Chinese People are Weird:

1. They don't dress weather appropriate--Before we left for the trek around China, it was becoming rather warm. In the States when the weather warms up, we start to wear less clothes. Not so in China. It was in the 60's and people were still wearing boots and jackets. When we were in Xi'an (in the north) it was FREEZING. Apparently the Chinese people didn't think so. People were just wearing light jackets. I was wearing the heaviest coat I brought and a scarf and gloves everyday. I think I saw like one person wearing gloves the whole time I was there.

2. They don't walk with purpose. I never really considered myself a fast walker till I came to China. I am constantly having to weave in and out of Chinese people to get to my destination because everyone walks so freaking slow. It seems like everyone is constantly out for a Sunday stroll. I don't get it.

3. The don't do things like form lines. One of the things that has come to bother me the most is the fact that the concept of a line, is very foreign to Chinese people. I hate it when I am obviously standing waiting to pay or whatever, and a Chinese person jumps right in front of me. Excuse me, I was here first. I think it might have something to do with the fact that there are so many people in China, that you have to fight for everything you need. But I'm telling you, if China just had lines, there would be less stress and less pushing and shoving.

4. They overuse umbrellas. This probably annoys me more than most Americans as I've gone to school in Seattle for the past couple of years. In Seattle, umbrellas are rarely seen. They are too much of a hassle, it's not worth it. In China, when it's raining like one drop per hour, the umbrellas come out en masse. Getting a little wet has never hurt anything. Today I even saw some guy on a bike holding an umbrella to shield himself from the nonexistent rain. Completely unnecessary.

5. They don't eat dairy. How can you live without cheese? 'Nuff said.

6. They don't use butter (probably because they have a vendetta against dairy products, see point 6). Now and again, we'll come across some sort of cookie or bread that tastes like butter has been used in the baking process (wishful thinking, I'm sure), to which the immediate response is "It tastes like Mei-guo (America)!"

7. They think it's ok to have fish/seaweed flavored anything. I do not want fish crackers thankyouverymuch. New things are always tried with a bit of trepidation, who knows if they're trying to get something of the ocean variety past you. Nasty surprise, that.

8. They think it's ok to ask you to sing a song when they've known you for approximately 5 minutes. Apparently such behavior is common in China because I've been asked on multiple occasions to sing. For example, when I was teaching English in Lan Tian, my students started chanting and applauding when they wanted me to sing. It was one of the first things they asked me during our "free conversation" time.

Xi'an, day one.

Just arrived in Xi'an. First impression--I'm loving it. It's big and crazy and dirty and loud. Reminds me slightly of Cairo, but everyone is Chinese. I'm back to the whole adrenaline rush when you cross the street. My favorite. Tomorrow we are going to visit the Muslim quarter. I'm really looking forward to it. Speaking of Muslim, I am realizing, to my chagrin, that I am quickly losing my Arabic. I couldn't remember the word for 'friend' today, and a couple days ago I couldn't come up with the number seven for the life of me. It makes me sad. I wish I brought my Arabic stuff so I could review...

We are living for two weeks in one of the universities here. Our rooms are fabulous. It is cold here, but we have actual heat and it's phenomenal. Central heating. What a concept. Xian, I love you. The building we're in is basically a hotel. Our room gets cleaned everyday, beds made, etc. Beautiful. Actually, one of my favorite parts of Xi'an thus far (we've only been here for half a day so I have limited moments to choose from) is the grocery store. There is a HUGE supermarket right around the corner from the university. I've gotten SO tired of the dinky "supermarket" (thought there's nothing super about it) we go to in Xiamen. There is never anything new or exciting there. Nothing ever changes, and there isn't even that much to choose from to begin with. To be able to go grocery shopping in a store with seemingly limitless isles was quite the treat. I enjoyed every minute of it.

We are only traveling around for three weeks, but somehow I managed to fill my entire suitcase. I don't even know how that works. I used the same suitcase to go to France for 6 weeks, the same suitcase to go to China for 4 months, and now the same suitcase to travel for 3 weeks. Each time it's been filled to the brim. How does that even work? I don't know. I don't think that packing is one of my strong suits. It stresses me out and then I don't get anything done. I'm sure my mother could testify to that fact. I seem to remember that packing to come to China involved me sitting on my bed and my mom holding up, one by one, every article of clothing I owned and asking if I wanted to take it. The whole afternoon I sat on my bed answering yes or no, while my mom folded. Good times. I love my mom.