I don't remember a time when I didn't think of music accompanying The Lord of the Rings. The songs written by Howard Shore somehow were woven into the book, and is now an integral part to the story. Whenever I hear the opening song to the Fellowship, I'm immediately transported to that world. My parents read LOTR to us kids, and I remember sitting enraptured, listening to the events fantastically unfold.
It's also great doodling music. I become almost mindless and start drawing, just letting the music take over my brain. Basically I'm not responsible for the drawings that end up on my sketch book's pages.
The reason I'm writing this is because I should be studying for my midterm exam in my Chinese class...but I'd rather explain the rapture I feel when I listen to music.
At least my procrastination is good for being bored and needing reading material!
This weekend we have a public holiday starting for me on Saturday, and ending on Wednesday. At this time I should of course work on my project, turn in my PPT for review and collect "last minute" data. So that means on Wednesday, I'll get all this done right before the deadline. My project is a SWOT analysis of the Food and Beverage outlets here, if I haven't mentioned that before. I'll go through each venue and list the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and compare them to their competitive set here in Dalian. Sounds relatively simple right? Yeah...*sigh*. It is. It's simply 20 pages, a PPT and a half hour presentation in front of the Excom members. Mid October marks D-day, and also denotes our time here slowly winding down. That plus the English corners, the separate internship paper that's due before Thanksgiving should mean our time is quite occupied, and we will be very busy for the next month and a half. Thank goodness!
We've also been talking about what we're gonna wear on the plane ride back...y'know, just to be prepared.
I did discover recently that only 24 credit hours stands between me and graduating, and all I'd need to do is take 22 credits this next spring, and 2 in the summer. That's it! I'm decidedly ready to be done with school. It's annoying, the whole time I dread taking tests, going to class and through the motions of being a functional student. I'm over it!
However, after some consultations and much thought, I've decided to spend my time focusing on school and working, rather than killing myself just to be shoved out into the great wide world a few months early. So, I will indeed graduate December 2013 like originally planned. I'm sure the decision is a sound one, and I'll be glad for the extra time...it's just hard to see past the drivel of schoolwork and what feels like a waste of time in a classroom, when I could be out and doing what they're talking about!
Why did I want so badly to be an adult when I was a kid?
Also, my friend Ian got me a bag of these starchy seeds, that are usually surrounded by a spiny light green encasement, found on trees. They are delicious, but the texture is odd. He called them, "li peng", and I asked what the English name was but he didn't know. I was so excited! A real Chinese food that no one has had in America.
Guess what it is?
A chestnut. A simple, plain chestnut. I was crushed.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Chapter 4: Shang Palace
Two weeks flew by thankfully, but kinda sadly too. I had little interactions worth retelling in Shang Palace, but the atmosphere definitely warmed up the longer I worked. The girls were thrilled to teach me any Chinese I could remember, and by the end we had a nice conversation of half English, acting and a little Chinese thrown in. I'm sorry that my first few days weren't as good as the last, and I didn't get to know the people there sooner. They are sweet, and very interested in what I'm about...they just can't express it, or really delve into with me. And yes... I realize that entire post about hating Shang Palace is being totally negated here..but I did warn you that I was tired and most likely unreasonable. But over all I really enjoyed working in the private dining rooms, getting that serving style down and being a helpful fly on the wall.
So chapter four, and incidentally the third to last chapter is now closed.
On to Lobby Lounge! My first day was gleefully made by two of my favorite people that work there; Samansa, and Ian. Ok first off its actually Samantha, but since that's nearly impossible for many Chinese people to say, they call her Samansa. Naturally, we do too.
She is hilarious.
Hilarious in a way that is completely off the wall, and constantly catches me off guard. I laughed all day today with her and her over-the-top dramatics. And her grasp of English is very good, even though her spoken words are few and normally oddly pronounced. I had the honor of differentiating between the words "ice" and "ass" for her today. Spoken aloud, with a strong Chinese accent, these two words are almost identical. So to help my friend out, and because it made me giggle, I explained the difference by pointing to my butt, and then pointing to my eyes. She looked bewildered, then a great grin spread on her face and she said, "Ohh I think if I say it wrong the guest will be afraid". I lost it, just imagining this girl asking a westerner if he'd like a glass of "ass water" and a look of naked fear crossing his face.
She never has a moment of 'eh', it's either she hates someone, or she loves them and she states these feelings with such conviction.
I started a list labeled SSS. It means Stuff Samantha Says (pg version) and I wrote down all her sayings. There's the ever helpful, "Be careful", only after I've done something wrong, or the dramatic, "No! I don't allow it!" when I inform her of an impending bathroom break. My personal favorite is, "I mees youu", to which she says every time I have to deliver a tray in the lounge. So its safe to say I will at least enjoy the shifts I have with that crazy girl.
Ian is our only boy in LL, and he's pretty cool. When the hotel had the outing at the mountain, he was in my group, so I got to know him before we worked together. He loves American music, can make any kinda drink you want and can eat whatever he wants without gaining a single pound. Also, we can discuss what kinda men are attractive and he has a very nice looking boyfriend. Basically he's one of the girls, he just gets to carry more trays and do all the heavy lifting.
He took me out for dinner to a little shop that serves Japanese food. We got a couple spicy dishes with tofu, chicken and an order of kim chee. The main entree was this conglomeration of a layer of fried chicken over rice and latticed with mayonnaise.
Have I mentioned the obsession with mayo the Japanese have?? Its weird and for being known as such a healthy culture, seems kinda contradictory! The food was ok, but the conversation was pretty fun. Then he took me to the supermarket to try 'li peng', or the fruit of a very spiny ball that grows on trees here. Its about like a potato texture, but a little drier and slightly sweet. We munched on them and chatted while walking back to my apartment. I thought to myself that this kind of spontaneous outing is really quite cool, and I know I'll miss it when I get back. I'm glad I can get to know people that will show me little things about China that I'd never know otherwise.
Last week in September...then there's a month of solid Lobby Lounge, projects, Chinese class tests and more projects.
Also, I'll be going to the gym for the first time in about two months...soo glad I bought that membership!!
So chapter four, and incidentally the third to last chapter is now closed.
On to Lobby Lounge! My first day was gleefully made by two of my favorite people that work there; Samansa, and Ian. Ok first off its actually Samantha, but since that's nearly impossible for many Chinese people to say, they call her Samansa. Naturally, we do too.
She is hilarious.
Hilarious in a way that is completely off the wall, and constantly catches me off guard. I laughed all day today with her and her over-the-top dramatics. And her grasp of English is very good, even though her spoken words are few and normally oddly pronounced. I had the honor of differentiating between the words "ice" and "ass" for her today. Spoken aloud, with a strong Chinese accent, these two words are almost identical. So to help my friend out, and because it made me giggle, I explained the difference by pointing to my butt, and then pointing to my eyes. She looked bewildered, then a great grin spread on her face and she said, "Ohh I think if I say it wrong the guest will be afraid". I lost it, just imagining this girl asking a westerner if he'd like a glass of "ass water" and a look of naked fear crossing his face.
She never has a moment of 'eh', it's either she hates someone, or she loves them and she states these feelings with such conviction.
I started a list labeled SSS. It means Stuff Samantha Says (pg version) and I wrote down all her sayings. There's the ever helpful, "Be careful", only after I've done something wrong, or the dramatic, "No! I don't allow it!" when I inform her of an impending bathroom break. My personal favorite is, "I mees youu", to which she says every time I have to deliver a tray in the lounge. So its safe to say I will at least enjoy the shifts I have with that crazy girl.
Ian is our only boy in LL, and he's pretty cool. When the hotel had the outing at the mountain, he was in my group, so I got to know him before we worked together. He loves American music, can make any kinda drink you want and can eat whatever he wants without gaining a single pound. Also, we can discuss what kinda men are attractive and he has a very nice looking boyfriend. Basically he's one of the girls, he just gets to carry more trays and do all the heavy lifting.
He took me out for dinner to a little shop that serves Japanese food. We got a couple spicy dishes with tofu, chicken and an order of kim chee. The main entree was this conglomeration of a layer of fried chicken over rice and latticed with mayonnaise.
Have I mentioned the obsession with mayo the Japanese have?? Its weird and for being known as such a healthy culture, seems kinda contradictory! The food was ok, but the conversation was pretty fun. Then he took me to the supermarket to try 'li peng', or the fruit of a very spiny ball that grows on trees here. Its about like a potato texture, but a little drier and slightly sweet. We munched on them and chatted while walking back to my apartment. I thought to myself that this kind of spontaneous outing is really quite cool, and I know I'll miss it when I get back. I'm glad I can get to know people that will show me little things about China that I'd never know otherwise.
Last week in September...then there's a month of solid Lobby Lounge, projects, Chinese class tests and more projects.
Also, I'll be going to the gym for the first time in about two months...soo glad I bought that membership!!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I Can't Drop Eaves Here.
As I stared up at the ceiling of graceful undulating crystal flower waves, I realized I spend a whole lotta time staring at ceilings now. But that ceiling in Shang Palace is well worth a gander. Its delicate, but has great volume, and the individual parts make up this perfectly still chandelier that still seems to always be in gentle movement. The lights in the private dining rooms aren't much less mesmerizing and its a darn good thing they're in there... I need something else to stare at besides the unintelligible guests who insist on speaking Chinese the whole night.
Geesh.
They could at least try and speak English for my sake, so that I may eavesdrop with much more ease. Now I stand around looking interested but not too nosy...which isn't hard to do. Actually looking interested is pretty hard because I haven't the faintest idea what they're discussing. Probably buses. And shipyards. Soo...I'm not missing anything!
I have learned the art of "standing by". I might add that I can do this quietly and for a long time, almost five minutes! Hovering has become second nature now...(actually more like 8th nature because I'm pretty sure there's been other natures mentioned before this) and my 7th sense tingles when there's a plate needing changed, or a glass needing filled. (The 6th sense was for seeing dead people, but I hated that experience- so we're skipping on to 7).
Mostly the guests chat amongst themselves, occasionally eating, and every once in a while they actually need more water or wine. That is unless they are "gam-beh-ing" which is a word for toasting, or better known as an excuse to get wasty-faced off of any alcohol present. I've seen it done with wine, beer, rice wine that also doubles as paint thinner, and various whiskeys. Basically they're shots of the beverage, half an average drink and its gulped down all at once. Try doing that with wine...its interesting. And the only reason I know this is because of the group of Chinese people who snagged me after lunch one day, and refused to take no for an answer. Its incredibly rude to not finish your drink, so you must bottom's up, or you'll be...well a rude person.
So next time you are sipping on a nice red, think of us in China- unable to slowly enjoy anything...because its rude.
I do enjoy working there much more now...mostly because I'm not tired, my world is not ending and the girls started teaching me Chinese words. I'm officially a pet parrot. I just repeat what they say much to their delight, and they giggly happily when I say it later in casual conversation. Whenever I say something they didn't teach me they can't express enough astonishment over it. I'm just here for entertainment, but not by my personal choice of methods.
English corner went swimmingly, in that my good friend Richard attended and rephrased pretty much everything I said in English and Chinese. So thank goodness I was there to get the slides going! I know the point of us even hosting the event is to get the ball rolling on the staff learning more English, but my not knowing enough Chinese to communicate the topic of my subject kinda sucks. I did my best to be energetic about movies, the topics and the common words that go along with it but most of the time I sat back with a confused smile as my "class" talked quickly, and only, in Chinese. Next time I'll have more people who speak a higher level of English, so I hope it goes more smoothly then.
The week is half over, I'm looking forward to starting a new rotation, which incidentally is my second to last one here. Can I get a whoop whoop!? Or just a hurray?
Geesh.
They could at least try and speak English for my sake, so that I may eavesdrop with much more ease. Now I stand around looking interested but not too nosy...which isn't hard to do. Actually looking interested is pretty hard because I haven't the faintest idea what they're discussing. Probably buses. And shipyards. Soo...I'm not missing anything!
I have learned the art of "standing by". I might add that I can do this quietly and for a long time, almost five minutes! Hovering has become second nature now...(actually more like 8th nature because I'm pretty sure there's been other natures mentioned before this) and my 7th sense tingles when there's a plate needing changed, or a glass needing filled. (The 6th sense was for seeing dead people, but I hated that experience- so we're skipping on to 7).
Mostly the guests chat amongst themselves, occasionally eating, and every once in a while they actually need more water or wine. That is unless they are "gam-beh-ing" which is a word for toasting, or better known as an excuse to get wasty-faced off of any alcohol present. I've seen it done with wine, beer, rice wine that also doubles as paint thinner, and various whiskeys. Basically they're shots of the beverage, half an average drink and its gulped down all at once. Try doing that with wine...its interesting. And the only reason I know this is because of the group of Chinese people who snagged me after lunch one day, and refused to take no for an answer. Its incredibly rude to not finish your drink, so you must bottom's up, or you'll be...well a rude person.
So next time you are sipping on a nice red, think of us in China- unable to slowly enjoy anything...because its rude.
I do enjoy working there much more now...mostly because I'm not tired, my world is not ending and the girls started teaching me Chinese words. I'm officially a pet parrot. I just repeat what they say much to their delight, and they giggly happily when I say it later in casual conversation. Whenever I say something they didn't teach me they can't express enough astonishment over it. I'm just here for entertainment, but not by my personal choice of methods.
English corner went swimmingly, in that my good friend Richard attended and rephrased pretty much everything I said in English and Chinese. So thank goodness I was there to get the slides going! I know the point of us even hosting the event is to get the ball rolling on the staff learning more English, but my not knowing enough Chinese to communicate the topic of my subject kinda sucks. I did my best to be energetic about movies, the topics and the common words that go along with it but most of the time I sat back with a confused smile as my "class" talked quickly, and only, in Chinese. Next time I'll have more people who speak a higher level of English, so I hope it goes more smoothly then.
The week is half over, I'm looking forward to starting a new rotation, which incidentally is my second to last one here. Can I get a whoop whoop!? Or just a hurray?
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Part Where It Could Sit On You and Crush Your Head
Forget what you know about zoos. America is way too uptight, and China knows what people want!! People want to experience the animals, pet a Zebra or feed a bear, or possibly get mauled by a kangaroo, emu and/or rhino.
I have never experienced a zoo like I did today. Animals were roaming around, fences were mere suggestions of boundaries and the most guarded inmates were the hyenas, wolves and monkeys. Everyone else had pretty free range of access to humans. This means children could put their tiny hands through the emu fence, kangaroos could stand up and box a person in the eye, and giraffes could effortlessly step over the wooden barriers to their area. Llamas, deer, mountain goats and miniature looking antelopes ran around willynilly in and out of other animal's pens, and on the road where people could get hoofed or head butted quite easily. I petted a Zebra, made eye contact with a very ugly camel and feared for my life being next to the ostrich pen. Oh and I sat on an elephant's forehead with its trunk wrapped around me.
I don't get it. Safety is just a slight suggestion, a mere whisper of caution that most people here just ignore. The US is obsessed with making everything so extremely safe for people, and I think that creates this mentality that there is always danger around us. Here, people stroll around casually with their babies, near wild animals that could bite an arm or leg, with no second thought.
However they refuse to take western medications, drink cold water or eat too much sweets because its "so dangerous and bad for the health".
The cultural difference is mind blowing.
I'm pretty sure my view of the world has never been so expansive than at this point. That could be due to the amount of blood that rushed to my head during my bungee jump though. (Which incidentally burst a ton of blood vessels under my eyes and made me look like a caffeinated acupuncturist's first day's client.)
One week left in Shang Palace, then onto Lobby Lounge were the luxurious carpet cushions, the music soothes and cookies taste sublime.
I have never experienced a zoo like I did today. Animals were roaming around, fences were mere suggestions of boundaries and the most guarded inmates were the hyenas, wolves and monkeys. Everyone else had pretty free range of access to humans. This means children could put their tiny hands through the emu fence, kangaroos could stand up and box a person in the eye, and giraffes could effortlessly step over the wooden barriers to their area. Llamas, deer, mountain goats and miniature looking antelopes ran around willynilly in and out of other animal's pens, and on the road where people could get hoofed or head butted quite easily. I petted a Zebra, made eye contact with a very ugly camel and feared for my life being next to the ostrich pen. Oh and I sat on an elephant's forehead with its trunk wrapped around me.
I don't get it. Safety is just a slight suggestion, a mere whisper of caution that most people here just ignore. The US is obsessed with making everything so extremely safe for people, and I think that creates this mentality that there is always danger around us. Here, people stroll around casually with their babies, near wild animals that could bite an arm or leg, with no second thought.
However they refuse to take western medications, drink cold water or eat too much sweets because its "so dangerous and bad for the health".
The cultural difference is mind blowing.
I'm pretty sure my view of the world has never been so expansive than at this point. That could be due to the amount of blood that rushed to my head during my bungee jump though. (Which incidentally burst a ton of blood vessels under my eyes and made me look like a caffeinated acupuncturist's first day's client.)
One week left in Shang Palace, then onto Lobby Lounge were the luxurious carpet cushions, the music soothes and cookies taste sublime.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Bucket list: 1 down.
I have a little under two months to get the rest our bucket list items checked off. However, we knocked a big item off today by biting the bullet, and taking the plunge. Literally. Um, not the bullet thing because I like having my teeth...I mean the plunge bit.
We went bungee jumping.
Yes. Yes we did. I have never been more terrified in my life, nor as elated. I think it's the craziest thing I've ever done and I kinda like that I get to add "in China" at the end.
I went bungee jumping for the first time in my life, in China.
Other than that my day was pretty normal.
Want the hairy details? Well this is a story I must present in person.
As I mentioned before, the past week we had a company outing over a three day period, and my roommates and I were then given the chance to bond with our colleagues by hiking a trail around a mountain, and completing a couple challenges like rope bridges etc. We had a blast, but I was draggin by the end. But this is yet another 'in person story'.
I think from now on I'll give highlights to any big events, and then if we bump into each other, we'll have something to talk about. That way you don't have to refer to my blog that recounts all the good parts, and no awkward silence will fall as we realize...I have nothing to say! Deal?
We went bungee jumping.
Yes. Yes we did. I have never been more terrified in my life, nor as elated. I think it's the craziest thing I've ever done and I kinda like that I get to add "in China" at the end.
I went bungee jumping for the first time in my life, in China.
Other than that my day was pretty normal.
Want the hairy details? Well this is a story I must present in person.
As I mentioned before, the past week we had a company outing over a three day period, and my roommates and I were then given the chance to bond with our colleagues by hiking a trail around a mountain, and completing a couple challenges like rope bridges etc. We had a blast, but I was draggin by the end. But this is yet another 'in person story'.
I think from now on I'll give highlights to any big events, and then if we bump into each other, we'll have something to talk about. That way you don't have to refer to my blog that recounts all the good parts, and no awkward silence will fall as we realize...I have nothing to say! Deal?
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Debbie Downer Alert: Wah Wah
For some reason I cry more at work than I do at my apartment. There must be some kind of weird psychological barrier that stops me from breaking down into the weepies in the privacy of my room, and instead only allows me to in front of a dining room full of guests and servers. Stinging tears shan't be shed unless an onlooker is present, and humiliating sobs can't happen as I sit despondently in front of my desk at home.
It rarely bothers me that communication is bumpy and getting the full meaning of a question across can take some verbiage maneuvering. I don't get frustrated by it much here any more because I know its just a question of phrasing it in such a way that they understand...but today I lost it. My new rotation in Shang Palace so far has been rather unwelcoming overall, and I feel entirely too awkward to even pretend like it doesn't bother me. Normally, the colleagues are just too shy to talk because of the language barrier and they don't want to sound stupid in front of me. Also, normally I smile at them and try to engage them enough to wear them down past feeling shy...but the return of my social encouragements have been few and sometimes rather coldly received. I smile at people to let them know I'm hoping they smile back, and maybe we can say hi the next time, then later chat about our favorite foods or something. I smile because I need the people around me to help me and I rely on them so much to make this experience fulfilling and worthwhile...so when I get a deadpan look back, or they look away from me with no warmth at all...it hurts more than I ever expected.
It's true that so far, my first few days anywhere have always been a little awkward and there's that warming up period, but I only have two weeks here and I feel like it would take months to break the ice. Maybe right now I'm just over sensitive, and these people are no different from my awesome friends at iCafe, room service and Nishimura, but folks...I'm tired. I'm tired of putting myself out there until someone meets me. Four months of smiling brightly at strangers, making eye contact with people that only stare back is wearing me down. I just want that easy going banter I had with my first rotations, and the quick grins instantaneous to me when I saw a friendly face.
If I've learned one thing from this experience, its that I don't know if I could survive outside of my comfort zone of friends and fellow workers of home. I mean, I've survived this long and mostly because of my roommates and the outgoing workers that came to us first. However, I can't imagine living in a foreign country, by myself, working at a place where I couldn't communicate fluently with my peers. I might've mentioned once or twice that I'd be interested in working abroad but today, I'm not feeling it.
(So wait til next week and ask again)
Honestly though, I'm just tired. I don't work all the time, or have late shifts, but expending all the energy to communicate and appear calm and collected everyday is draining me. And yes I just got back from vacation, but I think a culmination of all these feelings over the past few months, has finally sank in.
Also yesterday was the hotel outing and we hiked around a mountain.
The way I'm feeling now probably has something to do with that, among other things.
It rarely bothers me that communication is bumpy and getting the full meaning of a question across can take some verbiage maneuvering. I don't get frustrated by it much here any more because I know its just a question of phrasing it in such a way that they understand...but today I lost it. My new rotation in Shang Palace so far has been rather unwelcoming overall, and I feel entirely too awkward to even pretend like it doesn't bother me. Normally, the colleagues are just too shy to talk because of the language barrier and they don't want to sound stupid in front of me. Also, normally I smile at them and try to engage them enough to wear them down past feeling shy...but the return of my social encouragements have been few and sometimes rather coldly received. I smile at people to let them know I'm hoping they smile back, and maybe we can say hi the next time, then later chat about our favorite foods or something. I smile because I need the people around me to help me and I rely on them so much to make this experience fulfilling and worthwhile...so when I get a deadpan look back, or they look away from me with no warmth at all...it hurts more than I ever expected.
It's true that so far, my first few days anywhere have always been a little awkward and there's that warming up period, but I only have two weeks here and I feel like it would take months to break the ice. Maybe right now I'm just over sensitive, and these people are no different from my awesome friends at iCafe, room service and Nishimura, but folks...I'm tired. I'm tired of putting myself out there until someone meets me. Four months of smiling brightly at strangers, making eye contact with people that only stare back is wearing me down. I just want that easy going banter I had with my first rotations, and the quick grins instantaneous to me when I saw a friendly face.
If I've learned one thing from this experience, its that I don't know if I could survive outside of my comfort zone of friends and fellow workers of home. I mean, I've survived this long and mostly because of my roommates and the outgoing workers that came to us first. However, I can't imagine living in a foreign country, by myself, working at a place where I couldn't communicate fluently with my peers. I might've mentioned once or twice that I'd be interested in working abroad but today, I'm not feeling it.
(So wait til next week and ask again)
Honestly though, I'm just tired. I don't work all the time, or have late shifts, but expending all the energy to communicate and appear calm and collected everyday is draining me. And yes I just got back from vacation, but I think a culmination of all these feelings over the past few months, has finally sank in.
Also yesterday was the hotel outing and we hiked around a mountain.
The way I'm feeling now probably has something to do with that, among other things.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Chapter 3: Nishimura
Forget what I said about not judging a man by his mole. If you can even get past looking at the darn thing, I'll be proud. But actually, its not the mole itself, but the one very long singular hair growing vertically out of it like a defiant tree branch.
The proud owner of said mocking mole, is a very sweet and otherwise not half bad looking guy. It was all I could do to not yank that sucker right out of his neck, or yell, "Look, an elephant!" and when he looks right, lunge at his next with a very small pair of scissors and snip the shiznit out of that thing. Honestly, who cares what people keep on their necks, faces, bodies or whatever...and this mole is not even big! It's a normal sized pigmented spot on his skin, but the hair produced from it is of overwhelming length. I finally couldn't take it anymore and I asked the guy what the deal was. (In a much nicer way than you are imagining right now, geesh). He told me it meant long life.
A hair.
Growing out of your neck. Out past the collar and well onto the mid shoulder region.
Nothing could ever entice me to keep a stringly looking protrusion like that, even the promise of long life. Especially if my long life included a long life with THAT HAIR!
Ok, he's a nice guy, and he likes his mole hair. Go him.
Chapter 3: Nishimura
For the two swift weeks that I worked at Nishimura I made friends with my colleagues, learned new ways of making myself look even more ridiculous than just a pretty gold blouse and black slacks ever could, and I'll miss the management and organization of it. Really, the place is well run, the food orders are neatly taken care of, and I never saw any huge snafus occur. Overall it was a nice break from the break neck of iCafe and the snail's pace of IRD, and I'll always cherish the memory of that uniform.
Chapter closed.
Shang Palace went off to a great start today with a fresh new uniform; management style. I'm in an actual business suit now and I'll be honest...I feel a little empty inside. Where's my lycra/polyester blend blouse and/or badly fitting waitress dress? No ugly colors, no flashy sashes...just a white button down and a black jacket/ pencil skirt combo. I even wear black tights...maybe I'm a shadow this time!
I basically get to follow around the sales team for a week, figure out what they do to get people to show up to the place, and how they make them stay happy returning customers. For the first part of the day, I sat in a private dining room (which are lavishly furnished, complete with an indulgent bejeweled chandelier) and chatted with the sales member Sean. Sean who incidentally happens to have a mole on the side of his neck, is very nice but his enthusiasm for talking wanes at really awkward times.
I rarely run out of things to say. If you know me at all...you know this to be true. But when I'm in a room with one other person I just met, who speaks very little expansive English and is also a little socially disadvantaged I don't freeze up...I trail off. A lot. And say things like, "so....yeah", "it's not bad though..." or "I like it very much yes..." Then there's the looking around the room, scrutinizing a painting so closely you realize you can no longer see a picture just paint strokes...and that's when its acceptable to play dead.
Later when he led me to another PDR and gave me a plate of goodies, I moved past his unfortunate symbol of pride and our awkward exchanges. I sat there munching on mango pancakes and a dim sum hallow fried cupcake thingy, looked around at the room's decor and thought to myself, "Wow...I really need some milk with this." I also was thinking how really ridiculously cushy I have it. People put me in rooms with food in it and turn me loose saying, "Have a taste, and wait a moment I come back". So I sit, eat and reiterate in my head...I have it pretty darn good here.
Folks, I'm not sure if you realize but this week holds a very important date. This week holds a one September 14th, 2012. Its an innocuous date to others, but to you it should mean oh-so-much-more. This date marks exactly two months until I am back in the States, once more in the dear company of friends and family. Have I mentioned time is flying?
The proud owner of said mocking mole, is a very sweet and otherwise not half bad looking guy. It was all I could do to not yank that sucker right out of his neck, or yell, "Look, an elephant!" and when he looks right, lunge at his next with a very small pair of scissors and snip the shiznit out of that thing. Honestly, who cares what people keep on their necks, faces, bodies or whatever...and this mole is not even big! It's a normal sized pigmented spot on his skin, but the hair produced from it is of overwhelming length. I finally couldn't take it anymore and I asked the guy what the deal was. (In a much nicer way than you are imagining right now, geesh). He told me it meant long life.
A hair.
Growing out of your neck. Out past the collar and well onto the mid shoulder region.
Nothing could ever entice me to keep a stringly looking protrusion like that, even the promise of long life. Especially if my long life included a long life with THAT HAIR!
Ok, he's a nice guy, and he likes his mole hair. Go him.
Chapter 3: Nishimura
For the two swift weeks that I worked at Nishimura I made friends with my colleagues, learned new ways of making myself look even more ridiculous than just a pretty gold blouse and black slacks ever could, and I'll miss the management and organization of it. Really, the place is well run, the food orders are neatly taken care of, and I never saw any huge snafus occur. Overall it was a nice break from the break neck of iCafe and the snail's pace of IRD, and I'll always cherish the memory of that uniform.
Chapter closed.
Shang Palace went off to a great start today with a fresh new uniform; management style. I'm in an actual business suit now and I'll be honest...I feel a little empty inside. Where's my lycra/polyester blend blouse and/or badly fitting waitress dress? No ugly colors, no flashy sashes...just a white button down and a black jacket/ pencil skirt combo. I even wear black tights...maybe I'm a shadow this time!
I basically get to follow around the sales team for a week, figure out what they do to get people to show up to the place, and how they make them stay happy returning customers. For the first part of the day, I sat in a private dining room (which are lavishly furnished, complete with an indulgent bejeweled chandelier) and chatted with the sales member Sean. Sean who incidentally happens to have a mole on the side of his neck, is very nice but his enthusiasm for talking wanes at really awkward times.
I rarely run out of things to say. If you know me at all...you know this to be true. But when I'm in a room with one other person I just met, who speaks very little expansive English and is also a little socially disadvantaged I don't freeze up...I trail off. A lot. And say things like, "so....yeah", "it's not bad though..." or "I like it very much yes..." Then there's the looking around the room, scrutinizing a painting so closely you realize you can no longer see a picture just paint strokes...and that's when its acceptable to play dead.
Later when he led me to another PDR and gave me a plate of goodies, I moved past his unfortunate symbol of pride and our awkward exchanges. I sat there munching on mango pancakes and a dim sum hallow fried cupcake thingy, looked around at the room's decor and thought to myself, "Wow...I really need some milk with this." I also was thinking how really ridiculously cushy I have it. People put me in rooms with food in it and turn me loose saying, "Have a taste, and wait a moment I come back". So I sit, eat and reiterate in my head...I have it pretty darn good here.
Folks, I'm not sure if you realize but this week holds a very important date. This week holds a one September 14th, 2012. Its an innocuous date to others, but to you it should mean oh-so-much-more. This date marks exactly two months until I am back in the States, once more in the dear company of friends and family. Have I mentioned time is flying?
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Uncharted Territories: A Hairy Situation
Friday, I worked my shift and looked forward to a nice goodbye dinner with my lovely manager Linda. Lunch was busy, and I helped a couple guests with their food orders and of course got to talking with them. I do so enjoy the conversations I have with the foreigners that come through Shangri-La. I get so much encouragement and positive feedback from them about my decision to come all the way out here, and stay away from home this long. I get to hear about their travels and war stories of being successful business men, or how they survived flying back and forth from home so much. It really does make what I do worth while.
When lunch ended I headed home to 'have a rest', watched some tv and did the normal linger online hoping someone wasn't tired and needed to chat at 3am thing. Around 5 I headed back to work.
Within 15 minutes of being at work, I ate two silkworms and made a baby go into hysterics. I don't think the two events coincided.
First off I didn't even do anything to that baby other than say hi, and maybe ask what his name was. Pretty sure when a baby waves at you, its saying 'hey be my friend'! Plus also, he did at some point tell me he liked me! So it kinda blew my mind when I walked away, came back out of the kitchen, and he dissolved into frightened tears when his eyes fell upon me.
I hid from that baby for an hour, too afraid to walk past his table lest he become beside himself again.
Silkworms are covered in a brown casing that much resembles wriggling poop. The first time I held one it was quite still, and I was not freaked out. The second time I held one "Twist and Shout" must've been playing in there, cuz that little dude was rockin' out. I freaked out.
It's a delicacy here to roast and salt this little guys, then delicately suck them out of the cocoon. I would advise not looking under the shell, and just closing your eyes while popping the whole thing in your mouth. Texture wise, I'd say its a cross between fried eggs and tofu, with a taste of...meat-ish. I enjoyed it, and as for the health benefits its got a ton of protein. So just for that...I'd eat one everyday! (Ok...not really)
Then, after much waiting and anticipation I got to "have a taste" of Nishimura's more popular dishes like grilled flat fish, salmon sushi, a sashimi set, some really intense wasabi that makes you wish your sinus never existed and soba noodles, which are cold served with a raw quail egg in a soy sauce. I feasted, drank the smoothly deceptive plum wine that went down like apple juice (but didn't have the effects of it).
Overall, I rate the food there from a scale of "1-YEE-UMMY", as a "YUMM"! *
Today we explored a new territory of China that we dared not thus far. We decided to go get our haircut. I don't know about you, but getting my hair cut in a foreign land (and its vital that all instructions are clearly understood), is a bit nerve wracking. Luckily for us, the place we ended up going to was also half a spa and they sedate you with hand and arm massages (then if it is a train wreck, you won't notice in your relaxed haze), a good shampoo and a nice beating on your shoulders with a hair brush. I'm not saying I hated it. Our attendees were these cute little metallic uniformed gals who giggled at our antics, and hit us on the arms with gentle yet decisive fists. I had no idea that we would get a full work up, so everything they did was a surprise and it made me startle into laughing.
I'll act it out in person at a later date, upon request.
The actual haircut was quick and, I think, very good. My guy did a once over, assessed my layers and quickly put my hair back into a groomed and healthy state. He even styled it, which was the undoing of our afternoon plans thereafter. My hair looked too good to do anything besides find a nice restaurant, sit there and have a fantastic head of hair. I have to enjoy these moments while they last, and let me tell you- having nice hair here is almost impossible without a personal assistant.
Before we head back to the States, we are planning on visiting again just to enjoy that cheap luxury one more time.
I also took more pictures of the places we go to, because I realized you have no idea what I see when I talk about Greenwich or what a lounging cop looks like. Also, I think I'll need to be able to see them again at some point...I might miss this place someday.
Tomorrow is my last day for Nishimura, then on to my third to last rotation: two weeks in Shang Palace. Time is a flyin' now.
*(official scale and trademarked) (patent pending)
When lunch ended I headed home to 'have a rest', watched some tv and did the normal linger online hoping someone wasn't tired and needed to chat at 3am thing. Around 5 I headed back to work.
Within 15 minutes of being at work, I ate two silkworms and made a baby go into hysterics. I don't think the two events coincided.
First off I didn't even do anything to that baby other than say hi, and maybe ask what his name was. Pretty sure when a baby waves at you, its saying 'hey be my friend'! Plus also, he did at some point tell me he liked me! So it kinda blew my mind when I walked away, came back out of the kitchen, and he dissolved into frightened tears when his eyes fell upon me.
I hid from that baby for an hour, too afraid to walk past his table lest he become beside himself again.
Silkworms are covered in a brown casing that much resembles wriggling poop. The first time I held one it was quite still, and I was not freaked out. The second time I held one "Twist and Shout" must've been playing in there, cuz that little dude was rockin' out. I freaked out.
It's a delicacy here to roast and salt this little guys, then delicately suck them out of the cocoon. I would advise not looking under the shell, and just closing your eyes while popping the whole thing in your mouth. Texture wise, I'd say its a cross between fried eggs and tofu, with a taste of...meat-ish. I enjoyed it, and as for the health benefits its got a ton of protein. So just for that...I'd eat one everyday! (Ok...not really)
Then, after much waiting and anticipation I got to "have a taste" of Nishimura's more popular dishes like grilled flat fish, salmon sushi, a sashimi set, some really intense wasabi that makes you wish your sinus never existed and soba noodles, which are cold served with a raw quail egg in a soy sauce. I feasted, drank the smoothly deceptive plum wine that went down like apple juice (but didn't have the effects of it).
Overall, I rate the food there from a scale of "1-YEE-UMMY", as a "YUMM"! *
Today we explored a new territory of China that we dared not thus far. We decided to go get our haircut. I don't know about you, but getting my hair cut in a foreign land (and its vital that all instructions are clearly understood), is a bit nerve wracking. Luckily for us, the place we ended up going to was also half a spa and they sedate you with hand and arm massages (then if it is a train wreck, you won't notice in your relaxed haze), a good shampoo and a nice beating on your shoulders with a hair brush. I'm not saying I hated it. Our attendees were these cute little metallic uniformed gals who giggled at our antics, and hit us on the arms with gentle yet decisive fists. I had no idea that we would get a full work up, so everything they did was a surprise and it made me startle into laughing.
I'll act it out in person at a later date, upon request.
The actual haircut was quick and, I think, very good. My guy did a once over, assessed my layers and quickly put my hair back into a groomed and healthy state. He even styled it, which was the undoing of our afternoon plans thereafter. My hair looked too good to do anything besides find a nice restaurant, sit there and have a fantastic head of hair. I have to enjoy these moments while they last, and let me tell you- having nice hair here is almost impossible without a personal assistant.
Before we head back to the States, we are planning on visiting again just to enjoy that cheap luxury one more time.
I also took more pictures of the places we go to, because I realized you have no idea what I see when I talk about Greenwich or what a lounging cop looks like. Also, I think I'll need to be able to see them again at some point...I might miss this place someday.
Tomorrow is my last day for Nishimura, then on to my third to last rotation: two weeks in Shang Palace. Time is a flyin' now.
*(official scale and trademarked) (patent pending)
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Fish Faced Foolishness
I never envisioned myself wearing pj's to work and getting handed things like dead fish on trays.
Actually, ok the pajama thing is quite easy to imagine, and honestly its probably the best uniform I will ever have the honor of donning each day. Its cotton, breathable and crawling around on straw floors is a breeze.*
However, nothing can prepare oneself for being handed two very glossy eyed, but very dead, fish on a serving tray that normally hold freshly squeezed juice or precariously stacked dishes. You'd think its not a big deal to walk back to the kitchen with such items in hand, but the situation will hit you and you'll realize that one trip will cause these limp fish to fly until they hit the floor in an undignified and smoosh-y manner.
Hilarity never hits me in the right situation. I swear I have an upside down sense of humor, or maybe its just so malnourished it will take in any scenario leaning toward funny and magnify it by 20...
I feel myself shriveling inside as my humor is continuously ignored or not understood...can funny bones shrink? All I know is, when I get back ya'll better be ready to laugh uproariously at my jokes because I need the boost...like taking a post trip vitamin of laughter and appreciation of puns. I'm seriously deficient.
Making big decisions takes a lot of focus and clarity and its amazing what distance does for that decision. Hard decisions are gonna be hard no matter how far away you are, but it does make for an unfettered viewpoint. I'm grateful to have this distance, yet it sucks all the same. Who decided that growing up should be this heavily laden with hard choices, and difficult separations? They obviously hated being a child, and forced everyone else around them to stop acting "childish". That way everyone is miserable together. Or maybe with age comes realization and realization just makes everyone sad to realize being a kid is way better and they should've stuck with that instead. Ah boohoo.
The first week back after our mini vacation has been incredibly busy. We have rocked lunch each day almost to full capacity. I'm running to and fro as fast as my white, cloven, sock clad thongs allow me, and I've developed an auto pilot program specifically for Nishimura that has so far, not created too much chaos. That's not counting the four drink orders I mixed up, the accidental complimentary salad I delivered to a very surprised guest and the tray of vinegar dipping sauce I nearly adorned upon a low seated guest while crawling around on the floor.
Stop giving me trays to deliver in the private dining rooms! I am old. Too old to hold a tray vertically, full of sauce that will most certainly stain, and pretend my legs are stumps at the knees while leaning over some VIP that could potentially have me offed, (but it would look like an accident for sure). They say when you don't wanna clean the kitchen break the dishes. Do you think spilling sake upon a lap is equivalent?
When an order is up, the chef will either clap his hands or yell something in Japanese/Chinese and the servers respond with, "Hai!" or yes, in Japanese. I've taken to responded regardless if I'm near or even capable of taking the tray somewhere. I've been condition to being clapped at and acknowledging it... without fury or indignation!
China has changed me.
I also enjoy the smell of curry now, and I don't remember a time when warm, dampened wash cloths are not given before a meal. I say 'thank you' in Chinese so often that its a reflex instead of a response. "Are you gonna finish that sandwi-" "Xie xie".
There's a jade bracelet around my wrist, and I've realized my recent and deep loathing for cucumbers. Ketchup here is fake, and my french fries taste naked...but I eat them anyway. That would never happen in USA. You see? The me you knew is fading away...
Well maybe not fading away all the way, but I have come to realize a lot about myself. This introspective journey has yielded some fruits of ripe and also rotten varieties. I feel that mostly its positive change, and some things that come to light should surface now- instead of 40 years just about when my midlife crisis should hit.
Mostly I've come to terms with the fact that I will never actually enjoy the taste of bok choy, or crave chicken neck but the fact that I've tried it is a testament to an exploratory nature I wasn't sure existed. Yes, China has indeed changed me.
*This is interestingly worded because today I taught what the word 'breeze' meant, and it had more to do with a light wind, than an easy situation. However, I will refrain from trying to teach that because it was not a breeze explaining what breeze meant.
Can't win em all!
Also, as if I haven't had the chance to forever ruin my colleagues "normal" speech patterns and vocabulary already, they are hosting an English corner at the hotel which will be led by myself and my fellow interns. Imagine. All I'm sayin' is- I'm bringing back ye old timey words like "pardon" "indubitably" and "humblest apologies". And somehow I'll work those into the lecture while also discussing my assigned topic of movies...
Actually, ok the pajama thing is quite easy to imagine, and honestly its probably the best uniform I will ever have the honor of donning each day. Its cotton, breathable and crawling around on straw floors is a breeze.*
However, nothing can prepare oneself for being handed two very glossy eyed, but very dead, fish on a serving tray that normally hold freshly squeezed juice or precariously stacked dishes. You'd think its not a big deal to walk back to the kitchen with such items in hand, but the situation will hit you and you'll realize that one trip will cause these limp fish to fly until they hit the floor in an undignified and smoosh-y manner.
Hilarity never hits me in the right situation. I swear I have an upside down sense of humor, or maybe its just so malnourished it will take in any scenario leaning toward funny and magnify it by 20...
I feel myself shriveling inside as my humor is continuously ignored or not understood...can funny bones shrink? All I know is, when I get back ya'll better be ready to laugh uproariously at my jokes because I need the boost...like taking a post trip vitamin of laughter and appreciation of puns. I'm seriously deficient.
Making big decisions takes a lot of focus and clarity and its amazing what distance does for that decision. Hard decisions are gonna be hard no matter how far away you are, but it does make for an unfettered viewpoint. I'm grateful to have this distance, yet it sucks all the same. Who decided that growing up should be this heavily laden with hard choices, and difficult separations? They obviously hated being a child, and forced everyone else around them to stop acting "childish". That way everyone is miserable together. Or maybe with age comes realization and realization just makes everyone sad to realize being a kid is way better and they should've stuck with that instead. Ah boohoo.
The first week back after our mini vacation has been incredibly busy. We have rocked lunch each day almost to full capacity. I'm running to and fro as fast as my white, cloven, sock clad thongs allow me, and I've developed an auto pilot program specifically for Nishimura that has so far, not created too much chaos. That's not counting the four drink orders I mixed up, the accidental complimentary salad I delivered to a very surprised guest and the tray of vinegar dipping sauce I nearly adorned upon a low seated guest while crawling around on the floor.
Stop giving me trays to deliver in the private dining rooms! I am old. Too old to hold a tray vertically, full of sauce that will most certainly stain, and pretend my legs are stumps at the knees while leaning over some VIP that could potentially have me offed, (but it would look like an accident for sure). They say when you don't wanna clean the kitchen break the dishes. Do you think spilling sake upon a lap is equivalent?
When an order is up, the chef will either clap his hands or yell something in Japanese/Chinese and the servers respond with, "Hai!" or yes, in Japanese. I've taken to responded regardless if I'm near or even capable of taking the tray somewhere. I've been condition to being clapped at and acknowledging it... without fury or indignation!
China has changed me.
I also enjoy the smell of curry now, and I don't remember a time when warm, dampened wash cloths are not given before a meal. I say 'thank you' in Chinese so often that its a reflex instead of a response. "Are you gonna finish that sandwi-" "Xie xie".
There's a jade bracelet around my wrist, and I've realized my recent and deep loathing for cucumbers. Ketchup here is fake, and my french fries taste naked...but I eat them anyway. That would never happen in USA. You see? The me you knew is fading away...
Well maybe not fading away all the way, but I have come to realize a lot about myself. This introspective journey has yielded some fruits of ripe and also rotten varieties. I feel that mostly its positive change, and some things that come to light should surface now- instead of 40 years just about when my midlife crisis should hit.
Mostly I've come to terms with the fact that I will never actually enjoy the taste of bok choy, or crave chicken neck but the fact that I've tried it is a testament to an exploratory nature I wasn't sure existed. Yes, China has indeed changed me.
*This is interestingly worded because today I taught what the word 'breeze' meant, and it had more to do with a light wind, than an easy situation. However, I will refrain from trying to teach that because it was not a breeze explaining what breeze meant.
Can't win em all!
Also, as if I haven't had the chance to forever ruin my colleagues "normal" speech patterns and vocabulary already, they are hosting an English corner at the hotel which will be led by myself and my fellow interns. Imagine. All I'm sayin' is- I'm bringing back ye old timey words like "pardon" "indubitably" and "humblest apologies". And somehow I'll work those into the lecture while also discussing my assigned topic of movies...
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Post Travel Post
Actually our adventure started when we got to the airport and thought we had an hour to wait, that turned into about two hours after that hour was up. We wiled the hours away by playing cards and being generally obnoxious like we do. We touched down in Beijing around 2am and got to our hotel/room around 3ish. I didn't sleep until about 4 and we were up for breakfast around 8.30. We hit the first tourist trap of The Forbidden City which took us a few hours. Gate entrances after gate entrances and the palace grounds kept going and going. We passed by rooms, official government meeting places even a terrace building specifically to change the Emperor's robes...its good to be Emperor! The city is enormous, old and fascinating. I can't believe people actually lived there. I wonder what it looked like 800 years ago when it was new.
We had a lot of existential moments today as we walked around...it was definitely an experience that makes you reexamine your existence, the moments you become so self aware, and realize that once again this world is so much bigger than a test at school, or if gas went up 10 cents.
This city was made for one person. One guy they declared to be supreme ruler, who sent up sacrifices to the god's to make the crops grow, and the skies open up or be calm. That is mind blowing to me. This random dude, who for all accounts is someone that just showed up one day and was declared divine (that's how I see it in my head) and BAM he's got it all. Gardens, patios, huge tracks of land (no really, its just land) and gardens for his many wives too. He also has other stuff like a sacrificial temple and a summer palace...basically Beijing was the Emperor's playground. Lucky guy.
The sun was behind us all day as we trooped through crowds, over huge doorway steps and by palace rooms that all blurred together. My legs are probably completely cooked from the inside out by now, but surprisingly they haven't turned red...yet.
There are so many people here. There's huge swarms of guided tours with matching orange hats, all the way to people strolling around in two's or threes. Also, our celeb status got taken down a few notches. Sadly we are not the only people of non Asian descent anymore, and the other foreigners are numerous and easily spotted.
Tonight we'll take it easy, have a rest and hit the hay early because tomorrow is the big one: The Great Wall.
Ok, so I really meant to write each day bout what happened then post it all at once. Now I'm afraid I have so much to write about that I won't cover it all in under 10,000 words. So instead of posting a blog of enormous proportions, I will highlight the best parts, in bullet point form of course, and you can ask the juicy, or nitty gritty, or sweaty, or emotional, or fascinating details after when I return home...in two months.
1) The Great Wall was incredibly great, and wallish. We did not know the hike would be so...vertical. Also playing tag.
2.) Never trust a tour guide.
3.) Make time for traffic.
4.) Tourist spots are touristy, but that doesn't negate the experience of seeing an awe- inspiring architectural wonder in person.
5.) I've seen two wonders of the world now, only 15 of the Seven left! (exaggeration...or is it?)
6.) Happy Hour
7.) The rainiest yet most adventurous day just from wanting noodles for lunch. Hint: I've used almost all types of transportation in China now...including the rickety "microwave" vehicle.
8.) Swim caps mandatory, especially if a bikini is involved
9.) Traveling with non family members is an entirely new experience
10.) Xi'an is actually a really cool city, and completely opposite of what I expected
11.) Jade is expensive...unless you decide its not
12.) Being hard-hearted is acceptable while shopping at a silk market. Be unabashed.
13.) Dalian is a beautiful city, and we all agreed that by the end of the trip, we missed home.
14.) I will have these fantastic memories of my time in China, hopefully for the rest of my life and it was worth, every penny and every single minute.
Everything else...well you'll just have to ask :)
We had a lot of existential moments today as we walked around...it was definitely an experience that makes you reexamine your existence, the moments you become so self aware, and realize that once again this world is so much bigger than a test at school, or if gas went up 10 cents.
This city was made for one person. One guy they declared to be supreme ruler, who sent up sacrifices to the god's to make the crops grow, and the skies open up or be calm. That is mind blowing to me. This random dude, who for all accounts is someone that just showed up one day and was declared divine (that's how I see it in my head) and BAM he's got it all. Gardens, patios, huge tracks of land (no really, its just land) and gardens for his many wives too. He also has other stuff like a sacrificial temple and a summer palace...basically Beijing was the Emperor's playground. Lucky guy.
The sun was behind us all day as we trooped through crowds, over huge doorway steps and by palace rooms that all blurred together. My legs are probably completely cooked from the inside out by now, but surprisingly they haven't turned red...yet.
There are so many people here. There's huge swarms of guided tours with matching orange hats, all the way to people strolling around in two's or threes. Also, our celeb status got taken down a few notches. Sadly we are not the only people of non Asian descent anymore, and the other foreigners are numerous and easily spotted.
Tonight we'll take it easy, have a rest and hit the hay early because tomorrow is the big one: The Great Wall.
Ok, so I really meant to write each day bout what happened then post it all at once. Now I'm afraid I have so much to write about that I won't cover it all in under 10,000 words. So instead of posting a blog of enormous proportions, I will highlight the best parts, in bullet point form of course, and you can ask the juicy, or nitty gritty, or sweaty, or emotional, or fascinating details after when I return home...in two months.
1) The Great Wall was incredibly great, and wallish. We did not know the hike would be so...vertical. Also playing tag.
2.) Never trust a tour guide.
3.) Make time for traffic.
4.) Tourist spots are touristy, but that doesn't negate the experience of seeing an awe- inspiring architectural wonder in person.
5.) I've seen two wonders of the world now, only 15 of the Seven left! (exaggeration...or is it?)
6.) Happy Hour
7.) The rainiest yet most adventurous day just from wanting noodles for lunch. Hint: I've used almost all types of transportation in China now...including the rickety "microwave" vehicle.
8.) Swim caps mandatory, especially if a bikini is involved
9.) Traveling with non family members is an entirely new experience
10.) Xi'an is actually a really cool city, and completely opposite of what I expected
11.) Jade is expensive...unless you decide its not
12.) Being hard-hearted is acceptable while shopping at a silk market. Be unabashed.
13.) Dalian is a beautiful city, and we all agreed that by the end of the trip, we missed home.
14.) I will have these fantastic memories of my time in China, hopefully for the rest of my life and it was worth, every penny and every single minute.
Everything else...well you'll just have to ask :)
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