My bad if this post sounds all whiny- deal.
The Most Massive Mall
Let me preface this by saying that I have never been to the Mall of America, or any other super large malls- just shut it if you have criticism and let me talk- THIS PLACE WAS HUGE.
Not only that but every so often you would get these nine-story butterfly dangly things (see picture) that could only have been installed in China where they have the sheer man-power to spend hours upon hours untangling the knots that these strands must have caused. I was in awe. I actually found myself walking around with my mouth open for a bit until I realized I looked exactly like a typical gawking tourist in trepidation over some country’s sheer materialistic power.
Hangzhou
Last week we went to Hangzhou for an overnight trip. I had been looking forward to the trip the whole week but honestly- it was unimpressive (hence why it has taken me forever to write about it). Granted, I may sound a little stuck up here- I mean, come on. Unimpressive? I’m in freakin’ China. But…yeah.
We awoke bleary-eyed and were corralled onto a bus (I seriously feel like cattle sometimes) where we sat for four hours on the bumpiest highway I have yet to encounter. We pulled over into a bus stop, and everyone got out, shuffled to the bathroom where people were literally using a wall to pee. No stall doors, no toilet paper- only a slightly slanted floor and a wall (now I really feel like cattle). Back on the bus. Finally, we got into Hangzhou. Lunch, hotel- nap for one hour- back out to go visit a temple.
This temple was a weird mixture of a too-heavy religious feel matched with a mist that would not allow you to see further than several yards. It was a strange combination. I’ve spent several minutes trying to put this emotion into words and all I can think of is this: consider being fully clothed and wrapped in a blanket of rain, soaked to the point where you wouldn’t care if you fell into a lake or not- but all you want is to be dry.
Uugh. So, maybe it still doesn’t make sense. Anyway, I left the group and wandered on my own, as usual. I ended up going to the top of the temple where there was a small worship area and few people. I sat on the steps overlooking the hillside and it was the only time throughout my stay in Hangzhou where peace settled over me and everything was good.
A few minutes later I heard a gong clang, and I went down the hill to where the monks were chanting. I watched them for a bit until I realized that I was late to meet everyone else and headed back.
Sleep.
The next day was somewhat of an endurance test. We awoke at 7ish, and were wandering aimlessly around a lake by 9am. Once again, the air was too thick to take any good pictures. We were all practically drones mindlessly following the director, not even having energy to wander out on our own. Soon enough we were back on the bus to enjoy the jostling ride back home.
Internship Information
Forgive me if my usual tone is lacking during this section. The time has reached 2:20am and I feel like this blog post has turned into cruel punishment while I want for the images to load. UUUUGH. Anyway…short points about the internship:
- Will be teaching about 20 (20-30 year old) I.T. guys how to improve their English. I will also be editing documents, etc.
- Work days: Tuesday and Thursday from early in the morning until evening (~ 7am to 7pm).
- There is a shuttle that will take me to work. It leaves at 8am from a location near campus, and then it departs my work place at 5:30pm. The shuttle ride is…wait for it…1.5 hours long. Yup…3 hours in transit every Tuesday and Thursday.
- Benefits? I get to say I worked for an international company in Shanghai, China…
- Negatives? Shuttle ride. BUT- I can invest in some wonderful literature, and I will be good to go!
That is all as of now.
Happy Father’s Day!
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