Back to the States, back to school, but more importantly, back from China
Posted Monday, August 27, 2007 @ 08:48 PM

I've been back in the U.S. for a week now, and at school for almost as long. My floor is decidedly less cluttered than when I first arrived, but things still aren't in their right place. There is a stack of dishes to be done, and a load of dirty laundry. I finally got sheets put on my bed, so I'm no longer sleeping on a bare mattress and naked pillows, but that gives you an idea (as I'm always saying) of "the state of things." Classes haven't really heated up yet, but I have many many text books coming in the mail. I suspect once they arrive I will have more trouble finding time for things, as most of my classes this semester involve a lot of reading and discussion.

But you're probably not here because of your interest in school.

CHINA, CHINA!

Here are some goodies—the first installment of what we shall call "Observations That Require No Further Explanation." More of these to come.

Rolls of toilet paper have no cardboard cylindrical insert in the center, just toilet paper through and through. This seems much more efficient, less wasteful.

Everywhere in Beijing there are small courtyards which look like brightly-colored playgrounds. Actually, this is public exercise equipment, used every day in "morning exercise" or "zao chen lian" by primarily the elderly. It's not uncommon to see a courtyard full elderly, coordinated in movement through tai qi, with or without swords. Every time we pass, I still have trouble not comparing the scene to American playgrounds, full of children.

Groceries in Beijing are cheap by American standards. A trunk full of groceries which in the US would cost $100-200, in Beijing only costs about $30, or 220 yen.

The juice selection in China is delicious and incredible. While they don't have things like Ocean Spray with fifty flavors of cranberry juice, they have delicious nectars like mango, peach, apple, pear, or tomato. Peach is what seems most unusual and delicious, as it really tastes like peaches, but isn't too sweet and doesn't taste artificial. All the juices/nectars are thicker than most juices you can buy in America.

Missy's family debated the color of my hair. She says that in Chinese, they have a word, "gold," that they use similarly for redheads and blondes, but the only way it translates to English is "blonde."

I've begun uploading photos from the trip (I'm shooting for five new photos uploaded per day), so head on over to flickr and have a look.

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1 comment(s)

Suzanne says:

Hope you had a fantastic trip. (Sounds like it.:-)) *heading over to flickr to have a look*

             28 Aug 2007, 7:13 AM.