China Virgin

Recently someone guessed that I was at most 22 years old (I guess I have a bit of a chubby baby face), so I started wondering what I was actually like again at that age. I revisited my Xanga (OMGWTFBBQ so embarrassing did I snack on lead paint chips while typing???!!!!) and lo and behold, an entry on my first ever trip to China and Japan! My very good friend Terry and I went on a tour through China in 2006 right after graduation, and he made a beautiful, well-edited, and highly entertaining photo collage of our adventures. I am so grateful that he spent the time making this, because quite honestly I had forgotten that we did half of this stuff. I remember our China trip being very stressful but also very educational, but never in my wildest dreams did I even think that I'd end up LIVING here. (Never say never.) I got perks for being the only Mandarin speaker in our tour group, mainly because the local vendors thought that I was the tour guide and charged me 2RMB instead of 6RMB for bottled water. Now that I know better, I realize that they gouged me still back then! Oh yes, a farmer actually attempted to sell me a rock that he picked up off the ground. And I almost bought it, ha. 

Terry and I took thousands of photos during this trip, so I know that every single picture below was selected because it successfully captured an important part of the story. I'm sure that none of my readers will pore over every single frame like I did, but I hope that if any of you do come to China now you'll realize that some of these scenes may not even exist anymore. For example, Yu Gardens in Shanghai has become a horrible tourist trap now, kite flying is probably strictly prohibited in that square in Xi'an (it was banned even then but we waited for the police to chase us off, haha), and Tiananmen Square in Beijing has been completely remodeled. 

My second trip to China was in 2008 to see the Beijing Olympics, and my oh my it was amazing to see the city change so much in merely two years... to the point that certain parts were completely unrecognizable from before. You can't help but be stimulated and even inspired by China's very purposeful spirit, but of course it comes with its costs... No need to cue the stream of complaints right now. ;)

 

HNC Block Party

Kegs of local microbrewed Pilsner and IPA for 10元/cup ($1.5USD)

+ Burgers without tomatoes or lettuce

+ Tea eggs (茶葉蛋) by Madame Huang

+ Chinese girls all dolled up

+ SBE Soulja Boy dancemoves

+ Luke bellyflop into the koi pond

+ Windsor KTV & Jay Chou

+ 一晚的發洩機會

____________________等於 =____________________

HNC Block Party

Carlos Casanova (that's his real name, no joke) and the girls of Fashionista.

Watch out for cooch!

Love how her arms are flapping helplessly as I apply deadweight to the piggyback, ha!

Yes, it is what you think it is. The Macarena.

Peace out homeslices!

One more 3000+ character paper to write (about Chinese Rural Elections) and I'm OUT!

Running up Purple Mountain

AHHHHHH OMG, it's only T-minus 1 week before the Great Hall Half-Marathon!!! Laura, Chynna, Stan, and I went for a 6-7 mile run up Purple Mountain (紫金山), which ended at this spectacular reservoir where we all went for a nice cool dip. :) The park was simply gorgeous and there weren't many tourists even on a Saturday. Wonderful day, let's do it again soon.

Wish me luck for the marathon... I've been training a lot but haven't done any runs longer than 6 miles at this point, but I believe I can definitely do 13... hahaha mind over matter?

Giving a little boy flying high-fives.

Yes, this is part of marathon training, haha.

The water was AMAZING (and clean!), the perfect treat for a hard workout.

Laura and I played on the animals lining the path towards the Ming Tombs... they're actually quite slippery! I think I tried hopping on (and sliding off) at least 10+ times, quite sad and hilarious, hahaha. We chose the lions because we liked their wicked perm. :)

ROAR.

I'm in Darnassus!

It's quite amazing how I'm starting to really love Nanjing just when I only have a couple of weeks left. I'm an nature-y kind of gal (surprising even to myself since I grew up in NYC), so all this great weather + Xuanwu Lake (玄武湖) + Purple Mountain has made me feel much better about this place. Running has also made me much more fit and able to enjoy long excursions outdoors too... I really hope I can keep this up even after next week's race!

Firefight in Nanjing

FINALLY I CAN SLEEP. The Lantern Festival is OVER.

I can't tell you just how annoyed I was when fireworks started going off [literally] right next to my window at 6:00am. BOOM (x100). Rays of light piercing my eyeballs. It was like flash bangs being repeatedly thrown into my room. I understand that in China I should be culturally sensitive, but just what is the point of setting off fireworks that early in the morning? It's too bright to see jack shit, people (me) are getting much needed beauty-sleep, and HELLO... don't you have anything better to do, loser?!!! Where's my flower pot.

Well anyway, the fireworks/firecrackers went off through out the day. They're much prettier and tolerable at night (see video below) and it was really cool to see fireworks exploding in the sky right above your head. If you can't beat em, might as well join em! I wanted to buy some off the street too but considered the fact that I like having all 10 of my fingers. :)

Here's what it was like from my apartment on the 17th floor. Looks like a war zone!

Yuan Xiao Jie 元宵節, aka Lantern Festival, aka 15th day of the Lunar New Year, aka the last day that people are allowed to set off fireworks in the city. Boy, are they taking advantage of it.... (Nanjing, Jiangsu, PRC)

Not in Kansas Anymore

At the China Pavilion, Shanghai World Expo.

Animated villagers going about their daily lives inside the famous painting "Riverside at the Qingming Festival" VS. unrepentant real life Chinese boxing each other out for a good view.

I'm sitting at home writing my paper about sovereignty disputes over 钓鱼台/Senkaku Island and how public opinion and nationalism affects foreign policy. China this, China that. Suddenly I realized: Oh shit, I'm in China. I'm not just reading the stuff, I'm in it. I'm looking out into China right now (grey and smoggy). It's right at my doorstep (dynamic yet smelly). I don't know, it's an obvious statement but it feels so strange. I didn't think I'd end up here. How did I get here again?

Happy HNCween!!!

Happy Halloween y'all! :) Sailor Mars will now be retired as of tonight.

HNC had the most ridiculous party last night -- woke up this morning still feeling inebriated, so I'm taking things really slow today, heh. Yesterday I saw the most original and fun costumes I've ever seen out of a group of people. I think it's partly because of the China factor, because here:: 1) people mostly MADE their own outfits and are therefore very creative with their resources (i.e. dumpling, rubix cube, Mickey Mouse), 2) girls don't go slutty because they don't have a choice... there aren't any online Halloween stores that only stock Bad Cop and Pirate Wench sets, 3) and if people do buy costumes like me, Marge and Casey, it's off Taobao where there are a TON of cosplay options... like Sailor Moon? BOOM.

Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Mercury.

My girls Margy and Casey -- couldn't have asked for a better trio!

This post is going to be image heavy, since I think the pictures mostly speak for themselves (and my neurons are still not firing off at normal speed yet). I love everyone at HNC. Seriously, you guys rock my socks.

Prepping at Casey's room.

Little Girl: I can see your nipples! You have cream all over yourself!

Carlos: I'm a fruit tart. :(

A chef and his jiaozi (dumpling), ha! Love it.

Waldo, you sneaky bastard!

Pre-gaming the afterparty, with Chairman Moon presiding.

Starting to get really sloppy here...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRUCE GENE LEE!!! :D

ur da bomb.

Who doesn't dig the tiara? :)

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

Riding the 13號 bus at night.

Photo credit: Gene

Usually the 13號 bus is insanely packed in the mornings, but I think the Chinese wake up early and sleep early, so you end up with more than enough space for yourself late at night. Public transportation here is amazingly convenient, and 13號, which takes us straight to school, comes probably every other 5 minutes if not less. It's 2Y per ride if you don't have have a metrocard, and 1.6Y if you do. That's about 30 cents. The bus drivers here maneuver their vehicles like rabid beasts on the road, which is great when you're always running 5 minutes late to class. ;)

You know what else was 30 cents the other day? Lamb kebobs. YUM.