December 2009 Archives
It's hard to believe that my last post had a pic of me in a tank top. Ah the good old days way back in October. Alas, the weather has quickly changed, and in some sick twist of fate, it is already December. It is COLD here and doesn't get light until 7am! But I'll tell ya, the Northern Chinese people and the frozen cities within which they live sure know how to roll with the cold. In fact, I feel much more of a kinship with these "DongBeiRen" 东北人 in a lot of ways because of this...this what? this ability to survive inhospitable environments, I guess. Also, I think people who come from very cold climates have an innate desire to care for and look out for others' needs, as well as plan ahead - more so than people from climates that don't necessarily require planning for no fresh food for months or needing to brave -20C to go get water.
Over the last bit, to no surprise, I've made a few new drinking buddies and been to a few new cities. Nothing earth shattering but distracting-in-a-good-way nonetheless; and therefore, reportable. Maybe it is just me and my perception, but it seems like in Northern climates, people become much more dependent on two very wonderful things: friends and booze. Northern China is no exception, and the locals as well as foreigners have taken a liking to calling me 加拿大酒鬼 which could be loosely translated as "that crazy Canadian girl who can really drink!" What can I say? I like friends; I like drinking; and it just so happens that I really, really like drinking with friends. A few more memorable events over the last months are as follows:
Over a month ago I went to HohHot (Inner Mongolia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohhot to work and had the pleasure of staying with Jason (from waaaaay back -see sept/oct 2007 blogs) and meet his wonderful woman and a few other friends. In true Canadian (or maybe it is just Jason and I) fashion, we bought a bottle of local spirits (60% alc.) put our jackets on, and took a motorbike ride up into the famous Mongolian Hills for a freeeezing cold and extremely beautiful high altitude adventure.
Yes, I very likely stepped on the same ground as Genghis Khan; but more importantly, I ate sweet cheese candy and drank salty milk tea from his family's store. Having said that, don't they say that something like over 40% of the world is a descendant from him? And therefore you all likely also drink tea and eat cheese from his family's store...so maybe my drinking his family's tea or eating his family's cheese is not a big deal. But all the same I felt it worth reporting.
I have been to ChangChun (Jilin province) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changchun three times in the last month - both for work and because The Baller is back in town. When I've been there recently I tend to work on improving my translating, interpreting, stretching, taping, massaging and listening skills among others. Always learning and improving -the purpose of life, right? Now whether the material that is being learned is useful or needed is up to the perception of those involved. I tend to argue that all learning is useful. And I digress.
Back in Beijing, enough time has passed where I really feel like some acquaintances are becoming real friends. Seb (my desk-mate and morning sanity, pictured below) and Jasmine (my sounding board and evening sanity, pictured above) are turning out to be very special characters in my story here. Having said that Seb is leaving (congrats on the new job though, dude!) and my favorite teacher just left, so class is looking pretty glum come next week.
Lastly, I read a great book by Paul Coelho this weekend called Brida. Can I just ask you to take a moment right now and manifest me for two things: 1. My soul mate 2. Acceptance to do my PHD. It'll only take a brief moment of your time, thanks.
恩， 想起来了， 我最近写了一首故事应为这个月我们的学校组建一个写信比赛。 下面是我的诗歌。意思是一我看我们多有很多问题， 我们都吃有点儿苦。 在中国我看到了很多穷人也每天能看副人。 在外国我还看到了很多教育人也很多经验专家。 他们都想爱， 都怕， 多饿，渴，寂寞。。。 不是所有的穷人都要钱。 不是所有的富人都能休息。
映
我叫小费， 明天十八岁。我高高的个子，白白的皮肤，大大的眼睛。我的头发漆黑漆黑的，很长。每天我上十个小时课。我的老师不喜欢我, 尽管我学得很努力，但是他们都批评我很多。在学校我不能笑。我讨厌学校。
今天我不能吃东西，无论如何要减肥，好女生都苗条。可能明天我会吃点儿。
我爱运动却不能，而且也没有时间，如果我有空，我应该学习。并且爸爸说过，运动会让我肌肉发达。男生不喜欢女生肌肉发达。
我想做保姆，但是不可能。 我的爸爸说我应该做大夫。我不想让他失望。
我没有朋友，没有时间。爸爸说我有很多朋友，但是他们都只是同学。我的老公以后是最好的朋友。可能他说的对。
我不想要孩子。但是我知道我得像传统的中国女生，社会告诉了我，我不可能改变。我害怕，孩子会带给我痛苦，没有自由。我没有办法。
听说我是从安徽来的，那里我有一个姐妹。但是爸爸说我们之间的区别怎么这么大。他说我们和她不可能见面。可是我想去安徽，见我的姐妹一面， 这是我唯一的生日愿望。我们必有相似，这一定是个奇迹。
我叫小费，明天十八岁。我个子不太高， 皮肤有点儿黑， 眼睛也有些呆。 我的头发很短，正灰色的。我的老师说我不能说："正灰色"，但是他同意，我的头发里有很多灰，他听得懂我的意思，然后他告诉我，我很聪明。 我每个星期上十个小时课。在学校我跟朋友常常笑得很多。我爱学习。
今天我不能吃饭，在县里最近生了小儿子， 我们都把自己的米饭给他。可能明天我能有饭吃。
我爱运动却不能，而且也没有时间， 如果我有空，我应该帮妈妈工作。 并且妈妈说今年他要给我买鞋。买了鞋我就能多运动！
我想做保姆，但是不可能。我的妈妈说我应该马上结婚。 我不想让她失望。
我没有朋友，没有时间。妈妈说朋友没有用，帮她工作有用。我的老公以后是最好的朋友。可能她说的对。
我不要孩子，但是我知道我得像传统的中国女生，生儿子让我有用。社会告诉了我，我不可能改变。我害怕，孩子带给我痛苦，没有自由。 我没有办法。
听说我是关东来的，在那儿我有一个姐妹。但是妈妈说我们怎么怎么不一样。她说我们和她不可能见面。 可是我想去关东，见我的姐妹一面， 这是我唯一的生日愿望。我们有区别，但这一定是个奇迹。
梅如
十号，十二月，二零零九年
Over the last bit, to no surprise, I've made a few new drinking buddies and been to a few new cities. Nothing earth shattering but distracting-in-a-good-way nonetheless; and therefore, reportable. Maybe it is just me and my perception, but it seems like in Northern climates, people become much more dependent on two very wonderful things: friends and booze. Northern China is no exception, and the locals as well as foreigners have taken a liking to calling me 加拿大酒鬼 which could be loosely translated as "that crazy Canadian girl who can really drink!" What can I say? I like friends; I like drinking; and it just so happens that I really, really like drinking with friends. A few more memorable events over the last months are as follows:
Over a month ago I went to HohHot (Inner Mongolia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohhot to work and had the pleasure of staying with Jason (from waaaaay back -see sept/oct 2007 blogs) and meet his wonderful woman and a few other friends. In true Canadian (or maybe it is just Jason and I) fashion, we bought a bottle of local spirits (60% alc.) put our jackets on, and took a motorbike ride up into the famous Mongolian Hills for a freeeezing cold and extremely beautiful high altitude adventure.
Yes, I very likely stepped on the same ground as Genghis Khan; but more importantly, I ate sweet cheese candy and drank salty milk tea from his family's store. Having said that, don't they say that something like over 40% of the world is a descendant from him? And therefore you all likely also drink tea and eat cheese from his family's store...so maybe my drinking his family's tea or eating his family's cheese is not a big deal. But all the same I felt it worth reporting.
I have been to ChangChun (Jilin province) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changchun three times in the last month - both for work and because The Baller is back in town. When I've been there recently I tend to work on improving my translating, interpreting, stretching, taping, massaging and listening skills among others. Always learning and improving -the purpose of life, right? Now whether the material that is being learned is useful or needed is up to the perception of those involved. I tend to argue that all learning is useful. And I digress.
Back in Beijing, enough time has passed where I really feel like some acquaintances are becoming real friends. Seb (my desk-mate and morning sanity, pictured below) and Jasmine (my sounding board and evening sanity, pictured above) are turning out to be very special characters in my story here. Having said that Seb is leaving (congrats on the new job though, dude!) and my favorite teacher just left, so class is looking pretty glum come next week.
Lastly, I read a great book by Paul Coelho this weekend called Brida. Can I just ask you to take a moment right now and manifest me for two things: 1. My soul mate 2. Acceptance to do my PHD. It'll only take a brief moment of your time, thanks.恩， 想起来了， 我最近写了一首故事应为这个月我们的学校组建一个写信比赛。 下面是我的诗歌。意思是一我看我们多有很多问题， 我们都吃有点儿苦。 在中国我看到了很多穷人也每天能看副人。 在外国我还看到了很多教育人也很多经验专家。 他们都想爱， 都怕， 多饿，渴，寂寞。。。 不是所有的穷人都要钱。 不是所有的富人都能休息。
一千痛一千悰； 一千罹一千禧
映
我叫小费， 明天十八岁。我高高的个子，白白的皮肤，大大的眼睛。我的头发漆黑漆黑的，很长。每天我上十个小时课。我的老师不喜欢我, 尽管我学得很努力，但是他们都批评我很多。在学校我不能笑。我讨厌学校。
今天我不能吃东西，无论如何要减肥，好女生都苗条。可能明天我会吃点儿。
我爱运动却不能，而且也没有时间，如果我有空，我应该学习。并且爸爸说过，运动会让我肌肉发达。男生不喜欢女生肌肉发达。
我想做保姆，但是不可能。 我的爸爸说我应该做大夫。我不想让他失望。
我没有朋友，没有时间。爸爸说我有很多朋友，但是他们都只是同学。我的老公以后是最好的朋友。可能他说的对。
我不想要孩子。但是我知道我得像传统的中国女生，社会告诉了我，我不可能改变。我害怕，孩子会带给我痛苦，没有自由。我没有办法。
听说我是从安徽来的，那里我有一个姐妹。但是爸爸说我们之间的区别怎么这么大。他说我们和她不可能见面。可是我想去安徽，见我的姐妹一面， 这是我唯一的生日愿望。我们必有相似，这一定是个奇迹。
我叫小费，明天十八岁。我个子不太高， 皮肤有点儿黑， 眼睛也有些呆。 我的头发很短，正灰色的。我的老师说我不能说："正灰色"，但是他同意，我的头发里有很多灰，他听得懂我的意思，然后他告诉我，我很聪明。 我每个星期上十个小时课。在学校我跟朋友常常笑得很多。我爱学习。
今天我不能吃饭，在县里最近生了小儿子， 我们都把自己的米饭给他。可能明天我能有饭吃。
我爱运动却不能，而且也没有时间， 如果我有空，我应该帮妈妈工作。 并且妈妈说今年他要给我买鞋。买了鞋我就能多运动！
我想做保姆，但是不可能。我的妈妈说我应该马上结婚。 我不想让她失望。
我没有朋友，没有时间。妈妈说朋友没有用，帮她工作有用。我的老公以后是最好的朋友。可能她说的对。
我不要孩子，但是我知道我得像传统的中国女生，生儿子让我有用。社会告诉了我，我不可能改变。我害怕，孩子带给我痛苦，没有自由。 我没有办法。
听说我是关东来的，在那儿我有一个姐妹。但是妈妈说我们怎么怎么不一样。她说我们和她不可能见面。 可是我想去关东，见我的姐妹一面， 这是我唯一的生日愿望。我们有区别，但这一定是个奇迹。
梅如
十号，十二月，二零零九年
