Home sweet home

I'm back! Got back on Monday night and so weird to be home after a month, never again will I leave for so long! On my last day in China, my friend and I went to see the Temple of Heaven and then got pampered one more time. I had a full back massage and more cupping...my lower back is all ugly again but hey, souvenior, right? The flight wasn't too shabby, watched two movied and slept most of the way. It's going to take a few days to readjust to the time and the environment, but definitely good to be home!

To reflect on my month in China, I've made a list of things I will and will not miss.

I will miss:
- the fresh fruit, especially pears, dates, and dragon fruit
- congee and dumplings
- the 5 minute walk from the hotel to the office
- speaking Chinese everyday
- the Silk Market
- the friendly hotel staff
- having a clean room after a day of work (in Beijing, that is)
- the 2.5 hour massage I had for $15 and the pedicure for $4
- the ability to withdraw 2,000 from the ATM like it ain't no thang!
- my new friend, Sylvia!

I will NOT miss:
- the lack of personal space, large crowds, 20 people in every elevator
- EVERYONE'S obnoxious cell phone ringtones and their loud conversations in public
- people cutting in line
- the people who stare
- the crass men who walk around shirtless, with one pant leg rolled up, blow snot rockets, blow cigarette smoke in your face, pick their teeth and spit, pick their nose, and disrespect women
- the public bathrooms that reek of poo and pee and the squatting toilets, oh and always lacking toilet paper
- cars charging at you even though you have the right of way
- oh yeah, the hotel in Chaoyang with mice and roaches
- the lack of office supplies in the Beijing office, its weird binders, and A4 paper

This was a month of up's and down's, but overall, it was a great experience! I miss China already but I guess I can't have it all! CLICK HERE for the photos.

Until next time!

Last night in China

It's hard to believe that I have been in China for a month! Yup, left DC on Aug. 28! The last couple of weeks have been insanely busy and I've gotten a real taste of what it's like to be a manager. I've had no time to update the blog; any non-work time was precious sleep time. I had one more week in Chaoyang since my last update, and this time there were roaches in my room. I guess that's better than mice? This past week was spent in Beijing, wrapping up and drafting the report. It felt very stressful. Now that it's over, I get to come home!!!

I had little free time this month but made the best of my time here. I went to the Silk Market a few times to bargain shop; had a mani and pedi; a couple of foot massages and a full body massage that involved the ancient Chinese techniques of cupping and scraping . If you're familiar with these treatments, you know my back looked pretty beat up for about a week. I took pictures but may only share with very close friends! Boy did the treatment work! I woke up the next day with none of the pains I usually have!

For my last night in Beijing, my friend and I went to Nanlouguxiang Street that is full of boutiques shops, restaurants, bars, etc. Had an amazing Yunnan meal, got a mani and foot massage. We were quite classy...each walked around drinking a big bottle of Tsingtao Beer...pretty hot. Hey, it's my last night here and it's been a stressful month! We also went to a bar and there was a sign on the bathroom door that read, "Please do not poop!!" I did not poop.

I'm better now...

or maybe I'm just getting used to being gross all the time.

I've been so miserable that I haven't given any credit to Chaoyang. It's the home of the 6,000-year-old Niuheliang Hongshan (Red Mountain) Cultural Ruins. The city is a great interest to the palaeontology world as new fossils were discovered during the 90s that have revolutionized ideas of dinosaurs. Outside of the city of cars, people, and pollution, nature is beautiful. As a matter of fact, a coworker and I are considering to stay over next week and do some hiking......if I weren't here to work, my attitude would be much different I think!

In the photo, I'm in my disgusting hotel room. Had to buy a jug of water because the water in the hotel is unsanitary, and drinking out of the jug because the cups are gross. Pretty hot, right?

Going back to Beijing on Saturday for the Mid-Autumn Festival weekend, to an actual hotel with a legitimate bed. Can't wait!!!

I'm going to throw up

Just tried to go to bed, lifted the cover and there's a big wad of hair. I was told to put the cover back and sleep on top it...I'm done.

At least I'm not alone...

So I've briefly mentioned how unhappy I am in northeast China. I'll get into a little detail since I am now miserable. We're staying at the "best international hotel" in the city, 4-Star as they say. Every room, including nonsmoking rooms is a smoking room. The 10-Watt light bulbs make it difficult to see, never mind do work. The bathroom reeks of a sewer. Everything in the room is filthy. It takes hours to get online, at least there is Internet I guess. The best part is probably the mouse in my room that ate my snacks in the middle of the night. Actually, given the amount of food consumed, I am convinced that there are multiple mice...I am fully disgusted. At least I'm not alone.

We have a huge team here, 17 people to be exact. It's been a logistical nightmare coordinating meetings with the client, since we all want to talk to the same people. Group lunches and dinners can be awkward since there are quite a few introverts. Accountants? NO! Actually, I can't decide between introvert or just unfriendly, but I digress. There are a few people that I do like very much. In attempt to make the best of the situation, we try to do nice things for ourselves. Take last night for example, a few of us took a walk around the city then went for a foot massage. Today, we went to a place to get our hair washed and it came with a head massage. It might sound a bit much but it was either that or wash my hair standing in the clogged bathtub. By the time I finish, the water level is above my ankles. Ack! Still surviving though!