Days 10 – 11 – 12 (Thanks for being so 耐心patient!)

Top o’ the morn’n to ya!  I have just started my weekly routine!  Sorry it has taken me so long to write.  This weekend I just needed to figure out what my daily routine would be.. needed to also translate all of my other past journal entries.  So it has been quite a process.  But let me shed some on how this last weekend was.

So last time I mentioned I went to go get dinner with 方银 but I never mentioned this funny joke he told me that night. 

Ｆａｎｇｙｉｎ：　Okay, so he says “ Do you know how American’s count sheep before they go to sleep?”

Ｍｅ：　“Yes? We don’t normally do this,” I replied, “but it is more of something we tell our kids to do, it is just a cutesy thing to say.”

Ｆａｎｇｙｉｎ：　方银said, “ Actually our teachers told us it is because ‘sheep’ rhymes with ‘sleep.’”

Ｍｅ：　“oh?”

Ｆａｎｇｙｉｎ：　“But the thing is you can’t do that in Chinese because 羊(yang – sheep) doesn’t rhyme with 睡觉(shuijiao – sleep)”

Ｍｅ：　“I never thought of that… so what do you count?”

Ｆａｎｇｙｉｎ：　“Well we tried counting 水饺 (shuijiao – dumplings) but that doesn’t work because it makes us hungry and think about food, so then we can’t go to sleep!”

Haha!  Funny – cute little story isn’t it?

Well  - that was from last Thursday.  Friday nothing much happened – our class 负面转播got cancelled – the 班长class leader said it conflicted with the professor’s schedule so he moved it to next Wednesday – we’ll see if it worked.  Speaking of 班长’s (class leader’s) the one from last Wednesday’s 新闻写作class wouldn’t stop text’n me! Lol I think he has a crush on me, it’s okay – he offered to bring me a book about Nanjing culture… how sweet.  Since he really wasn’t my cup of tea, I had Natalie accompany me to pick up the book… we all went for coffee later.  Luckily two other Flagship students were there, and I stealthily left to go meet my 房东landlord 郭先生Mr. Guo to pay him the rest of my rent – I didn’t make that up, I actually had to do that.  But it was funny because 力沛　(Lipei – the guy I was talk’n about) thought he was coming too, but instead the other Flagship students took him to dinner!  Way to go team!  That night we went to “Talking,” a local bar – I had a 虎牌啤酒 “Tiger” brand beer.  I was so surprised when the waiter came back with a huge 500ml for just 15 kuai… this glass looked bigger than I was! Lol

Saturday – the biggest event of the day was my trip to IKEA 宜家 – I think this translation is funny because it literally says “Cheap House” LOL.  So Cali made this trip – four subway stops and a 10 Kuai cab ride.  I was SOOO ＨＡＰＰＹ．　　Ikea is a marvelous place .  It is funny going in because some families with little children go, walking near the bed displays, there were actually kids sleeping in some of the beds.  People seemed to think Ikea displays were all meant for a ‘hands-on’ type of experience I guess!  I came back with picture frames, a new French press, a small frying pan, and a small boiling pot –all for about 100 kuai!  Can’t beat that!  Can I just make a small mention to those of you out there who may travel to China:  There are a lot of people out there who may see that you have difficulty catching a cab – they may offer to give you a ride.  People – Just say No!  Some of these folks could be bluffing, and you could get yourself into a compromising situation.  Just travel smart!

Sunday – I had Cali meet my roommate’s best friend 邵莹洁 (Shao Yingjie – The girl who took me to Karaoke).  This girl is a sweetheart, so I tried to see if I could hook her up with her own room living with Cali.  My roommate (the night before) was like, “omg, she’s asking me ‘What should I wear when I meet cali?” haha!  I said, “Cali definitely is not going to care!” Too funny!?  But a lot of people here seem eager to be friends with international students, which is a good thing for me, but I try to let them know we are definitely NOT fashion police when choosing roommates in China.  After we had lunch together　邵莹洁 and my roommate李岳 took me to an art supplies store to buy an easel, paints, and brushes!  I’m going to start painting and drawing again!  So excited!  邵莹洁is so cute, she linked arms with me all the way there.  I spent the rest of my Sunday studying, and figuring out my new Nanjing daily routine…

So far so good!  I made a piece of toast this morning with my new frying pan!  I made brewed coffee with my new French press!  It is raining outside, but I like the rain =) Today is a good day – My posts should be frequent (daily) from now on!

 凯琳　～　Ｃａｉｔｙ　

Day 9 - 卡拉OK ~ Karaoke!

So my morning was pretty usual – I personally think that my Chinese breakfast burrito 煎饼 tastes much better without the seaweed part… but that’s just me.  Made some Nestle 2+1 dehydrated coffee (because unfortunately my French Press broke in my luggage on my way here!)  =(  !!!  That’s okay – Dehydrated coffee is quite decent after you’ve been on it for a week. LOL

Our high level writing class had our first homework assignment due – a self-introduction 自我介绍.  Before I left I had intended to hand this in to one of my teachers in the states, but hadn’t had the time with travel preparation – so this was a very convenient assignment!  We different types of Chinese compositions, and then for the most interesting segment of class, we discussed how we can make sure we answer the prompt question best.  For example, if we are told “Write about your favorite person”  The most common mistake among English-native speakers writing Chinese is that we tend to describe the person.  This seems obvious to us, if we are to write why we like someone, we describe their characteristics and that should obviously describe why we like them.  Chinese writing is different.  She said, when you look at the topic “ My favorite person” “我最喜欢的人”there are three components:  我 “me” 喜欢 “like” and 人”person” – we have to emphasize and write more about why we think this person is likeable, particularly “How I am moved by this person”  Seems like the same thing, but supposedly it is not!

 Anyways, after class I was invited to Karaoke with my roommate’s best friend from High School. I was flattered, not more than one week in my experience and I was already invited to Karaoke.  Big deal to me!  Things are looking up!  It was so much fun!  Even though it isn’t really common to go in the early afternoon, it is cheaper.  So me 邵莹洁, and three of her other friends went, ate kettle corn, drank hot orange juice (yes this is a real thing people), and sang!  Chinese girls are quite talented I think when it comes to working their vocal cords.  I already knew about 7-8 Chinese songs, but I learned many more today that I will have to look up and practice.  Before I left, they made me sing Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time.”  I did okay, they were really impressed, I don’t know what for though! LOL

When I got back it was about dinner time, and I met 方银 (mentioned before) for dinner.  We got dumplings.  He is pretty chill, but I don’t think he really knew what to talk about with me.  I told him that I would treat him for all the help with moving my things into my apartment and the cell phone, but he wouldn’t have it! And he was much quicker to the “draw” with his wallet.  Seriously people, trying to pull out your wallet to pay for dinner in China is like watching a Western film Shoot-out… you better be quick to the draw!  I’ll get better…  Anyways I think it gave him 面子 “face”  to pay for a “waiguo nvsheng” foreign girl. 

6:00 came quickly, and it was time for Nanjing history class.  I love this class.  The teacher is fantastic, I described him before.  But, the last segment of class we talked about how it is to live with a Chinese roommate and what problems we could think of that may arise.  I have personally had amazing luck with roommates.  李岳is a sweetheart, but – from my past experience I brought up in class. “If a Chinese friend, (regardless if they are a roommate or not) asks you to do them a favor” – you better pay attention and do it! –That is if you say you can do something, you should stick to your word, if you can’t do it, say you can’t.  In China, no matter what age this is a very important way to form good 关系 relationships.  I didn’t have a bad experience, but I have noticed the “asking of favors” to be an important trend.  Anyways, -time to study.  <3  Caity!

Day 8 – You are what you eat and exotic animals

So today I woke up at 7:00 am, and I have to tell you I am so impressed with my roommate.  I told her that I usually get up at 7:00 am to go running and she was up and ready to go before I had put on my 运动鞋gym shoes.  We walked to the track, and she was at least able to get through two laps,  I had finished three and though by mistake I had done four; lol she quickly corrected me, at least someone’s keeping tabs.  However after the fourth lap I think my stomach had turned inside out and upside down.  Something was definitely up… probably trying the 鸭血粉丝放 (the soup mentioned before) was finally catching up with me.  She fanned me as I was sitting down after lap four.  Once I regained consciousness and saw less stars, I felt absolutely fine! Lol – and we went to go get breakfast.  Maybe I should eat something before I go running?   I was joking with her on the way back that in the U.S. we say “you are what you eat,” and that if I eat to many 包子(steamed dough with meatball inside), I’m going to turn into a 包子.  She thought that was pretty funny.

So then I had class – Media class.  And then I came back to respond to emails and organize a little bit.  It was also my first time washing clothes and using my washing machine.  It is quite interesting.  Since my washing machine is also in my kitchen it is adjacent to the wall of my bathroom.  When my clothes are done going through the soaking phase, the water then proceeds through a pipe in the wall to my shower where it comes out and goes down the shower drain.  (Don’t worry; it is not coming through the shower head haha). After the spin cycle, I took my clothes and hung them outside my balcony on bamboo poles -Never have I ever done this before, quite a novelty!

Then I was on my way to 式听 try out another class called 新闻写作Journalism and writing.  I was very fascinated by the class. One of the most interesting things the teacher said was Journalism is 70% questioning and 30% writing “七分采，三分写”.  So a huge part of this class is how to as proper questions to get correct answers.  It was three hours long, but he was a captivating speaker.  Kind of a weather old man with a rust voice, but his power points were easier to understand, and sometimes quite comical.  For example, he gave examples of questions that Chinese students had asked Obama during a trip to Shanghai, he had us analyze these questions, and then see what kind of criticism was said about the questions on the internet.  The questions were either idiotic or too broad, so they were quite hilarious, and the class would break out in laughter upon seeing the critic. I find the lecture method quite like listening to a preacher.  The teachers here are generally very good orators, but it is not at all interactive unless they obviously structure the class that way.  For example, the teacher had a roster, and then he would say student “so-and-so” please give your opinion… then the student would immediately stand in a very rigid manner, and formal explain their viewpoint.  Much more formal than what I am used to, but I like it because the expectation is that everyone has a well-informed opinion.  Three hours later, class was over, and Natalie and I looked for the 班长 “class leader.”  Every class has one; he will make sure the other students know very well what the homework is, when it is due, etc.  I got his phone number and he texted me tonight “If you need anything at all let me know!”  “Make sure you drink lots of hot water to not get cold” and “I would be happy to show you around Nanjing.”  Very nice fellow, I will probably take him up on it.  More friends for Caitlin in China = Much better experience for Caitlin indeed!  I asked Natalie if she could think of an analogy of how it feels to be a foreign student in China, and I think she nailed it on the head – it feels like you are an exotic animal. Lol So true! 

After class we found a Korean place to eat dinner at, and I had　嫩豆腐汤, soft tofu soup – it is spicy and comes so hot to the table, that when they drop an egg in it, it cooks!  Very good for cold weather I might add; had to break the 包子trend anyway, can’t turn into one you see.  Us exotic animals have delicate stomachs... Just kidding ;)

Day 7 – One week, and I’m still standing!

 Lol  So, Ni hao各位你好, good day everyone, yes – Day 7 has passed and I have lived one week in Nanjing!  Very cool!  Hehe..  Well yesterday was a good day to start =)  On mornings that I do not go running, I download and study one song.  Waking up with music seems to be a good way to ease into the Chinese-speaking day (warms me up).  I was almost late for class because I hadn’t realized how quickly the time had passed, but just made it for our HSK preparatory class.  For those of you unfamiliar, the HSK is an official Chinese language exam for foreigners. Even though I hate standardized testing, this is a growing pain in my Chinese language learning that I must get through.  We will be taking this class twice a week.  The teacher was very kind 郭老师- “Teacher Guo 郭” and suggested that we should be writing in a diary every day.  So my big idea is to take this diary from my blog and translate it in Chinese.  I will probably start posting that as well for my Chinese friends back in the states.  After, I went to the 教育市场 and purchased a lot of school supplies.  Chinese pens and notebooks are a lot more fun than ones in the U.S., despite the funny-incorrect English phrases ornamented all over the covers, they are generally more aesthetically pleasing, and really cute.  The pens are the best though!  I think I will start hoarding them to take back to the U.S.  Anyways – left my things at home and met Natalie to go to my first class in the school of Journalism called 公共关系 “Public Relations,” It has a lot to do with how broadcasting influences the public.  I think it is very interesting.  The teacher’s name is “Qi” 祁老师 – Professor Qi.  He is a very captivating speaker, and also happens to be my Flagship Media Class professor, so I don’t think I have to worry about him randomly leaving in the middle of the semester (I heard this was a problem last semester with one or two classes).

So the class was interesting, but what is even more interesting really, is the feeling of being an international student.  When we arrived, we didn’t want to be in the line-of-fire front seats, nor did we want to be the unconfident 外国人 foreigners in the back.  The middle suited us.  And so the weird feeling is simply being the odd duck in the class.  No one gave us a hard time; I’m just saying -it is strange to feel the eyes of others on one’s back.

The class room was freezing, so after 公共关系 we grabbed some snacks, and headed to the last class of the day “南京的古都风光和文化异彩” which is a cultural / historical class on the city of Nanjing.  Quite useful indeed!  The teacher was a sweetheart!  His name was Chen, in his fifties; he wore small specks, had a warm smoker’s voice, and smiled all the time.  The three of us girls couldn’t help being late because our last class was so far, but he didn’t mind.  One joke he mentioned in class is that one of the flagship students a while back had said something highly improper upon introduction, 你好老师，嘿， 我认识你的外婆！她很漂亮！”I know your grandmother, and she is very pretty! “

 OMG, which wise guy said that piece? Lol Anyways~ Jiten, Cali and I went to grab dinner around 9 – 鱼香茄子 fish sauce eggplant and 红烧牛肉 braised beef.  I came home, and tried reading a book that I had picked up at the store 欲望号街车 “A streetcar named desire”  I have never seen the movie, and I when I was purchasing books, I thought when I saw it… “Why not?”  =)

Day 5/6 每天冒一点险 Everyday a little adventure!

Before I begin my two day story, let’s give the important things out – my address!  And my Phone number!

Nanjing Address　

江苏南京市鼓楼区金银街１７号金　撞一单元３０２室

Mailing Address (only a 30 second walk for me) 

南京大学海外教育学院

Institute for International Students, Nanjing University

C/O 蓝凯琳， Caitlin Klein

中国南京市汉口路２２号 (210093)

22 Hankou Road, Nanjing China (210093)

Phone Number  15651788526

Everybody 你好！So sorry I didn’t have time to write yesterday!  I have to combine these last two days to make up!   I woke early yesterday (5:30) and started reviewing vocabulary.  It was a relaxing Sunday!  Grabbed some 包子baozi again with some 豆浆doujiang (soymilk) for me and my roommate before I met with my landlord 郭先生at 10:00.  I signed my contract, paid him some of the due money, and then went about my day! It was a very relaxing day.  My roommate took me out for 水饺 dumplings for lunch, and gave me a tour of the campus.  She is so sweet!  Anyways, after that she had some school work to handle, so I came back and watched a romantic comedy that I had bought the second day I got here.  I had started watching it back in the states but never finished it lol.  It is called 恋爱通告 “Love in Disguise” -really cute! I will probably watch it a couple more times to record useful phrases and such… language can be fun!  I just didn’t have my girlfriends or mom around to watch it with and drink red wine and eat chocolate lol.  My mom found a way to call me at that time =).  Anyways, my roommate wouldn’t come home until late with her tasks, so I went out at dusk to see the little shop-tents that pop up on the street.  After indulging in a McDonald’s coffee, I bought a mirror and a desk organizer for my makeup.  Being my clumsy self, I tripped on a small teacup, after realizing what I’d done; I immediately offered to pay for it.  The lady was very nice, and it wasn’t expensive, so I also came home with a random teacup lol.  For dinner I had some more scramble egg tomato to-go 西红柿炒蛋, it is kind of a comfort food for me, and not too greasy!  I gobbled half up and saved half in the fridge… but I don’t have any frying pans, nor do I have a microwave… so unless I plan on eating it cold, I don’t know what was thinking by saving it now as there is no way to heat it up.  Lol I probably didn’t need to put it in the fridge, as it is cold enough in the house.

Today was much busier!  I woke early today to run on the track.. 7:00. It was a nice jog!  Only four laps.. Gotta work my way up!  But I like this routine, and I think I will stick to it!  Keeps me warm here =)  There were women doing morning dance-aerobics outside.  It looked like they were doing the Macarena to Chinese music!  I must mention, I don’t feel quite as estranged running on the track as I have in the past at other Chinese Universities exercising.  Tomorrow will be even more exciting, stay tuned as I will explain to you tomorrow a Chinese dancer-size class that I will attend with my roommate!  I tried explaining the concept of “Zumba” to her. 

After getting ready, today we met in the office for orientation, do’s and don’ts, how to pick classes, etc. etc.  After all we had another tour of the campus, and that’s when Cali and I decided to split, grab baozi for lunch, and the return to the office to 选课 choose classes.  The classes that the students from the last cohort of Flagship took seemed very interesting; however none of the ones I thought I would like are being offered this semester.  So far, my list from the Nanjing University School of Journalism has: 

公共关系 – public relations,

专播与文化 Broadcasting and Culture-Profiling

负面专播 Negative Broadcasting

西方传播流派 Western Broadcasting

Maybe some of my translations aren’t the best, for example negative broadcasting must mean methodology of broadcasting negatively connoted-topics.  We will each pick out about three or four classes, and then try them out for a week, and probably end up taking two or three.  In addition to these two, we are also required to take a Chinese media class, a class on the history of Nanjing, and an HSK preparatory class; not to mention our tutoring times.  I think that it is really lucky that I happen to be interested in Journalism, there are several Journalism professors teaching the media class.  Perfect!  The teachers were super nice!  After attending this class from 1-2:30, I asked 方银 to help me go to the 派出所police station to register my residency here in Nanjing.  It was quite successful!  方银has been so helpful!  I think I will give him one of my music CD’s.  He seemed interested in music, and he had never heard of the Eagles, maybe he’ll like it?  They’re a good ticket to U.S. pop culture, I mean, who doesn’t know “Hotel California?”

When I got back, my roommate took me out and about!  We took the 地铁 subway two stops to 新街口 where there were (no joke) – more than five shopping malls!  Holy smokes!  Shoppers’ haven!  It is quite overwhelming.  To fuel-up for our shopping trip, 李岳 Liyue (roomy) took me to a place to try Nanjing specialties.  Apparently Nanjing, along with Shanghai also specializes in 小笼包 (little dragon package) a certain type of dumpling that has soup inside, along with another delicacy, 鸭血粉丝汤 (duck blood transparent noodle soup) now…  I know what you’re thinking, but don’t freak out yet…  Okay, I’ll admit, did try it. And yes, it is a chicken broth soup with cilantro, green onion, transparent noodles, tofu, duck liver pieces, duck intestine pieces, and chunks of jellied duck blood.   It is not my favorite, but it wasn’t inedible people, and it is highly common to eat this in Nanjing.  Try everything once 每天都要冒一点险 “every day one should have a little adventure.”  And although most people at home would call that plain crazy, I call it getting under China’s skin!  It was well worth it because later she took me to DQ and treated me to an ice cream cone.  lol The shopping was fun, but I literally window-shopped -until I dropped.  I don’t know if there is a chengyu (idiom for that), but when we got home, I went straight to the hot water to make some coffee, and the two of us sat and chatted girl-chat the rest of the evening.  李岳, come to find is quite wise in the fine arts of girl chat ;)  Until tomorrow!  <3

Day 4

Wooo!  It's the weekend and I am just about completely settled in!!  Last I wrote I was waiting for 方银 to help me 我把的东西搬过去(move my things).  So by 9 am, he came over, and my things were packed in my hotel room ready-to-go.  I checked out.  He wouldn't let me carry the heavier pieces, but it was only a one minute walk to my apartment.  However, it was three flights of stairs.  My big luggage was 80 pounds!  I told him I would treat him sometime to food for his help.  My roommate 李约 was home, and we decided to go to the nearby market for necessities and grab food on the way.  Turns out she also loves to eat baozi 包子 =D !  For those of you who have never eaten a baozi, you absolutely must.  It is a steamed dough with either a vegetable and egg filling, or a meatball filling.  I prefer the meat 肉 ones, but they are all hot and tasty.  We were like "yeah I walk and eat at the same time, meh!" lol so we're walk'n talk'n eat'n baozi all the way to the Taiwan grocer... which kind of feels like a walmart. 

The grocery stores here are generally two levels tall.  One grabs a cart, and rides an escalator (the wheels have stops on them so the cart doesn't slide down the escalator).  I bought hangers, bed dressings and pillows etc. We had to take a taxi back because there was so much stuff to carry!  We were both exhausted when we got back, so we sat on our shafa (sofa) and girl-talked for a while =).  Later I started "nesting" and putting away all of my things.  I called my landlord,  I will meet him again tomorrow to pay him part of his 13000 RMB, sign papers, and go to the police station to register residency.  Apparently you are supposed to do that within 24 hours of leaving a hotel, but nobody told me that?  Oh well, I heard that I'll be fine, the landlord and/or my roommate will be coming with me.  Liyue went to go do some errands and decided to go exploring.

It was my first time walking around solo, but it is a good feeling.  I was looking for a heavier blanket anyways lol.  It is cold here!  Even thought it is 56 degrees as a high, it was just like that in Phoenix I think?  But, it is a more humid cold, so it feels colder.  Luckily my naunqi (heater) is working fine, and my bed is very warm! I feel so spoiled staying in the master bedroom.  Honestly, I don't think I've ever had a bedroom quite so large!

Moving along, I met with Natalie at six.  Apparently she has some friend at John Hopkins university.  We decided to go to the Fuzimiao to see lanterns!  They were very nice,  all about 7 of us?  But they were students from the U.S. working on there Masters (in Chinese, not on Chinese).  Only one of them was a Chinese heritage student, who just happened to have gotten her undergraduate degree from ASU!  Like I said, they were all very nice, and there Chinese was amazing!  A couple of them I think were too smart for their own good, and spoke too fast leaving me a slightly awkward impression, but honestly I think it is because their brains are super-charged. lol So after eating spicy noodles, we went to the Fuzimiao 夫子庙 Confucius temple, which once you enter the courtyard there is a street lined with many many shops and food stands.  I think I saw the definition of 人山人海 (people mountain people sea) meaning people everywhere!  It was so crowded!!!  Like Chinese Las Vegas outside without coin machines.  We had to really stick together because you would turn around one second and then whoever was with you could just be gone that quick!  It was really quite amazing though with all of the lights, the lit red lanterns (I was right about the lantern holiday by the way), and there was a moat that had water.  It was kind of romantic with all of the colors from the lights reflecting off the water.  I bought a hot milk-tea (as if it were hot chocolate) to keep warm. 

So that was my full day!  Perhaps the only other interesting thing was my shower experience.  There are these two heating-lights above the shower head.  It made me laugh because when I turn them on they are like surveillance lights - bright (very very bright) lol  I feel like I am about to get beamed up to a space ship.  They work tho,  keeps the air warm when I'm showing, so I guess I'll keep those laser beams on. Haha.  I am bundled up in bed within my turquoise colored flowery sheets right now.  I have to go the the restroom but I am too cold to get up and make the trip... too much info?  Um, well these bed sheets are actually quite lovely for only 200 rmb.  One last reflection - one new accomplishment of my new year is texting in Chinese!  So cool!  Never thought I would ever do that!  Good night everyone =)