So I put the clothes in the washer, 2 hours I come back, it’s still sitting there in water. I go down to the desk, they give me a card to try swiping, it doesn’t work, I go back down. Finally, they tell me to switch washers, so I drag heavy watered clothes down to the 3rd floor. I make a water route. Next, I finally go back to my room but my key doesn’t turn. I can’t get in the room. -.- My friend is going to take me somewhere cool tonight, for now, I’m going to chill a little after the huge fiesta trying to wash my clothes.

Some pics here:

A shop near HouHai – had these adorable dolls

Me and my Juizee drink. SO sweet. the drinks are too sweet. LOL (oh and fake lesportsac. oops)

Minzu fashion- tribal minority fashion, I LOVe it

Chinese filmmaker Feng Xiaogang’s latest production, Aftershock, which reflects the devastating earthquake in Tangshan in 1976, is to start screening on the mainland on July 22, according to distributor Huayi Brothers Media Corporation.

The feature was previously set to premiere on July 28, the 34th anniversary of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 240,000 people in the northern city of Tangshan.

Wang Zhonglei, president of the Huayi Brothers, gave no reason for the advance of the date as he announced it Monday at a press conference.

The film, with the tagline 23 seconds, 32 years, tells the story of a mother who had to make a choice between saving her daughter or her son during the 23 seconds in which the disaster ravaged the town.

The mother’s decision is said to have changed the fate of the whole family as the saved daughter suffered guilt for 32 years before her experience during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake finally set her free.

An 8-magnitude quake, believed to have surpassed the Tangshan quake in terms of intensity and scope of destruction, hit Sichuan’s Wenchuan County on May 12, 2008 and left 87,000 people dead or missing.

“What the film aims to express is the bond between mother and child and the relationship between family affection and greater love,” Feng said.

Though commercially successful with war epic Assembly (2007) and period love thriller The Banquet (2006), the prolific 52-year-old director is better known for his comedies such as Cell Phone (2003), A World Without Thieves (2004) and If You Are the One (2008).

The film, jointly produced by the Huayi Brothers, China Film Group and the municipal government of Tangshan, will be released in IMAX format. Its budget is around 150 million yuan ($22 million).

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2010)

I went to Xidan today. Wanted to explore the outer parts, instead of just the old places. We were supposed to go to Forbidden City, but as we learned, the professor had changed the schedule and PESi staff was not aware of it until the last minute.

I got a pedicure. As I was sitting there relaxing, I was acutely aware of prejudice and injustice. I noticed the young girl helping the staff with cleaning. Even small gestures that the staff made towards the girl, like pushing her aside, made me cringe. She had darker skin so I assumed she might be a minority in China. I was thinking maybe she only got paid like 1 yuan or 2 yuan an hour.

Then this big guy walked in and was like accusing the worker, then flicked his finger at another worker’s head (sounded like it hurt). I assumed this was the boss or “the work pimp”. I was not happy, I was actually very upset and wanted to do something back to this big guy. Of course, I had no right to do anything. All I could do was ask my Creator for justice and also to give this minority girl a chance in life, to give her self-esteem, a reason for living. I can see how someone would feel inferior if they were treated like crap everyday. If I had the money, I want to give a minority a chance at life. I want to give them a dream, to show them that they can pursue their dreams and be someone in life. I would send them to school.

This is at Xidan- my sorta fail picture. People stare at you when you take pictures of random things.

So I go to in to this Mr. Lee noodle place, the napkin claims that they have 380 chain stores, especially in America California. I stare at it, “like really??”. So I ask the waitress- you guys have stores in California. She says yes. But I doubt it. I went to two places, and they’re supposedly chains in Taiwan, but I’ve never seen it. Imitation…everything?

BTW the noodles were really good, but the boba SUCKED. Waiting until Taiwan to get boba.

More pics to come- AND YAY! I’m teaching music!! 🙂 woot woot – instead of Chinese writing. thankssss G.

triangular dessert

My BF back in LA, waiting patiently for my return…in October! 😦 I miss him so freaken much!

Something I learned from long distance relationship- love is patient love is kind love is longsuffering, trusts at all times, and keeps no record of wrong, it is not selfish, it endures, and yah did i mention patient?

And of course the family members I left behind. At the Alhambra Applebee’s, had some happy hours and had bad service. But overall, a fun night with the crew. That was ….like a week ago. It feels like forever ago since so much has changed. Mainly, living here has been VERY different, obviously, i miss my car. lol.

So today we went to C as a group, I was surprised at how American everything was. Of course, it was for international goers so you had to make sure you had your passport.

After about 2:30pm, we were free for the day. I decided to go back to my snuggly bed for a nap, turned out the nap was 2 hours long. I slipped into deep sleep. Upon waking up, I had renewed energy and wanted to go have an adventure on my own. I call this “therapeutic adventure”= Alone time + adventure + shopping + meeting strangers.

First, I rode my bike to Wudaoko. This only took 10-15 minutes. The sun was BRIGHT and shining, and I was feeling good. When I arrived, I locked my bike and started walking around. I saw some things I wanted, but just walked away if they didn’t give me a good price. Then, my adventure begun when I found “the shopping mall”. The shopping mall was pretty much an indoor outdoor mall, consisting of many many small booths. Some were clothing, some nail shops. I bought a few things, but what I had the most fun doing was getting a manicure for 10 yuan, which is like $1.50 US. Unfortunately, due to my rushed personality, a few flowers has chipped off. She took meticulous effort to paint purple, then purple shinny-ness, then little small white flowers. I forgot how long it took, but it was no small effort. I asked her if she was still in school- she said she finished high school and quit after.

I saw a woman get this black tattoo, but it was a spray on and lasts for 6 months. It was only 10 yuan again, so I decided to get a heart with wings on my right wrist. I can’t believe the price of everything. It struck me how the people were, I enjoyed observing their every words and sayings. Would they think that I’m observing them? Is it weird that my mouth is shut?

Next, I went outside and saw some squid things on a stick. I went to the portie potty first, but every door I opened consisted of “SHITS!” Like not just little shits, but BIG BIG BIG swirly lumps of shits. To my dismay! Well, of course, I went in and after weeing weeing, I realized I couldn’t find my tissue. So there I was almost gagging out my lunch, and I was trying to find tissue.

Finally, I was able to escape from hell.

I saw this booth that had everything on sticks. One that I was craving was pig blood, it comes in a rectangular form. The soup was hot hot hot spicy. I pryed that I would not number 2 because of it. At first I got the tin bowl and was able to wrap up my goods. However, I watched a lady stand and eat so I decided to imitate her. It was so freaken delicious I almost died and went to heaven.

But of course I didn’t and paid my 1.8 yuan for 3 sticks. Which was amazing! I could’ve gotten like 10 more. However, I needed to go eat with my new-made friend…so couldn’t.