Another Typical Day in Beijing

Location: Beijing, China
Local Time: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 7:46pm

Time is flying by here. It is already the middle of week two studying Mandarin, and the middle of week 3 in Beijing. Crazy! How did that happen?

So, what is a typical day for me here in Beijing? Well, I woke up around 6, laid in bed for 15 minutes, made the usual unplesant trip to the bathroom. When the toilet stinks from 15 meters away from the bathroom, it's a bad sign. The toilet in the hostel stinks in 1 of two ways. Either it stinks of disinfectant when they have cleaned it. That lasts for about 15 minutes. Then it stinks like an outhouse. Flushing seems to conflict with religious or moral obligations some how, because it normally isn't done.

So, after that, I had a nice hot shower, went back to my room, and worked on memorizing the dialog that was assigned as homework yesterday. I didn't get it all memorized before class. Thankfully it turns out no one else did either.

I read for 15 minutes from Jack London's Whitefang, which was on the bookshelf in the hostel. I don't know who dropped it there, but I thank them. It's back there now for someone else's reading pleasure.

Then, at about 7:45 I headed out to the metro. It takes me about 45 minutes, walking and riding the metro, to go from the hostel to the school where I am studying. So, I was there about 8:30. A quick trip to the 7/11 for 1.5L of orange juice. (Hmmm, orange juice.)

Then, upstairs to check e-mail and continue trying to memorize the assigned homework.

Three hours of class from 9 - 12, with a 15 minute break at about 11.

At noon, someone is usually going out for lunch, so I do that. Today, Tina and I went to an Italian restaurant called Annie's. It was really good. You know, I think it has been months since I've had Italian. I had a great lasagna with mushrooms. Loaded with tasty cheese.

That was good.

Back to the school to study for a few hours, then I headed home at about 6:30. Another 45 minutes on the metro and walking, during which time I stare around at all the Chinese writing on the subway alls, and billboards and try to pick out the 10 characters (out of 3 - 4 thousand) that I know. Since I know the numbers from 0 - 10, I can usually find my characters somewhere. Counting happens all the time, or times are written, or numbered lists are posted.

Now, I'm back home, 3 floors underground in my hostel. After I'm done writing, I'll go back to my room and study until I fall asleep.

I love this city. If only the money would last for a full year in China.