Another Day in Paradise

Even though I was sick, and went to bed after 10:30, I still set my alarm for 5:25. Why? I have no idea. It is very easy to say I will wake up after 6 hours of sleep (and then do homework) before you have gone to sleep, but the next morning, it is a whole new issue all together. Like this morning. My alarm went off, and it took me 10 minutes to drag myself out of bed and to the light switch. Before promptly grabbing my history reader and jumping back into bed to review for my history test. That worked surprisingly well, because I was still in bed (as everyone should be that bloody early in the morning) and I was retaining what I read. It was a win win situation.

At 6, I pulled myself out of the warmth of my blankets, and started to get ready for school (after a quick check of my email to make sure no one was dying to get into contact with me). I got out of my house early this morning, at about 6:15. My headache was coming back a little bit, but not too bad. I didn't see my bus pass in front of me this morning (meaning it was probably the first morning I didn't miss it in a while, which is a good thing). I kept studying history all through walking to the bus stop, getting on and off the bus, and walking to school (what can I say, I am a multi-tasker.)

I got to school early, and started doing homework. First up, history reading. That didn't last long though. Maybe 10 minutes before I decided it was a waste of time, and out came the flashcards. Those were much more useful, and apparently, much more sought after, because as people started coming into the room I was in, and saw that I had flashcard for the 40 odd characters to memorize, I started getting a lot of "So, can I use your flashcards?" I swear, I should have charged.

Chinese was first, as usual, and after a quick self quiz to make sure I knew all the words, it was Tingxie (听写) time. (That is our daily listening quiz.) I felt rather confident that I had done well, and the rest of the class continued on a positive note. Both of them did, actually. Our second teacher even quizzed us on our history terms, which was nice, because I had history first period, right after break. I was a little worried, I'm not going to lie.

As it turns out, I didn't really need to be worried. Of course, there was the customary question that no one prepared for (and which causes everyone to start piecing together some sort of answer that might possibly be right) and some that I was pretty sure I knew. Otherwise, it was rather easy, and not scary at all. I quite like having history first on Tuesday's, because I can get the test out of the way, and be done with it.

After history was Calculus (as per usual) which was totally normal. I still felt a little crappy when I went for Calculus; just enough so that I would just call out the answer I got when he asked, even if it was wrong. No harm in trying, right? Not sure my teacher agrees with that, but we still get along okay. I hope.

For lunch today, I went downstairs with Chris, Jamie, Julia and Gavin. We were originally going to go to a 10 kuai place, but when it became apparent that it was a restaurant where you had to sit down, everyone except Gavin backed out. Leaving Gavin to his own devices to make friends (which he did, being the people person that he is) we went next door to the supermarket to buy spring rolls, and a small shop on an alley to buy drinks. These spring rolls are amazing. They are probably one of the best lunches I have had. No joke. (P.S. all through lunch, I still got teased for writing about Jamie and Julia. From now on, no more mention of them except in passing. Sorry).

I thought that I had a college meeting with the college counselor here, so I went back upstairs with Chris to get ready for that (ie. print out my essay's for her to read.) But, of course, as soon as I got upstairs and checked my mailbox, there was a note, saying she had to leave to take her daughter to the clinic, and we needed to reschedule. As far as I am concerned, that is fine. I am on top of my college applications, and I needed the time to study. So out came my English book. I leaned against the table, put my feet up on a chair, and started reading River Town, our first book for English. I will give you my thoughts once I have read more than 25 pages.

After lunch I had break, so when the bell rang, I was in no rush to go anywhere. Chris, Warren and Julia were all sharing my flashcards for history, and were all quizzing each other/playing games to memorize the words. Since I could tell that my English was not going to get done (and after I checked that I didn't have to read it for class) I helped them study, because I had already taken the test. I didn't give them the questions, I just held up flashcards. Don't jump to conclusions.

Last period was English. What a drag. We got our vocabulary quizzes back. Although I improved from my previous score of 93 (haha) I still didn't get 100%. What can I say, one of our terms was pronoun antecedent, and it was a toughy. So sue me. After talking about romanticism vs. modernism, Mr. Morison set us loose on our creative writing assignment, in which we have to talk about some trip that we have made since being in China. I have decided that mine is going to be about a surprise dinner I had, which was exceedingly awkward. It should be a good story.

I had big plans for after school, but they didn't quite materialize how I expected. I had calligraphy for 45 minutes, during which I mindlessly doodled with my mao bi (the brush) and got teased by Julia for various things. I like teasing people, but can't take being teased, so I put an end to that nonsense very quickly. After that class, I thought I might go downstairs, and walk around. Instead, I "borrowed" Chris's computer, and loaded up my USB with his music. Sharing is caring, as they say. I did some homework as well, of course. That would have been hanging on my conscience otherwise. But as per usual, 5 o clock came way too fast, and we all trooped downstairs. Chris kept trying to recruit people for the talent show that we are having for Halloween, but it was not a successful mission, mostly.

I got a seat on my less than crowded bus, which amazed me. Sometimes the bus pulls up to the stop groaning under the weight of what looks like 1,000 bodies, and sometimes it pulls up with empty chairs. I have yet to figure out a pattern for it. There probably isn't one, but I like to think I am in control of everything. It's an OCD thing, you wouldn't understand. My walk back was painless (not that it should be painful or anything.) I balanced my Calculus book on my head for about 200 yrds, before deciding the looks I was getting from Beijing natives was probably a big indication that I shouldn't be doing that. I walked like a normal human being for the last half of my walk home.

No one was home when I got home, so I practiced my Yangqin, before turning to the computer and getting busy. I checked my email, and visited all my daily haunts on the internet, before opening iTunes and my Chinese book. Because tomorrow is Wednesday, I only have Chinese, which means not as much homework. Score one for the white girl.

My night was rather boring. It was the usual night: homework, dinner, shower, homework until 10:30, quick blog, bed. Nothing important. Lovely chatting, folks, but now, it is time to try to get rid of the bags under my eyes. Bye all.