Oh Chinar...

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007



Oh China…and where to even begin! I know it’s been awhile since I last posted an entry, it’s been a hectic time considering it’s midterm week and whatnot. I just had my first midterm today in International Political Economy. It went alright I suppose, not as good as it should have been though but we’ll see. It’s only surprisingly worth 10%, so hopefully it wont be bad.

So let’s see, where do I even want to begin? I don’t really have any one thing I’d like to discuss so I’ll just blab and you let me know what find interesting. Sweet. Well, I’ll start off with that I’m sick, and it sucks. My throat feels like it’s going close up…well, not really, but it aches! Coughing hurts my chest at times. Because of my small bladder, drinking the massive amounts of water that I have been having makes me pee a lot. That’s not too great when I’m other places than 我的房间 (my room) because I don’t enjoy using the squatters. I like the western toilets, so appreciate them cause I certainly do.:) I also bought cough drops from the convenient store that is on our first floor today, well I actually bought whatever was left in the box, which was 3 little sets of Halls. So while I’m in the elevator going back to my room on the 十八 (18th) floor, this girl in the corner of the elevator asks me, did you buy your cough drops in the convenient store downstairs? In my hacky voice I tell her I did but I bought the rest of what was in the box but tell her I’m sure they’ll refill. I’m thinking…good way to start a conversation so then I also add that my name is Sharon. I guess she didn’t like the fact that I bought the cough drops because when I told her my name she said, no you’re the Halls stealer. What do you say to that? She wouldn’t tell me her name because I cough drops. As she leaves the elevator I just tell her, sure that’s okay, I can be known as the Halls stealer if that makes you happy. But seriously, what do you say to that? I was speechless. I can’t believe she got fussy over that. Her loss!

Moving on. Just a side step back to my previous entry about rude students, the other day while I was in class, this local students phone rang and she picked it up and started talking on the phone in class while our professor is giving a lecture. Rudeness. That’s all I have to say. But I guess that’s China. Talking about locals, I finally got a language partner last Friday but she wasn’t really helpful. I basically helped her with her conversational English the whole 3 hours that we met. She lives in Shanghai, not far from Fudan and she walks to class everyday. I asked her why she didn’t have a bike and it’s because the past 3 she had were stolen so she gave up on that, I don’t blame her. She’s a Japanese major but she wishes she was English. She said she couldn’t be an English major because she didn’t score high enough on the test to enter Fudan as one. I was kind of surprised by that, I didn’t realize you had to place for certain majors. Unlike us, more than half of college freshman probably enter school undecided. I also learned that she seems lonely because she’s not dating anyone at the moment. Apparently a big thing in China, or at least at Fudan is dating. Most of her friends are dating and they like it because it takes up time and the comfort I suppose. I think that’s horrible! Dating a necessity? But sure, whatever China says. So I showed her some pictures of some guys and she drools for you American men. You’re all quite charming to her! So I didn’t really learn anything except a lot about Moon, the English name she gave herself. I was hoping to get help on my reading and speaking but I’m looking for another language partner now. No one said I only had to have one! So if you’re a Fudan student and your by chance reading this and would like to be my language partner, swell.:)

I also have these 2 local boys that I work with as a group for my Westerners in China class. Let me tell you, I’m not too fond of their work ethic. We met Sunday night to discuss the reading we had to present to the class on Tuesday and guess what, they didn’t read. I was a bit frustrated because they called the same thing on my last time. Then they asked to give them a summary and do the presentation. Arg. And then felt the need to tell them the answers on the midterm! Like I had the questions?! Crazy. But then they asked questions about me and my dorm room. But I went up to Nick’s room instead (谢谢 Nick for that!) But comparing our rooms to their dorm rooms, we’re living the life. They’re rooms are just a little bigger but they fit 6 people per room. That’s a lot! Plus no air conditioning. But I kind of figured that. They also had community bathrooms versus how we get our own bathrooms in our room. So we’re living a pretty nice life. I appreciate life a little more.

I’m not done with this discussion, but I’m off to Wally world to buy some goodies, like a microphone so I can skype! yay! But I shall continue my thoughts later. Good day!