"You got fatter over the summer"

I'm back!! I spent 2 months traveling around the states (California, South Carolina, Florida, DC, NJ/NYC, Texas) and then ended my break in Hong Kong for 2 weeks. It was so nice to be back, I loved being able to see most of my family and friends. If you hosted me while I was back, THANK YOU! I had a wonderful time everywhere I went and it made it so difficult to leave! 

I arrived back in Ma'anshan on Wednesday (8/28). As usual, I had bad luck traveling. I was delayed an hour and just barely made the 3:00 shuttle back to Ma'anshan. The entire shuttle ride I was anxious about getting my 2 VERY HEAVY bags up the stairs. I had asked my boss if one of my bags would be safe at the bottom of the stairs while I brought the second one up and his response was, "only if you're very fast". No way was I going to be very fast... Luckily he offered to meet me at my apartment to help me carry my bags up. 

As we are BOTH struggling up the stairs with my overly stuffed bags he told me I got fatter over the summer. My response was, "THANKS". He tried to tell me it was a compliment- that it meant that I had a good summer and ate a lot of good food. Clearly, I did not take his comment as a compliment. I had worked out this summer, went to all of Steph's crazy spin classes, ran, walked, etc., point being I felt like I had lost at least some weight, NOT GAINED. Mind you, I am the ONLY foreigner here until Saturday. So not only was I feeling fat, I was feeling alone. The second I got into my apartment I fell onto my couch and cried. I kept thinking to myself, "why am I here, why did I come back, this is miserable, I made a terrible decision". 

Luckily I have great family and friends who I reached out to. I was reminded of how different Chinese culture is from ours and how I can't take everything they say so personally. It’s funny how a "compliment" in one county is the complete opposite in another. 

After thinking about last year and what a great experience it was, I was quickly reminded as to why I stayed a second year. Eventually I got it together and shut out my boss's comment and moved on with what was left of the day. 

The first thing I did was put on my new slipcover for my couch... brought all the way from the states. YEP. You probably think that's crazy, but it's the little things that make living here a little easier. Here's  the transition my couch has gone through.... 

The rest of my afternoon was spent setting up my Sonos, cleaning, and unpacking some. I ended my first day back watching New Girl while I had popcorn and beer for dinner. At least I have my priorities straight........ 

As my mom always says, "This too shall pass. Tomorrow is a new day."

"It's just an adventure"

After a great weekend in Shanghai it would be absurd to even think we would have an easy return to Ma'anshan. From Shanghai we took the high speed train to Nanjing. It only took 1 hour since it went 300km/hr. You can do the math if you want (convert into mph) or you can just trust me when I say it was FAST. So that part was easy.

The next part, Nanjing to Ma'anshan. A DISASTER. Where I went wrong- taking advantage of mom and dad being there and taking the "easy" way to get from Nanjing to Ma'anshan: by taxi. 1) There is no easy way to do anything in China. 2) I should have just gone with my gut and we should have all taken the bus. It takes the same amount of time and is 1/4 of the price. I don't know what I was thinking.

So the story... After bargaining with this cab driver he finally agrees on 200RMB to take us to the Crowne Plaza in Ma'anshan where my parents would be staying for the night. We had so much luggage and the trunk only fit one suitcase. So, the rest of the luggage was on laps. Real comfortable. This cab driver drives us maybe a minute and stops in the middle of the road and flags another cab driver down. It happens to be a woman. I don't think women are bad drivers, but in China, THEY ARE. It's hilarious. Anyway, were in the middle of the road and he starts taking our stuff out and putting it in her cab. We all get into her cab and we wait. We waited a good 3 minutes until I realized the guy was giving this women directions to get to Ma'anshan. SHE HAD NEVER BEEN. It is literally like 2 different roads you're on once you get out of Nanjing, but if you don't know where it is, you're never going to find it. There are no signs. After giving her directions, she gets in the car and drives around the block. In 10 minutes we had gotten to the other side of the train station. So finally I tell her (in Chinese) to take us back to the train station and that we are just going to take the bus because she has NO idea where she is going. She literally stops in the middle of the road and refuses to take us back. I mean busses almost hit us. I start yelling at her in Chinese, my dad starts yelling at her in English and it is a complete disaster. She didn't want us to take the bus because she split the 200RMB price with the other cab driver who gave her the job. Meaning, she paid him a 100RMB and then we would pay her the 200RMB when we got there. So basically, her not taking us meant she was out 100RMB. WELLLL.... I DIDN'T CARE! Why would you take a job when you don't know where you're going?!? I don't have all day lady! So she starts crying and we all get out of the car, take our things and walk along the highway to get back to the train station where we get the bus to Ma'anshan.
Lesson learned: go with your gut and always take the bus.

When frustrating situations like that happen, and unfortunately it's more often than not, it makes me wonder if I made the right choice to stay here another year.  But then my dad sent me a text when we were on the bus saying, "It's just an adventure. It's the beauty of living in China" and that's when I knew I made the right choice.

These "adventures" that happen almost everyday are just part of the package of living in China. These adventures that have been so frustrating for me at one point, have somehow become part of the reason why I love living in China. Every single day is an adventure. Every single day is a challenge. And for some reason, I love all the adventures and challenges. Not only have they taught me how important it is to have patience (which I didn't have much of before moving here), they've also made me a stronger person. After living here for over 6 months, I've finally realized that the best solution is to just roll with the punches, look back and laugh. I know three years from now, I'll look back and laugh at the experiences I've had here, so why not laugh now? It's a hell of a lot better than being pissed off and letting it ruin my day. After all, at the end of the day, it's China and everyday is an adventure. 

Shanghai, the best city around!

Two weekends ago (March 29- April 1), my parents met Geri and me in Shanghai to celebrate my birthday. It was a much needed, amazing weekend. We stayed at the Langham hotel in Xintiandi, a great area in Shanghai. The hotel was fabulous. First, I need to explain the toilet. You're probably thinking that I am crazy, but this toilet has some serious advanced technology. You don't lift the toilet seat, it lifts itself. It has the option of cleaning all your parts, and you decide how hard or soft you want the water to be and then it dries you. I mean really?? So not necessary.

Anyway... Geri and I felt like princesses for a weekend. We got to take baths and rain showers every night before dinner. It was G-R-E-A-T. You don't really appreciate a bath until the option of taking a bath is nonexistent. At least that's how it's been for me. There are some bathtubs outside my apartment building that people have turned into planters. I am seriously considering dumping out all the dirt and stealing it. Bathtubs turned into planters. Some things I will NEVER understand.

So to sum up the hotel, clouds as beds, big comfy robes, slippers, bath, shower, crazy advanced toilet, all you can drink tea and COFFEE. I used to hate coffee but now that I can't get it in Ma'anshan I find myself craving it? Why is it that we start to want something when we don't have it?

You're probably thinking I went to Shanghai and stayed in the hotel the entire weekend. Not true, but I definitely would not have hated it. Especially since I was sick all week and was still sick during the weekend.

The weekend was filled with EATING, drinking, sightseeing, more eating and drinking, and shopping. I am pretty sure I came back at least 5lbs heavier. The food was totally worth every pound.

Highlights from the trip:

• M on the Bund (dinner)
• Cruise on the Bund.  
• Shopping
• Eating OUTSIDE
• Mexican food! Margs, guac, chips! 
• BRUNCH. My favorite thing in the world. We had brunch Easter Sunday at the hotel. We got to sit outside, drink champagne, and eat lots and lots of food. I always feel like a child whenever I talk about food but that just goes to show how I get ZERO variety in Ma'anshan. 
• Best looking guys I've ever seen in my life. I've discovered that Shanghai has more expats (foreigners) than locals. It also has the best looking guys I've literally ever seen. There were loads of them at brunch and they were in there late 20's. I seriously considered going up to this one table and asking them where they worked and if there were any job openings. That being said... After my second year in Ma'anshan, I may be hitting up Shanghai to work and find a husband. 

I have to say, it was one of the best birthday weekends I've ever had. Thanks mom and dad! 

I'm backkk

I know I haven't written in awhile. For some reason, this semester I have less classes but have found myself busier. Maybe it's because I am teaching 'Canadian Culture' and really never have any idea what to teach. When I walked in the first day I asked them what they knew about Canada. Nothing. I asked them what they wanted to learn about Canada. Nobody responded. Good, that helped a lot. So, since I had these same students in my 'American Culture' class, I decided that I would start out by teaching them everything they want to learn about American culture that we didn't cover last semester, first,  then  I would move on to Canadian Culture. Lucky me, it's now week 7 and I am still teaching about American culture.

I won't try to catch you up on every single little thing thats happened since I have returned, but I will list the noteworthy things:

• When I first returned after the 2 month break, the bus driver for the Ma'anshan airport shuttle remembered me. When I walked out with my 90 bags he had a huge grin on his face and waved to me. It made me feel at home. 
• I am only teaching 4 semester classes. 2 freshmen speaking classes, 1 junior business class and 1 Canadian culture class. All the same students. 
• Henry and I were given a new Monday class that we teach together. It started last week and goes to the end of the semester. It's for 6 students who are all going to study abroad in the states next year.  2 are going to Purdue and 4 are going to Longwood University in Virginia. 
• I am learning how to play guitar. I am such a baby though, after an hour my fingers hurt and I stop. I'll need to build up some tolerance if I plan on learning a song.
• I got to celebrate my birthday in the same timezone I was born in for the first time in 20 years. WOO!
• Henry bought me a crockpot for my birthday and it has revolutionized my life. 
• My parents met me in Shanghai the weekend after my birthday and then came to Ma'ansahn for a day (there will be a separate post for this)
• I GOT REHIRED!!! I will officially be staying in Ma'anshan for another year. Talk about a leap of faith. As difficult as it is to be here at times, I know staying here one more year is the right thing to do. I refuse to leave this country without being fluent in the language. 

Well, I think that pretty much sums up all the major stuff that has happened since I've been back. Unfortunately, I've drawn a blank on all the "funny" china stuff that has happened. But now that "I'm back", I will be posting more regularly :). 

The end of vacation

So my blog sort of fell of the face of the earth during my second week of vacation. After my backpacking trip I was pretty dead. I did a lot of relaxing, caught up on Greys, watched movies, ate delicious food, oh and learned how to knit.  Well, if you ask my mom I "learned" how to knit. She ended up knitting through my first roll of yarn.

The Friday before I left we went to Va Bene for dinner. It was probably the most amazing meal I have had there. I'm sure I have said that a million times before but it was seriously delicious. I got truffle pasta. That's all that I can say about Va Bene because it's making me way too hungry now that I'm back in China living a mainlanders life on a teachers salary.

The boat

The Sunday before I left we went on my dad's bosses boat. It was AMAZING. I'm not sure calling it a boat isn't even correct. Maybe a yacht? Or a cruise? Haha kidding.. probably a yacht. Either way, we had a great day. We took the boat out to an island where we had a great seafood lunch and then took a "hike". It was more of a walk/stroll. Along our walk we passed a bunch of bulls. Of course we had to step into the bushes since they took over the path. I would tell you about all the people that were with us, but I am still unclear of their connections. The main thing I got out of the day is, I probably went into the wrong field if I want to live a sweet life like that. I think my dad secretly planned this day so he could sway me to go into business. And you know... I just may!

My parents on the boat

So as you all know I had pretty much a month in Hong Kong before I left to go back to Ma'anshan. When did I decide to buy all the food I wanted and run all the errands I needed to run? That's right... the two days before. Typical. Every time we were in a grocery store my mom would say, "We're here Rachel, lets just pick it up now." I always said, "next time, I'm here for so long". Yeah, well I regretted that quickly.

Packing..... until the night before I left to go back to Ma'anshan I have never successfully packed without having a breakdown. This time, I did it. I have no idea how because I had to bring back stuff for Henry that his mom sent him, all my winter clothes, all my spring/summer clothes, all my christmas presents and of course all the food. So, to make things easier I took an extra suitcase. I'm pretty sure I had as much stuff going back to Ma'anshan as I did going the first time. I may start giving my clothes away as prizes in class. I really don't understand how I accumulate so much stuff.

The Year of the Snake

Chinese New Year in Hong Kong.... FULL OF MAINLANDERS. My mom and I went out shopping the Wednesday before CNY and I couldn't handle it. I couldn't wait to get home.

Parade

February 10th was the first night of CNY which was the parade. I met up with Caroline and Ami (two girls I met at training in Beijing) and their friends at Deck n' Beer. We all had a glass of wine and then left to find a spot to watch the parade. The parade was okay, nothing exciting.

Fireworks

February 11th is the night of the fireworks. Caroline, Ami, Michael and Lindsay all came over to the apartment to celebrate the 2nd night of CNY. We planned on going out after watching the fireworks but we ended up drinking with my parents till 3am. Everyone ended up sleeping over. If you have been to the HK apartment or seen it on skype or pictures, you know that it can't fit 7 people comfortably at all. But we made it work. The next morning my parents cooked us a great breakfast and then I slept all day. We all had a great time. I'll end it with that. 

January Backpacking Blog

Many of you have been asking when my blog is going to be up and the answer is... Today! 

I left for my trip on January 10th and returned on January 28th. After this post you will find 18 journal entries from my trip. I journaled after every day of my trip, which I then turned into these blog posts. 

Below is a list of the stops I took and a map.  Under the map is a link you can click on that will allow you to view the map from the website. 

Click the following link to be able to zoom into each stop on my trip!

January Travel Map

This backpacking trip is a trip that I will never forget. It was an experience of a life time.  I learned so much more about Chinese culture. I slept in hostels with smelly boys. I showered maybe 6 times in 18 days. I learned how to eat (tolerate) spicy food. I met people from all over the world. I did things I will never do again.  I stepped outside of my comfort zone.

I hope you enjoy reading my "Travel Journal"!  

Make sure you scroll down to January 10th and read on up to January 28th. Or you can click on January in the "archives" section on the right and click on each post.