7 Days in a New City

Day 1: Train Fights

Chinese New Year is the biggest land migration of the year, with billions of people relocating to spend time with their family. In the train station I felt it. As people pushed, shoved, elbowed their way to the front of the line...and I matched shove for shove, elbow for elbow and stare for stare. Yes I had my ticket, but with so many people, finding a place to put my luggage would be the problem. So gates open and we start our Asian shuffle to push hundreds of people through a one person gate. And once I made it through and broke from the throngs of people I started running. “No one's going to take advantage of this foreigner!” I thought. So I make it to my seat quite pleased with myself, showed the car conductor the note my friend made me which basically says, “Hello, my name is WenYi (chinese name). My Chinese is not very good, please tell me when we get to Yang Quan.” So as people start loading on, I find out that because it was the day before New Year's eve most people already went home. After the first stop the train was already practically empty. Man am I a jerk.

Day 2: New Year's eve

We got home late the night before, after midnight to be exact. So this morning I meet my friend's parents. Wow I'm a great sight, “Hey Mrs. and Mr. my friend's parents, sorry I look like trash and don't understand anything your telling me!” Yes I need to pump up my Chinese language. Well after a delicious breakfast of dumplings, I showered, put on my clothes and stink. The wonderful smoke filled train ride of the night before has permeated my clothes (specifically my jeans) into an aroma of stale cigaret smell. Good thing no one will be able to tell, cuz everyone smokes here. Lunch rolls around and...mmmm dumplings. We go over and meet my friend's uncle's family and after a few hours come back. Dumplings for dinner! If you haven’t figured it out dumplings is the traditional food for the Chinese New Year, so we will be eating them a lot. Good thing I like them.

One thing I might not have mentioned is fireworks are going on all day. But the big stuff comes out closer to midnight. But for 30 years (this year being the 30th) there is something called the Spring Festival Gala, starts at 8 pm and goes till about 12:30. During that time (well until about 11:30) the fireworks get relatively quiet as most of China tunes in. It was pretty interesting considering I couldn’t understand what most people were saying, but then midnight comes and the sky was lit up, kids shooting of fireworks (some not very well cuz they went towards buildings), firecrackers going off next to cars, it was fun, crazy, and insane.

After crawling into bed I noticed that the family had given me a red envelope under my pillow, it felt so good to be included in the festivities.

Day 3: New Year's Day

Sleeping in was nice, but woke to some more fireworks in the morning. Shortly after waking up we went to my friend's uncle's house again. Here was where most of the family would be gathering. As people came in I aroused quite a bit of attention. I think they must have been thinking “Does anyone know there is a non-Chinese girl in the house?” All the while people preparing for lunch (which is the main meal of the day for this holiday). We sat down and there were a lot of dishes, most I had never tried before and most I'll be ok not trying again, but the atmosphere was fun. Before eating we toasted to a Happy New Year and throughout the lunch some people would toast others individually. For instance the Grandpa and one of my friend's aunts wanted to specifically toast with me. Afterwards we relaxed, some of the family began to play a popular game called Ma Jong (different from the computer version). I really don't know how it works, but it looked fun, they played for at least 3 hours. Towards dusk I went walking on the streets with some of the family (younger generation) and it was nice. Even though today was so simple and we didn't do a lot I really enjoyed myself. I got some extra attention cuz I was the foreigner and a guest, but I wasn't treated like some wild animal at the zoo, which is how I feel sometimes when I walk down the streets. I really liked it.

Day 4: Visiting Day

The day after New Year's is know for the day to visit other family or close friends. So today after waking up we went to my friend's Grandpa's Sister's house. It was nice, ate a huge lunch which was pretty delicious and the older people were interested in seeing me, a foreigner. Shortly after lunch my friend and I went to buy my return ticket (they ended up putting the wrong passport number on the ticket, and when we asked them about it they said don't worry about it, so much for tightening up security and preventing theft- although I can get away with almost anything cuz I'm a foreigner) After that we met with another friend and just walked around the downtown part of the city, I ate canned peaches, which who knew could taste so good after not eating them for over 7 months! Nothing extraordinary today.

Day 5: “And on the 3rd day of New Year my friend's family came to me...”

So I've mentioned before that Chinese New Year can be described as Christmas and a hundred 4th of July's. I think you can see the the correlation with 4th of July (fireworks), but maybe you don't quite see how it relates to Christmas. Well yes there is a lot of feasting and resting and visiting family, but like Christmas has 12 days (“on the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...”), there are 5 days of New Year. Not including New Year's Eve. As maybe you have seen in my journey, New Years eve is spent at home with immediate family, New Year's day with close family (brothers, sisters, grandparents, etc), and the following days are for visiting close friends and family. Today the family came to us. When you go to a home you bring a gift, which all the families did and it makes my transgression sting that much worse. My transgression being coming to my friend's home with no gift, but because I'm a foreigner and “Ting Bu Dong”-Can hear, but don't understand, my transgression is forgiven me.

Day 6: A visit to the Village

While I have for the most part enjoyed this experience, so far today has been my favorite. For two very simple reasons. One I got to ride in a car, knowing that no unknown child has sat where I am sitting with split pants, getting feces follicles on me. For 7 months I have not been able to have a relaxing ride in a personally owned car and today was glorious because it felt so home like. Reason 2, I got to see “China's countryside” as my friend put it for the first time and it brought back good memories. I'm sure the Nepalese mountains and the Mountains I went to today are completely different, but I couldn't help but feel the similarities. Plus there was so much family, it just reminded me of a good old fashion family get together.

Day 7: Fireworks, still?

Wow, before daylight hits the shades fireworks similar to that of actual New Year's Eve go off. Two hours of non-stop noise, from 6:30 am to 8:30 am. Thanks for the wake up call. Maybe it's in celebration of it being the last day of the holiday? I don't know, but either way it came as an annoying surprise. So this being my last full day here and for the first time no plans, I immediately suggest (as my treat) and trip to get coffee! A day full of english and coffee and talking, what fun! Although to my unending disappointment my offer was turned down. Instead we sat around the house and did nothing. A little boring on my end. But that night brought a small piece of redemption as we attempted to make banana muffins (Chinese don't usually bake), with no muffin model, guessing on the measurements and on my end wondering if we were even putting in the right ingredients (it was all in Chinese). Haha They came out not as sweet as usual, but tasted pretty good and were eaten up very quickly. Although now I know what to give my friend, muffin models and measurement cups!

Day 8: Train Fights, Take 2

Time to go home. Breakfast and lunch eaten, packed up and I'm shipped off to the Train Station. At least that's how it feel. But I am ready to fight, first a fight o get on the bus, I really can't portray how packed we were on the bus. But slowly after the fight mood has started it ends, as I arrive at the train Station somebody helps me with my bag and getting to the train and everything. No problems on the train...just ridiculously boring and a terrible sleep. My cute looks help me get away with the wrong ID number on my ticket (well they actually didn't ask...but I'm still cute). Ten and an half hours sleeping (or not really sleeping, but trying) on a hard seat with the lights continually on and I finally arrive...HOME! Oh did I miss you polluted city of mine.

Some things on China Life

I'm now in the midst of my nomadic life and as such I feel I should right a little nomadically...or maybe I mean sporadically.
I got a new job at the beginning of December (teaching English for 3 to 6 year olds), and for this job I needed a uniform (which is just a sweatshirt). Two funny things. When I was given a sweatshirt the girl told me, "Don't worry we have a really big one for you." Other thing, the name of our school is American English, but the front of our sweatshirts say "London Buses"....yea I don't understand the relevance either...
A week from today is Chun Jie, or Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year depending on how you want to call it. I'll stick with Spring festival. This weekend I'm going to my friend's hometown for Spring Festival. Will be there one week. After this event I will have to post much more on it because apparently this thing is huge. It's like our Christmas, with some 4th of July mixed in times 100. And I'm sure after it I will have lots to write about.
By bike, its my new car. I moved all my stuff from the old house to my friend's house for storage by bike. Good thing a friend of mine helped me, it was a good work out to say the least! Along with riding a bike and it being Spring Festival, lots of bikes are getting stolen. So I've been on the look out and super aware. Mine is a beauty and if someone got a chance they would take it. Just like holidays in the states, things are more prone to getting stolen because people need money to get home and buy gifts for the holiday. It is unfortunate nonetheless and very frustrating. Last night I was drinking some coffee at McDonald's, I sat by the window to watch my bike and I might have witnessed two people scoping out the bikes. There were probably 20 bikes or so parked outside and these two people were talking on the phone and walking around the bikes. Which doesn't sound very sketchy, until you know the culture and realize that this is very unusual. One of them even went so far to lean on my bike, I think if I hadn't looked at him to show him it was my bike I might have seen how he makes it look likes it's his, then takes it. It would have been interesting to let it go farther, but I didn't want to take risks. If it gets stolen, I'm screwed.
As far as culturally goes, I'm starting to hit my aggression stage. When I go out I now feel dehumanized when I'm stared at. I feel like this city is my home, so when people stare at me like I'm some wild creature at the zoo I naturally get a little upset. I don't always handle it the best, but it's hard to know what to do. I've started staring back, haha, which creates some awkwardness. One time I turned around and walked backwards to stare back at a man who wouldn't look away. As frustrating as this is, my Chinese teacher told me it's because I'm such beautiful American. At least that much is true.
I haven't written much on how my language study is going. I've been told I'm learning pretty quickly, which still feels way too slow. With the holiday here I get a couple weeks break. Which is nice (although at my friend's hometown, my language will get stretched to the limits). I have class about 5 hours a week, which doesn't sound like a lot, but it fits in well with the rest of my schedule.
I started University last week, so far so good. Lots of reading.
Also got sick last week, couldn't eat for a few days. A stomach flu that went around. Some people just laid in bed for a week, but it didn't get me that bad I still went out and did things. Although I honestly should have rested more...Oh well feeling good now.

Now for one more story. Shortly after I got my job I met the older sister of one my students. She is in high school and she was so excited to meet me. She would come over talk to me, say good bye, leave then come back. This happened a few times and I just realized it was exciting for her to practice her English with a foreigner. Well, as I was leaving I pass by her, waive and all of a sudden she yells "I LOVE YOU!" I really didn't know how to respond...so I told her I loved her too. haha Yes I did.

Fitness Honor

As some of you may have noticed, I'm overweight. haha. I've been for most of my life, and even packing a few extra pounds I've still been loving the mirrors. But even with my confidence I've realized that health and fitness are important. The last 2 years or so have been a culmination of me trying to find a balance. It's hard to lose weight, especially with no particular purpose in mind except to look good, and I looked good overweight so what was the point of losing it!
But I want to be healthy, I want to be fit, not because I'm insecure, not because everyone's doing it, not because the magazines and commercials tell me that's how I should look, but because it's the right thing to do. Fitness honor.
So how do you change with no motivation or reason to change? Well find a reason. I'm letting you all into my thoughts because this blog is here to let you into my life....and as you will see where I'm going with this to ask for money like usual. :) hehe
I watched the last season of Biggest Loser and at the end they ran a Marathon. In 7 months they went from morbidly obese to running 26.2 miles. I don't care who you are, that's impressive. One of my favorite movies for whatever reason is Run Fat Boy Run. At the need he runs a Marathon, transforms his life from lazy to active. (It's a comedy.) I recently read a running magazine that said to stay motivated give yourself something to work towards. A race, an event, a something.
So all of these thoughts slowly started to converge upon themselves. I bet you can see where I'm going with this. So I'll just say it.
I'm planning on coming back to Seattle end of May to visit for about 2 months. June 23 I have plans to run a Marathon (http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/seattle/event-details). July 14 and 15 I have plans to bike 200 miles from Seattle to Portland (http://shop.cascade.org/content/events/stp). And to just give me a little extra motivation I'm looking into doing a 10K on the Great Wall of China in May (http://www.great-wall-marathon.com/Default.aspx).
Obviously these things have a cost. If your concerned about my stewardship I promise I'm putting my money towards bills before fun and all of that. But these are my goals for 2012. Costs line up as following $125 for the Marathon (if payed before Feb 15), $100 for the Bike thing (also needing to be payed by end of Feb, as spots run out) and China run expenses unknown as of right now.
I'm throwing this out there, to see who else might be committed to fitness, or if you want to give depending on how much weight I lose, or depending on how many miles I make it. I'm down to play ball. Like I said these are goals, and sometimes goals are not met, but I'm dreaming big!
Would love to hear feedback, either on advice, stories of experience or whatever. But I want to love with all my heart, mind, soul and STRENGTH. Fitness Honor.