Manic

My morning started at 7:45 this morning. I know, it seemed extremely early for me as well. I don't know why I woke up so early early, but I just did. I lay in bed with my eyes closed until 8:30, just to make it worth it, and to trick myself into thinking I had woken up later than I actually had. Then it was breakfast, Facebook, tea, shower and out the door. Mostly in that door. There may have been some overlaps, particularly in the parts about tea and Facebook and breakfast.

I was off on another adventure this morning. I went with my language partner, my friend Grace and her teacher all to go to the Beijing Dirt Market. I know, I have already been there, but I talked with one of my friends, and when she mentioned that she wanted a present (and I hadn't already gotten her one) and I couldn't think of a better place to go to buy her a present than the dirt market. I'm just going to clear this up again, it isn't actually a dirt market (how stupid would that that be). No, it's a huge huge HUGE flea market, and so much fun to go to.

We took the subway over to the Dirt Market. As it turned out, even though I was not the native Beijing person, I still ended up being the guide. How is that for an ego boost? I'll try not to let it go to my head. I think I keep the ego boosts to a minimum. I spent most of the ride talking with my friend, and just joking around. The ride goes so much quicker when you have people to talk to you. It was all in Chinese, which was actually not as hard as it sounds. I think that my Chinese must be getting better.

When we got there, everyone was completely overwhelmed. I was still overwhelmed. It is a huge place, with a lot of screaming Chinese people trying to get you to buy their goods. I had one advantage over everyone else though: I had been there before, and I already knew what I wanted to buy, and where it all was. We wandered around the stalls for a bit, looking and talking. I think that my language partner might have been a little bit awkwarded it out, because she only knew me, but it was nice to have her there. She is really nice, and I think that we get along really well.

I won't tell you what I bought as a present, because I don't want to give away the surprise. But it was fun. And it is related to Chinese culture. Walking around, I decided, it was time for me to buy myself a tiny little present. And I wanted to put my haggling skills to use. I ended up buying myself a little wooden picture, the kind that is drawn on bamboo slats. It's very pretty. I saw it, set my heart on it, and let the haggling begin. However, I had to haggle with about 5 people around me, watching and listening very keenly.

The lady started out at 180 kuai ($26.57) and I got her down to 50 kuai ($7.38). I had to walk away at one point, pretending that I was going to go to another store to buy it. That's how it works. All part of the little dance. But I won, in the end. I got my present for myself. My own little picture to put on my wall. The weird thing about haggling in China is that when you are there, haggling, you really get into it. You won't budge from your price, and you have to try your hardest to get the seller to budge from their price. You end up haggling over 10 kuai, 3 kuai. The funny thing is, when you get down to it, you and the seller are fighting over a dollar, 50 cents, 10 cents. In American dollars, it is absolutely not worth it. But when you are haggling, it is absolutely completely worth it. It is a matter of life or death, a matter of pride. When haggling, I wouldn't give up that 50 cents for anything.

We got separated after about an hour, and at 12, I decided that I had to leave. I still had so much homework that I hadn't finished, and it took me an hour to get back home. My language partner rode the subway back with me, and got off at one of the earlier stations. I headed back to my dorm, after getting lunch, of course.

I did my very best to write as much of my essay as I could, before heading off to the gym. There were not a whole lot of people there today, except for me and Jack. Jack was in a super good mood today. Well, I think that the likes watching me suffer. There was a crapload of arm work outs today. I think that he has fun thinking up new methods of torture. He spent a lot of time joking around though, and sitting while watching me work out. Thanks a lot Jack.

When I told him that I was leaving in two weeks, he pouted (yes, pouted) and told me that he didn't want me to leave. Ah shucks. I don't want to leave either. I told Jack that he should come back to America with me, and help me work out. He just laughed at that. But he did say that if he ever got to San Francisco, he would look me up. I'll take it! We also got onto the topic of being a doctor (because I want to go to medical school) and he was super proud of me. He told me that I should become one of the best surgeons in the world, and then come to China and get paid lots of money. Yeah, I'll work on that.

After the gym, it was time for a massage. FINALLY. I went with Grace, and one of her friends. When we got there, I found that my massage person was an ex Shao lin monk (apparently. Grace told me that, but I am not sure if he actually is). He was actually a really good massage person. He did a couple of strange things though. First off, he kind of helped me stretch. With my legs, anyway. Haven't gotten that done yet. Also, he gave me a hand massage. Well, not so much a massage, but he basically just dug his finger into the fleshy part of my hand. It hurt. A LOT. He told me that is was for my heart. If you have heart problems, apparently this is what you are supposed to do. Well, I'm glad that he is helping me, but bloody hell, it hurt.

Then came the grand finale: cupping. I haven't gotten it done in a while, and I wanted to do it again. Also, my friends wanted to get it done as well. So it was a party. I was the last one ot get it done, so I took pictures of them. Some of them are actually pretty fun, with open flames and everything.

Then came my turn. My little monk massage guy came back to do cupping. All in all, I had 24 cups on my body, and 6 of them were on my legs. I have never gotten it done on my legs. It was very weird to feel. And the cups on my back hurt a little bit, especially when he first put them on. However, about halfway through, one of the other people came over, looked at my back and said "You put them on too tightly. The cups are too big." That was not particularly encouraging. I saw why when I saw my back. There are huge black bruises all over my back now. So awesome. I love it when the cups are too big that they leave way too big bruises.

The rest of the night was spent crazily trying to finish my homework (which I did, by the way.) And now, I am off!

Good night.