RC in the PRC

So, I know it's been a while, a long while, since I've updated this blog, but I've been really busy! So after a complaint from my former roommate Phil... I've decided it's been long enough. This was supposed to be a weekly update thing, but that hasn't happened, so here we go...

Classes are difficult, as expected, but now I'm really catching onto the language. I can at least understand what is being said, although I may not know how to respond. The city is huge, but very nice and cheap!!! A couple of weeks ago I had an interview with BlueMobi for an internship position during the semester and it was COMPLETELY in Chinese! I was Extremely intimated, primarily because it was with the CEO of the company and as I just mentioned, my speaking skills aren't that great.

The next day, the entire group took a weekend field trip to Shaoxing 绍兴 and Ningbo 宁波, a couple of cities just a few hours drive from here. We had a fantastic time as we climbed to the top of what I believe is Xinshang Mountain.

Once we got to the top of the mountain, I trekked a little further and saw what would be lunch (a chicken farm) and further atop the mountain were tea fields.
We had lunch atop the mountain where we served what else... snails. That's right, snails, and I don't mean escargot. Of course we had the chicken too!
The next day we went for a rickshaw ride as well as a boat ride.

The day after that we traveled to Ningbo 宁波 and had a great time there as well, and I finally ate some McDonald's... a delicious chocolate sundae! In Ningbo we traveled to the Old Bund 老外摊 and took this fabulous picture...
The area was known for it's chou dofu 愁豆腐 which in literal translation means SMELLY TOFU and boy they weren't lying! That crap smells for miles.

Since we've been back, I've just been going to classes and working. At work, I'm currently translating PowerPoint slides from Chinese into English as the CEO want me to go with him to prospective English speaking clients to make sales (gulp!). So this will definitely be one opportunity!

Last night we had a 21st birthday party for one of our USA students, Pedro, at no where else, but you guessed it... HOOTERS!
Was that an experience or what?! What the girls may lack in size they definitely make up for in their spunk and personality as one of the girls smothered Pedro's face with his cake.

Other than that, not a whole lot more has happened. We're still a couple of weeks away from Spring Break and 7 weeks away from Hong Kong! Oh yeah, I guess I could mention that I met an Italiana. We go out every now and then, but it's nothing serious. Well, I guess I ought to be going to bed. Econ in the morning and work in the afternoon!

Leave some lovely comments!
Goodnight! 晚安！
Ryan

After a grueling 14 hour plane ride from Chicago, I finally made it to Shanghai. I was fortunate to meet a number of the students I would be studying with on the plane. Our rooms are, well... small, cold, and really cold. Our bathrooms are about 5' x 5' with a drain in the middle of the floor for the shower. Luckily we have a western toilet so I don't have to do much squatting!

A couple of nights ago we went to a Chinese acrobats show which was amazing! Ten girls on one bicycle is pretty crazy! And of course, the infamous 6 motorcycles in a cage! After the show, the 40 of us decided to stay in downtown Shanghai and go clubbing, so we took off on our own. We wanted to head towards the Bund, but saying "The Bund" in Chinese, you just get blank stares from everyone. So finally, we asked a younger couple where a good bar was, and they directed us towards Xin Tian Di. Xin Tian Di is where the first meeting of the Chinese Communist Party was held. But as always, directions in China are always hard to follow. "Qian mian yi dianr, ye zou bian". Fantastic. "Go ahead a little ways and then left." We asked for more directions along the way and apparently we turned up the right road, because from then on out everyone kept saying "qian mian". After a 30 minute walk or so, there was only 6 of left in the group. Where everyone else went, I don't know. Luckily I had someone with me who was halfway fluent.

We finally arrived at Xin Tian Di, and suddenly I was in a dream. This all looked WAY too familiar! Where had seen this before? And then I remembered! When we came here two years ago, we jumped in a cab and told him to take us somewhere fun, and he dropped us of there!!! I was baffled! I would have never thought that two years later I wouldn't be standing in the same spot I had before by complete accident! However, Xin Tian Di is where all the "wai guo ren" (foreigners" go. So naturally, all the prices were super expensive. So we bailed to a taxi and had him take us to Windows bar. A great place with a chill atmosphere and plenty of foreigners. We were soon tired of the foreigners and taxied again to Babyface dance club.

When we got to Babyface, there was a 50 RMB ($7) cover. I handed the lady 100RMB, received my ticket, and headed to the coat check. CRAP!!! I forgot! It was only 50 RMB! I ran back to the counter and tried to explain that I didn't get my change back in Chinese. She clearly understood what I was saying, but me, oh no, I didn't understand a word back! So I rushed to Bronwyn to ask her for her help. We went back and the lady told us that we would have to wait 30 minutes and see if there is a 50RMB overage in the drawer. Why did we have to wait? Because they were just SO busy! Except, there was NO one in line! So we proceeded to the dance floor. It was jammed packed! We inched our way to the middle and all along the way people were telling me, "You're very lucky". I couldn't understand what they meant by this. Finally, one guy said "You're very lucky, she is very beautiful". Then I realized they thought Bronwyn and I were dating. Anywho, we danced for about an hour, we back to the desk, and without reluctance, received 50RMB back!!!

Yesterday I took my placement exam and placed into Advanced Chinese Level 1. We had a class introduction, and there are only 4 in my class. I sat there in awe as my Chinese teacher babbled about everything, and I sat there not understanding 80% of it. Later, our roommates arrived and mine is fantastic. We all went out for hot pot last night and spent a fortune on it! But, in the end it was well worth it, as my lips were burning!

Well, I must go now, we're going all over Shanghai today on a scavenger hunt! Then school in 24 hours from now! Ah!