Monthly Archives: February 2010
First week est finie
I’m at Miss Me waiting for Kat and Patrick – turns out I didn’t have to worry about being late after all. I’ve just finished my first week at 民大 MinDa and I have positive feelings about it. Alex assured me I wouldn’t grow out of the “first day of school” apprehension but perhaps I’m […]
Lantau Island
Tuesday afternoon, we went to see the Buddha at Lantau Island. It is the world’s largest outdoor sitting Buddha. We actually tried to check it out Monday morning but there was poor visibility so they’d shut down the cable cars for the second day in a row, and we didn’t know about bus access up […]
Student body
Got stuck talking to a random man that I had to shoo by telling him I needed to study. Told him I had a boyfriend in case he was a creeper or wanted to set me up with someone. It’s weird ’cause I never lie about stuff like that to random strangers, but he was […]
Getting my act together
Killing time at the 品诺咖啡厅 PǐnNuó Kāfēitīng (“Pinot” Cafe) at the National Library. Had a late start and didn’t really get my act together until almost noon when I had my photos taken. However, the international student office has a two hour lunch break so I have to wait another hour. I am drinking bad […]
All alone in the city
Everything went pretty smoothly this afternoon. The flight was slightly delayed due to airspace traffic but I dozed for the waiting-bits and also finally watched the season premiere of Lost. Rather than taking the airport express to the wrong side of the city, I caught a sixteen kuai shuttle to Zhongguancun and the cab from […]
Some time to myself
At last a little time to myself. It’s funny, I don’t even know the name of the restaurant I’m in… although, when I think about it, it was probably case for most of my time in Harbin. Wonton soup and maybe strawberry ice cream later, and if I can make it in time, some lobster […]
Visa business
In Wanchai, just picked up my visa. Everything went smoothly though I’m disappointed they would only give me 150 days, because Minzu Daxue lets its foreign students out early. Will have to see if it is possible to extend it from within China. Otherwise, I will have to make another visa run. Perhaps Korea or […]
Gnocchi Bolognese
Sitting in Bridge Café again, reading and writing. Finished a lovely gnocchi bolognese while eavesdropping on two academics sharing their experiences and backgrounds. One is American and I believe the other is Tunisian and they’re working on things related to China ~Africa ~Middle East, IR, and maybe the translation of related documents, as well as […]
Nothing, really
The seat by the window with the lamp just vacated and I was about to move but then this guy just waltzed in and took it. O well. I went to the bank in 中关村 Zhōngguāncūn today and it turns out they operate as a “prestige” bank in China and couldn’t open an account for […]
Awkward Abroad 