Culture shock

The past few days have been pretty stressful. Yesterday I had to take placement tests for my classes this semester, and I felt like I bombed them. Then I went home and spent probably 2 hours trying to get my internet set up to no avail. I think I must be experiencing culture shock, because I funneled all of my frustration into a hatred of China and all of its inhabitants. I was walking through an electronics store looking for a router and hating everything, when I heard "Die Young" playing on a laptop and realized that it couldn't be that bad after all. Rule number 32 of Chinaland, enjoy the little things. I went home and watched the Princess Diaries and had some comfort food and felt much better.

This morning however, I had to sit through three hours of terrifying orientation. A professor went through all of the rules and assignments and classes we will be facing this semester, and it looks even more challenging than my past year at BYU, which is in fact, the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. I didn't know it could get worse! Also we have to get at least a C in each class or we aren't allowed to do the internship next semester. I mean, I've only gotten three Cs in my entire life, but with this course load it seems like a high bar to reach. I am nervous. But I'll be fine. I just need to breathe and eat a lot of snickers bars.

On a happier note, I am loving my apartment and getting all settled in. Remember the little room in my ceiling that I told you about earlier? The other day, I went inside and investigated and found an air mattress! Like almost brand new and still in its original bag. I had bought a little mattress at Walmart for 15 bucks (The Chinese unfortunately do not believe in comfort) but I replaced it with this one and have been sleeping quite well since. I have reorganized my place and am loving it.

Part of the program is living with a Chinese roommate while we're here and I now have one! She is actually an employee in the flagship program so I already know her a little bit. I am nervous but I think it will be really fun.

Sorry this post was a little boring. I'll try to be more exciting. For now,

China pic of the day:
I could not stop laughing.

Really China??? 

 

 

 

Ban-ing the Shiqing

The past two days, I have been staying with some friends because of a miscommunication in my housing plans. My realtor had told me that I would be able to move in on Saturday. My landlord couldn’t make it. So we planned for Sunday. Again, the landlord couldn’t be there. I was so frustrated! Most of the rest of the things I had to do couldn’t be done until I had moved in! By Monday morning, I felt like I had accomplished NOTHING during the last two days, which is a really rare feeling for me and one which I also hate. I was stir-crazy. I woke up at 5 in the morning and my attempts at further sleep failed. When it was finally a decent hour for me to get up and start calling people, I looked outside, and alas, it was raining. Like hard core monsoon season rain.

After the rain. Stuck in the clouds

It started at 7 30 in the morning as far as I know and didn’t let up until after noon. But I HAD to get out of that hotel. I bought myself a poncho and scooted myself to the school to see what I could do while waiting to move in to my new place.

Did I mention I bought myself a scooter? Or a 电动车as they call them here in the China. It was an awesome experience. 

Isn't it adorable?

Anyway, I got to the office and there were a couple of meetings that I had to go to which made me feel much better. I helped the couple that I had been staying with move into their new place, started planning for classes, and looked into getting a native roommate (mandatory by the flagship program). And then, finally, it was time to sign my contract! I signed it all up and the realtor hired a guy to come help me clean. I felt really bad, but I stuck him with the kitchen and bathroom. I was afraid to look at them let alone touch them. He was a nice man and cleaned them almost to my expectations. I bought some bleach and will attack them tomorrow. 

While he was cleaning, the real fun began. I went to Walmart to buy things to sleep with and clean with. 

Any market in China is always a good thing. First of all, it’s not even its own building. It is the second and third floor of a building in a large shopping district in Nanjing. They have crazy things like weird fish in tanks and kids walking around with holes in their pants peeing on the floor. Quick tip for anyone going to China: Never. Touch. The ground. You don’t know who has been pooping on it: dogs, cats, children, homeless people. If you drop your dumplings, fork out the 4 kuai and get some new ones. There is no ten second rule in China, and it is never worth it.

I got back home last night and was exhausted. I had to walk part of the way home from the taxi carrying all the stuff I had just bought. I cleaned enough to feel like I was sleeping in a sanitary environment and crashed. My apartment is fantastic. It is tiny and on the fourth floor without an elevator, but it is SO China. 

From the outside

I can hear the people in the apartment next to me doing pretty much anything that they do. The shower in the bathroom goes down the same drain as the toilet… which is on the floor… in the middle of the room... which is probably 3' by 2'. I can hang my clothes out the window on the rods that have been installed, and I look down and see piles of dirt and trash right next to 2012 Audis. If anyone was wondering, that pretty much sums up China’s current economic situation. Also, I am on the top floor so my ceiling is slightly vaulted and contains a secret door which I will investigate as soon as I can obtain a ladder.

And that’s pretty much it! Now I am off to get registered with the police department and get a physical exam. From Chinese doctors. Wish me luck!

China pic of the day:

Rat tail kid

 

Day one and two in the Middle Kingdom

I have arrived safe and sound in Nanjing. My day yesterday was insane. It lasted 25 hours without sleep, and included a bus, a train, a plane, and two cars. And of course, lots and lots of Chinese. My flight out of San Francisco, after a wonderful birthday party held for me by my family in San Jose, was delayed for two hours, and threw my whole trip off schedule. When I arrived in Shanghai, I had missed the last train to Nanjing and was pretty frantic. But wait, I was in a train station in China! There is transportation from anywhere to everywhere at almost any time of day. There are private companies that run their own buses for the desperate traveler like me, and even though they are not technically "safe", They have never let me down. After a two hour subway ride to the train station, I passed a woman advertising for a bus to Nanjing. Could it be so simple after all that time I had wasted freaking out??? Indeed it was. I hopped on a bus to Nanjing and arrived around 2 in the morning. Some nice woman on the bus had let me use her phone to call the hostel, and they were there when I got in at 3 in the morning to check me in. I survived! Everything was fine. I need to learn how to relax.

And now I am at my home away from home in the beautiful Nanjing! I woke up after 5 hours of sleep (I tried, but couldn't sleep any longer. Jet lag...) and went to check in with the Flagship office. I almost cried real tears this morning. I can't believe I'm back! It is so surreal. It almost feels like I've never left. I have an idealized view of China, but this morning made me remember that it's still pretty tough for people here. I have been really nervous about coming back, but everyone in the flagship office was so friendly and I saw several of my classmates from last year, so all fear was replaced with excitement.

After check-in this morning, They set me up with a realtor to find an apartment. I was nervous because everyone else was talking about how they were paying 3000-3500 yuan per month (about $500-$600) for the apartments they found. When I was at BYU, they had made it seem like we would be splitting rent with our roommate, but indeed this is not so. I will be paying the entire monthly fee, and so I was hoping to find something a lot cheaper. I told this to the realtor and she managed to find me a place for 2500. We went and saw it and, despite it being pretty dirty, It's perfect. I'll have my own room for the first time in my life, and it's small and simple but has more than enough space for me. I said I would take it if they had someone clean it first, and the realtor is providing the cleaner so I know it will be reliable. She also managed to talk the landlord down to 2000 per month! Not a bad day overall. I get to move in tomorrow and I am really excited.

Now I have a cell phone and apartment. All I have left to do is get a bank account, register at the police department, hopefully buy a scooter (scoot scoot!), move in, and EAT. I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am about the food. It's everywhere! And so cheap! And soooo delicious. I can't wait to start. I'm going to eat all the things.

I think that's everything that's happened so far. My body is still really confused at the fact that I am not sleeping right now, so my brain is a little fuzzy, but I'm definitely good, and will post more when my oh so exciting China school career begins.

Love from China!