:: Some Notes of My Reminiscense

Many people have asked how I've been doing since the very first day I was in China. The answer never really came out so easily from my mouth. Whatever you've ever heard from me, believe me, it wasn't that easy to say.

At the very first day of my arrival, I was totally fine and a lil bit excited. I remember that I once sent a message to my auntie in Melbourne, told her that I was fine and this city wasn't that bad after all. My dormitory turns out to be better than what I'd expected before, my Korean roommate is very nice, the building is very clean and my surrounding is good.

Everything was good except after the next 24 hours. I can still perfectly picture how miserable I was during the next few days. I had this nervous breakdown when I stupidly just realized that 600 TOEFL score or 10 years English course won't do any little. In China, they're useless.

Things couldn't be any worse than these; when you were in an area you're unfamiliar with. I can't say a damn word, can't read a damn character, and let's forget about writing. It was depressing and mentally tiring. I remember when I was busy calling my friends all around the world *well, not really. but friends from two or three different countries though*, in search for people who can speak normal human language. At that time, listening to Norah Jones at Starbucks couldn't be more indulging, to hear people speak English felt like listening to heaven's sounds. I had a terrible Melbourne-sick, I couldn't stop calling everybody in there or at least asked them to call me.

I know it sounds stupid. I know that I sound so weak and naive. I couldn't believe it too, cuz I always believed that I'd be strong enough to live anywhere. I believed adaptation wasn't that intriguing anymore. But things were really not that simple.

But again, I don't have all the time in the world for anymore whimpering and whinning. After a while, I've successfully proved myself that I can and I will be able to make it in this country. I've got to move on, I have to survive. That's exactly what I'm doing now.

Another life lesson is well learned: that life is all about surviving.

:: Today was so weird...

In less than 12 hours, some not so happy things were happened today.

some friends were in bad mood. they just left the restaurant during lunch without giving any sensible reasons. I wonder if I'd sometimes done such those things, and if I'd hurted somebody else's feelings. Ruining such a happy mood occassion and just being absentminded.

Today, it took about fourty minutes waiting until our lunch meals were ready to serve. Those waitresses should be grateful for my not so good chinese skill, but alas for me.

After a while, my day doesn't sound that bad, huh?

But in the end, may be some unhappy things are just have to be happened. To balance whatever we're doing. To remember that when we're in the top, we also have to look down and think. Or when we're down, we have to believe that we will and we have to flying up and high.

I don't know what i'm writing here..hehehe. just a thought.

:: To Get [Or Not] Get Used To It

It's been more than two months since the first day I arrived in Beijing. And I'm happy to say that until this stage my life is quite back to normal. School has been busier than usual, *yes, for some of you who think that study language is a piece of cake, sheesh, I completely disagree with you*, my brain has been fully loaded with tons of chinese characters, and thanks to my own so-called expectation to go to C class next semester *pheeew*, I've been working harder than I should have to.

One of other things I've done to have my life completely back in track is that i'm back to my workout routine. I go to one of the best local gyms in town that luckily enough to have english-capable-speaking manager. God bless whoever who can speak english in this country.

My study time has become more and more intense each day. I just finished mid term test and it went good unless my chinese pronounciation throughly needs more works. Tones is another obvious problem I've always encountered. My english is no good either, I have lack of chances to speak with many different people except to some classmates and my gym manager.

On the other side, I stlll don't get and would never understand some of these things - Ooh, don't tell me you've never been warned!

a. That locals chinese have super and amazing skill of 'expectoration' with full stereo and surrounding sounds. the aim is usually quite remote and let's the whole world rest assured, they are somehow capable of doinwww.cg it in correct aim and environmentally saved. at least i'm still fine until this very second. and to get over its sound or multimedia effect, thank lord to iPod.

b. Still and still don't quite get it. Locals speak too loud. But again thanks to iPod, it saves my life.

c. Toilet is one of China's biggest issues. To bring tissue anywhere with you is one of the commandments of living in China. But that's not the only thing. You might be surprised that some people just let the door open while they're doing their 'business'. I leave these options for you: one, walking straight to your toilet pretend nothing happened, or two, if you think courtesy is still needed in this awkward moment, to say 'Good Luck' or 'Have a Nice Day' is another option. Although I've never done the later option.

d. Blogger has issue in China. This is another fact why I haven't posted anything since a month a go. I'm so sorry for my BeijingDP sites, it's been badly abandoned. But today I just knew that blogspot is back on track, I'll be back to write.

But other than those issues, I'm okay. And the best part of living in China I like the most is I do less shopping. And for unknown reason of why, here, I feel content for what I have :) There's always a bright side of everything, don't you think?