My Version of a Marathon

6:00. Bright and early. (It was especially hard to get out of bed this morning because I got another blanket last night to fight the cold, so I was extra toasty.) I've started a pattern I can't stop (ie, early mornings.) I got 8 and a half hours of sleep last night though, which is probably more than I have gotten any night since I have been here. I feel like I should be in freshman year of college, not senior year of high school. And today of course, is the Mother F of all days.

I got to move slower this morning, because I had Tai Chi, starting at 7:15. You know, as a little side note, the first time I heard Tai Chi was in the morning (back in America, remember) I flipped out, because I hate early mornings. Now, 7:15 seems like nothing. I love my life right now. Really. :) But anyways, getting back on topic. I got to school with only about 10 minutes to spare before tai chi, so I walked up 6 flights of stairs, responded to my emails from my fans (on new computers we got yesterday... yay) and then walked back down for class. I may have mentioned this before, but I really like tai chi. It is extremely relaxing, and for some reason, I always come out really happy. I am to Tai Chi like a crack addict is to crack. Except not really.

Even with my long hours of sleep last night, I was still exhausted when I got to Chinese. I had to prop my head up and force myself to say the words, again. In both classes. I always get impatient about halfway through the second class. I know that this isn't good, but it will get better as I start to sleep more. I couldn't even focus on all the gossip and drama going on around me (it figures. I get to my last year of high school, and then figure out how much really happens behind the scenes. I guess I have just been living with my head in the sand for the past 2 years.)

I wasted my break away, and then went to English. We talked about essays by Virginia Woolf and someone else, because I think that our English teacher is getting ready to give us a creative essay. (Those actually really bug me, because if you try to write something truly creative, then they just say, this isn't an essay, fix it up. Gr.) I didn't laugh in English because the girl I always laugh at isn't there, so it was quite productive as well.

I also had a tutorial today, which was nice because I have a test tomorrow. It just consisted of me, 2 other students, and the teacher, Ma lao shi (马老师). Lao shi means teacher, by the way. Anyways, she read characters, and we had to write the pinyin, tones and characters. It was hard, but helpful. By lunch time, I felt like I was going to eat my classmates, so I raced downstairs with some friends, and over to the cafeteria. The food is actually not lovely, but I eat there anyways. We are supposed to talk Chinese with the teachers every thursday, but there aren't enough teachers to go around, so I didn't get a teacher. (Emo tear...)

After lunch was Calculus (I got my test back, by the way...99%!!!) That class is still pretty easy, so far. I'm still waiting for the knock-you-out-of-the-world punch that math always has. Then Chinese history, which was another discussion (surprise, surprise) and school should have been over. But wait, there's more. Today we had Chinese Society and Culture, taught by the head of SYA China, Jeff Bissell. (He has actually been in North Korea for the past couple of days. Apparently he is one of the lucky 300 Americans that got let in this year.) During this class, we talk about current events going on in China, and he answers our questions. It is probably one of the most interesting classes I have.

That class ended at 4:10, but I was still not done. (Remember, school basically started for me at 7:15, with Tai Chi, and I had been up and running since 6.) After school today was Kung Fu. Our teacher is the short Chinese guy who you most definitely do NOT want to piss off, because damn, he can kick high. And hard. We are learning a pattern (I have no idea what you call it, it's just a thing of kicks and punchs and turns.) We learn a new couple of turns every week. I got a bit lost half way through, but so did everyone else (just about) so we just helped each other. I was really distracted and kept laughing, but I had a good time.

It also got progressively colder throughout our lesson. The day had started nice and warm, and got cold and stormy looking. We didn't finish our class until 5:30 (dear god, it had been almost 12 hours since I woke up) and my friends and I had to abandon our bubbly tea plans and go straight home, because curfew is at 6 on school days. I biked part of the way home with Jamie (a fellow Californian. Yay!) before he turned off, and I braved the roads by myself. No near collisions though, so I was safe. (Although, I have figured out why the roads are crazy here. Drivers, bikers and pedestrians seem to think that the white lines and lights are merely suggestions, not law, and the police don't seem to be much better. There is also an interesting blend of the 3 modes of transportation, which brings them all into close proximity and fighting for space. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's just dangerous.) One more thing about cops. I am used to Davis cops, who have nothing better to do than give people bike tickets for being on the wrong side of the road (ahem.) So now, every time I see a cop, I am always worried that they are going to pull me over. Then I remember that I am in a big city, and they have better things to do than give a white girl a bike ticket. Silly Sophie.

Because I have a Chinese test tomorrow, I had an obscene amount of homework, so I started in. About half way though part of Chinese, dinner was called, so I stopped. Tonight was basically a continuation of last night, with some new chicken dishes, which tasted awesome. I also had my required bowl of rice. I love the food here, really. That is reason enough to learn Chinese. Now I think I should go to bed, because it is 9:30, and my bed is calling. It has been a freakin long day. Thursdays suck.

I'm not sure what else to say. I am finally getting my clothes washed, and I can hear the wind howling and some guy yelling into a microphone outside my window (which is 12 stories up, by the way.) You know, some people think I am weird because I write in my blog every day. Buy how can I not? Do much happens to me now that I am conscious for more time, and I have to write it down. It would drive me insane if I couldn't remembe everything. I definitely have OCD (thanks Mom...) Thank you for reading my stream of half awake ramblings. Next time we meet I will be on break!