Jen: Campus Days

Lately our schedules are too varied to make concrete plans or go anywhere so we've been making mini day trips around the area. Yesturday I did tonnes of laundry and went shopping with a girl in our group. I don't think I've ever done so much window shopping in my whole life! But in reality I've barely spent that much. Prolly about $150 Canadian but I've bought tonnes of souvenirs and enough food to feed and army and then some! The food is so unbelievably good! I even like the milk here. And I don't drink milk!

Today me and the Becca went back to a place called Frid Plaza. Or sometimes Fred. Depends what map you're looking at. That's China anyway. There are 3 and a half something floors and it sells everything except the kitchen sink. I'm surprised that I haven't come across any kitchen supplies stores. Hmm. But I guess a pot and pan wouldn't exactly fit in my suitcase. Hmmm.

Tomorrow is the opening ceremony of sports competitions and we are the last group to go around the field. Which means lots of standing. Oh goodie! I have not known this kind of foot pain. The Chinese must be super fit because they walk EVERYWHERE.

Jen: How We Snuck into a Ticket only Performance

Me and Rebecca definitely snuck into a concert tonight. My conversation partners wanted to see their friend dance so we followed them into the back row. Apparently others paid for seats and waited in line but we snuck in... I feel a little bad but we didn't event know it cost money until after the show. One of my partners was dancing and I was really impressed! Lots of traditional costumes and music. I really liked the Tibetan and Mongolian dances! I am always amazed at how talented Chinese people are. There was a little bit of Opera too!
I'm starting to befriend my group members which is really nice. I am closest to the two girls. They are adorable! Alice and Yuki. I can't wait to try Karaoke soon with them.
Next week is sports week so I might not have a meeting with them. It depends on the weather. The Chinese people work very hard and it pays off. I could learn a thing or two from them!

Delightfully yours,
Jen

Jen: Lost in Translation but not in Hangzhou

你好! It's getting warmer. I originally thought people were crazy for using umbrellas during the day but I found myself giving into it. Breakfast is really good here! And mega cheap too. I didn't think I'd be so overwhelmed by the choices of food! I've made it a goal to never eat the same food twice.

Yesturday me and Rebecca got verrrry verrry lost. We were following a group but then they wanted to keep going but we were tired. So we tried to get back. Tried. We walked for a good solid hour in the wrong area before we finally found our place. Ohmannnn.

Today's adventure was West Lake! I've been looking forward to this for a long time! Unfortunately by the time we got their our feet hurt so much we only walked about an hour or so in? I heard the other group went KTV aka Karaoke today. Another group went to West Lake and we actually ran into them! Funniest thing ever aha.

Laundry is fun. I do infact have to handwash and hang stuff outside my dorm. And I mean everything... Aya. Tis a lot of work. Never thought I'd miss washing macines so much. More people took a photo of me today. They think we don't see it. Other times I let them know that I know by smiling. Huehuehue.

Tomorrow we fly kites and learn about Chinese culture! Ime excited! Until next time,

Jennifer

Jen: I Could Definitely Live Here

So much has happened sonce the last post I don't even know where to start. China is best when you wander off the beaten path. (Don't worry mom I'm always with a group!) I've surprisingly not bought as much as I expected I would. Shopping here is a bit of a nightmare because people really want to sell to foreigners. Chinese people know just enough English to yell: "Hello lady, you want buy _____." And I know enough Mandarin to say "Too expensive, goodbye." It's a little overwhelming wheb everybody wants to sell you the exact same thing.
Me and Rebecca plan on going back to a little strip of malls on Tuesday becayse we both have the day off. Its suppose to be less busy on weedays.
The University has a cerfew of 10pm which is really interesting. The buses and subways all stop running after that for the most part. China really wants people to be inside the Higher Education Zone. The students have everything they need within the campus though. Tonnes of food, shops (that sell anything and everything), hospital, a movie theatre and a soon-to-be shopping mall. It legit has everything here on campus! It seems a little strange but China is a pretty smart country. This way not all of the students will be out late at night and they save $ on late subways and buses. And they don't have to leave campus for a lot of amenities. There are guards and signs with instructions everywhere but honestly it makes me feel safer! If only subway rides weren't so brutally long...

Rebecca: 生日快乐 (Shengrikuaile, Happy Birthday!)

We're at the university in Hangzhou right now (I think Jen mentioned this), and I'm honestly having a great time. I might never go back to Canada. :) The campus is beautiful; it really puts our school to shame. The weather is super nice too (I think I'm getting a tan)! We met some of our Chinese conversation partners today and went on a scavenger hunt, so we got to see a lot of the campus grounds. We also had our first class in basic Chinese (which was, as the name implies, pretty basic. We knew a lot of it already).
There was also this little thing that happened today that might have had something to do with me turning 20! ^_^ I had a fantastic birthday today, with much singing of Happy Birthday (in English and Mandarin) in embarrassingly public places. I really wasn't expecting anything, since this whole trip has basically been one big birthday gift so far, but Jen got me a little present and arranged a surprise cake in the cafeteria (she's not ALWAYS a mean person, haha). They had apparently ordered a cake with strawberries on it, but the bakery didn't have any, so my cake came with tomatoes on top instead. I'm not kidding! Cherry tomatoes! It was actually pretty good, though, and it was a good laugh!
We're getting the hang of living in China. The squatting toilets aren't as scary as they seem and we hung laundry on the balcony for the first time today (clothes dryers aren't really a thing here, so everyone hangs laundry everywhere). And we can order from shops and the cafeteria with only minimal difficulties (other than the plate of bone marrow I got. I didn't know, okay? It looked like beef!). And I think I'm addicted to green tea ice cream. The only thing I really miss about Canada is being able to brush my teeth with the tap water. Using bottled water is a bit of a hassle. 
Oh, and I guess I miss my family and friends too. A bit. :P

-Rebecca

Jen: I'm Famous! Only not...

Today was my first and so far only moment of fame in China. A group of students near the Frid Place kept looking at us and giggling. They really wanted a photo with us. We said it was fine aha. They looked Japanese tho. I was confused. Other than that we browsed like mad and I bought a few gifts for people back home! (Not saying who) ;)
Our room is super cozie and the beds are firm but huge! Guess what! Our main washroom is a squattie! I can deal with that tho. It's suppose to be a lot better for you anyway! And just imagine the quads and hamstrings I'll have when I'm back in Canada.
I absolutely love it here. It's a dream come true! I'm slowly starting to realize I'm a minority here (big surprise right?). Rebecca may make fun of me for it (when doesn't she make fun of me) but I keep feeling more concerned with how I'm affecting them than then them affecting me. If that doesn't make sense I can elaborate later. Time to do laundry in the sink!
Til next time!

Jen: Eating in the Caf. It's a process!

I'm all settled in at the University. It's so gorgeous I can't even breath! No that's not the pollution either. The uni has thr cutest little strip of stores ranging from haircuts to baozi. To bubble tea as well! It's so cool!

I've had my first meal on campus and lemme tell you... It's an ordeal!
No English anywhere! We had a team member w us that spoke some Mandarin but he couldn't read it. Gah. So here's the process:

1. Get in line and fight to the front
2. They ask if you want rice
3. I pointed to which buffet style item I wanted and said: 请你给我这个。 Please give me that. DIshes are set up in rows but some are too far to point to. I chose a bean and chicken one. Rebecca had chicken marrow. Kinda eeeps...
4. Then you put your meal card on a sensor and it takes off the balance you spent.
5. Take your tray and grab chopsticks from the large container.
6. Eat (duh)
7. Put your tray on the conveyor belt after wiping off excess food.
8. Throw chopsticks into bin.
9. Realize you could of had free soup and walk away full but sad. FREE SOUP.

Over all I looooooove loooooove looove China. This uni is overwhelming for now but I'm sure it will get easier soon!

I'll write about Shanghai adventures later!