Unlimited, quality* sake and sushi for about $19 US dollars. Just housed about a dozen eel sashami, a couple of sake bombs, and unknown quantities of grilled salmon (how has my life existed until this point without grilled salmon?) I love life.
*quality defined as follows: probably not as good as what you'd find in Japan, but better than Boston/NY and definitely, definitely better than upstate NY.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
today
Today:
Took Chinese test.
Long-jumped.
Ate at the Muslim place.
Did laundry (necessary).
Thought about stuff (also necessary).
Prepared for TA session.
Later today:
Dinner. Street food, perhaps?
Out with the girls.
Things I'm excited for:
Trip to Guilin on Friday (southern China)
Having a job this summer.
Dress weather.
Things I miss:
$2 chuck
Skanks
Dominating spit games against Brian Kang/Theodora
Ladies
Took Chinese test.
Long-jumped.
Ate at the Muslim place.
Did laundry (necessary).
Thought about stuff (also necessary).
Prepared for TA session.
Later today:
Dinner. Street food, perhaps?
Out with the girls.
Things I'm excited for:
Trip to Guilin on Friday (southern China)
Having a job this summer.
Dress weather.
Things I miss:
$2 chuck
Skanks
Dominating spit games against Brian Kang/Theodora
Ladies
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
thoughts on life
(**Warning. I am about to bombard you with deep thought and insight. It's about as deep as the kiddie pool at Splashdown. Prepare yourselves.)
(a photo I took on the Great Wall, 3/8 or so, just outside Beijing)
NYU in Shanghai is a good time. I've met all sorts of crazy kids. We've done all sorts of crazy things. All around, a great introduction to China.
However, knowing what I know now, I may have done it differently. First, I would have spent a year in China. 1 semester may be enough to become fluent in a language I already know; for an Asian language, it's a whole other ballgame. I would still have stayed with NYU for a semester, as it's easied me into the idea of life in China. However, I would have studied with NYU in the fall and then followed it with a direct enrollment in East China Normal University's Center for Studying Chinese as a Foreign Language in the spring. Benefits: cheaper, easier to focus solely on studying Chinese.
Knowing next to nothing about international travel/living somewhere other than the US, I developed a list of questions to ask myself before future trips abroad.
Note to self:
1.)How will I get there?
(Trans-Siberian Railroad)
The fastest, most direct route is not necessarily the best. Some of the other kids in my groups stopped over in Europe on their way to China. They had a bomb time. Or maybe I could have gone though Russia. Trans-Siberian Railroad? Things to keep in mind: stopover, explore.
(a late-January stopover in Paris would have meant nationally-sanctioned sales season. If I had only known...)
2.)What will I need to get there?
Generally, you will need a visa. Apply for one, get necessary heath checks, etc. It's not that difficult. Remember: multiple entries.
3.)How will I get around (once I'm there)?
Subways? Buses? Get a map, get a transportation card (like Shanghai public transit card). Also, think about purchasing a bicycle or a mo-ped. Mo-peds are actually kind of awesome.
4.)How will I communicate?
A lot of countries outside the US use phones with seperate SIM cards. Don't listen to your parents when they insist you buy your phone before you leave the US. Buy one in the country. Find out how to call internationally (on your cellphone). Use skype. Not much else to say here.
5.)Where will I live?
Share an apartment with friends. It's generally cheap. Also, try looking for an apartment/living situation once you're in the country. Cheaper, and easier. I've heard that the residencias in Spain are decent pads. Unclear at this time.
6.)Appliances?
Buy in-country. Almost setting fire to your apartment trying to plug in American hot-rollers without a converter...poor life choices.
7.)How will I travel around?
Trains, buses, sleeper buses, and planes. If I had a an extra week, and the proper visa, I could travel from Beijing to Hanoi, Vietnam for $155 by train. Bummer.
(a photo I took on the Great Wall, 3/8 or so, just outside Beijing)
NYU in Shanghai is a good time. I've met all sorts of crazy kids. We've done all sorts of crazy things. All around, a great introduction to China.
However, knowing what I know now, I may have done it differently. First, I would have spent a year in China. 1 semester may be enough to become fluent in a language I already know; for an Asian language, it's a whole other ballgame. I would still have stayed with NYU for a semester, as it's easied me into the idea of life in China. However, I would have studied with NYU in the fall and then followed it with a direct enrollment in East China Normal University's Center for Studying Chinese as a Foreign Language in the spring. Benefits: cheaper, easier to focus solely on studying Chinese.
Knowing next to nothing about international travel/living somewhere other than the US, I developed a list of questions to ask myself before future trips abroad.
Note to self:
1.)How will I get there?
(Trans-Siberian Railroad)
The fastest, most direct route is not necessarily the best. Some of the other kids in my groups stopped over in Europe on their way to China. They had a bomb time. Or maybe I could have gone though Russia. Trans-Siberian Railroad? Things to keep in mind: stopover, explore.
(a late-January stopover in Paris would have meant nationally-sanctioned sales season. If I had only known...)
2.)What will I need to get there?
Generally, you will need a visa. Apply for one, get necessary heath checks, etc. It's not that difficult. Remember: multiple entries.
3.)How will I get around (once I'm there)?
Subways? Buses? Get a map, get a transportation card (like Shanghai public transit card). Also, think about purchasing a bicycle or a mo-ped. Mo-peds are actually kind of awesome.
4.)How will I communicate?
A lot of countries outside the US use phones with seperate SIM cards. Don't listen to your parents when they insist you buy your phone before you leave the US. Buy one in the country. Find out how to call internationally (on your cellphone). Use skype. Not much else to say here.
5.)Where will I live?
Share an apartment with friends. It's generally cheap. Also, try looking for an apartment/living situation once you're in the country. Cheaper, and easier. I've heard that the residencias in Spain are decent pads. Unclear at this time.
6.)Appliances?
Buy in-country. Almost setting fire to your apartment trying to plug in American hot-rollers without a converter...poor life choices.
7.)How will I travel around?
Trains, buses, sleeper buses, and planes. If I had a an extra week, and the proper visa, I could travel from Beijing to Hanoi, Vietnam for $155 by train. Bummer.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
I love The Superficial
"because the word "blog" isn't retarded enough for some people"
Bonus points for proper use of the word "assclownery" in a sentence.
(ilovethesuperficial)
Bonus points for proper use of the word "assclownery" in a sentence.
(ilovethesuperficial)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Thames Town
Outside of Shanghai there is a suburb modeled after England. Other than repeating the fact that it looks like Disneyland, and is completely deserted, I don't really know what to say. The pictures do the talking:
Friday, March 20, 2009
back-due posts part II: cereal
I am not sure why I said I would post about cereal. Here goes. Once I ate a bowl of Captain Crunch with orange juice instead of milk. I didn't realize until about half way though breakfast. Whatever. It didn't taste too bad.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Spandex
Love them, hate them... you can do anything but avoid them. They are spandex, and they are back. Who deserves the blame for resurrecting spandex from their glittery, teased-hair, Like a Virgin grave? (...Liberals? Soccer moms?) Unclear at this time.
Regardless of the culprits, Spandex crimes persist. Protect yourself with these simple steps:
1). Spandex with Uggs... just say no.
2.) Ditto with North Face jackets. Unacceptable anywhere other than the gym.
3.) With flashy tops. Spandex + flashy = trashy. You don't live on Statan Island. Avoid dressing as such.
4.) Spandex under skirts. I know, it's New England, your business gets chilly. But think about it this way. Remember "mall bangs?" History judged the teens of the 90's, and it will judge us too.
That being said, I love spandex. If skillfully incorporated, they can be a tasteful addition to any wardrobe. Wear with long sweaters. Wear with shirt dresses. Wear to the gym.
(**But, apparently, do not wear in China. Chinese women are tiny. Like, really tiny. I will sport spans in Boston any day of the week, but these Chinese make my size 4 self feel like Kirstie Allie. Note to self...)
(My favorite Kim Kardashian, seen here sporting the latest model of spans)
Regardless of the culprits, Spandex crimes persist. Protect yourself with these simple steps:
1). Spandex with Uggs... just say no.
2.) Ditto with North Face jackets. Unacceptable anywhere other than the gym.
3.) With flashy tops. Spandex + flashy = trashy. You don't live on Statan Island. Avoid dressing as such.
4.) Spandex under skirts. I know, it's New England, your business gets chilly. But think about it this way. Remember "mall bangs?" History judged the teens of the 90's, and it will judge us too.
That being said, I love spandex. If skillfully incorporated, they can be a tasteful addition to any wardrobe. Wear with long sweaters. Wear with shirt dresses. Wear to the gym.
(**But, apparently, do not wear in China. Chinese women are tiny. Like, really tiny. I will sport spans in Boston any day of the week, but these Chinese make my size 4 self feel like Kirstie Allie. Note to self...)
(My favorite Kim Kardashian, seen here sporting the latest model of spans)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
busy week
This week I:
Met with coordinator for my internship with italki.com
Kicked off planning phase for an April event at the Shelter
Cut my face on a beer can
Had my first bacon, egg, and cheese
Did other stuff I can't remember
Did not write on this blog
Nothing much to report.
Met with coordinator for my internship with italki.com
Kicked off planning phase for an April event at the Shelter
Cut my face on a beer can
Had my first bacon, egg, and cheese
Did other stuff I can't remember
Did not write on this blog
Nothing much to report.
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