Could I Have a Side of Starfish and Slugs and Scorpion With My Cricket, Please?

Monday, November 02, 2009

I love Monday mornings. I bet that isn’t something you hear often, but I do! I “slept in” today, although I didn’t sleep late because again there was banging and hammers and saws etc. I have no idea what they are doing, but they work hard doing it! It is nice, however, to know I don’t have to be up for anything!

I spent the morning getting things done. I cleaned my room, made a list for the grocery store, did laundry and showered! I also went to Costa Coffee for a blueberry muffin since I was missing lunch at school!

I was well on my way by 12:30 and had no problems until the bus! Another traffic jam! Ugh! I am beginning to hate that road! It seems like they are doing “construction” because both sides are dug up, but there are no construction vehicles. It is more like men with shovels just digging. Who knows. And it always seems like the buses going on the opposite direction fly by! So both sides of the road aren’t backed up, but it always seems like the way I am going is backed up longer! Once the bus turned off his engine I knew we were in it for the long haul and I felt awful because I was going to be late for school and had no way to contact them (because my phone STILL doesn’t work)! We were stuck on the bus for about 45 minutes and then finally we were moving again. I have NO idea what caused us to be stopped for so long!

My smiling Chinese man greeted me as always (although I sort of had to seek him out..) but he waved me along! I have no idea if now since I am at the school every day I don’t need to sign in, or he knows I have no idea WHAT to put in his columns and finds my signing in a waste of time! Hopefully, it’s not the latter!

I knew I was arriving at the end of the class so I went to the teachers’ lounge and waited. Finally when a teacher arrived I explained about the bus, but she didn’t seem to mind I was late. She brought me to grade 6! I can’t say I am the biggest fan of grade 6! First of all, I don’t even think she was their teacher, but she handed me the book (but didn’t tell me what sections). So luckily, flashcards to the rescue. 6th graders in China are like 6th grades everywhere else..teenagers! haha! They are very loud and never want to pay attention. So I decided I would start with the color game again, although they weren’t as into it as the younger kids. Then I did a little from the book, but since I had no idea what I was doing I decided more flashcards! This time I moved on to fruits and veggies! They knew most of them but we learned a few more and then did the game again! But this time I tried something different. I would say something like, “I want an apple, a strawberry, a potatoes and a cucumber” and those groups would send someone up. Then I would say “Who has my apple?” and the student with the apple would step forward and say “Apple!” So it was a little different, but I am still going to try and come up with some different games!

The school was SO cold (yes it is about 30 out again today!) and they have no heat so I was a bit happy to be leaving! I tried to have the teacher help me with my cell phone and she said the number was busy. But I wanted to say I have been calling for 2 weeks and the number is always busy! Oh China!

When I was talking to her this other girl came in and said she was Helena, another volunteer through WLS from Spain! I realized she was waiting for me to go home with! Now I know this is going to sound awful and I debated putting this in here, but I said I would be honest. She was very nice, but the last thing I felt like doing was having to make small talk for another 1.5 hours. I know, I know, it’s awful! But I had been on public transportation for 2.5 hours, it was freezing, the 6th graders were hard to control and while Alana does speak English, she has a strong accent so again I feel like I have to strain and concentrate hard to understand her. I also am a bit tired of small talk, as bad as that sounds. I have grown to enjoy my “commute” as “Julie time” to relax and not have to have language barriers but just to enjoy, being. But, I thought about how it would have been nicer during my first week if there was someone I could follow. On the other hand, as much as I did struggle my first week, I enjoyed it! I liked the challenge of being on my own and depending on nobody but myself to get done what I needed to get done (whether it be grocery shopping, finding food, navigating the subway, etc.) I loved the sense of accomplishment when I realized I could do it on my own! However, I realize not everyone likes this and she wanted me to help her figure it all out.

I have realized, more and more since I have been here, that I am very independent. I like being independent. So I was somewhat dreading when I knew she would ask if we could go to school together every morning. And she did. I know, this really makes me sound like an awful person! Maybe I am, haha! But really, I just didn’t like the idea of being tied down every day. Yes I usually leave around 8:30, but what if I am ready to go early? Or what if I am running late? Or more importantly, what if she is late? I hate when people aren’t on time! For some reason, the idea of having to coordinate my schedule so that she can come with me feels, suffocating, I think that’s it. I know I know, I feel guilty just writing this, but I think I have become so independent since I’ve been in Beijing that it is just what I am used to. But I am sure she will appreciate the fact that she won’t have to navigate the subway and bus system alone.

I did invite her to go out with all of us tonight and by us, I mean our group. In order to join our group you only have to speak English! So I only had an hour from when I got back from school until when we were meeting for the Night Market so I quickly went to the supermarket, where I bought a lot of cereal, some milk, water and gloves (warmer gloves!)

We (Ali, Randi, Callum, Bronwen Helena, Stephanie (a new coworker of Ali and Randi) and I) met and were off to the market! When we arrived in Wanfujing it looked like Time Square! Lots of lights, everywhere! The market was a side road off the main drag. It was a bit overwhelming. There were a lot of stalls that were selling everything! We looked around for a bit and took our pictures before settling on starfish, which I bought. If there is one thing I can recommend, it is going with a big group! That way everyone can try a bit (and you aren’t stuck with a stick of crickets).

So yes, starfish was first on the menu and since I bought it, first bite goes to me! I went right at it..aaaand was not impressed! Very crunchy and VERY salty. Too salty! We passed it around and nobody was impressed. I think we managed to eat all of its limbs and tossed its poor little body in the trash (although don’t they re-grow their arms..hmm)

Next on the list, SLUG! Now, I have to say, this was my favorite! It wasn’t crunchy, it was soft. And Mom, PLEASE don’t be offended, but I have to say when I took a bite I thought of your lasagna! NOT the taste, but the texture of the cheese! My mom won’t say she’s a good cook (she really doesn’t cook much) but her lasagna is GREAT! Maybe next time I’ll ask for a side of slug with lasagna!

It was still FREEZING out and I didn’t bring a hat but saw one in a store. I asked how much and she said 45 RMB which is $6.59. I would have gladly paid that for a hat..I probably would have paid $100 because it was so cold! But nobody takes advantage of Julie Bulie! Honestly, it was the easiest bargaining yet. I said 45 was too expensive and walked away, so then she said how much! I said 20 (I probably could have gotten it for 2 but I was so cold. I just wanted a hat and to be gone!) She came back with “40” and I still said 20 until finally, after “35, 30, 25” ok 20! Sold! I left with a warm head!

We continued on to cricket, because I couldn’t leave China without having some fried cricket! YUM! However, Ali and I were the only brave souls! It definitely looked the worst, antennas sticking up and all. It was very crunchy..and we each had a whole one since nobody else wanted to even try!!!

Other people wanted scorpion so we went to that stall and this was the first time I was COMPLETELY grossed out. I didn’t realize they were all alive! I guess it makes sense I just hadn’t thought about it! Their little legs and pinchers would move and UGH! The guy was cool and put two in my hand..little did those two scorpions know their friends were gonna be in my tummy soon! They just kind of crawled around and it tickled. I wasn’t impressed with ANYTHING that we ate, but hey, when in China!

We were all starving for some actual food so we found a place to sit down. They brought us warm face clothes (like on an airplane) which we LOVED because we were SO cold! But after looking at the menu we weren’t impressed (but thought it would be rude to leave after taking advantage of their warm towels). It was definitely a tourist place (10% gratuity included) and it wasn’t that good. We all ordered rice and a chicken and meat dish to share.

I was exhausted when we got back to the hostel. It had been a fun, but tiring day and it was only Monday!

Update about my address. I will be in the Vietnam house (the address I put in my last blog, until the end of November..I don’t have a set date). But then I move to the Lyly Guesthouse from the end of November until I leave Vietnam which is December 20th. This is the address I was given: LYLY: 40/2 Bui Vien District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Veitnam. I am not sure how you are suppose to write an address to Vietnam and again I have no idea if mail can be delivered here, but I will ask as soon as I arrive if I have mail!

Hugs and kisses from the starfish, slug, cricket and scorpion in my tummy!