Food

This is a "dishes" place. Everyone eats off the same plates with your own little bowl of rice. You take one or two bites from the dish and put it in your bowl and then scoop up some rice to go along with it. It's one of the more healthier options because it's your choice of whether or not you want to eat all the carbs (rice).

The City and the South Gate

These are some pics of the south gate at the school. I walk through this gate almost daily. There are shops around and restaurants. The little stand is where I like to go to get bing liu cha or bing hong cha (cold green or black tea). They also serve soft-serve ice cream. The ladies who own it help me by correcting my pronunciation and telling me the names of things. They're really sweet!

Traffic

I wish I could give you pictures as to what the traffic and the streets look like here. Twice now I've almost been hit by a bus while running in the morning. I have been spared. You know how the States has this "Pedestrians have the right of way" thing? China doesn't. China has a "let's play chicken" thing. There are stop lights but most people don't adhere to them. If they can go, they go and if there are people walking or riding their bikes they had better move! This goes for stop signs and certain sides of the street. No one really does what's expected. They're kind of everywhere.

This is how I almost got hit, twice! Walking along the street and I'm crossing a little street where there's just a stop sign. There isn't a lot of traffic from these streets ever, but the times that I was crossing the side (trying to go down the main street) and a bus comes around the corner so fast it almost hit me.

The other one was this morning when crossing a major intersection. I had the walk sign and was crossing this intersection and a bus full of people tear through their RED stop light to almost hit. They blow on the horn and I stopped, thankfully!

So I have to be extra careful from now on:)

And today was the first full day of rain we've had since I arrived. I spend the day indoors rearranging my furniture, unpacking some more and making bagels (which turned out okay, but still edible)!

A Day at the Beach

By the camels you would think I was in North Africa or something. I'm not! Crazy I know. But as you can see, I got to ride one! Cost me $2.50. That's expensive! Basically this "island" is one giant sand dune. You can take a ski lift up to the top if you don't want to ride a camel. Of course, I rode the camel!

We had a fun day getting out of the city and relaxing with all the people. Although, I think they should have let us in for free since we were entertainment for everyone. Always drawing a crowd, wanting to practice English or take a picture. :)

Happy

Me and my new language tutor! But we're becoming friends. She's going to take me for ice cream! Her name is Happy!

Wrong word!

I went to lunch today by myself. I don't even hardly do that in the States, but the other single gals are out of town. Just me. I decided I was going to go for it.

I walked into a restaurant I had been to before. I wanted to make sure I would at least like the food I got! I got up to the counter and I pointed to another woman's dish of noodles signifying that I wanted what she had. I told the woman that I wanted just a little spice. (It's still really hot with only a little.)

I get my food and that stuff is blazing! The whole dish was red. Much more red than the other woman's. There were also green chilies in it. Apparently I told the woman I wanted it extra spicy. Language mistake #1! I won't make that mistake again.

I was sitting there eating my lunch with my nose running, eyes watering, and I'm sweating! Sweat was pouring down my face because the food was so hot. It was unbelievable. Lesson learned!

Representin'

OH yes, South Carolina had to be represented in China. I had to! I also had to represent The Citadel. Today is dedicated to both! The flag is going up on my wall to remind me of my "ruts". If you would like me to represent your state and/or college/university than please feel free to send me a t-shirt and/or flag or anything rather. My t-shirt size is a small. :) It did dawn on me that I didn't bring a country flag. Oh well!

My bike

So here's me on my bike. This is my main mode of transportation. Everywhere I go! You see the little basket on the front? That's like my trunk. So if it can't all fit in that thing than I don't buy it. This is multiple trips are needed.

I met a new girl today. Her name is Lily. Word got around that I speak English. (Not like the fact that I'm blond and a westerner had anything to do with it!) She asked me to proof read a paper for her. And the way the Chinese work is that you do something for them and they need to reciprocate in some way. She asked four or five times if there was anything she could help me with. I couldn't think of anything. But hopefully this develops into a good friendship.

Gas stove

Yesterday was the first day I have ever used a gas stove. It was nerve-racking and scary! I was so scared I was going to blow up my apartment or something. You see the news and hear the stories and then you go to use one without any assistance and it's just crazy! I asked the people here how to do it because I wanted to be sure. But it's like when you're in those situations you just forget everything you're taught/told. Yesterday morning I made eggs. They were ok. But that doesn't mean much, I couldn't make eggs in the States. (I think they were actually a little better here!)

Tonight I had my first guest, another westerner, for dinner. I made chicken curry on the gas stove. I also used my rice cooker for the first time. (Rice is another thing I couldn't make in the States to save my life.) I also botched that here. It was too gooey. I'll have to adjust what I do for next time.

But the curry was delicious! And my first entertaining event in China was a success!

I managed to communicate through sherades to day with my Aiyee today regarding the trash. Next word on the list to learn is "No". She kept wanting to dig through my trash to make sure I wasn't throwing away something that would be valuable to her. It was just food trash. Yuck!

Life takes a little getting used to over here, but it really is wonderful! (Remind me that I said this when I am complaining later!)

University campus

These are some pics of the building on my university campus. I was surprised to see how big they are. The university I attend has four campuses, but they're all together. Not like we do in the States!

parking lot

So instead of parking lots for cars. It's parking lots for bikes. You have to pay one Miao. Which is a tenth of a kuai. Eight kuai equals $1. So you do the math. It's really cheap.

More photos

More pics of the city of Yinchuan. Some rickshaws and men selling fruit as well as the traffic.

Some pics of my first week

So here are some pics from the first few days. There's a pic of ALL of my luggage that I had-man it was heavy! There are two pics from my apartment window. That's the view I have! It's actually one of the nicest on campus because it's facing something other than another dorm. Can you see the mountains? And there's a pic of the foyer of my classroom building.

A week later

I know it's taken me a long time to get this going. My apologies. I just got internet about half an hour ago. So now I'm "Johnny on the spot":) This last week has been a busy one that went by with a blink of an eye.

My "adventure" in getting here was probably one that most of you would never want to go through. I hope you don't have to! Let me give a synopsis... I got to Beijing okay with a six hour layover until I was to catch my domestic flight to Yinchuan. I checked my bags for the domestic flight and went to my gate to wait for the flight. Two hours after our flight was supposed to leave I'm still sitting there waiting to get on a flight that wasn't leaving. The Chinese didn't seem to mind. They were just sitting around. Me in my American fashion wanted to find someone who could speak English so I could know why we weren't leaving. I finally did and they said the weather was too bad (it was raining). The airport people kept saying they didn't know when the flight would leave and I was just supposed to wait. (Typical Chinese fashion.) So instead of waiting around for hours I decided that I was going to cancel that flight and book the earliest one in the morning. I could get a shower and sleep in a bed meanwhile.

I go and do this, but with much trouble. The Chinese don't like to be troubled so it took me a while to find someone who would do it for me. I did and then had to go pick up my bags again. So there's me pushing two carts through the airport with a big backpack on my back. I get a hotel and get on the shuttle. The men that had to put my bags on the shuttle were laughing and pointing at me for all the stuff I had. They were also really struggling to get the bags up there. (If I can do it, they can do it!) I get to the hotel and realize I've lost my passport. Long story short, I'm sobbing, a 16 yr. old is translating for me, an old lady is rubbing my shoulder and giving me tissues and the hotel is talking to the airport getting my passport into my hands. I decide I would rather be at the airport so I had back on the shuttle. I get to the airport. I sleep two hours and then wait at the doors of Starbucks so I can get my much deserved Frappucino and scone before I get on my flight.

I get to Yinchuan at noon on Wednesday exhausted and gross looking. Oh well.

I'll tell you all the happenings of the week the next time I write. And...I'll have pics. Right now I'm headed to meet my language tutor, "Happy". I think I'm going to give her a new English name. Afterall, she is an adjective:)

Much love!