I would, wouldn't I

So this year isn’t going to be as cheap as I imagined. I have to pay for internet and food. Granted, both are cheap but it’s a cost I wasn’t expecting. Oh well. I get a room all to myself! I’m happy and sad about it, I’m happy because that means if for some reason I’m awake at 3am (2pm Chicago time) then I can go on the internet and talk with friends live! I’m sad because part of me wanted to live with a Chinese host family to really improve my language skills. I looked at the schedule though and we will have language classes every day for three hours so I feel a little better. The test to determine our skills is in a couple days. The guy in charge, I can’t pronounce his name completely, said not to study for it but you know everyone is going to- no one wants to be placed too low and everyone believes they’ve lost a lot over the summer. We’ll have Chinese mentors as well that we’ll meet in a week or two. They’re Chinese students who are learning how to teach Chinese… or was it English? No matter, I bought key chains to present as gifts.

Anyway, so I was promptly picked up at the airport and after waiting for the last girl we were off on a bus. The ride wasn’t too long but that nausea I was feeling before came back ten-fold and I nearly through up on the bus! They had me sit up front, holding a bag, and the other guy mentioned some pressure point that is supposed to stop nausea and you better believe I was pressing that for dear life. I’ve never really had motion-sickness before- certainly not that bad but I also had more hours last year to get over whatever I was feeling then after the plane ride. I’m just glad I won’t be moving around much this time- that should help with motion-sickness.

We arrive and I’m immediately given my key and find myself in my own room! I’m still pretty amazed; I think I’m the only girl who is in her own room. My only problem so far with this place is the bed. I have to use the comforter as plush to make the bed a little softer which leaves me without a blanket. I’m using a baby blanket and my winter coat right now but I definitely need a blanket. That and some glade- the bathroom smells terrible and the watered-down bleach I tried to use to clean it was way too strong and smelled terrible. Thankfully I saw some at the market so I’ll buy some later.

We’re setting up internet today so I won’t be without internet for very long at all. He said he believes it costs about 300 kuai which is a little over $50 for four months so that isn’t too bad but he said the quality isn’t good. Too many people here have to share. I learned that last year if I use the internet at off times I have a nice speed so no matter what they say here I plan on trying to wake up super early- like around 5am- to get the fast internet speed. I don’t plan on partying anyway.

Well, I’ll have more to say later. Zai jian!

Oh I would forget my computer charger that I'm fairly certain I had to unplug from my computer in order to pack the computer. What a hassle. We actually received internet the day after I arrived but my computer died while I was trying to set it up and no one had a cord to borrow. That's not true- one guy did but he didn't have an adapter and was "enjoying life without technology."
I certainly didn't find it enjoyable. I have DVDs and knitting patterns all ready take waste time and had no computer to watch the DVDs on, nor look up knitting patterns. Add to that I hadn't informed everyone I arrived at the school yet and I was going stir-crazy!
Anyway, a lot has happened over the last couple days. They've really been packing in the week. We went to Tian-an men Square except we didn't- we got to go where all the officials stand to watch the parades that go on in the square which was really cool.

Then we went on to see some crazy food (the guy literally called it the "weird food street" and not because his English wasn't very good (because it was good). I took pictures but I don't want to press my luck with this thing. We ended the night by seeing an acrobatic show that I fell asleep during.
Today we were put in our Chinese classes. I'm in 101.... Fu Laoshi would not be pleased. I couldn't remember anything! It's also really hard to understand them. My teacher is super nice and there are only two other boys in my group so we'll get a lot of one-on-one attention. In fact, we'll get it once every week- it's designed in the schedule! It's going to be a lot of Chinese and really difficult but I think I'm up for it. I'm also having a meeting Monday with a fundraiser about an internship! Thank goodness Marketus (out Resident Director) took me to the Chinese "Sillicon Valley" and bargained for my charger.
So I'm going to bed because I am exhausted but it's possible I'll be on again around 2-3pm American time.