Thursday, March 8, 2012

"Long Time No See. . . . "


Or at least that is what my students say as they greet me after our MONTH LONG (for me a little more than a month) winter vacation. I am equipped with a new schedule and new students. I am psyched. I’M BACK. Back in Jiangmen and I can say this now, with complete confidence, Jiangmen finally REALLY, feels like home. I have my routine which I mix up if necessary. I have mastered the art of filling time with dancing, talking, reading, writing and surfing the Internet (as the Chinese do). I have my local haunts but I hope to find new ones this semester. My produce lady still hangs around. As well as the AMAZING Zongzi pot. 
The first weeks back have gone on without a hiccup, except for a fall down the stairs that has left me with a a rolled ankle, a trip back to Hong Kong, and an “air cast.” I will heal. . . . slowly. Injury aside it is already the third week of the semester! Hopefully this pace keeps going. I struggle with myself because no matter how great my friends, my students, my adventures and CHINA are I am ready to be home. I cannot wait to be back but I do not want to cheat myself out of a great semester because I am too focused on the future. (yes I do realize how contradictory this statement is when I also post it on my Facebook with the date of my return) 
Now. . . . for some fun and because I have been gone for a while, I will talk about the places I visited while on break!
VIETNAM: FOOD. GoCong Town. Phuong. Table as a bed. Hammock. Naps. New fruit. Beauty. French influence. French bread. French homes. Peeled paint. Salamanders. FOOD. Cold noodles, egg rolls, veggies, and fish sauce. Vietnamese coffee with SWEETENED and CONDENSED MILK. Fish market. Friends. Hair salon. New hair style. Hair wash. Massage. Lunch at the Hair Salon. FOOD. Karaoke at T and Amy's house. Tour of Mekong River Delta. Coconut juice. Fruit with salt. Amy’s school performance. HOSPITALITY. Fried fish. Cold showers. Drinks at the new local club. Neon lights. Bus rides. Touched by an old man. Touched by an old woman. (They liked my white skin) Ho Chi Minh City for one night. Markets. Shopping. Central post office. Movie theater. No crosswalks. More buses. Hugs. Goodbyes and Happy New Years said. 
I really cannot thank Phuong and her family enough. 
BEIJING: NICK and KATIE. COLD. COLD. COLD. REALLY COLD. Use that Mandarin. Great hostel. Candied strawberries on a stick (twice). Tian anmen Square. Forbidden City. Hutongs. Summer palace. THE GREAT WALL-- all to ourselves. Peanut butter for Joe. Climbing. Climbing. Climbing. Cold. Outside all of the time. The NEW YEAR. Peking Duck. Upset stomachs (from the Peking duck). Fireworks everywhere-- on every street. New Year Fair. CROWDS. Unknown meat. Cheap beer at the hostel. Laughs. Cards. Chinese food. Korean food. And then there was Coldstone (twice). 
THAILAND: PARADISE. Beaches. Pineapple and Singha. Singha. Singha. Good beer. Getting lost on the way to the hostel. Thai Hospitality. FOREIGNERS. Elephant riding. Alex = terrified. Beach lounging-- on the sand. In chairs if we could evade the “chairs salesmen.” Dinner out every night. PAD THAI. Fried rice. THE BEST SMOOTHIES EVER. Seafood. Phi Phi Island (Yes it is pronounced PEE PEE). The worst boat ride ever= too many waves, more than 40 people, blood, a trip to the hospital (not for us), four puked, smelling herbs to calm our stomachs. SNORKELING. Millions of colorful fish. Beautiful fish. Fish you only dream of seeing. Jellyfish stings. Grabbed by a Lady boy. Old men with young women. Rum and Bomb our bartenders. Sunsets. Sunburns. A stuffed elephant. I want to live here. 
That was my vacation. Yes I do love to capitalize things for effect or just cuz’. If I was not in one of these three places I was in the Mary Knoll house in Stanley Hong Kong indulging my self in good food, fast Internet, nights out dancing and good times. I promised my dad this post would not be a novel like the last so there it is. I have to go to a 9pm night class now.