Angry Chinese Man

This is our close friend Leon. He's a pretty nice guy, just don't laugh at him when he's angrily brandishing a cleaver. Actually, I think it may have been I who complied with his request for "something I can stab this guy with". I took these pictures of him and Matt a while ago, but I just found them on my computer and thought they were pretty funny. Enjoy!

中秋节

Last night, the whole gang (Me, Matt, Max, Jo, Jia, Leon, etc.) got together at a restaurant in a pretty little hutong to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. The setting was beautiful, as was the food and the company. While most of my Chinese friends claimed that the festival was a bust this year due to the lack of visible moonlight, I was stuck in blissful ignorance simply enjoying a really nice night out with old and new friends. I tried a number of different yuebing (mooncakes), the strangest of which is the "fragrant fish" version... not quite my cup of tea! This picture (stolen from Jo... sorry Jo!) is the expression found on those unlucky guests shocked by and fearful of the idea that there are still yuebing left to be eaten... It's a bit Salvador Dali-like if you ask me.

Oh My Gawddddd!

Back With a Vengeance

I know I've been away for a while, and for that I apologize. I'd like to make it clear that my recent lack of blogging has not been for lack of interesting experiences to blog about, but instead an absolute overload of them. I started classes two weeks ago, and while a Chinese semester-unit is slightly less tough than one in the US, the average student is expected to take a minimum of 20 (I'll have 24...). My classes are really interesting, albeit still a little over my head, but that's better for me anyways, as it gives me more room to improve!

Matt (one of my roomates- see previous post re. arrival of 孔仁) and I went out to the Summer Palace for a run yesterday, and while running around this beautiful park with it's insanely steep bridges and calmly swaying willow trees, I finally felt truly happy to be here. Not that I wasn't before, just that I'd yet to have one of those picture perfect kodak epiphany moments... sitting on a rock in the afternoon sun, watching chubby old chinese men meeting up and laughing together before jumping in for a swim right next to the "No Swimming" sign, an old couple playing cards who's vehement argument segued suddenly and seamlessly into laughter... It was totally worth being fleeced for double the admission price!

The Calm Before the Storm

This last week has been one of endless translations, of both language and logic, whilst hacking a path through the PKU jungle of bureaucracy with my machete of smiling patience mixed with just the right amount of 'dumb american-ness'. It amazes me how similar Chinese and US bureaucracies are- they're all bark and no bite. For every rule that I've been resolutely informed could not for any reason be broken, I've found the person with the power to bend it "just in this once".
Who says Hampshire College never taught me nothin'!
I took two tests this week- one of my writing and comprehension ability at 7:30am, then my speaking ability the next morning. Regardless of showing up half an hour late due to being locked in my apartment (for the second time), I tested higher than some of ABC's who grew up in Chinese speaking households.. only one of my books contains any english, and not very much at that... I may have to drop a level or two.
Last night, Max, Matt and I held our official housewarming/welcome to Beijing party in our newly homey-feeling apartment. I must've given my number out to every person I met on campus and elsewhere- our house was full to almost capacity! We kicked everyone out at midnight and hit the town for some dancing before ending the night with the perfect nightcap of Big Lebowski. I think all-in-all it was a dashing success! Thanks to Jo for the punch, thanks to Matt for the decorating, to Max for bringing Jo, to Jia for bringing the party, and to everyone who came for coming!

I actually forgot in the fray to take any pictures- I'll get some from friends and put them up later!