Happy January!
LoveI've checked out a TON of books on China (I'M GOING TO CHINA IN FEBRUARY WITH MY SCHOOL!!!) and I'm already a hundred pages into Red Azaelea which is turning out to be really lovely.
I'm also simultaneously reading Beloved and Atonement, (I'm a dysfunctional reader...) and I'm loving it.
And I'M WRITING. Which is probably the best part of my day. I'm going to upload this fun contemplation that I wrote for one of my literature classes because I'm proud of it and I have a FANTASTIC idea for a new story about my dad. And vampires. If everything goes according to plan, it'll be funny.
Finally, FINALLY I am coming to terms with Alexandra. My real name that I have always abhorred. But seeing it at the end of a piece of writing that I'm proud of and on my college applications makes me...happy. Alexandra Solmaz Sharabianlou sounds like an enchantment; something magical and cherished and strong. Just as well, I feel like I deserve to be Alexandra, which means protector of the small/mankind because my dream is to become a child therapist or someone who cares for kids. Now I'm fulfilling that mantle.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Alexandra Solmaz Sharabianlou to the stage.
Devious Comments
You mean this ENTIRE time me, David, Adrian, Ned, and all the other guys have been your faithful friends/justice vigilantes, we haven't even used your real name!?
But hey, really, glad to hear your hellish nightmare (college applications) is almost ever. Best of luck to ya. Cool to hear you're going to China though, if you need any tips or advice, just ask me. I may be the most Chinese-illiterate Chinese on the planet, but I know my away around the mean (but economically friendly) streets of China.
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Ninjas never go down easy. Especially the l33t ones.
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~OrochiBitches
Never beat around the bush. If you want to say bananas, say bananas.
RASPBERRIES!!!!
and HEY only my mother calls me Alexandra.
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“How can I believe in God when just last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of an electric typewriter?” Woody Allen
When it comes to buying anything, prioritize in buying the local specialty, whatever that is. Whether it's fans, scroll paintings, peppers, good weapons, or whatever else you may have in mind, always factor in that whatever is the specialty there is going to be cheaper, and anything that looks cool, but is found EVERYWHERE (like cheap fans, fake designer clothing, and weapons) can probably be found near wherever you're staying...unless you're staying someplace boring. I don't know where you're going specifically, so you'll have to figure that out on your own.
Food, ah the food of China. Little else in the world is more delectable yet more disgusting at the same time. My advice: try EVERYTHING. Pig ears? Scorpion on a stick (actually quite alright)? The literally 1000 different kinds of noodles? Go for it! Money for food is RARElY an issue for foreigners in China so try everything out, you may not ever get another chance. Of course, sanitation is important too, but don't let it get too much to you. If you're really paranoid though, one trick is to dip your chopsticks (or forks and spoons if you suck) in fresh hot tea (in your own cup, not the entire thing. Just dump it out afterwards). It'll sanitize the utensils if you're worried about something.
The streets in China are INSANE. In general, follow the "school of fish" model: as long as you're in a group of 10 or more, it'll be impossible for a car to run over all of you and still ignore it. Drivers there do not pay attention to lights, signs, or cops (because they're probably bribed to not care anyway) so either run quickly, have someone who can argue in Chinese for you, or stick with the group.
Always bring a camera that has at least 1GB of memory. If you bring a laptop, it'll be even easier since you can simply dump the photos on the hard drive and delete them on the camera. If this is not the case, you better bring a lot of memory sticks. Depending on where you go, you will easily fill up at least one or two.
That's all the basic stuff, if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. And if I can't answer it, ask Julia. She knows everything about China.
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Ninjas never go down easy. Especially the l33t ones.
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“How can I believe in God when just last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of an electric typewriter?” Woody Allen
by the way, i was trying to get rid of some old documents the other day, and i found one on a princess lexie who saved the world from the evil kraft cheese company.
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“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
-Maya Angelou
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“How can I believe in God when just last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of an electric typewriter?” Woody Allen
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“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
-Maya Angelou
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“How can I believe in God when just last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of an electric typewriter?” Woody Allen
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