China 2010

I have been way too busy here!!

Let's see, on Tuesday our group went around the city of Tianjin on a bus tour. It was really interesting because we were able to see parts of the city that we've yet to actually walk to. Then we took a boat tour along the river. I saw a man on the side of the river pooping, not cool. But fortunately, from this I came up with the idea for our team research project: bathroom etiquette and differences compared to America. So at least something good came out of it.

For the rest of the week we had classes as usual. We finally got our really difficult reading comprehension book changed and I absolutely love it now! I feel like I'll actually be able to learn the language and not just sit and class blankly staring anymore. Which speaking of class, the teachers speak in Chinese the entire time!! It's extremely difficult but it's definitely improving my listening. Now if only I could get these tones down, I would be golden. We have a lot of reading to do for our culture class, but so far I feel like I've been able to stay on top of things.

Thursday night a group of us from Miami went to "Italian Style Town". It's just a little area that has a ton of Italian restaurants and a few bars. It's really cute. I finally was able to have non-Chinese food. I got spaghetti of course and it was amazing! Plus, we were able to have wine with our dinner which just made my night. :D

On Friday we got up at 5am and headed on the bus to Beijing. Let me just say that seeing some of these buildings and those traditional Chinese buildings is fascinating. It's amazing to see these things and I still can't believe that I am in China. Our first stop in Beijing was the Ming Tombs. It was pretty interesting to see the area, but honestly I wasn't too impressed by the Tombs. I felt like we did a lot of walking without too much explanation of what we were looking at. Then we had lunch and headed to the GREAT WALL OF CHINA!!! Let me tell you, pictures do not do justice to this place. It's amazing how big and long the wall is. And I climbed all the way to the top!!! I was the first girl from our group that made it. I felt like I was going to die. It was so hard to breathe because the air is so thick and hot and humid. I'm pretty sure the temperature has been very high 90's. Friday night we went out to this strip of restaurants and bars again. It was really pretty because it was around a lake. It reminded me of San Antonio, Texas when Alex and I were down there in January. It was absolutely beautiful. We've been watching a lot of the World Cup as well. I don't follow it too well, however.

Then on Saturday we woke up really early again and went to Tienanmen Square, the Forbidden City, and then the summer palace. It was amazing to see the sights and things that you see in books. Nothing can compare to seeing it live though. This was probably the hottest day since I've been in China. I'm not sure if it was the sun beating down on us for so long, but I literally felt drenched in sweat allllll day!! I don't think I've ever felt more gross in my entire life.

Then Saturday night our group was supposed to head back to Tianjin, but about fifteen of us got a hostel and stayed in Beijing an extra night. We went to a restaurant with this beef and noodle soup and dumplings and then we got coconut milk and mango/honeydew melon for dessert. It was the most delicious Chinese food I've had thus far!! That night we all went out again to check out the area. I think the best part is just being able to walk around and see the city and all the different shops and such that you don't get to see on the tour. We took the super train back to Tianjin this morning and it only took 25 minutes to get back (it originally took us 2.5 hours by bus). It was really nice!!

Then for the rest of today I've been studying and walking around some more. I feel like time is going by so quickly and I'll be home before I know it. Mom & Dad, I'll be wanting McDonalds that first night I'm home!! So come to the airport prepared :D haha

We fly to Xian this Thursday and will be there until late Saturday night. So once again I won't have internet during that time. If anyone has Skype, please feel free to find me and we can talk! I think I miss Americans...well, mainly my friends and family back home.

I'll post pictures soon so stay tuned :D

Today is my fourth day in Tianjin and so far its been amazing! I apologize for the lack of reply so far, but I didn't get my internet up and running until yesterday. My plane ride lasted for 13 hours and 40 minutes...it was as long and as boring as what I was told. Unfortunately, I got one of the worst seats on the plane because 1) it was right next to the bathroom (and at times it smelled horribly) and 2) since I was next to the bathroom, I couldn't lean my seat back at all. I believe I watched three or four different movies which kept me pretty busy. But for the most part I just sat there trying to figure out different ways to get comfortable. As we flew into Beijing, mostly you could just see smog until we actually touched the ground. It was kind of funny, but no more blue skies for another six weeks!! I think I was so excited though and still am about the trip that I don't think it's going to bother me that much. It took us about an hour and a half to go thru customs and then collect our baggage. Luckily there was four other people on the same plane as I so I wasn't ever alone. The drive back from Beijing to Tianjin took a little over two hours. I was only expecting 30 minutes, but that is only if you take the "high speed train". However, the drive was the most amusing and interesting experience. The scenery in the area I would say is like driving down I-75 except for you see Chinese symbols everywhere!! But what was the most interesting was that although there are lines are the road NOBODY follows them. Driving in the emergency lane and driving in between lanes is very common. Its almost scary how close you get to another driver when you're on the expressway. This all happened on Friday. That same night we got back and was served our traditional Chinese dinner...made mostly of meat, a few veggies, and of course rice. I have attempted to use chopsticks multiple times, but it continues to be a failure. I am convinced this is why Asians are so skinny...they must get sick of trying to pick up their food all the time and just give up. After dinner I and four others from my group went to the local grocery store which is three stories tall (it's kind of like a mall/grocery). Anyways, I went and picked up toilet paper, laundry soap, and a mirror (because the bathroom gets all fogged up). Which speaking of the bathroom, my roommate and I share one, except that the shower is literally right next to the toilet...and what I mean when I say shower it's literally just a shower head. So whenever you use the shower you always have to take the toilet paper out of the bathroom or else it will get wet (I learned this the hard way). Also, our toilet won't really flush...the sewage system is really bad here and sometimes it smells. I lucked out with getting one of the softer beds in my room. It basically looks like my dorm room down in Miami except for slightly smaller but with super tall ceilings. Anyways, my group went to bed at 9pm that night after playing a game of euchre. I woke up at 4:30am the next morning and basically laid in bed until 8 when we went to get breakfast.

For the past couple of days we've mostly been going to the grocery store and hanging out with the rest of our group that showed up on Saturday. Saturday night we went to this club about 10 minutes away. We had to take three taxis to get there and it was almost like some club you would see in a movie. AMAZING!! I absolutely loved it. I was able to climb out on a roof overhang for a couple hours too and enjoy watching the people below. I didn't go to bed until about 5am and then woke up at 7:45am for the rest of the day. I don't know why, but I wasn't tired at all!

So today is Monday and it was my first day of classes. I'm pretty sure that its going to be extremely difficult, but I guess I should have seen that coming with the word "intensive" in the study abroad program title. Our Chinese classes are broken up into oral intensive and reading comprehension. I was able to finish my studying in a little over an hour, which I was pleasantly surprised. I worked with a friend on our translations...so I'm sure that helped. But knowing me, I'll probably go over it a second time before bed tonight.

I walked to McDonalds just about 30 minutes ago. It was amazing to taste after eating only Chinese food. I LOVE cheeseburgers!! However, we did get kind of lost and I almost got hit by an oncoming van that I don't think had any intention of stopping for me. A couple of interesting things...first, everyone stares at me because not only am I white, but I am blonde (it's kind of like being a celebrity...I don't think I would like it, I've decided) and two I can't tell you how disgusted I was to see this, but little children and grown ups alike will pull down their pants in the middle of the street or sidewalk and start peeing or pooping...like I said, disgusting. I saw a child at the grocery store and it wasn't wearing a diaper. Then when I was at the club Saturday night I walked into this really nice restroom...come to find out, there was only a hole in the ground, but at least there was toilet paper!! I'm pretty sure if this keeps up my thighs will get really strong from squatting so much.

So now I'm just chilling in my room updating all of you about what's been happening and listening to the toilet run continually (I'm really nervous it may just overflow). But! I'll be traveling to Beijing this coming weekend and I believe tomorrow we are having a tour of Tianjin. So hopefully I'll be updating a lot more regularly Stay tuned for more exciting adventures!! I love you and miss you all.

Dear Alexa,

While you are having a blast in China this summer, I will be missing you and so will everyone else who loves you. Who knows how often we will get to talk, but here is a chance for you to share with us all the great things that you are doing and seeing. Please keep us posted as often as you can. I am so happy that you are getting to take the trip of your dreams, maybe one day you'll even get me to check it out with you

I love you, and I'll miss you like crazy!

-Alex