And We're Back in 5, 4,3,2...

Hello! I am alive, and about 97.4% well. I think Wednesday through Friday evening proved to me that I'm neither indestructible, nor capable of sanely spending more than 12 hours in my apartment with spotty internet and a highly irritating cough. (Don't ask how I spent my time...I'm not proud of my actions- ok ok I watched cheesy sci-fi films for hours on end!!! It made me feel better!)
However, as you can see I survived, somehow...and now I'm back to my usual mostly chipper self. I've found great solace and comfort that I haven't gone blind, been struck partially deaf, or lost part of my fingers and toes to some flesh eating disease, and only had a bad cold with a little fake alcohol poisoning. Before you get all ramped up and start the alcohol lecture, you should know I only had one drink and that one drink was enough to knock me on my butt (or more acurately my knees and I had a couple chats with our poor  toilet) We are still friends, but its weird making eye contact now...

So here's the lecture I was born to give. It doesn't matter how much you think you know a place, or that you think the fine establishment, such as JD's is legit...they just might put some nasty things in your drink. They might even make it look pretty, layering it red and blue with sugar and even a slice of orange peel aflame next to a plastic palm tree drink stirrer...but don't be fooled by it's innocuous appearance. It just might have rubbing alcohol, or if you're lucky mouth wash instead. The labels you can't read are the ones you shouldn't chose to drink, and if the bartender has a "special" drink, go ahead and thank him, take the drink and when you get near the closest bin toss that sucker away. From now on I'm sticking to an oldie but goodie: Beer. Good, uncomplicated, un-tampered with beer. The kind where a metal lid has to be pried off before anything can be consumed (or added). I've learned my painful and sickening lesson: JSNMD: Just Say No to Mixed Drinks.
Thank you.

After my liver grumbled and complained about the substance I so rudely bequeathed upon it, it finally got it out of my system. Next step: getting my chest to quick whining about being too dry, or overly moisturized. Have I mentioned the fact how much I detest the word "moist"? Its a debilatating word, and it creates images of all things creepy crawly, in a not scary, but clammy fashion and reminds me of hot days when A/C makes your sweat cold on your skin.
Back to to my chest. Which, incidentally is in front, but that's not important. I had this cough that created a level of insanity I've never experience before. Its like when you have that tic in your eye, but it only happens when you think about it, or when your foot itches but your shoes are laced on too tightly to quickly shed and scratch it like you've been paid to. This cough starts as a little tickle in my throat, just to the side where I couldn't scratch it if I wanted to. Then the reaction of my lungs saying, "Oh hey, if you're gonna be annoying, I want in!" Then my abs pipe up and add, "Yeah anything you can do to tone it down here would be great, so cough away!" Thereby cuing my eyes to water a bit in joy of the synchronicity of my body's activities all in one fluid (heh) motion. This cough, I'll call it Bernie would find the most inopportune moments to awaken me, caused great splutters mid conversation, and generally create misery whenever he could. At night time, when the nicer parts of my body would enjoy a quiet rest but Bernie and the gang are still jammin well into the wee hours of the morning, the very impulsive and implosive part of my brain switches on and I go on a rampage until Nyquil is coursing through my system, shutting down the party and enforcing curfews. Thank goodness for cough suppressants because this girl would be as crazy as a blue monkey with schizophrenia and three eyes, who's cousin is a table leg.

I'm pretty sure I feel better anyway.

Last week at iCafe. Two months down!! AHHH
Here I am...living in China, being like a natural at finding stuff, eating like a native, being all adventurous--ok that's not true. We spend copious amounts of time at our apartment, and I'll tell you why. Scheduling is a doozy to organize, and most days only one of us have the time to go out and see things. My coworkers only work, and rarely go outside and I just don't feel comfortable going out to bigger places on my own. This is my hope for the next couple weeks: when I get to my new rotation, the people from iCafe will have days off with me, or shift times that positively link up to mine and they can take me around Dalian. If not, then maybe I'll have to force myself to find new friends...eek!

Here's another thing I've realized...I watch tv to escape from reality, and I believe that's a reason it started. Yet, people enjoy watching "reality" tv. This is completely unthinkable to me! Why watch real life?? It's not somewhere I want to escape to. I'd rather fly out in space with a cute Time Lord, or help colonize a planet thousands of light years away than watch a girl from my high school get pregnant and complain how people stare at her. But I also enjoy drinking warm water, and occasionally wearing a wig and cowboy hat while I clean my room...to each their own I guess.

Also, the water bit thing is true...China has...changed me...*sobs* I never thought I'd give in to that practice but it is better than drinking cold water, it is I say!!

Post Birthday

I'll start with saying I had one of the best birthday's I've had  in a long while. First off, I had been waiting for a package from home since at least two weeks ago. My loving sister and boyfriend put together a box of things for me to enjoy, and I expected it to arrive last week sometime. The morning of my birthday I kept thinking it was lost forever and started researching UPS stores around Dalian. Turns out there's one right down the street! Also turns out the package made it by July 14th, and had failed to deliver twice. So for two weeks I had been jumping at every ring of the bell, startling at the telephone and expecting at any moment for it to show up. The minute I gave up on it ever arriving, the phone rang and the guards downstairs said they had a package for our room. Sarah, my other roommate kindly went and fetched it for me and it was indeed my long anticipated stuff! Surprisingly the best gifts I got were my own clothes and things, and I can't express how grateful I am for the effort my dear ones went through to get it to me:)

Yesterday, after sleeping in til noon, popping a Mucinex (hoping that would rid me of my annoying cough), laying about the apartment for a few hours to rest up, then we made our way to iCafe to have a celebratory dinner. Our "reserved" table was given away to actual guests, but luckily they had a table just open as we walked in. I found a birthday card at the table, and warm wishes from my coworkers as I entered the restaurant. My roommates and I enjoyed a bottle of red wine while we chatted to our chef friend. Heather and Tricia snuck away and sneakily got my birthday cake, lit the candles and walked it to me while I was chatting with my friends. They sang happy birthday and set the cake down with the quickly melting candles and I swiftly blew them out as the frosting and the wax was almost indistinguishable. My cake had a white chocolate bar with Doctor Who stamped on it! I burst out laughing and clapped gleefully much like a five year old at well...a birthday party. (My analogies can't be great all the time). I was delighted by my cake and my friends going that extra bit to make my cake day special. After dinner we headed to the jazz club just down the way from Shangri-La, and enjoyed a drink while soothing music played in a kinda medieval setting. Then we set to find a bar suggested to us by a colleague, but after some failed attempts we resorted to a oldie but goodie: JD's.  I had a great time with the girls, but had to end the night a little earlier because my weak constitution started complaining.
This morning I worked about two hours, then had to head home. I think after two months my luck has finally run out, and my body is realizing how much it's been through. It might be overreacting, and for that I just don't know where it learned to behave that way!
So today I tried to rest, and make my time worthwhile away from work. You know those dry irritating coughs that tickle your throat? And that feeling like nothing is interesting to look at or engage in? Well I felt nothing like that. Wait... no just kidding that is exactly how I felt. I was restless, irritated and going a little crazy...not to mention the more than aggravating times when the internet refuses to work and balefully blocks the outside world. If the internet was a person, it would be an argumentative and probably only speaks pig latin because...well just because that's super annoying!!

I just need some soup, Adventures of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, and a warm entity to be there just for comfort. Also maybe some tea, and chocolate. But mostly a good nap and a hug.

Dramatic Voiced Post. *read: Cheese factor 101%

This is the last night, nay the last time...I will ever be 22 again.
In mere minutes I will cross the line from 22ndhood, to 23rdness. The difference you say, is only 1, but it is so much more than that for me. It is latitude my ship will sail over that will never cross my path twice, it is a sunset my eyes will never witness again, and it is a stroke of the clock my ears shall not hear once more.
This is the end of a long arduous journey of being solidly into my 20's. I worked three long years to get here, I toiled, sweated and climbed my way to the top, and my reward is...
eh I don't know.
Being 23 seems kinda blase if you ask me.

But seriously. I look back over the seemingly short span of my life, and I see a simple past that is crescendo-ing into...something. Something will happen soon, I just know it. Even the past 12 years of my life mostly dedicated to school, (ok honestly mostly to marching band, social activities and catching up on tv series, let's be honest) and now this trip I stumbled blindly into. I kinda wish that at midnight I'll get cymbals crashing, or some fireworks signaling a great something will now occur...now that I'll be older, wiser and oh so much more self aware.
Here's how it will go.
The digital clock will turn over at midnight, I'll look at it, staring at 12:00 thinking maybe an unexpected event will happen, and then a simple change to 12:01. Nothing grand, loud or even slightly different will occur...but I'll know this.
I'm in China, I'll be learning far more things than I could ever imagine and the time I spend looking back only negates from the time looking here and to the future. I could've done so many things different yes, but nothing I've done has made it impossible to be right where I am...so something went ok. There is peace in my soul because there's something I've known for such a long time...I'm so completely and utterly blessed to have the life I have. That's it, in a nutshell (macadamia to be exact, since we have some in our living room right now).
Here's to leaving behind 22, and stepping into being 23. An age I hope only brings me more wisdom, grace and peace as I walk toward 24, 25 and probably eventually like 89.
Cheers.
And since the internet won't let me post this...my dramatic timing will be off by a couple minutes. Please ignore that and focus on the gooey content instead. Thank you.

Karo-cah-razy! and Have a Backbone, Lady!

I was prepared for a karaoke experience unlike the ones I've had in the states but honestly, my experiences wilted in comparison to the one I had on Friday night. We went to KTV, very nearby JD's oddly enough (and conveniently enough I think for some post rocking out dancing), and when we entered we were transported to a luxurious hotel- like atmosphere where they guided us to our room. Ok, they actually guided us to a room they thought was ours because they assumed we were with the big party of white people. They led us up to a couple dudes standing outside a very loud and thumping door and looked expectantly at us. We all burst out laughing. Typical! I mean if we're white we probably know the other white guys here, right? After much confusion and jumbled phrases, they led us to the correct room. We stepped into a space of delightful proportions, and if you're friends with me on Facebook, you can see what I mean. We immediately sat down, ordered some beer and started working on selecting a playlist. Three mikes were there beckoning to be used so we picked them up and didn't put them back down until four hours later.
It was like a time warp in that room, we spent the four hours dancing, singing, occasionally meeting new white people who had also mistakenly been brought to our room, and I tell you what, it was the most fun we've had in a long time! Toward the end Heather and Tricia took over the singing and myself and our friend Kyle just enjoyed the show...along with some delicious veggies and dip. We decided to end the night with a classic JD's dance off, so we tripped off to the club, danced for about an hour amidst other enthusiastic and unfortunately very sweaty people. I don't even care though, because JD's is a place where nobody cares what you look like while you dance. Its our workout place, and our platform to blow off steam from work.
I just would never want to see the place in broad daylight.

Saturday morning came very quickly, along with my wake up time of 7.51. That's normally freakishly early for a Saturday morning, but if your Chinese class starts at 8.00, and you are possibly a slight monster without breakfast...7.51 is a tad bit late. I rolled out of bed, somehow managed to get dressed, avoided looking at any mirrors and headed straight for the kitchen. Heather and Tricia were ready to leave, and I kinda grunted at them to go without me. I got a bowl of cereal and ate it like I would on a nice, warm Sunday morning, with the paper in front of me...as leisurely as you please. I rolled into class around 8.05 and not a word was said.
Do I feel a little like a rebel? Yes. Yes I do. Will I do it again on a weekly bases? Nah...I felt too guilty for being late.

Last night we went out to eat to an actual authentic Chinese restaurant. "What!?" you say incredulously, "How can this be?? You have been in China for two months now, and you are just now sampling the cuisine?" (You are very eloquent when you are indignant, I might add). Well, I haven't really had too much Chinese food, most of what I eat is Westernized, or made at Shangri-la...not exactly the local food you'd expect.
Our Canadian friends took us to one of their favorite places, and set about ordering for us right away. First one of them ordered this pork dish, then a salad thingy a tofu dish, and some shrimp, chicken wings and a sweet bread. Every thing seemed in order, and fairly  normal until they brought out a metal pan. I saw nothing wrong with this inauspicious pan. That was until the other girl took out a plastic glove from it and passed it around to us. I startled and checked my surroundings. Had we transported to a medical facility without me noticing? All I saw were tables and Chinese people (who of course were staring at us). I delicately took a glove from the proffered pan and nervously looked at our friends. The server came up and plonked a dish down. Our pork had arrived but it looked funny...it kinda looked like the backbone with a little meat stuck to it.
Weirdly enough...that's exactly what it was. Instantly I flashed back to the insidious plate of bones we ordered the first week we were here. I might've squeaked a little, and issued out a hiss of air. Orianne and Eva just laughed at our expressions, slipped on the glove and picked up one of the sections of spine. I followed suit and dug it. I will tell you this now- it was delicious. The glove is for the grease, so you can hold down the bones while picking out the meat with chopsticks. The salad thingy had clear sweet potato noodles with the texture of what I imagine jellyfish to have and cilantro, the tofu had the consistency of scrambled eggs and contained peanuts and cilantro, the shrimp balls were fried and shaped like those weird bouncy balls with square protrusions on it, but no cilantro surprisingly. The sweet bread and chicken wings were very good. Maybe because they didn't stack cilantro on it. I'm a fan of cilantro, don't get me wrong...but in every dish? Nay nay. Overall it was an experience, and I'll add it to my list of things to do while here in China.

This morning I called in to work and told them I would prefer to stay home. In my wisdom of nearly 23 years, I decided going any more than 15 paces away from my bathroom would be unwise. So today will be a nice day of updating my blog, sitting, maybe laying down, reading, watching a tv series, and probably not involve any activity that requires movement. Unless it's a short sprint to the porcelain throne. TMI? Probably. If you are faint of heart, either don't read my blog and expect me not to mention my ailments, or just remember...poop happens.


Oh and Happy Birthday to my beautiful and wonderful Mom! Age is just a number, and 35 looks sooo good on you!! My fantastic boyfriend had his yesterday so here's a late shout out to him too:) Love you both so much!

An Uninauspicious Post

In a rare fit of energy and an upbeat attitude I decided its a good time to quickly write a short blog that not written, edited and produced by Negative Nancy.
Today was a good day off, where I got my blood and endorphins pumping at the gym with a nice workout, did some grocery shopping and had a delicious late lunch at Greenwich. I needed a day to rethink my priorities, and I find  nothing more soothing than doing daily tasks like trimming my nails, or making some coffee while watching a mindless movie.
Right now I wish I could run up to my family and gush about my time here. While doing so I might sneak in some hugs here and there too. I know writing this blog helps keep people in the strange, and sometimes long winded loop I create, but it doesn't convey the whole story, nor of course my tone or facial expressions, because let's face it...that's what makes a story good!

In two days, our two month stay here will be completed and I will have even more officially been away from home for the longest time ever. Ever! I can't decide if that's a good thing or not... However, it does make me think seriously about getting a job overseas. Could I handle it? Hypothetically speaking, if I got a job in Australia, or England I would be away from home, very far away and the surrounding circumstances would be entirely different. In this, I wonder...how long could I last before going home is pressing, and leaving my job easily? I have been giving serious thought to look abroad for a job after college, and I only have a year and a half left. Such a short amount of time to start a whole new phase in life! Even if I did look overseas, I'm curious to what I'd be doing...you can ask me what I want to do, and I'll tell you-- I don't have any idea! I could go a million directions right now, and that part scares me the most. Some limitations I realize right away, China is too far, and too foreign to live here alone for a long time. I can't imagine living here with no family or being by myself...it would be far too lonely.
Really, when I get back to Purdue, I have the Spring, summer break then the Fall semester and I'll be done. Done with something I've been doing for the past 16 years! How do people transition from such a different situations like that? I know people can, and I've seen it happen, but when my time comes...I hope I'm up for the challenge!

To my family, I love you dearly and I miss you like crazy, and to my friends and supporters thank you for being there! Such an adventure is hardly possible without a push out the door, and a place to land when needed. Thank you, and have an awesome Wednesday!

Drive by Hugs and Loincloths?

Last night a girl in a purple shirt ran up to me at work and gave me a hug. Then she turned around for a second, came back and gave me another hug. I stopped where I was, completely surprised but had to laugh.
Thanks to whomever sent purple shirt girl...I really needed that.

Two people thanked me in Russian, and one Indian fellow asked me if I was Italian. Technically I am, but I was surprised he saw it. Specially because I asked him in completely unaccented English if I could take his plate... I'm chalking up the nationality responses to four now; Russian, Hollandaise (hey...it works) Italian or American. I think next time I'm gonna shoot for South African, or possibly even Serbian.

Things always look the worst with lack of rest, proper hydration, and active humor. Tomorrow is my day off, and I will spend it doing useful and fulfilling things. You may think of noble activities in which I will engage...(most likely I'll  go work out, shower (maybe) study my Chinese homework and do some grocery shopping) Is that fulfilling? Well...for me, right now, yes. Yes it is. I need a productive day that doesn't require me running around gathering dirty dishes, and getting squishy leftovers on my hands.

If I ask if you know what Princess Leia's golden bikini is, will you know what I mean? Better yet, can you imagine the longish loincloth thingy?
Well...I'm just saying, my apron does that sometimes...and I won't say its sexy, but you can clearly see my black flowy gouches peek out. People stare.

This Friday we're going to karaoke with a group of people and I'm really looking forward to it! I've been wanting to go basically since my foot touch Chinese ground. Of course, I will let you know how it goes, and hopefully take some good pictures to accompany the tale.

Have I mentioned we taught our friend Dennis the very useful and applicable phrase of "supercalifragilisticexpealidocious"?
When he says it, it sounds more like this, "sooper-cahlee-frah-jill-iss-teek-espee-ahlee-doshurs"
He also says "breakfurst" and "famours" (famous) which delights us to no end.

We got in a whole new batch of hires, and they all walk around wide eyed and frightened. Well, they did the first day anyway. Now they do pretty well, and I've been making friends with them slowly. One girl never says a word to me but gets this huge bright smile on her face when I walk by, and another is named Pocky. How adorable can you get?? The kids I work with are so nice and they are very helpful when they know how to help. I tease them all, (whether they know it or not) and we share a good laugh...probably not about the same things, but laughter is universal!! No need to translate. And that's the beauty of Mr. Bean.

Ah well, the weeks dwindle down, and July has already whooshed past. Soon the school year will start, and for the first time in 16 years, I will not be starting classes in the fall. Maybe this will be a little taste of what real life is like...in the sense that I'm residing in China and not depending upon my job as a living. So more like a sampling...

Also I found an import store with real, American candy. YAY!!!

Shangri-La's Very Own Princess Metalla-!

I suppose there are times when every girl wishes they were a Disney princess. Wearing the dress, the shoes, the makeup and being loved by all, is all very desirable. What if I told you of another princess, one not exactly of Disney, nor even that well known? I'm talking, of course, of Princess Metallatygergoucha. She is very famous in Dalian-*, and you might catch a glimpse of her flitting around cleaning tables (much like Cinderella, only she gets to wear the outfit all the time). But the best part of being Princess Metallatygergoucha is when little children wish to take pictures with her, or give her drawings of mermaids. You can see it in her face, the joy she feels when a baby smiles, or a little girl giggles. The princess can then talk with these adorable beings and make sure their day is a special one. After all is said and done, the emotions of Princess Metallatygergoucha overfloweth her cup.


Kids run around the iCafe almost all day, everyday. I'm lucky enough to be so different looking that they all stare at me...sometimes they point, or babble something excitedly...I also get a lot of drive by waving. They'll come up to me, wave and run away as fast as possible. That'll happen about four times before their parents force them to come up and say hello to me. Normally I get down to eye level with them and ask them what their name is, or how old they are. After prompts from their mom or dad, they shyly reply and try to hide behind a nearby leg (normally their parent's...sometimes its the table's). I enjoy these exchanges immensely because they are so rambunctious until I walk by, then they stop dead in their tracks and stare like suddenly a cactus had started sewing a quilt in front of them. (I would stare at that, but more likely I would scream in terror and run away...that's just me). Mostly the kids will smile and laugh when I make faces at them, or ask me questions like, "May I help you"? which confuses me to no end...I mean, who's working here??

Yesterday I went exploring to parts of a plaza I had only seen from a cafe window. Cafe Copenhagen is nestled in between bakeries, an arcade, a karaoke joint, some local food stands, an import store and lots of restaurants and cafes. I was determined to do something with my life yesterday afternoon, so after work I took a book, my sunglasses and an adventurous spirit and headed out the door. I'll let you know now, it was rather uneventful compared to my other outings...just to make sure you have no huge expectations formed! I ate an early dinner, then set out to find things. I found a bookstore that has old textbooks and maybe a couple English novels, some shops that sell tea, seafood, and a mural with 70's style flowers on it. There's an import store with very important things like flour, sugar, vanilla extract and chocolate chips. (Can you gather what I'm missing from home?) I'll make my way back there sometime and start an ingredient collection. Basically the plaza offers nice areas to hang out, and laid back shopping. Some of the people there gave me quite a stare down as I walked past them, but it doesn't bother me nearly as much as it did in the beginning.

 *Dalianland, the small province located around iCafe, a country smaller than any Rhode Island's post office. Here many magical things occur such as what is called Personality Glamour, or Character Judgement Haze, also Warm Fuzzy Feelings, and seeds of Friendship are planted. Also Miss Communication is the prevailing royal entity, and her jester is...well we won't go into that right now. Miss Communication is a close friend to Miss Understood, and they do their best to confuse and befuddle the inhabitants of Dalianlandians. The inhabitants all throw off their own personal glamour, which makes first impressions a snap, but hindsight a doozy. So when you think you know someone, you realize hey that's just not the case.
Think I'll go back to Lalaland, where its much nicer and people stay good.
Thanks Life, you are such a great teacher, but can I take off my dunce cap now?

I'm gonna grumble a little more about growing up now. I don't like being wrong about people, and when I make a judgment it's normally the one I stick to...for good or bad. (Mostly good) But when I'm proved wrong, and I see that someone is not a good person, I'm like an old helium balloon on its last leg. I sink down, and give up a little on mankind. Generally, I like everybody, and rarely do I look at someone and think, "Nah, not worth my time". My snap judgements are being proved wrong more and more now, not for the better, and I admit...I'm feeling kinda low on goodwill towards...people.

And on that happy note, I'm gonna go make some tea and not think about how much I could just use a familiar face and a nice hug.

Pantries are for Basketcases.

I really am an absorbent person. I take people's moods digest the nuances and reflect it back to the world, and I have a hard time establishing my own base emotion after that. This is usually a good thing if I wake up and see a happy person right away, then I'm relatively in a stable mood and the day goes well. Now, if the person I see happens to be my manager, and he ignores me as I'm quite pointedly talking to him, you might say I'd get miffed. Ruffled definitely. Overly emotional? Absolutely.
Today started off with a new change; they made me hostess for the morning! I was surprised, and only nervous for a little bit. I got a bigger (and less pleasant) surprise when they handed me the hostess jacket. I might have described the outfit I wear now once or twice, (hideous and gut wrenching) but I failed to mention the tan/ beige monstrosity they insist all the hostesses and team leaders wear. They're dirty looking, old fashioned and the one I was handed was stained and smelled frankly like...well like a dirty old coat. (Sorry lame analogy). Hostessing was fun for about twenty minutes until Robbie stormed in, huffed around and made a point of not talking to anyone unless he was directing them what to do.
I immediately became Grumpy Gus. From then on, a smile was forced on my face, and I about threw my tray across the room (that was after they moved me back to section C due to the fact we were hellishly busy). Then it was time for lunch and I stomped home and grouched at my roommates while scarfing down pasta. Now that I look back, pretty sure my blood sugar was probably a little low. I don't normally have such strong reactions to stressful situations when I haven't eaten in a while.*
After lunch, I was just plain cranky. I couldn't laugh and shrug it off. Ella our other assistant manager made the mistake of asking what was wrong. Tears sprang up in my eyes and I plunged over that grouchy hill right into unreasonably upset valley. I rushed past her to take refuge in the back pantry and found Rani already in there with tears in her eyes. We stood side by side in the tiny cramped shelving area and both asked what was wrong. Our conclusion: Robbie. He was a tornado today. I must say however, when I found Rani in there my mood shifted. It was just funny that we both starting emotioning at the same time, and fled to the cool secrecy of those back shelves. Ella came in with napkins and reassurance that everything will be fine, just to 'put a big face on' and go back out to work. It reminded me of my student manager and I talking, and I just had to laugh and smile thinking to myself the words he said, "Just smile and say please sir, may I have another?" It'll be ok. And it was. The day ended and I lived to tell the tale.

Tomorrow I work a split shift, which means I start from 7-11, then go back from 5.30-9.30. Its a nice long break in between, and usually I don't mind the gap. Only two weeks left in this part, and I'll be sporting a new look. (To be unveiled later...)

Also, I'm going to go out to eat tonight and do something outside the apartment! Probably by myself. (Unless I poop out and go back home to take a nap...which is more likely to happen. Ok I'll just be honest. I'm considering my grocery shopping as my gym workout, and I deserve a nap after!!)
* That's a bald face lie. Ask my family if you disbelieve it.

The Korean Market

Among the many things I didn't pack, or didn't have/posses to pack was a nice, correctly sized pair of jeans. Right now, as you may recall, my wardrobe is not what you could call "up-to-date". Actually, the 90's called, they want their bell bottoms back. Wish I was kidding. Today's main goal was to find a good pair of...drum roll please...skinny jeans. Yes. I'm breaking down, jumping on the bandwagon and off the wooden cart of the easy going (read: hippie) flares. I'm joining the world in a fashion trend...this might be the first time I'll be a current fashion wearer.
One of the long stay guests I think I've mention before, named Gail, is a fearless bloodhound when it comes to shopping. Her decisive manner of the activity, knowing what she wants, where it is, who's selling it, when the sale is, down to how much she'll pay, neatly creates a quick and relatively painless shopping experience. This morning dawned grey, cloudy and sheets of rain feel straight down from above. The streets were already flooded by 9.30, and umbrella's bloomed as people emerged from shops, and most of the buildings were obscured by low hanging clouds. It really gave a whole new meaning to 'cloudburst' for me. Its more like a water balloon met up with a hedgehog and their hug had disatorous results.
Anywho, Gail and I decided to brave the downpour and make our way to the Korean market. This market is very similar to the dreaded Victory Plaza, but instead being down in the depths of the earth, its up in a huge warehouse. So still sketchy, just easier to escape from. Gail has been there lots of times, and they know her at certain booths. A couple places she took me to first were the pearl and jade booths. The pearls are mostly legit, and I think fairly reasonably priced, while the jade can be questionable and I have no idea what jade is worth to be honest. They also call everything jade, so you could be buying rose quartz or just some lumps of rock... You gotta be careful. After we perused for a little bit, she whisked me downstairs to the main shopping center. There are about five stories, and each one has specific merchandise. Clothing is on the lower levels, shoes and handbags up a level, then electronics, then jewelry etc, etc. We hit the booths for jeans first, and I tried on the first pair I found (and to try on anything, they drape a sheet across the booth) luckily found some that fit, and bargained my way to a reasonable price. (At least I think its reasonable, its probably not compared to what locals get.)
Next we looked around for some handbags, and I searched for some shoes that won't murder my feet everyday, and stop giving me bunions. I'm not looking to have 80 year old feet by the time I'm 23.
 I found a nice pair of sensible black flats, and had fun with the attendee arguing prices down. By the end she was laughing and gave me the thumbs up sign because I kept shaking my head, putting in ridiculously low prices and walking away when she said no. Finally she grabbed my arm and we settled to a good price. I felt better about that bargain than I did ever shopping at Victory Plaza. Thank goodness Gail was there too, the unshakable, incorrigible woman that she is! I was so unsure what a good price was and she helped me stick to my guns.
We walked around a little bit longer, and I tried to get orientated so I can take the girls there later. We'll just have to figure it out when we go I think. Its about as easy to walk through as I imagine a pitch black Labryinth to be. Every booth is so similar to each other, and merchandise is repeated over and over until you don't know which way you've been. Next time maybe I'll bring some crumbly bread.
After a while we decided to head home, which was fine by me! I get pretty wiped out from shopping here...its exhausting with so many people, everyone talking or trying to get you into their store. We walked out the front entrance to it raining cats and dogs. The sidewalks were mostly flooded, walking across the street requires stepping into a river, and all the flat areas of walkways were coursing with sheets of water. I might as well have jumped into a flat fountain and splashed around. So much rain! It was fun going with Gail though, as nothing seems to faze her. We made it back to the hotel and parted ways. It wasn't a hugely exciting day, but enough to make the day pleasantly filled. Still not ready to shop alone though.

 I came home, made some tea and settled down with my Sherlock Holmes novel, had a rest, ate dinner and now I'm probably going to watch a show before heading to bed. Simple day, simple evening, just the usu. here in China.

Whelmed and No More Pantyhose!

Here's a list of things I'll miss at iCafe when I rotate out:
1. The people who work there
2. Being told I'm beautiful every day
3. The outfit (let me finish... it's kinda comfy)
4. Being busy
5. The people I meet and talk with
6. The view of the Garden when its raining
7. Singing to pantry people
8. Easy shift times
9. Knowing what I'm doing (mostly)
10. Getting juice whenever I want


Things I won't miss:
1. Cleaning up tables with food that has been chewed and spit out on the placemats
2. Clearing tables with lots of beverages (it gets heavy after two glasses. I'm weak ok??)
3. My feet dying a fiery painful death
4. Waiting for the shift to end
5. The outfit (comfy or not, its hideous)
6. Watching people handle food without gloves
7. Listening to guests who insist on talking in Chinese, while laughing at me
8. Learning new "standards" every day
9. Watching people eat crab and shrimp then spitting out the inedible bits
10. Steaming milk for cappuccinos

With that said, I will overall miss iCafe. Just like I would miss any job, which means the people are the reason I stick around, the work just happens to coincide with me being there. I have three weeks left for this part, and I'll tell you this right now...its depressing. My friends all work there! I have so many people that I'm getting to know better each day, then BAM I'm gonna have to move on. Telle es la vie! (Yes. French. Why not? I'm pretty global now!)

Two more things:
 I made friends with an old Chinese lady merely by standing next to her for more than 30 seconds. She leaned over confidentially, covering her mouth daintily and whispered (in Chinese) that I was her pengyou, or friend. Don't ask me if I'm sure that she said friend, because I know it is! There are a few important Chinese words that I've learned and "friend" was one of the first! I think she's about 90 something, and she probably wore something her granddaughter left at her house, and she ate about five plates of food. Just gotta say, Granny's got Swag!!

Secondly, there's a girl I work with who has a thing for rotund men. I kid you not. She tells me very seriously, and in very clear, unaccented English, "I think they're beautiful".
I'm not talking about slightly hefty men, I'm talking someone who casts a shadow roughly the size of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Ok one last rant, then I'm done. For tonight.
China is a place where anything is possible. Its even possibly to wear sheer clothing, and still consider it being clothed. Don't ask me why, or who came up with that rule...I greatly contest it! Women dress up 24/7 here. Even when "casual" they wear brand name sweats paired with high heels. Does it always match? No. Do the clothing match the age of the person? Normally mostly not. Do women take on the day with wet hair, or jeans? Never. I've seen ONE woman with wet hair in public, but she had a two year old with her...so it doesn't count. Everyone dresses up! They can't be slouchy, or if they are it's carefully arranged to appear so. Guess how us girls go to the gym? Yep. Like normal people! In GYM clothes. With gym shoes! How do Chinese women go? Like their attending a summer garden party. They wear flip flops, sequined shirts, jean shorts and/or nice blouses. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! How can you willingly sweat in your nice clothes? I don't even like putting on nice clothes in the summer because I know my body will do its best to dissolve them.  Explain this to me! After they work out, they shower and get dressed up again. That is soo much work...why do they do that to themselves??
Panty hose, never bare legs, and high heels or flats, rarely sneakers, never gym shoes. Hats, glasses, and outerwear like sweaters for decoration purposes only, and opaque shirts optional. Skirts and dresses, long and flowy are more common than pants, and I've never seen anyone without some kind of well known brand sticking out, or a cluster of celebrity influenced fashion choices. Dalian is known as a "fashion city",  buut they never specify if it's either "good" or "misguided".
I must admit...I own a few pairs of panty hose ankle socks. *gasp. Before you judge however, you must know that I'm cheating so I don't have to wear full panty hose under my gouchos. I do promise to never pair them with my sandals and shorts...that fearful sight has been forever burned into my retinas, and I get a little convulsive when I think about wearing it in public. I might give into the dress phenomena though, and accept the ways of staying breezy in the summer...just no panty hose. I promise.

Fiber Post

Normally on Saturdays we follow a pretty regular routine, we have breakfast around 7.00, then class at 8- 12. Class usually goes down like this: we sit in tiny cubicles, with tiny desks that are mostly taken up by computers we don't use, Oscar starts the lessons off with pronunciation drills, we repeat him mindlessly until he starts a new topic and then he'll call on us individually so we can nervously run through the sections aloud by ourselves. By about 9.30 we're hungry again, the room is stifling, I'm sleepy or have to use the bathroom.  Oscar will talk and talk about... I don't know really. Stuff? At some point we'll make an off the wall comment and he'll digress into a new and probably unrelated path of thought. Normally I lean back in my chair, kick off my flip flops and start doodling while listening to the random conversation that ensues. It is super fun to have four conversations going on at once, and with Oscar, its pretty much an accepted challenge to see if he'll pick up on what we're talking about. His English is so so, and by that I mean he speaks enough to talk, but not enough to understand what we're talking about all the time. Heather will tease him about something, it'll go straight over his head, but it'll be enough to spark a new bout of topics. We'll burst out into song when something reminds us of one, and laugh uproariously when we say, "cha cha cha cha" or "ka ka".
*please note the annotations are not present cuz I have no idea how to add them.
Needless to say I learn more practical things at work, and class is just for cultural enlightenment. I don't mind going, and sometimes we really actually do learn some interesting things...

My Chinese so far, is so so. I've learned quite a few F&B related words, and I remember them because I use them everyday. Things like "take away?" or "have you eaten?". These are fun to say because its a guaranteed chuckle from the person I ask, and they tell me how clever I am. (I still don't see how its clever, but..hey its a laugh, I'll take it!) I don't speak any complicated sentences yet, I still guess as to what our guests are asking for but sometimes I recognize a character, or hear a phrase that seems familiar. Slowly I think I'll figure out more applicable, conversational Chinese. Hopefully by the end of my time I can carry on an intelligent conversation that consists more of blank stares and nervous chuckles.

Today we met up with a couple from the States who've lived here in Dalian for two years. They took us to Copenhagen Cafe, a very western eatery, and we sat outside on the patio while we chatted happily away with them. I'm always glad to meet more westerners, and hear from those who've lived around here for a while. Theresa and Tim are their names, and they told us very seriously if we need anything, or have problems, to call them. They are well connected and even live in our building. Their kids are our ages, and they said they would want someone to help their kids if their boys were traveling too. I'm just happy we have more English speaking people to call up and go shopping with, or go out to eat with. Also, Theresa goes to a church service on Sundays and Bible studies on Wednesdays so maybe if my schedule allows I'll be able to attend a few times. I think it'll be nice to have some contact with people outside Shangri-La as well.

My favorite thing to do here (as of late, ask me tomorrow and it'll probably change to something like...peeling oranges and dusting balcony railings) is find a cafe and sit and talk to whomever is lucky enough to be trapped with me. Our new haunt in easy walking distance is called Greenwich Cafe and Bar. They have cold and yummy yogurt smoothies (no milk!) and delicious milk-tea that Heather prefers. We can sit, do our homework or watch a movie on the flat screen on the back wall. Its smallish, and the impression you get as you enter is dark greenery and sparkling glass. Its cozy, not very busy and I think the owners are starting to like us. (They brought us free watermelon!) Also we'll sing songs and laugh very loudly, so it makes the place seem more lively. The bar is probably geared more for men, which explains why the music isn't some Chinese girls wailing about her love woes...oh wait, no that's the only music they play there. See why we like the place?
Plus plus- A/C!
With that, I will take my leave as I work the morning shift tomorrow. However I hope your Saturday is grand and full of sunshine and laughter.
 G'night folks.

A Lesson in Humility. aka FCL

The grand opening of our Beer Garden was finally hosted tonight and after much hullabaloo about who is hosting what or when it was finally settled that Heather would MC. I will state a slight bitterness in my attitude because number one Robbie asked me to MC, but had to rescind the invitation after his boss told him they'd prefer Heather. He apologized a lot to me, and explained (probably thinking in reasonable tones) that its because she's taller. How about they just make me put on a paper sack while they're at it while I stand in some pig poo? Eventually Robbie asked me to 'help' and I did go to the event, but my presence was mostly unnecessary. The little I did seemed awkward to me, and I felt like a more useless Vanna White. Politics are everywhere, and in the wise words of our executive chef, "You nevah leave high school" (he's Australian, so I tried for the accent...) So true. Honestly? I was crushed. I like Heather a lot and we are very good friends so I don't resent her having the opportunity. She's just as capable as I am to MC any event, plus it was nerve wracking to think of doing it anyway...but its really the principle of the thing. I wasn't what they wanted, by "they" I mean the higher ups. There's this outline for beauty and apparently I don't measure up...literally. The lame excuse of her height being a deciding factor, is pardon me, nothing but bullshit.
There's a part of work and life that just plain sucks. The part where people make decisions based on personal preference, where everything is calculated to make the highest person happy and kissing butt is what its about.

That's the part of life that I don't even want to acknowledge. The unfair part that leaves me indignant, helpless and angry about my inability to change anything about the situation. Standing at the garden event awkwardly off to the side smiling like I'm having a fantastic time made me realize how forced things can be. I have to pretend because my manager is standing there watching the whole night unfold, and its important the event is a success. I wonder how anyone else would've felt. I tried to look at it from a different perspective and think maybe they talked to her more and thought she'd be the best for keeping up the energy, or they thought she'd be really interested in it. Who knows? Excuse me while I nurse my wounded pride for a moment though.

People asked me how old I am, and I now say almost 23. They usually laugh and comment on how young I am. At that point I usually laugh too, and tell them I'm an old soul, practically a grandmother. At times, I think I'm too old for my age and too world weary already. But times like today make me feel 7 again, when life passes by so quickly and it seems like everything happens above my head. Will I get to the point where it all makes sense, and I'll be at peace with that knowledge?
How come the older I get the younger I seem? For you folks who have it together, pardon my life mongering and whining. And yes...I'm aware that it doesn't necessarily get any easier. Sometimes life seems so ponderous and...mean. I fly so high on my euphoric bliss that any small change in the wind makes me falter and tumble for the ground. 
Blogs are for emotioning all over the internet void right? If not, woops! My emotional vomiting, I can promise, won't end here. I do promise to label it though, so you can skip any posts you wish.
So here's to humility, times where people don't shower me with compliments, and remembering being as deep as a kiddie pool has limits. That means accepting compliments is different than subsiding on them. Life adjustment; check.
Ok lighthearted story time.
Every morning I work a breakfast shift (wearing a slightly noticeable and memorable uniform) I take the elevator down to the basement but only the first two descend the whole way while the third only hits to the first floor. GUESS WHICH ONE ALWAYS SHOWS UP? Yep. That one. The one that only reaches the first floor. Plus there's always a resident with like 70 bags that look like they weigh 500 pounds each, who waits for me to get on. We make eye contact, and I can't pretend like I didn't call the elevator up. So then I get flustered, blurt out some nonsense, shake my head and wave him on while simultaneously trying to explain that its the wrong elevator in the .3 seconds the doors are closing. This happens pretty much every morning. With the same dude.

Independence Day.

I'd like to take today and declare my own special Independence Day. Yes in America there's a wave of pride crashing across the nation, and the stars and stripes are flying smartly in the sky, people are planning get-togethers and grills are heating up, while hotdogs and hamburgers crisp above smoldering coals. Ice cold beers will clink together as family and friends salute each other in honor of America's "birthday". Fireworks will burst above in the night sky, the ooh's and ahhs will fill the baseball fields and the finale will be deafening and awesome.
I will not be there. I will miss the experience of summer with my family and making another holiday memory...however, today is still an Independence Day for me. I'm in China, living in an apartment, working at a hotel and slowly exploring a place and world completely foreign to me. True, I rely on the hotel for boarding, my parents for pecuniary support and friends for finding places to eat and shop...but this is the farthest and officially the longest I've ever been away from home.
Sadly no fireworks will mark my grand step into the world, nor will there be much hullabaloo about it. I just wanted to put this out there into the void. Each time I think about my perspective of the world, myself and just how and where I fit in I feel my eyes open a little wider. How small and young I am.
Wow! Who called in Debbie Downer? Wah Wah.
With that said, when you get a chance, raise your glass, beer, water bottle, or juice box, I'll raise mine, and we'll salute the day together.

Happy Independence Day, America!

Ohh we're halfway therrre!

This past weekend I went to a club with the lobby lounge girls. If I see you in person, I will tell you about it because it would be entirely too difficult to write about my bizarre experiences there. Now that I've piqued your interest, I will drop the subject entirely for a neat conversation piece upon my arrival back to the states.
Hah.

Starting today my schedule has been made to match up with my new buddy, Mark. Mark is about thirty something (I think...) clean cut, very professional, speaks English perfectly, (and by that I mean I can talk really fast and he mostly gets it) and I think he'll actually teach me something about the restaurant. I'm moving up in my training and going from just "strange, obviously foreign server" to "more educated about the check procedure, but still strange and obviously foreign server". And the scope of my nationality has been widened to Holland. (Which I realize is not technically a nationality, but the guest made a wild guess and that's just how I phrased it. soo... Hollandaise?)
Speaking of guessing nationalities, I had a guest the other day who came in alone, and ordered a pizza. I, of course, being the friendly and nosy person that I am, immediately went over and asked the western gentleman how his food was. He told me the pizza was ok, it just needed some adjustments. I was delighted by this comment because it meant I could finally pester someone to fill out a feedback form to turn in to Robbie, my manager who chuckles all pleased like when he gets one, and says, "Excellent, excellent". I got his name and room number, but as I was writing down his name, a one Mr. Hines, I remarked on how that sounded like a good strong Nebraskan name. He looked astounded. He couldn't have looked any more amazed if I had gone up and told him what color shoes he wore for his fifth grade school picture. By that I mean I had a really good guess, and lets be honest, Hines is like one of five names I know from the Nebraska area so...I got lucky. After that he told me his family is from the Northern part of NE, and that there is a huge population of Hines running around there. So, moral of the story...know the common last names of your home state, and pull that party trick out whenever you can. It'll have a great payoff and people will be flabbergasted.

Another fun thing I did last weekend is go shopping. Yes, I will admit I had fun shopping, and the clothes are not too expensive and of better quality than Victory Plaza. No bargaining is involved, and I can just pick something out and pay for it. What a relief! I haven't updated my wardrobe since 2004, which means I've been wearing the same clothes since I was 19. I bet the style of my clothes are about as mature as a Justin Beiber fan. *shudder* So...I need new clothes.Luckily I have a calm friend to go with, who has this ability to look at something and in one glance decided to try it or not. I walk into a store and my body seizes up in fear. I start sweating profusely and the left side of my body kinda goes numb* as my eyes are overwhelmed with Choices. This is my biggest problem. So. Many. Choices. How does one even begin to choose what to try on, let alone if its worth picking out?? Also trying on the clothes is such a hassle. If you wear anything that is not easily removed, you begin to hate yourself every time you have to undress. Plus, once you've tried on the new item, you still have to put back on the sweaty, and probably now static-y, old clothes. If I do happen to mistakenly wander  into a shop that contains trendier clothes, I freeze at the entrance or hurriedly walk through and pretend to look at dresses and shirts like I know what I'm doing. As soon as five minutes pass I gracefully duck out and heave a sigh of relief. That's why my wardrobe is five years old. Plain and simple. Also I don't like spending money on clothes. That could be partially another reason.

*the left side doesn't actually go numb, but the stroke like symptoms seem likely to happen at any moment, so I'm mentally prepped. Just in case.

On Friday I was walking back to my apartment which requires me to go down the the basement level and through the parking garage. The laundry is also located on this level. Usually I leave from the first floor which is a short jaunt down, and over to the residences, but I had to leave from the second floor and that's about four flights of stairs. The stairs are in a narrow corridor, which is echo-y and kinda of smelly.(Actually all the back hallways have a lingering scent of shrimp, body odor and old wet rubbish.)(Yes. I said rubbish.) I started walking down and this girl from laundry was in front of me. I literally followed her down into the basement from the second floor. She got more and more nervous the more flights of stairs we descended. She would glance back at me, and I would try to smile reassuringly like, 'Oh no, you have it all wrong, we're just headed in the same direction'. I think the smiling made her more nervous because she picked up the pace and practically ran down the hallway, and darted to the right as soon as the hallway allowed her to. From there she probably waited til I walked passed to make sure I wasn't going to double back and follow her some more. Now that I think about it...laughing about it while walking behind her probably didn't help either.

I forget that you haven't been here, that you haven't seen the buildings I've seen, or walked the sidewalks I've walked (sometimes skipped), nor have you heard the way people talk to me, or seen their faces when I act weird to them...It's hard to remember that we aren't connected that way right now, and the only way you could know is if I took some long extensive footage of it, or if you came out here. I think the latter is the best option. Think about it.

Also, Purdue wants Shangri-La to do a promotional video of the interns talking to guests in the lobby. Guess who's gonna be in that video wearing a metallic tiger claw slashed beige shirt and springy gouchos? That way all the girls that will see the video at school will see just how beautiful they will potentially look if they go to China and work in the iCafe. Great marketing skills, guys! Way to hone in on a great selling point.

With that, its nap time before I head back into work. Split shifts are 'da bomb'.
Ooh! Another phrase I can teach!