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I think I'm out of my rut. I decided I'd better post something before the world starts to think I'm suicidal. I think the combination of my really slow work week, the oppressive weather and not really knowing anyone in this city was what put me in a funk. Thanks to those who emailed and commented! I started Chinese class on Friday and it is a nice diversion. It's a nice supplement to my daily practical use of Chinese and I think I am learning/relearning some good stuff. Today, I had a class on newspaper reading and it was a lot of fun, actually. My tutors are very nice and I even have homework - which reminds me, I need to do that! On Saturday, I went back to the Houhai lakes to meet my intern friends and others for dinner and drinks. It was very nice setting on the lake, with a cool breeze. That is until it started to pour rain - which seems to be a common occurrence in June here. We tried to take a cab to another bar but got stuck in a typical "only in China" experience. The road we were traveling on was only wide enough for one car (i.e. one way) but there were cars traveling in both directions! It was like an Abbot and Costello routine. No one could figure out who should back up and who should go forward. As this was going on, more and more cars were stacking up in both directions. We finally abandoned our taxi in the torrential rain and ran to the closest bar, which happened to be called the "Loveshack." Like I said, Only in China! On Sunday, I went over to Xidan to check our some of the crazy shopping over there. I ended buying some VCDs (Video CDs - the precursor to DVDs) which I thought were not pirated. After I played them, I learned a few things: 1. You can't tell if VCDs/DVDs are pirated until you play them. Even the ones sold in state-owned stored could be copies, as evidenced by the horrible editing job I saw in my version of Ocean's Twelve. 2. Make sure the box says "Original English Edition!" Otherwise, it's gonna be in Chinese, as I also saw in Ocean's Twelve. Luckily, I was able to download English subtitiles (ah, the internet) so I could at least follow the story. I knew I was screwed when Brad Pitt walked across the screen and his first line was "Ni hao." D'oh! 3. Be careful when taking VCDs out of their cases. I broke the Collateral VCD because the CD was stuck (another sign of pirating - bad cases). Oh well, it was in Chinese anyway. Last night, I went bowling. Yes, bowling in Beijing! Supposedly it is the biggest bowling alley in the world - the Gongti 100 with 100 lanes. It was fun. I won both matches with my measly scores of 94 and 95. Ha! Then, as if on cue, as we left, it started pouring again. We decided to cab it to a German bar in Sanlitun to have a few drinks. Then, I took a cab home where the driver dropped me off at the wrong complex. So, I had to book it in the rain across some railroad tracks and back to my place. I was soaked. But, it was fun! Tomorrow - actually today, it's after midnight - is my birthday. I'll be 26! Augh! I am getting some interns together to go get Mexican food in North Beijing. Yes, Mexican food! I know - I am setting myself up for disappointment, but I researched this carefully and found a place that is run by a guy from New Mexico and got great reviews on the web from Americans from the Southwest. Plus, they have Dr. Pepper! Friday, we are having a BBQ for Independence Day at the Embassy. Then, that night, some interns and I are taking a night bus to Inner Mongolia, where we are going to ride horses in the grasslands. The bus ride will suck, but the rest sounds really fun. We are also supposed to stop in Chengde, which is one of the Emperor's old summer palace sites and home to a replica of the Tibetan Potala Palace. I'm going to bed now. Hope all are well. Feel free to comment or email. P.S. Have you guys seen Arnold's poll numbers? Worse than Bush and nearing Gray Davis levels (sorry Gray, but this news should let you say "I told you so.") It gives me hope for California. =) If you want more great blogging on California politics, check out two great sites run by friends Christiana and Scott. Post a comment in response: |
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