Saturday

Some observations:
-There are a lot of people here, and they are doing stuff out and
about at all hours.
-Traffic can be ruthless, lanes, lights and general rules are
sometimes obeyed.
-I will probably die while I'm here from the pollution in the air or
by getting run over. Oh well, they say the haze is better in the winter.
-A lot of Chinese people don't acknowledge lines or patience. Getting
on a subway they just barge on before the people can get off, like
they think the doors will close at any moment or something like that.
And then walking around subway stations many look like they are in a
nervous hurry. If you are at a ticket counter buying a ticket, maybe
its just because I'm white but some dude will just walk up next to
you and slide his money through the window. A guy did that when I was
exchanging currency and the lady picking me up from the airport
smacked his hand and yelled at him.

Friday night I went out to dinner with my roommates and their
friends, 6 of us total. We walked a little ways and went into a
restaurant. You order as a group and share the dishes. It was good
food, and we didnt even finish half of it. We each spent 20 kuai,
which is 20 divided by 8, so $2.50. Not bad. The rest of them went to
a club called "Propaganda" and I went home and went to sleep, 31
hours after waking up for my flight.

The next morning I sat around and waited for them to wake up and then
sat around watching British shows that a roommate had on his
computer. Then we walked to the subway and met 2 of the girls that
they know and rode the subway into the city. We walked around a
shopping district. My British roommate described places as being
rabbit holes. You walk into a place that looks like a small hole in
the wall and it goes on forever and its a huge cafeteria with 15
different food places and tons of people. We went to a mall with lots
brand name stores. They have fashion shows for digital cameras in
malls where models walk out holding a small camera. So we did that
for a long time, I didnt purchase anything besides food and later we
went home. Overall I spent 47 kuai, just under $6. Thats 2 subway
tickets, dumpling lunch, and an Orange Julius from a Dairy Queen at
the mall. Later I bought a bath towel that I needed.

Tomorrow I will eat lunch with the cousin of Mrs. Schuler( my chinese
teacher from High school). After that is Ultimate Frisbee with
Beijing Ultimate.