Note: photos will all be on flickr. I will occasionally post relevant ones here, but check there for the rest. Also, all photos are slightly right side cropped. Click on them to see the whole thing.
Here are some clips I took while at Houhai. The clip is actually two i stuck together accidently on imovie. one is at a club that looks much livelier than it really was. It was a cute place... but the people there weren't that interesting, nor was the dancing that good. It was where we had the caipirinha. The second one is just taken from outside a club... there's a girl dancing on the pole, but then the owner closed the door :(
Monday, August 31, 2009
quick update
This is going to have to be really quick because i have to leave for class soon. Sorry about the lack of thought-outedness.
Saturday evening we went to a touristy/date-y bar district. It was really quite pricy (drinks about $6 (US) which is super expensive here). It's cute and pretty classy though, for China. There were several bars with poles, which i tried to document for Lilla :P. The area is either BeiHai or HouHai (I forget exactly... possibly both, I guess).
Sunday we went to the city planning museum where there is a scale model of the entire city (well, model for part, glass satellite pics for the rest) that helped me get a good sense of the place. Now I sometimes know where north is :)
Also finally met up with the Beijing Ultimate group. It was a ton of fun! They're mostly ex-pats, but some are temporary visitors like me. It's a mix of levels, but they're pretty welcoming I think (I got hucked to :)). Then we all went to eat afterwards at a place they frequent near DongZhiMen. ...and I met zahlen(!!) who to me is a demi-celebrity in the frisbee world. He runs/co-runs Five, an ultimate clothing company... and is pretty well known in the community and went to U of C...
Will post photos/etc later! Gotta run...
Edit: 12:08pm
Also, tried a sex on the beach and a caipirinha. The first is good, the second is REALLY REALLY good. we must make!
Saturday evening we went to a touristy/date-y bar district. It was really quite pricy (drinks about $6 (US) which is super expensive here). It's cute and pretty classy though, for China. There were several bars with poles, which i tried to document for Lilla :P. The area is either BeiHai or HouHai (I forget exactly... possibly both, I guess).
Sunday we went to the city planning museum where there is a scale model of the entire city (well, model for part, glass satellite pics for the rest) that helped me get a good sense of the place. Now I sometimes know where north is :)
Also finally met up with the Beijing Ultimate group. It was a ton of fun! They're mostly ex-pats, but some are temporary visitors like me. It's a mix of levels, but they're pretty welcoming I think (I got hucked to :)). Then we all went to eat afterwards at a place they frequent near DongZhiMen. ...and I met zahlen(!!) who to me is a demi-celebrity in the frisbee world. He runs/co-runs Five, an ultimate clothing company... and is pretty well known in the community and went to U of C...
Will post photos/etc later! Gotta run...
Edit: 12:08pm
Also, tried a sex on the beach and a caipirinha. The first is good, the second is REALLY REALLY good. we must make!
Friday, August 28, 2009
my room
My room is reasonably sized, but i feel like they didn't use the space efficiently. I sleep next to the really nice and large window. There's a climate control for each room as well as a bathroom. Pretty decent, although I'd say that though newer, it has a cheaper feel than Pierce. As though it won't be very nice after another year or two.
[More]
I'm not sure how we're supposed to use this. I put clothes in the glass top, but it's weird having clothes out in the open. Then again, the other shelves are awkwardly low...
pretty nice beds. I might go ahead and buy another blanket and pillow at some point, though.
The bathroom. It's got a bath/shower. I've kind of taken over the sink space... don't wanna share with roommate!
the view. it's hard to really see with all the glare, but there are classrooms across the way.
[More]
I'm not sure how we're supposed to use this. I put clothes in the glass top, but it's weird having clothes out in the open. Then again, the other shelves are awkwardly low...
pretty nice beds. I might go ahead and buy another blanket and pillow at some point, though.
The bathroom. It's got a bath/shower. I've kind of taken over the sink space... don't wanna share with roommate!
the view. it's hard to really see with all the glare, but there are classrooms across the way.
haggling
In a team effort, we managed to haggle me a pair of shoes from 160RMB to 75RMB. They're decent shoes... probably won't last me longer than this program, but they might. Don't fit perfectly, but should fit fine once I've broken them in (maybe a little tight at the moment). They're black leather/fake leather flats.
[More]
The haggling is fun, but kind of fatiguing. Shopping in China is kind of stressful... you go to these places for the best prices, but in order to get the best prices you have to figure out what price is best! And I can't believe she upped it by more than 2x the amount! They're generally pretty clever, and pressure you to buy things quickly without giving you time to really assess them. I also tend to feel bad. They probably need the money more than I do. Like, I got a pair of cushy things for the balls of my feet. The woman told me 5RMB and I didn't bother to argue even though they're probably worth 1 or 2 at most. 3RMB means more to them than it does to me.
[More]
The haggling is fun, but kind of fatiguing. Shopping in China is kind of stressful... you go to these places for the best prices, but in order to get the best prices you have to figure out what price is best! And I can't believe she upped it by more than 2x the amount! They're generally pretty clever, and pressure you to buy things quickly without giving you time to really assess them. I also tend to feel bad. They probably need the money more than I do. Like, I got a pair of cushy things for the balls of my feet. The woman told me 5RMB and I didn't bother to argue even though they're probably worth 1 or 2 at most. 3RMB means more to them than it does to me.
Yue-r
This is the cousin's dog. I stole this from his dad's camera. Isn't she CUTE? I think she's about 10, so she's pretty old for a dog. I love how she has her own doghouse. Is this a pom?
first night out
ahhhhhhh it was fun! We went to an area called WuDaoKou 五道口。It means "fifth level crossing of the Jingbao Railway" according to wikipedia. It's a student--foreign student especially--hotspot. During the day it's super super crowded and crazy, and during the evenings the clubs are partyin'.
We went to Propaganda, a free club that happened to have ladies night, meaning we got 3 vouchers for free drinks. Lucky, right?
[More]
I'll try to figure out how to use my phone to take pictures if we go again. It was a really cool place (though there wasn't a pole, sorry Lilla!). So far there are two other students who have arrived for the program: Sarah and Edwin. Both are white, but the latter knows two school year's worth of Chinese and has been already in China for 2 months. Edwin (who is the one who knew about Chinese night life) managed to find the nerdiest little asian in the club and proceeded to teach/encourage him to dance better. The guy was like 5 feet tall and wearing glasses and when he danced, he very slightly would shift his weight... I'm impressed I could tell he was dancing at all. He didn't really pick up on the lessons, but he was pretty good natured about it. I was amazed that a guy like him was in a club, but maybe this is China...?
It was really fun, but I don't know how long I'd be able to keep it up. My knees hurt and I was pooped when we finished! Still, a nice way to start the program :) The other two are pretty cool. I'm glad I moved in early.
We went to Propaganda, a free club that happened to have ladies night, meaning we got 3 vouchers for free drinks. Lucky, right?
[More]
I'll try to figure out how to use my phone to take pictures if we go again. It was a really cool place (though there wasn't a pole, sorry Lilla!). So far there are two other students who have arrived for the program: Sarah and Edwin. Both are white, but the latter knows two school year's worth of Chinese and has been already in China for 2 months. Edwin (who is the one who knew about Chinese night life) managed to find the nerdiest little asian in the club and proceeded to teach/encourage him to dance better. The guy was like 5 feet tall and wearing glasses and when he danced, he very slightly would shift his weight... I'm impressed I could tell he was dancing at all. He didn't really pick up on the lessons, but he was pretty good natured about it. I was amazed that a guy like him was in a club, but maybe this is China...?
It was really fun, but I don't know how long I'd be able to keep it up. My knees hurt and I was pooped when we finished! Still, a nice way to start the program :) The other two are pretty cool. I'm glad I moved in early.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
i'm BAAAAAAACK!!
at least for now.
[More]
it's still not easy for me to connect via vpn because for some reason my school id/pswd isn't accepted and thus i need to borrow other people and their login info. hopefully this will be fixed soon.
[More]
it's still not easy for me to connect via vpn because for some reason my school id/pswd isn't accepted and thus i need to borrow other people and their login info. hopefully this will be fixed soon.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Tying up Loose Ends
I leave in... oh, 13 and a half hours or so. It still has yet to sink in that I'll be in another country, speaking another language, away from the bf, for FOUR MONTHS!! I'm feeling surprisingly zen about the whole thing at the moment.
[More]
I think I've got everything... and I don't think I packed too much. One large suitcase of clothing, another with shoes, toiletries, and miscellany (such as class books and chocolate for the future roommate--I am now wondering if I should have packed a nice bag with which to present them). I have a backpack and a small duffel with a change of clothes and more miscellany as my carry-ons. My packing list is mostly checked, save for my computer and items I decided against bringing. I think I packed the brush...
P.S. The countdown widget has changed in order to more accurately represent the time left until my departure from this fair nation.
P.P.S. Trying to obtain Ponyo, but the internets is being a slowpoker on the last 12.7% and claiming it will take another 4 hours...
[More]
I think I've got everything... and I don't think I packed too much. One large suitcase of clothing, another with shoes, toiletries, and miscellany (such as class books and chocolate for the future roommate--I am now wondering if I should have packed a nice bag with which to present them). I have a backpack and a small duffel with a change of clothes and more miscellany as my carry-ons. My packing list is mostly checked, save for my computer and items I decided against bringing. I think I packed the brush...
P.S. The countdown widget has changed in order to more accurately represent the time left until my departure from this fair nation.
P.P.S. Trying to obtain Ponyo, but the internets is being a slowpoker on the last 12.7% and claiming it will take another 4 hours...
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Welcome 欢迎
and... cue the Mac OS X opening video (that you can't skip!*).
It was really only cool the first time. *(Ran into issues with Migration Assistant and for some reason I was stupid and stubborn enough to refuse to just say "do it later". I insisted on keeping the mac in the start up mode-thingy... which meant that every time I turned it on I was forced to watch that video... I eventually gave up on Migration Assistant.. all that tedium was in vain... :()
[More]
In any case, welcome to the blog. On the top right is a preview of what should eventually be the photos I take while abroad. For now it's just some filler from a previous trip to China. I will be playing around with the formatting in the next week or two, so don't be too surprised to see things moving around. The layout is still on probation, one might say.
Right now I'm being very precrastinatory about preparations. I've packed most of my clothes and written a packing list... but as you can see from the countdown on the side, I have very little time left. The good thing about this trip, though, is that I will be buying--indeed I am expected to buy--stuff in China. So if I forget a few things... well, no big deal right? I'll just buy them there.
Tomorrow I will go in to work for about an hour and half in the morning, and then swing by in the mid afternoon to pick up my results. The data analysis should be able to wait until I have free time, whether that's in the evening or after I arrive in China. The rest of the day will be devoted to packing and double checking travel plans and information.
I'll arrive on the 24th. I can move in early on the 27th, and there is a pre-pre-session explore-the-city trip (sometime I just enjoy hyphens) on the 28th which is completely optional. In between those I will be hanging out with my mom and adjusting to the jet lag, and then being inundated with relatives that I barely remember. I am not yet sure if I want to go early (and ditch my mom one day earlier.. and maybe pass up prime shopping time/freedom, etc)... any thoughts? There should be about 4 or 5 other kids from the program, since we're there early for the language pre-session. The actual program begins on the 26th of September or so.
I will also be taking a short trip to visit my grandparents on Sept 4. There's some party honoring my grandfather, so it should be fun (and tiring). It will be nice to see them again. It's been about 3 years since I saw them last, I believe.
I'm also somewhat excited and somewhat apprehensive about meeting my new roommate. By the end of last year, I think both my roommate and I were glad to be rid of each other. I fully admit that I am not the easiest roommate; I'm fairly messy and spend a lot of time in the room talking to my boyfriend. On the other hand I don't host parties and invite people over who throw up on the rug. Nor do I listen to a lot of loud music (although I do tend to watch TV and use Skype without headphones) or generally stay up late studying with lots of lights on. Fingers crossed that we will be compatible (and that she is very easy going). I expect there will be less time spent on the phone in the evenings, so that should help things.
In general I currently have mixed feelings about the trip. I tell everyone that I'm excited, but I've been so busy with life this summer (work, frisbee, the bf) that I really have not had time to reflect on the fact that I'll be in a foreign (and fairly homogenous) country for 4 months, studying a class which is not my forte, away from Chris. I am excited, but haven't had the downtime to properly feel it. I'm a little worried that working right up until I leave will not leave me recharged enough to be ready to tackle classes. My hope is that it has been a while since I've actually studied. I also hope that the pre-session is fairly relaxed with a lot of downtime for resting. I'd expect so because people need to adjust to the jet lag. I usually need a week with a lot of sleep before I'm ready to 'charge full speed ahead'.
...and wow. I guess this was an auspiciously long first post. We'll see how time allows for future posts. Until then, 再见！
It was really only cool the first time. *(Ran into issues with Migration Assistant and for some reason I was stupid and stubborn enough to refuse to just say "do it later". I insisted on keeping the mac in the start up mode-thingy... which meant that every time I turned it on I was forced to watch that video... I eventually gave up on Migration Assistant.. all that tedium was in vain... :()
[More]
In any case, welcome to the blog. On the top right is a preview of what should eventually be the photos I take while abroad. For now it's just some filler from a previous trip to China. I will be playing around with the formatting in the next week or two, so don't be too surprised to see things moving around. The layout is still on probation, one might say.
Right now I'm being very precrastinatory about preparations. I've packed most of my clothes and written a packing list... but as you can see from the countdown on the side, I have very little time left. The good thing about this trip, though, is that I will be buying--indeed I am expected to buy--stuff in China. So if I forget a few things... well, no big deal right? I'll just buy them there.
Tomorrow I will go in to work for about an hour and half in the morning, and then swing by in the mid afternoon to pick up my results. The data analysis should be able to wait until I have free time, whether that's in the evening or after I arrive in China. The rest of the day will be devoted to packing and double checking travel plans and information.
I'll arrive on the 24th. I can move in early on the 27th, and there is a pre-pre-session explore-the-city trip (sometime I just enjoy hyphens) on the 28th which is completely optional. In between those I will be hanging out with my mom and adjusting to the jet lag, and then being inundated with relatives that I barely remember. I am not yet sure if I want to go early (and ditch my mom one day earlier.. and maybe pass up prime shopping time/freedom, etc)... any thoughts? There should be about 4 or 5 other kids from the program, since we're there early for the language pre-session. The actual program begins on the 26th of September or so.
I will also be taking a short trip to visit my grandparents on Sept 4. There's some party honoring my grandfather, so it should be fun (and tiring). It will be nice to see them again. It's been about 3 years since I saw them last, I believe.
I'm also somewhat excited and somewhat apprehensive about meeting my new roommate. By the end of last year, I think both my roommate and I were glad to be rid of each other. I fully admit that I am not the easiest roommate; I'm fairly messy and spend a lot of time in the room talking to my boyfriend. On the other hand I don't host parties and invite people over who throw up on the rug. Nor do I listen to a lot of loud music (although I do tend to watch TV and use Skype without headphones) or generally stay up late studying with lots of lights on. Fingers crossed that we will be compatible (and that she is very easy going). I expect there will be less time spent on the phone in the evenings, so that should help things.
In general I currently have mixed feelings about the trip. I tell everyone that I'm excited, but I've been so busy with life this summer (work, frisbee, the bf) that I really have not had time to reflect on the fact that I'll be in a foreign (and fairly homogenous) country for 4 months, studying a class which is not my forte, away from Chris. I am excited, but haven't had the downtime to properly feel it. I'm a little worried that working right up until I leave will not leave me recharged enough to be ready to tackle classes. My hope is that it has been a while since I've actually studied. I also hope that the pre-session is fairly relaxed with a lot of downtime for resting. I'd expect so because people need to adjust to the jet lag. I usually need a week with a lot of sleep before I'm ready to 'charge full speed ahead'.
...and wow. I guess this was an auspiciously long first post. We'll see how time allows for future posts. Until then, 再见！
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)