Are you talking to me?

I have met so many lovely Chinese people...and I've hardly been able to say a word to them that they would understand. It's frustrating because I want to make a connection with these people. Some times it seems like they are talking to me, but I can't tell or I have no idea whats going on. Nonetheless they are very gracious about my American ignorance for the most part. At least when I start learning more Chinese I'll easily be able to find a place to use it and practice.
Also, just yesterday the rest of the students moved in to get ready for classes. These are people from all over the world who speak numerous languages. Everyone stares and wonders about the others. Our group now realizes that it was rather nice having the dorm all to ourselves since it was like we had our own private elevator. Now there is a lot more waiting and congestion. It will be worth it though once we start meeting interesting new people and can finally stop wondering.
Something I find slightly funny is that many public places here play old American pop music like Mandy Moore and Avril Lavigne. It's also kind of scary because it is like China is only a decade away from becoming the new U.S. I really wish other countries wouldn't follow in our crazy ass foot steps. Pop music was awful. Industry is awful. Media pressures are awful. Self-righteousness is awful. Greed is awful. Bamboo forests and clean water are much more valuable. Relationships are much more valuable.
Relationships seem much simpler here. People actually like people. Friends hold hands. They want to be around people without any hidden motives. Just the other day we sat in a little tea shop and this amazing lady poured us cup after cup of tea for free! There was no pressure to buy anything, she simply enjoyed the art of making tea for company. Her helper even smelled the lid of the tea pot everytime she brewed something because she enjoyed it so much. She even had me and a friend try to do it ourselves. Needless to say we ended up buying plenty and pledging our loyalty to the store.
Other notes
-just got an hour long back massage for 40 yuan or about 7 dollars. soooooo gooooood
-bananas taste better here and my favorite fruit lady has tasty papaya! *salivates* My favorite
-Had my own tea party today with my new tea set! And a flower tea that blooms in water!
-I hate Chinese toilets. They are a basically a plastic hole in the ground that flushes. You squat and "do your business" as my teacher Li Shumin says. You also need to bring your own toilet paper
-I really need to do laundry
-I'm on skype between 7-9PM Iowa time most days

Milk Tea, Bamboo, Plum Blossoms, and Pagodas

First, might I say that I love real Chinese food. Tea...there's always tea. I tried milk tea which is delightfully refreshing and has these gelatin balls that you suck up your straw and chew on. Fun fun! Then dumplings, dong po rou (a teryaki like pork with a thick layer of fat that is specific to Hangzhou and delicious), bao zi, egg cake, POCKY!, duck, and much more. I've also tried fungus and frog soup, dumpling soup with little shimp that have their eyes and everything still, grape and aloe juice. Most of us don't speak but a few sentences of Chinese, so when ordering food we just kind of point at something on the menu and hope its not freaky. The bright side is even if something isn't great, which has never been the case so far, everything is very cheap so you dont have to worry about wasting too much money on trying something else. You can find a typical chinese meal for anywhere from 3-10 yuan which equals a little over a dollar or less. :O When we eat larger group meals it is served on a giant lazy suzan at a large round table and we order numerous dishes to sample. Everyone attacks with their chopsticks and it can get rather competitive. We find we are honing our chopstick skills rather quickly ;D.
Other than the food we have been to see the XiXi Wetlands where we took a boat ride through fields of blossoming plum trees and bamboo. Amongst them was a genuine old silk farm and a town square with traditional chinese architecture and scenic surroundings. My favorite thing was an over hundred year of tree that twisted and turned in all directions over the water. The next day we went to the West Lake area and walked up the steps to a pagoda with a great view over the lake. Unfortuantely the city, despite its natural beauty, is rather smoggy at times and the view can be rather obscure. The pagoda had many beautiful wood carvings, paintings, and sculptures. We learned about the white snake fairy lady and got quite the work out. Then today we went to the Huang Long (or Yellow Dragon) Park. Here we had another strenous hike through the winding hills of Hangzhou and saw the Yellow Dragon waterfall, the temple for lovers, and many the scenic views. Then we were off to a mausoleum that told the history of several heroic Chinese generals. After taking a bit of a break our group decided to head off to Traditional town where there is lots of great shopping for traditional Chinese type objects...go figure. It's been a great time.
Some notes on environmental observations
-for many garbage cans there is a matching recycling bin right next to it ( smart huh? )
-I've been told that pretty much all the garbage is picked through for recyclables
-Sometimes the sky is more brown than blue (smog)
-Many Chinese people enjoy getting out into nature and doing exercises such as tai chi
-We must boil all our water before drinking it, which is why tea is drank so often
-We have to closely monitor our energy use at our dorm since we only get a fixed amount each month
Why can't some of these things be implemented in the U.S.? ( the first and last ones)

From the Flight Friday and Notes from Saturday and Sunday

你好！我在加拿大。

Hey! I’m writing to you from 30,000 feet in the air over Canada! We are headed towards Alaska where we will then cross the Pacific Ocean. Currently we have been on the plane a little under three hours with eleven left to go. Sleep has already failed me though I feel shockingly conscious. I guess sitting around for hours doesn’t really take it out of you. Everything has gone off without a hitch, we all just need to fight off boredom and restlessness now. I’m going to try and work on my Chinese in preparation for my placement exam and daily use.

I also have a great book from my cousin to work on called The Web That Has No Weaver. It is all about Chinese medicine, which should be enlightening and helpful. I’m so excited to learn about this kind of stuff and I love the Chinese language. It is very elegant in its profound simplicity. Each word seems significant and goes farther than words in our language do, yet because of this sentences seems a simple arrangement of words. It is hard to explain and to understand, but by learning more about Chinese philosophy I will be able to better understand the language because the two are inextricably intertwined. Philosophy is involved in every aspect of Chinese culture and it is inspiring. From some readings I have found much of it to hold true to life.

It still hasn’t really hit me that when I get off this plane I will be in China. I guess cause I really have no idea what I’m going to find so I can’t get a picture into my head.

Post flight notes

-flying over Alaska was terrifying (we dropped 5,000 ft in 3 minutes)

-So exhausted once we got here and very grumpy

-communication is very difficult

-The food is delicious and cheap! (fed 8 people with 5 dollars)

-Indoors is colder than outdoors (first night sleeping was freezing! And the beds are as hard as a board)

-We have t-shirt weather here!

-The university is as large as Pella at least, with at least as many people

-Driving is terrifying!

-People stare a lot

-I can write for a Chinese newspaper and get paid!

I am having the time of my life :D

Starting off the blog: Take two

So I've been thinking....My first blog post was a pretty anti-climactic way to start things off. There's so much more going on in my head. Lately though I am so overwhelmed I can't hardly decipher whats going on in there. Also I just figured I should put something there so people would have something once they started following. I'm very glad I have a few followers already! Thanks for caring about what would otherwise be rather insignificant thoughts. They may still be insignificant, but I'd like to think I have at least something remotely intelligent and interesting to write about. I mean...I'm going to fricken China! How many people get to say they studied in China for 5 months? I've hardly been able to function I've been freaking out so much. I've also been very bored and this blog has helped resolve a bit of both of those things.

Something that I forgot to mention is the environmental focus I will be putting on my experiences there, and also somewhat spiritual since for me the two can't really be divided. Yes I am a dirt-worshipping, tree-hugging, hippie. I'm very interested in the environmental and social issues facing China at the moment as well as the traditional culture that focuses a lot on the elements and balance. It seems a contradiction for the Chinese to follow our industrial example when there has always been such a deep reverence for the natural world and its forces. I'm hoping I'll see some traditional practices still being relevant and will try not to be cynical about modernizations I may not like. I think I've imagined the China of old more so than the China of today. There is much here in the U.S. I'd like to escape while in China, but I know that won't exactly be the case and that would pretty much defy my purpose.

So excited! But so sad :(

My pending departure is getting to me more than I expected. I'm not afraid of going to China, I'm afraid to leave Pella behind. It feels as if I will miss so much here. I know I will be having amazing experiences of my own, but the people and things I leave behind weigh heavy on my heart. I'm going to miss my family and friends so much. I don't want the distance to come between us. I'm trying to leave things in a good state here, and I'm not sure how they will fare without me there. Not that you guys cant function without me, I just like being a part of your lives and the things going on here. I don't want that to not be the case anymore. I hope that we will all be able to keep in touch and that the distance wont seem so far. I guess its good that I'm so happy that I don't want to leave, but I know this trip will be a very important chapter in my life. I just wish I could take you all with me! I don't have to travel far to find myself because everything I need has always been right here. That sounds like a cheesy line from the Wizard of Oz, but oh well. It's true. I will certainly grow as a person, but I like growing with you. I hope you all know how much I care and that doesn't change just because I'm not there.

Pre-Departure

So I just started my blog. I have 2 weeks till I leave for China and I'm very excited. It's kind of hard to believe that I will be so far away for so long. I am not looking forward to packing away my life and hoping I am well prepared. I always forget something minute but important like a toothbrush...or socks. Luckily I always manage to survive.
Right now in China it's been around 50 degrees and rainy. Be very jealous. I can't wait to see the beautiful scenery and the big cities. I'm hoping I'll be able to catch a few waves at some point and attempt to surf. Also I really hope there are good rocks for climbing!
Being in a new place is one of my favorite things in the whole world. Everything is an experience. I'm wondering how it will be once I become familiar with my surroundings. Hopefully I'll be able to find my place. More to come. Likely from China itself!