Changhu and the World

Weekends pass by fairly quickly in China. Each week a different activity is coordinated by our Residential Director, Ling Jiu Bi. This week, it was "Take your tongwu out to bond day", meaning I spent time with my roommate. I brought Thao along because her tongwu's grandmother died over the weekend so she had nowhere to go. She's always fun company to have around. She's my age only alot shorter (Thao if you're reading this you KNOW its true). We went to Jiangsu province in the Changshu District and it was a very memorable experience.

We went to ShangHu, alot like Xihu's scenery only you have to pay 60 RMB because its scenery is maintained by the people who charge us for admission. I enjoyed just sitting on the benches and taking in the view. I kept reminding myself to live in the moment because I really don't know when I'll have an opportunity like this again. I can imagine retiring here, but I can't imagine paying 60 RMB to do it everyday. It was funny because XueFang, my roommate, was ultimately dissatisfied because she did not receive instant satisfaction. SuFang, QiYing's roommate (Qiying is from Swathmore) enjoyed the company of a friend she hadn't seen for two years so she didn't complain. Thao is so cute because she insists that I upload all of the pictures I took on facebook. I really don't mind, only that I know spending more than an hour uploading will change my study routine.

Qiying, Thao (Caoyin), and I talked while enjoying ShouLaMian (handmade noodles) for breakfast. Thao said her roommate doesn't eat breakfast or dinner. Qiying says that alot of Chinese girls think beauty comes with being thin and being really pale. I didn't really notice until it occurred to me how much my roommate and SuFang normally talk about how pudgy little boys are. When Qiying and I looked at them, we said they were "yi ban lai shuo de nan hai er" (average looking boys). When we started to describe obesity, they were really surprised. Also, XueFang became alittle tanned today and she kept complaining about it. To come to Changshu was different because everyone in Hangzhou is really thin and pale. Changshu looked like America, more industrialized, more western, alot more KFCs and McDonalds, and average looking people. SuFang said,"Nan guai wo men shuo Shang you Tian Tang, xia you Su Hang". It means, no wonder we say above is heaven, below is Suzhou and Hangzhou. My Chinese teacher in America said that Hangzhou has very beautiful scenery and beautiful women. If beauty comes with the above criteria, then I guess he's right.

I think my roommate thinks she really knows me. Its not just that she chooses my food, but she answers all of my questions. Everything, food, homework, family, love interest, hobbies, ya de ya de ya da. It's not overbearing but sometimes she's just completely wrong with her response.

I use to say the world's really small. In America, some friend ends up knowing some friend who knows a mutual friend. At most there is six degrees of separation right? I'm not really sure about that saying. Travelling alot within the past two weeks has made me come to realize how big this world really is and how I don't know anybody and how I don't understand the culture of a developing society.

A few random observations:
I saw a little boy who was balancing himself by the head to make money because his mom told him not to stop. He only made a couple of RMB. I saw a really pretty woman kick her dog across the face while she was waiting in line for food. I thought of animal abuse and vanity. There are alot of dogs that just roam around in Changshu without owners. They just kept following us around. A little kid threw garbage into a monumental foundation. There were students standing in front of a bookstore with signs asking for a job. The police station has no police. A local favorite is eating octopus on a stick. Rollerskating is only getting big. Alot of old people enjoy dancing the salsa in the street (more than 100 ppl). There are alot of stores that are dilapidated with no business. But you know what? No one really kills anybody like in America. "Zi zhi zao gu zi zhi" (take care of yourself). All they need is money so the worst case scenario is getting something stolen. The problem with taking care of yourself and less stringent security is that no one follows traffic rules. Even in the mall, on the second floor people were riding bicycles and motorcycles. My biggest fear everyday is getting hit by a moving vehicle.

I learned different ways to express my frustration in Chinese within the past two days. I'm so excited to teach people in America.