Acclimation and a Park

I am in China!
Just as a recap--I am in Beijing studying at Associated Colleges in China, located on the campus of Central University of Economics and Business. I will be here for 8 months studying Chinese. My program is an immersion program, which means I can't speak English unless I am talking to friends and family at home.

So far jet lag isn't really getting me down. I did wake up at about 6 am, which was kind of nice. I used Skype for the first time while I was here to talk to Jake, which was awesome. I spent an hour or so translating the sign on the back of the door to my room. It is only four lines long. That was annoying, but a good exercise, and I learned that I should keep my room straightened for the cleaning ladies.

I also had my first conversation with our main teacher in Chinese. It was scary but I got through it without too many problems! The best thing about being in a language program is that the teachers will correct you in conversation, when normal people would just accept your bad Chinese as ok because you are foreign. So I will learn a lot, I think.

By far the best thing I did today was go to ritan park. It is definitely a place to relax. It was beautiful and so peaceful. There was a pond, lots of walking paths, rock formations to climb on, beautiful buildings, an outdoor cafe, an exercise area, and more. I saw people talking, doing tai chi, singing, playing instruments, playing badminton, and stretching. There were kids everywhere, and one parent instructed his toddler to wave to me. I had really good (but a little pricey) coffee there, and lunch at the outdoor cafe.

Then I walked around the embassy district and saw the Slovakian embassy! as well as Sri Lankan, Columbian, and more that I forget. I went to the Beijing Friendship Store, which is kind of like a store for foreigners. It was huge; they had groceries, gifts, and most exciting for me, a bookstore. A weird selection of books, but that's okay. I am thinking once I finish the books I brought I might try and read Don Quixote. That will keep me busy for a while.

Next time I'll take my camera and send pictures! but google image search ritan park seriously. it's beautiful.

In China!

I have arrived safely and will write more later.

In Transit

is what a package tracking website would say if I were a package being sent to Beijing. But I am a person, so I'll just have to keep you updated. I use singular pronouns when I write in my journal, so you get them too, even though there are more than one of you. We just don't have a plural you that I feel comfortable writing in English. y'all--good for talking, but not so much writing. you guys--too much work. So we'll stick with you.

I am only as far as the Columbus airport right now, but I arrived 3 hours early, which was more than necessary. The baggage lady even commented on how early I was. I overstuffed my carry-on bag, so I got stopped for them to check it, but everyone has been nice, and I did the liquids just like I was supposed to (smaller than 3 oz., sealed in a plastic bag).

Things went well this morning--my grandma made Jake and me some awesome eggs and bacon and toast and coffee, and I got out of the house on time, and I made it through all of the baggage check sort of things without any problems. I think I have to do customs in China maybe, but I didn't bring anything crazy so I should be alright. I brought a book of Classical Chinese poems Jake's sister gave me, so I might even get some bonus points.

Now I'm just sitting around, enjoying the sunrise out the window and waiting to go. More later!

Ohio

So I am in Ohio and being in Ohio means that the internet quits working randomly and then I have to restart the computer.
It also means I get to take my dog on walks, and catch up with old friends (one of whom kindly drove me back from the Greyhound Station) and of course spend time with my family.
I watched the Disney movie Mulan with my mom tonight while I studied Chinese. I forgot that I really like that movie! I know it is not historically accurate, but I wonder if it was well received in China anyway...Yao? Any thoughts?

In other news, I love the weather here and being able to see the sky from horizon to horizon without any hills. Not that hills aren't great, but Ohio summer sunsets are really really great. Also, you can see lots of stars at night.
I have been lazy and sleeping a lot. But, as I said before, I started studying Chinese tonight and I'll probably start packing (and continue a studying regimen) tomorrow. I know how to say I was abducted by aliens, which is pretty sweet: 我被外星人绑架过！or, in pinyin if you all want to give the pronunciation a shot: wo bei waixingren bangjiaguo!
And with that, I think I will go take the dog on a walk.

Nostalgia Already?

Here are some things that are going to stay in the US when I go to China:











*Quantum Leap with Ian and Valentyna and Jake (although some QL is coming with me, thanks Ian!)
*Pittsburgh, the fountain at the Point
*30 member banjo orchestras
*Roommates who are allowed to talk to me in English
*The public staircases of Pittsburgh







































I am experimenting with using photos in my blog, so have patience with the terrible layout.

So is nostalgia really simply a product of the postmodern condition? Didn't people idealize the past before that?

Also, what is the difference between nostalgia and homesickness?

Also, I love Pittsburgh.




That is all for today kids!

address!

Here is my address in China in English and Chinese:

Associated Colleges in China
Foreign Students Dormitory
Capital University of Economics and Business (CUEB)
Hong Miao, Chaoyang District
Beijing, P.R.China 100026

美国各大学联合汉语中心
留学生宿舍
首都经济贸易大学
红庙，朝阳区
中国，北京 100026

They tell us mail will get to us faster if the address is printed in Chinese (I am not sure if you also need to print it in english so it gets through the US okay, I would guess probably). Thankfully, you can copy and paste it from here and print it and then just paste it onto a letter or something. Not that I'm asking for letters or anything like that. But you know, in case you really really want to send me something...

My life is pretty boring right now...I am mostly just spending as much time as possible working on my brackenridge paper due thursday, and when I'm not working on it I'm worrying about it. It's weird being in Pittsburgh without my stuff and with some of my favorite people home visiting their families, and I'm really looking forward to going back to Ohio for two weeks on Friday morning.

Oh and finally, check out Jake's blog to the left if you want to hear about life in Pittsburgh in addition to St. Petersburg and Beijing.

back to work...ahhhhhhhhhhhh

Opening Ceremony

Don't forget the Olympic Opening Ceremonies are tonight at 8 EST on NBC. Should be interesting, and maybe even fun. Czech it out!

Skype and Molly

I have Skype now, so if you want to talk to me for free, and see my funny face, you can look for me. My name on Skype is jenyunzi, which is my American given name and my Chinese given name together. I realized yesterday that it sounds like Jenyinzer, which is a nickname for a person who speaks with a Pittsburgh accent.

I did not say Chinese first name because in China your family name comes first. Fun Fact! My full Chinese name is Mu Yunzi （穆韵姿）. Also, my given name means rhythm and movement, roughly, because I am a dancer.

Also--you can read about my roommate Molly's Adventures in Russia!!! by clicking on the link to the left. I know I will.

Still in America

I shouldn't be writing yet because I am not done with my research paper. But when I get to China, you can come here to read all about it if you are interested in that sort of thing. I will probably write a lot because I don't want to forget how to write in English--since I am not allowed to do so in my program. See you again in three weeks or something like that.