I got to school 6:45, but my homework load was out of control. I couldn't go to taiji, so I just stayed upstairs and edited my friend Chris's history paper, which we were all tricked into believing that it was due today. As it turns out, it was only a rough draft. But anyway, when Chinese started, I was ready for class, and after turning my homework in, my teacher announced the beginning of class, and we were off.
In my second Chinese class, our teacher told us that we had an oral exam (speaking, not anything else, you nasty's) as part of our midterm, and we had to talk for 2 minutes at least. I had no idea when the hell I was supposed to figure out what to say, but I put it into the back of my mind, and continued my day. After Chinese we had another break, of course, and it was back downstairs for the 4th time that week to go put on some weight (ie, eat the greatest thing known to man: jian bing.) I had to get 4, for the people with me, and one for my friend upstairs. It was also freezing, and I had to stand in the wind while she made it. That is true dedication right there.
English, and then tutorial passed rather quickly. (In tutorial, we just went over tests, and I didn't get a lot wrong, so I just studied for the Shen Lao Shi final I have tomorrow.) During lunch we had Chinese tables. I grabbed Shen Lao Shi to come be the teacher for 2 tables, and we settled in for a good lunch. Shen Lao Shi is rather hilarious. We talked about everything, and with one Chinese 7 and one Chinese 6 speaker, it was quite a good conversation. I just tried to laugh and smile with everyone else. :)
After lunch, I felt the urge to go do something worth while. So I walked back upstairs, and started to do homework, because I could just see myself getting home at 10 and not having done any homework, because that is just the way I am. I started on my Chinese, working on the speech I was supposed to give my teacher the next day, but I got easily distracted. You know how it is, when you have to study, you will do anything to be distracted. Anything. I am no different.
After lunch was Calculus, and we got our tests back. I did not do so well. Bugger. Our teacher also told us that these were the lowest scores he had seen in 7 years, and that made him depressed. Our immediate response was "It makes you depressed? That's funny." Our problems are hard right now. I seriously have no idea what the bloody hell I am doing. It sucks. After that disaster I call Calculus was over, it was off to history. More notes, and a rather intense conversation later, we were free.
Today after school, instead of our regular Chinese Society and Culture class, we just talked about our fall study trip that we are taking to Fu Jian Province at the beginning of November. It is going to be an amazing trip. We got the packing list that we are supposed to bring, and the itinerary and what Mr. Bissell calls the "Dao of Travel." It was great. The only thing I was confused about was that our list recommended we bring a skirt, and what the bloody hell am I going to do with a skirt in the middle of nowhere? Nothing, that's what. Although I guess that wearing a skirt would be better than walking around in my underwear. Probably.
It wasn't until after our last last class that things started to get crazy. The party that we were having was a Halloween party, with all of SYA and 70 Chinese kids. The people organizing it had 2 weeks to do so, so it was a huge effort. Setting up was not any easier. I helped Chris and a bunch of other people carry water, fruit and various other things over to the gym, and then put it in the right places. I left half way through with my friend Rebecca to get fried chicken (really really yummy fried chicken) for dinner for us and for Chris. We stopped in our alleyway shop to get drinks, and went back up.
The party, or at least the talent show, started at 5:30, with Mr. Pettus, the math teacher, doing a card trick that involved everyone. It was actually really cool, but don't tell anyone I said that. It's the cool thing to do to be nonchalant about these sorts of things. Then the rest of the night started. There were a couple more talents that were showed off, and the games began.
I don't know what you think about when someone says Chinese games, but I can just about guarantee that it is not right. First up was a truth or dare game. Chris, as he was the host, and very popular with the Chinese ladies, was up first. His dare: find 2 Chinese girls to kiss, on the cheek. It was great. All the girls immediately started moving away, and then trying to push their friends toward him. We all got a huge kick out of it. I participated in a game, but will not be going into details of it at all. I will just say that it involved 4 people (and their mouths), an increasinly small stick of pocky, and an awkward situation (right Julia?). That is all.
The rest of the night was pretty fun. The talent show lasted until about 8:30, with random dancing breaks in the middle. I myself am not a big dancer, as most people know (I just don't really like making a fool of myself in front of people, what can I say?), and I managed to avoid (only just) having to dance. Score one for the middle class white girl.
I stayed after the party to help clean up, even though I have a midterm tomorrow. There was a rather large mess (sort of) and I felt bad leaving a couple people to clean up. It took us about 20 minutes, and just about everyone had left by the time we were done, and we took the elevator upstairs to get our stuff from the lockers before heading our seperate ways. I was calmly talking to friends before seeing my bus pulling up to the stop, and made a mad dash to catch it. Seriously, I would have made Olympic athletes proud. But I hate waiting more than anything.
I didn't get home until about 9:30, and I really didn't feel like doing any homework. I worked on my Chinese a little, but soon came to the conclusion that it would be better to go to bed early and get up early to do homework than to stay up late. So afer setting my alarm for 5 (dear God, that is early) I am now off to bed, before I can't read anymore. I am bloody exhausted. Sorry it took me so long to get this out. My life is nuts right now.
English, and then tutorial passed rather quickly. (In tutorial, we just went over tests, and I didn't get a lot wrong, so I just studied for the Shen Lao Shi final I have tomorrow.) During lunch we had Chinese tables. I grabbed Shen Lao Shi to come be the teacher for 2 tables, and we settled in for a good lunch. Shen Lao Shi is rather hilarious. We talked about everything, and with one Chinese 7 and one Chinese 6 speaker, it was quite a good conversation. I just tried to laugh and smile with everyone else. :)
After lunch, I felt the urge to go do something worth while. So I walked back upstairs, and started to do homework, because I could just see myself getting home at 10 and not having done any homework, because that is just the way I am. I started on my Chinese, working on the speech I was supposed to give my teacher the next day, but I got easily distracted. You know how it is, when you have to study, you will do anything to be distracted. Anything. I am no different.
After lunch was Calculus, and we got our tests back. I did not do so well. Bugger. Our teacher also told us that these were the lowest scores he had seen in 7 years, and that made him depressed. Our immediate response was "It makes you depressed? That's funny." Our problems are hard right now. I seriously have no idea what the bloody hell I am doing. It sucks. After that disaster I call Calculus was over, it was off to history. More notes, and a rather intense conversation later, we were free.
Today after school, instead of our regular Chinese Society and Culture class, we just talked about our fall study trip that we are taking to Fu Jian Province at the beginning of November. It is going to be an amazing trip. We got the packing list that we are supposed to bring, and the itinerary and what Mr. Bissell calls the "Dao of Travel." It was great. The only thing I was confused about was that our list recommended we bring a skirt, and what the bloody hell am I going to do with a skirt in the middle of nowhere? Nothing, that's what. Although I guess that wearing a skirt would be better than walking around in my underwear. Probably.
It wasn't until after our last last class that things started to get crazy. The party that we were having was a Halloween party, with all of SYA and 70 Chinese kids. The people organizing it had 2 weeks to do so, so it was a huge effort. Setting up was not any easier. I helped Chris and a bunch of other people carry water, fruit and various other things over to the gym, and then put it in the right places. I left half way through with my friend Rebecca to get fried chicken (really really yummy fried chicken) for dinner for us and for Chris. We stopped in our alleyway shop to get drinks, and went back up.
The party, or at least the talent show, started at 5:30, with Mr. Pettus, the math teacher, doing a card trick that involved everyone. It was actually really cool, but don't tell anyone I said that. It's the cool thing to do to be nonchalant about these sorts of things. Then the rest of the night started. There were a couple more talents that were showed off, and the games began.
I don't know what you think about when someone says Chinese games, but I can just about guarantee that it is not right. First up was a truth or dare game. Chris, as he was the host, and very popular with the Chinese ladies, was up first. His dare: find 2 Chinese girls to kiss, on the cheek. It was great. All the girls immediately started moving away, and then trying to push their friends toward him. We all got a huge kick out of it. I participated in a game, but will not be going into details of it at all. I will just say that it involved 4 people (and their mouths), an increasinly small stick of pocky, and an awkward situation (right Julia?). That is all.
The rest of the night was pretty fun. The talent show lasted until about 8:30, with random dancing breaks in the middle. I myself am not a big dancer, as most people know (I just don't really like making a fool of myself in front of people, what can I say?), and I managed to avoid (only just) having to dance. Score one for the middle class white girl.
I stayed after the party to help clean up, even though I have a midterm tomorrow. There was a rather large mess (sort of) and I felt bad leaving a couple people to clean up. It took us about 20 minutes, and just about everyone had left by the time we were done, and we took the elevator upstairs to get our stuff from the lockers before heading our seperate ways. I was calmly talking to friends before seeing my bus pulling up to the stop, and made a mad dash to catch it. Seriously, I would have made Olympic athletes proud. But I hate waiting more than anything.
I didn't get home until about 9:30, and I really didn't feel like doing any homework. I worked on my Chinese a little, but soon came to the conclusion that it would be better to go to bed early and get up early to do homework than to stay up late. So afer setting my alarm for 5 (dear God, that is early) I am now off to bed, before I can't read anymore. I am bloody exhausted. Sorry it took me so long to get this out. My life is nuts right now.
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