Guangdong Winter

Ahhhh! It's freezing here! Ok, not freezing per se, but it is cold. No I am not in Beijing, in Harbin, or even in the North! I am in the South, but it's still so cold. I did last through Chicago and Madison winters though, but the drop from warm to cold was so sudden here (it happened in ONE DAY) that I haven't gotten used to the cold. The only piece of warm clothing I actually brought from the US with me is my NorthFace fleece, and that isn't doing it's job! I spend a ton of time outside, walking or riding a motorcycle everywhere, so that is a negative. The worst part is that homes AND buildings here do not have heat. No heat? YES!

You would think that an area which is warm most of the year would still be prepared and hate the cold. Well they are NOT prepared. Where I work there is no heating whatsoever. I remember when I first came to China and people always wore their jackets in the office and I thought it was so weird. A jacket is made for the outside right? No, I guess not. Everyone here wears a winter jacket inside because there is no heat and even worse, some windows are open. Why the hell would you open windows when it is so cold outside? "To let in the fresh air". What FRESH air? There are factories all around here, everything is polluted. Anyway, the temperature here is 37 degrees Fahrenheit. I'm not even too sure why it's affecting me so much. Maybe because for the last eight months it has been warm at least and now suddenly it's chilly... And everyone tells me to buy a warm jacket and warm clothes and boots. I don't feel like wasting money on ugly stuff that I will only wear for about 10 more days... which is supposedly how long this will last.

--- 4 days later

It's not cold anymore, really. The temperature is now 76 degrees. What in the world? Well a few days ago I heard somewhere that a cold front hit southern China, which is why I was freezing, I'm sure. Now I can walk outside with a long sleeve shirt on and I'm fine! Much better. I can't believe it's almost Christmas. This Christmas I am going to Hong Kong and will go to Disneyland on Christmas day with Monika. I have been to busy to buy gifts or anything like that, so I still have to go shopping for my friends. It doesn't feel like Christmas time to be honest. Everything that I associate with Christmas is lacking in China. No decorations, no snow, no family, no Church things, no freezing weather, no Christmas lists, no NOTHING :( Christmas in China sucks compared to Christmas time with my family in the US. At least for Easter I'll be in Poland or in the US with my family... phew. I told Monika I was going to go to Midnight Mass in Hong Kong and I think she said she'd go with me. This will be my first Midnight Mass (as far as I remember) in English instead of Polish... who knows, it might even be in Cantonese which would be pretty cool. It doesn't even feel like my birthday is coming up because it always gets overshadowed by Christmas and NOW it's overshadowed by Christmas partially AND the fact that it doesn't feel like the winter season. I've almost been in China for a year... wow. I can't really believe it! Soon I'll have to write a blog post reminiscing and remembering this whole year... sad. A lot has changed in a year.

HONG KONG II

Let me begin by saying that Hong Kong was so much fun, that I left it my voice. Yes, I can barely speak now and when I do I sound like a croaking frog (or Femme Fatale as Audre puts it). It doesn't help that I was sick before I went to Hong Kong and made it worse by barely sleeping. This weekend was amazing. A M A Z I N G. Did you get that? I have to take back most of what I said about Hong Kong last time because last time was a fluke! This time I stayed on Hong Kong Island which is so much incredibly better than Kowloon. Kowloon is closer to China therefore more Chinese. In HKI people speak English, dress well, act civilized, and are loaded, which helps because I can just look at the fancy cars and the fancy clothes: H O N G K O N G F A N C Y as I said on facebook. I fell in love with Hong Kong. I could see myself living there for a year or two, but more time there would make me tired I think. Hong Kong has a different attitude. Life is fast, people move quickly, people know where to go, people have a lot of money, and people there are just amazing. I could definitely live there...

So let me begin with Friday. On Friday morning I woke up at Monika's and got ready to go to the train station. I had to take a bus, then the subway for more than an hour with three line changes. I was tired by this time because the mini-suitcase I brought (specifically with wheels) had broken the night before so now I had to actually carry a weekend bag. UGH. Chinese garbage. I had to wait at the train station also for an hour, then someone was in my seat but I saw that she was American and with her family so I just let her stay there and sat down in HER seat... which ended up being perfect because I sat next to some guy who could actually speak English and began talking to me... in a mostly American accent. He also works in China in the next city next to mine, and get this... he has a Hong Kong and American citizenship. His dad lives in Switzerland, mom in the US (they both used to live in Hong Kong). His grandfather was in the US air force and that is how his mother's family came to live in Hong Kong. He lived in Texas for a bit then went to college in New York and now lives in Hong Kong and in China on the weekdays! WOW. I think everyone you meet in Hong Kong who is not Cantonese (or originally Hong Kongese) has a diverse background. Therefore, Hong Kong really is an international city. Sidenote: I don't know if you would call Hong Kong a city... because there are four parts of it, and the best is Hong Kong Island. The airport is on Lantau Island, the northernmost part (and therefore next to China) is what is called New Terrirories (what Hong Kong people call Bumblefuck... because it is more Chinese), then Kowloon to the south (also very Chinese) and like I said, my favorite- Hong Kong Island (with the best shops, most touristy areas, bright lights, and what we all think of as being Hong Kong). There are other outlying islands in Hong Kong, but I don't think the subway even connects to those. To get from HKI to Kowloon you can take a taxi which goes through a tunnel underwater, the subway or the best most scenic route-- the Star Ferry (which only costs 2HKD!). I am very snobby now when it comes to talking about this because Kowloon and the island are so different from each other (and I'm so used to CHINA). Even some Hong Kong people think so and agree, and I can tell (they don't hide their opinions of the Mainland Chinese). I won't get too much into it, but Hong Kong people are... I can't think of the right word because it will make them sound bad, but actually it's not bad, it's just the truth. For example, what people in New York City think of those who live in the outskirts of the state... except much worse since these people are then more similar to China... which is then looked down upon. You need to see and witness it to believe it, but basically I went from a random town in Kansas to New York this weekend (metaphorically speaking), and therefore, who wouldn't LOVE Hong Kong? Audre did point out though that if I came from the US and went to visit Hong Kong wihtout seeing China first, I would think Hong Kong is so incredibly Chinese, but since I went to China first and saw THAT MESS, I think Kong Kong is so Western with a twist of Canton (not even China... because I don't want to taint Hong Kong). Hong Kong has the best of both.

As I was saying... (did I mention I love Hong Kong?). So my new friend told me which bus to take to the hostel and of course I got off to early and had to carry my stupid bag, but eventually found the hostel and dropped off my things, then went to walk around. I ate McDonalds (they have a special from 5 to 9 PM which includes a drink, fries, and either the McChicken or Big Mac or something else, but of course I got the Big Mac)... actually I ate at McDonalds twice in five hours but what??? I WAS HUNGRY. Oh yea and that meal costs 20 HKD, which is about $3). mmmmm. McDonalds is bad for you, but tastes so goooood, especially since I never eat it in China. Going back to the US is going to be a problem for my figure. Anyway I walked around Causeway Bay, Wanchai, Times Square and just enjoyed being in Hong Kong... away from China. I think the locals were looking at me like I was crazy. I was just smiling looking around and taking pictures... a true definition of tourist. It was great. And I ate some oranges. Oh yea, and when people don't speak English (which they do on the island... it's much more Western friendly on HKI vs Kowloon!!! Almost everyone spoke English as well as Cantonese. Serena's cousin said the people who don't speak English don't typically live on HKI or are from the Mainland) you know they are not from HKI, but most likely from the mainland. I walked around then waited for everyone to get to Hong Kong. Eventually I met with Omar and got our room. Then I met up with my friend from high school (how weird, in HK!) and luckily my Chinese phone worked there, but I still eventually got a HK SIM card because I have a feeling I'll visit this place a few more times before I leave... and then will come back!!! Randomly, we found Matt at the subway station and we all went to eat. Well, I didn't eat since I had just been a fat ass and gotten McDonalds the hour before, but we chatted etc. Later we went to meet Audre at the hostel and chilled for a bit. Serena then came and finally we were all there, so we got ready to go out. We went to LKF (don't know how to spell out the whole name) but it is the most famous place to go in Hong Kong at night. It is filled with foreigners... except I don't like the place, I just like that we went to a club after standing outside and chatting. The club was great, the atmosphere was great, and I bought a vodka redbull for 100HKD, which was not great but worth it. We danced until about 5AM then went home and to sleep right away. I love hong kong. Did I mention that we got a room with two twin beds for 5 people so we put the beds together and slept sideways? Comfy. When I woke up my throat and head hurt and my cold was getting worse! I took medicine, drank a lot of water, went on facebook legally and then started getting ready. We switched rooms in the hostel and headed out to meet Serena's uncle, who invited us to lunch. We walked around, took a bus, then a ferry to a restaurant called The Jumbo (or something of that sort). Uncle Jimmy spoke with the old owner on the ferry and she got us a table with no wait (there was a loooong wait) and we ordered dim sum. Delicious. We spoke about China, Hong Kong, HK and British colonies... etc etc. HK is so different from China.

... One week later...

This is how my blog posts work... it takes me about a week and a half to write them. I don't remember what I wrote last week so let me continue... after meeting with Uncle Jimmy, Matt and I went to look around for headphones. My headphones were busted so I needed new ones and HK is the best place to buy electronics around here I guess. Joanna did buy headphones when she was ain Shanghai for 10Yuan, but I bought some for 70HKD. For that price they better be real. Then we went shopping to the Ladies Market and met with Serena and her cousin for a sushi dinner. The food and company was great (and delicious heheheh). After sushi in Times Square we went for dessert at some place where we ordered mango jello, mango jello cakes, fried bananas, fruit and some other dishes I cannot remember. YUM. And this is why I am becoming a fat ass again. I NEEDED to shop so of course we went into a store and I found a great scarf, a fluffy overcoat thing, and a nice sweater. I'm surprised I didn't buy more (well I did in the same store, but the next day!) I love shopping. Hong Kong is expensive compared to China, but some things are of better quality and are the same price. Name brands are cheaper (like makeup), but still more than in the US. I did want to buy some makeup in Hong Kong, but I am just going to wait until I go back home... At night we went out to that street again but this time did not go to a club. We did go into a place with a tiny dance floor but they kicked us out because in order to stay there we had to each buy a drink and Omar doesn't even drink, he's super Muslim (what do you call that. A practicing Muslim? A conservative Muslim?)... so we went to another place and were the only ones dancing on the dance floor. I realized I am more of a club girl unless I'm with my boo at a bar and it's a date (or I'm just in my boo's presence). I don't particularly likes sitting around talking to people because if I'm going to get dressed up and looking cute... I want to enjoy myself and dance! I guess that's just me because Serena likes either option, Audre hates clubs. Plus I was wearing my tallest heels and that area is not a good one to walk around in, so my feet were dying. I passed out right when we got back to the hostel.

Sunday, Audre, Omar and I went to eat and then Audre and I went to the harbor to take pictures and so she could officially say goodbye to Hong Kong (Audre is leaving on the 14th back to Lithuania then to do her Masters in the UK) :( We took some great pictures and... I really love Hong Kong. I am thinking about somehow searching for a job there for the next year. I am young and this is the perfect time to be in Hong Kong... except I most likely will go broke doing that. Anyway, random comment. Audre and I took the ferry, ate some egg tarts, embarrassed ourselves in front of some professional cute Hong Kong looking Westerner sitting in front of us, and I also made Audre go into Tiffany's with me. She's never been in one so I showed her around. The jewelry they had in this particular store was incredible... I could use some of those pieces. HINT HINT FUTURE HUSBAND 8D ;) :] Hee hee hee. The Hong Kong vibe is just incredible. I feel it makes me want to look my best just so that I could be at the same level as the Hong Kong Island natives. If I become super rich I am getting a condo in Hong Kong. Maybe I'll get a job where I can occasionally travel there... daydreaming. If by now you can't tell how much I love it there-- no comment. Audre and I then ended up at the train station and we headed back to China. Interestingly, there were two Polish men on the train from HK to GZ and they said "These ladies are also going to China" in Polish, so I responded "Yes, we are" also in Polish, and then they said something that I didn't pay attention to. Oh, and at this point my voice was still hoarse and almost gone. Another cool thing was that I saw two black guys (I'm pointing out black because this is rarely seen in my vicinity, especially FROM THE US) who had to be from the US and one of them reminded me of my booski because he was wearing almost the same shoes that I got him for Christmas last year, with his jeans tucked into them. I miss US men's fashion. China is NO WHERE near the same level... not even on the same page, not even in the same chapter, not even in the same book :( I am deprived of good fashion in China. All I see are wannabe Chinese guys trying to be Western which makes them just look stupid. Am I a bitch for this? Because Serena, Audre and I talk about this all the time. What is up with Chinese people trying to denounce their own culture and say they are Western etc? This is just another blog post so I won't get into it. Fashion is doing your own thing and still looking good. Not copying other people to a T.

Hong Kong was great so I'm excited to go on Christmas. Speaking of Christmas this is the first one which I won't spend with my family and with snow. It's so weird. I love being home on Christmas and hanging out with my cousins and listening to my dad's corny Christmas carols in Polish, and going to Midnight mass. And I'll even miss sharing the oplatek with everyone of my family members and saying something embarrassing and having them tell me "I wish you everything you want in life. A good boyfriend, lots of money, happiness.." blah blah (Oplatek is a Polish thing for all you ignant peeps hehehhe). And I love Christmas. I'm going to Midnight mass in Hong Kong. It should be interesting though since I heard many people stand outside since the weather is so nice, when I am always freezing every Christmas when we have to go to Church at 12am.

On to the next topic. My plans after China. I spoke with my grandma who really wants to see me, so I am planning on going to Poland after China for a month or so. Before Poland I'd like to see Audre in England (yes, the plane has a layover in London). I'd also like to visit Katia and Natalia in Russia. Lots of planning but it's worth it! IF I have enough money.

Lastly, as I mentioned Audre is leaving. Last weekend was her going away party and we all had a good time! ;) Tomorrow we are having a cooking/jam session (in which I will not be participating because I can't play the guitar OR sing) at Serena's. Last Friday we went to Ria and Joe's place to celebrate Ria's birthday and to paint and yes I did join in, and confirmed once again that Joanna got the artistic genes in the family (except I am good at photography so I'll stick to that). My next purchase will be a MAC and a new SLR digital camera... Maybe a welcome home gift from my family (HINT HINT, Joanna tell mommy and daddy :) )??? Anyway, I painted some woman's body with a huge ass. Figures. I'm not patient enough to paint.

Tomorrow is my NINE month anniversary in China. WOW.

Oh I forgot to mention I was asked to be the host of a MIDEA wide Overseas Sales and Marketing Award/Competition. I can't say no and am a little nervous... since I think there will be important people there, but it's good for networking and meeting people, so that is next week. YIKES!

早茶

Yesterday was Lily's last day, so I took her to the airport with one of her suppliers that she works with. It was a little awkward on the way back considering he didn't speak any English and the airport is more than an hour away from my town. The night before all the girls and I went to Lily's and hung out. Earlier that day Lily and I cooked together and I made her my famous tofu. It didn't hit me that she would be leaving I guess. I mean I knew she would move, but I didn't realize that life will be different now. I go to Lily with Chinese questions, if I want to have dinner with someone, if I have questions about being sick... basically everything! It's not like I can't ask her questions over QQ or texts, but she's not close now. So after we met up last night, all of us went to get dessert and when Serena and Audre were saying goodbye to her she started crying, so of course that triggered me to cry and I just hate saying goodbye. Usually when you say goodbye you are making a good change and something you're excited about, it's just that at weird moments I cry. Also, I'm going to Lily's hometown for the spring festival so it's not like I will not be seeing her... it's just that she is so self-less it's sad to see her go. She is genuinely deep down inside, a nice person. It's that simple. When I took her to the airport I didn't cry though, because I kept reminding myself that I will see her and that it will be awkward in front of this other guy, and that I am going to have a fantastic weekend in Hong Kong with my friends. It's all about attitude and appreciating what you have.

Before the airport, we went to have Zǎochá, which means "morning tea" in Chinese. I have had 下午茶 (xiàwǔ chá-afternoon tea) before, and this was pretty similar. We went to a restaurant in Guangzhou and had Puer tea, which is black tea from Yunnan (fitting since that is where Lily is going). Actually, Bobo gave me Puer tea when he came here to visit, and yesterday Lily told me it was worth about 200YUAN. I am mentioning this because yesterday she gave me more Puer tea from Yunnan which Bobo gave her... which is worth 1000YUAN (that is about $200). I told her I'd save that for my dad and I to drink, since he likes tea. The older that tea gets, it goes up more in value anyway. I guess the best way to keep this tea fresh it to keep it from moisture, so Lily advised that I put it in a metal container and then place it in the fridge. I guess I need to do this because the weather in Guangdong is so weird, that we need to take extra precautions with certain things (like putting in dehumidifying mini buckets in the closet to keep moisture out from our clothes). Oh, and I just grabbed a metal container from work and my friend told me that before you drink this tea you are supposed to tear it into tiny pieces then wash it once or twice because it has been sitting for five or ten years... Chinese people and their tea. So where was I again? Always going off on tangents. At the morning tea place we ate some bite sized balls made from meat and some vegetables, but my favorite part was the way the tea is served. First, the waitress washes everything off in front of you with boiling hot water. Then she puts a mini tea packet (not like the ones we have in the US, but a 1.5"x1.5" block of tea) into a mini red kettle. It looks like it is made from clay. Then she pours boiling water from a metal kettle into this mini one, and submerges and the tea then covers the kettle. After, the tea tea (minus the leaves) is poured through a sifter/metal funnel into a teacup... also mini. Then we can pour our tea into our cups, which are smaller than shot glasses and sit on a mini wooden plate. And we ate and poured and drank and poured and poured. Imagine, the water is boiling in the metal kettle in front of you, and you have to keep making new tea over and over. The thing is, at least when I make tea at home in the US, I do not reuse teabags, but in China, they use the tea leaves until the water does not because tea anymore. I have also started doing this. At work I drink green tea that I received from Lily or coffee occasionally when I am really sleepy. Now especially, I have been drinking tea because everyone is getting sick since the weather is changing.

About the weather... in the summer, it is hot, sticky and humid here. In the winter (now to them it is winter, but this weather feels like end of summer or even spring) it is t shirt and light jacket weather during the day, but very dry. My contacts always bother me and dry up, so I have been wearing glasses more and more and using eye drops. I guess the people from this area think it's very cold because I see some people with winter jackets on (?????) when I could still be wearing shorts. So healthy. Supposedly it's a good idea to wear boots because the cold and wet weather goes in your body through your feet, so it's a good idea to protect yourself with proper shoes. I mean, it's not even THAT cold out now! This will be my first Christmas without snow actually!

On the topic of health, I asked Lily why everyone drinks hot tea even in the summer. She told me warm beverages are better for you. I mean it kind of makes sense, but she explained it like this: the inside of your body is much warmer than the outside temperature. When you drink cold things, you put your body into a mini shock and it hurts the organs, since they are naturally warm. Your body then has to work to warm the liquids which are cold to create that balance again (when it comes to health, it's all about balance--QI). She also said that women especially need to drink warm drinks because, since the womans organs by the stomach are so vital and important, the body needs to work and keep them warm. Over time, if women drink too many cold beverages, the body will insulate that area to protect it and keep it warm, by storing fat there. Around the stomach and hips is where most women have the most fat... so it DOES make sense. We should not shock our bodies, but treat it like a machine and help it be healthy. So now when I want to drink something cold, I usually opt out and drink something warm and healthy instead. It's all about keeping my body, mind and spirit healthy. I know corny, but this IS CHINA and I want to learn from these people.

So to keep moving on, today is Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving! In the US it's still Wednesday late at night. My dad is in Poland so I wonder what my family is doing for Thanksgiving. I e-mailed my sister, but as always she's taking a while to respond (I know you'r reading this Joanna. ANSWER ME). In the evening I'm going to Guangzhou to celebrate Thanksgiving... no, no turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, etc but there will be things and people I am thankful for. Tomorrow I am going to Hong Kong! I asked for the day off due to Thanksgiving and my gracious company gave it to me! I will tour or shop tomorrow, meet up with friends and go out at night. The rest of the weekend I'm shopping, partying and celebrating being thrust back into civilization, and going to a horse race (hopefully). And better yet, an old friend I've known since HS is in Hong Kong and he's leaving on the 30th, so we have time to meet up! YAYYYY to old friends! I can't wait for Hong Kong. A much needed break away from China. I'm excited to see recent Hong Kong fashion and see what is in style in the fall now. Funny... I am going to HK on Black Friday. I hope it's not like US CRAZY.

Lastly, let’s talk about relationships, GUANXI (关系). Lily always tells me how important relationships are in China and she tells me more by showing me. For example before she left, she bought seven soy milk making machines. One was for her and Bobo, two were for her dad and someone, and the rest were gifts. One gift being to Bobo’s uncle (the one who did not help Lily find a job) and Bobo’s boss. She said she needed to get the boss a gift to make sure his and Bobo’s relationship was good. Now, we might see this as a bribe (considering Bobo has also given his boss VERY expensive presents before) but this is just how it is. To make sure a relationship is going well, you need to give presents or show your appreciation, because then there is no reason why someone would do what you want, or help you out (obviously not from the kindness of their heart!). I guess it’s just deceiving and takes a lot of work to build relationships. What is most concerning is then the “what goes around, comes around aspect”. When you receive gifts are they expected to be given back ten-fold? Yes, good things come from good people, but gifts should be given as a token of appreciation and out of kindness, not as leverage or solidifying a relationship… so this is something I still have to think about and figure out.

To be nice, I took some coworkers out to lunch today. I invited those whom I felt I connect with and who are genuinely nice to me. I invited Jessica who went to school in Hong Kong and comes out with us occasionally, a Cantonese guy who speaks no English but invited me to KTV and took me to the hospital before, a new girl who always is nice to me and is too shy to speak English, my friend Simi who helps me (and EXPLAINS) with whatever, and another new guy who comes to my class, works his ass off it seems, and sometimes gives me a ride on his scooter to work, if I go in early. I took them out because IT IS Thanksgiving and I am thankful for all of them in one way or another. Plus, it’s just a nice thing to do in China. They insisted on going “AA” which means to split the bill, but I wouldn’t allow it. It IS a young Chinese thing to do this, but everyone who takes me out always pays, so why shouldn’t I?

An Ode to AIESEC SYSU

AIESEC... so many good things to say about you, NOT! Actually this blog post will pertain only to AIESEC SYSU. I am proudly going to express my honest opinion because well, China has censored enough things and it won't censor my experience with AIESEC... so may this be a warning for those people who want to come to China (especially Guangzhou) through AIESEC. Before I came to china I was enchanted with this organization, and sadly, one or two LCs can completely ruin the reputation of an international org like this one.

What spurred this rant you ask? Well I just filled out my midterm survey on myaiesec.net and realized how much AIESEC has NOT DONE for me. So let's start at the beginning. I found a cheap ticket online to come to Guangzhou and contacted my TN Manager to see if the timing was ok. I assumed she'd reply right away because she had been sending me about three e-mails a day about my job, but she didn't reply until hours later. By the the ticket had gone up in price, a lot. This should have been my first sign. When it comes to saving their ass, they will SKYPE, gchat, email you all the time to get a response. When you need something answered they take their sweet old time. Then, when I was finally coming to China, I was told that I might not be able to get picked up at the airport. Why? Because my TN Manager had class the next day. Umm well I'm just getting off a 16-hour flight, don't speak Chinese, don't know China... and you expect me to what? Get ripped off by a taxi driver who takes me to an expensive hotel so that I could take a bus the next day to a town 40 minutes outside of Guangzhou to the middle of nowhere? Right. So after I heard about this possibility I immediately contacted the LCP and was told I would be picked up by AIESECers. Thanks for making me feel so welcome SYSU (do ya'll sense the sarcasm yet?).

So I did get picked up at the airport, stayed in a shitty hostel... it wasn't even a hostel, it was a rented room in some shithole place in Guangzhou and for the first time I saw that hole in the floor that I would come to know as a toilet. The next day my supervisor picked me up in a car provided by my company and I would see my TN Manager once after that point, because I was nice enough to stay for an AIESEC event to interview potential members, that would then cost me a three hour journey back to Beijiao (worthless). Oh and I was also told I would be right outside Guangzhou. Yes, I guess "right outside Guangzhou" must mean a 40 minute bus ride outside of Guangzhou (and the kicker is a friend showed me how to take the bus... but that is AIESECs job). AIESEC is supposed to show you around the city you are staying in and provide you with methods of transportation. You don't speak the language, so how can you find out about buses in China? You can't. It is all by word of mouth! There are no concrete schedules down here where I live. AIESEC is supposed to be a system and something to fall back on for support when you come to a foreign country. Nevertheless I clearly am able to get around and this experience is all behind me now, but I need to write it down so that people know what actually happened to me... I didn't really tell many people because I wanted to be strong and NOT scare anyone, but it was a pretty scary and anxiety filled first week. Now, luckily, I can look back and smile and be proud that I didn't drop everything ant go back to the US (which I considered many, many times). After I got into Beijiao, my supervisor (I still don't know if she helped me so much because she had to or because she's just warm-hearted...) took me to get a phone, supplies for my shit hole room (to which I was told "You can move out whenever you want. New people always move in here at first then move"), and then was going to leave me to rest while she went back to work. I remember that moment exactly. That is when it hit me I was in China alone. The AIESEC people didn't come with me. They didn't call me to check up on me. They didn't show me around Beijiao... and for anyone who has been here, it is NOT easy to get around by yourself for the first three months or so. No one gets that the language barrier is so extensive, to a new foreigner in China-- it's fucking scary. Simply put. Really fucking scary. I cried A LOT that week here. For one reason or another. I didn't know if I made the right decision. I didn't have internet at home. I slept in Ewa's place three nights the first week because I hated it here. I really hated it. I was in some Bumblefuck town for a year. And the situation hit me, yet again. And how many foreigners were there in Beijiao? Four, including me. Fucking four. I hated the feeling I had in my stomach my first week, but look where I am now.

Then Audre eventually came, I met some other people in Guangzhou with much effort and asking my TN Manager for e-mails of other people... and my effort paid off. I met some great friends, some of whom I'm still friends with to this day. And I have not seen anyone from AIESEC since. To be fair, they did have a party for the people here through AIESEC in my third month or so... but that was the last time I saw any of them. Audre, who is still here, REALLY got screwed by AIESEC SYSU and had a bad first month and a half. I don't want to get into HER story because that is another blog post within itself. Basically let's just say she was guaranteed a job here, then the day she had her flight, she found out she would be interviewing for a job, not HAD one. She interviewed against a guy with 10 years experience who got the job... and she was stuck with NADA. Nothing at all. She found another job a month later after much stress and almost NO HELP from AIESEC.

So everything AIESEC was supposed to do, they didn't (with the exception of picking me up at the airport). Without Kelly and people at my work, I wouldn't have a phone, a place to live... nothing. All of this AIESEC is obligated to help you with. So why were they like this? Is it just China or is it the organization here itself? When Audre had her problems, I came to speak with her to the LCP and her TN Manager (also my TN Manager) and I my guess is that they were just busy. They have school, they have like 40 trainees to take care of, they have AIESEC. They have too much on their plates, way too much. I think with an organization like this, work needs to be spread out evenly so that no one gets screwed (like all the people coming to China who don't have someone to turn to). Oh and let me mention I do have an AIESEC buddy, who contacted me a month after they knew they were my buddy. I have received one e-mail from her ever, and that was about four months ago.

Most important is what I have learned. I can say I could do this again. I could go to another country, be independent, not really know anyone or the language... and I would be ok. And this is most important. All my women, I N D E P E N D E N T, throw your hands up at me. I'm not scared anymore. I was not nervous or scared when I was flying here, but when I got here, that's when the fright and reality kicked in. I can take it easy knowing that things usually work out. I did get lucky with the people I've met here who have really helped me (Chinese and foreign) and who have been willing and even excited to help me, but sadly AIESEC SYSU is not included in that list. So it depends on whom you meet when you travel to another country, because you can't rely too much on one thing, one person, or in this case, one organization. Lastly, I was offered a job in the marketing department of my division, so that is a plus. Seems like I DID DO well in China huh?

C A N' T C O N T A I N M Y E X C I T E M E N T

Snuffalafogus is coming to China tomorrow I can't wait any longerrrrrr!!!

Health and SUCH

I've been meaning to write a post about a few things now but first I must say that for the THIRD time this month I have seen a DOG'S HEAD at the market next to my house (obviously it was straight up chopped off). Basically I walk by (through) this place to get to the bus to GZ... and the first time I saw the head I kinda screamed and turned away... the second time I was like "SICKKKKKKKKK!" and today I screamed even louder. Luckily I still get freaked out by the site of it! I won't go into detail but it's disguising. Lily also doesn't eat dog and when Audre wanted to go to a restaurant that served it, she really objected to it...(Audre wants to try it) she said she made promise to her dog that she won't ever try it (she did say her dad does eat dog often though which I'm confused about because it was a family dog that they had). I just can't see myself eating a dog, especially since I will have one in the future and a dog isn't seen to many westerners as food...(unlike some Chinese people, especially to the Cantonese because, "If it has four legs and it is not a chair, if it has two wings and it flies but is not an airplane, and if it swims and it is not a submarine, the Cantonese will eat it") Had to mention that. Now the topics for today:

Asian Games 2010 in GuangZhou- WHAT A MESS

Lily's moving and her job situation

Getting away with a lot-- not the case in many other big cities in China

Staying (and being) healthy here

Break Time!

Asian Games

Basically the Asian Games are the Olympics of this continent. So that means our "precious" city , Guangzhou, has about double the people. The subway is NOT prepared for this, the city public transportation isn't, the citizens of Guangzhou aren't... so as you can see I'm a little against this. I mean, yes, it is cool to say I was in Guangzhou when the Asian games were going on, in Shanghai during the EXPO, saw the Beijing Olympic stadium, but so many people in the city is such a hassle especially since I use the subway all the time on the weekends.

I watched swimming, badminton and ping pong on TV (which by the way I NEVER watch because I don't have a TV and it's a waste of time) and it was pretty cool and funny. I noticed a few interesting things though such as Hong Kong being classified as Hong Kong, China and same with Macau. I will try to find out what Taiwan participates under... I'm pretty sure CHINA. North and South Korea are called by their official names (Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Republic of Korea respectively). Watching badminton and the seriousness of it IS pretty funny though, because we (Americans) don't really consider that one of "those" sports, but people always ask me "Do you play badminton, do you play ping pong?" Obviously I CAN play both, but I wouldn't say I'm great, I'm just alright. AUTHOR'S NOTE: Those are very famous, respected sports in Asia.

Now as for the actual games... we went to Guangzhou this weekend and the "police" barricaded the entrance into the subway and only let a crowd of people go in at a time. This makes sense in China because Chinese people have no regard for order or manners whatsoever. If they let people go into the subway freely... it would be a MESS. Fights would break out, people would CUT, others would NEVER get through (because they wouldn't push enough). For example, I was in line for the bus back to where I live (which I cut because the actual line consisted of about 200 people) and pretended I just was a stupid foreigner, but when I got to the door of the bus I was literally almost trampled, lifted, pushed, etc because I felt there needed to be order, so I was first waited for those in front of me to get into the bus. Instead of doing the same. those behind me began cutting me, pushing me, yelling at me and trying to get me on the bus so that then, they could push THEIR way in. What a mess. I decided now that if I go home on Sunday in the evening, I am 100% taking a taxi. The weekend before, a few of the exits in the subway were closed because so many people were coming in, that they didn't let people use the EXIT as an EXIT (just an entrance into the subway). Who plans this stuff? Clearly this should not happen when one of the biggest events in Asia is going on in the city. Simply put, Guangzhou is not prepared when it comes to infrastructure or even mentally... Chinese people here are not prepared for the games mentally. They still do the same bullshit that they do if the games weren't happening. It's difficult to explain this because those who have spent time here can understand (like my friends) but it's just a mentality, a culture of disorder, of disregard to rules and manners... simply put. This IS China (too MANY people and not enough ANYTHING. Even the Chinese say so themselves. They're like "You're going to Guangzhou NOW? There are SO many people!!!!!!!! As if Guangzhou isn't crowded enough, they had to bring in everyone here for the Asian Games. Dandy)

Lily is moving

Ugh. So my Lao Jie is moving to Yunnan for a few reasons. As I said before, she will get married sometime in the next few years to her boyfriend from college whom I met and absolutely love! He is in the Chinese army and like a big brother to me. Well HE can't get married until he's 25, as I mentioned before, BUT she still wants to be closer to him. Also as I've mentioned her job sucks. Maybe I don't know the extent of it because she DOES GET a lot of perks, but she is basically her boss' bitch. She has to take care of clients for him, dance in those stupid celebrations, and stay over time doing other people's work. So one day she told me she quit. Well it's not like she went to her boss and flat out said it, "I QUIT mother fffff-er" but she told him she will leave the company because she will get married to her boyfriend. Her boss offered her a raise and asked if it was because of the work, but she said no. The way she explained it is that if she said yes I hate my job, he would tell her he'd give her a lot more money, that her work would be easier, but most likely (99% sure actually) her job would not be any different and he wouldn't respect his word. This was the only way she could leave soon, she stated. So she HAS to stay with the company until they find a replacement for her (for at the most 30 days) AND she has to do whatever the boss wants still. If she does not, she cannot get her Chinese ID transferred to Yunnan (a different province) because Midea for some reason, has an effect on that (MIDEA actually has a lot of business with the government I hear AND they mean a lot to the Chinese government... which makes sense because a company without government connections in Beijing would NEVER be able to prosper even close to the level Midea is at). So she has no choice. She can't just plainly QUIT, she sort of has to get permission to quit if you get what I mean. The worst part of this is that she wanted a job in a cigarette business. She wanted to work in some office that pays the most out of any company in that location
(which happens to be the cigarette company). Bobo's (her boyfriend's "uncle" [distant uncle]) agreed to ask someone who worked there to pull some strings, because Lily said it is impossible to get a job at this specific place especially, without knowing someone AND being in the tight knit relationship which that company has. Well Lily told me that the uncle doesn't know anyone who works there anymore, because the person whom he knew left... so there is nothing more he can do to help. Great news, NOT. Lily is still going to Yunnan next week but now she is job-less. This reminds me...

It's very interesting that Chinese people never really say NO. There is no real word that means flat out NO. There are many ways to say no though... AND Chinese people always say "maybe" or else lie to you to "keep face". They don't want to seem defeated or disappoint or even worry someone. So often they lie. Maybe because they don't know an answer, but they won't ever really be frank if the news is bad (not ALWAYS obviously, but this is the general consensus).

The power of being NOT Chinese

Yes I complain about China often, BUT in reality I DO like it here. I am treated in a special way because of what I look like. It is wrong. It definitely is wrong, but VERY helpful. Let's take a recent topic of conversation for example: Serena. Her family is from Hong Kong and China, she has red and black hair, she looks semi-Chinese, but also totally Canadian (which she is). She speaks Cantonese and dresses totally like a punky-Westerner and is one of the nicest people I know. Basically when she speaks Cantonese people ask her to speak Mandarin, which she doesn't. When she acts foreign (because DUH SHE IS), Chinese people look down at her, as if she betrayed her county. So no one is ever happy... either way. She has probably the worst experience here when it comes to experiencing Chinese people. She says they reversely discriminate, which they do. When I first came here I told myself I do not want to be treated differently. I don't want special treatment, this and that. But I do. Without special treatment you are screwed and hopeless here! I'd never be able to get on a bus, I would get yelled at all the time, I wouldn't be able to be late from work, would NEVER leave early and work over-time, would get paid NOTHING, and life would be harsh. So yes, please give me preferential treatment. I hate to say it, but I'm only being honest. I need help in China all the time and I NEED people to be understanding... I can't speak here, can't read... so cut me some slack. There are people though who think if you don't know these things, don't come to China... but that is why I NEED to learn Chinese.

I heard that there is different treatment in Beijing though. In the south, at least where I live and many places in China, if you are a foreigner people look up to you and you are by default, treated specially. In Beijing foreigners could potentially be treated like shit. Beijing is a different world for many reasons. It is the capital of Communist China. NOT everyone can live in Beijing... it is expensive and the center of the government. The elite people there are patriotic, so there is no reason to give special treatment to foreigners who just occupy "their precious country". I didn't notice any of this when I went to Beijing, but people there were definitely more used to seeing a white face... and I did not get any obnoxious "halloooooos" there. I just felt more normal and average in the bigger cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. So some might even go out of their way to push and shove you and be mean to you, to discriminate that you ARE NOT Chinese (actually similarly to what Serena experiences because some Chinese don't think she is Chinese... since she grew up in Canada). The propaganda is supposed to be more prevalent in Beijing, but I only noticed that in the touristy areas such as Tienanmen Square.

Health

This is an interesting topic I need to write about. Some Chinese people are very health conscious. Not necessarily because they don't want to be fat, but they want to be healthy. In traditional Chinese medicine, the body is composed of Yin and Yang, and we need to balance these two forces to be healthy, as far as I understand. If you overheat your body, you will get sick. If your body is too cold, you will get sick. So some worthy habits to mention are 1. Some women never eat ice cream or even touch or drink cold water when they are on their period. The body temperature must be down, so they cannot cool it any more. 2. When the weather is humid and hot, do not eat hot pot. It will make your face break out and will create pimples. 3. Fish is good for the memory. 4. Spicy food makes you break out like crazy. 5. Walking slowly after eating REALLY helps digestion (actually about 20 minutes after eating). 6. Eat vegetables with your meal, especially if you eat spicy food. 7. Do not eat too much spicy food (for many reasons. I know this because I DO eat too much spicy food). Chinese always try to find a balance in the diet, with foods that go together. Actually in Lily's kitchen, there is a table of food to not eat together, and I'm assuming it's based on Chinese medicine. 8. Don't exercise when on your period. 9. Practice traditional Chinese medicine techniques such as massages, Gua Sha, cupping, herbal medicine, etc.

Break Time

At 3 30PM everyday, the intercom plays some Chinese music to remind everyone to take a break and relax for a few minutes. At this time we usually eat something like green bean soup (which we had today) or that fungus soup I wrote about before. This time is called afternoon tea time (although it involves no tea whatsoever). We also do some stretches and exercises next to our desk. Hahahha funny, believe me. Especially since everyone counts in Chinese and some of these moves are just weird (like rotating your hips in a circle for four counts of eight). Getting tired now. Goodnight

Sharpest Tool in the Box

So maybe I'm not as smart as I think I am, but actually I made a little comparison between Chinese words today, specifically the character 老. The pinyin for this is lǎo. I was curious about this character specifically because as some of you might have noticed, I call Lily my Jie Jie (姐姐) which means older sister. She calls me her Mei Mei (妹妹) which is younger sister. In addition, I call Bobo (her boyfriend) my jiĕfu (姐 夫) which actually means brother in law (and Lily would then call my boyfriend or future husband if it were that serious, 妹 夫 [mèifu]). Recently Lily told me that if I wanted to I could call her Lao Jie (老姐). She explained that this means that we are actual sisters, not just call each other sisters because we are close. I thought before that "sister" was the closest relation you could call someone who actually isn't a part of your blood family, but it turns out if you add "lao" it's more special. So now I call her LaoJie and she calls me LaoMei (the funny thing is when we are chatting online or texting she'll text me in Pinyin which is very UNCOMMON here. She only does it because I cannot read Chinese characters but can somewhat pronounce if something is written in pinyin, especially without the tones). Anyway, my point is that a few days ago I noticed that someone referred to me as LaoShi (老师): teacher. So of course I put two and two together and wanted to see if the two characters were actually the same (the character from teacher AND the character from LaoMei). They are. Basically when it comes to Lǎoshī (teacher) the word Lao means old aged or experienced. When used in front of a a family member's relation or a name it means "a term of affection" (preceding a surname) or "a prefix denoting respect or closeness, used in several fixed terms". Even better is the fact that Shī (师) means "teacher, master, specialist". So when Chinese people say "teacher" they are very respectful, because it's not just regular "teacher" but a close, RESPECTED, teacher. Through just these few words and meanings alone, we can see how much respect Chinese give the elderly because if you call someone Lao it denotes old age and/or experience and ALSO a synonym for endearment, so it's not offensive to be called "old" but actually something that is honored.

Enough of my rant about something cool I figured out all by myself here. Hopefully in the next few months I'll learn much more that I can share on my blog.

How long has it been? Time for another rant PLUS

Hello Readers! I am at work on a Tuesday and just finished the work that needs to be done. This past week was a VERY busy one. First, I asked for more work from the marketing director and I got it. I had to make a report on the dishwasher market in Poland (fascinating I know) and let me say it was not easy considering I was also g-chatting all the time, talking with friends, planning my halloween costume, planning stuff for Monika's birthday weekend, AND planning English classes. SO MUCH STUFF. And oh yea, our company had the celebration of the opening of the new building, so that was crazy. So let's start from two weeks ago...

I planned to be Tigger for Halloween. I wanted to be him since last year, when my girl RiRi wore that costume.

...

Exactly one week later--

Shows you how much time I have to write my blog. Basically I got super busy this week again and now I am finally \ motivated to write this thing. So what was I saying? Tigger. I was Tigger for Halloween and I went to a tailor and showed pictures of what I wanted the costume to look like. I drew it out exactly and it turned out ok. I wouldn't say it was amazing, but it fit and it worked for Halloween (it took the tailor about a week to make)! I also bought black gloves for the costume and fishnet tights, and HIGH HIGH HIGH Steve Madden heels... and ta da: Sexy Tigger. I felt like Lady Gaga when we went out that night. The outfit was like a one piece bathing suit... more or less! But super awesome! Originally it was supposed to show some skin on the side (where the material was cut out), but I thought that was too much, so instead I covered the open area with fishnets and I personally thought it looked better. Monika was supposed to be Morticia Addams, but she changed her costume to the girl from The Ring. Lily was a bunny with a costume she rented from a tailor. Audre was Cleopatra and she ordered her costume on the infamous Chinese shopping site: TaoBao. Serena was a flame and being the artist that she is... she painted a cool looking design on her face with body paint and glitter! AWESOME. Oh yea, I also drew cat eyes for myself with eyeliner so that was a first. Maybe I will do that again when I go out next time... it's so funky!

In China I like to experiment more with my makeup because I have more choices and well, it's China... I allow everything for myself here and I'm not embarrassed to push the envelope like I would be in the US (for example I bought a pink bob wig and I am planning on wearing it very soon). After drinking and getting ready in the hotel, and eating cake of course, we went out to Babyface... we got a table and danced and drank whiskey and life was goooood! Too many people kept grabbing my tail though, but I just thought it was funny. Audre grabbed me at one point and introduced me to some Americans who turned out to be from right by where I live!!! It was soooooo weird to meet people from the Chicago suburbs. Unfortunately for them, I don't like to really talk for too long with American guys abroad because they think they're the shit and probably get too much attention from girls, so I tend to shy away from them. No thank you... I meet enough Americans in the US.

Lately, we've been going out with British people and a few Americans in GZ. I just met them three weeks ago but to be honest, don't remember all of them since I wasn't too interested in talking... just dancing! So we've all been going dancing and bar hopping, pretty fun. Last week we went to our new friend Neil's place and he's a DJ so I made him download Rihanna's "What's My Name" and I was dancing to it... by myself of course... then I got tired and fell asleep while everyone else partied till dawn. hehehe. As for this weekend, we're going to an opening of a new bar in Guangzhou and it's going to be super fun, I can feel it!!! Can't wait. And for once, I'm going out on a Friday because I need it, believe me.

Why do I need it? I've been homesick lately. Randomly I get bouts of homesickness for one reason or another and this bout is for a very important and special reason, but it's not like I can pick up and leave China or turn back time... so I just have to deal with the way things are. I guess I just really miss certain people and certain things... It's not as if I hate China. Today I had a talk with Wifey on Skype and she totally gassed me up because sometimes I forget exactly what I'm doing and how important it is to my development as a person, professionally and personally. I have changed a lot and developed myself in China. I've learned so much about Chinese culture and myself most of all. I am comfortable with new environments and feel like now I can go anywhere. I have expanded my comfort zone an unbelievable amount (in the words of Wifey) and now is the time for me to be selfish. Yes, I did sacrifice a lot for coming to China, but instead of dwelling on the past and on the negative burdens in life, it's more important to be proud of where I am right now and exactly how much I've accomplished. It's easy to say I should have, could have, done this and that, but it's more important to look at the present and the future and keep moving. Easier said and done but that is def something I have come to realize. So thank you Wifey for reaffirming me about myself and reminding me that I cannot belittle this huge experience I have gone through and continue to go through. I forget sometimes, after EIGHT months in China, that I am in another world here... I am used to not speaking Chinese, not being able to easily get around, to the staring and the "Hallooooooooooos". I am used to being so completely out of my comfort zone that it has actually BECOME my comfort zone. Wow. Some of my friends say that I am taking this experience the best out of all of us but I wouldn't say that is true. I would say that right now I am just lucky. I'm lucky because most Chinese people act like they like me (even if they don't), I like my job, I am not stressed out, everything has seemed to fall into place (well with work at least)... and that was not the case for all my friends here. Maybe I am just less picky and take things as they come no matter what they are... once again, when it comes to China yes, but not always.

I have had to deal with a lot here but I TRY not to dwell on that, but it's important to remind myself that I have gone through some crazy things in China and I am still going strong. Go Me!!! (Believe me, yesterday I was not feeling this gassed, but today I am feeling much better and much more secure and goal oriented... it helps that I'm going to Hong Kong in 2 weeks and then again in a month and that I am having dinner with some of my favorite people in China tonight). Also Serena mentored me last night after a mini-breakdown (heheheh it happens, I'm in China people! And this is only like the 3rd time in eight months more or less). There is one thing I really wish I had in my life right now and everything would be perfect... but I'll settle for the other good things :) In China I tend to focus more on the positives and not even THINK about the negatives and take everything with a grain of salt. We all explain to each other "It's China" every time something goes wrong... and just laugh. I know I'll miss it here when I go back to the US, but speaking of that... I'm not sure WHEN I'll go back to the US yet. My division is giving me signs that they want me to stay for another year and move to the marketing department, but I'm not sure if that's what I want yet... There are many future decisions I have to make in the next few months and it's so difficult... while I think about many factors, Wifey told me that this is the only time in my life I can be selfish, for one reason or another, so I just need to be selfish right now and make my decisions based solely on me. But I can't :( Well maybe I can, I'm just not sure if I want to. Decisions decisions.

Lily is also leaving Beijiao and moving to Yunnan. Her boyfriend lives there and she made a rash abrupt decision to also move there and quit her job... I won't get into it in this blog post but China has a VERY FUNNY way with jobs and Chinese workers... I will discuss this in my next post. I'd also like to mention that now at 3 30pm we all do some group stretching at work and occasionally we eat fungus soup that a lady called Mei Jie makes. It's sweet and very good for woman's bodies. It is supposed to flush out toxins in your system. That would help considering a few weeks ago I had to go to the hospital for unbearable stomach pain... and while I thought it was one thing, and then an inflamed gallbladder, and it turned out to be something with the intestines being infected. I got some medicine and am goooooood. I have been more careful about what and when I eat though since then. On another completely different topic, I bought four pairs of new glasses with Serena and she helped me pick them out and I love them! I got an amazing purple pair and a blue paid that totally makes me look like a teacher... I'm wearing them today and they are so Hong Kong/sexy teacher/fashionista... Fierce.

Time to go! Keep reading!!!

sdfjpsdijflksdmf

You're not easy to love

Why is everything, with you so complicated?
Why do you make it hard to love you
While I hate it?
Cause if you really wanna be alone,

I would throw my hands up cause baby I tried

But everything with you is so complicated,
Oh why?

Sometimes I get you, Sometimes I don’t understand.
Sometimes I love you, Sometimes it's you I can't stand.
Sometimes I wanna hug you, Sometimes I wanna push you away.
Most times I wanna kiss you, Other times push you and every minute you start switching up
And you say things like, ‘ You don't give a fuck!'
Then I say, ‘I'm through with you.' Take my heart from you. And you come running after me, and baby, I'm back with you.

You're not easy to love

But everything with you is so complicated,
Oh, why ?

Sometimes I catch you, Sometimes you get away
Sometimes I read you, Other times I’m like, ‘Where are you on the page?’
Sometimes I feel like we will be together forever
But you’re so complicated my heart and all is bitter.

Imma stick around just a little while longer.
Just to make sure, that you’re really sure, you like sleeping alone

You're not easy to love.

Halloween

We bad.

oh na na

i am so much better than this shit and deserve much better, wont ever forget that booboo

Home?

"It was the difference of being a tourist and belonging to a place"

A day or two ago, I would have said I belong to China. Actually, I belong to Beijiao, Foshan, Shunde. I do feel at home here in many ways. I know my way around, know how to do things here, feel safe (somewhat), and know people, but actually this is not home for me. I must admit, before coming to China I never really considered myself THAT American. I was born in Poland and am an American citizen, but actually I felt Polish and somewhat American. Now that I am in China, and especially last night when I was surrounded by FOUR other Americans, I really felt home again, and it made me a little sad. I realized just how much China has changed me... it's simple changes: my speech, my vocabulary, lack of slang, lack of hood-ness (bhahahahahhaha), lack of that Chi Swag that I was writing about last night... I miss that. I have lost a lot of my American-ness, I would say a part of my personality.

The best way I can explain my feelings is that there is a place where you feel like you belong. You might not know it, but there is. You can live somewhere, adapt to society, make new friends and meet new people, but there is a place where you can just BE and feel normal. Now I realize...that is how I feel in the US. People understand you and have similar backgrounds to you. There are a TON of people who like to do similar things as you. It's just all about comfort. Not physical comfort, but a sense of relation to those around you. No one has the same background, but in the US, people have semi-similar manners, expressions, values, cultural references, goals... and that is what ties many Americans together. I cannot think of the right word for all of this... culture? Nationality? Not ethnicity... But that aspect is something I have missed in the last seven months while being here (I have gained A LOT, but also reminisce about things too)

It just made me happy to meet more people like me again. Oh yea, two are from New York and two are from Utah, FYI.

Shawty got a raise

She said I don’t spend time like I really should
she said she don't know me (anymore)
I think she hates me deep down
I know she does
she wants to erase me
hmmmmm
a couple days no talking
I’ve seen my baby
and this what she tells me
she said

I keep on running, keep on running
and nothing works
I can’t get away from you
no, I keep on ducking keep on ducking you, nothing helps
I can’t stop missing you

It’s like I’m her new nightmare
she aint escaping
it makes me feel a bit complete
knowing someone you love don’t feel the same way about you
memories they soon delete

A couple weeks no talking I seen my baby
I missed you so damn much
I wish we could start over
I told my baby
This what this bitch tells me, she said

I keep on running, keep on running
and nothing works
I can’t get away from you
no, I keep on ducking keep on ducking you, nothing helps
I can’t stop missing you

Cause I’m in the magazines, on the tv
no matter where you are you might hear me

Uh, I’m Yeezy
she said Hi I’m Agnieszkaaaa
No! You an angel you wave hi to Aaliyah
I got a show in Korea
they built a new arena
why don’t you come watch it and tear the whole scene up
I know I’ve seen you before but don’t know where I seen ya
oh I remember now, it’s something I that I dreamed of
Don C said she cool but don’t let her f-ck ya cream up
Monica Lewinski on ya dress take ya to the cleaners
sure enough a week later I’m in extra love
let everybody know she mine so she extra club
every bouncer every club show her extra love
we just praying the new fame don’t get the best of us
all good things gotta come to an end-a
she let it go to her head, no not mine-ria
the height of her shopping was writers blocking me
I couldn’t get my sh-t out anyway, I hope she’s diarrhea

Today was a good day. You know one of those days where things just seem to be going your way? As you can tell from this title, shawtyyyy got a raiseee (a hefty one at that). Holla. (BTW I'm on that CuDi shit right now...) I'm going shopping this weekend because I realized my Chi Swag has dwindled :( I was always on top of my shit in the US, but in China it's a little harder, so we all know I GOTTA go hard and pick that shit up! Oh yea, and I has dinner with four new AMERICANS today who live pretty close to me and I remembered how much I miss home and how much I have changed in the last seven months. Not bad or good, but less American... that includes that Chi City swag. I don't even have the same accent anymore and the same vocabulary!!! Style in China is on a different level than the US, a LOWER level. No worries, in the next five months this biatch is gonna get back on top of it. Hope I really get to see 30.. wanna settle down, stop being so...

Until next time boos.

BeiHai II

And onto BeiHai... continued.

Our second day, we knew we had to hit the beach. The weather was wonderful and the sun was shining. We walked across the street from our hotel and reached the sand. We headed away from the people that were on the beach and laid down a sheet on the sand... and began tanning (that is, Monika and I did. Audre was afraid of the sun because she had just gotten burnt in 20 minutes in Sanya). The sun WAS hot, but not too hot. I could tell I was getting darker faster than if I laid out in the US though. Score!

(This is what happens when you are a foreigner in China--many requests for pictures)

After about three hours on the beach we went back to the hotel, cleaned up and went into town. We were supposed to meet two other girls, but they didn't call us until so the three of us took a rickshaw to some restaurant. Audre really wanted to eat Vietnamese food and Wikipedia said there should be lots of those restaurants in town, but we couldn't find any. We had the rickshaw driver drive us to some restaurant and it was, of course, a seafood place, so we went to one a few places down and it had a great sweet and sour fish so we ordered it.

We also ordered mini Chinese cabbage (because I knew how to say that in Chinese) and some buns with a weird filling (pork fat and vegetables). Afterwards we decided to go to some Western owned bar. After some time we got to a place called "Seafood Island" (Wai Sha) and found Tony's bar (which we read about also on Wikitravel... one of two Western owned bars in Beihai), but before that we sat on some bridge/walkway and had a couple beers. The breeze was blowing, we were all looking good, and life was good.

Later, when we actually sat down at Tony's bar, the other two girls (Barbara and Kate) met up with us and we were approached by some older man who turned out to be from Holland. He said there were only about 50 foreigners in Beihai, and I'm gonna take a wild guess and say about 99% of them are older than 45. We saw a table of them at Tony's, and one of them included Tony. The guy introduced himself and said HE also owned a bar, on "Old Street". He lured us in with saying that the first drink was on him if we would come to his bar, and also that he might have an empty apartment for us to stay in (he's married, no worries) because we lost our hostel for the island for the proceeding nights. He also advised us that the island was not worth going to, or so he had heard from his other bar guests. So we went to his bar about an hour later and had a few drinks (nope, not even one was free, and we didn't ask for a discount). Another girl who worked with Kate and Barbara met us, along with her Russian boyfriend and his friend. Then the party began! We went to another bar, got a table outside, and a bottle of Johnny Walker. We danced a little then took a taxi back to the hotel.

The next day (Sunday), before we could proceed with our day, we had to go to the ferry port to buy our tickets for our island trip. We bought tickets for the next day because the ones for that day were sold out. We saw an Australian and two Americans, but I didn't get a chance to speak with them. I love seeing foreign people in China. So THEN we had to find a hotel and after three tries on a rickshaw, we found an affordable, but kind of shitty one. Beihai has no hostels. The rickshaw driver offered us his services for 10Yuan each, for the whole day! Talk about CHEAP labor (we could get driven anywhere we wanted for less than $2 per person). We didn't take it because we didn't need a driver all day. When we got settled into the hotel, we asked the driver to drive us to a restaurant, and guess what? He took us to the same one as the driver did the day before. Some kind of arrangement and monopoly between that restaurant and rickshaw drivers? I think so. So we went to the other restaurant (from the previous day) and the rickshaw driver noticed and called Kate over. He told her that she would need to pay him now, instead of after, since we didn't take his restaurant choice. I think the rickshaw drivers can lower their prices if they drive us to this particular restaurant because for every group it takes there, they get some money, but since we didn't go there, they wanted money from

us right away, and more money as a matter of fact. Finally we ate, got ready in the hotel and then went to Silver Beach which was horrible (crowded and far).

We had a lot of "firsts" this trip, and many at Silver Beach. I drank my first coconut juice out of a coconut, we all got stung by jellyfish (or medusa hehehehhehe)...oh Monika and I got charged 5Yuan for taking a picture with a plastic crab, and luckily my Chinese saved us (this phrase saves us very often... they think you're just a stupid foreigner). Tīng bù dǒng (don't understand). This place was soooo crowded and pretty far from where we lived, so it was kind of a pointless beach excursion... except I got super tan in the few hours we were outside. The Russians and Amy (the Chinese girl who is dating one of them) met us at the beach and it was fun. We went back to the hotel and showered then headed to WaiSha, again, to have dinner at a local seafood place.

As you can see from the picture above, someone was drunk hahaha. We ate a meal that was catered to us and our budget (some people didn't want to eat anything too expensive, even though the meal itself was super cheap). We had shrimp, eggplant, fish, beer (of course), mussels, noodles, and other dishes I can't recall. Later, we drank a few bottles outside (of beer, NOT vodka) and Monika, Max (pictured above) went to the club! First we had a few drinks at that Holland Bar (which isn't really my favorite to say the least) and I taught Monika and Max how to play that drinking dice game (too hard to explain in a blog, but I love this game when I'm drinking and I must admit, I'm pretty good). Then we went to a place called... NONE OTHER THAN The KK Club. Bahahahhaha, how does the KK find me, even on the coast of China!? Hehehhe.

We had a GREAT time at the "club". It was filled with Chinese guys, but it was more like a bar. Maxsim ordered Chivas whiskey for us (don't think we have that in the US, but it's popular here) and we danced and drank. At some point, Max knocked over a bubbly fish tank next to the DJ on the dance floor, but it was ok, because we were not Chinese... and I'm not joking here. Many people came to us and brought cans of beers so we would drink with them and so we did! At some point Monika came up to me and told me to hide Max's keys to his rented moped. I guess he told her "He would be back in three minutes" and that's when she knew he was drunk, so she followed him. While I was at our table drinking with people, I saw that some Chinese guy was chasing someone or something with a bamboo cane. Then everyone ran from the club outside. Obviously I was a little nervous so I followed and saw Monika crouching over Max whose face was pretty bloody. She told me to call the ambulance (umm what the fff is the number to an ambulance in China? How do I call if I can't speak Chinese?!) I had no idea what to do so I got Monika's phone and she called someone, I think Kate, but no one answered. We grabbed our things and headed toward the street where we knew there would be taxis. At this point, we had no idea what happened... I was inside, and Monika only found Max a minute after she went outside when he was already beat up. We got a taxi and made Max tell him "doctor" in Chinese. We went to the hospital and waited while Max got stitches under his right eye. No passport necessary. We filled out some info, but I filled it out so it obviously was made up, because even I didn't know Max that well! The doctor told us the fee and Monika said "500 Yuan?!" "No, FIVE Yuan, Monika", said I. She thought it was 500Yuan, but I heard five. FIVE? Pretty cheap for stitches and some shots. I think that's less than what it cost for the materials used. The hospital was pretty empty considering it was about 1AM. I was pouting the whole time (drunk and had a pretty good set up at the club), but trying to take in the fact that I was in a Chinese hospital... anyway, we have no idea what happened to Max or how the fight started, but he told Monika three different, fuzzy stories while drunk. I know how to deal with a drunk person now though, just pretend they're a baby. Max is fine, we are all fine, and our night ended with Monika and I sharing her twin sized bed in the hotel room, and Max sleeping in my bed. And oh yea, when we woke up his pillowcase was all bloody because of the wounds on his face.

Until BeiHai III post people! Thanks for reading.

当初你叫我滚开，现在又要我滚回来，对不起，滚远了

Time will tell.

Oh life... how you fuck me over. In the past seven months that I have been in China (October 8th was the seventh anniversary!!!) I have not really been cheated by anyone knowingly. Usually I can tell when something is a scam... but I have noticed that EVEN in China, these people find UNTHINKABLE ways to cheat you. It could be the simplest thing... something you would not expect, and that is how they get you! There is no 30 or 90 day return policy here, no way to complain (one because I don't speak Chinese, and two, because the whole point of selling is to cheat you out of your money). As Audre found out by buying headphones in a store for about 40Yuan... They obviously broke and what happened? She could return them within ten days of the purchase, OR pay about half the price of the headphones for ANOTHER pair (if she wanted to return them more than 10 days after) which would likely break again. Or Serena who bought a camera for pretty much the US price... which also broke about a month later. Or there were times when I thought I was getting a good deal on something because I saw it more expensive in another store, but then hmm... a part of that something is missing somehow... so actually I just ended up not getting cheated but also not winning. Fu**ing China.

Anyway, yesterday Monika and I went shopping to Guangzhou Railway Station... usual spot for shoes and some other random things. I didn't find the shoes I wanted and some other ones were too expensive I thought, so I didn't get anything. I was on the way to the bus when I noticed the fruit prices at the bus station were really low (they usually are). I decided to buy 10 kiwis for 10Yuan and 40 lychees, also for 10Yuan. I was picking out kiwis and the vendor woman helped me pick out a few. The she tied my bag and double bagged it. Next to her was a lady selling lychees so I also wanted to buy some. I counted the ones I put in my bag and she also put a few in for me... 38. It was supposed to be 40 so I said 39 by accident and she put one more in for me, oh well... one lychee won't make a difference I thought. The she tied my bag, double bagged it and I got my money. I only had a 100 bill, so I have it to her. Then that bitch had the audacity to give me back seven tens instead of 8. So I told her and she snuck a ten out of the money I gave her and gave me another 10, still leaving me with 7 tens. So I started counting and she pulled the money away from me and actually gave me a 50, a 20, and a 10. Mission accomplished, or so I thought I took my money and left, reminding myself to count the lychees at home to see if they ripped me off. Well, well, well, to my surprise I counted 24 lychees instead of 40 and 8 kiwis instead of 10. I wonder how that happened. I'm assuming they both switched the bags with previously packed bags when I was counting my money...Pride is hurt majorly :( So next week, I am going to come up with a scheme to get these tricks back.

Lily told me there are two ways these vendorse try to scam everyone and anyone. One way is when they help you pick out fruit, they actually put the fruit in another bag, and not yours, so you end up only with the fruit YOU pick out, which is less than the amount you're supposed to get. Number two is while you're getting your money, they switch your full bag with a bag they previously fill themselves (with less and worse fruit). Oh how did I LET them fool me like this?!?!?! UGHHHHHHHH!!! So one time Lily was supposed to buy 20 mangosteen for 20Yuan. She told me she knew about their "trickery" so she told the lady "Don't touch the fruit, I can get them myself, and I will hold the bag" and the woman responded, "Well if that is the case, then you can only have 15 fruit, and not 20". So it seems that they expect to rip EVERYONE off. Finally, once I was leaving Katia's apartment and going to the bus and I saw a man knock over a woman's fruit stand while yelling and yelling at her. I thought, "What a jerk, blah blah" but now I totally understand! What biatches... if I knew, I also would have knocked their stand over!

On another note, the first Chinese man ever won the Nobel Peace Prize. His name is Liu Xiaobo, a political dissident, and he is being imprisoned somewhere in the northeast of China for trying to peacefully bring democracy into China. His wife is also supposedly under house arrest now, due to her husband's award. I am not an expert on this subject, so please read the newspaper on this subject. So interesting!!! Censorship and communism at it's best.

BeiHai

iPod songs on the way home: All John Legend and Anthony Hamilton (especially "The Day We Met", "Ordinary People", and "The Point of it All")

For all those that have read the previous post, you know that I went to Beihai last week. I went home after work, ate, and packed quickly. I took some random bus to Guangzhou that cost me about 5 times the bus I usually take. THEN I had to take a taxi and meet Audre and Monika. We then took forever to get a taxi back to Monika's but finally made it back. We went to sleep right away because the next day, we'd have to wake up at 4am or so.It was VERY easy to get a taxi to the train station, especially considering Monika lives in a place I'd call Bumblefu*k.

Train Station when we arrived in Guangzhou

Our train was late (the one time we come EARLY, the train is LATE... figures) We thought the universe was just trying to stop us from going on vacation as a warning. First, our hostel on the island (where we would stay for two nights) was cancelled, we all met at different times, took more than an hour from Guangzhou to find a taxi, and some other things I can't remember. On the train to Zhanjiang, all three of us slept.

Then we took some random private bus to Beihai. We got off at the train station, took a rickshaw to a gas station, and bought tickets there to Beihai (with the help of a girl who spoke pretty good English at the train station).

Rickshaw (our mode of transportation throughout this trip)

We sat on tiny stools on the bus then in actual seats (not enough room, of course).

When we got to Beihai it was dark and we took a taxi to our hotel. We went to dinner at a local seafood restaurant (there were plenty) and ordered by pointing at the fish in tanks... At least they were fresh.

We sat on the beach for a bit and the tide was SO low. Some people were lighting lanterns and letting them fly for the holiday (which was National Day Week), but actually I think they just letting these go on the beach. Some teenagers were so excited we were watching that they came over to talk to us and show off their English, which was pretty poor. Nevertheless, it was funny. I also practiced my Chinese.

Audre didn't feel like drinking after, but Monika and I (being the true blooded Polish that we are) decided we would keep drinking and eat some barbecue on the beach. We ordered two beers to begin with, two clams and sat down at this classy place:

Of course we ended up ordering more food and two more beers, which put us at a grand total of 42RMB (which is about $6 for those of you that are bad at conversions). Ahhhh and this is one of the reasons I love China.

The pictures under this post are also from this vacation. To be continued later, since uploading these pictures and writing is a tiring task. Hehehhe