Sunday, June 3, 2012

Thanks for the Memories....I guess...

Well, this is the last blog post I am making in regards to my semester in China. I have been back home for a little less than a week, which has been enough time for me to think about the semester and the good times that occurred.

Therefore, I figured I would take this post to make some observations I made during the semester. Wherever I take this blog (I am still trying to figure out if I want to continue writing the blog), I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have writing it.
Chinese drivers are so good, they are bad.
  • Chinese motorcycle drivers, well, they are just bad. 
  • The elderly do not care who you are. If you are in their way, you will be pushed out of their way. 
  • I have seen them work out. I do not want to pick a fight with the elderly. 
  • Go ahead, try to clear your throat which in any city in China. It won't work. 
  • If she calls you "高富帅" (Gāofùshuài), that's a good thing. 
  • The seven year hypothesis? I am a believer in it now. 
  • If you are someone who plays a lot of online games, you will feel right at home. 
  • Go to Macau, get some fresh air, lose a little money, jump off a building. Just like I did! 
  • Sometimes, it is better to be a jerk when you want to make a reasonable deal. 
  • All right, most of the time, it is better to be a jerk to make a good deal. 
  • All right, all the time. If they are mad at you by the end of it, you made a good deal. 
  • When in Beijing, sometimes you just need to speak another language. Like French. French works. 
  • Sometimes the food on the side of the street is better than the food in the restaurants. Actually, make that most of the time. 
  • Basketball and college students just goes together so nicely there. 
  • You want some cigarettes? Why not try the crane game? You could always win some stuffed animals as well. 
I am sure there are a lot of things that I have forgotten, but I can't just tell you about all my adventures. You just have to go there yourself and make your own stories. Have fun!

Sunday, May 27, 2012

All the Fun of Beijing (without being there)

Tomorrow, I go back to America.

I just let that sink in. I am going back home. By this time tomorrow, I will be on the plane back home. Whoa.

So, here's the deal. I am not going to write too much in this blog post (I can hear the celebrations from here, thank you). Instead, I am going to put up a bunch of the pictures from my weeklong trip to Beijing.

After I get back home (and get past what is going to be a TERRIBLE jet lag, I bet), I am going to make just one more blog post. I will talk about my experience, and make some observations. That should be the last post in regards to this program.

So, without further ado, I present to you Beijing (There are a LOT of pictures, just warning you):

The Forbidden City, my first stop.




According to the sundial it is half past shadow. Wait...

Some weird dragon turtle thing. Yeah, that didn't haunt my dreams at all.






The National Flag in Tienanmen Square




Me at the Temple of Heaven






Olympic Park




The Bird's Nest. Catchy name

The Lama Temple.

This kid must have been about 7.





The start of my favorite part of the trip...

THE GREAT WALL!!!


It doesn't look that hard to climb.



At the point where I could still lift my arms.



And this was only the first part of the climb...









The view was amazing.


The Summer Palace, my last stop.

More nightmare fuel.


It overlooks the water nicely.

The Long Corridor. A truly original name.






A really cool pedestrian market near the hostel.

Until next time, everyone.