July 11, 2010
BLCU, Dorm #17
College Perk Cafe
9:30 pm
Hiiii. So we started classes, and they're taught about the same as they are at OU, just a lot faster. At OU, we learned a half lesson every week; we learn a half lesson every day here. It's not hard, it's just a lot more commitment. The teachers, who are great, I love them, also speak almost zero English in the classroom. The language pledged we signed, however, isn't really enforced as harsh as I thought it would be in the classroom. Chinese classes are very easy at OU, and they're continuation of the same learning techniques is making students take this program very lightly. It's frustrating sometimes. So we have class 8 am to 12 pm every day, and then we're also required to meet with a chinese language partner for another 2 hours. This has been kind of a fiasco. Basically we've gotten high school students who thought it would be a fun kind of summer thing to do. Some students got really good ones, but only because they sat at the right chair at the restaurant we met them at. They're really nice, but I'm just not learning anything. Dr. Tao, the program director, is taking care of it though.. maybe.
Let's see... last weekend we went to a keroke place close to the dorm on Friday. It was so very cool; we got our own room & a buffet. The buffet wasn't very good.. and included chicken feet. And of course this was my first experience drinking in China, which is legal! This led to me singing Shake ya tailfether almost all by myself. and there's a video. Saturday night we went to a nicer downtownish area & spent the night in a too expensive bar there; you could tell because of all the Americans. very fun though. It's entertaining enough to see how the Chinese dance. Sunday, we went to a huge shopping street called Wanfujing and ate in this like fondu style Muslim restaurant. Later, we went to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. This day was absolutely unbearable, so unbelievably hot, I couldn't really enjoy it. But I'm glad I can saw I saw it. So then Monday started classes again. We really take it easy during the week because classes can get so exhausting. Constantly translating for 4 hours can really exhaust you. Friday of this past weekend we basically just drank in the dorm. We were going to go out but it was pouring rain. We ended up just drinking and playing a card game called Bu Yao (literally- don't want) for like hours in the dorm's cafe.. that, yes, sells alcoholic drinks. It's kind of strange, but of course we love it.
Yesterday was huge, so I'm giving it it's own paragraph. We started at about 830 am; went to the emperor Ding's tombs & underground palace; lunch & this cool touristy, but legit shopping center that accepted my mastercard. Then we made our way to the Great Wall, which was aweeeeeesomeee. Our tour guide for the day.. Stone, was his name, said as soon as you step on the Wall you are a hero. I mean, whatever, but it was really exciting. It's separated into certain sections & the section we climbed went up to 2000 feet above sea level.. said someone. Erika & I kind of lagged behind because I guess were the most out of shape, but at one point we were debating turning back because it was just soooo exhausting; the steps were so steep. But we decided to keep on going & finally reached the top and it was probably one of the most amazing feelings. You couldn't see much up so high because it was a cloudy day with lots of mist & such. This was actually really lucky; if it was as hot as it usually is here, I doubt I would've made it. After being more sweaty than I ever have in my life, we went to dinner.
Every dinner paid for by the program has consisted of Chinese food on a lazy susan, in a family style thing. The lot of us can't all sit at one table so we separated into 2, and my group was sitting with the Director of the Office of Study Abroad and the Chairman of the program. They came to visit for a couple days to see the workings of the program & gain some insight. This was interesting because we got to give them our opinions of the program and what we think needs to change, and they let us know a little bit of how things work on the China side at BLCU. So after this, we went to a flying acrobat show. This was absolutely like.. mind blowing. Ill post pictures & a video.
Well, I was going to talk about the culture shock, but I'll just save it because this is so long.
Quotes of the week:
Yu Laoshi: "(something in Chinese) haishi (something in Chinese)?
Mark: "uh huh"
Yu: Bu shi "uh huh"
"Nothing is Asian in Asia"
"Fuck yeah I'm gonna squat."
"I burped and it was spicy and it burnt my eyeballs!"
"Ceasar is either a total sham or the most fucking interesting man in the world."
"I'll buy you a drink."
"No.. I just want a keychain.. or a shotglass."
"The hapy lemon fiends are we you said toilet. this dwordorant is one of 4 fucking kinds they I have in China I'm way too drunk to be in Chona."
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