From the depths of the PRC a primal cry rings out after weeks of silence: "PIZZA, WE'VE FOUND IT!" Given, it wasn't the best pizza...it had pears and the faintest hint of BBQ sauce, but anything with cheese is a treat. It was quite refreshing after a day of misery.
The government officials wouldn't accept our U.S. medical forms so we had to get, and pay for, full physical examinations in order to apply for our residence cards. Let me tell you, a Chinese hospital is an assembly line of awkward interactions. First is the blood-drawing room, then the blood pressure room, then the ear/nose-cleaning room (with unsterilized tools of course), then the EKG room where goo is painted on your chest and you're hooked up to electrodes like a body in the Matrix, and finally the chest x-ray room where you can hear the sub-atomic particles crackling around your head in the vacant white room (no screwing around with lead aprons here).
When we ask how long it will take to A) get our textbooks for our classes or B) get paid or C) get our passports back so we won't appear to be illegal immigrants when we travel, the most commonly heard responses are "maybe" and "maybe later." Oh, so helpful! That's why I was so surprised to find the students are so helpful. So far, students have helped me buy a guitar, purchase food, showed me around town, and even taught me a little Chinese: "Ni hao, ma?," not to mention the wonderful pizza dinner the other night.
We discovered a foreigner bar, called Casablanca, where we can buy drinks for half-price, listen to music from the early nineties, and play foosball.
I haven't yet gotten sick from the food, though I eat from street carts practically every day. I did however eat what I think was fried pig anus or intestine with Phred. It literally tasted like shit. It was a short lunch. I've done a little shopping so I try to cook for myself, but my main staples are oatmeal, bananas, and PB&J sandwiches on white bread. Not too shabby.
Oh ya, I'm teaching too. Nine classes a week. Oral English and Extensive Reading. Since I haven't had many English classes, and God knows I can't spell, it's been a little rough, but we're getting there. I figure if we play enough games and do enough skits the students will learn by practice and I won't have to work too hard.
Next week is National Week, so classes are cancelled. I'm headed to Beijing to meet Meredith and do a little sight-seeing. Mer is staying here for three weeks. She ships out for Guinea, Africa for two years of PeaceCorps service in December, so it'll be our last time seeing each other until I visit Guinea.
The running is ok here. The streets are concrete and every day has been humid in the upper 80's so I haven't been doing much - 6 miles was my max (not to brag, but it's not too good for me). We'll see how things go when it starts to cool off. I got a student to go with me one day, but I think that will be his last time...I seem to have that effect on people (except for Tony. Congrats on the running! You make me proud. You'll be pleased to know I've been drinking more).
Sorry this was long, but seeing how I probably won't write for another couple months, I'm sure you can deal.
-Andy
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