Spring Spring Spring

I haven't been able to post in a while due to limited hot-seat internet, and usually blogspot access was, I thought, denied in this world location. It was yesterday that Helen asked for my blog address. I gave it to her, and explained that it wouldn’t work. On a whim, I checked it.

So, I’ve moved ... again! I'm back at my original apartment where my friend Chris still lives. This time, I'm trying to find an apartment with a great view.

Sheralee and I visited some nice apartments yesterday. One landlord wanted to rent an 80 square meter apartment for 700RMB/month. Another apartment of identical size in the same area, owned by a greedy witch expected 3000RMB/month.

After refusing the offer, she voluntarily dropped it to 1500RMB...
The event was comical, the landlord's daughter had difficulty containing herself. We couldn't hear what she jolt-whispered, but I'm sure it was something like, "3000!!! Are you insane?"

My needs are simple.
- Finished floors
- Painted walls
- Kitchen and bathroom sinks
- Shower, toilet, water heater
- View of the city
- Unfurnished

The Lane Change

February already?

Despite feeling under the weather, I accompanied Kevin, Chris, and Maggie ... bowling. I’m sure however that my bring ill will be omitted when anyone recalls the days Kevin was in China visiting. If I recall correctly, the last time I went bowling was with my family in 1994, in Newmarket. I do recall being in a bowling alley when I was 19-20, but not for bowling. Anyways, even though I didn’t want to take part, I still had to pay just to get in.

After the 1^st set had finished, I joined in for the sake of killing boredom.

15 pin bowling, and looked like the real deal. Even the monitors above the lanes said “Brunswick” on them. Around 12:45, we left and feeling no better than I did earlier that day, I would still have to work the next morning.

Up at 6:45, at work by 7:55, and expected to teach at 8:30. Around 10:30, I went home. Since no one else had arrived.

Hours later, I realized that today was not the 2^nd , it was the 1^st. So, I spent the rest of the day resting in bed, and started to feel a heck of a lot better than I had over the past few days.

Currently my family is in Florida. My mother sent me a few photos, and I look forward to hearing about their experience.

According to my parents in a video skype call, I've been to the U.S. “ONCE” when I was around 10 years old. Maine, Michigan, Detroit, etc. I don't recall the trip at all.

Photo: Picture from a balcony. Florida, U.S.A. Photo by Wasylyniuk

Enter: The Tragic Claw

I returned home from Christina's after the official new years’ eve celebration. Her home was filled with thick smoke and heavy smell of sulphur several times, from the fireworks we lit in the stairwell of her 5^th floor apartment. Her mother cooked several dishes. I couldn’t bring myself to try the shrimp or 1000 year old egg (an egg covered in leaves and clay, left to blacken over several weeks)

The taxi driver tried to con me, a 10 RMB trip to Christina's home, cost 17 RMB to return. I paid the driver 10, and refused to give him more. He scoffed, but accepted it. I really shouldn't have paid him anything. Home at last, I watched movies on my computer, then, I “tried” to sleep.

Pepper was still frantic. Ever since the fireworks the previous day, she’s been freaky. She’s a bi suck regardless, standing on my lap when I’m at my computer, resting on my chest with her head on my shoulder. Sometimes she’d fall asleep.

This time however, it was not so precious. I got up to prep a snack. So, I tried lifting her off me. Bad news for me, by my neglect at grooming her well enough, her claws were like wicked fishhooks. I let go, and tried to quickly pull her off when I thought she wasn't prepared. I failed over and over. Turning to more drastic measures, I leaned back on my computer chair, and tried pushing her over the back, forcing her into jumping off the back. It worked many times before, but not this time. The fireworks were still around, and she refused to separate.

She moved around behind my neck. I tried shifting and tilting to force her off. Inch by inch, it seemed to be working. I leaned further to my left, giving her no choice but to jump off, or fall off. Instead, she caught my right ear with one of her wicked hooked claws. Forcing me to tilt further, and closer to the floor. I pulled her claw out from my ear, and ran to the mirror. The gash was deep.

I'm getting ready for dinner. I'm absolutely starving. Kevin arrived and is at Chris' place. I hope Maggie is making extra. Did I mention I was starving?

Photo 1: I thought it was hilarious!
Photo 2: I bled for nearly an hour. >:[ BAD KITTY!

Prelude To Even More Confusion

National Holiday/Vacation time has begun.

Many people are scrambling around today, the last day of work before the mass migration to visit family during the holidays. Traffic is heavy, honking horns everywhere, cars driving on sidewalks, forcing electric bikes, motorists, vendors and even pedestrians aside.

My flatmate Paul is taking a trip with another foreigner down south, and may end up in Macau. They'll be gone for almost a week, leaving myself and my kittens. Around the time of Paul's expected return, Kevin will be visiting from Canada. Much like Santa, he is bringing gifts for all the good girls and boys. A Fossil brand watch I'm paying him for, and catnip toys for my kittens. Kev's a sucker for kitteh!

Laundry day, and downloading a few of my current favourite TV series, and studying a bit of Chinese. Mostly, the rules for writing Chinese characters.

Recalling one of my older posts (http://northkin.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-dont-understand.html) I'm making the same complaint today. Contemplating shaving my head.

Photo: Stree scene. Exact location unknown. Found in google image searching "China street". Double the volume, in the evening, a more accurate example here during this pre holiday season.

Brewing Skies: Before the Aftermath ... :P

China's spring festival is around the corner, but we already have fireworks. Although the festival is just a week long, the fireworks last for weeks. Fireworks are less frequent after the first 7 days, but maintain their "at any hour" trait every day after. Typical of cats, Sugar and Pepper bolt through the apartment, and hide under my bed covers at the sound ...

Currently practicing the rules of writing in Chinese, and a hair cut to follow. I wonder how short.

Photo: Visual wonders, angry sleepless nights.

Under A Rock

A classic scenario: I didn't realize how much I needed a cell phone until it went missing.

I never thought of it as being a big deal. Being that I’m in a foreign country, a cell phone creates a solid sense of security. If something goes wrong, being able to call for help is key.

Aside from emergencies, I relied on my phone for its calendar, alarm clock, reminders, time of day, address information, and ability to transport files from home to work. I also used it to share my English music. It was an assistant, and although I could get on without it, I don’t want to.

I don’t have a home phone.

For now, anyone hoping to contact me must send me an email, or catch me on MSN or QQ.

An old phone I used to have was recently returned to me. Its condition is, less than pretty, and missing the stylus pen. After I obtain a new SIM card and put money on it, I'll be back in action. Though having lost all my numbers and data, it’s gonna suck!

Photo: Thirsty. And, if you didn’t bust out laughing at it, you suck!

New Gregorian Year!

Part 1 [Posted before]

My roommate invited me to a celebration at the Crowne Plaza hotel, a well known place for foreign events and gatherings. I hesitated in deciding to go, since I don't drink. The festivities commence at 9pm.

(yawn)

Part 2 [Posted after]

I hijacked a pretty colleague from work to go with me to the event. Around 2am, the group wanted to speed to a night club for 30 minutes of dancing before closing. I wanted to go home. I was feeling burnt out, but champagne, red wine, beer, and 6 cocktails will do that. Oh, and a chicken leg. Yes I know I said I don't drink, but you're crazy if you think I'm going to suffer 5 hours with my friends sober.

There were prizes through the night. I think the first 4 or 5 winners came from a single table. They announced the final draw, and they won again. Later in the night, they held another draw. I think they had winners in that too. Theoretical probability considered, the prize draw had to be fixed.

The Plan, Mwuhahahahahaa!

I received a shirt and some Christmas cards a few days ago, sent to me by my mother and nephews. I failed to organize my gifts to send out this year, and I have no excuse. Well I do have excuses, but dad always said "No excuses. >:[ "

"What do Atheists do on Christmas?"
I dunno, same as you!

My plan is to have everyone on Skype at the same time Christmas morning. I have a web cam for the event, and I just need confirmation from my family that the plan is agreeable.

I'm off to work, now that my apartment has water again and just in time.

Tonight, I am joining Paul at a middle school event. If it ends early, I'll meet Chris at the Crowne for a big Christmas party.

Photo: YOU!

Earliest Christmas Memory

My earliest recollection of Christmas, I believe, was in 1981. Possibly 82, or was it 83?

I awoke around 2 or 3am I guess, having wet the bed (shut-the-hell-up! Quite natural for a 3 year old) Anyway, I wandered out of my room and into the decorated living room of our home.

The room was lit up by the Christmas tree, covered in lights and a blanket of tinsel. On the couch watching TV was my mother. The next few things I recall are a pound puppy http://www.poundpuppies.com/, a gingerbread house, and the street covered in black and snow out the front window.

If I recall correctly, my mother sent me back to bed with a pound puppy toy from under the tree. I remember being drawn to the window. The gingerbread house was amazing. It sat on an old sewing machine that converted into a table. Outside the window was a beautiful sight. The snow was so very thick, falling very slowly.

What's your earliest Christmas memory?

Photo: Random google image search. http://www.duvekot.ca/eliane/archives/2008_02.html

Xiǎojiě, nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?

America is not a country.

I didn't think much about it until a few days ago in a cab ride to work. The driver of the taxi asked me a couple of questions. I became aggravated as the conversation progressed.

Taxi - "nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? Měiguórén? [which country are you from? American?]
Me - "wǒ shì jiā ná dà rén" [I am a Canadian.]
Taxi - "ahhh, (nodding) nǐ shì Měiguórén." [Ahh, you are American.]
Me - (Thinking for a moment) "shì, jiānádà. wǒ shì jiānádàrén." [Yes, Canada. I am a Canadian.]
Taxi - "zhī dào, Měiguórén." [I know, American"]

It was a refusal to acknowledge my identity. We know it is impolite to refer to someone as "Middle-Eastern", "Asian", and "South African". In these situations, we tend to ignore it unless it is directly related to a given situation. Courtesy would be that being corrected expects the conversation to adapt and use the preferred term.

Idiot - "Which country are you from? Asian?"
Chinese National - "Yes, I'm Chinese."
Idiot - "Ahh, Asian."
Chinese National - "China. I am Chinese."
Idiot - "I know. Asian."

Mistaking someones nationality with their geographic region is excusable. Refusal to aknowledge someones identity by considering their regional origin to be their country of origin regardless of being corrected, is belligerent.

My computer is back in working order. I lost alot of data, but my Mandarin software has been reinstalled.

Photo: The McDonalds here keeps messing up my order. I literally point and touch the menu item, so why do they still get it wrong? Next time, I'm opening everything as soon as the bag is on the counter. >:[ Edit: Who am I kidding? I should be happy that they mess up simple orders. It gives it that "like back home" feeling.