A Place to Put My Feet Up

Just been told that I'll be moving into my apartment tomorrow morning at 9 AM. Probably for the best, as then I'll have all day (I have no classes on Tues) to go buy any sort of crap I might need.

From what I understand the apartment will be rather standard, though I'll have more personal space than ever before since I'll be living alone. (No offense to prior roommates, but Hooray!) I'll have a few rooms, though I dont know how much of a kitchen, not that it matters, dinner out costs about a buck American. And I'll get a TV, DVD player, microwave, stove or hot plate, water cooler and some sort of washing machine all included. And I'll be within a 10 minute walk from my office.

I'm looking forward to the privacy and the locale. The past few days I've been hanging around the office a lot, largely because I'd rather hang here than in the hotel. But I'd rather hang in my own place than anywhere else, and I can do that tomorrow. Hooray!

Presbytarians and Uranus

Just wrapped up my first two college classes. If you have not been reading along, I've been instructed to teach "Robinson Crusoe" and "A Tale of Two Cities." The course is supposed to be a basic freshmen introduction to western literature, and as such, I spent much of today's class talking about the historical background of "Crusoe" and plot structure.

I'm pretty sure the following items went right over my students' heads:
Catharsis
Climax
Denounement
Anglican reforms
Stuart Kings
Age of Enlightenment
Presbytarianism

But I know they learned the following, and now even understand:
Colonialism
Slavery
Whiskey

Finally, if it means anything, I was teaching a class of 8 year olds the other day the planets of the solar system and I promise to god they will never pronounce "Uranus" incorrectly. I drilled them repeatedly on "Uranus." Loud enough the other teachers could hear (and salute me afterwards).

Oh, China. Uranus.

Classy Schedule

My schedule is out, though subject to change at any moment. Also, the schedules run on a week by week basis, so what I do this week I may not next. Right now I am teaching 24.5 hours, which qualifies me for overtime (yes, working 24.5 gives me overtime!) and the classes are spread out over 6 days.

Twice a week I'm at a local university teaching Freshmen English. As noted, the books assigned are "Robinson Crusoe," "A Tale of Two Cities," and "The 100 Secrets of Successful People."

Once a week I find myself teaching Business English to the executives at the Becker-Acroma Company. I have no idea what the Becker-Acroma Company does. Later that same night though, I'm back at my private school teaching a standard Business English class.

Outside of that, I've got 5 classes a week with 10-13 years olds and one class a week with 7 - 9 year olds. So thats that.

Is That the One with the Genesis Device?

Teaching assignments are coming out for the new term. From the look of it, I'll have 4 classes a week with 10 - 13 year olds and 4 with freshmen in college.

At the college, I'll be teaching "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Robinson Crusoe." I have never read "A Tale of Two Cities," and usually I find Dickens quite droll. Think Donald Sutherland's views towards Milton in "Animal House." Except I'm teaching it in China. And no one knows what a toga party is here.

More on the job at a later date. I know all of my loyal readers are chomping at the bit for some info, but cool your jets, it'll come. Don't make me put you down like we had to with Ted Burke that time at the cardboard box factory.

Of the Utmost Theology and Geometry

Harbin, China in wone word: cold.

In many words: Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, and cold.

When I first arrived a week ago it was so cold that I still felt a strong chill while wearing my long underwear, long sleeve T-shirt, flannel shirt, sweater, overcoat, scarf, gloves and cap. It was so cold that the mucus froze IN my nose. As such, I made it first priority to purchase the warmest hat I could find. Popping over the mass market across from my hotel I selected a piece of head gear inspired by Ignatius J. Reilly (hero of "Confederacy of Dunces," one of my favorite books that I'm re-reading right now, and one of the best satires of the 20th century). The big, furry monstrosity that now sits upon my head comes complete with ridicruous earflaps that protect my darling lobes.

Luckily, the temperature seems to be on an upswing. For instance, today I can feel my nose. What extremity will regain feeling tomorrow? I look forward to finding out.

If Only They Felt the Same Way About Burritos...

Heard this on the news the other day (I'm paraphrasing):

The Chinese Government has announced concern over a growing "video game gap." The Government believes that in order for China to hold a leading position in the global market, more games must be created, programmed, and publish ASAP. All computer programmers have been urged to take their attention away from any other utilities and focus on bringing as many new video games to the market as possible.

I could cry tears of joy.

Ich Bin Ein Harbiner

Hello Hello Loyal Readers,

I have made it to Harbin, and all is well. I am sure many of you were up nights worrying about our intrepid hero, shaking at thoughts of dangers encountered, but fear no more. Go back to lying awake at nights thinking of chiseled, witty hero in other ways. Unless you're related to me, or a dude. In that case, think of something else.

You might be wondering what I have been up to since I last posted, and as you can imagine, it has been a lot. My laptop holds a number of "Lost Blogs" that I will post once situated in my apartment and get my internet set up. These will contain posts with a number of pictures, both from Beijing and Harbin. I promise you wont be disappointed.

For the mean time, hold tight dear reader, our young adventurer is in good hands here in Harbin. The only wont for worry concerns your smack-like addiction to this blog and the delay between this post and the next. Give it time, it will come.

And hey, please comment. You can do it so easily, and all can see. And its more fun than those emails you might be getting from Ben Luketich at work.

When in Doubt, Blame It on My Mom

Last night was just silly disappointment after silly disappointment. After getting back to my hotel, I quickly shaved and changed to grab a cab to the local acrobat theater. Well, it was more difficult to get there than I thought, and all I wanted to do was grab a cab. There is no order or preference to who gets a cab off the street here, the winner is the one who daringly (idiotically) throws themselves the furthest into harms way to stop a cab. Seriously, there are people running around in the middle of a 3-lane-each-way road as if life was a game of Frogger. In this instance, I lost, for after 40 minutes in the cold trying to hail a cab and not die, it became evident I was going to miss the acrobats.

So I went back to my room, cracked a beer, and decided to start recharging my junk so as to be able to use my laptop, iPod, and camera on the train today. A few minutes after plugging in my laptop to the newly returned power adapter, I smelled smoke. Yeah, you guessed it, I was frying the adapter.

But luckily I had been drinking, and as so remembered I saw an Apple store in the mall across the street. Running over there, I attempted to purchase a chinese-style power cord. Babaiba kuai later, and rather pissed off at forking over babaiba, I returned to my room. And somehow, I ended up with the wrong adpater.

But luckily, I had been drinking! So I just started plugging things in as I had them, that is to say, American prongs into the Chinese outlets, Storey style. And it worked. There is no need for a power adapter in China so long as the cord only has two prongs and both are the same size. Which makes me a big winner. To celebrate, I went and enjoyed some dumplings.

Waking up this morning with a useless power cord that cost me babaiba, I quickly put together some rough Chinese and headed back to the Apple Store. Here is a direct translation:

"I'd like to return this thing."
"Why?"
"It is the wrong thing."
"What do you mean?"
"My mother told me to buy this thing. She told me she had an iBook. She does not. She has an IBM. She is a dumb egg."
"I dont really understand."
"My mother is a dumb egg. Can I have my money back? Here is the receipt."

Some dude who overheard the conversation and who was laughing at it came over, spewed some Chinese, and then got me my money.

Which proves my theory once again: When in Doubt, Blame It on My Mom. It is a concept that dudes around the world understand.

This afternoon will be spent sitting in the train station waiting for my 830 PM train. (I need to check out at noon, and they wont hold my luggage for me.) I plan on finishing "The Fountainhead," re-reading "Confederacy of Dunces," and listening to my iPod.

PS: Mom, you know I love you. But you really don't know anything about computers.

Summer in Winter

Woke up feeling a little ill... I guess that day of trudging about in the snow in nothing more than an old pair of sneakers finally caught up with me. That, and perhaps because I probably havent been eating enough. Well, I did what I could last night by gorging on "Happy Tasty Little Snack Street," experiencing fried ice cream for the first time. It was delicious. And I didnt even mean to order it.

But that was last night and I want to talk about today. I went to the Summer Palace, and it was absolutely beautiful. And freezing. I walked out across the frozen lake to an island where I sat with a cup of the most delicious tea I've ever had and just stared at the scene in front of me: the wind whipping the snow across the lake, the Palace rising out of the low forest, the purple ridges cutting through the clear, cold sky. It was really cold. Harbin is going to be even more fridgid, so I'm putting some scrilla aside for a really warm hat and a warmer coat. "Scrilla" is not chinese, but a word I picked up from Will Bunnett.

I'd type more, but this keyboard is frustratingly hard to type with. It might be a while before I can post again, but I'm sure I'll have a lot to say then. Keep an eye out.

Live and Let Audio Tour

First off, as I'm only on a computer sporadically right now, and so much is happening, I'm breaking up my posts. So this is the third since I've sat down, and as such, you might want to scroll down so you dont miss anything.

Also, I cant view my own blog for some reason or another, probably because it is published in English and everything on this screen (minus what I'm typing now) is in Chinese.

Waking up this morning barely hungover, I was met with good news followed by more good news followed by more... wait for it... good news. What was so good?

1. Breakfast (not orgy, see below) consisted of simple white rice porridge, instead of the rice and bean porridge of the past few days. I like the porridge without the bean much more, and it goes better with the hard boiled eggs I toss in. Also, they had steamed buns.

2. The airline found my bag! It is expected to arrive tonight around 6 PM, at which time I'll hustle to the airport to pick it up. This is just in time, as my iPod (which is a life saver) is running low, as is my laptop, as is my camera, and I need a shave.

3. Heading to the Forbidden City this morning, I picked up an audio tour narrated by none other than... wait for it... Roger Moore! (Alternate titles for this entry were "The Audio Tour That Loved Me" and "A View to an Audio Tour." "The Cannonball Audio Tour" was, however, not considered.)

The next three hours found me wandering the Forbidden City. Now, I've been through here before, but I didnt realize how much I missed out on. If you follow the guided path straight through, you'll see grand courtyard followed by ornate palace followed by grand courtyard followed by ornate palace and so on. But as Sir Roger Moore explained, the entire structure is designed upon the concept of the Yin and the Yang, and for all the wide open space, there was equally as much crampled allies and tiny gardens. These smaller venues were what I missed in the past, and I must say I found them much more interesting. I got some good pictures, and once my laptop is hooked up to the internet I'll post them. For now, you can go rent "The Last Emperor" or "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" and get an idea of what I'm talking about.

That's it for now. Once my time is up here I'm going to a park and then to get some jiaozi and then back to the airport to reclaim my bag. No "and then."

Free Orgies Every Morning

After a nap, I set out on a quest to find some Peking Duck. I hate the name "Peking Duck," as it stands as a reminder of the terrible romanization of years past and as such I find it derogatory and racist. That aside, Peking Duck is delicious.

Entering the "Old Duck House," they quickly size you up and send you to the appropirate floor to dine. Level 4, where I ended up, was very ornate, complete with a dragon lady wrapped in silk and fur greeting me off the elevator. At this point, I expected a freshly lit pipe of opium awaiting me at my table.

Alas, all I found was a duck, wheeled out, and sliced up right in front of me. Fresh from the oven, it was perhaps the most succulent dish I have ever enjoyed. I'd rank it as 5 Guys wrapped in a pancake, which makes sense, because Peking Duck is wrapped in a pancake. Grizzly Adams did have a beard.

To wash down the duck, I took in two bottles of beer. Not sure what the deal is, but I was pretty buzzed after those two. Maybe I was dehydrated, or tired, or maybe the big bottles (maybe 20 oz?) are 11% alcohol, or maybe 11 proof, I havent figured it out yet. Either way, I was pretty drunk, and with a belly full of duck and beer after a long day, I was ready to conk out.

On the way back to my hotel I was approached by three girls who actually let me speak Chinese (usually they want to practice their English) and I chatted with them for a while. The embarrassment came when I was trying to describe my hotel, but instead of saying "I get a free breakfast every morning," I actually said something like "I get a free orgy every morning."

They then invited me to see their art exhibit. I should say this is not the first time I've been invited to see someone's art exhibit in the pat few days, but it was the first time by any sort of female. I still don't know if "art exhibit" actually means "art exhibit."

Ah, Numsie! (Laughs Like Eddie Murphy)

After yesterday's post, it was off to the train station to purchase a ticket to Harbin. Since I'm a high-rolling meiguoren (American), and becuase the train ride is 13+ hours, I sprung for the VIP sleeper car. And by sprung, I mean paid $50 US, a third of what a plane ticket would have cost, and I dont have to worry about baggage issues.

The Beijing Train Station stands as a true monument to Chinese Socialism. The structure effortlessly combines the scale and monstrosity deserving of a good proletariat monument with the chaos of a open-air street market. I probably could have bought my ticket using my Chinese ability, but the train schedule made no sense to me whatsoever, and I didn't want to muck this up. So, after 3 misses, I finally hit upon a teller who spoke English.

Next up came a visit to the Lama Temple, which is the largest and most reknown Buddhist temple in Beijing. (If you want to learn more, check out this website: http://www.traveladventures.org/continents/asia/lamatemple.shtml) I didn't take many pictures, as you are not allowed to take pictures of the most interesting bits, that is to say, the shrines and statues and altars and so forth. The most spectacular of all of these was a giagantic sandalwood buddha, which according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is the largest carving from a single piece of wood in the world.

I find Buddhist temples exceptionally interesting, always have, always will. Might have something to do with my affinity for Eddie Murphy's opus dei "The Golden Child," which was one of my favorite movies as a young dork. Sure enough, when I found some spinny dealies (I have no idea what they are or what they are for) I did what I could to mimick Axel.

What really gets me about Buddhism and their temples is the multifaceted simplicity of it all. There were hundreds of different Buddha statues in the Lama Temple, each representing a different Buddha, but all representing the same Buddha. Similar to the Christian Trinity, but I find it less confusing. Don't ask me why, since I was raised a Catholic.

From there I hiked through some hutong (more on that at a later date) to the Drum and Bell Towers, two towers that overlook Beijing. I was lucky enough to catch a drum performance, where 1/2 dozen robed percussionists beat out upon 6 foot drums. Each drum sent a prayer for a different boon (ie: rain), and each beat carried some other significance that I didnt understand. They are really into numbers here (again, more later), and music breaks down into math, like it or not, and so the beats carried meanings.

Back in the P.R. of C... You Don't Know How Lucky You Be, Yeah...

So much to write about, I don't know where to start. I'll just keep it to the facts for now. Oh, also, I have two posts on my laptop that I'll put up another time.

Summarizing so far: I'm now in Beijing, staying in a flophouse half a klick from Tiananmen Square. It's in the shadow (literally, the back alley) of Beijing's classiest establishment, the Beijing Hotel (China's Park Plaza, minus the Eloise), but my hotel is in a class by itself. Shouldn't complain though, as it is cheap as hell and provides a free breakfast. And I love my rice and bean gruel with a little hard boiled egg thrown in.

Yesterday was pretty much a total bust. The airline still hasnt found my lost bag, which leaves me without boots or power for my laptop or camera. That means no pictures for a bit, or DVDs for me. (Right now I'm in an internet cafe.) I'm most concerned about the boots, as it snowed a ton yesterday, and I was stuck trekking around in my sneakers, which left my feet in sore shape what with the cold and dampness. Well, at least they are not Cons.

The first task was exchainging money. Well, my hotel couldnt do it, and the other hotels around me wouldnt as I wasnt their guest. The banks were all closed, so I hiked to the International Trade Center, since I read there was an internet cafe there and figuring it was the best place to catch a break. No cafe, no break. Out of chance I stopped into the CITIS (Ministry of Tourism, but not so Orwellian), and they directed me to a huge department store (The Beijing Friendship Store) where I finally got the help I needed.

After that I walked to Tiananmen Square, but my feet hurt so much by then I didnt want to see the Forbidden City just yet. Also, I hoped my lost luggage would show up so I could recharge my camera. So I got back to my the neighborhood of my hotel, searched a bit for an internet cafe, and then napped from 4 till 7.

At 7 I got back up and headed out to another big shopping district to look for a 24 hour internet cafe, as Lonely Planet listed one in that area. Found it, but it was closed. Everything closes much earlier in China, by 9 PM, a lot was shut down. But it was a Tuesday. It was then that I realized I hadnt eaten since breakfast, so I found a huge open market restaraunt street (the street name, literally, is "lots of tasty little foods street") where there was a row, half a klick long, of stalls flash frying meats and selling dumplings or other goods. I grabbed a stack of jiaozi (dumplings) and a pork stick, the shear mention of which probably makes Scott Weiss giggle. The guys who sold me the pork stick also offered me a whore, which I politely declined. Considering the burning sensation the pork stick gave me, this was probably the best choice.

By the way, almost every street merchant seems to have a whore to offer to a white man in China. Capitalism!

Then I went home, read, and fell asleep. Still getting used to the time change, I seem to sleep a few hours at night and a few in the afternoon, making one day seem like two. Need to stop that ASAP.

Hopefully I'll get my bag back soon. Outside of that, I just need to get a train ticket to Harbin. I'm taking an Orient Express, if you will. An overnight "soft sleeper," which is first class, only costs about 40 bucks for a 13 hour ride.

Famous Last Words

They'll all speak English there.
It isnt infected.
I should have enough cash.
We don't need more gas.
No, they love Americans!
I know what I'm doing.
I'll have a milk, please.


I'm sitting in the terminal at Logan Airport, in 30 minutes I'll board to plane to JFK. There were some minor complications at the checkin, but nothing that some creative re-packing couldnt solve. Maybe I didn't really need to bring my pet rock collection. Too late now, I'm going to China.

Roast Beef, Democracy, and Soul

We're down to the last day. Tomorrow at this time (currently, its 9:50 AM) I'll be on a plane to New York's JFK Airport where I'll settled in for a 5 hour layover before the 14 hour flight direct to Beijing.

So what do I hope to get done, on this last day of days? Here is a convenient list to answer that question:
1. Do some last minute laundry.
2. Get a good roast beef snadwich. Probably at Harrison's. If you've been to Harrison's, you understand.
3. Find a good Ray Charles CD. (I just watched "Ray" the other night, and now understand the hype.)
4. Find my plane tickets.

Expect an update later.

UPDATE!

The roast beef was delicious, slathered in sauce and dripping with cheese and mayonaise. It's tough to get better than Harrison's. The laundry sits in a pile, waiting just to be crammed into the suitcase. The Ray Charles Anthology looks good, as does Green Day's "American Idiot," Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew," and The Flaming Lips' "Soft Bulletin." Plane tickets were in the crawl space with my other junk. All missions have been accomplished. Now for some pizza and emails. Final deaprture from Byfield in 13 hours. Very likely that the next blog will be from somewhere that is not here.

Look out China, I'm coming back.

What I Had to Drink Today + Another Totally Random List

I've pledged not to post entries onto this blog in this vein, but consider this a taste of what that other blog I'm going to start will consist of. We at "Immigrant Songs" find no problem in ending our sentences with prepositions. And also, you're drunk.

What I Had to Drink Today (In Chronological Order):
Cappucino from Starbucks
Sam Adams (aka beer, for you idiots)
Coffe Coolatta (frozen coffee drink from Dunkin Donuts, for those who do not know heaven)
IBC Root Beer
Glass of Water
Wine (Merlot)
Glass of Water
Glass of Milk
1/2 Pitcher of Water
Scotch (Dewars)
Scotch (Dewars)
Scotch (Dewars)

And Now: Another Totally Random List

1. The complete Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies have been added to my luggage.
2. In addition, I will also be bringing Palmer's "History of the World," both volumes, thank you Jack Richards
3. I'm a dork.
4. I'm looking forward to an Amy Poehler "Best of ... SNL" DVD. I'd also look forward to a "Best of" Tina Fey, but it'd be all Weekend Update, and thats not enough variety for a DVD. Sorry Tina. I still find you attractive, in that smart, sassy way. Call me.
5. Scripted Tracy Morgan is much funnier than unscripted Tracy Morgan performing stand-up at un-named universities in Washington, DC, that I graduated from. Preposition.
6. I watched a Food Channel special with Bobby Flay tonight regarding BBQ. I've decided that BBQ is on the short list of things I will miss most while in China. Pulled pork, ribs, cornbread... ain't nothing wrong with that.

-- The last comment... is, well, a shade transcendental and a light shade of blue. If you have 100% serious respect for me and wish to keep it, stop here. --

Didn't think so.

7. Standing knee deep in snow wearing Georgetown Basketball shorts as a light freezing rain falls upon your shoulders on a dark New England night while you take a leak is rather transcendental and awe-inspiring. In the rankings of transcendental and awe-inspiring places and times I have taken a leak, I will rank it #2, right behind taking a leak in the middle of a soy field in north eastern China (message!) as a burst of ball lightning exploded right in front of me, and right before that time I got caught in the act by a DPS officer in front of Henle Village.

"What are you doing, son?"
"Uuuhh... urinating?"
"And where do you think you are?"
"Public?"

As witnessed by Ted Burke.

More posts like these are expected on that second blog. This is your taste test. Wait in anxiety for more, or spit it out, I dont care, I'm going to bed.

Splurging All Over Your Mason Ayer

Thanks to my tax refund, I got some money I wasn't counting on. A better person might put this towards unseen travel expenses, or savings, or student loans, but I am not a better person. I am a person who decided it was much more important to have a copy of The Simpsons Season 5 for my viewing pleasure and Civ 3 for my gaming pleasure.

Thanks to Angus and Connie for the blogging tips, I'll make use of them shortly, and to Jenny Savino and Diane Glynn at PA for the lunch. Jenny would like to remind all members of the Class of '99 that any size donation helps our class participation rate, and if you're too lazy to fill out the pledge card that you get in the mail, you can dontate online at www.andover.edu.

The Bill: Willing to pimp any cause for a reuben sandwich and a beer.

Packing

I've spent most of today packing what I could, trying to get an idea of just what and how much of what I would be able to take with me. I should mention I spent yesterday with my mother and grandmother shopping for a piece of luggage, initially searching for a simple duffel bag, but coming home with a big red trunk.

I was skeptical at first, having no faith that the confines of a trunk could hold more than the crammability of an unrestricted duffel. Now, a few hours later, I gotta say, this puppy holds more than I could have hoped. To give you, the reader, an idea of what's currently joining me on this adventure overseas:
8 sweaters
8 button down shirts
2 shorts
5 izods
the requisite underwear and boxers
(my tshirts are in another bag)
DVDS, including: Apocaplypse Now, Royal Tennenbaums, South Park Seasons 3&4, Simpsons Season 4, Ghostbusters, Super Troopers, American Beauty, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Army of Darkness, Monty Python's the Meaning of Life, and some others.
Books, including: "Diplomacy" (I've promised myself I'd read this, China seems like a good place to make due), "The Rise of Globalism," "Nicomathean Ethics," "The Republic," "Confederacy of Dunces," "Nostromo," "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest," some Faulkner, and others.

The reading list might resemble something from one's sophomore year of college, and well, a lot was from my own. But I didnt do much reading sophomore year and many of these are books I'd like to know better. Plus, money says "Diplomacy" alone keeps me busy for a month.

At this point there is still a few more things to put together and get in the bags, but its close. The anxiety from the other day has subsided, ad Sunday seems as far away as it did a month ago.

Crab Kalash?

Pleased to say I escaped New York. Kurt Russell should stop his whining. And if you didn't see that joke coming... well, you're not Scott Weiss.

I arose Friday morning all alone in the Witten apartment; showered, gathered my belongings, took in her view of the former WTC, and headed out to the Chinese consulate. The entire visa application process was amazingly simple, I simply took a number, dropped off my passport, picture, and form, and returned later that day to pay and pick up. The only hitch was that I was instructed to return sometime after 2:20 PM, but when I arrived at 2:45 PM, the visa office was closed for the holiday (Chinese New Year). After a few quick words with the guard at the main gate (I even got to show off in front of some other Whiteys with my Chinese) he led us through the security door in into the back room of the visa office where I was able to collect my passport and visa and head back to the bus terminal for the voyage home.

Between dropping off my application and picking up my visa, I spent the time by taking in some more of New York. First was a trip to the Met, which 1. was not covered in a purple gelatin shield (Ted Burke informed me the Statue of Liberty cleaned up that mess back in '89) and 2. wouldn't let me in with my bag, nor did they have a coat check. Luckily, I remembered the Guggeheim was close by, and as such I got to enjoy a wonderful exhibit on Aztec art. I have always found the Aztec's fascinating, not just in the brutality of their religious beliefs, but all of its intricacies and style. And I must say the curators at the museum made good use of assimilating the spiraling nature of the Guggeheim's layout into the Aztec's feathered snake god Quetzalcoatl. I've also read a theory establishing contact between the ancient South American and Chinese cultures long before the conquistadores ever dreamt of El Dorado. After a little culture, I found Ms. Trudy Garber (who is soon moving to SF, congrats TG!) and a sandwich. By the end of the sandwich, it was 2:30 and time to get back to the consulate.

On a quick and vague note, I must say that with every visit to New York City I come to understand a little more why New Yorkers love New York so. Not being a native New Yorker, and compounded by the fact I am a native Bostonian, I am not qualified to postulate on just what this might be, but either way, I'm pretty sure that its that very essence that New Yorkers love about New York that in turns serves as the font for my own hatred towards the Big Apple. No bowl, stick! Stick!

The gravity of this entire situation is only just getting heavy. I feel as though I've been rather calm and collect up until now, but now, now I'm beginning to freak out. Especially when I purchased a pair of boots today that are cold-rated to -60 F. For the last 5.5 years I've been living in DC and whining about how there was never any proper cold, but now I'm moving practically to Siberia. SIBERIA! The mention of it brings to mind: 1. nut-cracking cold, 2. banished Russian intelligentsia, and 3. high school playing fields (Andover thing).

These boots better be damn warm.

Bright Lights, Big City, Empty Apartment

I'm in NYC. Specifically, I'm in Manhattan, somewhere near Ground Zero, in Annie Witten's apartment. Annie, a good friend from Georgetown, has been so kind to let me crash on her pull out bed. But she's also left me alone in her place, which now pulls my own kindness into question.

I didnt order this pull out bed... with sausage!

All kidding aside, I promise I behaved myself while unsupervised. Tomorrow morning I must head to the Chinese Consulate General here in NYC to apply for and obtain my visa. Shouldn't be too difficult, but I'd like to consulte my email for some info before I head over. Unfortunately, I can't check my email here on Annie's computer... something to do with ActiveX, and I don't know what that is, and I'm hesitant to start mucking around with downloads and security settings. I'll figure it out.

All that aside, I saw one Graham Norwood and JP Chisholm this evening. Graham and I share roots back in America House, Chisholm entered the picture with Foxcroft. You either know what I'm talking about or you dont. Either way, both excellent individuals.

But now I must focus on some paperwork. The funny bit is that I spent the last year and a half securing visas for immigrants entering the US, now I need to figure out how to get my own with which to leave. I also need to sabotage Ms. Witten's apartment.

The Choice Has Been Made, The Die Cast, the Hemlock... Imbibed (?)

I just accepted the job to teach English in Harbin. Huzzah! I am employed again!

So what is the plan now? Well, hopefully, tomorrow I'll be in NYC taking care of my visa issues. Once that is done, I'll have to start packing and putting my affairs in order, which shouldnt be a big deal. All I really need is a pair of boots, a new dufflebag, and to cancel my cell phone.

I'll write more about Harbin and the last few days as the last few days unfold, but for now I need to focus on the Georgetown/Seton Hall basketball game. Hoya Saxa.

(Me.)

The Offers that Stand

Over the last few weeks, I have been scrambling to find a new position teaching English in China. Discovering the sham that was the truth behind YAKUP through me for a loop, gave a dangerous opportunity for second guessing, and landed a strong blow upon my ego. Some days I spent fervently searching the internet and applying for any job I was anywhere near qualified for or interested in; other days I simply spent hours looking at porn.

OK, so maybe it was the routine as usual.

As of today, there are three possibilities that lay open in front of me. 1. Teaching English in Harbin. Harbin is a city in the northeast of China, not too far from the Russian border. Known as the "Moscow of the Orient," it has a reputation as a fashionable city. I actually spent a month here in high school, back in 1997, studying at the local Institute of Technology. 2. Teaching Science in Shanghai. This actually has not been offered, not in any official matter at least. My old Chinese professor from high school, Dr. Han, said he might be able to get me this job, as a friend of his recently and suddenly lost an English-speaking science teacher. The problem is that I have had no science classes since junior year of high school, and I think that will be a major obstacle in getting this job. Despite my confidence in being able to teach Grade 6 General Science, they would probably still want a teacher with experience in the field. 3. Teaching English in Qingdao. This is a position offered by a placement company, which doesnt grasp my confidence, and requires a $300 application fee, which undermines my confidence even more. Plus Qingdao is a little farther south than I want to be.

At this moment, I think I'm going to take the Harbin job. I expect my decision to be made by the end of the day.