Happy Chinese New Years! Year of the Pink! *Oink! Oink!*
Ok...so the year that I spend in China...my mom's family decides to come to California! My grandma, Uncle Ken, Uncle Chun, Aunt Gloria and Aunt Xiao You...just an uncle in not here! And a whole load of cousins...
Day 1: At my uncle Ken's house...
We bowed three times to the "ancestral tablet" that was made out of red construction paper with the Lin family name inscribed with a Sharpie marker...I couldn't help but laugh. Bad me. ;(
There was the traditional chicken, fish and oranges in the center of the table. Along with the feast was the traditional pig ears, tofu and egg...which half I didn't eat. Then there was shrimp, sashimi, jiao zi, ribs, fishbowl soup, tofu, noodles...
While the "Chinese people" played Mahjong...my cousins turned the game of UNO into a gambling game...how the heck do you gamble with UNO? While my sister, stepdad Jim and I played Scrabble. Do you see the cultural division?!? Haha.
The highlight of the evening was perhaps my ice cream sundae from Baskin Robbins that I treated Jim and myself to...from my red envelope money! ;)
My sister's boyfriend brought fireworks...but we were afraid that they would attract the cops! :(
Day Two: My Mom's House
Your typical American fourth of July meal! Chips, veggie tray, bbq, potato salad (I messed up and addded vinegar when I made it), pies, noodles and baked salmon. Yum! ;)
After eating, I was so sleepy....
Day Three: My Aunt's House/Beading day
I didn't go to my aunt's in Pleasanton. (Turns out there was drama there anyways) I hung out with my sister and friend Amy instead. I ate too many fruits fondue and cheese and crackers. We were supposed to bead...and we went to the bead store...but were too busy eating. Haha.
Afterwards, I continued with my strange goal to clean my junk in the garage...
Monterey on Saturday!! :-)
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Greetings from America!
I am now in Rancho Cordova at my mom and stepdad's beautiful new home. Its nice here and I haven't suffered any reverse culure shock (yet) except for my stomach and my "wonderful" episodes of vomiting and "Montezuma's revenge." Was it Red Lobster? Was it the glass of milk? Was it the four pieces of pizza (which I all consumed in ONE day). Anyways, my dreams of eating long-craved American foods has been postponed for a few days. Just been eating boiled rice and plain noodles.
Haven't been able to do much as a result. I met up with Amy today to go to Michael's and Target. Got some chai tea, creamer, chocolates and caramel syrup...
Its really a funny thing...me going on a plane back to America. It was almost symbolic to the idea of me breaking into a world full of ideas, viewpoints, technology and education that Chinese has yet to "cross barriers." Such as the idea that nationality doesn't necessarily equal a certain race, and that nationality doesn't stand for a monetary status and that nationality doesn't mean a better life.
I loved looking at the fluffy white clouds outside the plane except that most of the ride was in the dark! ^_^
Haven't been able to do much as a result. I met up with Amy today to go to Michael's and Target. Got some chai tea, creamer, chocolates and caramel syrup...
Its really a funny thing...me going on a plane back to America. It was almost symbolic to the idea of me breaking into a world full of ideas, viewpoints, technology and education that Chinese has yet to "cross barriers." Such as the idea that nationality doesn't necessarily equal a certain race, and that nationality doesn't stand for a monetary status and that nationality doesn't mean a better life.
I loved looking at the fluffy white clouds outside the plane except that most of the ride was in the dark! ^_^
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Happy Chinese New Year!
I am going back to America for the month of February! I can't wait! I'm in the midst of typing teaching syllabi, teaching backup notes and correcting final exams and adding up grade totals!
I've been to 31 Flavors and obsessively searching for all things Western. Is that a bad sign?
I've also been going jewelry shopping a lot and just exploring and watching movies and trying my hand at cooking more Chinese dishes! ;)
So Happy Chinese New Year's! Xin nian kuai le! Gong xi fa cai! Wan shi ru yi!!
I've been to 31 Flavors and obsessively searching for all things Western. Is that a bad sign?
I've also been going jewelry shopping a lot and just exploring and watching movies and trying my hand at cooking more Chinese dishes! ;)
So Happy Chinese New Year's! Xin nian kuai le! Gong xi fa cai! Wan shi ru yi!!
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Runs with nose and medicine
Ok, I know. The title doesn't make any sense, what-so-ever! Turns out my "cold" is actually bronchitis! I went to Luhe Hospital with Xiao Ding yesterday and had an X-ray examination. I have to take four different types of medication. Its all so confusing! What's wrong with me?!? Argh.
Anyways, that's all for now. Going to try to decipher the mysteries of the medication and try to correct some homework and eat some breakfast!
TTYL!
Anyways, that's all for now. Going to try to decipher the mysteries of the medication and try to correct some homework and eat some breakfast!
TTYL!
Friday, January 5, 2007
2007 Happy New Year Wishes
So, its been a while.
I think it was around the same time that I was infected by this ridiculous cold that has STILL not gone away! Like I mentioned earlier, there is definitely some sort of Christmas spirit here. There are Santa Claus' and Christmas decorations all over the place. The foreign teachers were invited by the president of the university to go to lunch on Christmas day. Once again, it was more of a last-minute invitation which seems to be the common method of "planning" ahead. So we had lunch with the Dean of the English Department, the Vice president of the university, the director of the English Department/foreign teacher affairs and the teacher who is in charge of managing the coursework for the foreign teachers. Then us four foreign teachers went out to Christmas dinner with our students. I had fun destroying little Santa Claus'. There must have been something really strange in the water! Hehe. Ironically enough, the English department teachers were once again invited to the SAME restaurant (where we had our Christmas dinner)to celebrate the New Year's (Yes, they celebrate New Year's here and even have a 3-day holiday!) and we occupied at least 6 tables!! I guess it really helps to know what you're ordering when you go to a restaurant---it really changes your dining experience! Matthew invited the foreign teachers and some students to his place on New Year's eve. He made hamburgers (I had a veggie burger--just bread and other veggies), and kneaded jiaozi (dumplings) and I made some potato salad. It was fun! Unfortunately, I had a cough-attack during the end of the evening so I went back home earlier (which is just 2 flights of stairs--hehe).
So most of my 3-day New Year holiday was spent at home sleeping, taking medicine and coughing! ;( I went to the antique market (Panjiayuan) with Matthew not too long ago and was really impressed by the antique goodies such as snuff bottles, ethnic embroidery and figurines. I was also quite enthralled by the amount of jewelry beads and pearls! I have yet to create them! ;) I wish I could find toggle clasps and more selection of findings and seed beads (or "rice" beads). I'm sure they're around here somewhere. There seems to be this trend of everything made in China doesn't STAY in China!
I'll update my pictures soon. They're mostly in my Flickr account.
Happy New Year's 2007!
The internet has been incredibly slow lately...so it makes me not want to update my journal.
That reminds me--I went to my first movie at a Chinese movie theatre! ;) I saw "Huang Jin Jia (The Curse of the Golden Flower)." It has Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li and Jay Chou in it. It was really touching but, aye, what a scandalous family! And it was worth the 70 Yuan to see it (Although that's like 12 rip-off DVDs)!
I think it was around the same time that I was infected by this ridiculous cold that has STILL not gone away! Like I mentioned earlier, there is definitely some sort of Christmas spirit here. There are Santa Claus' and Christmas decorations all over the place. The foreign teachers were invited by the president of the university to go to lunch on Christmas day. Once again, it was more of a last-minute invitation which seems to be the common method of "planning" ahead. So we had lunch with the Dean of the English Department, the Vice president of the university, the director of the English Department/foreign teacher affairs and the teacher who is in charge of managing the coursework for the foreign teachers. Then us four foreign teachers went out to Christmas dinner with our students. I had fun destroying little Santa Claus'. There must have been something really strange in the water! Hehe. Ironically enough, the English department teachers were once again invited to the SAME restaurant (where we had our Christmas dinner)to celebrate the New Year's (Yes, they celebrate New Year's here and even have a 3-day holiday!) and we occupied at least 6 tables!! I guess it really helps to know what you're ordering when you go to a restaurant---it really changes your dining experience! Matthew invited the foreign teachers and some students to his place on New Year's eve. He made hamburgers (I had a veggie burger--just bread and other veggies), and kneaded jiaozi (dumplings) and I made some potato salad. It was fun! Unfortunately, I had a cough-attack during the end of the evening so I went back home earlier (which is just 2 flights of stairs--hehe).
So most of my 3-day New Year holiday was spent at home sleeping, taking medicine and coughing! ;( I went to the antique market (Panjiayuan) with Matthew not too long ago and was really impressed by the antique goodies such as snuff bottles, ethnic embroidery and figurines. I was also quite enthralled by the amount of jewelry beads and pearls! I have yet to create them! ;) I wish I could find toggle clasps and more selection of findings and seed beads (or "rice" beads). I'm sure they're around here somewhere. There seems to be this trend of everything made in China doesn't STAY in China!
I'll update my pictures soon. They're mostly in my Flickr account.
Happy New Year's 2007!
The internet has been incredibly slow lately...so it makes me not want to update my journal.
That reminds me--I went to my first movie at a Chinese movie theatre! ;) I saw "Huang Jin Jia (The Curse of the Golden Flower)." It has Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li and Jay Chou in it. It was really touching but, aye, what a scandalous family! And it was worth the 70 Yuan to see it (Although that's like 12 rip-off DVDs)!
Sunday, December 17, 2006
YongheGong Pictures
GATE at the Lama Temple
Mr. Turtle, Helen and Deep Green--Chinese style
Tradition clashing with modernization
Enlightened Alley
Turtle Dragon Friends
Don't feed the turtle dragon!
Close-up of incense burner
Regal Red Gate
One of the many temples
The BIRDS--I've never seen so many birds at one time in Beijing before!
Lots and lots of stores selling incense and lotus flowers. Guess what color I bought. Hahaha. Very hard, huh?
(Some Chinese lady was yelling curse words at this foreigner. Adam and I couldn't figure out what he did to deserve such treatment! He just stook there wondering what was going on!)
Mr. Turtle, Helen and Deep Green--Chinese style
Tradition clashing with modernization
Enlightened Alley
Turtle Dragon Friends
Don't feed the turtle dragon!
Close-up of incense burner
Regal Red Gate
One of the many temples
The BIRDS--I've never seen so many birds at one time in Beijing before!
Lots and lots of stores selling incense and lotus flowers. Guess what color I bought. Hahaha. Very hard, huh?
(Some Chinese lady was yelling curse words at this foreigner. Adam and I couldn't figure out what he did to deserve such treatment! He just stook there wondering what was going on!)
Food for thought (December 14-17, 2006)
This weekend was a lot of fun! I had a banana split night, a cooking lesson and went to the Yonghegong Lama Temple and Wan Ton (to celebrate Adam's birthday). Unfortunately, my wallet was stolen!! =( I guess thieves are on the rise as a result of the upcoming holiday season. =( A$$hole!! I hope he rots in hell--and for the fact that he could have allowed me to not be able to return home by taking away all my money!!!
BANANA SPLIT NIGHT: December 15, 2006
LEARNING TO MAKE GONG BAO JI DING, DI SAN XIAN and YOU MAI CAI
(I KNOW, this blog is becoming a food blog!)
Preparing to cook the veggies and meats
DI SAN XIAN
YOU MAI CAI
FINISHED MEAL
BANANA SPLIT NIGHT: December 15, 2006
LEARNING TO MAKE GONG BAO JI DING, DI SAN XIAN and YOU MAI CAI
(I KNOW, this blog is becoming a food blog!)
Preparing to cook the veggies and meats
DI SAN XIAN
YOU MAI CAI
FINISHED MEAL
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