Days of My Life

I downright miss Shanghai. Initially, I hated it. I hated the weather, the people, the city itself. But then I got used to the humidity, I tolerated the people, I grew to love the city. My heart has warmed up to Shanghai, and Shanghai has warmed up to me (in so many ways). My first week in Shanghai went by excruciatingly slowly because I was so bitter. Week two was amazing, from 朱家角 water village to 车墩 film park. At the end of that week, we decided to cut back on spending, so the third week wasn't too adventurous, though the three-day class field trip was spectacular enough to make up for the beginning of the week. 横店影视城 (Hengdian World Studios) and 杭州(Hangzhou) composed the hottest weekend I have ever experienced, but the trip was, again, spectacular. 西湖 in Hangzhou (Sunday, 7/24) Hello Kitty Cafe in Hangzhou (Saturday, 7/23) 横店影视城 (Friday and Saturday, 7/22-23) 徐家汇公园 (Tuesday, 7/19) Like the last days of anything else enjoyable, the last week of my Shanghai trip was bittersweet. ...

Currently, I am in the VILI International Hotel in 广州 (Guangzhou) for my official last night in China. My mother is snoring away even though it is barely past 10 p.m. Meanwhile, my stomach cramps are eating away at my spirit. I could say that guys have it so easy (Oh, look, I just said it!), but I'm sure there are things that bother them that don't bother us girls, too. Yesterday, my flight out of 上海 (Shanghai) was delayed by three hours due to unsuitable weather conditions on the route. I had already waited in the airport for three and a half hours before the original flight time because I had left the Jiao Tong University Faculty Club earlier than planned since everybody else seemed to be leaving, too. About the delay, I couldn't complain because 1) I had nobody to complain to, and 2) the weather was nobody's fault. So I just sat there... Finally, we took off from 上海虹桥机场 (Shanghai Hongqiao Airport) at 7:28 p.m. For the first half hour or so, witnessing lightning from ...

At Che Dun today, I accidentally ordered alcoholic coffee. Last week, one of my friends had ordered what he said was Irish coffee from KFC, and it was delicious--iced coffee with a lot of vanilla ice cream on top. So today when I sat down at the cafe at Che Dun, I asked for that, expecting the same thing. Then when it arrived, my friends said, "I thought you didn't drink. Why did you order that?" So, apparently, Irish coffee at any other place is coffee mixed with scotch or whiskey or whatever else, depending on the place. NO WONDER THE DRINK WAS SO EXPENSIVE. It was weird, but good. I was disappointed that the white part wasn't vanilla ice cream, though. It was whipped cream.

Initially, I loved the city for its beauty and hated the people for their rudeness. Two weeks have passed since I arrived here, and I love it now. I have learned to ignore crazy drivers and just walk when the light turns green for pedestrians, to ask what a dish is when I know that I ordered something else, to ask taxi drivers for tips and places, and so much more. Each day of the past two weeks has been an adventure, and to add them altogether equates to about $400 worth of spending, which I suppose isn't all that bad, because it's all in the name of exploration and fun. I feel so much more cultured now, though I am certain there is much more to explore and learn. I'm so excited to go on more adventures in the upcoming (and last) two weeks here. Here's this week in pictures: Saturday: Our film class went on our second field trip to Thames Town and Che Dun. Thames Town, an imitation of the area around Thames River (it sounds like that, anyway) is so beautiful that it ma...

Since Sunday, June 26, I have been on the other side of the world in the ridiculously hot and humid, massively overpopulated country of China. After the 14-hour flight, during which I hardly slept because China Southern's seats are so uncomfortable, I was surprisingly not tired, but full of energy. However, the wave of humidity and heat that attacked me right when I stepped into the Guang Zhou International Airport was just not a good first impression, especially at 4:46 a.m. It was also pouring outside. Never before had I experienced such a strange weather condition. Immediately, my skin started feeling sticky and I started sweating. It was nasty. My mom, sister and I were supposed to check into a hostel quite far away from the airport, so we needed a taxi. But China has all of these people who station themselves at airports and pretend to be taxi drivers and lure you to their cars so they can drive you to your destination to earn money. I suppose that could be a respectably legit...

In four days, I am departing to China for one week of frivolous fun followed by four weeks of "school," which, according to the tentative agenda, seems a lot more like the former anyway. But I'm not complaining. What I am currently not looking forward to, however, is packing. My mother and I finally went yesterday to buy travel luggage--which is shockingly expensive even at Ross but is a bit cheaper at Target--and none of the three of us have yet to start packing. I sense trouble and panic looming. Right now, I am feeling resentfully unsettled. This morning, I woke up before 10 to go to 24-hour Fitness in Monterey Park (got a 7-day pass since I'm leaving the country soon anyway), and I had expected my first workout in three weeks (aside from the 6-mile run last Tuesday) to be fun, but it obviously wasn't. At least I know I got an effective workout because my arms are nearly numb from benching (a weak 45 pounds...) and dead-lifting (60 pounds, but apparently shamef...

For the first time in a long time, I actually had a breakdown. Like, not because I was over-thinking or over-analyzing anything or anything. But just because people made me so mad in so many different ways all at once, and it was just so overwhelming. Surely, some of this came from something I've been trying to suppress or replace, but it just erupted. And I didn't know what else to do but cry. And now I feel much better, although my eyes are extremely dry and my head is starting to hurt. But Hershey's chocolate and worship songs are helping me calm down. I'm going to get Late Night in about an hour because one of my suitemates gave me a coupon for a free combo meal from there. So I'll be having two dinners, yay! That's acceptable only because I finally did go to the gym today, albeit for only an hour, as opposed to the usual, ideal hour and half. I don't know, I think I just ran out of things to do. Should have stayed on the treadmill for longer. The treadm...