China

Reality hit back viciously with classes yesterday, straight back into the work and announcements of tests of some sort. I didn’t get all the info, but I gather they are ages away so nothing to worry about just yet. I also purchased a guitar from a local market and have been getting lessons from a friend in the hostel. So fingers crossed will be Jimi Hendrix by the time I return to NZ, a sort of reverse Michael Jackson transformation I guess.

Its starting to get a bit colder now as Winter approaches. Recently I decided to do a bit of investigation of the huge heater in my room in caase I needed it, and found that there is no way to turn it on. I didn’t really know what to make of this, but I figured I have got a few weeks before I have to worry, plus frustrated anger will keep me somewhat warm when the time comes.

Kind of looking forward to the cold and all the bloody mosquitoes in this joint freezing to death. I am peppered with bites, makes you kinda wish you could just let out a bit of blood for the buggers and save the bites, kinda like beer and biscuits for Santa (there’s a macabre simile for you).

Getting a little sick of well intended friends organising me Chinese friends to teach English, as many are very scary. I had been having breakfast in the Hostel canteen, and had begun regularly having breakfast with a girl studying English. After a week of Breakfasts, I really a text with her confessing her “strange” feelings for me. Anyone who has seen me before 8am will realise how functional and suave I would have been, not too mention she’s 5 years older than me, but I guess white skin has serious pulling power. I am not sure whether this clinginess comes from their culture or big city life, but it is a bigger barrier to friendship than language for sure.

As the last day of our 11day holiday arrives, I felt as I return to study I should also make a better effort with this writing, as it is really my last chance to preserve any sort of understandable English grammar. Have had a pretty uneventful few days. Highlights include a lot of active socialising and working on international relationships. Also made a visit to the beach. Turns out beaches in China are not quite as clean as New Zealand beaches. We were laughing openly at the Russians who were unwilling to sit on the sand, until a Chinese man spat on the ground a few meters away. Hundreds of people were determinely searching out crabs in the rocks uncovered by the whatever is the opposite of a rising tide (falling tide?) and men in their forties paraded around in speedos. I decided to skip the opportunity for a dip.

There is also an amusement park right beside the beach, making the area a bit of a domestic tourist hotspot. And by this I mean I will shortly be appearing on the highlights reel of many a Western Chinese person, in the same way one might show pictures of a lion or crocodile to friends feigning interest. I am just glad I don’t have blonde hair. Athony (other NZer) and Sylvain (French guy) took advantage of the $40 5m bungee jump above the sea. because they are idiots. However despite my misgivings about Chinese safety standards, they did survive.

Little else has real been happening, a lot of partying, sleeping and eating. I took the step of investing in a frypan after witnessing fried rice being cooked, and marvelling at its ease. However am yet to try, though 2 omeletes have been made, using multiple cheeses at the French guys insistence. First real breakfasts in China though.

Had a completely insane day yesterday. Starting at 5am in order to catch a bus to our other campus (1 and 1/2 hours away). All we were told was it was an Athletics exchange so I am quite sure I was not the only one astonished by the thousands of people who were milling around the stadium. We entered using the newly acquired marching skills. Fortunately due to me not wearing long pants, the duty of carrying the banner was taken away from me. Unfortunately, apparently its okay for the guy out front carrying the sign and leading the entire party in to wear shorts. Lucky me.

So I lead the 80 people from my school in while the crowd madly cheered. After a marching lap around the track we were set free. I wandered around with some Korean friends, had a go at banging the big drums that were being used to whip up support for the athletes. Hopefully get the pics up soon. I am getting worried my ego is going to take a hell of a knock when I return to NZ, as here I am told on a daily basis I am very handsome and the athletics exchange was like a jackpot for my self esteem.

Last night my class (around 14 people) also went out to dinner together. My class is mostly Japanese with a handful of Koreans thrown in for flavour. Turns out they don’t ‘sip’ beer, rather they ‘scull’ it. This tested, overpowered, tied up, then proceeded to beat the shit out of my plan to drink sensibly. After almost heading back to the dormitory at 11pm with some Korean guy, I stayed a little longer to wait for a French friend to finish his beer. While we sat down and waited the Korean proceeded to tell us he liked guys, and we are pretty sure he thought I was going home with him. Yeah so that was an interesting revelation, which then resurrected my plan to drink sensibly from now on.

Today is also the national holiday, 60 years since Communism started in China. Actually I probably should have mentioned that first but I am still shaken from last night. Cannot actually see anything that is different but there are some big parades and stuff happening in Beijing (according to the television at least). I might have to ask someone how exactly I am meant to be celebrating.

hey i posted some photos from around my trip (both around beijing and dalian(where i live)) on flickr so people/family can check them out. the link is below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42960117@N06/

if this doesn’t work can someone tell me?

Chinese thinking makes so little sense. We have class this weekend, because theres a long holiday coming up, so in exchange for 10 days of holiday, you work for 9 days in a row ahead of it. Then our university puts on drinks at a local bar on the Friday (last night). On a completely unrelated note, I missed my first class this morning. Turns out noone cares, so this good be a bad omen of things to come.

I have to say going out in China is always an experience. After the country and western bar where the Uni put on free drinks, we left in order to dodge any possibility of helping pay the tab, headed off to a barbeque/open air bar, then into another bar. Then at 2am I took it upon myself to attempt to help the police identify a random Asian guy comaed outside the bar. So after chatting with the cops for a hour, I now have friends in corrupt places. I also have raging headache and a shady memory of what exactly happened last night.

Had another marching practice, at which it was revealed the bus for the sports exchange leaves at 5.30am on the first day of the holidays. Still haven’t got used to this early morning thing and its killing me. No place in China for night owls.

Had a pretty surreal day. Our school is having a sports exchange with the local foreign language University, so the school has decided to have a Olympic opening ceremony as far as I can translate. All I know is my teacher made a point of reminding me to go about 5 times so with a Korean friend we went along. We were quickly assembled into lines, before me, a french guy and a russian girl were pulled out to stand up the front, I gather purely because we were white and tall.

Then we practiced marching to “yi..er..yi” (1..2..1). After about 20 mins of this we were let go and told to return for further practice the next day, because I gather we were “shit” (not direct translation). After been mildly shaken from this experience (note previous candid remarks about never getting liberal NZ students to march), the french guy suggested Mcds was in order, I agreed as it was midday and could find noone else keen to find solace in a bottle. As per orders from my parents I took my camera along so they could get an idea of the city (might even post them somewhere), so looking like a complete tourist we filed into McDonalds.

Enter great example of Chinese contradiction. It appears Chinese McDonalds (with support from Coca-cola) are giving away collectors cups to mark the 60th anniversary of Communism coming to China. The irony of a flagships of Capitalism giving away collecters cups to mark the anniversary of the dawn of Communism seems to be completely missed.

Still McDonalds still tastes the same, though I looked like a complete dick wandering around with a cup and camera all afternoon.

Again I find myself marginally hungover in my room on a Sunday. Sometimes it feels just like home. Had an incredibly productive few days though.

On Friday ate two animals I had hoped never to eat in my life. The majestic octopus (suckers and all) and the humble silkworm. The first was because I tried to order Xiangbao Chicken (I don’t really know what this is but “xiangbao” sounds quite tasty) however apparently it just wasn’t a great translation. The silkworms were served to us by a kind American with a huge smile on his face. Bastard.

Also found a great new place to drink. Every night they set up BBQs up the road and will sell you beer and food until the sun comes up.  Getting drunk off your face off $10 just makes you feel warm inside. Our sly French friend managed to convince the Russians out for a drink only to find they sadly maintain self control. Still competing to be the most raucous foreigners is always fun, and boy are Koreans good competition.

Another sunny in Dalian, so like normal I’m inside hiding from the heat. Stomach still not exactly settled but hopefully getting better. Weekend to look forward to though, nothing really planned but nothing really is planned in China. Big national holiday coming up where we get 10 days off in a row, but strangely enough we have to work during the weekend before the holiday. Chinese logic.

For the last week the local Chinese have been marching up and down the athletics field chanting “yi..er..san..aiguo” which translates to “1..2..3..love country”. Absolutely surreal. I don’t think that NZ highschools could get you to do that, let alone at University. Then again it is their national holiday and the 60th anniversary of the start of Communism in China., and apparently the 60th is a big un in China too.

Learnt how to order Sweet and Sour Pork yesterday so now can eat at places without English menus, though hoping to learn another dish before I get too fat. For those interested its “gu.lao.rou” with either “mi.fan” (steamed rice) or “chao.fan” (fried rice). Good luck at the local fish n chips store.

Had first genuine Chinese barbeque meal tonight, and I think it might take til I get back to New Zealand before my taste buds grow back. Well worth it, though I fear I may feel it tomorrow. Still havn’t adapted to Chinese food yet.

Still looking for a Chinese tutor and/or a job teaching English with no luck, though thats probably more due to motivation.  Hopefully be able to ifnd one through the Dalian expat community which appears to be incredibly organised.

Went to a nightclub on Sat night for the first time seriously. $25 entry fee then unlimited drinks inside. For some reason this doesn’t dissolve into the carnage one might imagine, unfortunately I did disolve into said carnage. On a happy note I managed to order a taxi in a foreign country to the correct place despite being so drunk I remember none of it.  Despite it costing me three times more than it should have.

One of the strangest things about China, coming from New Zealand, is that smoking and drinking have absolutely no restrictions. Everyone is happy to light up anywhere and nobody even notices. People just wander the halls of our hostel lit up. Also apart from being insanely cheap, alcohol is sold everywhere. Went to ‘town’ for the first time last night. Absolute madness. Best bass I have ever heard and no dancefloor. However they had paid Russian females to dance on tables for the entertainment of the masses, while they all casually gambled.

Sadly a small bottle of spirits cost NZ$120 so we left pretty quick.