Frustration and Fatigue
Couldn’t sleep a wink last night. And today was my Chinese lesson. I’m learning on an app called Anki. I have no idea how to use it, but apparently, that doesn’t matter to my teacher, because I suspect he likes to see me frustrated. It’s like taking flying lessons and the pilot takes you up…
Monday, Monday…
It was actually pretty good yesterday. Technology held up, got through stuff from the units, yada, yada, yada. Had pizza for dinner, ordered from Eleme. I finally broke down and ordered from Eleme (food delivery service) for the first time in YEARS last week, when I had a craving for pizza, but not enough to…
Ugh
Depressing when you spend nearly $7 for Granny Smith apples and you slice one open and you see this.
Aw, Yeah!
Baopals is just like Taobao, but in English. I’ve had a hankering for American snacks, so I broke down and bought some caramel pretzels from MiniSo. Of course, they don’t come in the American size. We’re talking a bag containing three “snack-size” packages of pretzels. They were good, but of course they weren’t enough. Baopals…
An Okay Monday
I managed to get ready for all my classes so I could have a more relaxed week this week. And today went okay.
Hospital Visit！
Relax. Visiting a hospital in China doesn’t mean automatic bankruptcy. But of course, being an American, any time I have to visit a hospital, my heart rate jumps a bit. In China, doctors don’t have the status U.S. physicians do. They also don’t have the same pay. But they do hang out at the hospital.…
Stressful Evening
I’m making another effort at Chinese study. However, managing the tools my instructor wants me to use seems a huge effort. Electronic flashcards and recording my pronunciation (how do I know if I’m pronouncing it right?) seem too much to bear right now. It’s annoying when the study tools don’t make sense and involve technology.…
Sittin’ at the Bank
I got paid a few days ago, so today, I spent close to four hours at the bank waiting for them to do a wire transfer home. I had to go home and get my old passport, because I showed up at the bank without it, and of course, I ended up needing it. The…
Cultural Tour!
A wedding carriage. Young girls stayed in the room until about age 13, when they were married off. This is what they rode in. I was told these girls basically stayed in these rooms until they got married. Temple at Huang Zuobin’s house. The furniture you see is from a tree that was 300 years…
The Cardinals Aren’t Real
I watched Jerry Maguire again the other night and the fact the movie centers around Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renee Zellweger, I still don’t believe the Arizona Cardinals are real. I’d never heard of them before the movie came out in what? 1996? Yeah, 1996. I thought the team had been made up…
Excedrin Headache Number OMG!
I woke up this morning with the worst headache I’ve had in a long time. I get headaches in China, usually right before it’s going to rain. But this was a right behind my right eye, stomach-churning pain that had me wondering if this was a pre-flu trailer. I took some Walmart Acetominophen, and went…
Busy， Busy Week
It’s been very busy here, and I can’t even look forward to the weekend to relax. But it isn’t normally like this. It’s just a convergence of stuff to do. Grading, prepping, starting a new Chinese class, English corner two times a week, a drama presentation Saturday night and a full day trip on Sunday.…
Don’t Know Why, but Thanks!
Lately my blog has been getting way more traffic than usual. I’m not sure why, but thanks! And if you really like my musings about life in China, spread the world!
Bad Insomnia, Tech Breakdown, and Putting a Shelf Up
So last night I had really bad insomnia, even though I took a Unisom, split in half. And when I woke up this morning, it was overcast. And after my last class today, there was just the lightest of sprinkles. But I made it through both classes today. For some reason though, my computer would…
Another Quiet Day
I got done what I needed to get done for tomorrow. Plus, I don’t have to get up too early, so that’s another good thing. Went for a walk today. And that’s really all I’ve got done. It’s finally cooled off, which is very nice. I’m not dripping sweat five minutes after I leave the…
Today Was Okay
I slept super late today. For some reason, it’s taking me a very long time to get started when I don’t have any particular time or reason to get up. But I got some prepping done today. Not all of it, but a good start on it. I am back down to five classes, so…
I Haven’t Seen Campus Kitten in Days…
So I haven’t seen Campus Kitten in days. The last time I saw her was Sunday, I think. Monday, one of the vertical bars was out of its hole, making an eight-inch opening in the fence. She’s so small, she didn’t need that space, but I’m wondering if someone raised the vertica bar, reached in…
A Pretty Good Monday
Classes went well, Campus Kitten ate, it’s not raining. Had a nice big supper of beef, many potatoes, and radishes. Snuggled up in bed onlline. Aahhhhh…. the good life.
Didn’t See Campus Kitten Today
Someone was power washing the sidewalk near where I think she hangs out, and it was making a loud noise and spraying water. But I did manage to fill her water and food dish without anyone seeing me. There was also some food left over, so I don’t know if she found another food source…
Campus Kitten Had Visitors!
Campus Kitten had quite a few visitors today: me, my new colleague and some random person on the street. Usually she’s skittish around people. But she let someone else pet her today.
Campus Kitten Likes Back Scratching!
So I discovered Campus Kitten likes Back Scratching. I know they say never touch a pet while eating, but that is how I ended up petting Campus Kitten as well as back scratching. Kitten is still very hungry. And very thin.
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No Way! Laowai! 