Walk Till You Drop

Today started out not looking too bright. I had to go meet the rest of my class at the Military Museum (军事博物馆) as a class field trip because we are reading the Red Sorghum right now. That is, in case you haven't read it, an extremely gory book that follows the accounts of one boy through the War of Resistance against Japan. Some of the stuff you read in this book actually makes me nauseous.

We went to see the exhibit for the Wars against Japan, but, of course, it was closed. Considering the planning, I am actually not at all surprised. We all thought it was extremely ironic, and no one could help but laugh when we realized that it was closed. I stayed my obligated hour, and looked around at the impressive display of old Communist weapons and statues, before my stomach got the best of me, and I encouraged the rest of my group that we should leave to go find something to eat.

We decided to head in the direction of the Animal Market, which is an amazing market selling all kinds of animals. A friend of ours, Warren, had gone a couple days ago, claiming it was pretty cool, so Jamie, Julia, George, Stephanie and I decided that we should check it out for ourselves, just to make sure. We found it after a short walk from the subway station, and started looking around. From the road, it just looks like a short section of a couple of shops, but in actuality stretches through the equivalent of 2 city blocks of hutongs. It's incredible.

The whole front section sold puppies and kittens and some fish. We saw a fight over something (by the puppy section) but none of us dared to summon up the courage to ask what. So we just kept walking. There were tubs on the ground filled with fish and lots of turtles, and tiny cages containing kittens and rabbits. Sometimes we came across someone with 2 puppies sticking out of their shirt, or a kitten cradled in their arms, but more often then not, these animals were contained in their cages, frightened half to death. It was pretty sad to see.

There were all sorts of fish, every kind you can think of, and a turtle that was probably as big as my leg, and much hornier (and not in the sexual way.) We saw a couple tubs full of maggots, which was absolutely disgusting. There were albino frogs (at least, it looked that way to me) and rabbits everywhere. It really was amazing. The pictures I take don't do it justice. When we got to the end of the labyrinth of hutongs, there was a small place with a lot of snack places, but none of us wanted to eat there, as we feared 拉肚子 (or spicy stomach... interpret that as you will.)

We were all getting hungry, and I could feel the affects hitting me (I was getting irritable, blunt, edgy, and tired. All clear signs I needed to eat, NOW.) We found a small place to grab some noodles (the hole in the wall places always have the best noodles) and Julia went out to try to find a Bank of China, because she was out of money. George left soon to go to some boarding school thing, and Stephanie, Jamie and I finished our noodles not much longer.

We met up with Julia, and as we were deciding what to do, Stephanie and I left to go look at dvds (I am a total dvd junkie. It is a problem) and left Jamie and Julia to decide what to do. I bought "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (it was 73 cents) and as soon as Julia and Jamie found us, we decided to go back to school to grab a little more food, go to a bank, and possibly get our hair cut.

That turned out to be one of our worse ideas. I got a jian bing and then dragged Stephanie with me to yet another dvd store, while Jamie pulled out his guide book. The guy that owns the dvd store and I are fighting, though. He won't let me buy just one movie out of a set (like, just one harry potter instead of all of them.) It is a problem. I have given that guy so much money, he should be able to make an exception for me. (For example, I bought one movie for 7 kuai, and Stephanie walked out of their with lots of dvds, and 84 kuai lighter. See what I mean?)

When we met up with Julia and Jamie again, they still hadn't decided, so I made an executive decision, and we decided to go to the zoo. We met Annie on the bridge as we were walking to the bus stop, and as she had locked herself out of her house, she decided to come with us. The more the merrier.

The bus ride was long, and crowded, but we got there, and paid an exorbitant 60 kuai ($8.77) to get a ticket. We can get it reimbursed though. I was on a mission to see the Giant Pandas, and made a beeline for them. Annie, Stephanie and I actually ended up going off on our own and losing Jamie and Julia. Oops.

We wandered off, looking at Pandas, lions, tigers, monkeys, bears. It is a very big zoo, and we covered as much as we could, before we wandered into the aquarium, where Annie and I both realized our shared connection of deeply wanting to be marine biologists. The aquarium was amazing. We spent 2 hours walking around, looking at the huge tanks, some holding fish that were easily twice my size. We lost and found Stephanie a couple of times, and at 5, 2 hours after we had gotten there, made a quick pass by the dolphin tank before racing to try to find the hippos and rhinos. Unfortunately, they were just closing, so we will have to go back later. Damn.

We conveniently met up with Jamie and Julia not too long after this, and it was obvious that we were all exhausted, after walking all day, and no breaks. Annie and I secretly admitted that our feet were killing us, and indeed, I felt like cutting my legs off at the ankles. Jamie and Julia (who I may start referring to as JJ, as that is easier to type. Haven't decided yet) took off in one direction for an exit, and Annie, Stephanie and I went to a another one. As soon as we found where we were, we just decided to take a bus back, which may have been a silly idea. We were all so tired, and our feet hurt (although Annie got a seat, and then Stephanie sat on her lap) the bus was extremely crowded, and hot. I think I may have gotten way over heated and dehydrated by the end of the day, as my head was killing me.

I got home just in time for dinner with my dad and sister, and then took a shower and got in bed to watch Benjamin Button, which, while being an excellent movie, may have been one of the saddest I have ever seen. I have started talking to my family more during dinner, which is good. I can actually have a conversation with my dad now, and I think he likes that. I know I do. My sister speak more Chinese to me now, instead of Chinglish. I think she just does that now because it is a habit. She is so funny.

I am so tired right now, and my feet are still killing me, of course. Goodnight all!