Today we went to a Minzu park. At first I Thought it would be some minority park, but later I found out it was like a museum on a grander scale.

This is a living space of one Minzu tribe

I totally wanted to buy one! They were so cheap~ but I decided against it because seriously, how would I carry that in my luggage. I have no space for it! Love the colors and the designs~

so basically, if you didn’t know, I’m on a service/study trip. We have 15 journal entries, 1 essay and a presentation due NEXT TUESDAY. AND I AM SO screwed because I still have 9 entries to do and haven’t exactly cornered in on what I want to present about. On a happy note, I’m visiting my new artist friend tomorrow! We are going to HAZA (eat)! My favorite hobby.

I’m eating Tom Yum Ramen, its sooooo goood. man. A hint of home food. I do miss Pho and pho, and yah LA food. I’ve been more careful about street food since i found out that the oil is taken from sewage oils. And who knows where that stuff comes from? Ew.

ON another note- I went to the Beijing Opera House (I think that’s what it’s called) and saw SA Chen. Actually I didn’t know who she was before I went, but after reading her bio, I was like ohhh woow.

http://www.chen-sa.com/en/index.asp- check out her bio.

It was interesting because they talked about her childhood. Her parents actually wanted  a boy, is that surprising in a Chinese family? Sad. The reason her dad wanted a boy was because girls have more of a potential to not take on challenges or stick to the family. Hello- does that look like the world today? It is quite sad, so she was raised like a boy. She became very opinionated, and for some reason, I think less emotional. Though the modern age thinks that being less emotional is a positive thing, I think it’s a sad loss of humanity. Emotions are given by our Creator. That’s why there’s females and males. Both represent a side of who our Creator is. Females are beautiful in their ability to be sensitive, feel, and express even for others. Males are more logical, yet provide a reliable identity of masculinity. Sadly, our society looks down upon the feminine qualities as weak.

I believe that a huge movement of social justice are started by women in this era. Women feel deeply for injustice and women issues. Women are people of compassion. Without women and feminine qualities, our society will be lost and filled with emotion-less robots, not that males are robots…but without both our humanity is lost.

More pictures below- also this 10 year old totally owned the piano, it scared the crap out of me. This girl made my piano skills look like freaken 2 year old.

Usually in Taiwan or America or anywhere I know, people wait patiently for their turn in anything. Well, guess what, not in Beijing. The new friends pretty much told me to squish in and just butt people to get a picture with them. This one new friend told me, “look like you’re signing the book with her”. I’m like…uhhhh okay.

No they’re not sleeping, just sleeping. JK

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.

one of the dishes we ate today. Includes potatoe, veggies, and other spices.

I dont know why my face looks big in this pic, maybe so I can look like the picture in the back.

Or the food. But don’t worry, I’ve been biking and walking a lot, so shouldn’t be getting fatso.

On another note, being in a long distance relationship really makes “perfect love casts out all fear” seem well clear. In a way, it’s all a leap of faith, trusting Father to do the work. Communication is key, long distance has made me literally find ALL the ways I can communicate. Skype, gchat, Gmail SMS, Yahoo chat/SMS, phone cards, phone SIM cards, texting to email, etc.

June 30,2010

I took an hour to explore the campus of Tsinghua on my bike. Several things I noticed while on the road were that Beijing people are very peaceful; despite the honking of horns, loud shouting, and mean-spirited bargaining, Beijing people are very peaceful. This is what I gained from my time observing the people.

I picked up a green tea red bean ice cream and started eating away. The building I was outside of was dilapidated and old. Crumbs and dilapidation were falling off from the walls. Clothes were hanging outside, drying. I heard violin sounds from inside one of the rooms, it was played with ferocious tenacity. I proposed in my mind that this person, a male or female could one day be famous. The skills were undeniable.

I haven’t yet built any relationships with a Beijing student, but I look forward to meeting them. Personally, I have one Beijing friend in Los Angeles. The way she is, hard-working, fast, and smart, is the way of Beijing folks are too. It’s interesting how I observed that.

I have yet to answer the why’s, but at this moment I just want to reflect on my time spent here so far.

One thing I noticed, as I spend every single waking hour with teammates from America is how loud we are. Also, as I spend time talking with my teammates, I long for solitude. I suspect maybe solitude and alone time is not in our American vocabulary, but throughout my years growing up, I have longed for and spent many hours in solitude, journaling and reflecting on my thoughts.

I find myself, in every break, walking away to nature and finding relief in G’s presence. Not that the crowds and people aren’t part of G’s creation, but it seems better to find peace in hearing G through nature and, well solitude.

I look forward to finding the stillness in my soul through reflection.

My bowel system has finally regulated itself, and thank God, no intense sickness.

Yesterday, we went on the streets to get a phone and sim card- the first store I went to said its 380 renminbi for phone/sim, then we hit another store, and I got a 100 dollar off. I even got him to take a few renminbi off. Then I got a fake LeSportsac for like 40, but I know I could’ve gotten it down to probably 20 or 30.

My back has been hurting a bit though from walking so much, so that when I sit, it’s like whabam on my back. Those cello days have not been nice to me. Sob!

Sitting at this weird little metal booth, I think one of the ledges is going to fall off. I should have printed out a sheet of my teammates numbers, but I didn’t. My back hurts like a mother and I’ve only had less than 4 hours of sleep. I really want fried chicken and fries. Oh, that would be so delicious, but instead I have a bag of bread- which is good too, but you know, not as good. Since I want fried foods.

When my mom was waving me off, I knew she was really sad. I got really sad too, I felt like crying but tried to hold it in because well, there’s everyone around. It would  be kind of embarrassing. So I walk in the bathroom and start sobbing in the stalls. It was a good cry indeed.

I forgot to bring a hair tie so I got one of those luggage tags, tore off the paper and used the elastic to tie my hair. Ingenious eh?

Anyways, I’m not sure what I’m going to encounter this summer. But indeed it’s one of those moments in life where, IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE.

I just graduated from college, Lord, I thought the day would never come. But it came and hit me in the head. This is definitely one of those epic summers I’ll never forget

Anyways- So I arrive and meet all my teammates. I’m sitting at the dorm rooms, and I’m pretty blessed with a clean bed, a tv, and even, after paying 90 renminbi, ONE MONTH INTERNET. I got really psyched knowing that I’m hooked onto the comp and wired in every way (ipod, mac, camera, iflip, everything). More updates to come. Today we ate 8 dishes of food since it was our first day, no diarrhea, thank GOD!.