A little of this, a little of that

Wa Wan is the funniest human being on earth to me. He can barely say a sentence without me at least giggling. Not even Doug can match this guy for making me crack; Wa Wan is "top to bottom Indonesian"

People leaving you behind sucks. Big time. I'm going to miss quite a few friends, and I fear that while I promised to visit more than a couple of them, these last few weeks will be the last time I see them.

I'm still afraid to buy the fruit here.

top moments with friends

I just remembered taking a roadtrip from DC to St. Pete with Isosolos; it was about 17+ hours and neither of us napped for a SECOND. Best roadtrip of my life, capped by us singing "Beverly Hills" at the top of our lungs, twice. And we made a game of passing cars and not being passed, and we never got ticketed. I love you, Lois.

Doug in Shanghai, playing 2k7 and inventing small ball, "Oh shit! Small ball, how do we do it? Don't **** me like that..." I think there was one point where i really thought my bro had problems, at the curry place, conversing with us like he was reading jokes from a Seinfeld script. He's ok now, and I am determined to make him stay in Shanghai!

Probably the gayest moment in my life, but also a beautiful one...so it has to involve da baby Spencer right? We were hiiigh on life and walking around Dupont circle. It was semi surreal already so I asked him if he could sing John Legend. Now, John Legend is one of my favorite voices in music, and when I'm driving or by myself sometimes I try and sing his songs. It's hard for me. When Spencer broke out "Save Room for my Love" I thought I was walking next to John Legend. I don't think it was the high. It was clear, and husky, and beautiful. If we held hands, we would have been gayer than any couple in Dupont. That's cool man, that's Spence. A lot of talent, untapped potential, and the desire for knowledge.

sad, not because i'm bad.

I am not taking this seriously. Maybe i thought I was, what with good midterm grades and a slow and steady improvement in my Chinese. Justin always tells me I need to study harder, but I would always look at my peers in Chu Er and feel pretty good about myself.

So this begs the question...why settle for being slightly better than mediocre?

I met an older woman, Jennie from Indonesia, who basically shook up my world. I am not here to party, fall in love, excercise, read English and Russian literature, play video games, and amass a collection of DVDs. These things are all fine, SECONDARY to the goal: learn Chinese.

It's about to get serious. Period. Zaijian

Purity amongst the filth.......^_^

Yesterday was one of the most satisfying days, if not the most, in Shanghai yet.

1. I had my very first english teaching class. I was quite nervous the last couple of days because I have never been in charge of my own class; all of my teaching experience before yesterday was as a secondary (like the last line of defense, my summer school classes had 3 teachers and I was the third "teacher") teacher's assisstant. The gap betweeen my past experience and the job i was about to undertake, at least in my mind, was immense. I had asked my assisstant (I had my own assisstant, for crying out loud) how best to prepare for the lesson. She told me,

"Review unit 1 through 3, and let's meet 30 minutes before class Saturday morning. Don't worry, you will be great."

Thirty. Minutes. Before class. Riiiight.

I prepare a ton of ideas about Units 1 through 3. The units are about colors and directions, swinging and singing and writing. very basic stuff for a class that I'm told will consist of 7-10 year olds. Oddly, or rather for me, appropriately, I am nervous about the size of the kids. I tell myself confidently I could easily beat these children in a physical test of strength or at worst, a fight. Immediately after having this thought I realize i am very strange. Still, these kids won't beat me up and rebel. One of the activities I come up with is placing different color beverages on a desk and getting the kids to choose them only with words. For example "I want the green one, to the right of the blue one, under the red one, etc. Also I plan on having them play Twister. I was nervous Friday night, for sure, but confident in my lessons.

Saturday morning Lily, my assisstant, told me that we are actually on Unit 8: Animals. 20 minutes before class. I had nothing, and I in my head was a line along the lines of "I am fucked."

It ended up cool. I had overestimated the students English, so I think next time I will have to remember to slow down and simplify my speech. The end of the class I turned one of their songs about birds into a "hip-hop" song and danced with them in the middle of the classroom. First day of work over.

2. Cheapu Lu! After class we headed to the beast of all Shanghai markets, after I got to spend a little time with Ms. Liu. I swear every minute with her feels really good. It's a shame games are played and time is short. I hate Cheapu Lu. It is basically a collection of large warehouses hollowed out, with dozens of little shops selling fake clothing and accessories. It is always crowded, hot, people bump into you, "Lai lai lai!", freaking peddlers chase you if you're foreign, and bargaining can be so tedious just for a pair of shorts. I ALWAYS get screwed, too.

But this time, we had some heavy firepower. Wenzi and Hong Si, two cute older Korean girls, have a reputation as Shou huo yuan favorites. The really big guns would be Super G's Shanghainese girlfriend and her friend. I bought three pairs of shoes, a button down, more Baby Milo, and something else too I forgot. Every purchase felt good. Plus, I think my past experiences hardened me so i had a lot more confidence going in. Cheapu Lu - 2 Me - 1. I'm coming back baby.

3. We went to Fu Dan da xue for dinner with Justin's friends.

When I saw Charlesy and King Wa interact for the first time it was like watching a God and a Titan face off. Both are large Chinese babies from overseas, Brazil and Indonesia to be precise, and both have a swagger about their speech and attitude. It was magic. Charlesy is laid back, top heavy like tank with little legs-i feel like his mind has three things going on: girls, beer, and meat...in that order. King has no shoulders and is more bottom heavy, but he's taller. While Charlesy often whips back his long hair and says things like "Maaaaan, we were fuucked...I gotta stop shooting so much in the clubs maan," King Wah is more clipped and agressive in his speech. Reflecting on a less than stellar score on his listening test, he told me "Ah don giva shit man! I got bachelor's degree!"

Anyways, the moment was special for me. As in, you had to be there. Seriously, it is very interesting here I'm not just pulling things out of my ass that aren't really entertaining. Ai...

Anyways again, Super Glen, K Cho, Hong Si and I are looking for apartments. It's going to be a different semester next year what with all our friends jumping ship. But I think we will study even harder, and be good roomates to boot. I'm going to the Philippines to stay with Super in his Manila mansion; he takes care of his friends, from brining back gifts for all of us to hooking up the very computer I use now. After Flip time, it's back to...USA! I will see all of you this summer. Much love as always. Zaijian

Navy SEALS meet Sparta!!!

Grueling workout with Randolph today, but I feel freaking great. A lot of friends going to Guandi tonight, which because of the music and caliber of women there has become my favorite night spot in Shanghai. Yet...I think i shall pass. My body is exhausted and, truth be told, I am growing weary of going out at night. Need a break.

Doug was acting the fool last night! When he sat down with us I thought his brain had been replaced by lines from various sitcoms he'd watched. Not that he isn't a genuinely funny person, but it was almost surreal when coupled with his dyed hair. As the night went on he calmed down and confirmed my suspicion that he is under a lot of mental stress right now. He wants to go to Yunnan next year to study; while i will be sad he is not with me in Shanghai I know we will stay brothers regardless of our locations. Same goes for Carlos back in D.C. Doug and i talked today and he is ailing a little. A diet of green beans, abstinence, and excercise should set him right as rain.

Speaking of Losy Los, I am glad he's found someone new. Viva la raza...and all that. Still loving Shanghai, and embracing taking it slow one night of rest at a time. Zaijian