Well hello again. I figured now would be a good time to write this blog seeing as I just stuffed a whole bunch of stuff in my brian and need to wait a bit to guarantee that I actually have properly remembered it. Hangzhou is good, although still very hot. I've also had a pretty consistent cold due to our inconsistent use of the air conditioning - which has posed even more problems. It's all good though, I'm being well taken care of. Today was the first time I ever heard my roommate get even a little mad, as she "yelled" at me to take my cold medicine (I already had). Then she said I should take everything I had (which I already had) and then only then did she back down. Our Chinese roommates really, really want to make our lives easier. Which can be sometimes be a little disgruntling since I think we are all used to a little more independence - but I've also found it to be very helpful. It's nice to feel like somebody really cares for you - and has continued to help my transition "into" (? - aah my English is leaving mee!) China.
I also just wanted to say to anyone Midd reading this - I miss you guys so much and hope you have a great first start to the semester. Especially to the crew team - kick some butt this semester. :) You guys are wicked talented and I know it's going to be a great season. Also - I am 12 hours ahead so when you guys have come back from practice at like 6-7ish I will be on skype (elise.w.cohen) so you can skype me!!! Love and miss you all.
Speaking before about roommates being a little overly protective - one way in which that has been the most helpful has been in ordering food. I honestly have no idea what any of the food is most of the time, and the pictures for the most part are very unlike the food we wind up actually ordering. I have found out one thing though, I am not picky -- as long as I have no idea what I'm putting into my mouth. The other day I was eating what I thought pork and curiously asked one of my friend's roommates what I was actually eating - she told me tongue. Yeah, I unfortunately didn't eat any more of the meal after that. That's why I have found to really love going out to eat with a large group of people - especially with some Chinese students thrown in there. We basically get a big group together and then ask a roommate or two to order (since there is usually only one menu given to a table, no matter how large the group). We went out Thursday night with about 8 people and we ordered 8-9 dishes, completely different from one another. That's the other great thing - I love not being tied down to what I ordered. AS many know, I am usually more intrigued at meals by what everyone else ordered than with my own food. IT's like China knew that and invented the lazy susan for my own benefit. It's freeing to pick and choose - and allows me to try lots of different things without wasting a whole bunch of money. Meals are actually really enjoyable. :) There are also enough small and large restaurants for us to eat out at for a long time. (thanks Mom for the food funding!)
The one thing that I, and I know most of my classmates miss the most, is American breakfast. I basically now have a daily breakfast of a like pumpkin steamed thing with a steamed pork bun. It's fulfilled my sweet tooth and protein part, but is nothing compared to a bowl of Captain Crunch/Life or some tasty pancakes with bacon on the side. That's the only meal I've been having the most trouble with. But I'm figuring it out - and I also (while stalking trying to prepare for my own trip) read on someone's blog that they had found a restuarant that serves American brunch - so I will be on the hot pursuit for that restaurant. It's still a steady adjustment period.
I'll talk about classes later - probably when I'm not procrastinating on the actual work. As always love and miss you all.
Elise, Thanks for the great pictures. Your roommate looks very nice. Great to hear how you are able to try out a variety of foods when you go out to eat with a bunch of people--sounds like the way to go! Sample new things!!By the way, is there a particular cuisine associated with the region you're in? It's not Hunan or Szechuan, right? Does it have a name? How is it similar or different to the types of Chinese food we know (Cantonese, Hunan, Szechuan, what else is there?). Fran
ReplyDeleteIn 2006, my tour group discovered at least five "furnaces of China." I've never been so hot, not even in Houston! As to food, we tried snake and octopus, but enjoyed the vegetables most of all, especially eggplant. I hope you'll be able to take some cooking classes--that's what I remember the most. Love your blog and appreciate your honesty.
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