I feel like I’m about to tell the biggest “no big deal” of my life right now. This might quite possibly be it. Here we go.
Hey, no big deal, I only met THE PRESIDENT OF CHINA TODAY!!! The President.of.China.
I’m still in shock. Seriously. I mean, who can say that on their first trip to China, THEY ALSO MEET THE PRESIDENT?? Ok, I’ll cut back on the caps lock now, this is just the ONLY way I feel I can describe how amazing this was. How absolutely RARE and UNBELIEVABLE this is. Just in case some of you don’t understand this, NOT MANY people will ever have the chance to meet the PRESIDENT of China, Hu Jintao, and I for one, intend to treat it as a definite caps lock worthy subject. Anyways!
Let me explain how this went down. Those working in the VIP got an email last night at around midnight saying a very high level VIP would be coming into the Pavilion tomorrow and that we would need to wear our uniforms. The phone calls and texting started, all of us wondering who could be so high level that we were receiving email after email past midnight about uniforms, and times, and details of the next day, and then….someone let it slip: Hu Jintao. One ambassador had gone out of town to see his girlfriend’s family and he took the slow train the whole night, just to make it back to get the chance to meet the President. People were freaking out…and I’ll be honest, I know I should’ve been in bed, getting a good night’s rest…but I went out dancing. Hey, you only live once right? I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Ok, I’ll admit, I felt a little like dying this morning at 6:45, and did consider giving up the whole idea of meeting the president just for a few more hours of sleep, but some smarter, wiser Heather told my sleep-dumb mind that that could possibly be one of the worst mistakes of my life. And thank God for small miracles.
After preparing, and practicing, and rehearsing, the entire morning till 1 pm, standing up-sitting down-clap here-don’t do this-really, really don’t do that-Please Lord don’t do this or that-and if you do this you might be jumped by 30 security guards and never recover or walk the same way again ( don’t worry, I didn’t do this), finally we sat in the theater as instructed, 25 ambassadors with shaky palms, and starched uniforms, perched in 3 rows ( as instructed), name tags on, smiles frozen, and waited 15 long, long minutes, for the first sight of the entourage coming through the door that would be our cue to stand up and applaud. After several, heart-stopping, lose your breath FALSE starts that were caused by rather thoughtless staff members, we finally saw, or rather gaped at the huge, black mob of suited Chinese women and men that flooded through those doors like a monsoon in March. And the lights. The lights were blinding, the media swarming us with their loud, flashing bulbs and camera’s the size of the people carrying them, turning this way and that, down our rows, inches from our faces, and we just kept clapping and clapping, my face frozen into a (God knows what type of) smile, until he was right there. Right smack dab in the middle of the tens of translators and handlers, and politicians, standing there with our Commissioner General. One of the most powerful men in the whole world, and he was smiling and nodding at us and reaching out his hand to shake mine, my hand! And then on down the line, and the whole time I can’t stop smiling or doing some weird little nodding thing with my head, up and down, up and down. The moment was so surreal. I need to just click, save that one moment in my mind, not a picture ( lord knows there has to be plenty of those, I’ve been seeing lights behind my eyes all day) but rather that rush of dream-like feeling, where everything became slowed down to that one, single moment….too dramatic? I don’t know. That’s how it felt.
Every where I went today, I wanted to tell them, hey, I met your president! No big deal, he shook my hand, I’m sorry, yes you heard that right, your president, the president of the entire country of China, right, right a man that rules over a fourth of the world’s population, exactly, well…he shook my hand, oh right, I already mentioned that,um.. so anyways, how much is this mango?
Ok. I’m done. Do you think this is cool? Am I gushing too much? All I know is that I’m laminating my hand. Right. Now.
The.End.
The End.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Expo Village
So, I just learned today, that after the Expo wraps up and all the foreigners head home, they're selling the apartments in the Expo village from 800,000 to 1 million U.S dollars. That is so insane to me, that I am living in a million dollar apartment right now, in Shanghai. So, to all you second session ambassadors, that should get you pumped for our living situation. Not only that, the Expo village in itself is such a cool thing, it really is a village. The whole thing is gated off from surrounding Pudong, and it has spa's, coffee shops, restaurants, pizza parlors, convenience stores, everything, really, that you could want in your own mini village. Plus, it's incredibly safe, you have to go through a metal detector before you can even get in. All around, a pretty neat place.
Of course, then there's the Expo itself, which is slowly starting to dawn on me, how massive this whole thing is going to be. I mean, we're only on the "soft opening" right now, and the crowds are ridiculous, surging through the expo with their cell phones and camera's, the pushing and shoving in the bus alone is enough to make you cringe, but then there's the mayhem that often occurs waiting in line for these Pavilions. The line's are ridiculous, they wrap around the pavilions, and can last up to 4 hours or more. Thank goodness, there's somewhat of a ( another soft word) "soft agreement" between all the ambassadors, that we'll let each other bypass the lines. Hopefully we can get this to work so I can see these AMAZING pavilions. We're talking, INCREDIBLE mind-blowing structures, the pictures I posted don't even begin to describe the intricacy, and massiveness of these things. I could stare at the UK ( the one that looks like a porcupine) all day long and still not wrap my mind around the fact that what I'm staring at is actually real. Everything is so surreal...and just utterly massive.
Another great thing about this trip, is how warm and inviting all the Expats and people at the Consulate have been. Yesterday we went to the U.S consulate for lunch, an American-style BBQ complete with baked beans and Krispie Kreme donuts. The consulate is in the center of Shanghai, and is completly walled in, it's the strangest thing to walk from the bustling, noisy downtown Shanghai into a little green, shady, tree-lined oasis of the U.S Consulate, with it's Old South style mansion and large green lawn. Very American, but with very Chinese elements still. Anyways, all of the officers were very welcoming and friendly and gave us their business cards, shook our hands, offered advice, and we got to meet Consul General Beatrice Camp.
In other news, we all have the day off tomorrow, but soon the real work will start, and we will all begin our jobs of manning the masses, some downtairs, and others ( like me) up in the VIP lounge. I know this is a great oppurtunity to meet people as well as practice my Chinese, but to be honest, all I want to do is stroll around Shanghai, periodically stopping to eat delicious Chinese food, and really doing nothing at all. But...I guess I'm not getting my million dollar apartment for free....
Of course, then there's the Expo itself, which is slowly starting to dawn on me, how massive this whole thing is going to be. I mean, we're only on the "soft opening" right now, and the crowds are ridiculous, surging through the expo with their cell phones and camera's, the pushing and shoving in the bus alone is enough to make you cringe, but then there's the mayhem that often occurs waiting in line for these Pavilions. The line's are ridiculous, they wrap around the pavilions, and can last up to 4 hours or more. Thank goodness, there's somewhat of a ( another soft word) "soft agreement" between all the ambassadors, that we'll let each other bypass the lines. Hopefully we can get this to work so I can see these AMAZING pavilions. We're talking, INCREDIBLE mind-blowing structures, the pictures I posted don't even begin to describe the intricacy, and massiveness of these things. I could stare at the UK ( the one that looks like a porcupine) all day long and still not wrap my mind around the fact that what I'm staring at is actually real. Everything is so surreal...and just utterly massive.
Another great thing about this trip, is how warm and inviting all the Expats and people at the Consulate have been. Yesterday we went to the U.S consulate for lunch, an American-style BBQ complete with baked beans and Krispie Kreme donuts. The consulate is in the center of Shanghai, and is completly walled in, it's the strangest thing to walk from the bustling, noisy downtown Shanghai into a little green, shady, tree-lined oasis of the U.S Consulate, with it's Old South style mansion and large green lawn. Very American, but with very Chinese elements still. Anyways, all of the officers were very welcoming and friendly and gave us their business cards, shook our hands, offered advice, and we got to meet Consul General Beatrice Camp.
In other news, we all have the day off tomorrow, but soon the real work will start, and we will all begin our jobs of manning the masses, some downtairs, and others ( like me) up in the VIP lounge. I know this is a great oppurtunity to meet people as well as practice my Chinese, but to be honest, all I want to do is stroll around Shanghai, periodically stopping to eat delicious Chinese food, and really doing nothing at all. But...I guess I'm not getting my million dollar apartment for free....
Thursday, April 22, 2010
To all my dear, dear readers
Hey quick post. I just wanted to say thank you so much for reading! I don't know how to respond to comments, I don't think it let's me comment on my own post, but to second session ambassadors I will try and tell you as much as I can about this session, I really think you're going to love it, even if it is taxing. And then to all my friends, I love you and miss you! And if you want to talk to me and hear me respond, email me. Yay Kathy for finding my blog...finally. Ok, off to Karoke Bar!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
My hair-cut adventure
Today I accidentally gave a lesbian my number.
Let me explain:
It all started when I went to get my haircut. I caught the 758 bus on Pudong Road and stopped at a salon that looked reasonably nice. I was graciously taken to the back where they washed and conditioned my hair in delicious smelling soaps and then a wonderful massage, all the while I practiced my Chinese….while they laughed at me. Then this very gay Chinese man gave me a terrific haircut, which was impressive since my only hair-cut vocabulary words are “short” and “long” and “yes, I have red hair, yes, thank you, yes.” And then, in response to my broken sentences and pitiful attempts the whole store joined in to help me, an 11 year old boy was thrust in my face and in response to my “can you tell him I want bangs?” repeated over and over “I am in middle school, where you live please?” while everyone looked eagerly from him to me and then to him again. Finally, this one girl figured out the answer, she texted in Chinese on my phone (it’s much easier for me to read Chinese sometimes than to understand it spoken) and to everyone’s great happiness, I was able to communicate “side bangs with layers please, but keep the length.” Ta Da! However…..somehow in the chaos I told this girl (who was dressed like a boy for a reason) that it was alright for her to enter my number (remember she was holding my phone trying to communicate with me) into her phone. By the time I realized 1. she was a lesbian and 2. she was possibly trying to hit on me, scrap that, DEFINITELY trying to hit on me…..the damage was done. And when I finally made it back to my apartment I just received a nice little “ 你到了世博公寓了吗？or “ did you make it back to you’re apartment?” Yep. That’s right. And when I ignored it, she CALLED me. Why does this always happen to me?? Plus, she doesn’t speak English, and I don’t really know how to say in Chinese “you seem very nice, but not my type…I like men, thank you though, I’m flattered really, but if you could actually erase my number and never contact me again, that would be so nice, xie xie ni.”
In other news. Another full day at the U.S pavilion, my Chinese is improving, but slowly. It’s frustrating to say the same things over and over, and never have the time to have more in-depth conversations at the turnstiles. And then, when I do go out on my own ( like today) and try and learn from people around me, it seems they think I’m either hitting on them or crazy or need help and panic or walk away. Sad. But nevertheless, I’m not giving up! I am texting in Chinese, talking to my ambassador friends in Chinese, to the bus driver, pedestrians, little dogs, babies, friendly old women, I am forcing everyone to help me learn this language!
Let me explain:
It all started when I went to get my haircut. I caught the 758 bus on Pudong Road and stopped at a salon that looked reasonably nice. I was graciously taken to the back where they washed and conditioned my hair in delicious smelling soaps and then a wonderful massage, all the while I practiced my Chinese….while they laughed at me. Then this very gay Chinese man gave me a terrific haircut, which was impressive since my only hair-cut vocabulary words are “short” and “long” and “yes, I have red hair, yes, thank you, yes.” And then, in response to my broken sentences and pitiful attempts the whole store joined in to help me, an 11 year old boy was thrust in my face and in response to my “can you tell him I want bangs?” repeated over and over “I am in middle school, where you live please?” while everyone looked eagerly from him to me and then to him again. Finally, this one girl figured out the answer, she texted in Chinese on my phone (it’s much easier for me to read Chinese sometimes than to understand it spoken) and to everyone’s great happiness, I was able to communicate “side bangs with layers please, but keep the length.” Ta Da! However…..somehow in the chaos I told this girl (who was dressed like a boy for a reason) that it was alright for her to enter my number (remember she was holding my phone trying to communicate with me) into her phone. By the time I realized 1. she was a lesbian and 2. she was possibly trying to hit on me, scrap that, DEFINITELY trying to hit on me…..the damage was done. And when I finally made it back to my apartment I just received a nice little “ 你到了世博公寓了吗？or “ did you make it back to you’re apartment?” Yep. That’s right. And when I ignored it, she CALLED me. Why does this always happen to me?? Plus, she doesn’t speak English, and I don’t really know how to say in Chinese “you seem very nice, but not my type…I like men, thank you though, I’m flattered really, but if you could actually erase my number and never contact me again, that would be so nice, xie xie ni.”
In other news. Another full day at the U.S pavilion, my Chinese is improving, but slowly. It’s frustrating to say the same things over and over, and never have the time to have more in-depth conversations at the turnstiles. And then, when I do go out on my own ( like today) and try and learn from people around me, it seems they think I’m either hitting on them or crazy or need help and panic or walk away. Sad. But nevertheless, I’m not giving up! I am texting in Chinese, talking to my ambassador friends in Chinese, to the bus driver, pedestrians, little dogs, babies, friendly old women, I am forcing everyone to help me learn this language!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Today was a looong day full of training, and rain and really uncomfortable shoes. We opened the U.S pavilion today to a small group of only(yeah right)200,000 Chinese people. Which seems like it would be great fun, which it
was a bit, saying 你好 and 谢谢来过没过关 a million times to smiling Chinese people and they're cherubic babies....except when it wasn't fun at all and they started pushing and yelling about the long lines and demanding to know why we weren't opening the whole pavilion and then an 80 year old Chinese grandma cursed you out...in three different dialects. Or when the bus stopped working ( NOTHING is reliable in China) and we had to walk back in the rain 3 miles.
Anyways! Let's see, on the flip side, I went out to another club last night full of more movie star people. One of my ambassador friends called the club scene "conspicuous consumption" as in, Chinese clubbing is all about looking the part, drinking the top shelf vodka, name brand plastered where all can see, chain smoking cigarettes, tossing your expensive haircut as you lounge in the pink cushions that light up somehow with a girl in a white and black striped dress perched on your arm looking disdainfully down at the rabble around you both, and then one more long drag on you're Chinese clove that is rotting your lungs but it's worth it because you just.look.so.cool.
But I love the clubs. Lord, there was this one part where a girl ( or guy? you can never tell in the
clubbb) did this thing to loud music where she danced and "played" a keyboard ( that looked like a guitar?) and it shot out sparking fireworks from the end. And. it.got.on.me. not kidding! It freakin burned me and left black char on my arm! Which was freaking awesome! Really kinda added to the whole experience, like yeahh dance to this
musicc, shortie call 91- what the heck! That girl's got fireworks!! THey're everywhere!! Look how pretty they are, fireworks inside, who woulda thoug- Holy F@#$ I'm on F@#$ing fire!!!( and then I'm screaming and swatting my arm like a crazy person) urhmm. Yeah, embarrassingly enough, that's kinda how it went down.
Ok. too tired to breathe. must go to bed. night.
was a bit, saying 你好 and 谢谢来过没过关 a million times to smiling Chinese people and they're cherubic babies....except when it wasn't fun at all and they started pushing and yelling about the long lines and demanding to know why we weren't opening the whole pavilion and then an 80 year old Chinese grandma cursed you out...in three different dialects. Or when the bus stopped working ( NOTHING is reliable in China) and we had to walk back in the rain 3 miles.
Anyways! Let's see, on the flip side, I went out to another club last night full of more movie star people. One of my ambassador friends called the club scene "conspicuous consumption" as in, Chinese clubbing is all about looking the part, drinking the top shelf vodka, name brand plastered where all can see, chain smoking cigarettes, tossing your expensive haircut as you lounge in the pink cushions that light up somehow with a girl in a white and black striped dress perched on your arm looking disdainfully down at the rabble around you both, and then one more long drag on you're Chinese clove that is rotting your lungs but it's worth it because you just.look.so.cool.
But I love the clubs. Lord, there was this one part where a girl ( or guy? you can never tell in the
clubbb) did this thing to loud music where she danced and "played" a keyboard ( that looked like a guitar?) and it shot out sparking fireworks from the end. And. it.got.on.me. not kidding! It freakin burned me and left black char on my arm! Which was freaking awesome! Really kinda added to the whole experience, like yeahh dance to this
musicc, shortie call 91- what the heck! That girl's got fireworks!! THey're everywhere!! Look how pretty they are, fireworks inside, who woulda thoug- Holy F@#$ I'm on F@#$ing fire!!!( and then I'm screaming and swatting my arm like a crazy person) urhmm. Yeah, embarrassingly enough, that's kinda how it went down.
Ok. too tired to breathe. must go to bed. night.
Monday, April 19, 2010
First of all, Lauren, you cannot even say these pavilions are ugly, ok so maybe the picture background is a little dark ( it was raining) and gloomy and there is clutter everywhere, but these pavilions are amazing. The China pavilion is so extravagantly large you have to blink your eyes a few times to make sure you're not dreaming. And alright, so maybe the U.S pavilion is a little underwhelming ( a few cracks I've heard, outlet mall, movie theater...), but still, pretty neat in that all of these pavilions will be completely torn down in 9 months. Ironic huh? An exposition that's theme is sustainable living and respecting the environment is TEARING down hundreds of buildings after using them for only 9 months. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of buildings...bulldozed. Go Earth.
Anyways, today we spent the whole day training on protocol. In China there are so many rules to approaching dealing with officials and people of importance, and each other in general. Terms like "guanxi" and "mianzi" control all aspects of relationships, that is offering favors and saving face. But aside from China, I don't think that we Americans ( or people from the States) even understand the complexity of U.S government officials. Our government is made up of so many different rankings, it's like being a movie star but with power people don't see as easily. Yeah, it's a lot like being like a movie star actually, officials have large entourages, they expect very preferential treatment, they have certain titles, gift-giving is expected, one must greet one official with another official of the same or higher ranking, the list goes on. I guess this is the real world, it's all about who you are, who you know, and in China....who get's the best gift. And in the midst of all this, I will be quietly in the background holding their coats and umbrellas. But at least I'll be taller :)
Anyways, today we spent the whole day training on protocol. In China there are so many rules to approaching dealing with officials and people of importance, and each other in general. Terms like "guanxi" and "mianzi" control all aspects of relationships, that is offering favors and saving face. But aside from China, I don't think that we Americans ( or people from the States) even understand the complexity of U.S government officials. Our government is made up of so many different rankings, it's like being a movie star but with power people don't see as easily. Yeah, it's a lot like being like a movie star actually, officials have large entourages, they expect very preferential treatment, they have certain titles, gift-giving is expected, one must greet one official with another official of the same or higher ranking, the list goes on. I guess this is the real world, it's all about who you are, who you know, and in China....who get's the best gift. And in the midst of all this, I will be quietly in the background holding their coats and umbrellas. But at least I'll be taller :)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
A night in Shanghai
你们好！Hello again, thank you for your comments, I'm so happy people are reading my blog ( well at least 3) haha. Just to let you know, I can't use facebook, so don't expect any posts or comments from me on there :( I can only communicate with this blog, webmail, and skype, but that's enough right? Why can I not post pictures right now?? So annoying. I want to post pics of some of the expo sites! Ok, that will just have to come later then.
Let's see, well, I went out two nights ago. To a Chinese Club in downtown Shanghai. It was insane. I.can.not.even.explain.it There were several times I had to pinch myself and say, am I really here? Is this happening?? Let me try to explain it, first of all ridiculous glittering magnificence everywhere, from the glowing bar counter top, to the sparkling chandaliers, to the bubbling jacuzzi in the club, and of course tens of fabulous looking chinese girls in their full get up and Chinese men in their suits looking super dapper. And did I mention these Chinese men really love american women? I'm not trying to be conceited, it's just really true. Probably because we're novel, it's just the same with American girls and Australian men, right? Anyways, they invited us back to the VIP lounge where we drank green tea with whiskey and did shots, and talked about international travel, and each other's businesses and thoughts on the economy ( which for me, despite my major, are very little). And then, leaving the club at 4 am with our group of 10, grabbing a taxi and driving through the city, ablaze with lights as far as I could see, and leaning up against the window, my head still pulsating from the techno music, and my body warm from shots of unnamed fiery liquids ( sorry Mom). Well, I just felt so damn cool.
A few quick things: I got assigned working in the VIP lounge at the US pavilion which is awesome because I'll be dealing with celebrities, dignitaries, other ambassadors, and all around pretty important people. I might even get to meet Michelle Obama! Secondly, Kong Pao Chicken is my new favorite dish ( the peanuts are delicious) and lastly, I miss my friends so much :( and I wish you were all here to experience this with me, ( Michael what's your email address so I can write you!?). On that note, 再见！
Let's see, well, I went out two nights ago. To a Chinese Club in downtown Shanghai. It was insane. I.can.not.even.explain.it There were several times I had to pinch myself and say, am I really here? Is this happening?? Let me try to explain it, first of all ridiculous glittering magnificence everywhere, from the glowing bar counter top, to the sparkling chandaliers, to the bubbling jacuzzi in the club, and of course tens of fabulous looking chinese girls in their full get up and Chinese men in their suits looking super dapper. And did I mention these Chinese men really love american women? I'm not trying to be conceited, it's just really true. Probably because we're novel, it's just the same with American girls and Australian men, right? Anyways, they invited us back to the VIP lounge where we drank green tea with whiskey and did shots, and talked about international travel, and each other's businesses and thoughts on the economy ( which for me, despite my major, are very little). And then, leaving the club at 4 am with our group of 10, grabbing a taxi and driving through the city, ablaze with lights as far as I could see, and leaning up against the window, my head still pulsating from the techno music, and my body warm from shots of unnamed fiery liquids ( sorry Mom). Well, I just felt so damn cool.
A few quick things: I got assigned working in the VIP lounge at the US pavilion which is awesome because I'll be dealing with celebrities, dignitaries, other ambassadors, and all around pretty important people. I might even get to meet Michelle Obama! Secondly, Kong Pao Chicken is my new favorite dish ( the peanuts are delicious) and lastly, I miss my friends so much :( and I wish you were all here to experience this with me, ( Michael what's your email address so I can write you!?). On that note, 再见！
Saturday, April 17, 2010
A quick word
Saturday,
My sleeping is all messed up. I wish I could be strong, like the others, and battle through till a decent hour like 8 or 9 pm. I wish that I had held to my plans tonight, meet in the lobby at 6, go to China Mobile, get a phone, go get a fabulous Chinese dinner, instead of: falling into bed at 5 for a “nap” then wordlessly frantically shooing away my friends when they came to wake me and snuggling deeper into my pillows only to wake up at 9, having missed it all. And that would also explain why I’m wide awake at 3 am. I have GOT to get better at this.
So, about China. First of all I can’t believe I’m here. And secondly I really should stop saying that aloud, because apparently I’m the only one in this group who hasn’t been before so then they look at me with shocked expressions: you’ve never been to China?! And then will follow, “Have you ever been on an international flight?! Do you ever leave the country? Have you left South Carolina before?!!! As if not being to China and not leaving the farm are distinctly connected. So, I try not to mention this too much, and if I do I might say, Wow China sure is different from Thailand! You know, my OTHER world travel trip, just to go ahead and cut the crap quick.
China to me, is a little like a slightly more cartoonish world. Well, obviously it’s more than that, it’s a major world power, with some very intimidating buildings, and very important people, but all that aside it really is very much like a cartoon. Firstly, it might be because “Haibao” the little Expo mascot is plastered up on walls everywhere, his bright blue toothpaste self smiling down at me from every spare inch of China. Or the fact that over here it is perfectly normal to have signs in round, pink lettering, on a little squat convenience store, lining a little squat street that all also have round or square lettering in similar cartoon colors. Bikes are everywhere, piled with people, children and huge piles of wood. And also, another MAJOR fact about what I always dreamed a cartoon world would be like, everyone here likes me! At least I’m pretty sure, I mean, they all smile at me, albeit sometimes that smiling is laughing behind their hands while I struggle to hold a chopstick, but it all seems very friendly, and nice, and like they think I’m cute, maybe a little too tall, but cute. And then, I haven’t even mentioned the Exposition itself! It’s like one magnificent cartoon (granted I haven’t seen it for myself yet) but all the pictures and models and explanations I’ve heard in training describes the Expo as nothing but these magnificent colored buildings that offer incredible surround sound media and mind-blowing visual stimuli and MORE friendly people and A LOT MORE colorful signs in round lettering, the perfect cartoon world. Ok, too much on this analogy, moving on.
I’ve heard now, from a few people, what their first trip to China was like. To sum it up, when they got off the airplane it was to get into a train that took them to their small hostel or dorm where they didn’t know anyone, and their room was too small and they were struggling with a map, and to understand Chinese to survive, and to make friends and…well. This wasn’t’ how it has been for this student ambassador group at all. On the contrary, it has rather been like Heaven. We got picked up by a large bus, by the very warm, welcoming management team from the U.S Pavilion, our luggage was taken care of for us, and then we were taken to the RIDICULOUSLY nice Expo village, handed our keys, and presented to our beautiful apartments. Where everything we could want was already on the gleaming, just installed counter, from the bright, white towels in our closet, to the sparkling new pots and pans in the kitchen, the flashlights and soap and shampoo and water bottles all waiting for us like little practical welcoming gifts, that in my excited, frenzied state gave me a feeling not unlike Christmas morning. .
Ok, will write more later. Here are some pics of my apartment, enjoy! Zai jian!
My sleeping is all messed up. I wish I could be strong, like the others, and battle through till a decent hour like 8 or 9 pm. I wish that I had held to my plans tonight, meet in the lobby at 6, go to China Mobile, get a phone, go get a fabulous Chinese dinner, instead of: falling into bed at 5 for a “nap” then wordlessly frantically shooing away my friends when they came to wake me and snuggling deeper into my pillows only to wake up at 9, having missed it all. And that would also explain why I’m wide awake at 3 am. I have GOT to get better at this.
So, about China. First of all I can’t believe I’m here. And secondly I really should stop saying that aloud, because apparently I’m the only one in this group who hasn’t been before so then they look at me with shocked expressions: you’ve never been to China?! And then will follow, “Have you ever been on an international flight?! Do you ever leave the country? Have you left South Carolina before?!!! As if not being to China and not leaving the farm are distinctly connected. So, I try not to mention this too much, and if I do I might say, Wow China sure is different from Thailand! You know, my OTHER world travel trip, just to go ahead and cut the crap quick.
China to me, is a little like a slightly more cartoonish world. Well, obviously it’s more than that, it’s a major world power, with some very intimidating buildings, and very important people, but all that aside it really is very much like a cartoon. Firstly, it might be because “Haibao” the little Expo mascot is plastered up on walls everywhere, his bright blue toothpaste self smiling down at me from every spare inch of China. Or the fact that over here it is perfectly normal to have signs in round, pink lettering, on a little squat convenience store, lining a little squat street that all also have round or square lettering in similar cartoon colors. Bikes are everywhere, piled with people, children and huge piles of wood. And also, another MAJOR fact about what I always dreamed a cartoon world would be like, everyone here likes me! At least I’m pretty sure, I mean, they all smile at me, albeit sometimes that smiling is laughing behind their hands while I struggle to hold a chopstick, but it all seems very friendly, and nice, and like they think I’m cute, maybe a little too tall, but cute. And then, I haven’t even mentioned the Exposition itself! It’s like one magnificent cartoon (granted I haven’t seen it for myself yet) but all the pictures and models and explanations I’ve heard in training describes the Expo as nothing but these magnificent colored buildings that offer incredible surround sound media and mind-blowing visual stimuli and MORE friendly people and A LOT MORE colorful signs in round lettering, the perfect cartoon world. Ok, too much on this analogy, moving on.
I’ve heard now, from a few people, what their first trip to China was like. To sum it up, when they got off the airplane it was to get into a train that took them to their small hostel or dorm where they didn’t know anyone, and their room was too small and they were struggling with a map, and to understand Chinese to survive, and to make friends and…well. This wasn’t’ how it has been for this student ambassador group at all. On the contrary, it has rather been like Heaven. We got picked up by a large bus, by the very warm, welcoming management team from the U.S Pavilion, our luggage was taken care of for us, and then we were taken to the RIDICULOUSLY nice Expo village, handed our keys, and presented to our beautiful apartments. Where everything we could want was already on the gleaming, just installed counter, from the bright, white towels in our closet, to the sparkling new pots and pans in the kitchen, the flashlights and soap and shampoo and water bottles all waiting for us like little practical welcoming gifts, that in my excited, frenzied state gave me a feeling not unlike Christmas morning. .
Ok, will write more later. Here are some pics of my apartment, enjoy! Zai jian!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Anticipation
First Blog start now. I have eight days till I leave for Shanghai, and to be honest, all I can think about are my exams....and possibly getting a pulmonary embolism on the flight over???( yeah, my compassionate friends have been very kindly planting possibility's in my mind.) Ironically, I'm writing this blog while sitting in a Chinese class....a class I should probably be paying rapt attention to, I mean, I only need to be fluent in eight days, and giving fluent tours in Chinese, and possibly my life will depend on my language ability if I get lost in the city, or maybe someones ELSE'S life could depend on my Chinese ability, like a lost tourist, who got lost on their way to the Australian exhibit, but happened to trip over a runaway cat and has broken their leg and if I had only listened that fateful Tuesday in that fateful class I could be helping...ok. that's it. I'm out.
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