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

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.

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.

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".

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:

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.

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.

Lao Jia Pt. 2

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.

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.