元宵

Happy Hump Day, everybody! And, for those of you who don’t know, I am back in China! Grey, wet, polluted China… yay. No, but seriously folks, I am happy to be back for my last semester here at Hangzhou Normal University. This semester will definitely be full of (more) adventure, fun, mystery and excitement – all of which is going to fly by, I’m certain.

Look at that sky...
you can't even tell it's there.

I arrived in China on Friday afternoon (February 22) at the Shanghai airport. Once there, I went through customs, got my luggage, went through customs again, and found my way to the airport bus station where I bought a ticket back to Hangzhou – all on about four hours of sleep and with burning, bloodshot eyes (don’t you just love travel?) Three hours on a bus and one very full bladder later, I made it to the lovely city of Hangzhou. I caught a taxi (surprisingly quickly, thank goodness!) and had him take me all the way to the front of my apartment building. I then dropped off my luggage in the reception area and ran up to my apartment where I proceeded to have one of the best pees of my life (and I know you can relate to me on this one, guys… haven’t we all had those great, relieving, sometimes even spiritual moments on the toilet? What a great feeling.)


Bladder empty again, I lugged my luggage up to my sixth floor apartment (might I remind you, no elevators) and spent the rest of my evening attempting to defeat jet lag  I grabbed some dinner at a local noodle place, I hung out with one of my co-teachers, and I took a much-needed shower. Finally, I decided I had stayed up late enough (*cough*9pm*cough*) and proceeded to pass out.


The rest of the weekend was sort of a blur of activities that would keep me awake (jet lag is no joke, people). I’m not usually this adamant about fighting off the jet lag, but I had a full day of classes ahead of me on Monday and I did not want to fall asleep in the middle of teaching. So, I spent Saturday and Sunday riding my bike around the city (terrible idea, by the way – my body was way too tired for that), meeting with fellow teachers to talk about the upcoming semester, doing a little shopping, going to the gym to hit the treadmill, etc. By Sunday, I had only taken one nap and it was only for about an hour – which is an amazing feat, for those of you who haven’t experienced jet lag.

Lantern Festival Decorations!

The grand finale of my “stay awake” weekend was Sunday night (obviously) and, it was actually pretty grand! It turns out, Sunday was Lantern Festival – a festival that happens about 15 days after the new year and marks the end of the so-called Spring Festival. Some of my fellow foreign teachers invited me over to their place to set off some fireworks (sweet!). So I spend Sunday evening sitting on the banks of a canal, in surprisingly nice weather, and watching fireworks go off in all different directions (we weren’t the only ones setting them off – they were everywhere!) I will always be surprised by how much joy boys get from setting off fireworks (okay, technically, they’re men – but don’t all men turn to boys when they have fun toys like fireworks to play with?). Personally, I prefer to watch fireworks from a distance (I don’t play with fire… no. way.) And seeing so many fireworks in every direction I look is always a lovely (if not loud) experience.

One more thing about fireworks - their beauty is near-impossible to catch on camera (especially with photographic skills like mine) so I took a video instead! Enjoy the lovely colors, the crazy sparks, and, in one instance, the outrageous nearness of firework to building... only in China. (Also, I just learned that fireworks are actually illegal in China... yes, you heard me correctly: Fireworks are illegal in the country that invented them. What?!? The only time fireworks are allowed is during Spring Festival... figures).

Now it’s Wednesday, and I think I can safely say that I have defeated jet lag – I slept from 10pm last night to 8:30 this morning, which I’d say is normal enough (definitely better than waking up at 5am… and staying up). You haven’t got the best of me this time, evil jetlag… mwahahaha!


So, I think that’s all for now – but I’ll be sure to write again soon! I’ve still got to finish chronicling my summer saga, as well as fill you in on this last semester here at HNU. Until then, everyone – Zaijian!

新年快乐!

Happy Chinese New Year everybody! This past Sunday (February 10) marked the beginning of the year of the snake… which, in my humble opinion, is probably the best of the twelve Chinese zodiacs. (Okay, you caught me – I was born in the year of the snake, so I may be a little biased). In China, it’s an especially big deal if the new year is your year (it only happens once every twelve years!) However, in order to ensure that your year is a fortunate one, it is imperative to wear red every day. Most Chinese people say red underwear is the best way to stay lucky, but I have heard that red jewelry or other articles of clothing are also acceptable (and thank goodness! Because I have a total of two pairs of red underwear – imagine tryin’ to make those last for 360+ days… ha!) So, for anyone else born between February 6, 1989 and January 26, 1990, be sure to wear something red every day this year… and here’s to a fortunate year for all of you!

Roxy gettin' fancy for the new year...

For the Chinese New Year this year, I attempted to celebrate (though nothing will ever compare to the Chinese New Year I had last year… in CHINA!) and while nothing really turned out as planned, I ended up having a blast with my good ole family. On the new year’s eve, Sammy and I went out to a field to watch an illegal impromptu fireworks show put on by some local college kids (aka: Sammy’s friends). The fireworks ended up being some of the most anticlimactic I’ve ever seen (sorry Sammy’s friends, but I think you have to spend more than 20 bucks for a decent fireworks display…) but the milkshakes we had afterwards were delish! And I suppose some fireworks are better than none.

I'll take quality family time over quality fireworks any day

New Year’s Day was spent attempting to do Chinese activities with my family. We ate Asian candies, attempted to make Chinese bubble tea, played some serious mahjong and went to an American Chinese buffet for dinner (which I cannot recommend to anyone… but, hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?)  We also managed to take some family pictures, which I think turned out totally adorable!

My attempt at bubble tea...
Alas, they do it better in China

Playing Mahjong in our Chinese jammies!

I love these people!!

I’m still working on my summer-saga posts… I can’t wait to start writing about the seriously epic budget tour that Rachel and I took in August. But for now, I’d just like to wish all of you a happy new year full of happiness and optimism. Always make the best of what you’ve got, and never take your family for granted… oh, and wear red panties!

Because what's a family photo shoot without awkward photos?
Smile with ALL your teeth, girls!

See you soon! Zai Jian!

杭州

Just writing about the time I had with my mom and sister in China makes me miss them – and I’m in America with them now! But I know next time I head back to Hangzhou, they definitely won’t be joining me. Don’t worry, that doesn't mean I’m not looking forward to my final semester at HZNU, but school doesn’t start for another two weeks, so for now, I’m going to soak up the past and bask in those sweet, sweet memories.

Like I’ve written about previously, my mom, sister and I traveled to various destinations across China during their two-week stay with me – from Xitang to Suzhou, Changzhou and Guilin, we certainly saw some unique parts of China. I think my favorite part of our trip, however, was the down time we spent in Hangzhou. I loved showing my family how I live every day – where I eat, shop, relax and go out. It was such a relief to finally show them what I’d been telling them about for a whole year! So I’m going to share with you some of the highlights of our time spent in Hangzhou…

Shopping at the local grocery store…

Mmm... fresh frog!

And you can't go wrong with chicken feet!

Trying really weird traditional Chinese snacks…

I can't even tell you what this is called...
but I can tell you it is a super salty preserved egg. Yum.

Sammy's a champ!
Also, chicken feet are (supposedly) good for your skin 

Exploring Downtown…

This is possibly my favorite building in HZ

Eating delicious food…

NOODLES

You can't leave China without trying Hot Pot!

Doing some serious shopping…

Hangzhou Silk Market = My Mother's Paradise

Shopping on HeFang Street

Singing (more) karaoke…

Riding some questionably safe rickshaws...

During the ride, all three of us (somehow) fit back there...
and survived.

Eating some more delicious food…

Gotta try that Peking Duck!

....and some lotus root, of course!

 Hiking around West Lake...

There is a huge lake behind us, I swear...
please excuse the pollution 

And overall, having a blast!

East Side!!

When it was finally (and quite sadly) time for Mom & Sammy to head home, I took them back to Shanghai (a day early to do some sightseeing – which we hardly took any pictures of!) where they caught their flight and (20+ hours later) made it safely back to North Carolina. Thinking back on our big adventure, it hardly feels real… but I am so grateful that my family was lucky enough to visit me. Not only were we able to create everlasting memories together, but it is so helpful to have someone who has seen China – seen my home of two years! – to talk and reminisce with when I’m back in America (reverse culture shock is no joke, people). And the fact that my mom and sister were able to visit me in a country so far from home is just another wonderful reminder of how fortunate I am to have an extremely supportive and loving family (dad included!). I could not ask for more.

I can always count on my family
to be just as shameless as I am

Come back soon to read all about my other big trip of the summer – Budget Tour 2012 with Rachel!

Until then, Zai Jian!