if life hands you chicken feet.

So, little bloggy. I know I promised you a smiling face and stories about orphans.

But that will have to wait. Because time flies and today needs to be documented before it gets lost in the wind.

Today was the last day of classes of this semester. Tomorrow is a study day and then tests start Wednesday. I have exams on Wednesday, Friday, and Monday. Friday is the "big one," my grammer test. It's gonna be a doozy. But I'm finding myself really apathetic about grades.

I'm learning. It will get done. Whatevs.

Here's about half of my class in our oral Chi.nese class this morning. The amount of students who actually attend classes has significantly dropped over the course of the semester. Because the teaching system here is so whack, most of these students are still allowed to take the final test (insert judgemental sentiment here).

But no matter, these are my peeps. We come from all over the world, and that's cool. Represented in this photo is Burma, Spain, USA, Mongolia, Ukraine, Korea, Germany, and Belgium. Awesomness.

me and my preggo oral Chi.nese teacher. She's precious. Has no idea what the heck she is doing in the classroom, but she's precious.

After classes I did some errands, then came home to study. After a good study session I went downtown for a late dinner with some old friends I haven't seen in awhile. We had a delightful dinner complete with these little spikey dudes...

yum.
after, we went for a few hours to KTV - the all-time best thing to do ever.

My dear friend Angel and I put our complimentary "snacks" to another use....

a photo shoot with chicken feet-

Those things were spicy and because Angel's a baby and took forever to put them in his mouth, my lips were on fire for a good ten minutes! Wuss. haha.

Tonight was fun. A much needed escape from the impending doom of Chin.ese characters.

Have a good day. If life hands you chicken feet, have a photo shoot.

walk slow. xoxo.

Messy.

I'm tired.

I'm cranky.

I'm cold.

If you were Chin.ese and sitting next to me right now, I might sucker-punch you.

That's how I feel.

I need to get out of here. Here being this country. Before someone gets hurt. And loses their manhood. That would be messy.

But bad attitude aside...today was a good day.

This happened...

Orphans were held by students who donated money to them.

Miracles happen even in messy places. With messy people. Who want to do messy things.

Full update and more pics tomorrow when I'm in a better mood.

I try not to blog when I'm angry at Chi.na. It's safer that way.

But I just had to show you this picture. I think it's beautiful. See you tomorrow with a smile on my metaphorical e-face.

Have good one.

walk slow. xoxo.

No Balls.

Today I had to give a presentation in Chi.nese speaking class. Every Friday two students have the pleasure of speaking in crap Chi.nese for 2 minutes while other students day dream. Today it was me and the Japanese dude's turn.

Almost every person has drawn their country on the board in chalk and said a few things about their hometown and then sat down.

Um, I come from America - that's not cool and exotic. And I refuse to be boring.

So I decided to teach my class some of my favorite (clean) Chi.nese slang. Because I'm the old lady that's been around these parts for awhile, my speaking is more advanced than my class (my really low reading and writing cancels that out though). They often ask me about "cool words" or what to do in "real life" situations because our book is really formal and not very useful for real life.

In my 3 minutes of glory that turned into a 15 minutes Jessica-is-the-teacher time I taught them these fabulously useful phrases:

Stupid: 二百五 er bai wu

All the cats and dogs (everyone): 阿猫阿搞 ah mao ah gao

What are you lookin' at?: 看什么看 kan shenme kan

No balls/guts: 没友种 mei you zhong

Eat in the East, sleep in the West (equivalent to "have your cake and eat it too") 东室西宿 dong shi xi su

That last one had a story that I told in Chi.nese. I'm very proud of myself.

Here's the short version: In the first Chin.ese Dynasty (Qin) there lived a girl and it was her time to get married. Her two neighbors came and proposed to here. One was a Chi.nese man. He was short and ugly, but his family had a lot of money. The other was a Westerner, he was very handsome but he had no money. She could not decide who to choose. After some time, her father told her to raise her right hand if she wanted the Eastern neighbor, her left hand if she wanted her Western neighbor. She rose both hands and said, "I want to eat in the East and sleep in the West."

Have your cake and eat it too.

My class laughed and took notes and was happy to learn the word for "balls." And I was happy I got a 100%. :)

Flash forward an hour and I found myself riding the bus to work after class. I called my dear friend whom I always ring up when I just need to "talk it out."

I vented for about 20 minutes about how I knew my boss was going to ask me if I could teach next semester. (there are only two weeks left in this work season). I have been battling the idea of quitting work because I am massively busy and committed. I have personal relationships that take time to keep up, 20 hours a week of class, not including the massive amounts of outside class time that learning Chi.nese takes, chrch responsibilities, and running the orphan program. And next semester is the dreaded HSK - the test that everything hangs on. It is the Chi.nese test for foreigners.

I lamented that I have no idea where to fit in my HSK study time, but that quitting my job is almost not possible money wise.

Also my job is not just any old stupid english teaching job (those are a dime a dozen in Asia), my job is a connection in the network of hospitals and orphan outreach programs I'm involved in and is the place of work for my 3 best Chi.nese friends.

In a relational and "harmonious" based society like this one, quitting this job prematurely could be disasterous for relationships.

And honestly, I like my job when I'm there. The one hour bus ride to and from is obnoxious, but when I'm there it's awesome.

Blah blah blah. I want to quit. blah blah blah my evil boss is going to ask me to stay. blah blah blah study comes first. blah blah blah. emotional stability. blah blah too busy. blah blah I hate the bus I'll just buy a convertible. Wait what? Nevermind. ha.

I get there. Do class. Have a new student who just returned from getting his MD in Germany. Coolness. Then Boss from Weirdoville and I sit down for "the talk."

Her: "Jessica, would you like to teach here again next semester?"

Me: "Yes."

Her: "Also, would you like to tutor my daughter on Sunday afternoons? She loves you very much."

Me: "Ok. If you come to where I live. We can do it on campus."

Her: "Good. Here is some black rice bread."

And that was that.

I have no balls. All that moaning and poo'ing and I said "yes" to staying without pausing for a breathe. haha. So that's that.

Also, my bosseroo whipped out a huge-ass Canon camera and took some lovely photos of me to put on the hospital website to show that they have "international whatever."

She emailed me these pictures this afternoon. And I look like a doody in everyone.

Note to self - get more sleep, wear your hair down to work, put on lipstick, and don't move around so awkwardly.

And grow some balls.

For your viewing pleasure - this is what I look like during Friday's English corner where the doctors come to learn a little 'Merican while on their lunch breaks:

I'm going to clean my studio now. And then wash clothes in my sink. And stare at my fridge. Because I own one. And then have friends over for decaf tea and a movie. Because that's what teachers with bad hair styles and awkward gestures do on Friday nights.

Have a good Friday wherever you are!

Walk Slow. xoxo.

a headlamp and a toenail.

Today I had my ingrown toenail carved out by a Chin.ese man wearing a headlamp.

Tell me that's not the most awesome sentence ever.

walk slow. xoxo.

A Giant Christmas Tree + a Fridge = Happiness

Here's a post about as random as a day in Chi.na.

Yesterday was a public holiday in Chiner, so I had the day off school, and let me tell you that was sooooo nice. I can't believe I used to have 4 day weekends. What did I do? Anyways, I biked over to the nearest large grocery store, Trust-Mart (owned by Wal-mart) and along the way while at a red light I saw these beautiful trees...

I've seen then 1000 million times, but they are just so beautiful to me in the winter. (and it had sleeted/snowed the night before so there were snow remnants on the branches).

Then when I got to the grocery store I was reminded that there are 32 days left until Chinese New Year! (see the 32 between the doors?) Whoa. Gotta prepare my earmuffs for the impending fireworks hullabaloo...

When I was in the grocery store I revolutionized my life...I bought a FRIDGE! I recently decided to commit myself to my room because moving off campus is not a possibility for me (money). This commitment meant that I can make the big purchase and know that I will use it for the next 3.5 years. Having a fridge makes everything easier. I can keep food, cook fresh food on my hot plate, and not be at the mercy of Chin.ese venders everytime I need a hot meal. I bought it, then determined it would be delivered today.

I also think that it is really strange and adult-like to own a large appliance.

After the purchase, I went to my friends house and we sorted through some things for an orphan drive that has taken place. More on that in a few days.

After we were done, a few of us loaded up a taxi and set out to the outskirts of Hangzhou to the new mega-mall that has opened this year but that none of us have been to. Oh My Goodness. This mall is like a fancy mall in the states. We all almost got culture shock there. It's clean. Fancy. Peaceful. It's incredible.

My friends were there to go to the ice rink, while I just wanted to wander the mall. Truthfully though, I only went because I had heard that the mall had a giant Christmas tree out front and I wanted to see it! I hadn't seen a good Christmas tree all year! And lo and behold...there was a beautiful, HUGE tree! whooooooo.

My friends skated and I wandered, and then we had a great curry dinner in the food court. A FOOD COURT! So weird. In Chi.na. Hangzhou is changing so fast, 2.5 years ago there was none of this stuff that we have now: Coldstone, H&M, there were some Starbucks but not as many, and now a giant mall with a food court. I wonder how things will be in 3 years?! And when will I be able to afford all this stuff? haha.

It was a great day had by all.

Today unfortunately was back to the grind. I was startled while in the shower by the fridge delivery woman. She did NOT come when they said she would, she was 2 HOURS early! haha. But I totally did not care because I HAVE A FRIDGE! whooooo. I hugged the woman and startled the heck out of her! She told me, "you foreigners are so happy!" Um, no woman, it's because you deliver modern convenience! And that makes foreigners who are used to these conveniences happy! haha.

I thought about taking a photo of my new awesome fridge to document this wonderful day. But instead, I realized that I have not properly introduced my family to my dorm room. So, without further ado...here is a video of my home for the duration of my PhD journey. I have purchased everthing in this room except the bed and desk...

I'm now calling my home my, "studio." It's not a dorm, room, or any other sad word for a 24-28 year old. It's my studio. And I'm lucky to have it rent/bills free. 1/7 people in the world live in slums and I live in a studio. Perspective.

I already made myself dinner tonight because I am so motivated by my fridge. I went to the veggie market and got tomatoes and broccoli and whipped them up with some olive oil in a pan, stirred in 2 eggs, and called it a scramble. Yum.

I'm hoping for a better school day tomorrow because it was hard getting into things after a 3 day weekend. My brain was mush and I was completely unmotivated in class, even sassy at some points. Oops. Tomorrow will be a better day in the classroom.

And I will wake up to the buzz of my fridge! hollerrrrr!

Alright, random update complete. Hope things are good in your world.

walk slow. xoxo.

Animal Rescue 101.

Going to the grocery store in Chi.na is an experience.

Heck, walking out the door in Chi.na is an experience, but I'm being a little more specific here.

Today I spent at least 10 minutes at the grocery store flipping over the turtles who were struggling on their backs, rolling over each other and flailing their arms in the air.

My finished product:

little turtle doods in straight lines.

It's bad enogh they are eventually going to end up as turtle soup. The poor little guys shouldn't have to struggle while being netted up and on display while still alive.

But I was too late to help these guys...

dried ducks...anyone?

And yes, Mom, I washed my hands.

walk slow. xoxo.

Well hello there, 2011.

2011. That sounds odd.

I hope you had a festive/safe/happy New Year celebration. I hope you were with people you love, ate some good food, and shook your booty.

I did.

We started the night at an amazing curry restaurant:

moved onto the foreign teacher's dorm roof at a my friend's place of employment:

were greeted by some Thai students who knocked on the door to yell something in Thai then walked away:

had a little photo shoot on the couch:

then road my bike across town at 2am and skyped my family until 4:30am. I had to tell them hello from 2011. :)

And with that, 2010 is over. Amazing.

For me it was a year of exploration, travel, and change.

But now it's done. And 2011's a blank slate.

We will open the book. It's pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Happy New Year!

walk slow. xoxo