Saturday, October 23, 2010

China, can you please stop this typhoon?!

Hello everyone, here are a few updates since Tuesday:

So Wednesday night we went out to a ladies night at the highest bar in the world, free champagne for ladies. But we got there at 10pm, thinking it went until midnight, but it unfortunately ended at 10:30pm :( But we danced anyways and had fun! 

Thursday we got out of chinese class 4o minutes early! It was awesome! took a 3 hr nap (so good) and that night, I had dinner with my internship seminar teacher with some of the other kids in the class. It was actually pretty good food and not totally awkward and terrible like we thought it would be. 

Friday, our chinese class was to go to the Shanghai Museum, where they have some of the best artifacts from ancient china. We got there a bit late and then had to wait in a long line so we didn't get much time in the museum, but as it turns out, I've already been there. haha. I didn't realize until we got into the lobby, but I recognized the stairs, haha. We saw two new exhibits, one on Indian Religions, and the other on Catherine the Great of Russia. It was pretty cool. 

Then we got bagels!!! The first I've had since coming to china! It was wonderful. We walked there, which proved to be a bit farther than we had thought originally, but it just made us want the bagels more. I had a delicious bagelwich (bagel sandwich) with tuna salad in it. And an ice coffee. They weren't as good as bagels in the US would be, but definitely close enough, for China. 

Then Magnolia, Kara, and I took a taxi to Xintiandi, which is a western-style area (a few blocks) with restaurants and a mall, etc. This was my first time going this year (I went last year). We got frozen yogurt (like pink berry!) and it was delicious. I also bought some cute gifts that weren't even that expensive (for Xintiandi). Then we stumbled upon a french connection, which I've always liked but never been in love with the way we were yesterday. we couldn't stop stroking the clothes and observing how nicely they felt, how nicely everything was merchandized, how clean everything was. It was like we hadn't seen food in weeks so we flipped out over a mcdonalds meal. haha. (not that fcuk=mcdonalds, cuz fcuk is still better) They actually had some really cute clothes there. I actually found clothes that fit me! woah! I got a really cute striped sweater dress with bows down the back (I know, soooo me). I can't wait for it to get a bit colder so I can wear it. I also got a free umbrella from the mall since I spent money. :) (they just opened and it's hong kong fashion week- they had these really cool displays of designer runway clothes)

Last night we tried a new japanese restaurant by walmart and it was pretty delicious. we had sushi (which I hadn't had since coming here- although it's not the same as the kind we eat in America, no raw fish, thank god) and rice bowls and ordered way too much food cuz we had to wait. While waiting, these chinese guys at their table starting talking to us. They offered us cigarettes and of course, I said no thanks, and my friend jeff did too. Then they laughed and said if you don't smoke, you aren't a real man. Jeff was sad (In china, women who smoke are considered prostitutes and are looked down on- but that's traditionally, not totally true today since a lot of chinese women do smoke. But for guys- traditionally and today apparently- you have to smoke to be a real man. crazy!) Then we had a leisurely walk home, during which we sipped beer because in China, there are no open container laws! so great! Then we met up with some friends at a bar, then went to a new club, but it was just ok. 

Today, the typhoon that hit Hong Kong finally made it to Shanghai. I wanted to go exploring or something but it's pretty hard when there's a typhoon outside. So instead Alex and I went to the gym. By the time we got there, we were soaked. I have a rain jacket but the hood never stays on so my head and my pants and shoes were all wet. We tried to the sauna out today at the gym, but it took forever to heat up so it wasn't totally toasty while we were in it. but still nice. then had some lunch and escaped the rain in our dorms. Me, Jeff, and Alex watched fantastic mr. fox, soooo cute! I really liked it. 

Now we're all trying to rally to do something tonight, despite the flood happening outside (jk it's not a flood, just a typhoon).  

My program is officially half over, 8 weeks down, 8 to go. How crazy is that?! 

bye bye for now! 

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