Nothing and Everything to Say.

I feel like I have so much to say and nothing to say.

Like, so much has happened in the past 2-ish days, but I don't know how to make them into a coherent, point-driven post and I'm not really sure if any of it is important anyways. haha.

But in the spirit of documentation and connected-ness: here's a random recap:

I cried during my grammar midterm. Cried. My teacher came over and put his hand on my shoulder and told me to quit my job. (I'm the only one in my class who works regularly). His exact words in Chin.ese were, "You work too hard. Leave your job you'll know this." Quitting my job is not an option that is possible or that I want. This was very upsetting and did not help my mental stability during the test. I don't wanna talk about it. :(

Of course I had to compensate for those emotions so I went home and baked/cooked like a maniac. This brings me to my next point: I am now the proud owner of a small toaster oven and a powder pink bike!

This means I can now bake for people and feel like a woman/human/first-world citizen again and I am a rolling/peddaling member of Hangzhou society. This also means that my chances of dying in transit have increased exponentially. And that I need to stop cussing at people in Chin.ese when they cut me off/scare the crap out of me/bump my bike tires with theirs. (sometimes knowing the language is a bad thing...haha.) Hey now, don't judge me, I'm workin' on it! ;)

I've learned how to install a Chi.nese character writing system on my MAc for free. So now I can do stuff like this: 哈哈 by myself. Which is awesome because I can practice typing to people by myself without using Google translate now!

I've also switched my cellphone into Chin.ese mode for good. That means that I have to practice reading every time I set my alarm, forward a text, etc. It also means that I can type in Chin.ese to my friends. (this option is not available in the english version that it has been set on for 2 years.) This was very exciting as last night on the bus I was texting the docs in Chin.ese and they were so surprised! whoo hooooo. Small victories.

My room is a mess because I've been catching up on handwashing all my laundry (the pits). And I've made a new life goal. When I graduate and have a PhD and get an awesome job, the first thing I am going to buy is an AWESOME washer dryer combo and a lifetime supply of gain detergent, downy fabric softener, and dryer sheets. I MISS HAVING A WASHER and DRYER. so much. so so so much. If anyone has any tips on handwashing clothes/sheets/towels, let me know. Because so far my clothes are losing shape and not really getting clean. Exciting stuff, I tell you.

Yesterday was my oral midterm. It was easy as expected. But I couldn't read some of the sentences we were supposed to read, so that was a little disheartening, but when she asked me to introduce my family I talked for about 10 minutes and she had to cut me off. Automatic A.

In an hour I take my listening test and then I am done with these midterms. This is going to be an interesting week to reflect on.

Tonight I'm teaching a class on intonation. When I tried this with my college students last year it bombed because they just don't get it. Teaching a tonal language speaker American English inflection is tricky. Here's hoping these doctors get it. Should be interesting either way. Last week I had them listening to Rascal Flatts and The Beatles filling in missing lyrics. I figure that was so fun for them that if I bomb out one class, they'll forgive me.

Here's a random assortment of pics from the last few days...

look closely...this man is related to my dad...(reading the paper while he DRIVES!)

in the fancy imported section of the grocery store, with my new OVEN! This purchase also resulted in the oven dance, oven chant, and oven lovin song.

after test photo shoot with some of my fave classmates:

I had to buy this bike because it has my name on it! ;)

Last night my classmate Steph and I spent 4 hours shopping in markets and the night market. We stopped for dinner here. Nothing beats meat on a stick for dinner. ha. And a new scarf and umbrella to make you feel better about your midterms.

Whelp...I'm off to take a test.

I hope all is well in your world.

Walk slow. xoxo.