Never Stop Moving

They say that with time comes experience, and with experience comes less mistakes. I don't know about the less mistakes part, but the experience, most definitely. Take this morning for instance. Because I am a lazy teenager with no self will (does that sound about right, people?) I have not been able to drag myself out of bed the past couple of days. But this morning proved to be the end of my lack of will power. When my alarm blasted to life at 5:28 this morning, I was ready. I kept my eyes open (knowing this helped) moved around (even better) and then dragged myself out of bed 10 minutes later. All of this has been proven by me to make it easier to get out of bed.

It was exceedingly dark this morning, but at 6:20, I put myself into harms way, and walked to the bus stop. I waited a good amount of time past when I woke up, and it was getting lighter. This morning, I didn't even miss one of my buses (pat on the back for me) and I got there (after a short sprint, of course) right when my bus pulled up. I could tell it was going to be a good day.

I bought 10 small bao zi for breakfast this morning (and got charged an extra 1 kuai again) and then hopped up the stairs as fast as my heavy backpack would let me. I met with my Calculus teacher as soon as he showed up, and did some 2nd to last minute cramming for the test that I had in 3 hours. After studying with friends, I had a shortish conversation with my friend Julia while she wrote out characters. (I was opening a package that my mom sent me. It was a big thrill.) I should feel bad about not working just then, but I was giving myself a break (and a chance to try to shake the headache I have had for the past 3 days...not a nice experience, by the way).

The time for my tingxie arrived rather quickly, and it was time to cross my fingers and hope. As it turns out, I didn't need to cross my fingers because I did rather well (20/20). That doesn't happen much. Maybe all the stress really is good for me. (Yeah, tell that to the bags under my eyes.) I get my midterm back from her tomorrow, so that will be fun. It was hard to stay awake in my 2nd Chinese class, but I again propped my head up on my waterbottle, and hoped for the best. If I stop moving, I fall asleep.

I had a short 30 minute break after Chinese during which I could study for calculus test. 5 of us (me, Chris, Elle, Warren and Mike) crammed into a small room and had a power session of studying. It has become a ritual among us; although, this particular ritual doesn't seem to be of a whole lot of helpl, because that test was still rather difficult. Not going to lie. My nonexistant math skills are becoming rather apparent now. Where is my math tutor when you need one?

For the rest of the math testing period (I finished with about 30 minutes to spare) I went downstairs twice. Once to get a jian bing, and once to get a drink. What the hell, I could use the exercise. My snack filled me up, and I felt ready to go to my Chinese Society and Culture class, which was really just an information session about our upcoming trip. Which is going to be amazing, by the way. I have to go buy a new camera, because the one I have right now just doesn't have enough memory. We are going to be walking through the country side, basically, after taking a 30 hour train ride to Fujian. We stay with families in these communal houses. I really can't even describe it right now, but I can't wait to leave. It won't come soon enough.

Lunch was rather uneventful. I was full, and Warren, who was going to a music lesson with me, was also full, so we didn't go back downstairs to get food. Instead, I showed both him and Chris my lovely smelling candle, which I happened to get from my mom. What ensued was me and then Warren fighting to get my candle back. It didn't end well. Chris held Warren off with one hand, and he literally literally lifted me up with one arm. That was when I quit. I only got my candle back because I had to beg the math teacher to get it back for me. I got crap for that later, but I don't even care.

Warren and I took the subway to our music lesson, and after flashing the guards our passes (you thought I was going to say something else didn't you? Get your mind out of the gutter.) we made the quick walk to the school. We arrived 30 minutes early (OCD anyone?) and waited around for everyone else to get there. My teacher arrived shortly after, and then my Chinese teacher, Ma Lao shi, who is taking lessons with me. We had a good lesson (I think it went an hour and a half) during which I learned how to play do re mi fa so la with 2 scales. It's pretty wicked. Next week I get an actual melody, which will be fun to play. It is always so much nicer to play an instrument when you can make a sound other than dying cat. Just a personal opinion.

I left before Ma Lao Shi, when the class was over, because she was staying to practice on the Yangqin at the school. I got another kiss blown at me as I left (I mean, really, how could you hate someone who blows kisses at you?) and then Warren, Elle and I headed back to the subway. The smog was absolutely atrocious today. It looked like heavy fog everywhere, and as we walked past TianAn Men square, it was especially apparent. What a gross thing to see everyday.

I was ditched before I got back to the school (Elle and Warren were going home, and didn't have to go back to the school) so I made a lonely trek by myself. Being the absolute genius that I am, I grabbed the wrong book out of my locker before I left, so I had to drag myself back up 6 flights of stairs (I think that was the 5th time today, a personal record of mine) grabbed my books, and went back down 6 flights of stairs to catch my bus.

For the rest of the night, it was homework time. Homework, homework, homework. I am amazed I haven't had more of a meltdown already. I realize that I have been giving off an out of control vibe, but really, there is no other way to describe it. What I write here is hard to understand, but me acting like this is totally normal. I am just trying to keep up right now. Things will calm down as soon as midterms are over. Now, I have to go to sleep, because I would like to sleep for more than 6 1/2 hours tonight. So, later lovelies.