Good Bye...For Now

I cannot believe that this adventure is about to come meet its end. I will miss it so. However as I look back at the past four months I realize that I have no choice in the matter, I must return. I also must encourage people to take the steps like the one that took me here. Maybe not to China, but to bother to learn a difficult language and go abroad, see the world outside of US borders, it might be the most important thing they ever do with their lives.

However, I do look forward to seeing everyone back home. As I have told my mother, it is the people and not the place that I truly miss. I come back to the States baring stories and gifts (I apologize in advance to anyone I forgot to buy something for...Im not a big shopper).

I have too many stories to tell here, whether they be happy or kind of tragic. So ask and you shall recieve.

Until then...I bid you good night and good luck

Sorry...its bin a while

Like I said...sorry for the delay, buts it been a long couple of weeks. Lets see what happened since we last had communications...

I discovered that Dragon Place's "Won-Ton Soup" aint got jack on the stuff I can get a enormouns bowl of here for about 1.25US. Also, if your Korean friend yells at a cab driver for being incompetent he WILL cut the price of the ride by quite a bit.

Back to food...Im gonna miss it. Bad. Dont get me wrong I miss a good plate of Carne Guisada plenty, but this stuff is amazing, as well as dirt cheap. Probably the biggest reverse culture shock I'll have when I get home.

Also discussing food, I hope everyone reading this enjoys their thanksgiving, rest assured we here in Shanghai will celebrate in our own special way.

Also, I pick up my new suit Wednesday. A three piece pinstripe I got customed tailored out of a very nice wool/cashmere blend. Ridiculously cheap.

On a less positive note, my class was upraded from the level 2 book to the level 3 book last week, which means even more work. But if I didnt want it I wouldn't be here, so no point in complaining.

I have no other thoughts for you now...until next time.

Kyle

Study Study Study

I've been practicing characters for the past two hours and decided I would take a break to say hi to everyone. I've been busy, its been good. I had a cool celebrity sighting this week, tennis star Roger Federer. Very cool. That same weekend my roomate and I had some friends who live in Shenzhen came and stayed with us for a weekend here in Shanghai...we had a blast.

Other then that it has been business as unusual. I try to experience something obscure or new every day whenever I can, and I am always up for an adventure. That is how you make life experiences, and that is how I am trying to make mine...

Another one bites the dust...

As you may expect, I followed the election to its end...and was not surprised in the least by its outcome. However, enough cnn bull, thats not what you read this for.

Since my last blog, I have had my fair share of adventures. First, was haloween, which I thoroughly enjoyed, even though I was in a nation that does not celebrate it like we do back home. It was alot of fun and I saw how another nation views our hollidays, which was interesting.

Then, on Monday night, I went to a Kanye West concert, which was really cool. Seeing as American performer in a foreign country was a really cool experience, followed by beers with an Australian restrauntier.

Tonight I again got to witness America in a foreign country, watching the new James Bond movie here in China (a week before its US release). It was an interesting and worthwhile experience. Plus the movie was awesome.

Also i passed my last test and am loving every day more then the last.

Kyle

Home in Shanghai...

I am back in Shanghai now, my adventures in Beijing over...for now. I got to see alot, but for a city with so much history, I feel like there will always be more for me to see.

On my final morning I went and saw Chairman Mao. Well worth for the irony if nothing else. I know this is me being nerdy but I found the fact that after you see the dead body of China's great Socialist leader you are dumped into a gift shop to be absolutely hilarious.

I also saw the Birds Nest/Olympic Park. I did not go into the Water Cube because paying 8 bucks to see a swimming pool does not appeal to me. However inside the Birds Nest You can see costumes and stuff from the opening ceremonies which are really cool to look at.

I'm tired so...thats all for now...bye yall

Good times

One advantage to traveling to a random place that I have noticed is the extremely diverse spectrum of people that I have met. In the last few days, I have argued over prices with Chinese people, shared a beer with a French man, had an interesting talk with a Spanish waiter, shared adventures with a Floridan world traveler, and went to an Opera with a philipino girl from New Zealand. It is my opinion that only travel can bring this kinds of experiences. In fact I rather like the motto of one of the local establishments..."Better Travel Then Dead".


Aside from this I have had another adventure as of late... I have been the victim of Pick Pocketing. Last night my camera was stolen from my pocket, as well as a map of Beijing that I had grown quite fond of. So this means that pictures from Beijing will be limited, however I do have my video camera so I have some good footage.

Things I have seen this week include: A spectacular Buddhist Lamasary that was suggested by a friend and was very close to my hostel (Thanks Jess, thought I did not find the noodles), that holds many different very unique images. I spent some time in Prayer and reflection here, because it just felt like the right thing to do. I have also visited a very interesting Chinese take on a flea market, which was full of people yelling and shouting, much of which I could not understand. For lunch that day I enjoyed Tim's Texas BBQ. Perhaps the only legitimate BBQ place in China, a great taste of home to be sure. Before these (On Sunday Afternoon) I visited two on Beijing's Landmark attractions. First was the Forbidden City, which I recommend anyone who has the chance, PLEASE GO SEE IT!! It was an amazing experience to be sure. After this I went to Tiananmen square, which took my breath away. I have seen may pictures of this monster, but being there was something different all together.

All in all this has been a great week and worth the loss, as I am seeing what I want to see in China...

Till next time
Kyle

China For Sale

Ni Men Hao!

I am here in Beijing now, only having arrived here in the last few hours, and I notice and believe now above all that if the price is right(and the price is ALWAYS right) the Chinese will sell you just about anything. Whether it be something their "great grandparents made"(YA RIGHT) or a fake Gucci bag, everything you could imagine seems to be for sale here. It is enjoyable and comical, and I deffinately know more then a few people who would find their shopping paradise here.

For a while I thought that it might be a Shanghai thing, seeing as I did not feel it as predominately during my Silk Road trip, but being here in Beijing, which has a much more Chinese feel to it then Shanghai does, I realize that this thrill of buying and selling things to whoever will pay attention to you is truly a phenomon across all of this country.

Now that I am here in Beijing I intend to do alot of sightseeing, including Tienamen, The Forbidden City, and maybe the Great Wall(Though I saw it in JiaYuGuan once already). As well there are many local temples and towers that are very old and very near to my hostel. Which is in a very old Beijing neighborhood with many interesting souvenier shops(so email me if you want anything specific). The only other thing I am really looking forward to is a place here is Beijing called Tim's BBQ run by a man from South Texas that is apparently very authentic.

Other then that I think I will end this blog with a quote from a woman in a TeaShop in Shanghai that I think sums up much of the Chinese spirit..."Come Back. Bring Friends. Bring Money!"