Less than a month to go...time to gripe...

I try not to complain about the Chinese people, but I have some issues.  These are the types of things that they don't realize is a little rude, but in America, they would be.

 

5 Things the Chinese Moms should have taught their children, but didn’t, because no one taught them:

1.        Please don’t litter.  One day I saw a teenage girl turn around and just toss her cup on the ground like it was no big deal.  If I spoke the language, I definitely would’ve said something.  There was a trash barrel only 10 feet away.  I am still angry that I didn’t just pick it up, give her a look, and throw it away myself.  Speaking of litter, it should include bodily fluids, as well.  No spitting…it’s gross.  Also, have I mentioned that the children don’t wear diapers?  Their pants already have a split in it so they can go in the street.  I’ve never seen poo, but I have seen parents bring their kids over to the street drains to relieve themselves.

2.       Don’t stare…it’s just rude.  If you want to look at someone, at least give them a smile.  Sometimes I feel daggers.

3.       If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all. This goes back to the “trying to be helpful”.  “You look tired today, did you get enough sleep”.  “If you did more exercise you could lose weight” (didn’t ask how to lose weight…and I know!!)  “You’re not beautiful, you’re charming”  (what, am I now the girl with the good personality??)  “That’s all you make, you should make more money”.

4.       Don’t smack your lips when you eat, or talk with your mouth full, or burp at the dinner table, or spit your bones right onto the table.  Man, these people could use some table manners.

5.       There is always a better place than work to clip your fingernails.  I saw one teachers doing it, and I thought it was a one-time thing.  Then the receptionist at the school was clipping her nails right at the reception desk…not just one little nail…but the whole damn set.

 

This was the newspaper that the flight attendants gave me on my flight home from Sanya. 

Obviously it wasn't personally directed at me, but I think even the paper is a little rude!!! 

Haha...can't wait to come home!!!!

 

 

Oh my aching back...

Normally I wouldn’t post 2 blogs so close to each other, but I have to write about this before I forget.  Yesterday was a pretty good day.  I started by going to yoga and then one of the girls invited me over for lunch.  She said she would drive me to her apartment on her E-bike (Electric bike, and please note, you do not need a license to drive one).  This will be the first time I have ever been on one.  After class we walked to where all the E-bikes were parked.  There are all different sizes and I was hoping hers was a little bigger, since, I’m a little bigger.  Nope, she has the Charlie Brown of E-bikes.  It was small and looked like it was going to fall apart.  As we began to ride she was a little wobbly, like it was the first time she had ever ridden it.  Obviously it was the first time she ever rode it with someone of my size on the back.  I asked her if she was ok, and offered to pay for a taxi, but nope, she wanted to drive me the 20 minutes to her place in China traffic.  Luckily, we made it in one piece, but I have to admit I was scared the whole time.

After lunch, which was very good, I took a taxi home.  I decided today would be a good day to get a massage.  I hadn’t got one in China yet and felt like after yoga and the stressful ride, it would be the best thing to relax me.  I was still a little gross from yoga, so I took a shower first.  When I arrived at the Spa, they were very excited to have a foreigner there, almost a little too excited.  The girl brought me to the back and told me to take a shower.  I tried to explain that I just took one, and showed her my hair was still wet, but she wasn’t having it, so I just took another shower.  After that they brought me to another room where a girl began blow drying my hair.  I thought it was so weird.  As she is drying my hair a few of the other girls come in to basically just watch.  Then the questions began.  What do you do, where are you from, are you married, how old are you.  Do they not realize a massage is supposed to be a relaxing experience??

Next they all take me to the massaging room.  Yes, it took all 3 of them,  and one of them was always holding my hand.  Now I’m ready for my massage.  I lie on the table and await my relaxing rubdown.  Just then someone else comes in, and says “I’m just coming to the spa too, they wanted me to make sure you are alright?”  They actually asked a customer to come talk to me while I’m naked and face down on the table.  “Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”.  Oh god.  The first part of the massage was really good.  It actually hurt because it was so deep, but it was exactly what I needed.

After about 30 minutes, they gave me a little break.  The masseuse when to get some tools of torture, while another girl decided she wanted to come in and have a little chat.  (Yes, I’m still face down and naked).  She must have thought I didn’t understand English either because she spoke really loudly, the way some people do when they think you can’t understand them.                “DO YOU LIKE THE WEATHER??” “YOUR NAILS ARE BEAUTIFUL” “YOU ARE A TEACHER??”.  I actually kept laughing and hoped she couldn’t tell, but it was all I could really do.  It was so awkward and funny at the same time.

Finally, the other girl came back.  And when I say “tools of torture”, I’m not kidding.  I can take a good amount of pain, but this was ridiculous.  She was scraping my back with something for like 5 minutes and it killed.  If I spoke the language I would have probably asked her to stop, but I figured it would be over soon.

So, the massage is over.  I go downstairs to pay and the girl in charge told me to come back another time for a facial.  It’s only $15, so I said I would.  She also asked me for my number and then told me we were friends.

I went home after and discovered something.

This is me after being scraped by my massage!

 

 

I think I'm going to pass on that facial!!!

Trip to Sanya...

I went on vacation by myself once to St. Thomas.  It was on my bucket list after going out to eat by myself, and seeing a movie alone.  It wasn’t the best experience, kind of boring, so I never thought I would do it again.  In St. Thomas, I stayed in a hostel-like place with a private room.  This time, I was going to upgrade.

I was told that I would have 10 days off, so I needed something to so.  I decided to go to Sanya, Hainan.  It is the southern most point of China.  I found a hotel that is more resort-like.  Pool, bar, restaurant, beach…etc.  I also never thought I would travel alone in China, as I do not speak Chinese, but I had to take the chance.

Day one.  Went to get a taxi to the bus station.  It was around 8am, and my bus would leave for the airport at 8:40 (only a 15 minute ride…plenty of time, right?)  It was sprinkling out, and the Chinese do not like their rain, so all the walkers, fearing melting, were taking up all the taxis.  I got that sick feeling in my stomach, that I would miss my bus, and from there, miss my flight, and so on.  Finally, I got a taxi and made it to my bus just in time.  I arrived in Sanya around 6pm, after a 2 hour flight delay.

The hotel was amazing, and for $60 per night, a freaking steal.  The pool is right outside my door, so lazy me loves it.  The beach is just steps away.  They have American food (Ok, really Russian food, but its closer to American food than Chinese)  They had Cheeseburgers!!!

 

This is the view of Sanya from the pool.  (I didn't take many pics)

Sanya is the Caribbean for the Russians.  So many tourists, but still no English.  Many of the Chinese employees would say “Ruski??”, and I was like, NO, English!!

These 2 Russian ladies were staying at my hotel.  They were drunk all the time.  I watched the one on the left get into an angry splash fight with a group of Chinese boys.  She was seriously angry.   I'm not sure how it started, but it was hilarious.

 

 

I decided to take a walk on the beach my first day.  As I get to the end, I notice a gentleman wearing skin colored shorts…whoops, no it was his bum.  Then I saw another one.  It was time to turn around.

Giant yellow duck on the beach.  There were some performers.  It was funny.  Sorry, no pictures of the naked bums!!!

I thought that being in a tourist spot, my being American, wouldn’t be so interesting.  After the first person asked to take their picture with me I realized I was mistaken.  The police also asked to take my picture, and put me in a video for tourism.  I want to say that it bothers me, but I love the attention.

I did end up meeting a Chinese guy who was travelling alone.  It was nice to have some company.  We went to dinner and swimming, and to the carnival.  After that, he asked to be my Chinese boyfriend.  I said “no, thank you”.  The Chinese are a very nice people, but sometimes too nice for their own good.  They feel the need to “help” you with everything.  It’s to the point where they think they know better and you should listen to them.  Not exactly what I’m looking for in a boyfriend.

Here is a woman I met at dinner one night.  The bottle next to be is a 5000Yuan bottle of Bai Jiu.  (Chinese wine).  That's almost $1000.  She kept giving me and my Chinese friends shots.  I have to say, the Chinese are a very generous people and bai jiu is deadly :)

 

I also ended up finding an American restaurant during my stay.  Oh, so happy…coronas, chicken wraps, club sandwich, long island iced tea.  I think I needed that American fix, so I wouldn’t completely stuff my face when I get home (which I’ll probably still do!!)

I stayed in Sanya for 8 nights.  It was much needed and a great getaway.

Now I’m back to teaching again, and still love it. 

 

-Jamie