. The scroll started off at 880 RMB, I told him I had seen a nice hand painted one at Wangfujing for 80yuan. Long story short threatening to go to Wangfujing and trying to leave several times resulted in the reduced price of 110 yuan. I also got myself a pair of chucks for 65yuan ($9). I think this is my favorite part of China. The bargaining and the cheap food. I fear that bargaining can become highly addictive as I found it to be quite a rush. I plan on returning to the Silk Market and finding more souvenirs and well made knock off handbags. Side note about the knock of purses/ wallets: most of knock offs are so convincing because they are actually made by the people who work in the factories, this makes them flawless.
I have my midterm this week so I need to crack down and study now.
Sometimes it feels like I'm on a different planet. I feel so disconnected from everyone and there's nothing I can do. There's a portion in Space Oddity by David Bowie where he sings, "ground control to Major Tom your circuits dead, there's something wrong, Can you hear me Major Tom?" I feel like my circuits dead, it's partially due to distance and partially due to the lack of functional internet combined with the lack of ability to get onto social networks that once allowed me to connect to friends no matter how far away we were from one another.I guess what it all comes down to is I miss you guys!!
This week was rather lack luster. I spend most of my days in class then with my language partner (this "language partnership" has not actually helped me or my Chinese). At night I go down to the cafe called College Perk on the first floor of my dorm and do my homework (and check emails, post a blog if the internet is working). Around 11, 11:30 I make my way up to the 13th floor where I fall fast asleep. Rinse and repeat 5 times. I look forward to the weekends for adventure. Unfortunately, the weekends come and go so quickly it barely seems like a break.
The start of the weekend, Friday, we took two of our Chinese teachers to Hohai and treated them to a rooftop supper, complete with 4 different kinds of huge fish dishes (in China you share everything) and two crates of 30oz beers. Costing us a grand total of 50 RMB each, about $8. We went to Mixs, a dance club, spent the same amount to get into it. Decided 30minutes later it was too crowded and left.
Yesterday (Saturday), we went to the silk market and did some bargaining. I found a nice hand made tea kettle for my Memaw and Pappap and a hand painted scroll for my parents. The scroll may have been my best bargaining deal of the day. The scroll started off at 880 RMB, I told him I had seen a nice hand painted one at Wangfujing for 80yuan. Long story short threatening to go to Wangfujing and trying to leave several times resulted in the reduced price of 110 yuan. I also got myself a pair of chucks for 65yuan ($9). I think this is my favorite part of China. The bargaining and the cheap food. I fear that bargaining can become highly addictive as I found it to be quite a rush. I plan on returning to the Silk Market and finding more souvenirs and well made knock off handbags. Side note about the knock of purses/ wallets: most of knock offs are so convincing because they are actually made by the people who work in the factories, this makes them flawless.
I have my midterm this week so I need to crack down and study now.
Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on, check ignition and may God's love be with you.
Sometimes it feels like I'm on a different planet. I feel so disconnected from everyone and there's nothing I can do. There's a portion in Space Oddity by David Bowie where he sings, "ground control to Major Tom your circuits dead, there's something wrong, Can you hear me Major Tom?" I feel like my circuits dead, it's partially due to distance and partially due to the lack of functional internet combined with the lack of ability to get onto social networks that once allowed me to connect to friends no matter how far away we were from one another.I guess what it all comes down to is I miss you guys!!
This week was rather lack luster. I spend most of my days in class then with my language partner (this "language partnership" has not actually helped me or my Chinese). At night I go down to the cafe called College Perk on the first floor of my dorm and do my homework (and check emails, post a blog if the internet is working). Around 11, 11:30 I make my way up to the 13th floor where I fall fast asleep. Rinse and repeat 5 times. I look forward to the weekends for adventure. Unfortunately, the weekends come and go so quickly it barely seems like a break.
The start of the weekend, Friday, we took two of our Chinese teachers to Hohai and treated them to a rooftop supper, complete with 4 different kinds of huge fish dishes (in China you share everything) and two crates of 30oz beers. Costing us a grand total of 50 RMB each, about $8. We went to Mixs, a dance club, spent the same amount to get into it. Decided 30minutes later it was too crowded and left.
Yesterday (Saturday), we went to the silk market and did some bargaining. I found a nice hand made tea kettle for my Memaw and Pappap and a hand painted scroll for my parents. The scroll may have been my best bargaining deal of the day. The scroll started off at 880 RMB, I told him I had seen a nice hand painted one at Wangfujing for 80yuan. Long story short threatening to go to Wangfujing and trying to leave several times resulted in the reduced price of 110 yuan. I also got myself a pair of chucks for 65yuan ($9). I think this is my favorite part of China. The bargaining and the cheap food. I fear that bargaining can become highly addictive as I found it to be quite a rush. I plan on returning to the Silk Market and finding more souvenirs and well made knock off handbags. Side note about the knock of purses/ wallets: most of knock offs are so convincing because they are actually made by the people who work in the factories, this makes them flawless.
I have my midterm this week so I need to crack down and study now.
Sometimes it feels like I'm on a different planet. I feel so disconnected from everyone and there's nothing I can do. There's a portion in Space Oddity by David Bowie where he sings, "ground control to Major Tom your circuits dead, there's something wrong, Can you hear me Major Tom?" I feel like my circuits dead, it's partially due to distance and partially due to the lack of functional internet combined with the lack of ability to get onto social networks that once allowed me to connect to friends no matter how far away we were from one another.I guess what it all comes down to is I miss you guys!!
This week was rather lack luster. I spend most of my days in class then with my language partner (this "language partnership" has not actually helped me or my Chinese). At night I go down to the cafe called College Perk on the first floor of my dorm and do my homework (and check emails, post a blog if the internet is working). Around 11, 11:30 I make my way up to the 13th floor where I fall fast asleep. Rinse and repeat 5 times. I look forward to the weekends for adventure. Unfortunately, the weekends come and go so quickly it barely seems like a break.
The start of the weekend, Friday, we took two of our Chinese teachers to Hohai and treated them to a rooftop supper, complete with 4 different kinds of huge fish dishes (in China you share everything) and two crates of 30oz beers. Costing us a grand total of 50 RMB each, about $8. We went to Mixs, a dance club, spent the same amount to get into it. Decided 30minutes later it was too crowded and left.
Yesterday (Saturday), we went to the silk market and did some bargaining. I found a nice hand made tea kettle for my Memaw and Pappap and a hand painted scroll for my parents. The scroll may have been my best bargaining deal of the day. The scroll started off at 880 RMB, I told him I had seen a nice hand painted one at Wangfujing for 80yuan. Long story short threatening to go to Wangfujing and trying to leave several times resulted in the reduced price of 110 yuan. I also got myself a pair of chucks for 65yuan ($9). I think this is my favorite part of China. The bargaining and the cheap food. I fear that bargaining can become highly addictive as I found it to be quite a rush. I plan on returning to the Silk Market and finding more souvenirs and well made knock off handbags. Side note about the knock of purses/ wallets: most of knock offs are so convincing because they are actually made by the people who work in the factories, this makes them flawless.
I have my midterm this week so I need to crack down and study now.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
It's been a little while.
Sorry it's been awhile.Getting on the internet here is a hassle.
I can't remember what I posted about last so I'll just run through a couple of things that have happened since Sunday. Sunday we went to Wangfujin, which is a shopping district (mostly consisting of high end stores like Chanel, Cartier, ect.)We had what is called hot pot which is when a kettle with boiling water is put in the middle of the table and you place various items to be cooked in. Items like fish, chicken, and veggies. It was really good, as well as a lot of work.
I didn't spend much time in Wangfujin, but stopped at Tienanmen Square on the way back to campus. A lot of people didn't understand the significance of the square and I blame it on ignorance. Across the square was the entrance to the Forbidden City. We walked around the outskirts but didn't go in (as it is a scheduled group trip). I had a really good Szechuan supper at a really nice restaraunt that night too.
Monday I didn't feel well and I think it was due to accidentally getting a piece of undercooked chicken. Other than that I went to the Old Summer Palace, the one that has been destroyed twice by the British. It was really pretty with all the weeping willows and the lotus flowers. The ruins reminded me a lot of the ruins of that of Greece and Rome.
Tuesday came and left with nothing too interesting to report. Yesterday(Wednesday) I went to Xidan and did some awesome bargaining. I got a really cute dress for 60 RMB (a/b $9) and a really nice traditional Chinese dress called a Qipao for 120RMB ($18). I want to go back there sometime and try to find more deals.
Other than that not much new, class is less frustrating but still slightly confusing.
More to post later!
I can't remember what I posted about last so I'll just run through a couple of things that have happened since Sunday. Sunday we went to Wangfujin, which is a shopping district (mostly consisting of high end stores like Chanel, Cartier, ect.)We had what is called hot pot which is when a kettle with boiling water is put in the middle of the table and you place various items to be cooked in. Items like fish, chicken, and veggies. It was really good, as well as a lot of work.
I didn't spend much time in Wangfujin, but stopped at Tienanmen Square on the way back to campus. A lot of people didn't understand the significance of the square and I blame it on ignorance. Across the square was the entrance to the Forbidden City. We walked around the outskirts but didn't go in (as it is a scheduled group trip). I had a really good Szechuan supper at a really nice restaraunt that night too.
Monday I didn't feel well and I think it was due to accidentally getting a piece of undercooked chicken. Other than that I went to the Old Summer Palace, the one that has been destroyed twice by the British. It was really pretty with all the weeping willows and the lotus flowers. The ruins reminded me a lot of the ruins of that of Greece and Rome.
Tuesday came and left with nothing too interesting to report. Yesterday(Wednesday) I went to Xidan and did some awesome bargaining. I got a really cute dress for 60 RMB (a/b $9) and a really nice traditional Chinese dress called a Qipao for 120RMB ($18). I want to go back there sometime and try to find more deals.
Other than that not much new, class is less frustrating but still slightly confusing.
More to post later!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Karaoke, Clubs, and Class
Day three.
First off I posted a blog two days ago, however it posted it as being old than the Day one post....
Yesterday was frustrating like the previous day (see post after Day One). Class was slightly confusing, like usual. I was called on to do a dialogue where I had to switch words out in the dialogue where it was underlined, or so I thought. Where this was partially the exercise, parts that weren't underlined where also supposed to be changed. I didn't realize this and ended up looking/sounding like a complete idiot. On top of that someone in the class constantly tries to correct me and the more I was "corrected" the more frustrated I got and the more I messed up. On the plus side we learned about mailing packages and at the end had conversation with the person sitting next to us about mailing a package. Me and my partner ended up going to the front of the class on doing ours, which was ridiculously hilarious. She wanted to mail her tea to her friend in the U.S. and I was confused as to why. She said it was because her friend was very thirsty and her friend would get very mad if he didn't get a drink. Any way, it was ridiculous and stupid and it was heightened by my slap happy, ADD state (magnified by the fact that I had been sitting in a classroom for 4 hours.
I went to the Summer Palace with my language partners which was really pretty. Two of the other American girls I was with got stopped several times to take pictures.It was hilarious! I took lots of pictures which I swear will someday by posted probably after tomorrow (we're taking a trip to the Wang Fu Jin otherwise known as the Shopping District).
Last night we decided to go to a Karaoke place. It was a lot of fun and the room was really nice and fancy looking. We sang for about 3 hours and my voice was definitely gone. Afterward, we went to a bar/ club a little over a block away. It was a little disappointing because all the drinks they listed were ones I can get at a bar in the U.S. and the music was exactly what I was listening to the last time I went to a bar. However, I actually danced for once and it actually ended up being fun, up until a creepy Chinese guy came up put his arms around my waste and basically tried to force me to dance. His hands would wonder up and I would try to push them down and push him away simultaneously. My classmates were finally able to tear me away from him and run upstairs. Moral of the story, no matter what country I go to I will still attract the creepiest guy in the room.
Tonight hold potential as we are planning on experiencing more of the Chinese nightlife. Hopefully, we'll end up some place a little less international.Hopefully tomorrow will be promising and maybe I'll find some really good deals on things like clothes, shoes, souvenirs, and so on. But, that's all for now!
再见！
-M
First off I posted a blog two days ago, however it posted it as being old than the Day one post....
Yesterday was frustrating like the previous day (see post after Day One). Class was slightly confusing, like usual. I was called on to do a dialogue where I had to switch words out in the dialogue where it was underlined, or so I thought. Where this was partially the exercise, parts that weren't underlined where also supposed to be changed. I didn't realize this and ended up looking/sounding like a complete idiot. On top of that someone in the class constantly tries to correct me and the more I was "corrected" the more frustrated I got and the more I messed up. On the plus side we learned about mailing packages and at the end had conversation with the person sitting next to us about mailing a package. Me and my partner ended up going to the front of the class on doing ours, which was ridiculously hilarious. She wanted to mail her tea to her friend in the U.S. and I was confused as to why. She said it was because her friend was very thirsty and her friend would get very mad if he didn't get a drink. Any way, it was ridiculous and stupid and it was heightened by my slap happy, ADD state (magnified by the fact that I had been sitting in a classroom for 4 hours.
I went to the Summer Palace with my language partners which was really pretty. Two of the other American girls I was with got stopped several times to take pictures.It was hilarious! I took lots of pictures which I swear will someday by posted probably after tomorrow (we're taking a trip to the Wang Fu Jin otherwise known as the Shopping District).
Last night we decided to go to a Karaoke place. It was a lot of fun and the room was really nice and fancy looking. We sang for about 3 hours and my voice was definitely gone. Afterward, we went to a bar/ club a little over a block away. It was a little disappointing because all the drinks they listed were ones I can get at a bar in the U.S. and the music was exactly what I was listening to the last time I went to a bar. However, I actually danced for once and it actually ended up being fun, up until a creepy Chinese guy came up put his arms around my waste and basically tried to force me to dance. His hands would wonder up and I would try to push them down and push him away simultaneously. My classmates were finally able to tear me away from him and run upstairs. Moral of the story, no matter what country I go to I will still attract the creepiest guy in the room.
Tonight hold potential as we are planning on experiencing more of the Chinese nightlife. Hopefully, we'll end up some place a little less international.Hopefully tomorrow will be promising and maybe I'll find some really good deals on things like clothes, shoes, souvenirs, and so on. But, that's all for now!
再见！
-M
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Day one.
My journey began at 8am yesterday..or the day before....well the 28th. Here in China it's the 30th so it's semi confusing. I first stopped in Atlanta, ate the worst pizza known to man and then flew to Seattle. From the plane Seattle looked gorgeous! I wish I would have been able to go explore before catching my flight to Beijing. At the Seattle airport I met up with 11 of the other students. The flight itself was fine. It was long and cramped, but what else can you expect for an international flight.
We took a bus from the airport to our dorm. I didn't see much, but what I did see was very Americanized. As I saw Hyatt hotels, Crowne Plaza hotels, an Ikea (Yay!!!!), McDonald's and KFC.. I didn't get into my dorm room until 2am today.. which was 2pm Ohio time. I lucked out with a roommate because I was able to request a Japanese girl as a roommate. I figured this was the best option because we can use Japanese, Chinese and a little English in order to try to communicate, hopefully combining those three languages we can understand one another. In total I slept an hour and half (maybe). I woke up bright an early at 5am.
The bathrooms here are very different. Each of our dorm rooms has our own. You walk in there is the sink to the right, the toilet straight ahead and the shower to the left. What makes the bathroom different is the fact that the entire room is the shower there is no defined shower , the shower nozzle is also hand held. You have to be very careful as to not get you towel and clothes soaking wet.
This morning we went to the bank to exchange our money, since the exchange places were closed in the airport when we had arrived. It was very confusing. All of our Chinese is so bad and none of the tellers could speak English. Our first real meal in China was delicious! I don't know what any of it was called (beside the rice), but that doesn't matter too much. We also went shopping for necessities. I got 4 bottles of water (as the tap water here is highly unsafe), 2 other aloe and tea based drinks, laundry soap, hangers, toilet paper, a notebook, pen, and pencil and paid a whopping 44 RMB..which is approximately $6.60. Yup super cheap! Tonight we are going to a restaurant together without a native Chinese speaker..so this may be interesting.
I found out today that Blogspot is also apparently blocked due to the great firewall of China...however, we have found proxy sites that allow us to break through this wall. Some have also been able to log into facebook, I however have not been so lucky. I was however (and obviously) able to get into my blog. So hopefully that means I will be able to keep posting and updating my adventures!
Eventually, I will also post pictures, but I have not taken any worth while pictures yet. Sometime today I plan on taking pictures from my dorm room window, which is on the 13th floor. From my window you can get an interesting perspective of Beijing. I won't ruin it, other than to say it unlike I imagined...it's different and well I guess you'll see eventually!
I also encourage you to email me, just in case something happens and it becomes even more difficult to get onto Blogspot. My email is ah747007@ohio.edu. I hope to hear from all of you soon! I miss you guys already!!!
XOXO,
-M
We took a bus from the airport to our dorm. I didn't see much, but what I did see was very Americanized. As I saw Hyatt hotels, Crowne Plaza hotels, an Ikea (Yay!!!!), McDonald's and KFC.. I didn't get into my dorm room until 2am today.. which was 2pm Ohio time. I lucked out with a roommate because I was able to request a Japanese girl as a roommate. I figured this was the best option because we can use Japanese, Chinese and a little English in order to try to communicate, hopefully combining those three languages we can understand one another. In total I slept an hour and half (maybe). I woke up bright an early at 5am.
The bathrooms here are very different. Each of our dorm rooms has our own. You walk in there is the sink to the right, the toilet straight ahead and the shower to the left. What makes the bathroom different is the fact that the entire room is the shower there is no defined shower , the shower nozzle is also hand held. You have to be very careful as to not get you towel and clothes soaking wet.
This morning we went to the bank to exchange our money, since the exchange places were closed in the airport when we had arrived. It was very confusing. All of our Chinese is so bad and none of the tellers could speak English. Our first real meal in China was delicious! I don't know what any of it was called (beside the rice), but that doesn't matter too much. We also went shopping for necessities. I got 4 bottles of water (as the tap water here is highly unsafe), 2 other aloe and tea based drinks, laundry soap, hangers, toilet paper, a notebook, pen, and pencil and paid a whopping 44 RMB..which is approximately $6.60. Yup super cheap! Tonight we are going to a restaurant together without a native Chinese speaker..so this may be interesting.
I found out today that Blogspot is also apparently blocked due to the great firewall of China...however, we have found proxy sites that allow us to break through this wall. Some have also been able to log into facebook, I however have not been so lucky. I was however (and obviously) able to get into my blog. So hopefully that means I will be able to keep posting and updating my adventures!
Eventually, I will also post pictures, but I have not taken any worth while pictures yet. Sometime today I plan on taking pictures from my dorm room window, which is on the 13th floor. From my window you can get an interesting perspective of Beijing. I won't ruin it, other than to say it unlike I imagined...it's different and well I guess you'll see eventually!
I also encourage you to email me, just in case something happens and it becomes even more difficult to get onto Blogspot. My email is ah747007@ohio.edu. I hope to hear from all of you soon! I miss you guys already!!!
XOXO,
-M
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