You ARE Chicago (well, you and Kanye)

The title of this post goes out to Ali Hunt, because she wrote me that quote in an e-mail. I'm going to miss the Chicago summer this year :( I have to admit it's been pretty hard to adjust to everything in China, and I've definately been Madison-sick (not homesick too much, except I miss my friends and my sister). Basically I miss some familiar things, like the English language, some McDonalds fries (YES I do miss those!), and I ate my last bag of Spicy Cheetos the day before yesterday, so now I can't eat Cheetos for a year. Wow. I can't even bear to think that... I also miss junk food. I'll discuss that more in detail in a little bit, but first I want to say that I am at work at 8am on a Saturday, and I am dressed up, while everyone else is wearing jeans and casual wear, because I found out that on Saturday you can wear whatever you like, even gym shoes. Good to know now, since this will probably be my last Saturday at work!

1. Chinese Supermarket
2. Interesting Chinese food, like FUNGUS
3. Physical Exam
4. Staring
5. Drugs
6. Chinese speaking only Chinese around me
7. My throat
8. Government Monitoring
9. Laundry
10. Items I wish I brought, or didn't get rid of from my suitcase when it was overweight
11. Chinese School across the Street and Today's Activities

1. When I went to the supermarket a few days ago, they didn't have any American chips that I like...and as I said, I miss junk food! Some interesting things they had were crab and shrimp flavored Pringles... I took a picture, but I can't upload it onto blogspot from China. In the next isle, I saw toothpaste that is supposed to be "Crest" and "Colgate", that was actually "Cvrest" and...I don't really remember, but I have pictures of that too. There was also a laundry detergent that was a FAKE Tide, like Fite or something. Only in China! Actually, that statment is wrong, because I know in Poland they have tons of fake products like this. I'm worried about buying the shampoo here, because there is one of each name brand on the shelf, and it doesn't smell like the original, or look like it! I wanted to buy a few things, and the products that I know are usually sealed, were ALL open! My Australian friend and I assume they water it down here, because it's more expensive for them to have the original on the shelf. Why have the original when you can still charge the same amount for a watered down version?

2. At work, someone ordered Dim Sum (light food that you eat with your tea in the south of China), and I tried the egg soup. To my surprise, the soup had pear in it, and some kind of squeaky, transparent, coral looking vegetable. I asked someone what it was, and we looked up the translation online... it was fungus. It wasn't bad though. She explained it as being something that used to grow in the wild, but now Chinese farmers have cultivated it and eat it. Nice. Another food I've seen, and definately not eaten, is some kind of little lizard on a stick, that is roasted. Ewa and I tried to get pictures of it, but the lady yelled "No!" in the stand. She probably thought we were going to copy her business ventures! The last thing I have to mention about the food, are the womry larvae. If you have a weak stomach, don't read on, and jump to the next paragraph. They sell larvae/centipedes or something like that in fancy boxes for around $600-$1500, YES DOLLARS, at the fancy supermarkets. I guess these creatures are supposed to make you very healthy. I will need to google this. They are already dead and dried out, and some people drink them with hot water! Ewwwww. Don't knock it till you try it I guess. (But still, EWWWW)

3. I had my physical exam a few days ago, and the results say I'm all healthy! This wasn't an American physical exam--it included X Rays, blood drawing, urine tests, eye tests, heart monitoring, an untrasound (!!! never had that done before! But I saw my insides!), and some other test where they attach little plugs to your body. I hear these are very thorough tests. Actually, looking at the results, I finally now know my blood type, my hemoglobin count, blood platelet count or something, whether I have any diabetes, problems with my spine, sinus rhythm, liver, spleen etc, lungs, abdomen AND lots more. Wow, good to know!

4. The staring is still continuing...yesterday 3 kids followed me for a little bit in my neighborhood, just looking at me! Sometimes, mothers tell their kids to say hello to me...and I just smile. Yesterday, I just put on my sunglasses and looked down, because everywhere I look, someone is blatently looking at me. I choose to ignore it, because it's gonna continue until I leave this country!

5. When Kianie (Australian) and I went to dinner a few days ago with Natalia, Kianie wanted to go to the "busy" street after...Natalia said to be careful (which we already knew) and then she told us that she's heard stories of some people blowing some kind of drugs (hallucinogens) into foreign people's face and then taking their money, or making them go to an ATM to withdraw more. That is something that happens in MOVIES! Well, it turns out that it's happened to her co-worker(s)! I was really careful that night, and stayed only in the lit areas with lots of people! I guess these areas are filled with people who come from messed up child hoods and families, and are very poor, so their morals aren't really in tact... At least that's how it was explained to me. I'm not tryign to be offensive, but most of the time in China, these are the people that are more likely to be criminals.

6. I'm getting VERY used to the fact that sometimes Chinese people (most of the time actually) speak Chinese around me. I know it's easier for them, but it makes me wonder, are they talking about me? My co-workers speak a little English, and some speak more than others. It's still a little uncomfortable...

7. I have to say I have not noticed the pollution here, but since beginning to walk home from work (because I leave earlier than everyone else), I've noticed all the dust. For the past few days when I wake up, I have a sore throat. It's not because I'm getting sick, but because of the dust and pollution. AND I breathe through my nose! When I was out on my balcony, I noticed all the dust which settled, and it was literally BLACK! Maybe it's time for me to start wearing the surgical masks when I go outside! Some women cover their mouth with their hands when a truck drives by, and I will also have to start doing that...WITH A NAPKIN for extra protection!

8. At first, I also did not notice the close government monitoring of foreigners here (there are like 4 in Beijiao), but now I do. Everywhere I go, I have to show my passport: the bank, the doctors office, paying rent... and they look at it for about 5 minutes trying to read it. I also had to register at the police station within the first 24 hours in China! I guess this town really monitors us because there are not many here. Natalia said that one day 2 police officers came to her door just to look at her passport and visa, to make sure she was here legally. On another note, I'm really sick of not being able to go to many websites. No youtube, no facebook, no video sharing sites, no Hulu...when I'm bored, what am I supposed to do? Soon I'll be done reading the only book I brought! (I only had room for one to bring with me). From what I've asked Chinese people, they are used to the bans on websites...and if they need to, they know of ways to get around them (with programs or proxies). I also looked up some things on Wikipedia which might be banned, such as Tiannamen Square, and it would not let me go to the site...it said something in Chinese...something like when we get a message that says, "Internet Explorer/Safari Cannot open this page". Figures.

9. I did my laundry yesterday and the day before. Some thngs I had to wash by hand, and others I washed in Kianie's washer. Neither of us knew how to work it, so we ran it once just to test it out without clothes, and we realized we were flooding someone's balcony with the tube that comes out from the washer (I guess she just put it over the balcony and it basically rained onto the balcony of the person who lives on the first floor). He came up and started saying something in Chinese, and we didn't know what was going on so we gestured to come in, and he moved the tube toward the drain. Now we get it. Washing my clothes by hand was a pain... I had to boil water in a little kettle (the only hot water I have goes through the shower, and even then it's either scalding hot or FREEZING) and then mix it with cold water and scrub my clothes. Then I had to rinse them, and hang everything on the balcony...I live on the 1st floor now, so my clothes would be VERY EASY to steal!

10. I already wish I didn't get rid of some things I had packed (but then again I can't bring 80lbs in one suitcase!). I wish I had regular laundry detergent and a washer and dryer. I really am going to miss American shampoo--Chinese have different hair texture, so I bet their conditioner won't be as moisturizing...unless I want to spend like $30 on shampoo and $30 on conditioner (Kianie uses Herbal Essence she bought in Beijing and she says it sucks and isn't the same). I want regular toothpaste and facewash (that is not watered down). Katie--the hair bands are not made from condoms, and I have to say, you CANNOT get tampons unless you go into a big city. I HAD to mention that :) I wish I had more American junk food and coffee, but mostly just Cheetos, Doritos, french fries, some candy bars, and lots of gum. I will be a fatty when I come back because I will indulge in American greasy food! It's not that I don't like and appreciate this food, because I do, but sometimes you just get a craving for certain foods, you know? Oh yea, and mashed potatoes and pepperoni pizza, and steak and green beans...and egg pancakes! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Instead, I'm eating a lot of rice and vegetables.

11. I noticed that at the Chinese kindergarden, every child who walks through the gate is checked by a nurse. She checks their fingers and mouth before they enter, and I found out it was to check for blood poisoning or diseases. They really don't want other kids to get sick, because I guess infections spread easily, I don't know...better be safe than sorry?
Lastly, I came into work today, even though I wasn't going to, because I am only here from 8-12 and after. all the girls are going to lunch and then to "do sports", as they told me. We are going to play badmitton. Great, I'm not even good at this sport! At least it's something to do. Tonight there is something going on in Gunagzhou and @ trainees are going, but I don't know if I will because I'm trying to save lots of money for REAL traveling around China :) and I still haven't gotten paid yet, so another trip to Guangzhou might have to wait.