Awesome, I finally managed to post something. I have been desperately searching for internet. There is a very nice (but always packed) cafe on the main floor of my ginourmous dorm which has wifi, but I couldn't get it to work. I have been to a bunch of other places as well, but I finally had to find the library and gain access to a student's login to access this very shaky service.
Anyway, after my grocery store adventure we had orientation where I had my first taste of authentic Chinese food, some kind of eggy birthday cake with loads of strange fruit on top. Food here is interesting, to say the least. Nothing tastes the way you expect. Hot things are cold, sweet things turn out bitter, and things that look solid enough are not chopstick friendly. So far, I like hot cucumber salad and pijiu. Though tomorrow I'm having black beans, because who would have thought that the store would have enormous fill-your-own-bags of cheap cheap black beans.
Today was the first day of classes. I think that class will be fine, the same as at MHC but faster. The best part of it though is that our language partners. Today they took us around campus (enormous) to find things such as the bank, post office, convenience store, and internet. Most of my clsssmate's bought a cable to connect to an internet service in their rooms, so far not too great for them either.
We all have been eating at the cafeteria, mostly, which is arranged by price; cheap stuff on the first floor and then fancy Japanese, Korean, etc. food on the top floor. Yesterday I got some tofu to go with my cauliflower and rice. Not happening again. At the cafeteria there are millions of options. You point at stuff and they load it onto your plate. It's great. All the noodles seem to have meat though :-(
Beijing is 12 hours different from EST, so when its 8pm here, its 8 am in Maine. Right now I'm in the library, on what looks like an abandoned floor.... actually most of them look abandoned... but no ones kicked me out so far :-) I did get a good scare when a cat wandered around the corner :-) CATS CAN ROAM THE LIBRARY!
I am going to go now before its to dark to find my way back, zaijian!!!!!
Anyway, after my grocery store adventure we had orientation where I had my first taste of authentic Chinese food, some kind of eggy birthday cake with loads of strange fruit on top. Food here is interesting, to say the least. Nothing tastes the way you expect. Hot things are cold, sweet things turn out bitter, and things that look solid enough are not chopstick friendly. So far, I like hot cucumber salad and pijiu. Though tomorrow I'm having black beans, because who would have thought that the store would have enormous fill-your-own-bags of cheap cheap black beans.
Today was the first day of classes. I think that class will be fine, the same as at MHC but faster. The best part of it though is that our language partners. Today they took us around campus (enormous) to find things such as the bank, post office, convenience store, and internet. Most of my clsssmate's bought a cable to connect to an internet service in their rooms, so far not too great for them either.
We all have been eating at the cafeteria, mostly, which is arranged by price; cheap stuff on the first floor and then fancy Japanese, Korean, etc. food on the top floor. Yesterday I got some tofu to go with my cauliflower and rice. Not happening again. At the cafeteria there are millions of options. You point at stuff and they load it onto your plate. It's great. All the noodles seem to have meat though :-(
Beijing is 12 hours different from EST, so when its 8pm here, its 8 am in Maine. Right now I'm in the library, on what looks like an abandoned floor.... actually most of them look abandoned... but no ones kicked me out so far :-) I did get a good scare when a cat wandered around the corner :-) CATS CAN ROAM THE LIBRARY!
I am going to go now before its to dark to find my way back, zaijian!!!!!
5 comments:
Yay for kitty libraries! Also, check your spelling... :)
Love that you spelled main as 'maine' haha, little taste of home ;)
How's the air quality? I'm verrryyyy curious about that. Sorry if you mentioned it in a previous post, I have the attention span of a goldfish dear.
Lots of love and good feelies.
Going to love reading your blogs. I hope you have more than the time of your life and I am looking forward to learning a thing or two from your writings. When you mentioned the cat roaming the library, Harry Potter came to mind :)
Enjoy your time there Veronica. Your family is on the edge of their seats to hear about all of your experiences!
Hi Ve! Sounds like you are enjoying the food and the 12 hour time difference! When I was in Beijing back in 1995, I was sure to attend an authentic Tea House (a type of variety show venue), and see a traditional "Peking Opera" with all its amazing masks and acrobatics. Enjoy!
Michael Hale, CBHS
This is great Ve - having fun reading what you're up to. Glad you found the Happiness Market and CATS in the library (HA!!) Laura
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