Julie + Michael 4eva

I am in love with Michael. Phew I already feel much better now that everyone knows. Steve (and anyone else who may be hurt by my newfound feelings..I apologize) I’ll get back to that..but let’s see..last night I did nap! And it felt great! I am so tired! I think partly because of jet lag, I am still adjusting. But also because I feel like I always have to be on! Not to say I can never relax, but I am always trying to understand people, always trying to find my way around, make sure I didn’t miss a stop etc. So part of me felt bad about being lazy (yes, yes I did put on my PJ pants) but part of me knew I just needed to rest!

My new goal is to try and meet some people. I did go into the downstairs of the hostel last night, but everyone there was on their laptop and honestly I was too tried to attempt a conversation. I think most of the people at the hostel are Chinese..I haven’t heard any English yet. I guess I am kind of bad at meeting people? Or just haven’t had the desire yet..I am VERY introverted, I know that about myself so when I come back I really do enjoy just relaxing and checking my email and writing everything down. Although I feel like soon (riiiight about now) it is going to start getting a bit lonely, only in the sense that I don’t have anyone to talk to. I am not much of a talker anyway, which I guess is a good thing, but it would be nice to talk to someone. Sabrina said I could call her about maybe shopping? I will probably do that. Again, she is so sweet, but it’s just a lot of effort to communicate with her.

So back to Michael *sigh* I was a bit nervous about going to the school today, but I honestly knew it couldn’t get ANY worse than yesterday, and after a wonderful talk with my mom and boyfriend (love you both) I was feeling a bit better already! I started out early again and dreaded line 10. It did not disappoint me. I was greeted with a thick wall of heavy, smelly air and a sea of people. But, I am thankful that it is the first leg to the school (so I can get it over with) and the last leg back from the school (which means I’m almost back!) For some crazy reason the bus didn’t take FOREVER on that road..so I was getting off my stop a little before 9:30! This bus better make up its mind because this was waaay too early! I decided to walk a bit past the school to see what was down the road. A lot of fruit stands and DOGS! Geeze Beijing has brides and dogs! I am not sure if these were stray dogs or if they belonged to people but there were a ton of them! The area I was walking through was definitely not a tourist destination because I got more stares than normal! I had only killed about 10 minutes but I figured it was an ok time to show up because I did want to talk to Michael about how I felt completely lost yesterday etc. I was greeted by the smiling man (and his two friends!) He makes me happy! I filled out his sheet again, but apparently did something wrong because they pointed to a column I didn’t fill in. I think I put some numbers there and he kind of laughed and waved me through.

I went to the teachers’ lounge (the map was STILL there) and Michael handed me the workbook we would be using for his two classes. He went through the whole unit with me and explained what they already knew. Then he went over what we would be doing in class today and we talked a bit about what we could do to make it fun (did I mention I love him?) I already felt MUCH better going into the class! We had morning exercises and yes I got laughed at even though I thought I kicked BUTT! I was really proud of myself! Then it was show time! The first class went great! Michael did a lot of the teaching because he would explain everything in Chinese to them and then I would ask them questions, quiz them, pronounce things for them, etc. These two classes knew A LOT more than yesterday’s classes, so we could actually do activities! It is still hard because I can’t just talk to them, but Michael’s English is good so he can translate for me. I felt like today I was helpful. I think these students are SO lucky to have Michael because he speaks English so well and I felt like I was beneficial to them today.

At the end of the first class, this music (to be honest it sounded more like cult music) came on and the students did these exercise type things. They closed their eyes and first rubbed their ears, then the music would stop and a woman would say something and then the music would start again and they would rub their eyes, sinuses, neck and head! I was ready to fall asleep! I don’t know how often they do it but I thought it was awesome! We went to the second class and again it went really well. The students know enough English that we could do the exercises and make it fun. They are also able to laugh..we were doing “How many people are in your family?” They would answer and I would ask “Who are they?” A few of them would get confused and say “you” instead of “me” and I think Michael was giving them a hard time saying, Oh I am in your family? Overall, it was just SO nice that he was able to speak English with Michael so we could communicate and also that he was able to communicate with the students when I couldn’t.

When I was leaving the second class this woman came over to me and said, “Julie? I am Melissa!” Melissa! I had no idea she was going to be at the school or even that I was going to meet her! Yes! I had a new person in Beijing! She was very sweet (still a bit hard to understand but definitely easier than Sabrina) and said how she had a baby in July so I guess that’s why she couldn’t pick me up at the airport? Anyway she was very nice and I felt much better that I was able to meet her! She told me that if two classes weren’t enough, I could stay and help the smaller kids in the afternoon. I didn’t tell her that I pass out every afternoon when I get back! I told her I would definitely be interested in doing more, but maybe I could start next week since I was still adjusting to the time, etc. I felt much better after meeting her and getting her phone number and email (since I feel like I already have about 29,348 questions..)

Then, lunch time. I felt bad because I think everyone brings their own bowls. I obviously didn’t have one, so Amy said she had an extra that I could use (have I mentioned how NICE they are!) I stood in line and Michael and Amy got me food. I kept saying “Just a little please!” Michael asked me if I wanted rice or Chinese bread, I forget what I said, but I thought I was in the clear from getting a LOT of food! Amy got me rice and Chinese bread and soup and carried it back for me. Even that was a lot of food and then Michael showed up with another massive plate! Oh not again! I couldn’t believe I ended up with all this food! And then of course, everyone offers me their food! They are so very nice to me but I feel so bad because I have so much food! So let’s see..Michael was eating and he said, “What do you call this..broccoli?” I looked at his food and it was white but then I looked at mine and it was broccoli! White broccoli! I had never had that before! He said in China they have green and white broccoli. Beside the broccoli there were these, potatoes I think, in like a warm applesauce sauce (ok well not that but that’s what it reminded me of) and it was SO GOOD! I loved them! So I ate that and then some rice and bread, and some soup, and some broccoli, and then they piled on more things! More noodles and I don’t even know what, something that was VERY spicy! Again, it wasn’t bad in the beginning but half way through it was getting tough. I KNEW I couldn’t finish it all and felt AWFUL again! Finally, Amy said, is it good? And I told her it was SO GOOD I was just so full and I was very sorry. She kept saying it was no problem and started clearing my dishes. I told her I could do it and she literally grabbed the bowls from me and told me it was her pleasure. They are just too nice to me! Almost to the point I am uncomfortable. I would have loved to clean up after myself and not to be waited on. I also knew that they take their lunch’s home with them and I think mine was thrown away. So today I went out and bought my own spoon and a tray type thing (with 3 compartments) so I am hoping tomorrow I can ask for small portions and clean my own bowl!

I left after lunch and was so tired on the ride home. BUT line 10 did disappoint me today! It was crowded (as always) but I got on with 2 men (late 20’s and 50’s) speaking English! So I asked them where they were from and said how it was nice to hear English. I thought they said Canada, but later they said something about how “We aren’t in Kansas anymore” and come to think of it they didn’t have Canadian accents so I am going to say they were from Kansas! They were in Beijing on business and the younger guy was leaving tomorrow while the older man still had a few days. It was nice to interact with people (on line 10 of all places!)

I was happy to be back at the hostel and take off my shoes and brush my teeth! I was in the bathroom when a girl with long blonde hair (promising, I thought) walked in and a woman walking out sort of bumped into her and she responded with “Oh no you’re fine.” JACKPOT! I forget what my pick up line was, it wasn’t very good, but her name is Allie, she is from Minnesota, still in college and in Beijing doing an internship for magazine. I wanted to keep her there all day and just talk to her and be her friend! But I played it cool and said, “hopefully I’ll see you around”. Honestly, it makes me feel better just to know there is an American in the same building as me! I really am hoping I will see her because it would be great to have a friend, but didn’t want to come across as a creep during our first encounter!

As much as I wanted to nap I ventured out! I went on the hunt for places to start eating dinner. I ended up at a NEW supermarket where I got my bowl for school and then went to another supermarket for my spoon! I also checked out some more dinner options and then went back to my favorite supermarket (the one closest to me) to get some water and juice! My like of supermarkets has turned into an obsession..I LOVE THEM! I could spend days just walking the aisles. It’s sick I know, I am going to work on it. I stopped at Costa Coffee to get my blueberry muffin (it was as good as I remembered) and on my walk back to the hostel I became a celebrity! This man stopped me and asked if he could do a short interview about facebook in China. My first instinct was to say no, but then I thought, well what else do I have to do? So I said yes! I think he said it would only be shown in New York? Keep an eye out for me! He just asked how I felt about not being able to get facebook, youtube, twitter etc. in China. I said I missed it and how it was a great way to keep in touch. I thought after how I will probably get dragged out of my hostel tonight and beaten for voicing my opinion :P

My goal was to be social and go downstairs in the hostel to blog tonight, but when I did the lights were off and nobody was there! So Starbucks it is! I have no idea what I will do this weekend! Although catching up on sleep is in the agenda (even China doesn’t change some things!)

Hugs and kisses from China!