Member that? Well its still a topic of conversation in Beijing. There have been pictures floating around on my Chinese facebook, but I don't know how to put them here. Finally, an English site came my way.
http://beijingdaze.com/general/2011/06/23/massive-flash-flood-hit-beijing-during-the-worst-of-rush-hour/
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
On Language
So something awkward just happened: I stumbled across only of my former classmates from my program’s blog on a topic that was often discussed at our school. Embarrassing: her writing is beautiful and mine is not. Awkward: she wrote a post that relies on Zhu and I, talking primarily about language.
Language is certainly a subject that I have a few thoughts about. She mentions that we only speak Mandarin, which is not entirely true. We sometimes throw English phrases around like, “I’m some little hungry” and he is teaching my a little bit of Wenzhou dialect. But she questions, to what degree to we use spoken language, and to what degree do we rely on body language.
I’ll let her address the body language bit, she does a good job.
Is that so wrong? I don’t think so. Are body languages, expressions, tone of voice lesser forms of communication? I don’t think so. Otherwise, why is it so important that we have important conversations in person? For example, if I break up with you via text, its scornful thing, much worse than breaking up with you in person, probably even if I say the exact same thing.
So I think that almost in spite of the fact that Zhu and I do not have the same mother tongue, we have a perfected form of language. Its true, much of what we communicate happens with looks, shrugs, facial expressions, especially on my part. I understand all of his Chinese, but naturally I don’t speak it at the same level. The funny thing about me understanding him is this: he can repeat word for word something that I don’t understand that someone else said, or read out loud a news article or essay and I will understand. How much am I accustomed to his accent? How much am I simply understanding him? I think it’s both. As a stage actor, he does have an excellent grasp of pacing and rhythm of speech, but even his lazy Beijing dialect I have no difficulties understanding.
He, he understands my sloppy Mandarin and facial expressions. Some skills of mine regarding language aren’t so great. I don’t think I’ve ever been so good at expressing myself completely orally on the spot. I have to let what I want to say simmer a bit. Facial expressions help me out a lot here, and so far in my life I’ve done a pretty good job of finding people who can understand me without language. There is a long-standing joke between my best friend and I about how good we were at communicating without saying anything—Charades champs for life. To this day, we don’t talk a lot, but still manage to be very close.
Perhaps my failures and faults in dealing with the words of birth language is why I like studying foreign languages so much in the first place. Having so many shortcomings with my so-called native tongue, it comforting to busy myself with the rules guaranteed slip-ups of learning another one. Its nice to have the excuse of speaking in a foreign tongue.
I don’t really know where I am going with this, but there are some of my thoughts, I suppose. (You see, pure language failed me again)
Language is certainly a subject that I have a few thoughts about. She mentions that we only speak Mandarin, which is not entirely true. We sometimes throw English phrases around like, “I’m some little hungry” and he is teaching my a little bit of Wenzhou dialect. But she questions, to what degree to we use spoken language, and to what degree do we rely on body language.
I’ll let her address the body language bit, she does a good job.
And so one learns to interpret movements: the cocking of a head, slight movement of the shoulder blades, bent of a finger, raise of an eyebrow, biting of the lips. And relinquish some sort of story telling of excitement, uneasiness, worry, fear, happiness. And these movements string into tangible sentences that you, yourself, learn to respond to using your own cracking of the knuckles, shift of the eyes, firming of the lips.
And maybe those moments of words gone evaporated leaves the points of clarity when you shift weight on your left leg to your right, or your chest concaving its way into a sigh. Those moments when a thousand words fall short of meaning.”
But my question is, how important is language anyway? I do think its rather important, otherwise, what in goodness’ name am I doing with my life right now? But I think I huge part of language is not what you say. So, I’d be lying to say that Zhu and I only speak Mandarin.
Is that so wrong? I don’t think so. Are body languages, expressions, tone of voice lesser forms of communication? I don’t think so. Otherwise, why is it so important that we have important conversations in person? For example, if I break up with you via text, its scornful thing, much worse than breaking up with you in person, probably even if I say the exact same thing.
So I think that almost in spite of the fact that Zhu and I do not have the same mother tongue, we have a perfected form of language. Its true, much of what we communicate happens with looks, shrugs, facial expressions, especially on my part. I understand all of his Chinese, but naturally I don’t speak it at the same level. The funny thing about me understanding him is this: he can repeat word for word something that I don’t understand that someone else said, or read out loud a news article or essay and I will understand. How much am I accustomed to his accent? How much am I simply understanding him? I think it’s both. As a stage actor, he does have an excellent grasp of pacing and rhythm of speech, but even his lazy Beijing dialect I have no difficulties understanding.
He, he understands my sloppy Mandarin and facial expressions. Some skills of mine regarding language aren’t so great. I don’t think I’ve ever been so good at expressing myself completely orally on the spot. I have to let what I want to say simmer a bit. Facial expressions help me out a lot here, and so far in my life I’ve done a pretty good job of finding people who can understand me without language. There is a long-standing joke between my best friend and I about how good we were at communicating without saying anything—Charades champs for life. To this day, we don’t talk a lot, but still manage to be very close.
Perhaps my failures and faults in dealing with the words of birth language is why I like studying foreign languages so much in the first place. Having so many shortcomings with my so-called native tongue, it comforting to busy myself with the rules guaranteed slip-ups of learning another one. Its nice to have the excuse of speaking in a foreign tongue.
I don’t really know where I am going with this, but there are some of my thoughts, I suppose. (You see, pure language failed me again)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
下雨了 It's Raining
While I was at work today not actually working I was brainstorming what I might blog about. I've currently got quite the interesting list running, so I would be sure to stay tuned. Alas, I don't think I am going to get to anything on my list because when I came home from work today, its was raining.
It was raining, so what?
Well, okay it was pouring. I got my first hint of the weather outside when I squeezed my way into the train on the commute home and several large drops of subway greese+precipitation thudded onto my head. Gross.
When I left the first train to make my transfer to the second train it was ablowin and agustin. It was awesome.
I'm discovering that I really truly love thunderstorms, especially in Beijing. The rain is a nice break from the heat (I live on the 10th floor in 100 degree heat and humidity with no AC), and the thunder drowns out the sound of the cars and the hustle and the bustle. Not even China can overpower a thunderstorm, and I like seeing it be put in its place every once and a while. I love watching the rain and how people react from out window, its so refreshing and exciting to see the little ants.
Anyway, while everyone else transferring trains with my ran, I slowly meandered, having got off work early and enjoying the Chinese rap on my ipod. Zhu's mom doesn't like it when I walk outside in the rain because she thinks I'll get sick, so I was really excited to get to play in it and feel rain on my face.
When I finally got to my stop it was really coming down. The top of the escalator (which is normally empty, our stop really doesn't get much traffic) was packed with people urgently making calls home asking for someone to drive the car over to pick them up. Meh. I braved it (though Zhu did call asking if I needed a ride for the two blocks home).
SO MUCH RAIN. I was soaked. When I got home I rang out my clothes and I think more water came out then when I ring them out after hand washing them (which is what I do now). And the street was totally vacant, everyone waiting inside for the rain to pass. Well, jokes on them because its still raining pretty hard a few hours later.
When I got to my building my clothes were being pulled to the ground with the weight of the water, mascara running, hair stuck to my head, and feet sloshing around in my sandals. Walking home was actually wading, with water, water, water, flooding around corners, from the parking lot down to the street. So cool, though probably rather filthy. I walked into the building awning (I think thats the word) and the building shifu (like a security guard) was chillin with the ayi (like a cleaning lady). They stared, so I just sort of shrugged and said, 下雨了，（It rained). They were totally delighted. That's right, I can make Chinese laugh.
I got the the apartment and continued to be hilarious. Zhu had some former classmates over (I know them, they already think my existance is a riot) and they were playing cards at the main table, as in, the apartment door pretty much opens up to their faces, the gallery. They died. And Zhu was very like, "You are crazy woman, why on earth did you walk home! I called you!" And his mom was doing the usual, alternating between Mandarin to me and Wenzhounese to Zhu, saying to me, "Quickly, quickly, quickly change clothes!" Everyone thinks I'm crazy.
It was raining, so what?
Well, okay it was pouring. I got my first hint of the weather outside when I squeezed my way into the train on the commute home and several large drops of subway greese+precipitation thudded onto my head. Gross.
When I left the first train to make my transfer to the second train it was ablowin and agustin. It was awesome.
I'm discovering that I really truly love thunderstorms, especially in Beijing. The rain is a nice break from the heat (I live on the 10th floor in 100 degree heat and humidity with no AC), and the thunder drowns out the sound of the cars and the hustle and the bustle. Not even China can overpower a thunderstorm, and I like seeing it be put in its place every once and a while. I love watching the rain and how people react from out window, its so refreshing and exciting to see the little ants.
Anyway, while everyone else transferring trains with my ran, I slowly meandered, having got off work early and enjoying the Chinese rap on my ipod. Zhu's mom doesn't like it when I walk outside in the rain because she thinks I'll get sick, so I was really excited to get to play in it and feel rain on my face.
When I finally got to my stop it was really coming down. The top of the escalator (which is normally empty, our stop really doesn't get much traffic) was packed with people urgently making calls home asking for someone to drive the car over to pick them up. Meh. I braved it (though Zhu did call asking if I needed a ride for the two blocks home).
SO MUCH RAIN. I was soaked. When I got home I rang out my clothes and I think more water came out then when I ring them out after hand washing them (which is what I do now). And the street was totally vacant, everyone waiting inside for the rain to pass. Well, jokes on them because its still raining pretty hard a few hours later.
When I got to my building my clothes were being pulled to the ground with the weight of the water, mascara running, hair stuck to my head, and feet sloshing around in my sandals. Walking home was actually wading, with water, water, water, flooding around corners, from the parking lot down to the street. So cool, though probably rather filthy. I walked into the building awning (I think thats the word) and the building shifu (like a security guard) was chillin with the ayi (like a cleaning lady). They stared, so I just sort of shrugged and said, 下雨了，（It rained). They were totally delighted. That's right, I can make Chinese laugh.
I got the the apartment and continued to be hilarious. Zhu had some former classmates over (I know them, they already think my existance is a riot) and they were playing cards at the main table, as in, the apartment door pretty much opens up to their faces, the gallery. They died. And Zhu was very like, "You are crazy woman, why on earth did you walk home! I called you!" And his mom was doing the usual, alternating between Mandarin to me and Wenzhounese to Zhu, saying to me, "Quickly, quickly, quickly change clothes!" Everyone thinks I'm crazy.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Breakfast
I try to start every work day morning with two hot fresh steamed red bean paste buns. The are sold from a streetside shop on the walk from the metro station to my office building, just in front of Wal Mart.
Friday, June 17, 2011
拔罐 Ba Guanr
Literally translates to pulling up the cup. Whatever that means, right? On Monday after work my lower middle back was killing me from sitting so long (10 hours!) in an office chair. It wasn't extreme pain, but painful enough that I could no longer sit, standing was uncomfortable, as was laying down, etc. So the bf gave me a bad massage then said we should for his mom to give me ba guanr. So what it that exactly? Well you have probably heard of Chinese cupping, right? Glass cups, heated up, the suctioned onto a persons back. Its supposed to pull all of the bad stuff, the heat out of your body and leaves a two nice rows of dark perfectly circular palm sizes bruises on your back.
I especially need cupping because I 上火-have fiery blood (that the best I can think of right now for a translation, but its sucks). Lots of heat inside me. It makes sense to me, because I get hot and sweat especially, and am prone to breakouts. Also, I've heard people say that people who 上火attract mosquitos. That absolutely describes me. In a word, I'm starting to buy into Chinese medicine.
Zhu's mom is all about Chinese medicine (as I mentioned earlier with all the things that she makes Zhu drink). Chinese medicine 中药 uses food and drink as primary cures, and massage, pressure points, and cupping! But she wasn't willing to do 拔罐儿 for me, so we went to the neighborhood beauty salon.
I got a massage and cupping for 60快，11 bucks. Per usual, the lady was really surprised I spoke Chinese. The cupping. It was a little scary because by that time Zhu had left for home (the massage took forever), and the lady said it might hurt a little. Zhu said only hurt if you moved, so I was trying really had to stay still, but that became difficult because as soon as the cups were suctioned onto my back she started giving me a very vigorous leg massage. Putting them on hurt. She did a very dr. thing, which was telling me she only had two more to go then added four....tricky, but too bad I can count. As soon as they latch ontoyour back you can feel the skin being sucked up....
After 15 minutes she took them off and gave me a mirror to check out my new bruises. Big puffy purple bruises full of all my hot blood that got sucked up and away from me. I was instructed not to take a cold shower (torture, not taking cold showers in BJ heat right now) or eat cold food, as that would push the heat back down.
Now, because its hot, all of the clothes I want to be wearing reveal some part of my back, and thus my new marks. Which is fine, normal even in China. I see middle aged guys all the time waltzing around with their shirts off, parading their ba guanr battle wounds. But the problem is, as much as I try to deny it, I look foreign. So people see me, assume I don't understand Chinese and proceed to talk about me openly inches away. Particulary in elevators at work or in the subway on the way to work. Ears burning? Oh, that is so accurate. The very last time it happened I decided to pull my " I can't understand what you are saying about me and I don't think its very funny" peak over the shoulder look at these two 20 something guys. The result was, as usual in response to that look, "Oh man, she understands? Woah!" But then, an adjective that always gets used ingenuinely to my face and never behind my back was uttered: "厉害“。 (li hai, formidable, badass, awesome)
I especially need cupping because I 上火-have fiery blood (that the best I can think of right now for a translation, but its sucks). Lots of heat inside me. It makes sense to me, because I get hot and sweat especially, and am prone to breakouts. Also, I've heard people say that people who 上火attract mosquitos. That absolutely describes me. In a word, I'm starting to buy into Chinese medicine.
Zhu's mom is all about Chinese medicine (as I mentioned earlier with all the things that she makes Zhu drink). Chinese medicine 中药 uses food and drink as primary cures, and massage, pressure points, and cupping! But she wasn't willing to do 拔罐儿 for me, so we went to the neighborhood beauty salon.
I got a massage and cupping for 60快，11 bucks. Per usual, the lady was really surprised I spoke Chinese. The cupping. It was a little scary because by that time Zhu had left for home (the massage took forever), and the lady said it might hurt a little. Zhu said only hurt if you moved, so I was trying really had to stay still, but that became difficult because as soon as the cups were suctioned onto my back she started giving me a very vigorous leg massage. Putting them on hurt. She did a very dr. thing, which was telling me she only had two more to go then added four....tricky, but too bad I can count. As soon as they latch ontoyour back you can feel the skin being sucked up....
After 15 minutes she took them off and gave me a mirror to check out my new bruises. Big puffy purple bruises full of all my hot blood that got sucked up and away from me. I was instructed not to take a cold shower (torture, not taking cold showers in BJ heat right now) or eat cold food, as that would push the heat back down.
Now, because its hot, all of the clothes I want to be wearing reveal some part of my back, and thus my new marks. Which is fine, normal even in China. I see middle aged guys all the time waltzing around with their shirts off, parading their ba guanr battle wounds. But the problem is, as much as I try to deny it, I look foreign. So people see me, assume I don't understand Chinese and proceed to talk about me openly inches away. Particulary in elevators at work or in the subway on the way to work. Ears burning? Oh, that is so accurate. The very last time it happened I decided to pull my " I can't understand what you are saying about me and I don't think its very funny" peak over the shoulder look at these two 20 something guys. The result was, as usual in response to that look, "Oh man, she understands? Woah!" But then, an adjective that always gets used ingenuinely to my face and never behind my back was uttered: "厉害“。 (li hai, formidable, badass, awesome)
Thursday, June 9, 2011
First day of work
Was yesterday!
I have my very own desk and everything. There are about 8 fulltime people including me. We all chat while we work on Skype. Its lovely. I'm really tired.
My boss, the VP, is very micromanagy. She has one on one meetings with everyone in the office twice a week. Actually, since this is my first real work I can't really say if that is normal or not.
I'm really too tired from work to talk about work. I think I have to cut my fingernails, because they are inhibiting my typing and Ipad usage, but I really don't want to because they are so pretty. Just last week I got a super long lasting manicure-the kind that is cured with a UV lamp and my nails still look great, though unfortunately are a little long. But I really don't want to ruin their green and purple pretty sparkilyness.
Yesterday I got off work really late because I was too afraid to be the first one to go home, even though I was the first one to get there. I got there at nine, left at seven. Today I left at 4:30. My work was already done for the day though. Yesterday after I got of work I went to my other work, the one where I teach English to get my paycheck (almost just said salary, because the word is the same in Chinese, oops). I don't know whether or not I want to keep working there: I don't really enjoy it, it takes up one of my two days off, and getting paid is really difficult. The pay is in theory really good, but yesterday when I was supposed to get paid I couldn't, and today when I went back it was a battle to get 1/3 of what I was supposed to receive.
Anyway, yesterday, after attempting to get my paycheck I agreed to take part in a promotion outside a wedding photography store: one of those answer these few questions, listen to our sales pitch and you will get a free useless gift. If you have the patience, these are really good opportunities to practice Chinese. I wasn't in a rush to go home and felt moderately curious, so I agreed. I chatted with the guy for about an hour and a half. Nothing noteworthy happened, he told me I was pretty, my Chinese was really good, told me how I could take really pretty pictures, and asked the obligatory question, which is better: China or America? I still don't have an answer that I am satisfied with for that. I either resort to they are different, or that America doesn't have as many crazy things to eat. I do like my response for the remark, "Oh, your Chinese is so good!" I always say, "Its not as good as yours!" or "Right? I think it might even be better than yours," depending on the mood. Hahahhaah.
Later, I still wasn't feeling the need to head home, so I took a really long walk. I walked for about an hour down the same street, just walking walking walking . By that time it was about 10:00 and still hadn't cooled down completely (as if it ever does these days) and the street was pretty lively with people of all ages enjoying the cool clear evening. I live pretty close to downtown now, and despite the fact that I live in a big apartment complex, my surroundings still have the "Beijing feel," with lots of hutongs, which wikipedia describes as hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences.[1] Many neighbourhoods were formed by joining one siheyuan to another to form a hutong, and then joining one hutong to another. The word hutong is also used to refer to such neighbourhoods. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutong) From the outside they are just a storefront or and alley entrance, but one the inside they are winding twists and turns of single level residences, dating back to forever. The second you walk past or into a hutong, everything is quieter, the sky is suddenly bigger. And they have trees.
I have my very own desk and everything. There are about 8 fulltime people including me. We all chat while we work on Skype. Its lovely. I'm really tired.
My boss, the VP, is very micromanagy. She has one on one meetings with everyone in the office twice a week. Actually, since this is my first real work I can't really say if that is normal or not.
I'm really too tired from work to talk about work. I think I have to cut my fingernails, because they are inhibiting my typing and Ipad usage, but I really don't want to because they are so pretty. Just last week I got a super long lasting manicure-the kind that is cured with a UV lamp and my nails still look great, though unfortunately are a little long. But I really don't want to ruin their green and purple pretty sparkilyness.
Yesterday I got off work really late because I was too afraid to be the first one to go home, even though I was the first one to get there. I got there at nine, left at seven. Today I left at 4:30. My work was already done for the day though. Yesterday after I got of work I went to my other work, the one where I teach English to get my paycheck (almost just said salary, because the word is the same in Chinese, oops). I don't know whether or not I want to keep working there: I don't really enjoy it, it takes up one of my two days off, and getting paid is really difficult. The pay is in theory really good, but yesterday when I was supposed to get paid I couldn't, and today when I went back it was a battle to get 1/3 of what I was supposed to receive.
Anyway, yesterday, after attempting to get my paycheck I agreed to take part in a promotion outside a wedding photography store: one of those answer these few questions, listen to our sales pitch and you will get a free useless gift. If you have the patience, these are really good opportunities to practice Chinese. I wasn't in a rush to go home and felt moderately curious, so I agreed. I chatted with the guy for about an hour and a half. Nothing noteworthy happened, he told me I was pretty, my Chinese was really good, told me how I could take really pretty pictures, and asked the obligatory question, which is better: China or America? I still don't have an answer that I am satisfied with for that. I either resort to they are different, or that America doesn't have as many crazy things to eat. I do like my response for the remark, "Oh, your Chinese is so good!" I always say, "Its not as good as yours!" or "Right? I think it might even be better than yours," depending on the mood. Hahahhaah.
Later, I still wasn't feeling the need to head home, so I took a really long walk. I walked for about an hour down the same street, just walking walking walking . By that time it was about 10:00 and still hadn't cooled down completely (as if it ever does these days) and the street was pretty lively with people of all ages enjoying the cool clear evening. I live pretty close to downtown now, and despite the fact that I live in a big apartment complex, my surroundings still have the "Beijing feel," with lots of hutongs, which wikipedia describes as hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences.[1] Many neighbourhoods were formed by joining one siheyuan to another to form a hutong, and then joining one hutong to another. The word hutong is also used to refer to such neighbourhoods. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutong) From the outside they are just a storefront or and alley entrance, but one the inside they are winding twists and turns of single level residences, dating back to forever. The second you walk past or into a hutong, everything is quieter, the sky is suddenly bigger. And they have trees.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Walmart is not the land of wonder.
So I've decided that after having ignored blogging and recording my time in China for the past five months, now would be a good time to get the ball rolling again. And as is pretty apparent by my heavy reliance on cheesy cliches, the English is not so "proficient." You don't even want to know how many red squiggly lines are on the screen.
So I've just wrapped up my semester of advanced Chinsese language intensive. What a mouthful. The plan was always to work at Simplot doing a combo of teaching English and research about agriculture in China, but that failed for numerous reasons. So after about a day of AHHA:LKJVL what I am going to do this summer??!?!? I found the dream internship. And so I've decided that now, with my first working in a office experience in front of me, I should pick up the blogging again.
The posting for my internship went up about ten minutes before I found it and sent in resume, so I was really really lucky with the timing of the whole thing. Normally the website that I used doesn't have anything good. That was a Saturday. The boss lady called me and I interviewed in Chinese and said I would get back to her on Monday after I got back from my whirlwind trip to Hong Kong/Shenzhen. Then today, Tuesday I went to the office to have another interview. AND I'M HIRED!
The details are thus:
The company is brand new. They design games and software for Ipad apps. (could it be anymore in the moment?) I'm in charge of running their social media promotion. ( I will tweet and write Facebook updates) I will also call program developers in the states and sell them the company's software. This is where the big bucks come in---commission! But I also get paid, and its a decent salary for an internship in China, so I'm pleased. I will be working in both English and Chinese, which is also good. ALSO, I get my own desk which is terribly exciting because I've never had a job with a desk. I also get a new laptop and phone! I'm hoping they are both apple products, but I'll be happy with whatever they are because I'll have a Work Computer and a Computer for Personal Use and a Work Phone and a Phone for Personal Use. So many fun toys, plus I get to pretend to be someone important. I couldn't be more thrilled.
And so where is this company? Its just north of where I am currently living, near where there are a lot of software company things. It very convenient for me, only four stops (with a transfer) on the subway. I have a commute! Its forty five minutes including walking time and I get to do it with my boyfriend's sister. She is still living at home, which is where I will be staying for the summer. Zhu's older brother is off away studying in America, so we switched places. Zhu will be in and out, filming and stuff. I was initially really really hesitant to live here for a lot of obvious reasons, but after some serious thought I decided here would be the best place. Safe, good location, not smelly, not sketchy. No weird meeting roommates on the internet, no stuffy hostel, so scary landlord. Plus, my Chinese should continue to improve by a lot and if I lived somewhere else with foreigners, I'd miss out on funny looks. For example, the air conditioner guys just came over, and I wish I could have a photo of the looks on their faces when a blonde girl answered the door. HAHAHAHA.
Also, a pro about living here is Zhu's mom. She is awesome and always has great stories to tell that I don't always understand. She has a pretty thick Wenzhou accept and sometimes I can't tell if she is speaking in Wenzhounese or Putonghua. She uses a lot of adjectives and onomotepia when she talks, which sounds easy to understand but its not. The general pattern of her speech (I think???) is Subject+verb (repeated) then adjective phrase (ABAB or AABB). There is a lot of repeated, so when she talks its really quite sing song like. She probably has a great onomotopedia based adjective phrase for the way she talks. I need to figure out a way to figure that out.
I think sometimes her people under-appreciate her, but I try not to. Sometimes she talks and talks about how when she was our age, or how things are in her hometown, or about how she used to sing and I feel like no one listens except me. But we bonded a few times, over cheap clothes made in sweatshops in Southern China and the one time that I taught her how to use Safari on her ipad. She also is always giving Zhu strange things to drink that are supposed to fix any of his numerous problems and I get to watch what happens. One it was a thick green slushy concoction of milkshake consistency, once it was a sticky carmelly colored hot potion. Today (just minutes ago) it was innocent looking tea. I tried the carmel drink, sweet and delicious. The green thing did not pass my lips. I gave the tea a shot. The best part about this whole ordeal is Zhu's mom will ask him, "Do you want to drink xxxx?" He'll say no way, absolutely not. After about a half and hour the drink will appear and Zhu's reaction will be, "What is this? I don't want this!" and his mom will ignore him and tell him to drink it. Then he turns to me and says "She's always giving my these crazy things to drink." Then he'll pick it up and sniff at it, then put it down and repeat, whine for a bit that its too bitter and then finally take a sip at say that its not bad. Then his moms is just thrilled and will say something about the drinks benefits of history. Then Zhu will willingly finished the drink, and probably like it. The tea that just happened was some special kind of green tea. When dranken, its first mild and green tea like, then very bitter and ultimately leaves a sweet aftertaste. How is that even possible??
So why does the title of this post about Walmart? Well, you see, my new office is in the same complex as what I think must be the biggest Walmart in Beijing. I've seen minibuses that you can take for free from various locales around the city for free that take you there. Its crazy. Anyway I was so excited to go after my interview for so many reasons 1. I had a couple of things I needed to buy: sunscreen and conditioner and originally I was planning to go to the Carrefour near my old school, but that would mean taking the subway in the opposite direction of home, which was kind of a hassel and I would have to pay twice as much in public transportation fees 2. I had only been to Walmart twice before, once in the winter of 2006 with my dear friend B in Telluride, and it was an amazing experience because it was my first time, and one in Qingdao, China, looking for Tsingdao beer peanuts (which we couldn't find but it was okay because Zhu took us out for ice cream at the attached Mcdonalds after. 3. I was so excited about the endless possilblities that Walmart held for me. What kind of products would they have? Would the have different things than my very familiar standby, Carrefour? Would it be cheaper? What kind of deals could I get?
It was very dissappointing. Yes, huge. More expensive than Carrefour AND no bath products section that I could find, so I had to go to Carrefour anyway. So far everyday since moved out of my old neighborhood I've been back. Yesterday to play monopoly with Zhu and his sister, her boyfriend, Zhu's [god] brother ZXY and his wife XL at my old favorite coffee shop after Duan Wu JIe (Dragon Boat Festival) lunch with his mom and today to go back to my good old trusty Carrefour. I was really scared I woud never go back, but it doesn't look like its going to be that way. My most concrete playtime plans are too go shopping at the shopping place over there (I used to live on top of the largest clothing market in Beijing) with XL and to go swimming at a nearby aquarium. So I guess my old neighborhood is still mine.
So I've just wrapped up my semester of advanced Chinsese language intensive. What a mouthful. The plan was always to work at Simplot doing a combo of teaching English and research about agriculture in China, but that failed for numerous reasons. So after about a day of AHHA:LKJVL what I am going to do this summer??!?!? I found the dream internship. And so I've decided that now, with my first working in a office experience in front of me, I should pick up the blogging again.
The posting for my internship went up about ten minutes before I found it and sent in resume, so I was really really lucky with the timing of the whole thing. Normally the website that I used doesn't have anything good. That was a Saturday. The boss lady called me and I interviewed in Chinese and said I would get back to her on Monday after I got back from my whirlwind trip to Hong Kong/Shenzhen. Then today, Tuesday I went to the office to have another interview. AND I'M HIRED!
The details are thus:
The company is brand new. They design games and software for Ipad apps. (could it be anymore in the moment?) I'm in charge of running their social media promotion. ( I will tweet and write Facebook updates) I will also call program developers in the states and sell them the company's software. This is where the big bucks come in---commission! But I also get paid, and its a decent salary for an internship in China, so I'm pleased. I will be working in both English and Chinese, which is also good. ALSO, I get my own desk which is terribly exciting because I've never had a job with a desk. I also get a new laptop and phone! I'm hoping they are both apple products, but I'll be happy with whatever they are because I'll have a Work Computer and a Computer for Personal Use and a Work Phone and a Phone for Personal Use. So many fun toys, plus I get to pretend to be someone important. I couldn't be more thrilled.
And so where is this company? Its just north of where I am currently living, near where there are a lot of software company things. It very convenient for me, only four stops (with a transfer) on the subway. I have a commute! Its forty five minutes including walking time and I get to do it with my boyfriend's sister. She is still living at home, which is where I will be staying for the summer. Zhu's older brother is off away studying in America, so we switched places. Zhu will be in and out, filming and stuff. I was initially really really hesitant to live here for a lot of obvious reasons, but after some serious thought I decided here would be the best place. Safe, good location, not smelly, not sketchy. No weird meeting roommates on the internet, no stuffy hostel, so scary landlord. Plus, my Chinese should continue to improve by a lot and if I lived somewhere else with foreigners, I'd miss out on funny looks. For example, the air conditioner guys just came over, and I wish I could have a photo of the looks on their faces when a blonde girl answered the door. HAHAHAHA.
Also, a pro about living here is Zhu's mom. She is awesome and always has great stories to tell that I don't always understand. She has a pretty thick Wenzhou accept and sometimes I can't tell if she is speaking in Wenzhounese or Putonghua. She uses a lot of adjectives and onomotepia when she talks, which sounds easy to understand but its not. The general pattern of her speech (I think???) is Subject+verb (repeated) then adjective phrase (ABAB or AABB). There is a lot of repeated, so when she talks its really quite sing song like. She probably has a great onomotopedia based adjective phrase for the way she talks. I need to figure out a way to figure that out.
I think sometimes her people under-appreciate her, but I try not to. Sometimes she talks and talks about how when she was our age, or how things are in her hometown, or about how she used to sing and I feel like no one listens except me. But we bonded a few times, over cheap clothes made in sweatshops in Southern China and the one time that I taught her how to use Safari on her ipad. She also is always giving Zhu strange things to drink that are supposed to fix any of his numerous problems and I get to watch what happens. One it was a thick green slushy concoction of milkshake consistency, once it was a sticky carmelly colored hot potion. Today (just minutes ago) it was innocent looking tea. I tried the carmel drink, sweet and delicious. The green thing did not pass my lips. I gave the tea a shot. The best part about this whole ordeal is Zhu's mom will ask him, "Do you want to drink xxxx?" He'll say no way, absolutely not. After about a half and hour the drink will appear and Zhu's reaction will be, "What is this? I don't want this!" and his mom will ignore him and tell him to drink it. Then he turns to me and says "She's always giving my these crazy things to drink." Then he'll pick it up and sniff at it, then put it down and repeat, whine for a bit that its too bitter and then finally take a sip at say that its not bad. Then his moms is just thrilled and will say something about the drinks benefits of history. Then Zhu will willingly finished the drink, and probably like it. The tea that just happened was some special kind of green tea. When dranken, its first mild and green tea like, then very bitter and ultimately leaves a sweet aftertaste. How is that even possible??
So why does the title of this post about Walmart? Well, you see, my new office is in the same complex as what I think must be the biggest Walmart in Beijing. I've seen minibuses that you can take for free from various locales around the city for free that take you there. Its crazy. Anyway I was so excited to go after my interview for so many reasons 1. I had a couple of things I needed to buy: sunscreen and conditioner and originally I was planning to go to the Carrefour near my old school, but that would mean taking the subway in the opposite direction of home, which was kind of a hassel and I would have to pay twice as much in public transportation fees 2. I had only been to Walmart twice before, once in the winter of 2006 with my dear friend B in Telluride, and it was an amazing experience because it was my first time, and one in Qingdao, China, looking for Tsingdao beer peanuts (which we couldn't find but it was okay because Zhu took us out for ice cream at the attached Mcdonalds after. 3. I was so excited about the endless possilblities that Walmart held for me. What kind of products would they have? Would the have different things than my very familiar standby, Carrefour? Would it be cheaper? What kind of deals could I get?
It was very dissappointing. Yes, huge. More expensive than Carrefour AND no bath products section that I could find, so I had to go to Carrefour anyway. So far everyday since moved out of my old neighborhood I've been back. Yesterday to play monopoly with Zhu and his sister, her boyfriend, Zhu's [god] brother ZXY and his wife XL at my old favorite coffee shop after Duan Wu JIe (Dragon Boat Festival) lunch with his mom and today to go back to my good old trusty Carrefour. I was really scared I woud never go back, but it doesn't look like its going to be that way. My most concrete playtime plans are too go shopping at the shopping place over there (I used to live on top of the largest clothing market in Beijing) with XL and to go swimming at a nearby aquarium. So I guess my old neighborhood is still mine.
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