Merry Christmas to All!!!

I hope that all of you find yourselves warm, well fed, and surrounded with love and friendship today.

Chris and I spent the morning volunteering at the migrant school handing out school supplies, warm hats, cola, and cookies to children whose parents work so hard to put this city together... yet do not receive the privlege of public education.

Despite the fact that my body is currently warring with my third (and most dreadful) cold yet... I have had a wonderful Christmas. I will tell you more about it and post pictures tomorrow.

I wanted to stay up late this evening to call all of you back home in the states, however, I'm having the most difficult time getting money out of China and into my bank account, so at the moment I haven't the money to call any of you who aren't on skype and aren't online.

Presents are on the way as well... Hang tight, they'll get there eventually :O)

It's time for me to get some rest, take care and have a wonderful Christmas!!!

Love,
Jackie

Hutongs and Rickshaws

Today we visited Beijing's Gulou drum tower and toured the surrounding hutongs by rickshaw.

Years ago, the Gulou drums were played every evening to signal the end of the day.

Zhonglou, the bell tower, where the morning bells would ring and wake the locals.

The view from Gulou. Ahead is the center of the city, the dragon's head.... and the road below is the dragon's back and tail. The hutongs are the dragon's scales. It is said that a dragon can not live without its scales and so it is believed that the city can not survive without the hutongs, so this area has been designated an historic site.

Ooooh, I'm in a rickshaw!!!

My favorite pictures from the hutong we visited. Here we had tea with the daughter of the man who owns the place. It has been in the family for over seventy years and was repurchased after the Cultural Revolution. The structure itself is over 200 years old. As you can see, I was mostly captivated by the inhabitants.

Imagine waking up to the sound

of a dozen energetic toddlers banging on pots and pans, right there in the center of your bedroom.

I promise, this is precisely the first thought that came my mind last week as I leapt from my bed, heart racing, to see what on earth could be making such an enormous and horrific noise.

My second thought, as I glanced at the costumed people below, was that -for some strange reason- a high school marching band was having its first and rather dreadful day of practice.

But as I rubbed the sleep from my tired eyes (and put on my glasses so I could see) I realized that the locals were practicing for the Chinese New Year!

You think she sees me?
Ooooooh STILTS!

The pots and pans, as I described:

Early to Rise

I admit it, I'm spoiled. My routine here in Beijing has me sleeping in most mornings until anywhere between eight thirty on the weekends and ten thirty most other days. Granted, I usually work until nine each evening and don't get to bed until the wee hours of the morning.

This morning is special. Despite the fact that I went to sleep last night at ahhh, around three, I've been up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed since before seven.

My motivation is simple and nearly as old as I am. Today is a snow day.

For as long as I can remember, a snow day has been nothing short of a holiday as grand as any other... especially when the snow is rumored to begin in the morning. My excitement rivals Christmas eve as I find it hard to sleep the night before and my feet hit the floor before sunrise. I have to admit that on this occasion I'm pretty sure I've gotten up at least once every hour to check the weather outside, even though it isn't supposed to start snowing until after eight.

The sky is dark and gray. It's cold enough to numb my fingers and I know its coming. (Yes, I've already been outside to assess the current weather conditions.) Chris has been the ever-present pessimist all week with comments like "if it snows" and "only flurries" but my spidey senses tell me that this morning there will be a downright drenching of snow. Who cares if it sticks, I just want to see it!

So here I am, at the break of dawn, stalking the weather... waiting with excitement to watch the first flake fall.

Half-way Somewhere

It's been three months since I moved to China and I'm halfway through my contract with Real Life English. Three months ago I would have considered this the half-way point, but today its difficult for me to think that I'm on the downhill swing, wrapping up my business, on my way out of China and back to life as I knew it, somewhere in America.

With that heavy thought in mind, I'm thinking there's a good chance I might want to be here for a while longer.

In three months I've read six books. That, if nothing else, is an amazing indication of how different life is here. It just seems to be happening at a more laid-back pace. I realized the other day that I haven't been this relaxed in years, if ever.

There are days when I can't explain how nice it is to come home from work. I hop on a bus, fifteen minutes later I'm on the train, thirty minutes later I'm on a bus again which takes me directly to my apartment. Sometimes I read, sometimes I listen to my iPod, and sometimes I listen to the people and try to understand what they are saying. For four American dollars I could take a cab home and arrive in fifteen minutes or less... but I choose not to because I enjoy the ride.

I love buying fruit on the street and vegetables in the little market downstairs. I love the way that boys carry bags and purses for their girlfriends, and ride them around on the backs of their bicycles. I love the chicken nuggets at McDonald's which are curry flavored. I also love my students and my job.

I love the fact that little things here are so significant. Like Heroes night and heat in my bedroom or finding out that my little market downstairs also sells frozen meat and dumplings... for half of what I would pay at the supermarket.

So this is where I am, three months into my stay here. I don't know what's next... and I'm not in any hurry to decide.

Dear Blogger.com,

I don't understand why you won't let me upload pictures. My readers demand pictures and my blogs are boring without them.

What is up?

-Jackie

Thanksgiving, Take 2

Real Life Education does Thanksgiving in style! I made rosemary mashed potatoes, apple stuffing, and green beans. Mmmmm, the taste of home!


There was so much food! We even had turkey legs that were given to us as a gift. We couldn't bring ourselves to share. Another item on the table, duck tongue. Yes, I tried it! It was alright.
Ohmygosh! They were sooo excited about the forks! I love this group! They're in my Wednesday night class.

Our students had a blast making Indian headdresses. Some of them were pretty interesting.

I rounded the corner just in time to hear Mike say, "Only a southern woman could cook mashed potatoes this good." Darn Skippy!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I was several hours into my day before I actually realized it was Thanksgiving. In my defense I was up before the break of dawn... sleepy and freezing my way across town to get my visa renewed.

I came home, warmed some leftover pasta, and started mentally counting off the things that I'm thankful for... Good friends, awesome roommate, warm boots, Hunt's canned spaghetti sauce which costs twice as much here but tastes ten times better... I'm thankful for my freedom and the ability to make my own choices. I'm thankful for opportunities, hard work, and adventure. I'm thankful for the happiness and joy I find in simple things every day and the wonderful people in my life who always bring me warmth, sincerity, hope and smiles.

Life is very very good. Even on the toughest days, when things don't seem right and there are tears in my eyes... I know there's warm sunshine, Reese's Cups, stars in the sky, and good folks all around. That's all I need, and for that I'm thankful!

Tonight we dine on Kentucky Fried Chicken! It's as close as we might get to turkey and they do have corn and mashed potatoes. They are also giving away free goodies with every meal, in honor of Thanksgiving. Then I will go home and begin to prepare some of my favorite traditional Thanksgiving dishes for our party at the school tomorrow. Mmmmm, I can't wait!

Mailing Business

Constance has requested my mailing address so I figured I would post it for all.

As far as I know, I can't think of anything that you can't send... however, make sure to write my name above the address and be careful to write it exactly as you see it below. The only package that has been sent to me so far (two months ago) has not made it, so extra caution will help.

Chris gets stuff all the time so I know things can get here, just know that it usually takes a few weeks :O)

Here's the address:
Jinyuan New Yansha Mall
6th Floor Room 607
No. 1 Yuanda Lu
Haidian District, Beijing 100097

If I don't have your address or you don't think I have your address, please send it to me in an email so I can ship goodies out by next week!

Chris got crabs!

From a student! ...Then he gave me crabs!!!

I feel a new past-time coming on!

I got the baby some winter clothes! Isn't he cute??? I love his little backpack!

Check it out!

The other night I read this book in one sitting. I highly recommend!!!

The story takes place in South Carolina and with references to Charleston, Spartanburg, scuppernong jam, and fried okra, it made me more homesick than I could possibly tell you. But it was an excellent book!

Take five of these and call me in the morning!

This week has been an adventure in Chinese medicine!

It started with a four day migraine. Since I'm out of Excedrin I suffered for as long as I could before breaking down and begging for something, anything that would make me feel better. Armed with a post-it note full of migraine symptoms written in Chinese, I marched down to the pharmacy with high hopes. I returned with a box full of pills and a box full of tiny glass bottles of fragrant brown liquid. The instructions were to take five pills three times a day and one bottle twice a day.

Ten pills and one bottle of brown stuff into the game I still had a headache. Fifteen pills and two bottles of brown stuff later, I threw up. I'm not pointing a finger by any means, but I know my body and I know that the herbal meds were partly to blame.

To make matters more interesting, it just so happens that the day I decided to bear arms against my migraine I also started to show symptoms of having caught my second cold. One of my students, the kind soul that she is, brought me loads of Chinese medicine to help me get better. One remedy looks like instant coffee and smells like um... green and roots, and bark, and dirt. I can't do it, I just can't.

I'd love to tell you all the reasons why, but my western cold medicine has just kicked in and I'm happily off to bed!

Bits and Pieces

For the past few nights, I've dreamt in Chinese. Interesting.

I saw this on the way home from work today:


Seeing the kitties made me miss mine so much that it made my heart hurt a little. I miss my babies.

I'm officially a failure at one of the things I promised myself I would do here... I refused to take part in the eating of the silkworms. I said I would try every strange food placed before me. I should have specified that creepy-crawlies are excluded! UGH!

By this, conquer.

In China, success is never trivial and failure is inevitably epic. In a world where easy solutions are as foreign as the food, I have learned not to take anything for granted.

Take heat, for example. For the past month I have come home, dressed in multiple layers of clothing, and encased myself in a sleeping bag in order to watch a couple of hours of television each night. Then, just a few days ago, I had a vision. It said, "By this, conquer."

With the words of Constantine the Great driving me forward I took this seemingly useless air conditioner remote and, in conjunction with some serious googling, squeezed heat out of what I thought was a machine which could only be used as a device for torture this time of year.

I danced, clapped, giggled, and squealed with delight as warm air filled my bedroom for the first time in weeks. Yes, the heat will be turned on tomorrow, but for the past few days I have absolutely relished the warmth that I, The Conqueror of the Air Conditioner Remote, have provided.

I am also the proud owner of this beautiful and bountiful boxed set AKA "The Blizzard Box" as entitled on the side:

By this (Diablo II) I plan to conquer the Chinese Language. Let's face it, I've played this game for hundreds of hours. If it doesn't help me with my reading, nothing can. And I won't feel guilty playing it for hours, technically... I'm studying! Oh, and by the way, it only cost me ten bucks!!! Three games, all of the expansions included, and a cinematic trailer for Starcraft II. Nice! (Also pictured, Astro Boy, a magic remote, and my touch lamp Oliver.)

Awkward Silences

Two months ago my biggest complaint was in being surrounded by a million people yet rendered mute by my lack of Chinese. Now that I'm learning more and more Chinese this isn't so much of a problem anymore.

Now I find the awkward silences sneaking in from an unexpected source. Other foreigners.

Last week, Chris and I boarded a nearly empty train and sat directly across from a guy who was a dead ringer for an American. Silence ensued.

Barrier number one: the iPod. It's hard to strike up a conversation with a body that has noisy plugs in its ears.

Barrier number two: While I feel that I automatically have a connection with this other person because we are both foreign, I cannot assume that this person feels the same way. Do they really want me invading their airspace with idle chatter just because there's a chance that we both might know English.

Barrier number three: We are in transit. On the train, off the train. Here for six months, here on vacation. How much conversation can you have with a person in passing. Is it worth unplugging your ears for a couple of minutes?

This random passing of people-who-might-speak-english-because-they-look-like-Americans occurs several times a week. Nine times out of ten, sideways glances and awkward silence connect us like static.

Today I saw iPod Train Station Boy in my supermarket. He was in front of me on the escalator... ears all plugged up. We passed in the cleaning supply isle. He took the checkout beside me and I followed him home. He lives across the street, no I wasn't stalking.

Each time we crossed paths I felt like we were two giant elephants in one tiny room filled with Chinese people. Everyone was staring at us and we both pretended the other wasn't there.

This refusal to talk even though we undoubtedly speak the same language really bothers me. There wasn't so much as a nod or smile or a second of eye contact between the two of us and it was just as much my fault as it was his.

Next time, I say hello. Stuffed ears or not.

Baijiu for Obama

Tonight at chuanr we celebrated this momentous occasion in America's history with a round of Biajiu. (Fear not, biajiu is not for the weak at heart. You aren't missing much if you've never tried it.)

I have to admit that I haven't had the time to aquaint myself properly with the presdent-to-be, however, I am excited that change is on the way.

This morning Chris and I had an election breakfast and watched the coverage live. I was nearly brought to tears as I watched passionate young people wait in anticipation as their nominee of choice was declared the next president of the United States. I was also impressed with McCain's concession speach. I think it was very sincere and was very moved by his ability to step down with grace.

So what do people here in China think? Most of the people that I have spoken with think that Obama will be the source of great change for our country and are very excited for us that he has been selected.

Only time will tell what this means for our country but I am so very proud that so many people my age were motivated to exercise their right to vote. That in itself is such a great success, in my opinion.

Obama Jiayo! (Go Obama!)

Halloween and other scary things!

This will go down as the most hilarious Halloween EVER! We wore our costumes ALL day, even on the train. The looks we got were priceless. People gasped, stumbled, and even oogled.
Our students had a blast at the party. They weren't too keen on dressing up though. I was an octopus. A very bunchy, lumpy, spidery octopus. It was the best I could do given the circumstances.

We even got the kids involved! Here we are making dirt cups. Mmmmm, remember those? I can tell I'm getting old, they were nearly toxic in their sweetness! Below, you see applied behavioral psychology in action. You want something??? Gotta learn how to ask for it first!

3 A.M. Do you see the look of disappointment on my face??? It says "Hey, what's this burger doing in my fish sandwich." I didn't even know that Chris was taking a picture. That's genuine disappointment!!!

In other news I am the proud owner of a Chinese cell phone. Yay! Now I can communicate!

AND I managed to find the object of my most intense desire, tights. Want to hear the irony??? THEY'RE TOO BIG! How on Earth did I manage that one?

Coming to you LIVE from the North Pole...

Or so it seems!

You see, it's 5:43 a.m. here and I can't sleep because I'm freezing! Seriously, I woke up shivering and my nose feels like a popsicle.

Tonight around nine we were hovering at around fifty degrees, which I thought was almost comfortable. I don't even want to know how cold it is in here now but there's a chance I might freeze to death before they turn the heat on.

YES, I said before they turn the heat on. Heat doesn't come on in Beijing until November 15.

English PAYS baby!!!

Today it landed Chris and I on the tenth floor of some random apartment building doing "voice recordings" for 150 RMB. To put that amount in perspective for you, that much money could buy me several meals, a pair of leather boots, or three months of train fare.

YES, some shady thoughts crossed my mind, but I couldn't resist the adventure!

We were told that our help was needed for a project that would develop special voice recognition technology for LG. BS? Perhaps.

I spent an hour reading sentences such as, "passionate kisses on her honey body" "talk to me on MSN" and "she is overwhelmingly optimistic." I also read dates, phrases containing curse words, numbers, and pages of nonsense words.

Who knows, maybe it was totally legitimate. Maybe there's a 900 number with my voice on it now. Or maybe I'm the voice of some Korean soap opera queen.

Regardless, I'm 150 RMB richer and all I had to do was speak English!

Aren't they cute?

Our children's school is growing so fast! When I first started there was one class with three students total. Now we have five different classes and we've had to bring on another teacher! I'm so proud of the progress we've made in the past few weeks!

No, that's not my real Halloween costume. It's just a stand-in until I finish making the real one. It's going to be AWSOME! And I'm not telling what it is!

Oh sunny day!

Most of the time the smog hangs over this city like depression. After a good rain though, blue never had it so good!

Did you know I live right on the edge of the mountains? I keep forgetting, most of the time you can't see them.

Tonight we adventured off to the Olympic Greens. Below is the National Stadium a.k.a the Bird's Nest.

The Water Cube is BEAUTIFUL! Reminds me of a box of jellybeans! Mmmm, jellybeans!

It changes colors!

I'm thinking this armless statue must be a tribute to the Special Olympics.

If you can name the computer game that this reminds me of, you're a genius because I can't remember!

The view from inside this legoman mountain.

Home-bound. These feet are tired.

Keyi jinlai ma?

That's been the phrase of the day!

I learned it yesterday and was eager to show off my new skills to my Chinese teacher when she came in today. It simply means, Can I come in?

I love the way it rolls off my tongue and I know the tones perfectly. So I hopped around work today sticking my head into rooms and asking the emptiness, keyi jinlai ma? My boss even caught me once and by the end of the night Chris was tired of hearing me say it. I even told him I was going to ask permission before entering chaunr, but thought better of it at the last minute.

So, as we were leaving chuanr it was cold, rainy, and rather blustery. A cab pulled up and a girl was in the front seat taking her sweet time paying. Suddenly I opened the back door, popped my head in, and said "Keyi jinlai ma?" YES!!! That's what the cabbie said!

SUCCESS! It made my day!

Fill in the Blanks...

So. I'm learning more and more Chinese and have started to notice an interesting phenomenon... Now that I have some phrases under my belt I'm ready to start making new sentences using what I know. Often I find myself needing an extra word or two that I don't have yet.

So what does my brain do in this situation? Lately, it's been filling in the blanks with German. And sign language. It's the funniest thing! So I find myself thinking things like Wo yao sitzen. (I want to: Chinese and sit: German.) And as sitzen pops into my mind... I'm also signing it.

Hmmm, do you think there's a name for this condition? If not, perhaps I should invent one... like... Polylingual Psychosis. Ok, maybe that's a bit much, but it is frustrating if not a touch silly. At least, for now, I don't actually say these ridiculous phrases out loud!

Fragrant Hills

Yesterday we went on a fieldtrip to Fragrant Hills Park.

We took the chairlift to the top of the mountain where we could see the lovely smog from every direction.
Again I am mezmerized by the rooftop decorations. I'm still learning about them. More to come on this topic.
Fishies!
Fu Lion, another bit that tickles my fancy.
Time for this trip was so limited that I'll be going back soon to check out the many temples that are nestled in these hills.