Thanksgiving (Part 1)

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!
I just said y'all - what is Beijing doing to me?!

Anyways on with the show...

Today was my first Thanksgiving away from family. HOWEVER, I have a Beijing family and we had a small Small group Thanksgiving dinner at my friend Christy's apartment. There were about 15 of us there and we all made something. I helped Christy make a bunch of casseroles (who knew these were so important for Thanksgiving - sup south) and I made some cranberry lovin, because I loveeee cranberries. It was a great time and just I really felt connected to all of these people and America lovin'! My brit friend brought a huge American flag to dinner! (and a smaller British flag haha).

Also today I tried teaching my students about Thanksgiving to mixed results. My first class understood, but didn't understand hand turkeys. My second class was the opposite. Le sigh.

I'm thankful for the friends and family I have here in Beijing, and my family and friends back home and abroad. I love all of you :)

丁丁历险记 - The Adventures of TinTin!

I just got back from seeing my first movie in English. I saw Tin Tin in 3-D and English, but with Chinese subtitles! I didn't really remember much about Tin Tin, but for those Americans reading this, it's a lot like Indiana Jones. Steven Spielberg actually liked Indiana Jones a lot and someone told him that it was based off of Tin Tin, as my wise friend Immy told me - who is bloody obsessed with it (she's British, what can I say?). It was a nice 3-D movie in the fact that it wasn't the real-D 3-D (so no left-handed and right-handed glasses) and it didn't give me a headache!

I rode there on the back of Tom's bike :o. Tom is a brit studying at the tv university? It's the film and television university or something like that, but he's studying language. He's a super fast biker and I was just sitting on the back metal part hoping I wasn't going to die, haha. But we got there really fast and just in time to meet up with a huge group of people.

I've heard a lot of negative things about the chinese movie experience that people will just answer their phones, play with their iPads, just generally being loud and what not. I didn't really experience that, but then again I went to a foreign movie with a bunch of foreigners. There were some people talking for a little bit, but they got quiet pretty fast.

Favorite phrases:
Ten thousand typhoons!

Haddock: "Do you know how to fly this thing?"
Tintin: "Don't worry, I interviewed a pilot once."

Also I just checked out IMDB and it's not out in the states yet. go see it, it's great!

Silk Market

This morning I had the unique experience that is the silk market. I actually don't find it to be the best market in Beijing by any means. It was an interesting experience though, and I feel like I learn a lot of functional chinese while I'm at places like that because I practice a lot. I have realized that I can really get into bargaining here, which is something I never really do at home. I think it's because I really dislike feeling like I am getting screwed over, which is something that happens a lot in China. Therefore I know that my price is good if the shopkeeper tends to get upset.

Rule of thumb: You normally take the original price and divide by 10 - and that should be the price you pay. If you pay 2-3 times the 10% it is okay, but the rest is a rip off. I did okay. Got a nice leather bag today.

My days are long and filled with around 7 hours of class (at least on Thursdays) and a bunch of activities. Today I had small group at my friends house and I stopped by the 5 Spot on the way home because I didn't really eat today. My friend Denise was having a little party at the 5 Spot which is this bar/restaurant above two of the main clubs in WDK. I ended up getting free pizza (score!) and supporting my friend, so boss! Now I just want to pass out ha. I have work tomorrow doing transcription for this Chinese company. Woooo.

Hope all is well with everyone.
xx,
Sarah