12.29.2008
Cause=Time
I'm so psyched to be in China for Chinese New Year's. These people go berserker for it, and travelling immediately pre and post-event is equally hectic because one billion people are trying to get back home to their families. The last two days have been absolutely frustrating, only linguistically though. I've gone the whole entire two days listening to conversations, jokes, arguments, stories in Chinese, and I don't know even a little bit of what is being said. The people I'm staying with are so so happy, and they are forever laughing, and I'm forever wishing I was laughing with them. Humour is lost in translation, the humour is lost when the moment is over and it is explained to me second hand, and frustration builds. I can't make jokes that are contextually advanced, linguistically advanced, or even little comments without having to explain them. And there again, with the explanation is a lost moment. Instead of being on my way to bilingualism I feel more mute every day.
12.26.2008
12.25.2008
Headphones
I've got loads of pictures from the night of the rooftop BBQ, and the day I went to go see Pandas. I'll post them when I have my own computer to operate. Sorry I've been blowing it.
12.24.2008
Sichuanese
My Christmas eve is coming to a close. In fifteen minutes it will be Christmas, and in fifteen minutes I am going to try to find plane tickets to Kunming. They get cheap at twelve bells, for some reason I'm not sure of. Either way, my day started coldly. Everybody's day started coldly, because it was colder this morning than it was last night. Like most mornings, I had a 饼 for breakfast. A 饼 (pron. 'bing' 2nd tone) is a a floury shell fried in oil (as all things are) with some beef, egg, lettuce, and 辣椒酱 （pron. 'la jiao jiang' 4th 1st 4th tone) hot pepper sauce inside. Since I ate my first bing, I've had one every day. Ｉhopped a bus to the city of Chengdu, and ｕｐｏｎ ａｒｒｉｖｉｎｇ I ｉｍｍｅｄｉａｔｅｌｙ ｈｏｐｐｅｄ ｉｎ ａ ｔａｘｉ ｔｏ ＇Ｔｈｅ Ｂｏｏｋｗｏｒｍ＇． Ｔｈｅ ｂｏｏｋｗｏｒｍ ｉｓ ｔｈｉｓ ｑｕａｉｎｔ ｂｏｏｋ／ｃｏｆｆｅｅ ｓｈｏｐ ｗｈｅｒｅ ｔｈｅｒｅ are ｓｈｅｌｖｅｓ ｕｐｏｎ ｓｈｅｌｖｅｓ ｏｆ ａｌｐｈａｂｅｔｉｚｅｄ ｕｓｅｄ Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ ｂｏｏｋｓ，ａｓ ｗｅｌｌ ａｓ ｎｅｗ ｂｏｏｋｓ ｆｏｒ ｓａｌｅ． Finding English literature in China is difficult. The Bookworm is Chengdu's Mondragon, Ａ ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ ｓｔｕｄｙ， ｗｈｉｃｈ Ｉdid for a few hours until a friend finished their driving lesson. Ｓｈｅ ｔｏｌｄ ｍｅ ｏｆ ａ Ｃｈｒｉｓｔｍａｓ ｃｏｎｃｅｒｔ ｔｈａｔ ｗａｓ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｏｎ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｅｖｅｎｉｎｇ， ａｎｄ ｏn our way to the Christmas concert we stopped at McDonalds for some snacking. The concert was put on by a collective of churches, and surprisingly enough, it was exactly like the ones at PV every year. Everyday Ｉ ｆｉｎｄ ｕｎｉｖｅｒｓａｌｓ ｉｎ Ｃｈｉｎａ； ａｄｄ Ｃｈｒｉｓｔｍａｓ ｃｏｎｃｅｒｔｓ ｔｏ ｔｈｅ ｌｉｓｔ （ｓａｖｅ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅ Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ ｏｐｅｒａ ｓｔｙｌｅ ｈｙｍｎ）． Ａｆｔｅｒ ｔｈａｔ ａ ｇｒｏｕｐ ｏｆ ｕｓ ｗｅｎｔ ｔｏ ＭｃＤｏｎａｌｄｓ （ａｇａｉｎ．．）， ａｔｅ ｓｏｍｅ ｓｌｉｄｅｒｓ ａｎｄ ｃａｍｅ ｈｏｍｅ． Ａ ｔｒｕｌｙ ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ Ｃｈｒｉｓｔｍａｓ Ｅｖｅ．
Ｂｙ ｔｈｅ ｗａｙ I don't know why the text in this blog is going psycho, I'm sorry it ruined your Christmas.
Ｂｙ ｔｈｅ ｗａｙ I don't know why the text in this blog is going psycho, I'm sorry it ruined your Christmas.
12.21.2008
May All Your Christmas' Be Y........
My first Christmas away from home. I just spoke to my whole family on Skype. I love them and miss them all so much. They do not know that they have left both the video and audio feed on, so I've just been sitting here, in China, staring into their empty sunroom, listening to them prepare Christmas, eat, and be joyful. This sounds kind of creepy actually, but it feels like I'm in the living room and I've never felt so happy and heavy-hearted at the same time. I'm sure they wouldn't mind.
12.20.2008
Dear Rain: Bells Jingle
Pandas are cute, Pandas are in Sichuan, I went to go see Pandas. Here is a Chinese 'joke' about Pandas that, like all Chinese 'jokes', translates so poorly and so unfunnily.
"I know the Panda's wish, actually he has two wishes. The first is to get rid of the black rings around his eyes, the second is to take a color picture"
A real joke, however, is yours truly at the Panda conservatory. A flock of school girls surrounded me, exclaiming "Foreigner! Foreigner!". One was heard to remark "We can watch him instead of the Pandas, because it is more interesting, and it is free". There you have it.
Sometimes I feel like an old man with a comb-over, and it is always windy. Because just like old men with comb-overs on a windy day, I know that I am exposed, and I know people wouldn't stare if they only knew how. But mostly, old men with comb-overs know that they are old men with comb-overs, and they clearly can't be bothered.
Sometimes when I take the bus, I feel like a guy who has farted in an elevator. You've got to live with me at least until the next bus stop, or at least until we reach the lobby. I may have a comb-over, and you may be staring at it's unkemptness, but I can make you feel uncomfortable too.
Merry Christmas
"I know the Panda's wish, actually he has two wishes. The first is to get rid of the black rings around his eyes, the second is to take a color picture"
A real joke, however, is yours truly at the Panda conservatory. A flock of school girls surrounded me, exclaiming "Foreigner! Foreigner!". One was heard to remark "We can watch him instead of the Pandas, because it is more interesting, and it is free". There you have it.
Sometimes I feel like an old man with a comb-over, and it is always windy. Because just like old men with comb-overs on a windy day, I know that I am exposed, and I know people wouldn't stare if they only knew how. But mostly, old men with comb-overs know that they are old men with comb-overs, and they clearly can't be bothered.
Sometimes when I take the bus, I feel like a guy who has farted in an elevator. You've got to live with me at least until the next bus stop, or at least until we reach the lobby. I may have a comb-over, and you may be staring at it's unkemptness, but I can make you feel uncomfortable too.
Merry Christmas
12.16.2008
Chengdu
Dec. 12
It’s 2:20 in the afternoon, I have just awoken from a mildly chilly sleep next to a Chinese guy who is name is ‘MaoDou’, which means ‘Everything is round’, because he has a round face.
Two days ago I stepped off a thirty some hour train onto a Chengdu evening. The trackside scenery from Beijing to Chengdu is stirring. A healthy part of my melted brain is still on that train I think, bound for the ‘Nam. I don’t know how to adequately describe the Chinese countryside, it is; fearsome, stunning, desolate, beautiful, void, dark, humble, poor, dirty, innocent, polluted, hopeless, marvelous, hard-working. My camera is still broken, and now so is my brain from capturing in its stead.
Chengdu was welcoming, the outdoors was welcoming, people I could talk to were welcoming, I was personally welcomed. “My roommates are all preparing supper for you” I am told.
Yesterday was the best day I’ve had since I’ve been in China. I’m living with my host and their three roommates (one of whom is MaoDou) near the campus of her Arts University twenty some minutes by bus outside of Chengdu. It’s considered ‘countryside’ still, but it’s relatively modern. The area we are living in is populated almost entirely by art students, so it’s really cool. Anyway, yesterday we rented motorcycles and cruised around town. Then in the evening we had a huge BBQ on the roof of one of the student’s apartments. We gathered some stones and loosely assembled them on the marble balcony floor, dropped in some charcoal, and started a fire. There were ten of us hovered around the small fire, which had a makeshift net strewn about it on which we cooked lotus, beef, chicken legs, breads, potatoes, etc. A flurry chopsticks and conversation carried on into the wee hours. It felt very homey.
Dec. 16
Right now I’m in a hostel in Chengdu’s city center. Until now I’ve been hanging out with my host and their roommates at the Arts University, which has been really amazing. I’m so happy to be with a familiar faee again, but at the same time my Chinese is digressing. Hanging out with a translator all day has made me too lazy to try saying things on my own. I can’t wait to go back to Nanning and start learning formally again. I’ve applied for two more jobs in Nanning, both of them are for oral classes.
It’s 2:20 in the afternoon, I have just awoken from a mildly chilly sleep next to a Chinese guy who is name is ‘MaoDou’, which means ‘Everything is round’, because he has a round face.
Two days ago I stepped off a thirty some hour train onto a Chengdu evening. The trackside scenery from Beijing to Chengdu is stirring. A healthy part of my melted brain is still on that train I think, bound for the ‘Nam. I don’t know how to adequately describe the Chinese countryside, it is; fearsome, stunning, desolate, beautiful, void, dark, humble, poor, dirty, innocent, polluted, hopeless, marvelous, hard-working. My camera is still broken, and now so is my brain from capturing in its stead.
Chengdu was welcoming, the outdoors was welcoming, people I could talk to were welcoming, I was personally welcomed. “My roommates are all preparing supper for you” I am told.
Yesterday was the best day I’ve had since I’ve been in China. I’m living with my host and their three roommates (one of whom is MaoDou) near the campus of her Arts University twenty some minutes by bus outside of Chengdu. It’s considered ‘countryside’ still, but it’s relatively modern. The area we are living in is populated almost entirely by art students, so it’s really cool. Anyway, yesterday we rented motorcycles and cruised around town. Then in the evening we had a huge BBQ on the roof of one of the student’s apartments. We gathered some stones and loosely assembled them on the marble balcony floor, dropped in some charcoal, and started a fire. There were ten of us hovered around the small fire, which had a makeshift net strewn about it on which we cooked lotus, beef, chicken legs, breads, potatoes, etc. A flurry chopsticks and conversation carried on into the wee hours. It felt very homey.
Dec. 16
Right now I’m in a hostel in Chengdu’s city center. Until now I’ve been hanging out with my host and their roommates at the Arts University, which has been really amazing. I’m so happy to be with a familiar faee again, but at the same time my Chinese is digressing. Hanging out with a translator all day has made me too lazy to try saying things on my own. I can’t wait to go back to Nanning and start learning formally again. I’ve applied for two more jobs in Nanning, both of them are for oral classes.
12.09.2008
Nothing Exciting
I bought a train ticket to Chengdu. I leave in two days. The train station was a total zoo, even by Chinese standards. The ticket issuers have a reputation for being very impatient, so I nervously stepped up to the plate.
"Ming tian you huo che dao Chengdu qu ma? Wo xiang zuo ying wo, zui shang pu de..."
"Mei you"
"Hou tian ne?"
"You" (then a bunch of things I didn't understand)
(more of the same questions)
(more answers I didn't understand)
(I asked the same questions)
(She said some junk)
(Now I have a train ticket to Chengdu, a hard-sleeper and top bunk, just like I asked for)
Thankfully my lady did not represent the reputation of ticket ladies. She smiled at me, and was patient.
I'm so psyched to take a train again.
-
I've mostly been eating bread today, went skateboarding, to some spot that was in a 411, close to the place with those huge black banks that go on forever (from the Nike video). I think I might go check those out tomorrow, my last day in Beijing.
"Ming tian you huo che dao Chengdu qu ma? Wo xiang zuo ying wo, zui shang pu de..."
"Mei you"
"Hou tian ne?"
"You" (then a bunch of things I didn't understand)
(more of the same questions)
(more answers I didn't understand)
(I asked the same questions)
(She said some junk)
(Now I have a train ticket to Chengdu, a hard-sleeper and top bunk, just like I asked for)
Thankfully my lady did not represent the reputation of ticket ladies. She smiled at me, and was patient.
I'm so psyched to take a train again.
-
I've mostly been eating bread today, went skateboarding, to some spot that was in a 411, close to the place with those huge black banks that go on forever (from the Nike video). I think I might go check those out tomorrow, my last day in Beijing.
12.08.2008
Thing That Chinese People Like...
老人很喜欢锻炼身体，在公园里， 路旁边，那里都。。。
虽然，最奇怪的爱好是 backwards 走路。。。
The old people seriously love doing exercises. Anytime you go to a park, people are doing group exercises. Group dancing is also very popular…with speakers blaring 90’s Seniorita music, old bittys struggle to keep up. But they do it with a smile on their face, and they are all in really good shape because of it. Old couples will be spontaneously dancing in any given clearing, anywhere there is a big enough space for fifty old women, fifty old women will be. They are all doing the exercises (which are similar to Tae-Bo, dancing, and pilates) in unison! I have watched this, and there is no leader. I don’t know how they know what to do. It’s neat.
Probably the most bizarre form of exercise is backwards walking. Old men especially love to walk backwards. The Chinese have crazy theories; like you are supposed to eat the part of any animal that corresponds to pain you are having. Leg cramps, eat some chicken leg, back problems, munch on some bacon, brain pain, shovel out a skull. I’m not sure if they think backwards walking will make them younger? Go back in time…walk backwards, duh.
Somehow Hall & Oates of Hall & Oates fame, together with ‘LifeTime’, have a total monopoly over CD’s shipped into China. You know when you watch TV late enough and those infomercials for schfifty CD’s of your favorite 80’s ballads start to come on?? That’s all China knows. These people LOVE them some ballads. Usually not epic ballads though, sappy Celine-y ballads are preferred. Chick ballads mostly.
This morning I moved into a hostel in a really traditional hutong area. I absolutely love it, it feels really quaint and seedy. I think I will jump on a train to Chengdu in two days, I’m just too lazy to buy a ticket right now. It’s four in the afternoon and I’ve just been reading, eating candy, and making this blog. I hope you enjoy it.
虽然，最奇怪的爱好是 backwards 走路。。。
The old people seriously love doing exercises. Anytime you go to a park, people are doing group exercises. Group dancing is also very popular…with speakers blaring 90’s Seniorita music, old bittys struggle to keep up. But they do it with a smile on their face, and they are all in really good shape because of it. Old couples will be spontaneously dancing in any given clearing, anywhere there is a big enough space for fifty old women, fifty old women will be. They are all doing the exercises (which are similar to Tae-Bo, dancing, and pilates) in unison! I have watched this, and there is no leader. I don’t know how they know what to do. It’s neat.
Probably the most bizarre form of exercise is backwards walking. Old men especially love to walk backwards. The Chinese have crazy theories; like you are supposed to eat the part of any animal that corresponds to pain you are having. Leg cramps, eat some chicken leg, back problems, munch on some bacon, brain pain, shovel out a skull. I’m not sure if they think backwards walking will make them younger? Go back in time…walk backwards, duh.
Somehow Hall & Oates of Hall & Oates fame, together with ‘LifeTime’, have a total monopoly over CD’s shipped into China. You know when you watch TV late enough and those infomercials for schfifty CD’s of your favorite 80’s ballads start to come on?? That’s all China knows. These people LOVE them some ballads. Usually not epic ballads though, sappy Celine-y ballads are preferred. Chick ballads mostly.
This morning I moved into a hostel in a really traditional hutong area. I absolutely love it, it feels really quaint and seedy. I think I will jump on a train to Chengdu in two days, I’m just too lazy to buy a ticket right now. It’s four in the afternoon and I’ve just been reading, eating candy, and making this blog. I hope you enjoy it.
12.07.2008
The Next Stop Is YongHeGong Lama Temple Station
Xia che de chang ke....shenme shenme de!
I hear this everyday on the subway, and now it will be my stop. The girl who does the English announcements on the subway's intercom is American. You can hear it every time she drawls the word 'transfer', and it upsets me, for reasons I'm not entirely sure of.
I booked a hostel for three days near YongHeGong, 69 kuai (in total)! It's definitely the low season, which makes hostel, train, and plane livin' much more affordable. The rest of China, here I come..soon.
My host's family invited me to their house to ring in the Chinese New Year, they felt bad that I am to spend Christmas without my family, so they invited me to theirs! (We say tomato/The Chinese say tomato). Amazing!
I ate duck at the most famous duck place in Beijing, woohoo. It was tasty for sure, tasty and pricey. There was a severed duck head to the immediate right of my chopstick hand the whole meal, all crusty and roasted. It was severed from the neck, and then along the corpus callosum, so you could see what it was thinking. I saw what he was thinking, he was judging me. But he didn't know that I was judging him too, because I have to pay 25 dollars to eat him, and he gets subway for free!
I opted not to eat the duck head.
I found out some interesting facts about Chinese doctors. First of which, they don't make an exceptional salary, also, it is a dangerous occupation. Doctors have been threatened, terrorized, and even killed by patients families should something unfortunate happen under their care. I'm not sure why the regard is a lot lower for doctors here, the schooling is roughly the same.
I hear this everyday on the subway, and now it will be my stop. The girl who does the English announcements on the subway's intercom is American. You can hear it every time she drawls the word 'transfer', and it upsets me, for reasons I'm not entirely sure of.
I booked a hostel for three days near YongHeGong, 69 kuai (in total)! It's definitely the low season, which makes hostel, train, and plane livin' much more affordable. The rest of China, here I come..soon.
My host's family invited me to their house to ring in the Chinese New Year, they felt bad that I am to spend Christmas without my family, so they invited me to theirs! (We say tomato/The Chinese say tomato). Amazing!
I ate duck at the most famous duck place in Beijing, woohoo. It was tasty for sure, tasty and pricey. There was a severed duck head to the immediate right of my chopstick hand the whole meal, all crusty and roasted. It was severed from the neck, and then along the corpus callosum, so you could see what it was thinking. I saw what he was thinking, he was judging me. But he didn't know that I was judging him too, because I have to pay 25 dollars to eat him, and he gets subway for free!
I opted not to eat the duck head.
I found out some interesting facts about Chinese doctors. First of which, they don't make an exceptional salary, also, it is a dangerous occupation. Doctors have been threatened, terrorized, and even killed by patients families should something unfortunate happen under their care. I'm not sure why the regard is a lot lower for doctors here, the schooling is roughly the same.
12.06.2008
798
There's an art district called Factory 798 here in Beijing. It's quite fascinating. Two city blocks worth of factories, some still working, most abandoned and replaced with art studios. Random buildings with unassuming exteriors have marvelous galleries inside. Everything is really industrial and dismal feeling until you go enter the buildings. My camera stopped working again, at the Factory. It took three days for brand new batteries to drain, so I think I'm going to stop taking pictures. Or just take very few, until I get to Hong Kong where I can buy a camera for mega low dollar bills. I also found out today that 1 CAD = 5.4 CNY, not 6.8 CNY like I thought (that's the American exchange rate), which is a bummer.
I feel lonely not having any real friends in Beijing, I feel way too dependent not having my own apartment, I feel wasteful not being able to cook my own food, and I feel antsy not working/making money. I'm going to change locations soon, I'm not sure to where, and when though.
I feel lonely not having any real friends in Beijing, I feel way too dependent not having my own apartment, I feel wasteful not being able to cook my own food, and I feel antsy not working/making money. I'm going to change locations soon, I'm not sure to where, and when though.
12.02.2008
Oh, You're So Silent Jens
Tonight I went to go see Jens Lekman live in concert. Before I did that I went for supper by myself in a neighboring area. I ducked out of the busy street I was on into a small hutong. I looked for the most dodgy jiaotza place I could find. I ate beef and cilantro jiaotza with a bottle of Yanjing beer. A very delicious, very Chinese meal. A large 600mL bottle of beer can be bought at corner stores everywhere for four kuai, which is about sixty cents. I'm really glad I'm not an alcoholic.
After eating I stumbled (disorient induced, not alcohol induced) to MAO Live Club where Jens was playing. His set was performed very well, with accuracy and Scandinavian charm. The place was packed, very few Chinese though. The ex-pat contingent in Beijing is very large. Throughout the course of a day I usually see at least a dozen foreigners, whereas the whole time I was in Nanning earlier this year I think I only saw two.
The subway stops running at eleven or eleven thirty of the clock, I don't know exactly because I haven't tested the waters, but regardless, I left MAO after that. I took a taxi by myself for the first time, giving directions and conversation in Mandarin, I think the fact that I held a primitive conversation prevented me from getting cheated. A single white male, primary candidate.
Overall I feel successful. Tomorrow I might meet up with another CouchSurfer and shoot some skateboarding photos around the city. I haven't skated since I've come here. There's too much going on, and surprisingly not as many spots as the smaller cities. I can't figure that one out.
After eating I stumbled (disorient induced, not alcohol induced) to MAO Live Club where Jens was playing. His set was performed very well, with accuracy and Scandinavian charm. The place was packed, very few Chinese though. The ex-pat contingent in Beijing is very large. Throughout the course of a day I usually see at least a dozen foreigners, whereas the whole time I was in Nanning earlier this year I think I only saw two.
The subway stops running at eleven or eleven thirty of the clock, I don't know exactly because I haven't tested the waters, but regardless, I left MAO after that. I took a taxi by myself for the first time, giving directions and conversation in Mandarin, I think the fact that I held a primitive conversation prevented me from getting cheated. A single white male, primary candidate.
Overall I feel successful. Tomorrow I might meet up with another CouchSurfer and shoot some skateboarding photos around the city. I haven't skated since I've come here. There's too much going on, and surprisingly not as many spots as the smaller cities. I can't figure that one out.
12.01.2008
China At Night In The Hutongs
China at night in the hutongs is a dystopia. Everywhere it is dark, both in mood and physical attribute. Only neon signs pierce the darkness, some light pollution trickles in from a neighboring busy road, but the hutongs are eery. Old ladies with weathered faces sweep their stoops, men on creeky bicycles pass by, there eyes never leaving yours. Tiny shops sparse themselves along the crumbling brick walls, but the sense that most lends itself to dystopia is smell. Every thirty paces down every winding hutong encounters a new odor. Sometimes it's garbage, sometimes is sewage, sometimes it's fruit, all the time it is very strong.
Watch Blade Runner, the noodle house scene at the beginning, that is what it's like.
Watch Blade Runner, the noodle house scene at the beginning, that is what it's like.
I Say Cilantro, You Say Coriander
Alright you pawns, as a result of a few requests, you are now free to comment, so comment on!
-
我昨天有一开会， 现在找教书的工作， 但是找不到， 因为我马上走。 我下下个星期到成都去， 没办法工作很久。
I had a job interview yesterday, they were going to give me one too, but then I told them I was only here for two more weeks. I knew I wasn't going to get the job based on this fact, but I wanted to have an interview, just for the experience.
-
I went to Starbucks yesterday because McDonalds was too hot to study in. There are many things wrong with that sentence, there are many things wrong with my earlier Chinese sentences, there are many things wrong with cell phones, but there are the most things wrong with Starbucks. I went into Starbucks though, and not just to look this time. I had five hours without a home to go to, so I went somewhere with conditioned air, soft comfortable seats, and a horribly pretentious demographic who's bantering I was glad to not understand. If I'm going to have to drop trow I'd like to drop them myself without somebody else's covert cunning, which has now been a recurring event. Starbucks seemed like a perfect candidate. After reading a few chapters from 'Survivor', I fell asleep to a woman from just across my table's irritating cell-phone gaming. The same four second jingle on loop, over, and over. I woke up to it some time later as well, but the woman from across the table was no longer cell-phoning. This made me conclude that it was in fact my cell phone, in my pocket. Some gaming function (I didn't even know I had games?) must've been activated while I was shifting about, losing myself via Palahniuk.
It was then that I realized, at that moment, I was every single thing I hated about cell-phones, Starbucks, and....mass corporate consumption!!!!
I left immediately, embarrassed, ashamed, and depressed.
-
Poison Script- This post is ripe with cynicism, truth is I'm still having the time of my life and have never been happier! I think I've been reading Chuck P. for too long...
-
我昨天有一开会， 现在找教书的工作， 但是找不到， 因为我马上走。 我下下个星期到成都去， 没办法工作很久。
I had a job interview yesterday, they were going to give me one too, but then I told them I was only here for two more weeks. I knew I wasn't going to get the job based on this fact, but I wanted to have an interview, just for the experience.
-
I went to Starbucks yesterday because McDonalds was too hot to study in. There are many things wrong with that sentence, there are many things wrong with my earlier Chinese sentences, there are many things wrong with cell phones, but there are the most things wrong with Starbucks. I went into Starbucks though, and not just to look this time. I had five hours without a home to go to, so I went somewhere with conditioned air, soft comfortable seats, and a horribly pretentious demographic who's bantering I was glad to not understand. If I'm going to have to drop trow I'd like to drop them myself without somebody else's covert cunning, which has now been a recurring event. Starbucks seemed like a perfect candidate. After reading a few chapters from 'Survivor', I fell asleep to a woman from just across my table's irritating cell-phone gaming. The same four second jingle on loop, over, and over. I woke up to it some time later as well, but the woman from across the table was no longer cell-phoning. This made me conclude that it was in fact my cell phone, in my pocket. Some gaming function (I didn't even know I had games?) must've been activated while I was shifting about, losing myself via Palahniuk.
It was then that I realized, at that moment, I was every single thing I hated about cell-phones, Starbucks, and....mass corporate consumption!!!!
I left immediately, embarrassed, ashamed, and depressed.
-
Poison Script- This post is ripe with cynicism, truth is I'm still having the time of my life and have never been happier! I think I've been reading Chuck P. for too long...
11.30.2008
One More Thing
Before I retire this day;
I've been making mental notes to remember some dreams (which I never do).
Dream the first was a few nights ago, I dreamt this crew of Chinese workers tore down the main office at the seed plant and replaced it with a much larger and better one.
Dream number two was last night, I met a girl named 'Nebrantha' (???) and Bram tattooed the word 'BENNT' on my arm. I'm open to your interpretations.
P.S. I'm home alone with my hosts parents, the Dad just flipped his lid at the neighbors for being noisy, and is now high-volume farting in his room. Hmm...
He's super rad though, the nicest guy, great cook.
I've been making mental notes to remember some dreams (which I never do).
Dream the first was a few nights ago, I dreamt this crew of Chinese workers tore down the main office at the seed plant and replaced it with a much larger and better one.
Dream number two was last night, I met a girl named 'Nebrantha' (???) and Bram tattooed the word 'BENNT' on my arm. I'm open to your interpretations.
P.S. I'm home alone with my hosts parents, the Dad just flipped his lid at the neighbors for being noisy, and is now high-volume farting in his room. Hmm...
He's super rad though, the nicest guy, great cook.
Chinese Proverb In Bush-League Pinyin
Fan hou, bai bu zou, neng huo jiu shi jiu
Translation: After a meal, walk one hundred steps, and you will live to be 99 years old.
Notice how few words are required for this Chinese saying, I love the efficiency of this language.
It felt good to be depended upon for translative purposes today (still Great Wall day, see below).
Translation: After a meal, walk one hundred steps, and you will live to be 99 years old.
Notice how few words are required for this Chinese saying, I love the efficiency of this language.
It felt good to be depended upon for translative purposes today (still Great Wall day, see below).
Fool Me Once, Shame On Thee; Fool Me Again, And Again, And Again, Shame On Me!
Yesterday:
Was amazing. I'm living in Chao Yang district right now, and if you look it up on a map, you'll see it has a large park, Chao Yang Park. I suggested going there, thinking it was just a foliagey kind of park, but it is an amusing kind. I went on a roller-coaster, an actual one, which I've never done before.
Today:
Chris from Oxford and I went to the Great Wall, Simitai section, the most strenuous section supposedly. It was a 10Km walk among the mountains, nothing short of a spectacle. My mind was sufficiently blown, and my camera broke within 5 minutes of the three and a half hour walk. You can just google some well-taken pictures instead of looking at the garbage I took.
We were fooled into taking a taxi by a multi-personed, highly organized band of Chinese's's', much like the rickshaw driver, and the 'tea ceremony' ladies before them.
It's a few hour trip to the site of the Great Wall from Beijing. First the subway, to the long-distance bus, then taxi. , An overly nice lady offered to help us find the right bus from the train station. She escorted us the whole way, and didn't even want any money! Amazing. I thought this was a genuine act of kindness, as is often experienced here. When the bus dropped us off at the town nearest the wall (from where you need to take a taxi), the dodgiest, moustache-clad, Daniel Shimizu looking guy rushed on board and singled us out, telling us to go with him. It's as if he knew we were coming, so I figured the nice woman and him had an agreement. She sends people his way, and gets a cut of the 360 kuai taxi ride. I asked him if his friend phoned him and said we were coming, he obviously said no. It was definitely my fault for not having my guard up, I knew it was too fishy, but neither me or Chris really cared that much. I refuse to start thinking every time a stranger is nice to me it is a ploy to get my money, even though that is often the case. The cool part of the operation was that the bus driver who took us back to Beijing also had a cut in the profits. The queue to get on the return bus was outrageous, but when we showed up with Mr. Dong (Moustache Shimizu's real name), he gave the driver a wave and we were allowed ahead of some 50 odd people, right on the bus. Cool!
Was amazing. I'm living in Chao Yang district right now, and if you look it up on a map, you'll see it has a large park, Chao Yang Park. I suggested going there, thinking it was just a foliagey kind of park, but it is an amusing kind. I went on a roller-coaster, an actual one, which I've never done before.
Today:
Chris from Oxford and I went to the Great Wall, Simitai section, the most strenuous section supposedly. It was a 10Km walk among the mountains, nothing short of a spectacle. My mind was sufficiently blown, and my camera broke within 5 minutes of the three and a half hour walk. You can just google some well-taken pictures instead of looking at the garbage I took.
We were fooled into taking a taxi by a multi-personed, highly organized band of Chinese's's', much like the rickshaw driver, and the 'tea ceremony' ladies before them.
It's a few hour trip to the site of the Great Wall from Beijing. First the subway, to the long-distance bus, then taxi. , An overly nice lady offered to help us find the right bus from the train station. She escorted us the whole way, and didn't even want any money! Amazing. I thought this was a genuine act of kindness, as is often experienced here. When the bus dropped us off at the town nearest the wall (from where you need to take a taxi), the dodgiest, moustache-clad, Daniel Shimizu looking guy rushed on board and singled us out, telling us to go with him. It's as if he knew we were coming, so I figured the nice woman and him had an agreement. She sends people his way, and gets a cut of the 360 kuai taxi ride. I asked him if his friend phoned him and said we were coming, he obviously said no. It was definitely my fault for not having my guard up, I knew it was too fishy, but neither me or Chris really cared that much. I refuse to start thinking every time a stranger is nice to me it is a ploy to get my money, even though that is often the case. The cool part of the operation was that the bus driver who took us back to Beijing also had a cut in the profits. The queue to get on the return bus was outrageous, but when we showed up with Mr. Dong (Moustache Shimizu's real name), he gave the driver a wave and we were allowed ahead of some 50 odd people, right on the bus. Cool!
11.28.2008
Spa Livin'
Yesterday night I went to a 24-hour spa with Ai, her Dad, and Paul (An Englishman friend of Ai's). It was one of Ai's Mother's students who treated us, I think. It was pretty wild. For supper I ate some shark fin soup, and bird-spit soup (the adhesive spit birds use to build nests), along with various other ethically questionable things. One of the pools in the spa had QingQingYu, which are inch long fish that bite you. They feed on your dead skin; there were hundreds upon hundreds of them. They made you feel like when your arm falls asleep watching television. It was interesting to hang out with them though.
11.27.2008
Independent Woman
I'm in dire needs of a Chinese teacher. Some days my mouth moves but no words come out, other days it is as effortless as English. Speaking of teachers, I have an interview Monday for a tutoring job. It's for here in Beijing, I suppose I have to tell them I'm leaving soon. Even just a few weeks of tutoring would be good experience though, and I could make some cash. I've also applied to a few apartments for the remaining three weeks that I'm here, just for fun. My host family has assured me I'm welcome for as long as I want, but I would like to feel independent, and with purpose. I think living in an apartment of my own with a job will do this. If anyone feels like paying $Google, and feels like draining my SIM card super duper fast, my number is 13691510149. I wouldn't suggest it though.
Teens In The Marines
Last night I went to some fake dance party which was held on a fake boat on some fake lake for fake Thanksgiving (really..). There was free food, fun people, but nobody dancing. The hull didn't rock, and the mast was still as a sun dial; something was mizzen (missing, get it?). The dance floor was on the poop deck, but, like, I probably would've called it the party-poop deck. Conversation was the only thing that anchored my night.
11.26.2008
Waiting For The Train
In lieu of my inability to post pictures I will maybe make an album on the FBook or something. Or Flickr? I don't know how to use these programs really, I'll figure something out. I WILL BE BROADCASTED!!
'psyche''
'DOUBLE psyche out - I am the shameful owner of a cell phone. Sorry Jimbo and Drex. Stay strong. It will not be so in Canada.
'psyche''
'DOUBLE psyche out - I am the shameful owner of a cell phone. Sorry Jimbo and Drex. Stay strong. It will not be so in Canada.
Zenme Zheme Da
I’m currently having a ball here in Beijing. I was touristing out pretty hard today, went to Forbidden City, then Jing Shan Park, then some hutongs. I was just by myself all day, walking around, checking stuff out. I feel bad for not knowing (or really caring about) ancient history, I think a lot was wasted on me today. The subway at rush hour was berserk, my body and so many bodies were touching as we watched the doors close on a gaggle of Joon-He-come-lately’s.
After having walked around for hours, I sat in a café where I studied, ate spaghetti, engaged in conversation with the staff, and fell asleep. I made plans to meet up with a fellow Beijing couchsurfer for supper later on. A recent friend and staff member at the café took the bus with me to make sure I wouldn’t miss my transfer and be late, how kind.
This entire day was funded by Graham, Kristy, and Norah Friesen. Thanks guys! Merry Christmas!
I’ve found a neat little remedy for missing my bicycle though; driving a rickshaw. When you approach rickshaw drivers and suggest that you give them a ride for a change, they get psyched. Bystanders flip their wigs when they see such blatant role reversal.
My brain hurts from thinking in Mandarin all day. Food prices in tourist areas are at least twice what they are rurally. Starbucks is the same price as home, not even the fiscal inhibitions that come along with traveling made me want to buy one.
Hot Pot is a very traditional way of eating here. It’s basically a pot that is put on an element in the center of your table, with food of all kinds boiling in a spicy broth. It will almost certainly give you diarrhea, but worth it.
After I go see the Great Wall I’ll have done literally all there is to do in Beijing. I think I will try to find a job for the following week or so.
After having walked around for hours, I sat in a café where I studied, ate spaghetti, engaged in conversation with the staff, and fell asleep. I made plans to meet up with a fellow Beijing couchsurfer for supper later on. A recent friend and staff member at the café took the bus with me to make sure I wouldn’t miss my transfer and be late, how kind.
This entire day was funded by Graham, Kristy, and Norah Friesen. Thanks guys! Merry Christmas!
I’ve found a neat little remedy for missing my bicycle though; driving a rickshaw. When you approach rickshaw drivers and suggest that you give them a ride for a change, they get psyched. Bystanders flip their wigs when they see such blatant role reversal.
My brain hurts from thinking in Mandarin all day. Food prices in tourist areas are at least twice what they are rurally. Starbucks is the same price as home, not even the fiscal inhibitions that come along with traveling made me want to buy one.
Hot Pot is a very traditional way of eating here. It’s basically a pot that is put on an element in the center of your table, with food of all kinds boiling in a spicy broth. It will almost certainly give you diarrhea, but worth it.
After I go see the Great Wall I’ll have done literally all there is to do in Beijing. I think I will try to find a job for the following week or so.
11.25.2008
Beijing
It seems I have been prohibited from posting pictures. I'm not entirely sure why, it may or may not have something to do with their content.
I would like to start from the beginning.
The morning I left my Dad had to search (probably very nervously) for me, until he found me sleeping in Drex' room (there was a party downstairs that night). I could've slept through the alarm, or I could've been in a power sleep given the two nights prior were nearly entirely void of it. I woke up anxious and not ready to leave.
I arrived in Vancouver, Barf was waiting there for me like he said he would be. He carried with him a pantry jar of Jack Daniel's, like he said he would be. I felt badly sipping from it thinking about humble hands filling it with peach preserve, having no idea what sin liquid would one day occupy it. We proceeded to drive to Denny's in Barf's shotgunless car. The last Canadian familiar face I'll see.
Du Yan's parents were waiting for me in Beijing, just like they said they would be. In typical Chinese fashion they treated me to dinner. Them not knowing any English, me not knowing very much Chinese. A smile goes a long way.
My hosts, Ai and her parents, are beyond welcoming, beyond hospitable. They are more than happy to have me in their home, to cook for me. I am feeling very overwhelmed and undeserving.
I feel quite comfortable here. The subway system makes navigating very easy and I feel my language ability has improved immensely since I was last in China. I went out by myself all day today. I decided to go to Tian'an men square. As a foreigner, you can not walk by Tian'an men square undisturbed. I am happy about this; I never actually made it inside. Instead I spent the entire day outside Tian'an men practicing Mandarin with passers-by.
The scale of everything in Beijing is just so large. Everything is so grandiose. The skyline is without end, each building taller than the last, each adorned with more lights. I enjoy feeling small and unimportant, I enjoy not understanding how it's possible for millions of people to live in one place, or how most of the buildings here were built only in the last fifty years.
I would like to start from the beginning.
The morning I left my Dad had to search (probably very nervously) for me, until he found me sleeping in Drex' room (there was a party downstairs that night). I could've slept through the alarm, or I could've been in a power sleep given the two nights prior were nearly entirely void of it. I woke up anxious and not ready to leave.
I arrived in Vancouver, Barf was waiting there for me like he said he would be. He carried with him a pantry jar of Jack Daniel's, like he said he would be. I felt badly sipping from it thinking about humble hands filling it with peach preserve, having no idea what sin liquid would one day occupy it. We proceeded to drive to Denny's in Barf's shotgunless car. The last Canadian familiar face I'll see.
Du Yan's parents were waiting for me in Beijing, just like they said they would be. In typical Chinese fashion they treated me to dinner. Them not knowing any English, me not knowing very much Chinese. A smile goes a long way.
My hosts, Ai and her parents, are beyond welcoming, beyond hospitable. They are more than happy to have me in their home, to cook for me. I am feeling very overwhelmed and undeserving.
I feel quite comfortable here. The subway system makes navigating very easy and I feel my language ability has improved immensely since I was last in China. I went out by myself all day today. I decided to go to Tian'an men square. As a foreigner, you can not walk by Tian'an men square undisturbed. I am happy about this; I never actually made it inside. Instead I spent the entire day outside Tian'an men practicing Mandarin with passers-by.
The scale of everything in Beijing is just so large. Everything is so grandiose. The skyline is without end, each building taller than the last, each adorned with more lights. I enjoy feeling small and unimportant, I enjoy not understanding how it's possible for millions of people to live in one place, or how most of the buildings here were built only in the last fifty years.
11.23.2008
Huan Ying
This is Ai. Her and her family are absolutely the most hospitable and caring people I've ever met.
Ai's Mom is a doctor, her father works in a building that produces medical equipment. This is the bulk of there apartment.
This is the kitchen, where Ai's father makes delicious Chinese dishes.
Ai's Mom is a doctor, her father works in a building that produces medical equipment. This is the bulk of there apartment.
This is the kitchen, where Ai's father makes delicious Chinese dishes.
Wangfujing
Walking street in Beijing. Me and my current couch surfing host, Ai, went to go play arcade games.
11.22.2008
11.18.2008
Clam Diggers
It seems luck is on my side. Luck and other things. I won the lottery today, even though my winnings only amounted to five clams.
Here's a picture from China I hadn't posted yet. It rained until the streets were flooded, but my poor skills only captured the luminescence of that sign.
Here's a picture from China I hadn't posted yet. It rained until the streets were flooded, but my poor skills only captured the luminescence of that sign.
11.17.2008
Pieces Of People
Falafel Place, Two breakfasts in two days. The first was with Marky, Cara, Tyler, Evan, Wiebe, Nick, and Will (Sorry I don't have a picture, C-Bass does though). The second with Drex and Bram. These people are very, very important to me. Thanks for sending me off! Happy Birthday Bram!
Possibly my primary source for laughter. WilfBelf
Possibly my primary source for laughter. WilfBelf
11.14.2008
Wheat
Two stocks of wheat, swaying but firmly rooted. Practicing their preaching of sowing and reaping, the two of them beautiful. Lest I forget where I came from.
11.10.2008
生词
北京市 - Běijīngshì - Beijing City
长途汽车 - chángtúqìchē - long distance bus
单程票 - dānchéngpiào - one-way ticket
站 - zhàn - (bus) stop; (train) station
长途汽车 - chángtúqìchē - long distance bus
单程票 - dānchéngpiào - one-way ticket
站 - zhàn - (bus) stop; (train) station
黑色的牙膏
I hope I fair better.
(Link stolen from ChinesePod's Jp's blog)
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjY4ODExODQ=.html
The following quote is posted under the video link, I will re-post it here because it is the first full-character sentence I've seen outside of a textbook that I fully understand! And also an interesting insight to how Chinese view Black people.
"黑人也是人！都是我们的朋友！"
It translates as: Black people are people too! Everybody is our friend!
(Link stolen from ChinesePod's Jp's blog)
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjY4ODExODQ=.html
The following quote is posted under the video link, I will re-post it here because it is the first full-character sentence I've seen outside of a textbook that I fully understand! And also an interesting insight to how Chinese view Black people.
"黑人也是人！都是我们的朋友！"
It translates as: Black people are people too! Everybody is our friend!
11.07.2008
Parry Sound
The first snow fall of the year, flakes descend as gently as they are a reminder of imminent cold. But it is nice though; the car a block down McMillan, the first to sleuth along snow settled avenues, makes fresh tracks and no sound. Until well traveled upon, everything is muted. Noise pollution is refrained and awe is not inspired, rather unavoidable. Audibility is dampened, entirely, excluding only the pitter-patter. And for the first time in a long time you feel aware.
10.13.2008
10.11.2008
Blue Ridge Mountains
An excerpt from the new Fleet Foxes album:
Let's drive to the countryside and leave behind some green eyed look-a-likes so no one gets worried.
Let's drive to the countryside and leave behind some green eyed look-a-likes so no one gets worried.
10.10.2008
Stardust
Commencing countdown engine's on;
Check ignition and may God's love be with you
This is ground control to Major Tom
I'm leaving Nov. 20.
Check ignition and may God's love be with you
This is ground control to Major Tom
I'm leaving Nov. 20.
10.07.2008
Ancient Voices
After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.
9.28.2008
Zhao Pian
Here are some pictures that make me smile. I'm sorry to the takers of them, for I don't know who they are to give rightful credit.
Emptying A Cartridge At The Sun.
It seems long days and the prairies radiating warmth are slowly being swallowed, as they annually are, by a creeping arctic presence. I can feel the perforations in my bones involuntarily offering it shelter, resulting in a perma-subcomfort core temperature. My bed looks more inviting everyday. The cold air brings with it a tension, an apprehension, and fuels my desire to leave.
I thought about how easy it would be to go live in the jungles of China. A half hour bike ride in any direction from Nanning will take you there. I could wake up, commute, exchange english lessons for noodles and joutza during the day. Plant some vegetables for night snack, live under a small canopy, and wash my clothes in the polluted river. At least for a while anyway.
I have ants in my pants. And that is alright, because ants are forever obedient, forever working to pull their weight, forever communal and coexisting. Ants never question, they have a duty, and they fulfill it regardless of cost or sacrifice. I have an admiration for ants' lives. I prefer them in my pants.
I thought about how easy it would be to go live in the jungles of China. A half hour bike ride in any direction from Nanning will take you there. I could wake up, commute, exchange english lessons for noodles and joutza during the day. Plant some vegetables for night snack, live under a small canopy, and wash my clothes in the polluted river. At least for a while anyway.
I have ants in my pants. And that is alright, because ants are forever obedient, forever working to pull their weight, forever communal and coexisting. Ants never question, they have a duty, and they fulfill it regardless of cost or sacrifice. I have an admiration for ants' lives. I prefer them in my pants.
9.04.2008
9.02.2008
One Of Many
One reason why skateboarding rules so hard is that you can't fake it. You can't just go out and buy a flashy skateboard and everybody thinks you're cool, that won't get you those flip-kicks you're hoping for. You must clock hours if you want to accomplish anything, you've got to put in the time. You're in of you're out.
-
There's too much room (and acceptance) for transparency in a lot of outlets
Billy A., the realest dude around, (Photo stolen from sk8skates.com, probably a Neuf)
-
There's too much room (and acceptance) for transparency in a lot of outlets
Billy A., the realest dude around, (Photo stolen from sk8skates.com, probably a Neuf)
8.31.2008
Free Things! Dongxi Yao Gei Ni Bu Yong Qian!
I don't know if anyone's reading this that didn't already hear, I don't actually know if anyone reads this at all, but I'm trying to get rid of my clothes. If you've seen me wearing anything that you'd like for yourself you can have it (a few exceptions). A lot of it is gone, but there's still some junk left. I think I'm going to try to get rid of all my cd's and most of my movies as well (does anybody even like cd's???), I have tonnes of hipster music! So come over! (I'd be psyched if you wanted to trade stuff for stuff, but whatever, take what you want)
Collared Striper
Every night at every dance club!
Gun art Bram gave me, dig it.
Who doesn't love Bengal Tigers???
Tight dress pants, western-y button up
Volcom Dollin Jeans (ripped at the knee, easily patchable), some brutal sweater
Collared Striper
Every night at every dance club!
Gun art Bram gave me, dig it.
Who doesn't love Bengal Tigers???
Tight dress pants, western-y button up
Volcom Dollin Jeans (ripped at the knee, easily patchable), some brutal sweater
8.27.2008
Sleeping Is Giving In
No matter what the time is....unless the time is zaoshang. Last night I dreamt in Mandarin, I had a confrontation with a man who was being hen mafan. I both spoke, and listened to him speak in perfect (I think? hah) Mandarin. It was really neat, I woke up confused and happy.
8.23.2008
Broken Wreckord.
Feelings I cannot adequately describe:
Skateboarding - rolling away from a trick, new, old, simple, and impossible alike.
Bicycling - At night, in a vacant downtown, with only mild light pollution to disturb.
Learning and application - New vocabulary, functions of the brain, knowledge that extends right now.
Indiscriminate care - Knowing no matter how badly I blow it, there are people who will forgive me.
Skateboarding - rolling away from a trick, new, old, simple, and impossible alike.
Bicycling - At night, in a vacant downtown, with only mild light pollution to disturb.
Learning and application - New vocabulary, functions of the brain, knowledge that extends right now.
Indiscriminate care - Knowing no matter how badly I blow it, there are people who will forgive me.
8.22.2008
It's Not Up To Me
For anyone wondering: I still don't the exact date I'm returning to China.
As I was studying Mandarin today, I felt for the first time a glimmer of what fluency must feel like, which is really encouraging. I'm giving up a school's year to learn this language (and teach I guess), which is for me a significant sacrifice. The idea of four more years of post-sec edu. not being something I want to postpone a second longer than necessary. I'm partially scared that I will become too entangled with matters in China to return to complete my education, too early to say though. However; I think Bjork was channelling words from above when she wrote "It's not up to you".
As I was studying Mandarin today, I felt for the first time a glimmer of what fluency must feel like, which is really encouraging. I'm giving up a school's year to learn this language (and teach I guess), which is for me a significant sacrifice. The idea of four more years of post-sec edu. not being something I want to postpone a second longer than necessary. I'm partially scared that I will become too entangled with matters in China to return to complete my education, too early to say though. However; I think Bjork was channelling words from above when she wrote "It's not up to you".
8.19.2008
You Write The Good Songs, Baby.
Things I wish I were good at:
Art
Confrontation
Building
Skateboarding
Conveying thoughts into speech
Showing appreciation
Mandarin
Being carefree
---
Currently listening to:
Art
Confrontation
Building
Skateboarding
Conveying thoughts into speech
Showing appreciation
Mandarin
Being carefree
---
Currently listening to:
8.18.2008
Progress Report
I just started studying book two of 'Chinese Made Easier', and am paying increasing attention to Chinese characters. I recognize roughly forty, but couldn't write most of them. It's a slow and rewarding process, one which I hope will escalate to a much quicker pace once I return to China and have constant input stimulus. I've applied for a job in Nanning at a language school, I feel that city is where I belong, at least for a little while anyway. I'm waiting for reply from the school, don't be surprised if I leave on short notice. My current job comes to a close at the end of this month and despite really feeling ready to, I plan not to go back to University this Fall (I will go back later in life). I'm very excited to try something that will make me feel uncomfortable. I dread the prospect of not seeing the people I love, but anticipate the wealth of knowledge novelty gives.
8.09.2008
Things That Happened Today...
I finished my second last TESOL class, meaning as of tomorrow at 6 p.m. I'm a 'teacher', by overseas standards anyway. I'm not sure if on this particular blog I've expressed my distaste for public transit, but it is very much present. As a result of a skateboarding incident, my shoulder popped out, and I've been sporting a supportive sling of late. I'm unable to ride my bicycle, which super duper sucks. Forced to face the disgruntled bus dwellers, my shoulder was stumbled into as a man fumbling with his wallet lost his balance upon entry. To make it worse, the man sitting to my immediate left yelled at him to sit in the back while his small BAG was occupying the seat between us. It didn't really hurt, what hurt most was watching the total negligence and inconsideration of fellow people. Dear everybody: It's summer! Ride a bicycle!!!
On my walk from the bus stop to my house I happened to notice an orchestrated attack carried out by a neighbouring bee colony. Well I moreso witnessed the twitchy aftermath. I watched as bees dismembered the victim grasshopper limb by limb. One bee fully went Vince Li on the grasshopper (Not to make light of that situation). It was bizarre to watch. Pheromones are the new black.
On my walk from the bus stop to my house I happened to notice an orchestrated attack carried out by a neighbouring bee colony. Well I moreso witnessed the twitchy aftermath. I watched as bees dismembered the victim grasshopper limb by limb. One bee fully went Vince Li on the grasshopper (Not to make light of that situation). It was bizarre to watch. Pheromones are the new black.
8.08.2008
Lao Jia
Zhe xie zhao pian shi wode lao jia. Wo yao Zhong Guo de pengyou kan yi xia. Wo juede hen piao liang, hai you hen da bijiao Zhong Guo de jia, danshi, wo bijian xihuan zhu zai Zhong Guo hahah.
8.04.2008
Bicycles Pt.4
Bicycle thievery is an epidemic, sometimes preventable, sometimes not. It's the crappiest feeling
Things to think about when locking your bike:
1. Starting with the lock itself, U-Locks are tested to be the much more reliable than the bendy ones.
2. Check the structure you are locking to! (Skinny trees, removable stop signs, anticipatory loose-screwed structures, etc.)
3. Check location (Back alleys/ghetto 'hoods)
4. If you lock your bike while you work in the same spot for 8 hours every day, people notice, and things start getting stripped. Keep things fresh, or where there are usually a couple pairs of eyes around.
5. Lock around tire and frame if possible, both tires and frame if quick-release. Never just the tire itself.
Things to think about when locking your bike:
1. Starting with the lock itself, U-Locks are tested to be the much more reliable than the bendy ones.
2. Check the structure you are locking to! (Skinny trees, removable stop signs, anticipatory loose-screwed structures, etc.)
3. Check location (Back alleys/ghetto 'hoods)
4. If you lock your bike while you work in the same spot for 8 hours every day, people notice, and things start getting stripped. Keep things fresh, or where there are usually a couple pairs of eyes around.
5. Lock around tire and frame if possible, both tires and frame if quick-release. Never just the tire itself.
7.25.2008
Order's Outcome's Order
Do yourself a favor and listen to some WNYC Radiolab Podcasts.
This one is particularly good. (http://www.wnyc.org/stream/ram?file=/radiolab/radiolab021805.mp3)
I'm really feelin' what ants are up to. Ants and Bees, pretty much all colonial invertebrates. I think the necessity for community that colonies possess and the absolute dependance on each other to create a whole is metaphorical to how a healthy faith system should be set up.
"Look to the ant, consider her ways and be wise" Proverbs 6:6
This one is particularly good. (http://www.wnyc.org/stream/ram?file=/radiolab/radiolab021805.mp3)
I'm really feelin' what ants are up to. Ants and Bees, pretty much all colonial invertebrates. I think the necessity for community that colonies possess and the absolute dependance on each other to create a whole is metaphorical to how a healthy faith system should be set up.
"Look to the ant, consider her ways and be wise" Proverbs 6:6
7.23.2008
Ma'n Me
Momsy took me out for breakfast this morning. The best way to start a day.
I've decided I want to become TESOL certified, so I registered for the class that runs August 6-10. I've asked Him about it, and this is what He's told me to do. I'd expressed interest in going out there as a student, but have come to the conclusion that there's no need for such an alias, whether or not I like it China is a classroom. I have learned/will learn so much just by existing there, I just won't have any credits to show for it, AND teaching English out there will earn me some Yuan. A good remedy to my ever dwindling bank account. Woo.
Bicycles Pt.3
A recent phenomenon has occured as a result of Winnipeg's lusterless attempt at adapting to a legitimately growing alternative transportation avenue. Spraypainted stencils of bicycles can now be seen and ignored on roads all over Winnipeg. I'm not sure what to think of this yet. Local drivers will forcably become more tolerant of cyclists just by virtue of the ever expanding retirees of keys. I'm not convinced stencils are needed. In typical form, we happen to be eons behind any other major city in this area of transport. I'm hoping these cute little doodles on the road will at least take the edge off the general surliness cyclists recieve from motorists, but I also wish that money could be spent on fixing our roads so we don't have to dodge in and out of lanes to avoid being swallowed by pot holes, a likely contribution to the malcontents.
Ride a bike, it's more fun, it's more healthy, it's more.
Graham's Bike Report: To be finished tomorrow! Hopefully. Got the last of the parts today, chopped the bars, chopped the seat post, clip brake. Only assembly is needed (I'm seriously hoping anyway).
Ride a bike, it's more fun, it's more healthy, it's more.
Graham's Bike Report: To be finished tomorrow! Hopefully. Got the last of the parts today, chopped the bars, chopped the seat post, clip brake. Only assembly is needed (I'm seriously hoping anyway).
7.19.2008
Bicycles Pt.2
I got up early today to work on Graham's bicycle, and figured out that the fork I've spent hours sanding is wonky. !@#$!!. One of the prongs is very subtley bent, the wheels and brakes do not align. I am exceedingly frustrated because the headset post on this particular frame is very large, making finding a fitting fork quite difficult. I've already spent much more money than I had anticipated on this bicycle (all due to similar difficulties) and the prospect of purchasing a new fork is not an appealing one.
Live and learn right?
Live and learn right?
7.18.2008
Bicycles
Bicycles require much patience, for me anyway. Since I started considering bicycles some two years ago, I've gone through various frames, wheels, bars, forks, many many frustrations, and the like. The point is, right now, my bike is finally exactly how I want it.
As is what seems mandatory when with dealing with bicycles, I've had many testing moments working on my brother's bike.
- After tediously sorting through boxes of parts, I finally found a 52t front chain ring that I was able to remove the 42t lower chain ring from. Turns out, all the newer sealed bottom brackets (something I would not easily buy used) do not accommodate the size of the 52t front chain ring.
- Got one wrong headset cup
- There is not a seat-post in the entire bike dump that fits the frame
- The handlebars I flopped and chopped cannot accommodate brakes?? Chopped at a point of too much curvature, and the raised center's taper extends beyond what a regular clamp brake can fit (a very rare type of handlebar).
...Especially when dealing with old bikes/parts, something WILL not fit, you will have the wrong tools, ordered the wrong part, messed up the sizing, blah blah blah. Murphy's Law is in full effect with bicycles. I'm still very much bicycle incompetent, so most of my mistakes can be chalked up to that. A project I thought would take a week or two has ended up taking much more, sorry Graham.
It's fun to tinker and learn and whatnot, it's definitely all worth it when you have a solid, simple machine to ride. There are few things that are so much fun; physically, mentally, and environmentally friendly. Bikes are like really complicated skateboards.
As is what seems mandatory when with dealing with bicycles, I've had many testing moments working on my brother's bike.
- After tediously sorting through boxes of parts, I finally found a 52t front chain ring that I was able to remove the 42t lower chain ring from. Turns out, all the newer sealed bottom brackets (something I would not easily buy used) do not accommodate the size of the 52t front chain ring.
- Got one wrong headset cup
- There is not a seat-post in the entire bike dump that fits the frame
- The handlebars I flopped and chopped cannot accommodate brakes?? Chopped at a point of too much curvature, and the raised center's taper extends beyond what a regular clamp brake can fit (a very rare type of handlebar).
...Especially when dealing with old bikes/parts, something WILL not fit, you will have the wrong tools, ordered the wrong part, messed up the sizing, blah blah blah. Murphy's Law is in full effect with bicycles. I'm still very much bicycle incompetent, so most of my mistakes can be chalked up to that. A project I thought would take a week or two has ended up taking much more, sorry Graham.
It's fun to tinker and learn and whatnot, it's definitely all worth it when you have a solid, simple machine to ride. There are few things that are so much fun; physically, mentally, and environmentally friendly. Bikes are like really complicated skateboards.
7.07.2008
Notes; lists
- Good friend Brady Barf hooked up a brotha with a cameroon. Hopefully I'll be posting some pictures sooner than later. Thanks Barf!
- As I've become better versed in Mandarin, my blog address is becoming more embarassing. 'ds-ching-cher' is the welfare pinyin form of bicycle. Because there are so many technicalities with translating a non-alphabetical language into English, there are various ways of doing it. The way I adopted for my address is wicked wrong. It should read 'zi-xing-che', but even that is incomplete because there are no tones present. So I guess it should be 'zi-xing-che-4-2-1'. I guess I'll just view it as a nice reminder of learning. Does anyone even care?
- I've been having to practice patience a lot these last two weeks: Backpack, bicycle parts, University offices, long weekends, short business hours. These have all been causes for frustration, and waiting. I'm banking on character building though....
- Yann Tiersen, Andrew Bird, Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky all inspire me.
- As I've become better versed in Mandarin, my blog address is becoming more embarassing. 'ds-ching-cher' is the welfare pinyin form of bicycle. Because there are so many technicalities with translating a non-alphabetical language into English, there are various ways of doing it. The way I adopted for my address is wicked wrong. It should read 'zi-xing-che', but even that is incomplete because there are no tones present. So I guess it should be 'zi-xing-che-4-2-1'. I guess I'll just view it as a nice reminder of learning. Does anyone even care?
- I've been having to practice patience a lot these last two weeks: Backpack, bicycle parts, University offices, long weekends, short business hours. These have all been causes for frustration, and waiting. I'm banking on character building though....
- Yann Tiersen, Andrew Bird, Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky all inspire me.
Harvest
'For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life' Gal.6:8 (NASB)
For the past few months this passage has been heavy on my brain, there are many reasons why I love it. It is contextually independant, and represents what I believe to be some biblical fundamentals. To 'sow from the flesh' perfectly encompasses all things that are self-driven, self-pleasing. The teachings of the book, the bare rudiments, revolve primarily around love, and selflessness. The two of which are merely seperable by the latter's adjective quality. There's something else I believe to be intrinsic biblical doctrine, and that is community. From a secular vantage point the former part of the aforementioned passage undoubtedly holds water, but it's words like 'spirit' and 'eternal life' that are cause for timidity. The western hemisphere is stuck in this mindset that they can accomplish things on their own. The growth of independance is becoming the death of community. I moved out on my own at eighteen years of age because I live in a society that permitted me to do so. I can work, cook, exist, support my primitive needs, but I very strongly believe community outweighs all of these things. I really think communal mindsets are inherently positive, and an individualistic driven society is imminent doom. The shift towards individulism, by it's very meaning diminishes your amount of dependants, and dependance. The less we rely on others, the more we rely on ourselves. Our environment becomes one that is very easy to manipulate directly. Our own environment is eventually dictated by our own decisions, rather than a decision with collective input. When we dictate our own life with only ourselves in mind, we start to act selfishly, according the desires of the flesh. Seeds sown of the flesh reap corruption. Seeds sown of the spirit reap eternal life.
Air, food, water, shelter. These are the most stripped-down, primitive life sources. Of these sources, food and shelter are humanly pliable. Water's from the ocean, air's from the atmosphere, but food and shelter require human intervention (food is debatable, but to supply the world's needs....). I revere farming and carpentry as the most honorable of trades. Cultivating the land, sowing, reaping, constructing. Harvest. The nobility of farming and carpentry are endlessly spoken of in the book, metaphorically and literally. Being only the second generation of both a farmer and a carpenter, I hold an extruciatingly heavy self-guilt for having little to no interest in pursuing either. The humility, the essential notion of these trades and their parallel to the book form the very grassroots of my faith. Observing my family's calloused hands coincide with obedient hearts is amazing. Yet I wish not to farm, or build?? How is this so?? I view myself as the embodiment of the aforementioned individualist thinking for my generation/family. I've battled with the contradiction of influences between trade and faith. One has shaped the other, yet they are autonomous. That being said, I'm glad I chose the latter to hang on to....
For the past few months this passage has been heavy on my brain, there are many reasons why I love it. It is contextually independant, and represents what I believe to be some biblical fundamentals. To 'sow from the flesh' perfectly encompasses all things that are self-driven, self-pleasing. The teachings of the book, the bare rudiments, revolve primarily around love, and selflessness. The two of which are merely seperable by the latter's adjective quality. There's something else I believe to be intrinsic biblical doctrine, and that is community. From a secular vantage point the former part of the aforementioned passage undoubtedly holds water, but it's words like 'spirit' and 'eternal life' that are cause for timidity. The western hemisphere is stuck in this mindset that they can accomplish things on their own. The growth of independance is becoming the death of community. I moved out on my own at eighteen years of age because I live in a society that permitted me to do so. I can work, cook, exist, support my primitive needs, but I very strongly believe community outweighs all of these things. I really think communal mindsets are inherently positive, and an individualistic driven society is imminent doom. The shift towards individulism, by it's very meaning diminishes your amount of dependants, and dependance. The less we rely on others, the more we rely on ourselves. Our environment becomes one that is very easy to manipulate directly. Our own environment is eventually dictated by our own decisions, rather than a decision with collective input. When we dictate our own life with only ourselves in mind, we start to act selfishly, according the desires of the flesh. Seeds sown of the flesh reap corruption. Seeds sown of the spirit reap eternal life.
Air, food, water, shelter. These are the most stripped-down, primitive life sources. Of these sources, food and shelter are humanly pliable. Water's from the ocean, air's from the atmosphere, but food and shelter require human intervention (food is debatable, but to supply the world's needs....). I revere farming and carpentry as the most honorable of trades. Cultivating the land, sowing, reaping, constructing. Harvest. The nobility of farming and carpentry are endlessly spoken of in the book, metaphorically and literally. Being only the second generation of both a farmer and a carpenter, I hold an extruciatingly heavy self-guilt for having little to no interest in pursuing either. The humility, the essential notion of these trades and their parallel to the book form the very grassroots of my faith. Observing my family's calloused hands coincide with obedient hearts is amazing. Yet I wish not to farm, or build?? How is this so?? I view myself as the embodiment of the aforementioned individualist thinking for my generation/family. I've battled with the contradiction of influences between trade and faith. One has shaped the other, yet they are autonomous. That being said, I'm glad I chose the latter to hang on to....
7.03.2008
Out with the Booze, In with the Drew
Andrew (Budyk) moved out this week. A good friend of mine, always down. I'm sad to see him leave, but he's only a stone's throw away, along with Strangler. So that is awesome. Andrex (Serduletz) is moving in, which is also awesome.
LONG LIVE MANSHUNNN BOYYYZZZZE!@##!@#!@#@!@#!@$%%?????
stupid.
LONG LIVE MANSHUNNN BOYYYZZZZE!@##!@#!@#@!@#!@$%%?????
stupid.
July 3, 2008
I'm marking this day as a heavy success. After having an hour long massage yesterday and a full day's hiatus from planche, this morning's sun felt brighter, and it's air pollutant free. I started running some errands as I often do in the morning. After a guaco-breakfast I set sail to the University where my overseas studying inquiries for the fourth day in a row fell on closed doors, absent higher-ups. The only deterrent, and a small one at that. Because post 'da-xue wo dao' The Forks to skate/work. I felt comfortable on my board for the first time in months. The feeling confidence and stability on a skateboard is narry matched by another. My back is still in a considerable amount of discomfort, but for that first hour's time being, heavenly. On my bicycle ride home I was intercepted by the always jovial Andy Larkin. Himself, Markself, and Bradyself listened to records while I put the finishing touches on the bicycle I'm building. I feel really accomplished actually, I've never built up a bicycle without constantly nagging Bram for help. I don't have a camera right now, but I'll try to post pictures of it later. I proceeded to ride my fresh cycle avec Megan to the LoPub where some local bands (I forget their names) played beautiful music. They both sounded like if the Strokes and Interpol had a pre-mature baby. And that is by every means a compliment, because Norah was a preemy, and she's lovely. Between Interpol and the Strokes (as I've decided to call them in lieu of their actual names) Leigh DJ'd. I was able to release a couple months worth of pent up dance.
SUCCESS! wicked wicked wicked rad. It's good to be home. It's good to see familiar faces. Winnipeg really does house a lot of beautiful people.
SUCCESS! wicked wicked wicked rad. It's good to be home. It's good to see familiar faces. Winnipeg really does house a lot of beautiful people.
6.29.2008
Decisions
Now that I've returned home, I haven't decided whether or not to continue blogging. I'm sans camera for the time being. Perhaps I will write intermittently, I don't know.
These are the current things on my decision plate:
- If the UofW grants me credits to, I will go back to China for study in Sept.
- If not, I will try to get my tesol certificate (not that you really need one) and teach English in China.
- Maybe I will take one semester at the UofW before going back. This would allow me to attend my brother's wedding, but would be very inconvenient for my degree given that I would not be able to take any six credit hour courses, many which I desperately need (prerequisites) to keep my degree plan moving along smoothly.
- Maybe I will not go back at all, I really don't know. But I'm not stressed, I feel very well taken care of.
These are the current things on my decision plate:
- If the UofW grants me credits to, I will go back to China for study in Sept.
- If not, I will try to get my tesol certificate (not that you really need one) and teach English in China.
- Maybe I will take one semester at the UofW before going back. This would allow me to attend my brother's wedding, but would be very inconvenient for my degree given that I would not be able to take any six credit hour courses, many which I desperately need (prerequisites) to keep my degree plan moving along smoothly.
- Maybe I will not go back at all, I really don't know. But I'm not stressed, I feel very well taken care of.
6.24.2008
Huan Ying Hua Jia
I landed in Vancouver, a smiling Andy was there to pick me up. His friend's dog peed in the airport. We met up with old Jacob and went to the beach! I had such a great trip, it's tough to describe the fun that I had, the people I met, the things I learned.
JP and Lulu, she is wearing my clothes, because that's how she rolls.
JP and Lulu, she is wearing my clothes, because that's how she rolls.
6.17.2008
Rush Hour 2: Starring Jackie Chan
I'm not sure if I've posted these or not, but I took these when I was lost during rush hour
A nervous tic motion of the head
I bicycled North to the edge of Kunming, it was a difficult ride, and it wasn't until I arrived at nearly the top of a giant hill that I realized why. I thought the bottom bracket of my Chinese-whip had seized, or some cheaply made bearing in the back wheel. Turns out it was just the elevation that was hindering my speed.
That which goes up must come down, and I did so in a hurry.
On my decent I plummeted with a velocity greater than that which my legs could produce in the highest gear of my 10-speed. I nearly died when a truck cut me off in the bike-lane, forcing me to decide whether to collide into the bike-lane divider, or scoot sans shoulder-check into the big-kids lane. I chose the latter, closed my eyes, and opened them a short time later thankful to be alive.
That which goes up must come down, and I did so in a hurry.
On my decent I plummeted with a velocity greater than that which my legs could produce in the highest gear of my 10-speed. I nearly died when a truck cut me off in the bike-lane, forcing me to decide whether to collide into the bike-lane divider, or scoot sans shoulder-check into the big-kids lane. I chose the latter, closed my eyes, and opened them a short time later thankful to be alive.
6.16.2008
Stretched out on a tarmac.
Hello all;
I've spent the last few days in; intestinal pain, Chengdu, love, longing, Kunming.
Intestinal pain:
My carefree diet is punishing me in the form of traveller's 'rhea. The medication for which I chose to ignore prior to leaving. Murphy. Lulu took care of me yesterday, and now I have to consume an abhorred elixir. But my 'doutza' and 'peegoo' have never been better because of it.
Chengdu:
Lulu needed to get some passport info straightened out in Chengdu. She's going to France. We were far away from where the earthquakes wake was greatest felt, which is a little too bad. We (JP and I) had been invited to do some disaster-relief, but those plans were kyboshed four days ago. That same evening Lulu proposed we go with her, so we ended up in Chengdu anyway, just with a different purpose. I'm really happy that we did, because I met some incredibly amazing people.
Love:
For this country, these people, this language, life, His provisions, His promises.
Longing:
To cook dins with Meg, to hold Norah, to congratulate my bro and sis'n'law, to know how many hundredth's of an inch it's rained, to listen to records, skate, film, to bicycle with a single gear, to dance, to eat Monday Madness, to engage in physical
labor, to make witty jokes at music videos.
Kunming:
I've been here for the last two weeksish, this Wednesday we are bound to head back to Nanning. They call it the Spring City because of the moderate temps. Well lately the Spring City has sprung a leak so to speak. It's been squalling for the past three days. When I arrived from Chengdu, I took a taxi el solo from the airport to our apartment here. There was no room for air between the bed of the car and the lake upon which we drove. On the ride I noticed an auto flipped over, and bike-lane dividers demolished by hydroplaning motorists. It was frightening, especially when the taxi driver reached a fork in the road, and asked me where he ought to go. "Wo bu zhidao" I said, and sent up a silent word. I am hopeless at orienting myself in a city unless I study a map. Usually I have a seasoned linguist with me should I find myself a-mute, but I was by myself.
Somehow I ended up 20 meters from my doorstep. Incredible. In the time it took me to walk that 20 meters, myself, and all the luggage (no, not my own) I was carrying was waterlogged. It was an awe-inspiring amount of water, the heavens were open, both in the form of precipitation and blessing.
I've spent the last few days in; intestinal pain, Chengdu, love, longing, Kunming.
Intestinal pain:
My carefree diet is punishing me in the form of traveller's 'rhea. The medication for which I chose to ignore prior to leaving. Murphy. Lulu took care of me yesterday, and now I have to consume an abhorred elixir. But my 'doutza' and 'peegoo' have never been better because of it.
Chengdu:
Lulu needed to get some passport info straightened out in Chengdu. She's going to France. We were far away from where the earthquakes wake was greatest felt, which is a little too bad. We (JP and I) had been invited to do some disaster-relief, but those plans were kyboshed four days ago. That same evening Lulu proposed we go with her, so we ended up in Chengdu anyway, just with a different purpose. I'm really happy that we did, because I met some incredibly amazing people.
Love:
For this country, these people, this language, life, His provisions, His promises.
Longing:
To cook dins with Meg, to hold Norah, to congratulate my bro and sis'n'law, to know how many hundredth's of an inch it's rained, to listen to records, skate, film, to bicycle with a single gear, to dance, to eat Monday Madness, to engage in physical
labor, to make witty jokes at music videos.
Kunming:
I've been here for the last two weeksish, this Wednesday we are bound to head back to Nanning. They call it the Spring City because of the moderate temps. Well lately the Spring City has sprung a leak so to speak. It's been squalling for the past three days. When I arrived from Chengdu, I took a taxi el solo from the airport to our apartment here. There was no room for air between the bed of the car and the lake upon which we drove. On the ride I noticed an auto flipped over, and bike-lane dividers demolished by hydroplaning motorists. It was frightening, especially when the taxi driver reached a fork in the road, and asked me where he ought to go. "Wo bu zhidao" I said, and sent up a silent word. I am hopeless at orienting myself in a city unless I study a map. Usually I have a seasoned linguist with me should I find myself a-mute, but I was by myself.
Somehow I ended up 20 meters from my doorstep. Incredible. In the time it took me to walk that 20 meters, myself, and all the luggage (no, not my own) I was carrying was waterlogged. It was an awe-inspiring amount of water, the heavens were open, both in the form of precipitation and blessing.
6.07.2008
Everybody loves Kung-Fu fighting.
'English Corner' is a very popular event here in China. It's a multicultural gathering that takes place at various designated venues throughout the city. Chinese people attend to practice English, Westerners attend to help them learn. It's really fun. Yesterday I went.
After English Corner a bunch of us went to some Chinese/Muslim restaurant that was a part of a strip-mall. JP and I parked our bicycles just outside of the restaurant, on the strip. By the time we finished our meal, it was dark out, and we all decided to visit a neighboring DVD shop (Where every DVD is the equivalent to $1.20 CAD). When we came out of the DVD shop, our bicycles were gone. Bummer.
We walked the strip once over before realizing that the owner of the restaurant we dined at had taken them inside his long-closed business. He was simply standing by them making sure they would not be taken, waiting for us to return.
The kindness and consideration of these people is neat.
After English Corner a bunch of us went to some Chinese/Muslim restaurant that was a part of a strip-mall. JP and I parked our bicycles just outside of the restaurant, on the strip. By the time we finished our meal, it was dark out, and we all decided to visit a neighboring DVD shop (Where every DVD is the equivalent to $1.20 CAD). When we came out of the DVD shop, our bicycles were gone. Bummer.
We walked the strip once over before realizing that the owner of the restaurant we dined at had taken them inside his long-closed business. He was simply standing by them making sure they would not be taken, waiting for us to return.
The kindness and consideration of these people is neat.
6.06.2008
Home Alone: Lost in China
JP he wo, Zuotian dao shicheng qule. Women do maile yifu. Mei Chong-guode yifu do hen pianyi.
It's silly to even attempt to write pinyin (The english phonetics of Mandarin) because I am incapable of indicating which tone belongs to each phoneme. However, if I were able to do so, the above would read: Yesterday, JP and myself went to the market. Both of us purchased some clothes. All of the clothes made in China are very cheap.
Until now I've been wearing basically one pair of clothes, and throwing them in the wash was in order, so I had to buy something to wear. I bought an XXL shirt that is by no means too big for me.
We had lunch with a 30-something's couple. He was a plastic surgeon, and she a family doctor. Do doctor's have an outside-of-work dress code? Graham can you help me with this one? They all wear light North Face jackets, relaxed fit slacks, shoes that are bordering on hiking boots, but not quite. They probably straighten the spine. Glasses are a must, and a generally calm demeanor.
I thought of my brother.
I also thought of the how their combined knowledge infinitely exceeds mine, however, in their current field of study, Chinese, they are not much better than I. haha, it was bizarre. I'm sure by next week they will be fluent though.
JP asked Scott, the plastic surgeon..."When did you realize this is what you wanted to do?" (referring to plastic surgery)
He responded..."Don't you mean, when did I realize this is not what I want to do?" (Jokingly referring to his moving to China to learn the language nullifying what he was in school 14 (or whatever) years for)
_________
By the time we started biking home from the market it was rush hour. It's not entirely uncommon that I will lose sight of JP dodging in and out of autos. Usually when this is happens, he will notice I'm not behind him, and back-track.
-So I lost him, and just stopped and waited. And waited. And waited. For an hour.
There are very few times in my life where I have felt so helpless.
I had absolutely no idea how to get home, no way to contact anyone (no phone or phone #'s), no way of communicating, and the sun was falling.
(I guess that's not entirely true, I asked a bunch of people where 'Bei Chen' was, they all told me to go back the way I came, therefore I didn't believe them, turns out they were right though. For drama's sake, I couldn't communicate with anyone hah.)
I sent up some words, and Dad provided an angel in the form of a stunningly beautiful young Chinese lady. I was able to tell her where I needed to go, and she offered to just walk me the entire way. I was quite relieved. Shortly thereafter, JP, breathless, intercepted us. "What Happened???"
Turns out he was waiting for me too, just around the corner.
Tomorrow, I'm going to bike to the edges of the city, get lost on purpose, and navigate my way back home. It's the only way I'll learn. Wish me luck.
____________________
- It's great to hear thunderstorms again.
- In Chinese, to ask if somebody is lying you say: Ni chuai neo ma? (3rd tone, 1st tone, 2nd tone, neutral tone)
The literal English translation is, "Are you blowing cows??" Which I think is funny, maybe you will too? Maybe not.
Zaijian.
It's silly to even attempt to write pinyin (The english phonetics of Mandarin) because I am incapable of indicating which tone belongs to each phoneme. However, if I were able to do so, the above would read: Yesterday, JP and myself went to the market. Both of us purchased some clothes. All of the clothes made in China are very cheap.
Until now I've been wearing basically one pair of clothes, and throwing them in the wash was in order, so I had to buy something to wear. I bought an XXL shirt that is by no means too big for me.
We had lunch with a 30-something's couple. He was a plastic surgeon, and she a family doctor. Do doctor's have an outside-of-work dress code? Graham can you help me with this one? They all wear light North Face jackets, relaxed fit slacks, shoes that are bordering on hiking boots, but not quite. They probably straighten the spine. Glasses are a must, and a generally calm demeanor.
I thought of my brother.
I also thought of the how their combined knowledge infinitely exceeds mine, however, in their current field of study, Chinese, they are not much better than I. haha, it was bizarre. I'm sure by next week they will be fluent though.
JP asked Scott, the plastic surgeon..."When did you realize this is what you wanted to do?" (referring to plastic surgery)
He responded..."Don't you mean, when did I realize this is not what I want to do?" (Jokingly referring to his moving to China to learn the language nullifying what he was in school 14 (or whatever) years for)
_________
By the time we started biking home from the market it was rush hour. It's not entirely uncommon that I will lose sight of JP dodging in and out of autos. Usually when this is happens, he will notice I'm not behind him, and back-track.
-So I lost him, and just stopped and waited. And waited. And waited. For an hour.
There are very few times in my life where I have felt so helpless.
I had absolutely no idea how to get home, no way to contact anyone (no phone or phone #'s), no way of communicating, and the sun was falling.
(I guess that's not entirely true, I asked a bunch of people where 'Bei Chen' was, they all told me to go back the way I came, therefore I didn't believe them, turns out they were right though. For drama's sake, I couldn't communicate with anyone hah.)
I sent up some words, and Dad provided an angel in the form of a stunningly beautiful young Chinese lady. I was able to tell her where I needed to go, and she offered to just walk me the entire way. I was quite relieved. Shortly thereafter, JP, breathless, intercepted us. "What Happened???"
Turns out he was waiting for me too, just around the corner.
Tomorrow, I'm going to bike to the edges of the city, get lost on purpose, and navigate my way back home. It's the only way I'll learn. Wish me luck.
____________________
- It's great to hear thunderstorms again.
- In Chinese, to ask if somebody is lying you say: Ni chuai neo ma? (3rd tone, 1st tone, 2nd tone, neutral tone)
The literal English translation is, "Are you blowing cows??" Which I think is funny, maybe you will too? Maybe not.
Zaijian.
6.04.2008
Goong wei sheng
It's rainy in Kunming this morning, but the air is much lighter than in Nanning, both literally and metaphorically. Nanning is jungle-humid and oxygen abundant as it lies 8000 ft below my current coordinates. Kunming is temperately very comfortable.
The apartment I'm staying in smells like urine. Lost in language was the responsibility to pay the water bill. The toilet's contents are ever increasing without much needed rejuvenation. Plastic bags now plunder our defecatory habits. Public squatty-potty's seem a million miles away when lychee and deadly nightshade are screaming through your intestines. It may be for the better though, the squatty-potty's leave a lot to be desired.
They are called squatty potty's because that is the dainty way of saying 'Just a hole in the ground leading to a poopy abyss'.
Chinese folks literally squat on Western toilets too. They will not sit down on a seat to do their business. There are even depictions of it on prohibitory signs.
By the sounds of it, The Mansion isn't doing so hot either...Pigeon mites?? Seriously? Bummer.
Thanks to everyone who's sent me little encouraging messages from back home, it's always great to hear from you.
The apartment I'm staying in smells like urine. Lost in language was the responsibility to pay the water bill. The toilet's contents are ever increasing without much needed rejuvenation. Plastic bags now plunder our defecatory habits. Public squatty-potty's seem a million miles away when lychee and deadly nightshade are screaming through your intestines. It may be for the better though, the squatty-potty's leave a lot to be desired.
They are called squatty potty's because that is the dainty way of saying 'Just a hole in the ground leading to a poopy abyss'.
Chinese folks literally squat on Western toilets too. They will not sit down on a seat to do their business. There are even depictions of it on prohibitory signs.
By the sounds of it, The Mansion isn't doing so hot either...Pigeon mites?? Seriously? Bummer.
Thanks to everyone who's sent me little encouraging messages from back home, it's always great to hear from you.
6.02.2008
Battle Commander/Axe
Because I am a big baby, and cry myself to sleep every night because I can't skateboard, I've decided the best way to console myself is with...material possessions!! Obviously???
But for real, bicycling is the next best thing, and I have a growing problem with bicycle purchases.
So I bought this bicycle because it was the one that looked the most like a spaceship. Hah, just kidding. It's exponentially more enjoyable than the bus, besides, there's enough pollution here as is. I have a feeling though, that the Chinese workmanship I paid 700 yuan ($100 CAD) for will eventually bite me in the tukkus.
Me and JP went on a bike trip to the edge of the city with my fresh whip and his similarly styled spacecraft. I can't begin to explain how fun and hectic it is. Lane-splitting two-way traffic hillbombing is ill-advised but unavoidable. I'm thankful for gears. Traffic lights are merely suggestive, and motorists are dangerously tolerable of your antics. It feels similar to biking in Winnipeg rush-hour, except every hour is rush hour. The only difference is here the motorists are watching out for you.
-Which reminds me, dear roommates: Have I received any goods in the mail??
-Dear Evan and Andrew: I left my computer on in hopes that you would never need my password, what happened? I'm really not keen on letting my password float through zero's and one's right into the hands of the Chinese governing forces. It would mean I have to change every password I have. Really sorry. I'll have to explain when I get home...
But for real, bicycling is the next best thing, and I have a growing problem with bicycle purchases.
So I bought this bicycle because it was the one that looked the most like a spaceship. Hah, just kidding. It's exponentially more enjoyable than the bus, besides, there's enough pollution here as is. I have a feeling though, that the Chinese workmanship I paid 700 yuan ($100 CAD) for will eventually bite me in the tukkus.
Me and JP went on a bike trip to the edge of the city with my fresh whip and his similarly styled spacecraft. I can't begin to explain how fun and hectic it is. Lane-splitting two-way traffic hillbombing is ill-advised but unavoidable. I'm thankful for gears. Traffic lights are merely suggestive, and motorists are dangerously tolerable of your antics. It feels similar to biking in Winnipeg rush-hour, except every hour is rush hour. The only difference is here the motorists are watching out for you.
-Which reminds me, dear roommates: Have I received any goods in the mail??
-Dear Evan and Andrew: I left my computer on in hopes that you would never need my password, what happened? I'm really not keen on letting my password float through zero's and one's right into the hands of the Chinese governing forces. It would mean I have to change every password I have. Really sorry. I'll have to explain when I get home...
6.01.2008
Eating Habits.
The food here is delicious. I've never eaten so many things that I anticipated regretting. Lotus root, lychee, tongue, lung, red-bean everything. Hah, it's all worked out though. It's funny that the easiest Mandarin word for me to remember is 'ledoutza'. (pinyin sp??). Which means diarrhea. I've managed to avoid ledoutza thus far...so bring on the ethnicity!
Once in awhile though, you just feel like eating a delicious quarter pounder. McDonald's here is great. They have coconut pies instead of apple pies, and the birds are actually hot! Shocking.
The picture below (I think) is a pretty common breakfast. The drink is milk-tea, and it is dangerously tasty. In Mandarin, milk tea is called 'nigh cha', which sounds similar to, 'Deadly Nightshade'. Well not really, but it's just a humorous substitute. I drink the deadly nightshade everyday, it will be the death of me. The other foodstuffs pictured are sweet buns with red-bean stuffed inside of them (red bean is in nearly everything here), a misleading tart with lemon inside, and a deep-fried piece of sweet bread. Wait, I'll change the latter to being the death of me.
Once in awhile though, you just feel like eating a delicious quarter pounder. McDonald's here is great. They have coconut pies instead of apple pies, and the birds are actually hot! Shocking.
The picture below (I think) is a pretty common breakfast. The drink is milk-tea, and it is dangerously tasty. In Mandarin, milk tea is called 'nigh cha', which sounds similar to, 'Deadly Nightshade'. Well not really, but it's just a humorous substitute. I drink the deadly nightshade everyday, it will be the death of me. The other foodstuffs pictured are sweet buns with red-bean stuffed inside of them (red bean is in nearly everything here), a misleading tart with lemon inside, and a deep-fried piece of sweet bread. Wait, I'll change the latter to being the death of me.
Yong Mei
One day we took a bus to this remote rural town called Yong Mei. The whole community relies on primitive farming to sustain themselves. Not much has changed in the town since the Ming Dynasty, it was a total time-warp-mind-freak being there. So far it's topped the 'Real live National Geographic' moments, hah, which are plentiful enough. Old ladies hunched over with chronic back pain made me feel silly for my self-pity. All the buildings were made of eroding brick, livestock had free-range, and the old men gambled amidst the fumes from a nearby "barn".
I'm ashamed to post the pictures that I have, because I didn't actually capture a single thing that characterizes Yong Mei. Maybe I'll steal some of JP's later. Also, I got swindled into buying batteries from an already-opened package that died five minutes thereafter hah. So I had very little time to document. I really really hope I can find some pictures of the farming/fields. It made me think of how Dad would've appreciated it much more than I.
I'm ashamed to post the pictures that I have, because I didn't actually capture a single thing that characterizes Yong Mei. Maybe I'll steal some of JP's later. Also, I got swindled into buying batteries from an already-opened package that died five minutes thereafter hah. So I had very little time to document. I really really hope I can find some pictures of the farming/fields. It made me think of how Dad would've appreciated it much more than I.
Fashion; Turn to the left
We went to this fabric market in Nanning. It's a warehouse roughly the size of the seed plant (sorry city slickers) JAM packed with fabric of every color/texture/pattern etc. It's incredible. You can get them to make you an entire wardrobe of anything ever always in history. Whatever you want, make a design, get measured, choose your fabric, and it's yours. For pennies too. JP got his entire pin-stripe suit made for roughly $45.00 CAD.
Fashionistas dream.
Fashionistas dream.
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