Tianjin, Karaoke, etc...

Sorry it's been a little bit. I apologize to those of you that routinely check this. I've been pretty busy these past few weeks. Well, where shall I begin?

Two weeks ago my friends and I were itching to leave Beijing. Sometimes, the monotony of this program and our intense study schedule just gets us down. So, we thought a change of scenery was in order. We heard about this town that is about 100 miles south of Beijing. It's called Tianjin. We booked train tickets and were off. Traveling by train here in China is incredibly convenient. It's reminiscent of the train system in Europe. We went with the super-bullet trains that topped about 200mph. It was incredibly cool. It was also really nice to see some of the Chinese countryside on the way to Tianjin. We arrived and walked around and saw some interesting things. I didn't realize this but Tianjin is a largely Catholic city. Many Jesuits have settled in Tianjin and have set up parishes. It was interesting to see this juxtaposition of Catholic orthodoxy and Chinese influence. The churches were quite nice.

It was a very nice day excursion and I'm glad that we did it. I'm sad to report that Tianjin wasn't the most interesting of cities, so I hope that our next weekend excursion is a bit more...exciting. However, it was a good foray into the Chinese rail system.

Well, then the time came. Yes, the dreaded Chinese haircut experience. Most of you know how hesitant I was of having my haircut in China. However, it had to happen. It was getting too long and really annoying. So, after reviewing vocabulary and staking out (what I deemed) a suitable locale, I went for it. So, I walk in and the "shampoo girl" took my coat and then proceeded to slam me into her chair and begin to vigorously wash my hair. She then told me to wait and the very hipster-like man would cut my hair. He came over to me and I somehow, rather clumsily, managed to describe to him how my hair should be cut and what it should look like. He nodded and seemed to understand. Then he was off to work. He talked to me in Chinese and I couldn't really understand him all that well. His "Beijing accent" was quite pronounced which made it difficult to have a substantive conversation. Once he was done, the "shampoo girl" washed my hair again and then I paid (20kuai=4 US dollars).

I am pleased to announce that I am happy with the final product. It's quite nice and short enough without being too short. I don't want to post pictures because that would be vain and myspace-esque. Yes, I realize that I dedicated a substantial portion of this blog entry to a haircut and that in-turn makes me vain. However, irony aside, posting pictures would be a little too much.

My next adventure is one that you all should have been there for. So ACC gives us language partners that we can meet once a week and we help each other. They help us with our Chinese and we help them with their English. Unfortunately, I didn't get to sign up for the program because I missed the date. However, my neighbor did get sign up. His language partner insisted that he accompany her and her friends to a Karaoke bar. Now, I don't know if many of you know that (generally speaking) Asians love karaoke. I don't really know why. They're pretty intense about it, but it is incredibly fun. So, my neighbor asked his roommate and me and my roommate to accompany him to help diffuse the awkwardness of this situation. We said we would go with him and we invited a few more people and before we knew it was a party!

So, we met them and then headed to a karaoke bar. It was incredibly modern and well decked out. We ordered snacks and proceeded to begin. After some Chinese songs (which none of us knew) and then a round of "My Humps" by the Black-Eyed Peas we all loosened up and the fun began. It was incredibly...interesting. Ashlee Simpson, Avril Lavigne, Destiny's Child, Britney Spears, Rihanna, and Kelly Clarkson all made an appearance. Not to mention some Elton John, the Beatles, and the Eagles. I, of course, was lead vocals on a majority of the songs. :)

I believe this was Rihanna's "Take a bow."

I'm not too sure what this was. It might have been "Sweet Home Alabama."

This week is set to be pretty intense. We have a mid-term at the end of this week and an oral exam. Not to mention regular school work. However, on Friday afternoon we are leaving for Sichuan province and the lovely city of Chengdu. I am incredibly excited. However, we're going by train. A 25 hour train ride. Really? Yes, people, China really is THAT big. It takes us 25 hours to get from Beijing to Chengdu. I'm not too sure of the mileage, but I am sure you all can estimate. Good thing I still have my sleeping pills.

Now this trip is incredibly exciting on so many levels. First off, this is where pandas live! Yes, real, live, giant pandas! I can't wait to pet one!! Now, should one somehow make it into my luggage and return to the US with me...do not be alarmed. I will lovingly tend to it.

The other level: I am going mountain climbing. By this, I mean legit mountain climbing with things such as: North Face gear, hiking boots, leggings, and sleeping in a Buddhist Monastary. We have the option to climb and my friends and I have decided to climb to the top. I've never done anything like this before and who knew that while in China I would go mountain climbing. I certainly didn't, but this is an opportunity I can't pass up. However, you all know me so there will be awkward stories full of expletives and my stupidity and clumsiness. Nonetheless, this is something I've always wanted to do. So, next week is going to be an awesome week. No class, pandas, and mountain climbing! Not to mention we get to see a completely different part of China. Words cannot describe my anticipation.

However, I have to get through this week. Somehow, I'll make it. I miss you all dearly right now. Somedays, you just want a feeling of familiarity which is rare to come by here in China.

Off to study! I'll update when I get back from Chengdu!

-Aaron

Chinese Acrobatics and Host Family!

As part of the program we are given host families. These aren't families that we stay with; we just periodically have dinner with them and get a taste of a "typical" Chinese culture. Honestly, I like this way a little more because it avoids terribly awkward situations one might have while living with a host family. Anyways, so the first time I met my host family was for a "mixer" type deal and then New Year's Dinner at their home.

Their home was an apartment, of course, and was quite lovely. The food was delicious, albeit a little strange, but delicious. So, it's custom in China to drink. And when I say drink, I mean DRINK. China has the most disgusting, horrid, potent alcohol one could ever create. It is called Baijiu. This means "white liquor." It is, essentially, Chinese vodka. I remember back at UGA my first Chinese teacher describing baijiu. We asked him if he liked vodka and he responded, "It's not bad, but a little watery." I was confused as to what he meant but I now understand. Baijiu is like rubbing alcohol. It is awful. However, it is cheap. Its about 6kuai for a bottle which is 1 american dollar.

So, at my host families home they poured me a shot of baijiu. Now (sorry mom and dad), I had tasted it before so I knew what to expect. So, in typical UGA-fashion I tipped the shot to the back of my throat and swallowed. Everyone laughed at me. Why? Because they drink this shot slowly. So, he poured me another one and I had to drink it slowly. It was absolute torture. Three shots later, I knew I was going to get drunk and tried to tell my host father, "no that's enough." However, he responded, "we have the same liver," and poured me another shot. Really? Needless to say, my Chinese significantly improved and it was a great time. We're having dinner again next week but this time at a restaurant. However, I was informed that just because one is at a restaurant this does not preclude the ordering of baijiu. It might be a rough dinner.

Last night was a really exciting night! We all went to a Chinese acrobatics show! This was probably one of the coolest things I could have seen. It's also really interesting on a cultural and historical level because you realize that these same routines they are doing were routines created during the dynastic rule of China. Now there have been slight modifications with more advanced technology, but they still operate without nets or safety harnesses. The core principles of story telling and grand thematic elements of good vs. evil and duality are still present.

I have some pictures but they didn't turn out that well because the show was also accompanied with laser lights which gave it an awesome effect in person. For pictures, not so much.




Preparing for the flip!
Mid-action. Please note the blurred figure in the upper left-hand corner as that is someone flipping into the chair.
Tradtional Chinese plate-spinning!
Please not the girls that are standing on the platform is being supported by one girl balancing the platform on her head while plate spinning! Absolutely incredibly.


In other news, I'm doing well. The program is hard and demanding. However, I can definitely feel some improvement in my Chinese. At times, this is really demanding that I don't think I can take it, but my friends and I have made some "American" traditions that keep us sane. Before I left for China a good friend of mine told me that I should find one "American" thing while in China and when things get rough to go get that "American" thing and think of home and then forget about it. This is probably the best advice I've recieved. My one "American" thing are Oreoes! They are a tad expensive here but worth it. Plus, whenever I listen to Taylor Swift I think of UGA and Athens. haha. I think thats appropiate.

My time here has been rewarding so far and it's amazing to start to learn another culture intimately. We've been learning some interesting idiomatic expressions that seem to capture Chinese culture. For example, "luanzhongyouxu" which means "finding order in the chaos" and "renshanrenhai" which means "huge crowds of people." Sometimes, I'm amazed at the Chinese language.

Also, we have a field trip in about 3 weeks. We're going to Sichuan and Chengdu! Hello pandas!

--Aaron