well sort of.
Look! I come all the way to Sapporo, Japan, just to drink OJ from Sherman Oaks, CA everyday.
;)
small world, eh?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
What's a charlatan?
"Dr. Hoenikker used to say that any scientist who couldn't explain to an eight-year-old what he was doing was a charlatan."
"Then I'm dumber than an eight-year-old," Miss Pefko mourned. "I don't even know what a charlatan is."
came across this quote while reading Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle. really liked it.
Ryan -- don't i always praise you for the genius you are, precisely because you always know how to dumb down the most intricate crazy science into something that an 8 year old can comprehend (or someone with the mind similar to an 8 year old <---- me). =P this makes you even smarter than what you portray on the surface. =) and then...of course, as I was reading this...I was like..."what's a charlatan...?" oo...
guess I'm dumber than an 8 year old too.
haha, funny...and sad...all at once.
I've been mad studying for the GREs this past month -- taking the exam in 10 days. ah! I've only had a month to prepare. not the smartest of decisions...but...better than putting it off until forever, and never taking it.
at least charlatan is now one extra word in my new mental vocab list. =)
========
Sorry I haven't updated in forever and then some.
Recent updates -- I went snowboarding for the first time 2 weeks ago. And then went snowboarding for the 2nd time a week after. LOVE it! But it can definitely get painful at the end of the day. The first time around I got wicked whiplash in my neck - from my throwing stiff body awkwardly to the ground every time I panicked at any sort of speed. I can say though, even from my point of view, my falling is hilarious.
The 2nd time around...I fell on my elbow awkwardly. And...it's still hurting. more now than a week ago -- so I'm getting a little worried. I might have to get it checked out. I'm sure it's just...sprained or something. obvviiiiiously not broken. But...still it hurts. But...I was raised that you never have to go to a doctor...things will just heal themselves....eventually -- so i think that's what I'm doing now. But this theory has definitely failed me a few times before and resulted in NEAR DEATH! ok, slight exaggeration....maybe. maaaybe. but anyway...yea.
well which brings me to my other update I suppose. I've FINALLY decided to see a doctor about my constant fatigue.
Went to see a great english speaking neurologist -- who, after explaining my numerous symptoms (like serious migraines, dizziness, feeling drunk, feeling like my eyes are wigging out and my head will explode, nausea...yea all that stuff...on a daily basis numerous times throughout the day)...he was like "ok janine. we're gonna figure out what this is. Don't worry. This isn't America. I know how American healthcare runs. It may take 6 months...will you be here 6 months from now? ... Great. We'll figure it out. Even if it takes a year. We'll start first with an MRI" Then he turns his back on me. and waves his hand in the air without looking at me.
I'm like...umm...
awkward pause.
another awkward pause.
umm...huh?
then he turns his head but sort of keeps his eyes on his paper, gives me this irritable look and waves again. "thaaaaank you. you can leave."
I'm thinking, when he says, we'll start first with an MRI...like uh....let's schedule an MRI in 2 weeks, or 2 months, whenever there's an available appointment. but you see, I'm still not used to this yet....Japan doesn't make appointments! You just come in whenever you want. never wait more than 10 minutes. you're in, you're out. you've got medication. you've paid $5 bucks. crazy!!! why in the world does America have to make something so simple and important and such a right to humans...SO freakin' tedious and difficult!!
So anyhow...the doctor gave me this BIG speech..and I was all excited and like "yea! whoo! yea! hoo-rah!! alright!!!!!!" and then he shoos me out.
And before I know it...the nurse is like, take off your clothes, MRI is this way. I'm like, huh?
now?
she goes...yes yes. come along.
So i change. I get an MRI, without waiting.
Then I'm directed back to the Dr's office...
and BOOM! BAM! Shi-ra! Here is your brain and all the veins inside your head.
wtf?? where am i??? i was JUST getting my head scanned in a large tube... and you ALREADY have ALL my results and are reading them to me now? You mean I don't have to come back ANOTHER month from now just to know my results? huuuuh whaaaaa~~~~~t??? <---- imagine me with a big astonished confused totally amused and amazed look on my face.
ok, cool.
so the doctor goes right into it:
these are your eyes...these are your lobes...this is that thing that makes you do that thing. you see this gray smudge...that thing controls this thing and there's nothing wrong with it. no tumor. (though my initial reaction was "boo" cuz then it would have just been so much easier. o gee, you have a tumor. excellent. let's slice up your brain, take it out, and all your worries are resolved and clear. finished. fin. easy beasy. but nope. no structural abnormalities here. so next off...functional abnormalities.)
he wants me to see 5 different specialists over the next few weeks. The first one...a sleep neurologist specialist dude.
but you wanna know what the ironic thing about this is? I'm too freakin' tired everyday after school, to go see the dr!
It's like a catch-22.
Now...I know what you're thinking...so what if you're tiiiiired, get it over with. lazy bum.
no no.
it's not just "o gee I'm tired." It's like...I'm walking down the street, looking like I'm drunk, my head feels like it's going to implode and then EXplode....i have no sense of my body and my eyes start tweaking out...I'm telling you. it's painful.
but it comes and goes.
hopefully I can get around to the sleep guy this week.
though, doesn't it make more sense I see an internal medicine dr first? check out my thyroid....blood sugar...
o wells. o wells. we'll do it the (awesome, funny) doctor's way.
=)
"Then I'm dumber than an eight-year-old," Miss Pefko mourned. "I don't even know what a charlatan is."
came across this quote while reading Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle. really liked it.
Ryan -- don't i always praise you for the genius you are, precisely because you always know how to dumb down the most intricate crazy science into something that an 8 year old can comprehend (or someone with the mind similar to an 8 year old <---- me). =P this makes you even smarter than what you portray on the surface. =) and then...of course, as I was reading this...I was like..."what's a charlatan...?" oo...
guess I'm dumber than an 8 year old too.
haha, funny...and sad...all at once.
I've been mad studying for the GREs this past month -- taking the exam in 10 days. ah! I've only had a month to prepare. not the smartest of decisions...but...better than putting it off until forever, and never taking it.
at least charlatan is now one extra word in my new mental vocab list. =)
========
Sorry I haven't updated in forever and then some.
Recent updates -- I went snowboarding for the first time 2 weeks ago. And then went snowboarding for the 2nd time a week after. LOVE it! But it can definitely get painful at the end of the day. The first time around I got wicked whiplash in my neck - from my throwing stiff body awkwardly to the ground every time I panicked at any sort of speed. I can say though, even from my point of view, my falling is hilarious.
The 2nd time around...I fell on my elbow awkwardly. And...it's still hurting. more now than a week ago -- so I'm getting a little worried. I might have to get it checked out. I'm sure it's just...sprained or something. obvviiiiiously not broken. But...still it hurts. But...I was raised that you never have to go to a doctor...things will just heal themselves....eventually -- so i think that's what I'm doing now. But this theory has definitely failed me a few times before and resulted in NEAR DEATH! ok, slight exaggeration....maybe. maaaybe. but anyway...yea.
well which brings me to my other update I suppose. I've FINALLY decided to see a doctor about my constant fatigue.
Went to see a great english speaking neurologist -- who, after explaining my numerous symptoms (like serious migraines, dizziness, feeling drunk, feeling like my eyes are wigging out and my head will explode, nausea...yea all that stuff...on a daily basis numerous times throughout the day)...he was like "ok janine. we're gonna figure out what this is. Don't worry. This isn't America. I know how American healthcare runs. It may take 6 months...will you be here 6 months from now? ... Great. We'll figure it out. Even if it takes a year. We'll start first with an MRI" Then he turns his back on me. and waves his hand in the air without looking at me.
I'm like...umm...
awkward pause.
another awkward pause.
umm...huh?
then he turns his head but sort of keeps his eyes on his paper, gives me this irritable look and waves again. "thaaaaank you. you can leave."
I'm thinking, when he says, we'll start first with an MRI...like uh....let's schedule an MRI in 2 weeks, or 2 months, whenever there's an available appointment. but you see, I'm still not used to this yet....Japan doesn't make appointments! You just come in whenever you want. never wait more than 10 minutes. you're in, you're out. you've got medication. you've paid $5 bucks. crazy!!! why in the world does America have to make something so simple and important and such a right to humans...SO freakin' tedious and difficult!!
So anyhow...the doctor gave me this BIG speech..and I was all excited and like "yea! whoo! yea! hoo-rah!! alright!!!!!!" and then he shoos me out.
And before I know it...the nurse is like, take off your clothes, MRI is this way. I'm like, huh?
now?
she goes...yes yes. come along.
So i change. I get an MRI, without waiting.
Then I'm directed back to the Dr's office...
and BOOM! BAM! Shi-ra! Here is your brain and all the veins inside your head.
wtf?? where am i??? i was JUST getting my head scanned in a large tube... and you ALREADY have ALL my results and are reading them to me now? You mean I don't have to come back ANOTHER month from now just to know my results? huuuuh whaaaaa~~~~~t??? <---- imagine me with a big astonished confused totally amused and amazed look on my face.
ok, cool.
so the doctor goes right into it:
these are your eyes...these are your lobes...this is that thing that makes you do that thing. you see this gray smudge...that thing controls this thing and there's nothing wrong with it. no tumor. (though my initial reaction was "boo" cuz then it would have just been so much easier. o gee, you have a tumor. excellent. let's slice up your brain, take it out, and all your worries are resolved and clear. finished. fin. easy beasy. but nope. no structural abnormalities here. so next off...functional abnormalities.)
he wants me to see 5 different specialists over the next few weeks. The first one...a sleep neurologist specialist dude.
but you wanna know what the ironic thing about this is? I'm too freakin' tired everyday after school, to go see the dr!
It's like a catch-22.
Now...I know what you're thinking...so what if you're tiiiiired, get it over with. lazy bum.
no no.
it's not just "o gee I'm tired." It's like...I'm walking down the street, looking like I'm drunk, my head feels like it's going to implode and then EXplode....i have no sense of my body and my eyes start tweaking out...I'm telling you. it's painful.
but it comes and goes.
hopefully I can get around to the sleep guy this week.
though, doesn't it make more sense I see an internal medicine dr first? check out my thyroid....blood sugar...
o wells. o wells. we'll do it the (awesome, funny) doctor's way.
=)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Cheese
I'm very sad to report that cheese in Japan is not half as satisfying as cheese in the States...but you do with what you have.
The Gouda cheese tastes like cheddar - and not even sharp cheddar at best.
And today, I've just learned that Brie cheese is actually a pseudonym for BLUE cheese in Japan. ~sigh~
I mean...I think Japan thinks it's Brie cheese. But it's not. =(
And the cheddar cheese...tastes like a mozzarella string cheese stick. double ~sigh~.
And the mozzarella cheese, you ask!? hm...Ok, that one...they might have gotten right...
Anyhoo...don't get me wrong, I mean it could be worse. They could ALL taste like Blue cheese. Then where would I be then? God, that would be DEVASTATING.
I love cheese so much, the wrong names don't bother me as much as I'm making it out to be.
Cheese is cheese no matter what shape or form or name...they're ALL delicious.
CHEESE!!!! Oh...how I love thee...
[Whoa! I just learned that Salvador Dali's "The Persistence of Memory" was INSPIRED by Camembert Cheese melting on a hot summer day. Holy Cow!!]
The Gouda cheese tastes like cheddar - and not even sharp cheddar at best.
And today, I've just learned that Brie cheese is actually a pseudonym for BLUE cheese in Japan. ~sigh~
I mean...I think Japan thinks it's Brie cheese. But it's not. =(
And the cheddar cheese...tastes like a mozzarella string cheese stick. double ~sigh~.
And the mozzarella cheese, you ask!? hm...Ok, that one...they might have gotten right...
Anyhoo...don't get me wrong, I mean it could be worse. They could ALL taste like Blue cheese. Then where would I be then? God, that would be DEVASTATING.
I love cheese so much, the wrong names don't bother me as much as I'm making it out to be.
Cheese is cheese no matter what shape or form or name...they're ALL delicious.
CHEESE!!!! Oh...how I love thee...
[Whoa! I just learned that Salvador Dali's "The Persistence of Memory" was INSPIRED by Camembert Cheese melting on a hot summer day. Holy Cow!!]
Monday, January 19, 2009
My Walk to the Subway this morning...
Just some pictures from this morning..of the week long snow storm it seems we've just begun...
Here's the neighborhood snowplow...yesterday, cuz it was so warm, all the ice on the roads and sidewalks turned to slush. but it's been snowing since last night....and the snow plows are back. They shove the snow into big piles along the sidewalk. So...you end up with a small one-person lane passageway on the sidewalk...with a 6 foot wall of snow between you and the street.
I heard in February, the wall can be as high as 20 feet. crazy.
Here's another photo of the supermarket parking lot that we have to cross each day, to get to the subway (i mean, you don't HAVE to cross it, but it cuts corners and makes the walk faster). Here's all the snow shoved into one HUGE pile in the corner. Sorry it's sideways, I don't know how to rotate photos here. But anyway, it's probably like what...40 feet high??
If the snowstorm has just begun...and we've got a full week of it. nonstop (so it appears)....it'll be crazy cool to see this in a few days. hehe.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
7degreesC to Hail in one afternoon
One, it terrifies me that I wake up in the morning, check my phone for the daily weather report, and get concerned when it reads it's gonna be 7degrees today. Concerned cuz that's warm...How do I dress for 7 degrees!? Too warm to wear my jacket; not warm enough to go without thermal underwear. But is it also toooo warm to wear thermal underwear! ~sigh~ who knew the day would come when 7degreesC confuses me...because I think that 7degreesC is too warm.
anyhow, ... more interestingly...it went from a very unexpected high of 7 today, to hail. It's hailing right now, and I'm about to get off work, and I don't have an umbrella. go figure.
Nah, it should be fine.
Tracy - thanks so much for the sweet message!!! Man....the other day, a japanese lady asked me how long I'd been in Japan for...I thought...counted in my head...gave a confused look...counted again....replied with "4 months" and then looked at her in complete shock, cuz I couldn't believe it's already been 4 months. FOUR MONTHS!!! How!?? When!?? I feel like I can't count all the months I've been here, it's gone so effortlessly fast. ... Sorry to hear it's been slow on the western side of the world. =(
I say we still plan a trip together -- this summer. I'll have 2 weeks off in July or August - I'm down for S.America if you still are. =) What are you up to nowadays anyway? Still with Mel on that Mexico show? write me an email with updates! How was New Years!?? Spend it with Nancy? Family?
I'm about 3/4 done with Twilight. They kissed. TWICE! AHHHH!!! EEK!!! lol =p
too much for me to handle.
I definitely regret not buying the other 2 books now -- seeing as how if I bought them here it'd cost me like $30. laaaame. And I have difficulty reading things online - so I may ask Ryan to ship me the other two from China. haha. it'd still be cheaper. You seriously read all 4 books on your computer!!?? Man, how do u do that?
Naaaancy!! I wanna hear how your vacation was too! I'm sad I can't make the New Year's potluck!!! =( eat a dumpling in my honor. =)
other than that...updates...updates...
I still need to find a victim to help strap me into the BEAUTIFUL corset Vanessa made for me. I wanna get that done soon...just so I can prance around in my beautiful corset for a night. haha. And so I can send V pics. =) I asked one girl here...and she gave me a weird look/reply like I was asking her to butter my turkey or something. Is it really THAT strange to ask a friend to help you into a corset!?? I mean, I'll wear an undershirt. haha. well...I'll ask another.
O, I start my elementary school run this thursday. I'm EXCITED!! ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS! My god, it'll be a classroom full of biserkness and laughing and tugging and pulling and gushing and ooing and ahhhing. I can see it now....=D I'll let you guys know how that goes.
Usually, JETs have a month or two visit to elementary schools each year. For a month, you visit a different elementary school every 2-3 days. And you're usually the only foreigner ALT (assistant language teacher) they'll get all year. So it's a big deal for the schools. And a lot of JETs get worn out from the energy exhaustion they experience. But I'm totally looking forward to it. =)
o ... eek. sorry....I'm supposed to cut down on school and kids talk...haha. well...I haven't met them yet. So...I'm gonna say this is an OK exception. heehee
anyhow, ... more interestingly...it went from a very unexpected high of 7 today, to hail. It's hailing right now, and I'm about to get off work, and I don't have an umbrella. go figure.
Nah, it should be fine.
Tracy - thanks so much for the sweet message!!! Man....the other day, a japanese lady asked me how long I'd been in Japan for...I thought...counted in my head...gave a confused look...counted again....replied with "4 months" and then looked at her in complete shock, cuz I couldn't believe it's already been 4 months. FOUR MONTHS!!! How!?? When!?? I feel like I can't count all the months I've been here, it's gone so effortlessly fast. ... Sorry to hear it's been slow on the western side of the world. =(
I say we still plan a trip together -- this summer. I'll have 2 weeks off in July or August - I'm down for S.America if you still are. =) What are you up to nowadays anyway? Still with Mel on that Mexico show? write me an email with updates! How was New Years!?? Spend it with Nancy? Family?
I'm about 3/4 done with Twilight. They kissed. TWICE! AHHHH!!! EEK!!! lol =p
too much for me to handle.
I definitely regret not buying the other 2 books now -- seeing as how if I bought them here it'd cost me like $30. laaaame. And I have difficulty reading things online - so I may ask Ryan to ship me the other two from China. haha. it'd still be cheaper. You seriously read all 4 books on your computer!!?? Man, how do u do that?
Naaaancy!! I wanna hear how your vacation was too! I'm sad I can't make the New Year's potluck!!! =( eat a dumpling in my honor. =)
other than that...updates...updates...
I still need to find a victim to help strap me into the BEAUTIFUL corset Vanessa made for me. I wanna get that done soon...just so I can prance around in my beautiful corset for a night. haha. And so I can send V pics. =) I asked one girl here...and she gave me a weird look/reply like I was asking her to butter my turkey or something. Is it really THAT strange to ask a friend to help you into a corset!?? I mean, I'll wear an undershirt. haha. well...I'll ask another.
O, I start my elementary school run this thursday. I'm EXCITED!! ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS! My god, it'll be a classroom full of biserkness and laughing and tugging and pulling and gushing and ooing and ahhhing. I can see it now....=D I'll let you guys know how that goes.Usually, JETs have a month or two visit to elementary schools each year. For a month, you visit a different elementary school every 2-3 days. And you're usually the only foreigner ALT (assistant language teacher) they'll get all year. So it's a big deal for the schools. And a lot of JETs get worn out from the energy exhaustion they experience. But I'm totally looking forward to it. =)
o ... eek. sorry....I'm supposed to cut down on school and kids talk...haha. well...I haven't met them yet. So...I'm gonna say this is an OK exception. heehee
Monday, January 12, 2009
Rest & Relax
So I'm in Seoul...killing the 10 hour layover i have...at 2 in the morning.
Seoul's airport is INSANE ridiculous. I swear, if a common man wanted to know what luxary and money and affluence was...walk through Seoul's airport. It's even nicer at 2am, when you're the only one around for miles. I had no idea airports "stopped operating" at night. I just figured airports were always a 24 hour deal, because flights come in constantly non-stop. I mean, I know shops open and close at regular business hours...but I dunno, I thought an airport would be more bustling than this...even at this late hour.
So....yup...got 8 hours to go. Gonna find me a cushioned seat soon.
Anyhow shouldn't be hard cuz I found myself the "Rest & Relax" floor. And it's pooooosh. Free internet. Museum. Showers. Manicures. Cafe. Movie Room. News Room. Kid's room. tables and chairs. Reclining cushy comfortable looking Ikea-esque chairs....posh.ee.
Even I'm not used to this sort of ... affluency. is that a word? Am I even using it correctly? haha
Well, so yup, that means my 3 weeks in China is over. CRAZY. 3 weeks! ack. time flies. time always flies...
O, I'm very heart-warmed to say that I left Beijing on the most amazing beautiful conditions possible. First off, Ryan's roommates helped me with my things downstairs, and catching a cab - so sweet!! THEN, the cab driver...TOTAL sweetheart. I've never carried a conversation with a Chinese person before. I used to be really shy to use it. So I never did. But, this time around, fortunately, unconsciously, i'd forgotten that insecurity ... and it's so pleasant! Anyhow, my cab driver was AWESOME. Such a nice guy. And one, just to say that a CAB driver was nice, is saying something. But to say that a BEIJING-R cab driver was nice...WOAH. culture shock. For the hour+ long drive, we talked about everything from how Chinese used to bow, like the Japanese, but MaoZeDong changed that in the 50s because he wanted China to be more like Europe - so he made the whole country stop bowing, and instead shake hands (i didn't know chinese bowed!)...and how the Japanese stole bowing from Chinese. As well as their language (duh, given) and their food...and their holidays. haha...but the cab driver was saying all this with a sense of humor. just a total sweet heart. we talked about my family and his family. about my mother. about my job. he told me how i should teach english in china...even if it doesn't pay as well as japan, if i can perfect my chinese language profiency (no not "if", i "should", i "must"), it'll pay off bigger in the end because basically...knowing chinese will be a very valuable marketing assest for any future career i want - or rather, if i'm fluent in chinese, i can find a job that pays big bucks. i was surprised to hear this coming from a chinese person - i mean i always heard it when i was growing up. it was like...a childhood mantra drilled into me since i was 3 - "learn chinese because china will be #1 one day". haha...apparently the chinese are aware of it too.
we talked about the different customs that chinese and americans have. and i explained how my customs are more atune to chinese, than americans, because of my mother. things like...chinese save money. americans dont. chinese eat healthy. americans dont - just look at your options - mcdonalds and KFC!? NOT good! <--- his words. hehe. well i don't eat healthy...but i do LOVE chinese food. mmm
i dunno...it was just a really great ride. we even talked about taiwan and mongolia and tibet. how mongolia used to be china, but in the 60s...etc etc.
And I understood 90% of every single thing he said. <--- CRAZY!! Feels good. Feels good to know I haven't forgotten Chinese. Feels good to know that FINALLY, i can FINALLY seeee and reap the rewards of 18 years of heartache and stress and anger and resentment. haha. granted i'm nowhere near fluent. but i held my own these past 3 weeks. and it felt great.
i'm happy.
so...well i'm happy cuz i met this great cab driver. who was so nice and interested to talk to me. as a person. not as a foreigner or...whatever. and if i didn't understand something, he'd take the time to rephrase it in simplier terms. he had patience. and he really wanted to tell me these things. wonderful. beautiful. =)
and THEN....so because of bad traffic, my cab ride ended up costing 125 yuan (about $19US) but...he accepted 120yuan instead. He insisted...120 yuan was enough. Even though the meter said 125!
in BEIJING! whaaaaaaaaaa~~~~t!!!??
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS! unless you've lived in beijing. then you understand the complete shock and endearment i felt from this. and he helped pack all my luggage into my cart. and he rearranged my things. muuultiple times, to make sure my cart was the most easiest to manage as possible. even though it was fine the way it was. like he was...an uncle, really concerned to make sure i got to the airport just fine. and he shook my hand as we said our goodbyes. haha, i've never shook a cab driver's hand before!! soooooooooo sweet. ~sigh~
annnnnd then....since i was so heart-warmed by the whole experience...when i approached the check-in counter, i saw a nice looking gal...she saw me, i smiled, she smiled back. and it was genuine. and it was nice. and...she basically let me take on 10 extra kilos on the plane for FREE! it would have been 1070 kuai otherwise (that's about....$150US). but i put on a few extra coats...she laughed. i moved a few books around. she told me i could manage taking my bigger/heavier backpack on the plane....she was really there to help. usually these people - airline employees...check-in counter people...whoever - basically anyone who deals in customer service - well you know how it is, they're cranky. they don't look at you in the eye. it's quick quick chop chop don't ask me questions, it's not my problem, you pay the fee or you don't fly, i don't care what issues you have...you're annoying me, get out of my face...yada yada. but this girl. she was so nice.
~sigh~ and THEN...because i thought i was checking in my bigger backpack...i had a bunch of bottles and liquids and things - and when i had to come back after a bit of a trial through the security check (where i DID encounter some negativity...but postivity was still lingering in the air, so it didn't phase me much)...when i came back with the things packed into a small box...another extra 5 kilos...she just smiled and said not to worry. and that it was ok.
and she gave me a comfy window seat after she asked whether i preferred window or aisle.
kindness. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarms my heart.
anyway, my point is...in the grand grand scheme of things but really it's so simplistic...it's SOO easy to be kind and benevolent towards someone, but SO few people ever do. Just being kind or friendly for the sake of being kind. not to reap some reward from it after. not in search of something greater. not for selfish reasons or because someone told you to behave a certain way. just being nice for the sake of being nice. it's so rare. but i came across it 3 times, in one night. in BEIJING nonetheless! so it's been a good night. and this 10 hour layover isn't so bad because of it. sounds cheesy but it's true.
beijing is a perfect example of how...if your hostile or mean or greedy, it spreads. it consumes everyone around you like wildfire. negativity prompts more negativity. when someone is hostile towards you....no matter how good of a person you are, there's a breaking point, and you become hostile back. and it becomes this vicious cycle. and because it's a snowball cycle effect...it's difficult to stop it. to change it. but if you can find one person...who can smile and help you without attitude, and is courteous and goes beyond minimal expectations...same effect! the bad cycle is broken and the good one is started. positivity prompts more positivity. (which is why laughter and smiling is so amazing!!) and you just feel... wow, this one person was so nice...it was so pleasant. it's so easy to be nice. it's so much less energy to be nice than to be angry. have you ever thought about that! anger is incredibly emotionally-draining. so much energy to hate. why? perhaps i'm lucky. not lucky...i'm fortunate. i'm fortunate to have seen anger outside the bubble, and can, for the most part, appreciate the fine things around me. anger and negativity...so life-draining. really....just try it. smile. laugh...you'll immediately feel lighter.
i'm blabbing. it's incredibly late and i'm running low on sleep. [though...ryan would disagree ;-)]
total cliches. this whole thing. i know i know.
but that's how i feel. wanted to share. =)
well, 3am now. i think a korean businessman anxiously wants to use the internet...maaaaaaaaaaybe i'll move...i suppose it's about time to catch some shut-eye.
o quick last thing -- I bought Twilight and Twlight2 for a total of $4US tonight...looks like I'll jump onto the bandwagon this time around (even if i'm a few years late for this one) - seeing as how i missed harry potter...
anyway, forbidden love. wooooooooo :)
Seoul's airport is INSANE ridiculous. I swear, if a common man wanted to know what luxary and money and affluence was...walk through Seoul's airport. It's even nicer at 2am, when you're the only one around for miles. I had no idea airports "stopped operating" at night. I just figured airports were always a 24 hour deal, because flights come in constantly non-stop. I mean, I know shops open and close at regular business hours...but I dunno, I thought an airport would be more bustling than this...even at this late hour.
So....yup...got 8 hours to go. Gonna find me a cushioned seat soon.
Anyhow shouldn't be hard cuz I found myself the "Rest & Relax" floor. And it's pooooosh. Free internet. Museum. Showers. Manicures. Cafe. Movie Room. News Room. Kid's room. tables and chairs. Reclining cushy comfortable looking Ikea-esque chairs....posh.ee.
Even I'm not used to this sort of ... affluency. is that a word? Am I even using it correctly? haha
Well, so yup, that means my 3 weeks in China is over. CRAZY. 3 weeks! ack. time flies. time always flies...
O, I'm very heart-warmed to say that I left Beijing on the most amazing beautiful conditions possible. First off, Ryan's roommates helped me with my things downstairs, and catching a cab - so sweet!! THEN, the cab driver...TOTAL sweetheart. I've never carried a conversation with a Chinese person before. I used to be really shy to use it. So I never did. But, this time around, fortunately, unconsciously, i'd forgotten that insecurity ... and it's so pleasant! Anyhow, my cab driver was AWESOME. Such a nice guy. And one, just to say that a CAB driver was nice, is saying something. But to say that a BEIJING-R cab driver was nice...WOAH. culture shock. For the hour+ long drive, we talked about everything from how Chinese used to bow, like the Japanese, but MaoZeDong changed that in the 50s because he wanted China to be more like Europe - so he made the whole country stop bowing, and instead shake hands (i didn't know chinese bowed!)...and how the Japanese stole bowing from Chinese. As well as their language (duh, given) and their food...and their holidays. haha...but the cab driver was saying all this with a sense of humor. just a total sweet heart. we talked about my family and his family. about my mother. about my job. he told me how i should teach english in china...even if it doesn't pay as well as japan, if i can perfect my chinese language profiency (no not "if", i "should", i "must"), it'll pay off bigger in the end because basically...knowing chinese will be a very valuable marketing assest for any future career i want - or rather, if i'm fluent in chinese, i can find a job that pays big bucks. i was surprised to hear this coming from a chinese person - i mean i always heard it when i was growing up. it was like...a childhood mantra drilled into me since i was 3 - "learn chinese because china will be #1 one day". haha...apparently the chinese are aware of it too.
we talked about the different customs that chinese and americans have. and i explained how my customs are more atune to chinese, than americans, because of my mother. things like...chinese save money. americans dont. chinese eat healthy. americans dont - just look at your options - mcdonalds and KFC!? NOT good! <--- his words. hehe. well i don't eat healthy...but i do LOVE chinese food. mmm
i dunno...it was just a really great ride. we even talked about taiwan and mongolia and tibet. how mongolia used to be china, but in the 60s...etc etc.
And I understood 90% of every single thing he said. <--- CRAZY!! Feels good. Feels good to know I haven't forgotten Chinese. Feels good to know that FINALLY, i can FINALLY seeee and reap the rewards of 18 years of heartache and stress and anger and resentment. haha. granted i'm nowhere near fluent. but i held my own these past 3 weeks. and it felt great.
i'm happy.
so...well i'm happy cuz i met this great cab driver. who was so nice and interested to talk to me. as a person. not as a foreigner or...whatever. and if i didn't understand something, he'd take the time to rephrase it in simplier terms. he had patience. and he really wanted to tell me these things. wonderful. beautiful. =)
and THEN....so because of bad traffic, my cab ride ended up costing 125 yuan (about $19US) but...he accepted 120yuan instead. He insisted...120 yuan was enough. Even though the meter said 125!
in BEIJING! whaaaaaaaaaa~~~~t!!!??
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS! unless you've lived in beijing. then you understand the complete shock and endearment i felt from this. and he helped pack all my luggage into my cart. and he rearranged my things. muuultiple times, to make sure my cart was the most easiest to manage as possible. even though it was fine the way it was. like he was...an uncle, really concerned to make sure i got to the airport just fine. and he shook my hand as we said our goodbyes. haha, i've never shook a cab driver's hand before!! soooooooooo sweet. ~sigh~
annnnnd then....since i was so heart-warmed by the whole experience...when i approached the check-in counter, i saw a nice looking gal...she saw me, i smiled, she smiled back. and it was genuine. and it was nice. and...she basically let me take on 10 extra kilos on the plane for FREE! it would have been 1070 kuai otherwise (that's about....$150US). but i put on a few extra coats...she laughed. i moved a few books around. she told me i could manage taking my bigger/heavier backpack on the plane....she was really there to help. usually these people - airline employees...check-in counter people...whoever - basically anyone who deals in customer service - well you know how it is, they're cranky. they don't look at you in the eye. it's quick quick chop chop don't ask me questions, it's not my problem, you pay the fee or you don't fly, i don't care what issues you have...you're annoying me, get out of my face...yada yada. but this girl. she was so nice.
~sigh~ and THEN...because i thought i was checking in my bigger backpack...i had a bunch of bottles and liquids and things - and when i had to come back after a bit of a trial through the security check (where i DID encounter some negativity...but postivity was still lingering in the air, so it didn't phase me much)...when i came back with the things packed into a small box...another extra 5 kilos...she just smiled and said not to worry. and that it was ok.
and she gave me a comfy window seat after she asked whether i preferred window or aisle.
kindness. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarms my heart.
anyway, my point is...in the grand grand scheme of things but really it's so simplistic...it's SOO easy to be kind and benevolent towards someone, but SO few people ever do. Just being kind or friendly for the sake of being kind. not to reap some reward from it after. not in search of something greater. not for selfish reasons or because someone told you to behave a certain way. just being nice for the sake of being nice. it's so rare. but i came across it 3 times, in one night. in BEIJING nonetheless! so it's been a good night. and this 10 hour layover isn't so bad because of it. sounds cheesy but it's true.
beijing is a perfect example of how...if your hostile or mean or greedy, it spreads. it consumes everyone around you like wildfire. negativity prompts more negativity. when someone is hostile towards you....no matter how good of a person you are, there's a breaking point, and you become hostile back. and it becomes this vicious cycle. and because it's a snowball cycle effect...it's difficult to stop it. to change it. but if you can find one person...who can smile and help you without attitude, and is courteous and goes beyond minimal expectations...same effect! the bad cycle is broken and the good one is started. positivity prompts more positivity. (which is why laughter and smiling is so amazing!!) and you just feel... wow, this one person was so nice...it was so pleasant. it's so easy to be nice. it's so much less energy to be nice than to be angry. have you ever thought about that! anger is incredibly emotionally-draining. so much energy to hate. why? perhaps i'm lucky. not lucky...i'm fortunate. i'm fortunate to have seen anger outside the bubble, and can, for the most part, appreciate the fine things around me. anger and negativity...so life-draining. really....just try it. smile. laugh...you'll immediately feel lighter.
i'm blabbing. it's incredibly late and i'm running low on sleep. [though...ryan would disagree ;-)]
total cliches. this whole thing. i know i know.
but that's how i feel. wanted to share. =)
well, 3am now. i think a korean businessman anxiously wants to use the internet...maaaaaaaaaaybe i'll move...i suppose it's about time to catch some shut-eye.
o quick last thing -- I bought Twilight and Twlight2 for a total of $4US tonight...looks like I'll jump onto the bandwagon this time around (even if i'm a few years late for this one) - seeing as how i missed harry potter...
anyway, forbidden love. wooooooooo :)
Friday, January 9, 2009
Largest Buddha in the World
I like being tiny in the big picture of things.DaFo (Big Buddha) outside Chengdu, SiChuan.
This was an easy, fun hike.
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