tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59719335975268675562024-03-05T09:10:43.172-05:00Jing Jing's Liberation ArmyHello pandaWolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-76924279621188511362009-10-17T18:51:00.003-04:002009-10-17T19:17:25.796-04:00Beijing's Air Is Cleaner-ishSo there's an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/world/asia/17beijing.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1">interesting article on the NYtimes.com</a> discussing the air pollution of Beijing and how, despite what everyone may think, the air pollution is actually starting to clear up. According to a government study, the number of "blue-sky days" enjoyed by Beijing thus far this year is up to 221, which is the highest number seen since records have been taken. I still believe "I-can-actually-see-the-building-next-door days" would have been a more accurate title here, but I suppose it doesn't have the same ring as "blue-sky days." The important thing though is the pollution is getting better- only two days with dangerously high pollution levels! Whoop! <br /><br />The article also states that the whole even/odd license-plate road exclusion policy in effect during the Olympics is going to be modified to a permanent version that will ban one in five daily to help reduce traffic congestion. How lovely!<br /><br />Anyways, the article is an interesting read if you've got time for it. I just wonder how the improved air is going to effect the crazy sunsets Beijing gets from time to <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5M9J0uS_v8ySTmcQOMf-uIMog4mwqNK7SqCNg1BAxJH7WM8W2YtgR3TyG5rqYp1JHpUY68udjXhqOXtwgNvocwtd2Ak8cbbF6FQXkU2_z92U-6YCJgPzWCMaOkjPeuPsPndVT_yqaLQ/s1600-h/DSCN8822.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5M9J0uS_v8ySTmcQOMf-uIMog4mwqNK7SqCNg1BAxJH7WM8W2YtgR3TyG5rqYp1JHpUY68udjXhqOXtwgNvocwtd2Ak8cbbF6FQXkU2_z92U-6YCJgPzWCMaOkjPeuPsPndVT_yqaLQ/s320/DSCN8822.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393709902120426914" /></a>time. Check out this photo I took near XiZhiMen- would the sky have looked anything like that if the sky wasn't replete with pollution? Do we really want to lose out on this man-made beauty? <br /><br />Finally, <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/video/china_celebrates_its_status_as">here's a great link to a funny video</a> from the onion.com about China and its pollution- enjoy!Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-13657736467633053142009-09-23T10:17:00.004-04:002009-09-24T09:37:10.798-04:00Awesome Job Telling Me About Those Stabbings!So it looks like the Chinese have taken a page from Japan's best selling novel, <span style="font-style:italic;">How to Stab People</span>, and gone off on a little knife-wielding rampage of their own in Tiananmen Square. I got an email yesterday from the US State Department informing me about two stabbing incidents that occurred at Tiananmen Square, with the first attack occurring on September 17th, and the most recent on the 19th. Several people were injured and a few died. My question is, why the hell did I only get this warning several days after the attack? What was the US Embassy so busy with that they couldn't spend 15 minutes writing up a warning to American citizens that a fatal stabbing occurred against a tourist in the center of Beijing's biggest tourist attraction?!?<br /><br />What if I was a tourist whose flight arrived on the 17th and I happened to mosey over to Tiananmen on the 19th? Don't you think I would have appreciated a warning from the government? Cause I still haven't heard anything about this incident in the US news and doubt very much that people would have been aware of the incident heading over to China. Now I know that a warning probably wouldn't have prevented most people from visiting Tiananmen, but at the very least it would have kept peoples wits and guard up. It'd also make people feel a lot more secure knowing that the US was actively watching out for them while overseas. So I guess the general gist of this post is that the State Department really should get its act together and get important information like this out to US citizens in a faster and more effective manner.<br /><br />Anyways, for those you not on the State Department's email-listing who are interested in reading the warning that was sent out, I'm posting it below. Enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">This Warden Message is to inform Americans of reports of two stabbing incidents near Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. According to the Associated Press, a French tourist was slightly injured in a September 19 knife attack on Dashilan near Tiananmen Square, an area frequented by tourists. Two days earlier, two security guards were killed and 14 people wounded in a separate knife attack in the same area. The police have indicated that the attackers chose their victims randomly. Their motivations are unknown.<br /><br />While China?s violent crime rate remains low, these recent incidents give American citizens extra reasons to exercise vigilance and care. When in Beijing or other cities in China, Americans are advised to employ the same precautionary measures they would in any large city: when possible, do not travel alone; pay attention to your surroundings, especially when traveling in unfamiliar areas; avoid large demonstrations or protests; carry only as much cash as is absolutely necessary, and store the currency in multiple locations on your person. Travelers are reminded that Chinese regulations require foreigners to carry their passports with them at all times. You may wish to make a photocopy of your passport and visa pages, and store them in a separate place for safekeeping.<br /><br />The Chinese police and emergency services hotline can be reached by dialing 110, though few, if any, English-speaking operators may be available. Keep this number and the American Citizen Services emergency contact information found below with you in case of emergency.<br />For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department?s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. or Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).<br />The U.S. Embassy can be reached 24 hours per day at 86-10-8531-3000. The addresses and telephone contact information for the American Citizen Services offices at the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulates are at the bottom of this announcement.<br /><br />U.S. citizens residing or traveling in China are reminded to register with the U.S. Embassy or closest U.S. Consulate by entering your travel itinerary and contact information at: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs. In case of difficulties registering online, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.<br /><br />U.S. Embassy Beijing: Tian Ze Road intersection of An Jia Lou Road, Chaoyang District. Telephone number during regular business hours and for after-hours emergencies: 86-10-8531-4000, Email: amcitbeijing@state.gov. The embassy?s website is beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn. </span>Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-19008967982650087022009-09-14T14:46:00.007-04:002009-09-15T14:25:58.259-04:00Stop Smoking Aid!!So I started this blog a little over a year ago, and it has been my impression that virtually no one has followed it. Yeah, I knew some friends of mine would peruse it from time to time, but for the most part I had no expectations that any strangers would actually take the time to read what I've been passing off as a blog. Yet low and behold, while recently looking over some past blogs I've noticed that strangers have taken the time to comment on my pieces, meaning that people have somehow come across this site and cared enough to critique it. WOOHOO!! Unfortunately I haven't written anything in about two months, so I'm sure those readers have abandoned me and I'm back to writing to myself...<br /><br />Anyways, here is a picture I took of an interesting vending machine I found at the Bird's Nest stadium that dispenses a "Stop Smoking Aid." I have no idea what the hell this stuff is, but 控烟贴 is translated to Tobacco Control Paste. That name just gives me the nauseating mental-image of an old Chinese guy brushing his teeth with this crap. But who knows, maybe this 10 RMB product really is a miracle elixir! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zweSZevUZ0eSp0HUbreCRwU-nMagN02_VDuqLt_c_mKldxk4cdJ5npW2TybSWxFAgpLcw7RdCAR8ByMICk4C6kNzT519YxYdSThbtikPbzMEDgy01d3hMTwIqNWiUL405HZ45P_awOs/s1600-h/DSCN8833.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zweSZevUZ0eSp0HUbreCRwU-nMagN02_VDuqLt_c_mKldxk4cdJ5npW2TybSWxFAgpLcw7RdCAR8ByMICk4C6kNzT519YxYdSThbtikPbzMEDgy01d3hMTwIqNWiUL405HZ45P_awOs/s320/DSCN8833.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381406397373635570" /></a> <br />I was intrigued enough to try to find this product's availability online, and was actually able to <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/247365515/Stop_Smoking_Aid.html">find it sold on alibaba.com</a> (a Chinese version of eBay). For only $54 USD (quite the markup), you can own this product that guarantees to cure you of smoking in 35 days or less with NO side-effects! Seeing that over two trillion cigarettes are consumed each year in China (making it the worlds largest smoking market) I certainly hope this product works! In the meantime, here's an interesting <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/10/content_10982513.htm">Xinhua article</a> that seems to indicate that the government is looking into tighter smoking regulations. I'll believe that when it actually happens.Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-7131649744168385692009-07-23T18:43:00.007-04:002009-07-24T15:49:23.117-04:00BREAKING NEWS: BEIBEI IS DEADBeibei, the lovable blue Fúwá of Olympic fame and lead character of her self-titled <a href="http://jingjingsarmy.blogspot.com/2008/08/bei-bei-can-shoot-lasers-from-her-head.html">cartoon television series</a>, was brutally murdered and defiled by fellow Olympic mascots at the Beijing "Bird's Nest" Stadium. The grisly murder occurred in broad daylight in front of dozens of sobbing Chinese children and puzzled tourists, who watched helplessly as Beibei was ruthlessly beaten to death. <br /><br />According to eye-witnesses accounts, the murder occurred during the initial warm-ups of a dance routine performed daily by the Fúwá's. As the adorable creatures stretched and chatted quietly amongst themselves, spectators report that Nini, the green Olympic mascot, began to push Beibei violently from behind. A scuffle quickly broke out amongst the group, with several Fúwá's ganging up on the visibly overpowered Beibei. Video obtained exclusively by this site shows Beibei laying tattered on the floor, with Nini throwing punches to her head and Jingjing apparently dry-humping Beibei's limp body. Yingying and Huanhuan can be seen to the side, perversely watching Jingjing's vile act. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzU1B5UzSMB-48vbhxUIK1ft3qlXfIRExfPVBvYZaLEamab2daBWvWSy33_VwYIpSninKR_S9HHV-qIRF0_RA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />A video shot moments after the grisly attack shows yet another scuffle break out amongst the Fúwá group, this time showing the Fúwá's attacking what appears to be a multi-colored, retarded cow thing. Officials have identified the cow as Fu Niu Lele, the official mascot of the Beijing Paralympic games. Video shows Nini violently headbutting Lele, while Yingying can be seen tugging the cow's tail and provocatively slapping it's rear. Later footage appears to show multiple Fúwá uncomfortably rubbing up against a spooked Lele. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx9kGHdgY1PM2G_HfvVH6mQRawnRpgHAPyUxsXa88Fdz08bvL8ItLnYp3lNcrOGTaf5CgHoqeoOWp3MHxTfmA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Reports are still unclear as to what possessed the attacks. All four Fúwá have been taken into custody, where they will be subjected to the traditional Chinese legal process of having to use their fame and fortune to barter their way out of trouble. Police bribes are expected to begin at several million RMB each.Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-46587939853908533902009-07-08T21:44:00.005-04:002009-07-09T10:39:05.365-04:00Chinese Obstacle CourseIn what appears to be an attempt by my kindergarten to help thin out the rapidly over-expanding Chinese population, a "game" has been created for the children that can only end in scraped knees, chipped teeth and presumably death. I'm assuming this "game" was approved by the former Police Chief turned grumpy Headmistress, who has decided to exact revenge on the brats who torment her daily by sending them through an obstacle course that is enjoyable only for her.<br /><br />Yes, nothing says fun like running through an elaborate series of clear fish-wire hung at various heights with nothing but concrete underfoot! Want to make it more exciting? Pit students against one another in time-trials that encourage the children to run at dangerous speeds! Want to make it even MORE exciting? Invite their parents to cheer them on and put additional pressure on them to run full-speed into a tripwire!! Danger and excitement around every corner! It's wonderful fun for the whole family!! Enjoy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmzR5C1FsIMHpDSRE1uWK_MZgNRSQYPQpfciaJKVvv3N2D2Evuu4fR2jaAkugZCJjKVDPVAI7jW-KC12MHjHrKCQpJ51QMzq_lCVR8uF7FG4IwrtKLSbZlcDSCDEDm8g_1AZ4PZEEQHQ/s1600-h/DSCN6894.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmzR5C1FsIMHpDSRE1uWK_MZgNRSQYPQpfciaJKVvv3N2D2Evuu4fR2jaAkugZCJjKVDPVAI7jW-KC12MHjHrKCQpJ51QMzq_lCVR8uF7FG4IwrtKLSbZlcDSCDEDm8g_1AZ4PZEEQHQ/s320/DSCN6894.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356468734218338818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFERtAJ2tAm-ssTqmDoX4-uDNol2PEFfL-yHugQmk2EkSwluk9-v40Tz88DTNyQoZiI3zUy7Bw7fTDt3tkrjwoOHozYUYLyMfAcDHdeJNU7k59DBgHdF0jZsWe4LJYtRGmSgNHWAKUnI/s1600-h/DSCN6895.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFERtAJ2tAm-ssTqmDoX4-uDNol2PEFfL-yHugQmk2EkSwluk9-v40Tz88DTNyQoZiI3zUy7Bw7fTDt3tkrjwoOHozYUYLyMfAcDHdeJNU7k59DBgHdF0jZsWe4LJYtRGmSgNHWAKUnI/s320/DSCN6895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356468733329927778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3mKWeQ88O8Zwz3iDuggSFU6N5n5gS380Msq4vJeXeMNgzBdMJLsWdnSAi_aogU1uYuQcEteA0imLVU0mN8iIThidNNOof4gx65hLBslvNTARsvPmg4iU-FM1V-PEH63II-B121z09co/s1600-h/DSCN6892.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3mKWeQ88O8Zwz3iDuggSFU6N5n5gS380Msq4vJeXeMNgzBdMJLsWdnSAi_aogU1uYuQcEteA0imLVU0mN8iIThidNNOof4gx65hLBslvNTARsvPmg4iU-FM1V-PEH63II-B121z09co/s320/DSCN6892.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356468728952025474" /></a>Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-49374260599668461912009-06-25T14:13:00.004-04:002009-06-25T14:28:09.611-04:00The Chinese don't care about your Cotton CandyWell I officially suck at posting on my blog. It appears this will be my first posting in over two months, but I do have a valid reason for all this- my computer sucks. I was down to literally 200 MB of free space, which completely froze up my computer. I couldn't upload music or pictures or anything. There were times I needed to plug in a flash disk just to give my computer enough memory to start up. Not good. Well I finally invested in a new shiny Mac, which is awesome but has resulted in my having no money at all. Lucky for me the job market is booming and I'm sure to make that money back in no time! Hurray!<br /><br />Ok enough of my rambling. I'll keep this post short and just show you all this freshly uploaded photo I took at a cotton candy stand in Ritan Park. As you can see, the man making the candy was smoking a cigg and the ash was clearly falling into the cotton candy. Maybe that's why the cotton candy was more of a gray color than the traditional bright blue? You gotta love China's sanitation standards! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT1PVZN4x6ljr2AOunAgoBTVp6hJQE7-eEUyLgPqsimap1FTTR3iHj07uIt_RWQR-_a4-ledQpkkvg1cE1fWev3kHr_UTGnm3joBOTZ-vX1CYAUnln-3L0anYqTpt5l6pU2byKH6SRUA/s1600-h/DSCN8389.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT1PVZN4x6ljr2AOunAgoBTVp6hJQE7-eEUyLgPqsimap1FTTR3iHj07uIt_RWQR-_a4-ledQpkkvg1cE1fWev3kHr_UTGnm3joBOTZ-vX1CYAUnln-3L0anYqTpt5l6pU2byKH6SRUA/s320/DSCN8389.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351333434895038210" /></a>Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-26671603085578451662009-04-12T07:00:00.006-04:002009-04-12T07:44:35.027-04:00China is a Pedophiles Paradise!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwUFexQIOtVSUYlutbxjNrAAccd_RHWHDKMVti6Tqnrz23uMVTaJLTzU3dnjRRKYtCPyjpZDO-S71c6jrzzRXUj_HELFwdaZliM8oVJ39I_I7N9FONQTFLVBMAQ3lG0wajD051dggKs8/s1600-h/DSCN6520.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwUFexQIOtVSUYlutbxjNrAAccd_RHWHDKMVti6Tqnrz23uMVTaJLTzU3dnjRRKYtCPyjpZDO-S71c6jrzzRXUj_HELFwdaZliM8oVJ39I_I7N9FONQTFLVBMAQ3lG0wajD051dggKs8/s320/DSCN6520.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323766866644614546" /></a><br />I like to joke that China is a pedophiles paradise. Perhaps China isn't as welcoming a utopia as one would find in <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/12/saudi.child.marriage/index.html">Saudi Arabia</a> or other Arab nations, but it is still a great place for pedophiles to go. Why, you ask? Because everywhere you are in China, you <span style="font-weight:bold;">will </span>see exposed baby genitals. No matter what, as hard as I try to avoid seeing them, it seems that a child's package is always in plain sight. It's like the damn kids are taunting me, just standing there as their crotchless chaps expose their "goods" to the world. <br /><br />In a move that is both cheap and environmentally friendly, Chinese parents have traditionally stayed away from having their only child wear diapers and instead prefer their offspring to wear pants with a slit running down the bottom. Very stylish! This slit allows for their child to easily pop a squat and take a dump or piss wherever they please! How many times have I had the joy of watching a child pee in public, or accidentally stepped in baby shit? Countless, and I can almost guarantee I'll get another peep-show tomorrow!<br /><br />As a kindergarten teacher, I was blessed with countless encounters of public urination. The school was literally 10 feet away from the playground, but instead of running inside to take a leak, these children found it more convenient to go in front of the class. Public urination wasn't restricted to the boys, as the girls seemed to enjoy it just as much. Even grosser was the fact that the teachers would often assist the children in going to the bathroom. For the younger girls, the teachers would help by holding them off the ground and keeping their legs up as they peed; for the boys, some teachers would go as far as to hold their "wangs" up to ensure the boys didn't pee on themselves. Is that really necessary? Is that even legal?<br /><br />Since we're on this topic I may as well post another pleasant story concerning the children and their public urination. Once while on a field trip to a local nursing home, the teachers announced that it was time for everyone to go to the bathroom. Normally it's fine for the kids to just pee on the ground, but since we were guests at this nursing home we needed to show a little class and civility. So instead of peeing on the ground the teachers pulled out several large plastic bags and invited the children to pee into them! I stood by horrified as the boys each took turns peeing into the same pee bag, with the expected spray and dribble landing on the teachers hands. For the girls, the teachers pulled out a plastic bin lined with the plastic bag, and the girls all took turns going into that. Soon the teachers were walking around with filled bags of urine, looking for a trash can to dispose of them. Gross! <br /><br />Well there you have it- if seeing exposed gentiles floats your boat, or if watching children defecate on the sidewalk is your thing, then I invite you to discover the joys of China! 北京欢迎你!Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-62721470467200907212009-03-27T01:55:00.003-04:002009-03-27T03:06:53.877-04:00The Curious Tale of Stevie LeeGather round everyone as I tell you a fateful story of lies, deception, and love. Yes, I'm about two months overdue on posting this story, but I assure you it is well worth the wait! This tale occurred towards the end of January, when Estee and I were finishing our contracts with the school we worked at. It was a typical cold Beijing night as one of the new replacement teachers arrived at our apartment. She was a young Australian girl by the name of Stevie. Up until that point I was unaware that Stevie could be a girls name too, but I guess they do things differently in Australia. As I was saying, Stevie arrived one old night and it didn't take long for us to realize we had quite the catch on our hands.<br /><br />Stevie was 18 years old, with jet black hair and a horribly uneducated accent (perfect for teaching children how to properly speak English). I cringed as I heard her continually say "yous" instead of "you," knowing that all the hard work I put into teaching my kids English would be undone in a few days. It was awkward having to ask her to repeat herself so often, but I had an easier time understanding Chinese cab drivers than her. Yous isn't a fucking word!<br /><br />After a few days of living with us in relative silence, Stevie told Estee all about her interesting past. As it turns out, Stevie was a married woman. According to Stevie, she went on a spring break trip with some friends up to Malaysia, where she met an older gentleman of Malaysian decent. He was from a smaller village known for their bomb making trade, and they hit it off right away. At the ripe age of 17, Stevie left Australia to return to Malaysia, where she married her bomb-making lover.<br /><br />Once in Malaysia, Stevie tried to begin her new life by working as an ESL teacher. But Malaysia, like the rest of the world, has standards, and they decided that an 17 year old with no College education and no previous teaching course certificates was not qualified to teach young children. Having been rejected, Stevie turned her attention to the one country without teaching standards: China. Stevie was soon on her way up to Beijing, but unfortunately her husbands Muslim heritage/bomb-making trade resulted in him being denied a visa to come to China. Stevie would be making this journey on her own... or would she?<br /><br />After a few days living in Beijing, Stevie began acting very strange. She hardly ever left her room and became very quiet all the time. We thought nothing of it, until one night when my friend/roommate Russ ran out of bathroom holding a pregnancy test carton that he had fished out of the trash. Yes, Stevie had been blessed with the gift of life. Apparently she had been trying to get pregnant with her husband for a few months, but they soon gave up and assumed she couldn't get pregnant. Smart. Anyways, she was overjoyed with the news, as she explained that "having a child would almost guarantee her husband could become a citizen of Australia!" What a wonderful reason to have a baby!<br /><br />Stevie was excited to get back to Australia and have her husband meet her there, as it meant she could keep a better eye on him. According to Stevie, it is acceptable in her husbands religion to have multiple partners, and so Stevie was understandable upset that he had been with other women since she left. Yes, he told Stevie that he was with other women, but an agreement had been made prior to their marriage that as long as he wasn't actually having sex with those girls, it would be OK. Who wouldn't want to have a child with this guy, huh?<br /><br />The problem of moving back to Australia was that Stevie had signed a one-year contract with the kindergarten company. Stevie obviously wouldn't be able to fulfill that entire contract, since she would give birth in 9 months. And Stevie wisely decided she didn't want to give birth in China, which meant she'd have to leave the country before her 3rd trimester. Still, she feared the repercussions of explaining to the company that she would have to end her contract early. Apparently Stevie didn't believe pregnancy counted as a valid "extraneous circumstance" for ending the contract. Thus, a master escape plan was hatched. Early one morning while we all slept, Stevie packed her bags and left for the airport, fleeing the country and leaving our school without a teacher (needless to say our school flipped a shit when they found out she fled)! And that, my friends, is the curious tale of Stevie Lee.Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-64362380277015211612009-03-01T08:32:00.003-05:002009-03-01T09:05:48.870-05:00Beijing has Proctologists<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmjqLk_V7UYjzgFLXnujqbm5FY2a-Y1eZwtpGdlbQm-LIgX2NYBLmZeG_eZyISTKhvtnBiPcJQvoB2r-HDjoZOaxwlbjm0MQ8cjSmOsJxYeRmwfHXY9X6kcLchlgxZyhlvUrmXBN7OW8/s1600-h/DSCN4840.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmjqLk_V7UYjzgFLXnujqbm5FY2a-Y1eZwtpGdlbQm-LIgX2NYBLmZeG_eZyISTKhvtnBiPcJQvoB2r-HDjoZOaxwlbjm0MQ8cjSmOsJxYeRmwfHXY9X6kcLchlgxZyhlvUrmXBN7OW8/s320/DSCN4840.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308214071178379170" /></a><br /><br />I probably shouldn't even be writing anything for this posting, as the picture itself is funnier than anything I can try to write. I came across this ad on the bus, and obviously it needed to be shared. I just wonder why they felt it necessary to include the picture of the child with its ass up in the air- are you really tying to appeal to that age demographic? Maybe its just a way to make people feel more comfortable about visiting a proctologist. After all, just look at the huge grin on that kids face! This baby is loving life, clearly revving to go! As soon as he saw those plastic gloves come out, he happily stopped his soccer game and commenced ready position! He loves his visits to the proctologist, and you should too!Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-68339312027228103072009-02-24T03:09:00.002-05:002009-02-24T03:13:38.577-05:00Chinese Chivalry?Yesterday I missed the chance to accomplish one of my life goals. Wow, that sentence definitely sounds more dramatic than it should… to clarify, something I have always wanted to do in my life is go up to a random crying girl and offer her a tissue. Random, I know, and not really a life goal as much as something I’d to say I’ve done. Anyways, I was on the bus yesterday and this girl got on, waved goodbye out the window and started crying. “Wow, this is my chance,” I thought as I reached into my pocket to pull out a tissue. What I failed to take into account is that Beijing buses during rush hour are so packed that it’s impossible to turn your head, let alone push your way through 50 sweaty Chinese to give a girl a tissue. So while this poor thing is bawling her eyes out, I’m stuck 5 feet away with a tissue in hand and never get close enough to give it to her.<br /><br />What’s the point of this story? The point is that I was the only one in the entire bus who even considered giving the girl a tissue. And as I stood there awkwardly holding that tissue, I started thinking of how un-chivalrous the Chinese are. Now don’t get me wrong, Chinese women can be just as rude as the men here. But I find it particularly interesting watching the interactions here between men and women as compared to back in the States. If people say chivalry is dead back in America, I wonder what they’d say about it here.<br /><br />For example, Chinese men will not offer the seat on the bus or subway to a woman. Just doesn’t happen. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen a group of people rush onto the bus and seen men power-walk past women to get the last seat. More interestingly, I have seen on many occasions a couple get on the bus and the man take the only available seat. This is very different from back home, where the boyfriend will always let the girl sit. Other examples? Men starting to eat their meal before the woman are served; men hogging the umbrella when it rains; and men not holding the door open for women (at least not for strangers). I’m sure I could come up with other examples, but the point is, its pretty prevalent seeing men not acting chivalrous here.<br /><br />My question is, why? Does it have something to do with the Communist mindset of equality and the woman’s liberation movement it produced? Under that mindset, one could argue that if women are to be viewed as equals within the party, why should they get special privileges? Hm. On the other hand, maybe the lack of chivalry stems back to older, Confucian ideologies that placed women low on the societal totem pole. Under this logic, one could argue men lack chivalry because they lack respect towards women. For all I know, chivalry could be an entirely Western phenomenon that doesn’t have a place in China. Who the hell knows? Of course I’m not saying that all Chinese men lack chivalrous virtues, I’m simply pointing out that the Chinese have a long way to go before they reach Western standards on that front.Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-24949610029956108602009-02-12T08:48:00.001-05:002009-02-12T08:48:34.643-05:00POOOOOOPWhat's this? Two posts in one week? Truly a Christmas miracle! I guess the fact that I haven't written anything in a while means that I have plenty of material to write on. Today's subject is on one very close to me and dear to my heart: Poop. That's right, POOP! Now there are many directions I could have taken this subject- either writing about the horrible public bathrooms, or writing about how its OK for children to poop on the sidewalk. Instead though, I'm going to tell you <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLw6cYLfVTYn5PUJavDVeO0mKvYAPM2Eqfj3jW1uMbgpmcwtAjFAsHbc7c7zgerU1Qhkoa6MmrhUm7lAhapvqOcLRxW5K5h3hvGP2GepvWHcxbYdbleL7-XOB5nSx5t91f8CJU-NnxbY/s1600-h/DSCN8388.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLw6cYLfVTYn5PUJavDVeO0mKvYAPM2Eqfj3jW1uMbgpmcwtAjFAsHbc7c7zgerU1Qhkoa6MmrhUm7lAhapvqOcLRxW5K5h3hvGP2GepvWHcxbYdbleL7-XOB5nSx5t91f8CJU-NnxbY/s200/DSCN8388.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301904544804910754" /></a>about a very strange phenomenon known as Niu Fen (牛奋/粪). Since the Chinese love puns based on the different tones within the language, Niu Fen has two meanings at once: Fight like an Ox, and Cow Dung. Niu Fen is a popular toy sold during the spring festival fairs, which consist of an inflatable poop-shaped balloon on a stick. That's it, nothing special, just poop on a stick. I don't know why but this thing is hugely popular in Beijing and everywhere you look you see poop hovering above the heads of the crowds. The poop has even expanded to people wearing poop on their heads as a fashion statement. Literally, shit heads. <br /><br />So based on further research conducted by my friend Evan, Niu Fen was invented by Li Bin - vendor No. 156 at the Ditan Park Temple Fair- who got the idea for the toy last October from watching a popular TV show called Struggle (奋斗/Fen Dou). Apparently Li Bin first thought of calling his invention Bull Market/Shit (牛市/屎Niu Shi), but after discussing it with his brother, they decided to use the more evocative Niu Fen. I haven't seen the show Struggle yet, but if the show inspires poop then I'm assuming constipation is involved. Get it, struggle? Eh, eh? Seriously though, how the hell did this poop product become a big hit? What does it mean? I don't have an answer for you but if I hear anything new I'll post on it, cause I love discussing poop. Anyways, the product has quickly become one of the most popular items at temple fairs around the capital. I even saw it as part of a McDonald's Happy Meal! I don't know of kid who wouldn't be excited to find plastic poop next to his Nuggets... So if you happen to be wandering the streets of Beijing and you see someone carrying something that looks like poop, now you know that's exactly what it is! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEY2injSvxtp4aDP37_A4GrIQ0FJ3hAPxHzSgztqZ3tvquhaydHqTZ0lcxGG23R_Ngr0FEcMFEuEJ1zKuzhbasmcebP9g-4RQjVBkoXu0-uwmnn0QBRIOnY2Xb-EaAG_Z8oYRaaHCQG24/s1600-h/POOP!.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEY2injSvxtp4aDP37_A4GrIQ0FJ3hAPxHzSgztqZ3tvquhaydHqTZ0lcxGG23R_Ngr0FEcMFEuEJ1zKuzhbasmcebP9g-4RQjVBkoXu0-uwmnn0QBRIOnY2Xb-EaAG_Z8oYRaaHCQG24/s200/POOP!.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301906734848579826" /></a>Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-13543293032443832482009-02-10T07:10:00.005-05:002009-02-10T09:25:30.108-05:00SHUT UP WITH THE FIREWORKS ALREADY!!OK so I've realized that the past few blog posts have started with me apologizing about not writing because I'm either sick or been vacationing or busy with work. Well I'm in the same boat again, but I'm declaring this the last apology I write for this site! HUZZAH! I am always going to be busy, and chances are I'm not going to have time to write here on a regular basis. Sorry. The truth is I probably don't have any readers who actually care that I haven't written in a few weeks/over a month, but if I do I'm sorry if the above statement offends you. Damn, that's technically another apology. Well whatever, I'm not apologizing for that apology.<br /><br />Anyways, I hope you're happy China- you've finally gone ahead and gotten somebody killed with all your fucking fireworks! That's right, after weeks and weeks of listening to those damn, non-stop explosions I've finally had enough. I've snapped, and I am so glad that last night was the official end to Chunjie (the Spring Festival). Now don't get me wrong, the eve before Chunjie was one of the very coolest things I've ever witnessed and I would go as far as to say everyone should experience that once before they die. But when the fireworks continue non-stop for weeks after, it loses its appeal. I mean, if we were setting off 4th of July fireworks for weeks after the actual holiday, wouldn't you get a little tired of it? And its not like they're lighting fireworks only at night- these things are going off at 7 am right outside my window. There was this one old man who absolutely loved to wake up before the sun rose and start setting those things off. Well fuck you old man, not everyone loves the spring festival as much as you!<br /><br />Anyways, as I said before, the fireworks finally claimed a casualty last night as a massive 40-story hotel in the process of being constructed went up in flames. Here's a <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/10/china.hotel.fire/index.html">link to the article</a> on CNN, but the long and short of it is fireworks caught construction materials on fire and the thing went up in flames. One firefighter died and seven were wounded. Maybe if you had just stopped shooting those things after a few days, this wouldn't have happened. The good news is as of midnight last night it is now illegal to light fireworks in Beijing! Hurray, I can actually sleep in past 7 now!<br /><br />I'll leave this posting with a video I took from a friend's rooftop during the eve of Chunjie- watch the whole thing through cause it really is cool. Enjoy!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwxjnxgO4nAqj4M9Q6plh1xMBWn0M8hPRfZgomzrNhDZF7dNQGb2gMzleitzPD_6pMXDAg-EGCNTXcOeL4Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-26725689718888568042009-01-05T06:25:00.009-05:002009-01-08T09:16:35.566-05:00The Chinese Don't Understand Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhIa8EwvVw5LjIglJ48PYL6eQCXJXEqfyp420j6s7vt6XFaGYEfh2f42FNG-gojIl2otcyx4DQLyEyNA-nIWQ0iWsmJV_gtsekJqSKVMV4-5ztKWxHCCgDs1XuXj316E9lOeuq2WK6uU/s1600-h/DSCN7074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhIa8EwvVw5LjIglJ48PYL6eQCXJXEqfyp420j6s7vt6XFaGYEfh2f42FNG-gojIl2otcyx4DQLyEyNA-nIWQ0iWsmJV_gtsekJqSKVMV4-5ztKWxHCCgDs1XuXj316E9lOeuq2WK6uU/s200/DSCN7074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288917037679163378" border="0"></a><br />The time has come for the first blog of the new year! Whoop! I was hoping to make this blog post as timely as possible, but my laziness has put an effective end to that... anyways, without further ado, here is a quick summary of Christmas in Beijing! <br /><br />China has never really been a religious country, or at least not to the same degree as so many Western nations are. Buddhism grew into the religion it is today in large part because of the strong support it received from the Chinese Emperors, but it never swept the nation to the degree Christianity did in Europe (less than 1/5 of the nation considers itself Buddhist today). Both Confucianism and Taoism have strong histories in the nation, but most consider these 'schools of thought' as opposed to actual religions. And the rise of Communism certainly did plenty to hamper the practice of religion. Religion just isn't a popular thing here. You can imagine my surprise then when I discovered that the Chinese seemed more obsessed and excited about the arrival of Christmas than I was.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRN7asHpk89Se8gkd-1G_Qq0FKQKLIANujy3JFx1No2N4UxjwItMPcqDKq59QjFacoBL8QjAYK5PWeAN84T9jcyA_q_Kq8crk_z-PbLYzLfKZ4qTmeQiWKK-gaJYLh-97yQROrts-YAQ/s1600-h/DSCN7083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRN7asHpk89Se8gkd-1G_Qq0FKQKLIANujy3JFx1No2N4UxjwItMPcqDKq59QjFacoBL8QjAYK5PWeAN84T9jcyA_q_Kq8crk_z-PbLYzLfKZ4qTmeQiWKK-gaJYLh-97yQROrts-YAQ/s200/DSCN7083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288916631156372482" border="0"></a>The Chinese have absolutely no idea what Christmas is all about. They have no idea it has anything to do with Christianity. This is the very definition of an export holiday: the Chinese have taken the commercialized portions of the holiday and exploited it even further in their attempt to 1.) be more Westernized and 2.) make more money off the allure of acting Western. One couldn't go anywhere without seeing pictures of Santa Claus hanging up on the walls and classic Christmas carols dubbed over in Chinese. People were wishing me Merry Christmas on December 1st. There was too much Christmas spirit for its own good, and yet (excuse the cliche) no one knew the true meaning of it. The truth is, I became actively annoyed at the way the Chinese were so obsessive about something they knew nothing about. When I told my class that not everybody in America celebrates Christmas, I was greeted with looks of shock (both from the students and fellow Chinese teachers). I went on to tell them that only Christians celebrate the holiday, and they grew even more confused. I'm not one to prostelitize so I didn't go into any details with the children, but seriously, if Christmas is going to be shoved down the nation's throat then people should at least be somewhat informed about what they hell they're celebrating! <br /><br />My family came to visit me during Christmas, and for Christmas Eve we went with several friends to an all you can eat/drink dinner at the Marriott hotel. At the door we were all given whistles and noisemakers. Girls were walking around with party hats and light-up devil horns. The place looked like it was celebrating New Year's, which was probably because the Chinese view Christmas more in keeping with a New Year's celebration than a religious holiday. Don't get me wrong, I got drunk and had a lot of fun, but its not Christmas! <br /><br />When we finished our meal we headed out to attend midnight mass, but the place was so packed it was impossible to get near the entrance, let alone inside. I had heard that it was popular for the Chinese to go to church just to check out what the actual meaning of Christmas was all about, and I actually got tickets in advance to 'guarantee' us a spot, but apparently that wasn't enough. It's great that it was so full, but how many of those people were there for actual religious reasons? My guess would be about half, with the other half crowding into the church just to be able to say they were a part of the Christmas celebration. That left many people who actually celebrated the holiday correctly out in the cold...<br /><br />Anyways, I'll stop this rant now and leave you all with a video of my favorite class dancing to Christmas carols- enjoy!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxfRI1FH6n1skMKcdi48bBAhMMqEWOtKzKsEnUAI_N6zFtVlpbBm_SycUjlkFKqYM9GRjUODIsC6d9uDWc7uw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-57748353291536007182008-12-14T06:33:00.000-05:002008-12-14T06:34:45.670-05:00Fake Hobos?<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CAlex%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">This past week has seen an increase in the number of encounters I've had with homeless people. I don't know if its because I haven't done my laundry in a few weeks and my re-worn clothing is producing a comforting, relatable odor to them, but for some reason these people are honing in on me at an alarming rate. I consider myself a fairly generous person, and I'll try to give a few kuai here and there (especially if it’s a woman with a child), but this constant bombardment is starting to get annoying. My one issue is when a homeless person decides to touch me- I'm fine with you asking me for money, but once you start grabbing and tugging at me it gets really annoying and there's no way I'm going to give you anything. Well, thanks to these beggars’s new-found level of comfort with me, the tugging is up. This Friday, I got Mexican food in Sanlitun with Estee, and since we ordered way too much food we needed to take some food to go. As we walked back home, a homeless woman came up to me and started asking for money. I ignored her, so she started tugging on my sleeve. I told her to go away, so she grabs my bag of food and starts tugging on it! This has never happened to me before, and the gumption of her trying to steal my food made me laugh more than anything else, but I still needed to pull my food back from out of her hands and tell her to beat it. THE GUMPTION!
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<br />I was riding an escalator a few days ago, and a homeless guy riding in front of me decides it’s a good time to pass out and fall backwards on top of me. I could have moved out of the way, but he probably would have died, so instead I supported him until we got to the top of the escalator. He was just drunk, and once we got off he was good to go, but it took several hours before the sweat smell of shit came off my gloves. THE GUMPTION!
<br />
<br />Considering the huge number of people living here in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Beijing</st1:place></st1:city>, there are actually very few homeless on the streets. I know the government cleared the city of pretty much all homeless folk during the Olympics, but now that the summer games have been over for a few months it appears they are slowly making their return back to their old stomping grounds. I had assumed the government had just killed them all, but apparently they were just shipped out of the city for a few months. Anyways, I was talking to my Chinese friend Zhangyi the other day about homeless people, and to my surprise he told me that most of the homeless people on the street were just actors. Apparently CCTV did a report on the homeless, and they found that most of them just dress up to appear homeless because they make a pretty good living off the generosity of Westerners. Zhangyi said that of course there are some real homeless people, but you can't tell who is real and who isn't, so most Chinese just ignore them all. CCTV is controlled by the government, and so you need to take everything they say with a grain of salt, but that is a pretty ridiculous accusation to make. Are you really telling me that begging is so profitable that people are willing to wander the cold <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Beijing</st1:place></st1:city> streets day and night dressed up as a bum? Did someone really make a conscious decision to smell like shit and pass out on top of me? If that’s the case, that guys a real asshole. But seriously, what’s up with the government denying all these problems they have? Can't they just admit there is a homeless problem and work to solve it, as opposed to running stories saying that the homeless are actors? </p>
<br /> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">I’m going to go do some laundry, but if I find any further information about these “fake” homeless people I’ll be sure to link it! </p> Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-79134634506478279642008-12-01T06:40:00.007-05:002008-12-01T09:06:14.873-05:00Sandra Oh Has A Donkey Face<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVCMvE5T0UyPoTxR5J_NKWZ4Byojw7T3ksAMCcLj-g0niaBG_W4eFCTx48VIlSMaNEUexUageGgQIjxXDDGZgIWSQyF6ZRorQLJmuZ77GWQfTBI-Xu1loHN0fZ6F2nPTtelIWeQ0hMB8/s1600-h/sandraoh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVCMvE5T0UyPoTxR5J_NKWZ4Byojw7T3ksAMCcLj-g0niaBG_W4eFCTx48VIlSMaNEUexUageGgQIjxXDDGZgIWSQyF6ZRorQLJmuZ77GWQfTBI-Xu1loHN0fZ6F2nPTtelIWeQ0hMB8/s200/sandraoh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274808202232449618" border="0" /></a>So its been about a month since I've last posted on the blog, and while most of you would assume its because I've been deathly sick and incapacitated this whole time, the truth is I've just been lazy. I suppose I've been busy too, but I'll put most of the blame on me enjoying naps instead of writing. Anyways, this posting is focused on a bar conversation I had this past weekend with my old Chinese roommate Zhangyi, who I lived with when I studied in Beijing two years ago. Zhangyi is awesome, not just because he's funny, but because I can learn a lot about the Chinese culture by talking to him. This week I learned a bit about what Chinese men find attractive in women, and as you can probably guess it differs a bit from Western standards.<br /><br />We can agree on at least one thing- Sandra Oh has a donkey face. But the reasoning behind her being ugly runs much deeper for the Chinese than for the average American. In fact, one of the main reasons most Chinese men feel Sandra Oh ugly applies to many women (many of whom I myself find attractive). According to Zhangyi, and of course Zhangyi speaks for the 1,000,000,000 + Chinese people in the world, something the Chinese take very seriously into account is whether or not a girl was one or two eyelids. I had never really thought about that before, and to be honest if you asked me which of my Chinese friends had one or two eyelids I don't think I could tell you. But since having that conversation I have begun observing Chinese girls more closely and have noticed that <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ONbP8CFYNOZYcfOv-aNSYZJOSmLnW2HfJSFag3SxhAk7WC0O3k2DopMIoTmw-5YuG52Uq2KWAfWQYQhzvaeRaBMnCQhFlbSu41eUXLZAcELxIQSrie0ZfIbi2b5k10gfYMqPOvZ8dqc/s1600-h/doubleeyelid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ONbP8CFYNOZYcfOv-aNSYZJOSmLnW2HfJSFag3SxhAk7WC0O3k2DopMIoTmw-5YuG52Uq2KWAfWQYQhzvaeRaBMnCQhFlbSu41eUXLZAcELxIQSrie0ZfIbi2b5k10gfYMqPOvZ8dqc/s200/doubleeyelid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274822177652504274" border="0" /></a>some have two eyelids and some just have one. Having two eyelids as opposed to one doesn't mean the girls don't look Asian, but there is a noticeable difference in their appearance. Take a look at the pictures to the leftt- you'll see the woman on top has one eyelid, while the woman on the bottom has two. Both are clearly Asian, but the one on the right has a bit more "puffiness" under her lower eyelid. <br /> <br />So, do you find one more attractive than the other? I personally don't see any difference in either of them, or at least not a noticeable enough difference to consider one better looking than the other. Still, to the Chinese (and for that matter most Asian cultures), this is a big enough difference to encourage drastic cosmetic surgery to be preformed in order to become "more beautiful." Just going online to try and find the above comparison shots lead me to many websites touting the pluses of getting Blepharoplasty, aka Double Eye-lid surgery. According to one website, <a href="http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1950/context/archive">approximately 75 percent of all Koreans and 50 percent of all other Asians are born without the double eyelid crease</a>, meaning there are plenty of potential patients for this growing market! If you get a chance, read the above link- it has some very interesting viewpoints on the topic.<br /><br />I asked Zhangyi if the same standards applied to men, and he told me no. Zhangyi himself has single eyelids, but he's proud of them. "I'm the only one in my family to be born with single eyelids, so I'm proud of being unique." I haven't asked any Chinese girls yet if that's true, but to be honest I don't know if I want to bring up this touchy topic or not with them.<br /><br />So there you have it- Chinese men find Sandra Oh ugly in large part because she doesn't have double eyelids. Seeing that over half of the women in China also only have single eyelids, I wonder if half the population considers themselves settling down with ugly girls? Personally, and I think most Americans would agree, the eyelids aren't a factor at all, nor are some of the other traits the Chinese find attractive (such as pale skin). I'm interested to see what Chinese girls find attractive in a man- maybe that can help explain why so many Chinese girls here are dating foreigners!Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-12054985569560523822008-11-04T07:42:00.011-05:002008-11-06T06:37:44.982-05:00Halloween, Beijing-Style!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlX1-NZq2Of84am24ztBoSHr6fPkdvM4kl85X2mmsvjuf9JwqapwxVO9nlmQc8Ushe1RsvnfU8Xg8McexBzbaDsxqBAZD3YT1OVl8_McKVzjoLRGXF0g23WgzKYd84-7GZ7XdSvCfGzA/s1600-h/DSCN6832.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlX1-NZq2Of84am24ztBoSHr6fPkdvM4kl85X2mmsvjuf9JwqapwxVO9nlmQc8Ushe1RsvnfU8Xg8McexBzbaDsxqBAZD3YT1OVl8_McKVzjoLRGXF0g23WgzKYd84-7GZ7XdSvCfGzA/s200/DSCN6832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264786639627441730" border="0" /></a>So I feel like death right now, coughing up three months of beautiful Beijing air and hoping I don't have the black lung. Still, siting on the couch dying means I have lots more free time than I usually do, which means I'm finally putting up a new post. Today's post focuses on the joys of Halloween in China, namely what I did with my kids at kindergarten at school. The day was divided up into three parts: the first part involved me playing Halloween games with them and dancing to Halloween music, the second part involved the children running around the school in their costumes, pounding on doors and demanding candy, and finally the third part involved the parents and children gathering outside for more candy, while I was forced to dress in a creepy old man costume and scare kids. Good times!<br /><br />OK so the main highlight of the first part of the day was playing Apple Bobbing with the kids. I can tell you right now, it was not a very sanitary game. The fact alone that we filled the buckets with unfiltered Beijing tap water was probably bad enough, but after 20+ kids tried to get the apples and all spit the water back up, that bucket got pretty nasty. But the bucket wasn't the only thing that got nasty- there were some rather intense matches between the children that would often end in violence! Don't believe me? Being the good teacher I am, instead of breaking up one of the fights I decided to film it instead! Some would argue this makes me a bad teacher... and to that I would probably answer touche! Now everyone can enjoy the epic Apple Bobbing battle below!<br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyZCXtcGaWUR93vv85o6547u38R4rkeSAZMfoBfhxRauIxu_UWsRt4ABiDaHOR38R5_BIweb3XS92lsCUijAg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRMf1HvGKimXwbW2SnGhS9ZTYorwK6ZxW4rqCZy3qU-XphRGklT8VjhSvAd_VybtOlUqp4cGksv6HbQfs_DCn1tW60BWYTZaRJ0uuPRCoJfAZsAapAslWwYpT1KgkIATrcDDLE-L1meo/s1600-h/DSCN6834.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRMf1HvGKimXwbW2SnGhS9ZTYorwK6ZxW4rqCZy3qU-XphRGklT8VjhSvAd_VybtOlUqp4cGksv6HbQfs_DCn1tW60BWYTZaRJ0uuPRCoJfAZsAapAslWwYpT1KgkIATrcDDLE-L1meo/s200/DSCN6834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264787872266425330" border="0" /></a>So as I said, the second part of the day involved the children running around the halls demanding candy. Like good children they all began chanting "Trick or Treat" in unison, to the degree that the teachers were so intimidated they stopped handing out the candy and instead began either throwing down the hall or at the children themselves (which would lead to the inevitable <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0vWctbweGuXXj2dTVTBxBJ82ainjyJSDYfDYoNWZtHIIEGRKRM6qK5J6CD6_SHYxOjjCJAAE_WX13TqX_rOCqxcSpYMIStNAnvF3XWvnRPnNpd-TFGon_tMoUs4sWSBtSCFg3XsfGP4/s1600-h/DSCN6853.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0vWctbweGuXXj2dTVTBxBJ82ainjyJSDYfDYoNWZtHIIEGRKRM6qK5J6CD6_SHYxOjjCJAAE_WX13TqX_rOCqxcSpYMIStNAnvF3XWvnRPnNpd-TFGon_tMoUs4sWSBtSCFg3XsfGP4/s200/DSCN6853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264786632990987778" border="0" /></a>skirmishes on the floor for stray pieces of candy). God bless those little children, diving for candy as if they hadn't eaten for days! Don't think I wasn't cheering them on!<br /><br />The third part of the day was an odd one. I was told to dress as an old man and limp around the campus grounds, handing candy out to everyone who approached me. I guess I did a little too good a job, as I made several children cry, and it was mainly parents getting the candy for their cowering kids. Estee, on the other hand, was asked to dress up as Snow White with a mask on, as to conceal her true identity. This whole thing didn't make much sense, but the kids had a long of fun (minus the ones that encountered me)! Estee was placed on a balcony, where she waved like the queen of England and threw candy down to the kids below. Here's a video of that madness:<br /> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx91lUnU1QX1QbJ7aj9wyT2sx_evtjhttvMZJqALEsQzGR-7yk5Q06Ohu7o2qrn7z4yupy-WFRaOJnkVU0Geg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Alrighty that's all I've got in me for posting today. I can't wait to go to school tomorrow and show the kids just how sick I am...Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-13753049666743324492008-10-16T07:36:00.004-04:002008-10-16T07:50:44.957-04:00Never Take a Cab to the Airport Again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbbzVzECgElEvL6qfSfxL6XCsx_5QQrA8tRm_XZlrfIc_MmvxjXLtpoep7ooh6wukDj0VQ71OoFJuvDWsDonIEU5wYGYrBDkTXAgAd_vXufevAfsHwXSjxarQkft81z39W5QSUJrrojI/s1600-h/DSCN6693.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbbzVzECgElEvL6qfSfxL6XCsx_5QQrA8tRm_XZlrfIc_MmvxjXLtpoep7ooh6wukDj0VQ71OoFJuvDWsDonIEU5wYGYrBDkTXAgAd_vXufevAfsHwXSjxarQkft81z39W5QSUJrrojI/s200/DSCN6693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257715893007506322" border="0" /></a>I need to give major props to the new "Airport Express" line on the Beijing Subway- I finally got a chance to ride it earlier this month, and I was really impressed by how clean, fast, and comfortable the thing is. Riding this line has a one-way flat fare of 25 kuai, but it is totally worth it. I have an apartment near Bagou subway stop, and were I to take a cab from there to the airport I'd run up a fare of over 100 kuai, but now I can now take a subway for a quarter of the price that takes the same amount of time as a cab would! Take a look at the photo to the right. That is the new subway, not a train. Those are individual seats! The Chinese are actually encouraging personal space! There is even plenty of room for baggage. And the very best part of all is you never need to worry about dying in a horrible Beijing car accident again! Huzzah!Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-83182333525275896572008-10-09T08:55:00.003-04:002008-10-09T09:09:18.047-04:00The Chinese Have No Respect For Rules<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNZQLkzs6s1bhZ_cyJAoh_CucR9ndxTVA4UKkwcRHnRHk5IH_zolazyL-YFflGAFLNNeIneNcN_rPK4g4CgZpiK1HrVxIEWVAPxwD5hWu706uQMNGnxEiFmNUlsLdcAPMe8OvWMwuKC4/s1600-h/DSCN6387.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNZQLkzs6s1bhZ_cyJAoh_CucR9ndxTVA4UKkwcRHnRHk5IH_zolazyL-YFflGAFLNNeIneNcN_rPK4g4CgZpiK1HrVxIEWVAPxwD5hWu706uQMNGnxEiFmNUlsLdcAPMe8OvWMwuKC4/s200/DSCN6387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255138164768705154" border="0" /></a><br />Take a look at the photo on the right. This was taken in a noodle restaurant in the Chaoyang district of Beijing. In the photo you will see a man smoking a cigarette- not a surprise here, since people will pretty much smoke anywhere and everywhere in China. What makes the photo awesome though is the sign CLEARLY stating "No Smoking" in the upper right corner of the picture. This is just another example of the Chinese not caring about what other people think or say- they do what they want and that's that. This trait can definitely be annoying at times, but then there are instances like this here where there is nothing you can do but laugh at them.Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-24964424093237932402008-10-07T08:06:00.005-04:002008-10-07T10:34:49.113-04:00Childrens Clothing Gone BadOne of my very favorite things to do here in China is to read the many horrible misspellings printed everywhere. When I say everywhere, I'm talking official state documents to subway advertisements to roadside maps. And now, everywhere has expanded to children's clothing lines. Huzzah! It's not just misspellings that are affecting these poor children's clothes- its horrible judgment and a complete lack of understanding of the English language by the printers that is now making hilarious/horribly inappropriate apparel. Let's look at some examples I've managed to snap photos of:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNi9o7um-hRKlHXS-QQm-I0gfosOGOTZWFXcc-_58XKZ9H5mdgwbles1Leb72rZlIR_xizGx_l-gRKIihzVfQjXOP91tSr0tITM9YLhP-fO0loYS8wPspEEE7eYptF5NBFDeuDR5iM7g/s1600-h/DSCN6683.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNi9o7um-hRKlHXS-QQm-I0gfosOGOTZWFXcc-_58XKZ9H5mdgwbles1Leb72rZlIR_xizGx_l-gRKIihzVfQjXOP91tSr0tITM9YLhP-fO0loYS8wPspEEE7eYptF5NBFDeuDR5iM7g/s200/DSCN6683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254393316743077250" border="0" /></a>Example #1 can be seen on the left. This is one of my many <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">kindergartners</span>. Her name is Wendy. She is very cute, and loves to laugh. She also loves to wear a sweatshirt with the word "Shit" written across it. My question is, why was this shirt ever made, let alone as a small children's t-shirt? The word "Shit" is not a mistake- this is one of the few shirts I have seen in China where the spelling is correct and that doesn't happen unless someone takes the time to check it out. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNTITEu1Hg852fcuuhuFer7pSE4ZwuHCpFvuE24kFLh1JB0rRoQPHDk7n_2Jb-Xv7DZHIP3T9zq8mWXOHJBljLpIB7wHDNbh9icf1pBeijcVECiZA3Cssg3HlVVo2zWdXLZ8DoNSN0e4/s1600-h/DSCN5252.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNTITEu1Hg852fcuuhuFer7pSE4ZwuHCpFvuE24kFLh1JB0rRoQPHDk7n_2Jb-Xv7DZHIP3T9zq8mWXOHJBljLpIB7wHDNbh9icf1pBeijcVECiZA3Cssg3HlVVo2zWdXLZ8DoNSN0e4/s200/DSCN5252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254398611298639682" border="0" /></a>Example #2 can be seen on the left, and I would argue this is even worse than the first example. This too is a children's shirt I am holding up, and it isn't hard to notice the words "Touch Me Now" printed across the chest. A cute heart across the center further encourages young girls to wear it. Now I've been joking the past few months about China being a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pedophiles</span> paradise, but for God's sake how did this shirt ever get approved to be made for kids?! Was this just a mix-up with something along the lines of "hug me," or is there a creeper working behind the scenes making these perverse shirts? I don't even know what I'd do if I saw one of my students wearing this shirt. By the way, that shirt was being sold en mass at the local Beijing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Walmart</span>.<br /><br />OK well those are the only pictures I've taken so far, but I assure you there will be more in the future (but hopefully not children's shirts)!Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-25719011547747745092008-09-23T09:38:00.007-04:002008-09-23T10:29:20.021-04:00The Beijing Zoo is a DumpQ: What's more depressing than the Beijing Zoo?<br />A: The Beijing Zoo when its raining!<br /><br />Oh it feels so good to laugh again! I'm sure the poor animals could go for a laugh right about now, but unfortunately they're too busy fastening nooses out of bamboo grass or whatever the hell the zoo keepers feed them. In all seriousness though, the Beijing Zoo is really one of the most<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2_3mEVWeuxcpnTIMZlgyzxlwvTHVuN5PhFECJV6Kl5_F0zmtmo5qAhGJ8SEoIsftDbHuMJugJYwOAdYLfy1fHnEtgnqbNNvLTDEwfo1Wfz8qM3UbjjU3eMEcOHahtJAx3RZq9OWeXag/s1600-h/DSCN5285.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2_3mEVWeuxcpnTIMZlgyzxlwvTHVuN5PhFECJV6Kl5_F0zmtmo5qAhGJ8SEoIsftDbHuMJugJYwOAdYLfy1fHnEtgnqbNNvLTDEwfo1Wfz8qM3UbjjU3eMEcOHahtJAx3RZq9OWeXag/s200/DSCN5285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249218286236624194" border="0" /></a> depressing places to go, and clearly didn't receive any of the funding the government doled out to the city to fix it up for the Olympics. I have been to the zoo twice now since getting to China (once in the rain, and the other time as a field trip with my kindergarten class), and each time I leave feeling like shit. How can the management of that place walk through the compound everyday, see all these depressed animals sitting in their old filth, and not even consider spending a bit of money to fix the place up?<br /><br />Something else that has really bothered me each time I went to the zoo was the way people treated the animals. For instance, I was watching a big majestic Lion in his 10x10 cage (appropriate room dimensions for an animal that typically roams vast plains), when all of a <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguT-yBOkzTNTdjBzIn1QWhHG5uSyuFVkpsI5VHNFUK3MhIH-fSP-m8rV9qA4yPCitDQXpGnD_-oZsBSCfCsIX3p9jMosGlLXzD6_z4OvUXlMSTbZPabGi2PYyXbsvCoUMo6Ys5Rrz__8/s1600-h/DSCN5192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguT-yBOkzTNTdjBzIn1QWhHG5uSyuFVkpsI5VHNFUK3MhIH-fSP-m8rV9qA4yPCitDQXpGnD_-oZsBSCfCsIX3p9jMosGlLXzD6_z4OvUXlMSTbZPabGi2PYyXbsvCoUMo6Ys5Rrz__8/s200/DSCN5192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249217974855368290" border="0" /></a>sudden a Chinese guy walks up to the cage and starts clapping and screaming and growling at the animal, trying to get a reaction. Soon a few other Chinese men walked over and started screaming at the Lion, which looked like it just wanted someone to shoot it out of its misery. The zoo security guard just watched the whole thing and did nothing to stop it. I thought back to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/us/26tiger.html?_r=2&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1222178028-bh6ps5MfWPiMMFXqxplqsg">the Tiger attack</a> that happened last summer, where a Siberian Tiger escaped from her cage and killed one person before getting killed herself. Now I know its tragic that someone was killed, but after seeing all the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrklL_GllodDIp7H7YvSBiCxWhSZ7Y06Dboh73NdVlIVi5VlZzBjdbYNogtkEFvy6RZgr0VeS2A_BGTk9XDWAKeLaSt9cCejwKuIY7rINAFjBpfF9U9V3h0QlXm3nYkjv8tA3q1W-WqQ/s1600-h/DSCN5177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrklL_GllodDIp7H7YvSBiCxWhSZ7Y06Dboh73NdVlIVi5VlZzBjdbYNogtkEFvy6RZgr0VeS2A_BGTk9XDWAKeLaSt9cCejwKuIY7rINAFjBpfF9U9V3h0QlXm3nYkjv8tA3q1W-WqQ/s200/DSCN5177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249217365163723986" border="0" /></a>abuse these animals get, it's no wonder the tiger snapped. I'm sure she's considered a martyr amongst the animal community, someone who finally stood up against all the douches who harass them day in and day out. I would be lying if I told you I didn't want that poor Lion to escape from his cage...<br /><br />Something else that really bothered me was the blatant disregard for the signs posted throughout the zoo. Is the vast majority of Chinese illiterate, or do they simply not care about signs asking people not to feed the animals, or not to touch the animals? Take a look at the photos to the right- you'll clearly see a sign that says "Do Not Touch," and then a picture of a man clearly touching said animal. If my damn Nokia wasn't so <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfKQpOmXCSosHrblS7K_10Xbhfue-_vLxkfS2EXpJTP4r1Mb7sBXj8rnEl0MEgrFHARdhX9v4aZb664HYBcvJmynVn_xzOXiRC6DNRZyJ5N8acnEKXh820hIs3DqqZWHQnHccYiMJEt0/s1600-h/ManTouchingTurtle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfKQpOmXCSosHrblS7K_10Xbhfue-_vLxkfS2EXpJTP4r1Mb7sBXj8rnEl0MEgrFHARdhX9v4aZb664HYBcvJmynVn_xzOXiRC6DNRZyJ5N8acnEKXh820hIs3DqqZWHQnHccYiMJEt0/s200/ManTouchingTurtle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249217588824756322" border="0" /></a>slow, you would have seen that man lift the poor sea turtle's fin out of the water and hold it there for a photo. Once again, the security did nothing to stop this.<br /><br />I was pretty excited to see the new aquarium, since it is listed as the world's "<a href="http://www.frommers.com/destinations/beijing/A30265.html">largest inland aquarium</a>." How did it stack up? Well... its definitely not as nice as the New England Aquarium, and the price tag was a bit high (120 RMB, as opposed to the 20 RMB it costs to go to the zoo), and the highly hyped Whale exhibit actually doesn't house whales... but it actually wasn't that bad. At least the fish weren't all on suicide watch, right?<br /><br />I guess the main point of this blog is, shame on the Chinese for letting these animals live in these conditions! If one of the prized Pandas is sleeping in his own shit, just imagine what the other animals have to put up with. I don't know whats going to happen here, but something really needs to be done to fix the place up.Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-63982606874403867032008-09-14T10:58:00.002-04:002008-09-14T11:06:10.755-04:00China Encourages Littering<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsegfE0MHJ_eLpPpeilh2uaLXfFHVeF60jGvhyphenhyphenS15ZgPttSdnc2j2AoZ8-fqo_1Es_rJ2qODe1z4g_bOUxV6PgmC7i9nI_zEsoVao-TuyQ4fT0IBYAw2GOB_-yW_MCQ0JylrNaHitCSE/s1600-h/DSCN6519.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsegfE0MHJ_eLpPpeilh2uaLXfFHVeF60jGvhyphenhyphenS15ZgPttSdnc2j2AoZ8-fqo_1Es_rJ2qODe1z4g_bOUxV6PgmC7i9nI_zEsoVao-TuyQ4fT0IBYAw2GOB_-yW_MCQ0JylrNaHitCSE/s200/DSCN6519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245892076431087266" border="0" /></a><br />So I saw this sign above a window on a train, and I was pretty confused as to what it was trying to tell me. Back in the states, seeing a circle with a line through it means you cannot do whatever is in that circle. If you see a sign with no line through it, that generally means you are allowed, if not encouraged, to do it! So when I see a sign with a man sticking his head out the window, and a bottle being tossed out that same window, what am I supposed to think? Come on China!Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-3858367571671470922008-09-05T23:42:00.006-04:002008-09-06T02:00:34.071-04:00Beijing Volunteers are UselessOK so I'm finally getting around to writing a new blog after a bit of a hiatus. The truth is I've just begun teaching "kindergarteners," which in China means any child between the age of 2 and 4. This of course makes little sense, since at age two these kids can barely speak any Chinese. I'll save my rants on children for later though, since today I'm dedicating my time to how absolutely worthless the Beijing Volunteers have been, and continue to be.<br /><br />For the Olympic games, the Beijing Olympic Committee (BOCOG) set up a massive campaign to get volunteers for the games. The <a href="http://en.beijing2008.cn/24/19/article214031924.shtml">official website</a> lists that 100,000 volunteers were present for the Olympic games and will be present for the Paralympic games- that means that there have <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6tUZ-bS0-SIO8OknTUEKLVcIQWVXqwrynKS-ugTPE5DVEOkDhiFMBw-9kQHKe_PnFEx7QsZKN5c5TSncJi7SSXn6tY5_dKkuv2aspjqUxgdmxqHwV33WzlXejlqjmRNbEQPk8gopC_M/s1600-h/DSCN4993.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6tUZ-bS0-SIO8OknTUEKLVcIQWVXqwrynKS-ugTPE5DVEOkDhiFMBw-9kQHKe_PnFEx7QsZKN5c5TSncJi7SSXn6tY5_dKkuv2aspjqUxgdmxqHwV33WzlXejlqjmRNbEQPk8gopC_M/s200/DSCN4993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242777248294040194" border="0" /></a>been 100,000 useless idiots roaming the streets for the past month plus. So where is all this hate coming from? Well for one thing, several of my friends and I applied months in advance of the deadline for the volunteer position, since the website had stated its need for foreign volunteers. Now I would think that after requesting foreign volunteers, receiving several applications from a group of American students who had all either majored or minored in Chinese would be just what the recruiters were looking for, especially because this was not a paid job. But no, in typical Chinese fashion, after receiving confirmation that our applications were received, we never received any further notice. I called up friends in China to see if they could reach anybody about the matter, but they were all told by the agency that there were too many applications and it would be impossible to look any individual up in the system.<br /><br />OK fine, that doesn't make any sense but whatever. For all I know, the entire system crashed and they lost all our applications (this is China after all), but you would expect that there would at least be some foreign volunteers, right? Not that I saw. Beijing is a huge city, so its very possible these people were just in other locations, but I've been here since August 5th, been to an Olympic event, walked around the Birds Nest, the Beijing train station and airport, and been to various other major tourist attractions, but not once did I see any non-Chinese volunteers. OK fine, so what if they're Chinese, at least they can speak English and help anyone with their questions, right? Wrong again! Every time I needed help finding someplace, the volunteers I spoke to spoke absolutely zero English- how convenient! I can at least speak enough Chinese to get my point across, but what about all those foreigners who had traveled to China and desperately needed help getting around?<br /><br />What bothered me even more is that half the volunteers I spoke to didn't even bother trying to understand the Chinese I was speaking. Something that makes Chinese really hard to learn is that several words are pronounced the same way, but the tone or inflection they are spoken with gives the words a different meaning. For instance, "mǎ" means horse while "mā" means mother. So I could be saying a sentence correctly, but if the tones are off the meaning of the sentence is lost. This is a problem I tend to have, but people can still take the context of the sentence and figure out what word I'm trying to say. If you're fluent in Chinese and are willing to take the time to figure it out, its not that hard. But on the few occasions when I needed help finding things, the volunteers I spoke to couldn't be bothered trying to figure out what words I had mispronounced. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UbKCZvXEbYbNvkxcKRc2DrXxdlaHtZ5EyB2HQh37Mbt9aIPqjITmURBS2TxAw1GlPACt9zfKGjgAJArfMunAYXlKggGSXyGgRo8d7SvtNBcUn4D_wk22dgt7NoeS7JJPTMSY5LSGddc/s1600-h/DSCN6606.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UbKCZvXEbYbNvkxcKRc2DrXxdlaHtZ5EyB2HQh37Mbt9aIPqjITmURBS2TxAw1GlPACt9zfKGjgAJArfMunAYXlKggGSXyGgRo8d7SvtNBcUn4D_wk22dgt7NoeS7JJPTMSY5LSGddc/s200/DSCN6606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242778303723149954" border="0" /></a>If you can't speak English, the least you could do is try to figure out what the hell I'm trying to say. For instance, I went with Estee to try and find a temple- its the only temple in the area, and I kept saying the word for temple properly but because I was mispronouncing the temples actual name they had no idea what I was saying and couldn't help me. How did these people even get hired for this!! What do you actually do? Just because Beijing is hosting the Paralympics doesn't mean you need to hire people with mental handicaps to volunteer! Aren't the volunteers there to help foreigners more than fellow Chinese? If so, learn to communicate with people who can't speak the language!<br /><br />These clowns are still scattered throughout the streets, sitting around pretending to be helpful volunteers when in fact they are just blocking the sidewalks and replacing all the homeless people the government kicked out. For all intensive purposes, these people are jobless bums, since they spend all day sitting on the street and not attending their real jobs (if they actually have one). You know what would have been a welcoming sight? Some one who could speak English and could actually do their job of helping foreign visitors to Beijing. On the plus side, they do have very snazzy uniforms.Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-35954275009892634842008-08-26T06:18:00.011-04:002008-08-26T07:20:11.360-04:00Bei Bei Can Shoot Lasers From Her HeadSo the Olympic games finally ended the other day, and while it is kind of sad not seeing Olympic coverage 24/7, that doesn't mean the Olympics are gone forever. In fact, there are some people who just can't seem to give up any chance they have to show off their remaining Olympic spirit! For some reason, even though Olympic events are over, I keep seeing people walking around with their official Olympic ID tags around their neck, acting like they are the hottest shit in town. It would really annoy me how much these people would flaunt in public that they work for the IOC and have permission to enter venues without tickets, but I didn't make a big deal of it while the Olympics were taking place since it was technically their time to shine. But now that the Olympics are over its just pathetic. I'm sorry, but working for the IOC <a href="http://deadspin.com/5040913/is-jacques-rogges-ioc-ever-going-to-grow-a-pair">really isn't that cool</a>. At this point, seeing you walking around with your ID tags just makes you look like a douchebag and someone desperate to get back that old sense of importance.<br /><br />While the IOC is desperately clinging to their time in the spotlight, the Chinese government is immortalizing the Olympics through countless hours of replays on CCTV. I've now seen the US/China basketball game on TV one billion times. But possibly the coolest thing to ever come out of the Olympics is the official action cartoon featuring the five mascots of the Olympics. How awesome is it? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuwa">The Friendlies</a> can fly and shoot lasers out of their heads. From what I could gather (and I watched several of these cartoons), the show focuses on Bei Bei, the blue mascot with the weird lips. She is friends with a weird half dragon, half pig thing, and a strange dog thing that looks like a monk. They are fighting against a giant white person who looks like someone from 300. The white guy is in command of lots of ghosts who are trying to steal the Olympic flame from atop Mount Olympus. I know time travel is involved, and the other Friendlies help Bei Bei in her quest. Thats about it. Lucky for you, I decided to film some clips of the show so you could enjoy it as well. The sound quality is shitty, but I filmed it with my crappy digital camera. Enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx92xJXAHSSnKh_oqeUbygyWY7dltZznkdemAa8MRmzr69ABI9AGuDIVE2pLT1rO8npd5qz4kx7A5XWgx31QQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxFxQb9QoEmuDzDPWcki556TNjKTq2YaEdjIbqZ-kB7_DC3E_SvA7qs9ns9B23mWaQDH88yKsiZi5mHMx9n' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy6HQjHUfgnenlbwril7927x5DiIA36T0XBAprrax_MlIVS1gZMb3hxEkb5g8WqJMLKnhvf3b1040n15aHZPQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-23959655698605169762008-08-23T03:46:00.003-04:002008-08-23T04:32:34.323-04:00Chinese SketchinessThis morning, around 10-ish, I was fast asleep when I was awoken by loud knocking on the front door. I love to sleep. When I'm asleep I pass out into a deep slumber that's hard to get me out of, so it literally took three minutes of continuous pounding to get me up, and I was not happy. I pulled myself out of bed and shuffled over to the door, only to find a young police officer (complete with a red band around his arm) and a middle-aged man (smoking like a chimney) waiting outside for me. I'm groggy but these guys look a bit serious, so in the best Chinese I can muster I ask what they want. They start questioning me about how long I've been in China and when I'll be leaving, but because I was still sleepy I misunderstood the questions and thought he was asking when we'd be leaving the apartment for the day. So I answer that we'll be gone in maybe two hours. This reply confused them and both people started speaking so quickly I had no idea what was going on. I had to call a friend on the phone, who was able to get them to leave. It turns out they were checking to confirm that I had registered with the police and had a valid residency permit. I have a few questions though: if they were the police, why wouldn't they just check up on their files and see that we were registered? Once my friend told them we were already registered, they didn't ask to see the permits themselves, they just left. Also, if they didn't have the files on hand, how the hell did they know where I lived? It's all very suspicious if you ask me, but they left so hopefully nothing more will come out of this!<br /><br />As a side note, I'm glad people are finally starting to question all ages of those Chinese children,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGQmnmZELWNkX3repwDMQE0tvdd6uwssJ-GKoqersY1LQfF1js372nuYuCu5CBK5CVG9xx09acyxYxUxItB3cCNe7knpCWLge1wbvC_mzpSOfuGesbzxT710u0Cjs4rixG_5Q83pcfHA/s1600-h/kexin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGQmnmZELWNkX3repwDMQE0tvdd6uwssJ-GKoqersY1LQfF1js372nuYuCu5CBK5CVG9xx09acyxYxUxItB3cCNe7knpCWLge1wbvC_mzpSOfuGesbzxT710u0Cjs4rixG_5Q83pcfHA/s200/kexin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237625075407396066" border="0" /></a> who are so clearly under aged its not even funny. If these girls are honestly has old as they say they are, then China must be a pedophiles paradise because they all look like 6th graders. It's not just limited to the gymnasts though- I saw a diver the other day that could not have been older than 12 years old. Creepy.<br /><br />Finally, one other Olympic tidbit I've found interesting. Back in America, we have always ranked the countries by order of their total medal count. This makes sense to me. If country A wins 12 total medals but no golds, and country B wins only one gold medal and gets nothing else, shouldn't country A be ranked higher? Not according to the Chinese, who have everything ranked by the number of gold medals won. Why? Well obviously because that would put the Chinese in 1st place by a healthy sum.Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971933597526867556.post-76540962531920860152008-08-21T08:53:00.006-04:002008-08-21T09:48:48.133-04:00Xizhimen ContinuedAlrighty so yesterday I wrote a pretty long piece about Xizhimen, but I left out two very important things: CET itself, and the jiaozi fanguan (dumpling restaurant). Well don't worry, the edge-of-your-seat wait is finally over. First, lets start with my old school. The first thing I noticed is the gate is completely different. The old white gate we used to love climbing over has been replaced with a slick metal gate that is complete with an LCD screen that projects the date and time. The gate looks nicer, but I feel like that'd be easier to climb... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyiDynQ_tuGt15mxb8cYHbE3QBj6Q6ORxGGsQPYJQiEOktLtYfhPOXiqQK7vrnOzsTPA1KWHec9qh02ZkE55R3Vn7gGoYPC_AzRePbAriGxTw-Ys9JWtinudMjFSTesJAr7XKpGW7YYM/s1600-h/DSCN6346.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyiDynQ_tuGt15mxb8cYHbE3QBj6Q6ORxGGsQPYJQiEOktLtYfhPOXiqQK7vrnOzsTPA1KWHec9qh02ZkE55R3Vn7gGoYPC_AzRePbAriGxTw-Ys9JWtinudMjFSTesJAr7XKpGW7YYM/s200/DSCN6346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236956732474734034" border="0" /></a>Awkward encounter: I enter the complex, and I walk to the old office where the shi fu's would chill, and sitting there is the same grumpy shi fu who no one liked. Well it didn't take long for me to remember why no one liked him. I knock on the door and say hello, and of course he ignores me, so I start talking and saying how I went to CET last year and was just visiting and wanted to say hello, but instead of saying something nice or at least smiling, he just grunted and continued to watch his TV program. Well fuck you shi fu, I hope you choke on some noodles.<br /><br />As I walked through the grounds of 北京教育学院, I had a chance to look at the new students studying there, and I have to say, the group looks shitty. The first semester we were at CET, there was a group of Middlebury kids who took the school's language pledge way too seriously and acted like they had a stick up their ass. Those kids weren't fun and as a result no one from my school hung out with them. Well everyone I saw from this current program looked as if they had multiple sticks up their ass and I'm sooo happy I didn't study there this semester.<br /><br />Now at some point last year a vicious rumor spread that my favorite restaurant had closed <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQltd-8XGPScwdF6sQ5F3Ijz6qYrZvjLzLX6RLy6IOkMqHqLfGi4qBHKxs7YgZ2El3eyJxxHnlIQ6i3kKsgzrY3oiA4Z6y1Of-3tpBP_H4NWdkHeJHwTm-wt7BdYSQcykIiBKh17p2kw/s1600-h/DSCN6340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQltd-8XGPScwdF6sQ5F3Ijz6qYrZvjLzLX6RLy6IOkMqHqLfGi4qBHKxs7YgZ2El3eyJxxHnlIQ6i3kKsgzrY3oiA4Z6y1Of-3tpBP_H4NWdkHeJHwTm-wt7BdYSQcykIiBKh17p2kw/s200/DSCN6340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236964566111611954" border="0" /></a>down. It's pretty common for restaurants and bars to close down in China, so there was a distinct possibility that this place really was gone. Still, business had always been so good there and a world without my jiaozi fanguan was too horrible to even think about. Seriously, when in China we probably ate there 2-3 times a <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2qGXGrB8XPs1cIeqjthwXPTinGWbKzGLiSe_DYGdUkmDPXr77JHiqUQ_U1wEeBLznr-F5MaKnxGxRVeuowIcwIu6O9becEBrllBxCdYYgnvRKfxasPTbRFsrUqZYUywFXDDRhuA6tMY/s1600-h/DSCN6336.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2qGXGrB8XPs1cIeqjthwXPTinGWbKzGLiSe_DYGdUkmDPXr77JHiqUQ_U1wEeBLznr-F5MaKnxGxRVeuowIcwIu6O9becEBrllBxCdYYgnvRKfxasPTbRFsrUqZYUywFXDDRhuA6tMY/s200/DSCN6336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236964964427218882" border="0" /></a>week. After asking around, I had heard a few different variations on the fate of the place, so I was still unsure of what I'd find once I returned to Xizhimen. Well, I'm pleased to announce that not only is the place still there, it has received a complete make-over that makes it even more awesome than before! I got some of those delish dumplings I've been craving for so long, and they tasted great!<br /><br />So there you have it: the jiaozi fanguan lives, and CET is now filled with tools.Wolverine3486http://www.blogger.com/profile/04384247534090545384noreply@blogger.com0