Sunday was a really relaxed day. I just enjoyed the nice weather and made curry. I really enjoy the quiet days. Monday began as it normally does, with coffee and class. Class went alright, though it’s kind of a bummer that we will run through an entire chapter before break. The chapter is on finances and stock market. The words weren’t particularly difficult, but to be perfectly honest it’s not something that really peaks my interest. Our history professor was smart and switched our Tuesday class for Monday. Though I must admit having our apartment so close makes life so easy, I came back for a quick lunch. History class is as usual a trial to get through, just a lack of new information (I have been Chinese history major for 3 years). Her information is very carefully selected and it doesn’t offer me any really new perspective except the one of how Chinese people view their own history. The weather today has been so lovely. It’s finally warming up into the sixties and there is sun. even on non-polluted day the sun is often hidden by the clouds. Every break offered by our history class all the year-longs just went outside and absorbed then sun. It was so nice to actually feel the sun on my skin. It was so fantastic that the entire apartment after history class went out to the little fountain area and sat together doing homework until the sun finally went down. Overall it was a lovely day.
Feb. 17, 2015
Last day before break. Class was rough to get through. Talking about finances and such is literally the least exciting thing I can think about learning. Since I didn’t really care about the dialogue I was kind of a deep during class. I was not the only one, however, and together track four made it through. After that Jesse and I went home for a quick lunch and then off to Trust Mart, which was madness. Imagine the Saturday before the Superbowl, but in a country of 1.1 billion. Lots of people everywhere, Jesse and I all but ran through. Then there was a quick run to our vegetable lady. We had fun exchanging greetings she gave me one is Sichuanese that I then copied. It was a good time, she also made a point to inform she would be closed for the next couple days. Tomorrow is Spring festival eve, so everything is essentially shutting down, which was the cause for the rush to retrieve food. By Sunday, according to Wentao, everything should be back up and running. The city is really quiet right now, many people have left to go back to their home towns in rural China. The noise level is at the equivalent of what I am used to back and Reno (I think so anyway, it’s a bit hard to remember). The next couple of days will be filled with celebrations. Hopefully I will be able to get some pictures of the city lit up with celebrations. 新年快乐！
Feb. 18, 2015
First day of break was meant to be a busy day. But in the end we ended up generally staying inside. It wasn’t as sunny as it had been before. Instead we stayed in and had some apartment TV time. Though we are all friends, we don’t hang out as a whole simply due to different schedules. However, after dinner Jesse and decided to go check out the Temple and Jinli street. Today is Spring Festival eve. Now to explain, this is Chinese New Years but the name of the festival is the Spring festival. China was based off a lunar calendar so traditionally this was the start of the new year, though the celebration was also something of a celebration of the end of winter. The temple, as you may remember, was in the process of being decorated when Jesse and I visited two weeks ago. It was 30 RMB to get in and once inside it was well worth the money. Everything was decorated in lanterns and there was a carnival like atmosphere. We walked around and enjoyed the decorated area. Unfortunately the pictures I took were a little blurry because the lanterns were the only source of light. Overall a lovely was to spend the evening. When we came back we ended up watching the Spring Festival variety show on CCTV 1. This is the national show that a good portion of China watches every year. It was actually pretty fun. I was also pleased that for somethings I could keep up and for some things I was utterly confused. People would speak so fast a slur their words I’d have no idea. Overall it was an interesting night of Chinese nationalism. Every few songs was one that had very similar meanings to American nationalistic songs but obviously for China (yay for parallels).
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