Digits and wheelz

For June 21, 2007

Thanks to heroic efforts on my parents' part, calls were made and e-mails sent to get little Caroline some cash money. My ATM card is going to piggy back with Prof. Grynspan when she comes to visit in two weeks. And in the meantime, Gu laoshi will be my provider.

The day started off with angry tidings from the bike gods. I caught a ride with Wayne to class becasue I forgot where it was. Things were going well until the classic "pedal-came-undone-and-fell-off" calamity occurred. At that point, I climbed onto the back of some other guy's bike and Wayne got on with a guy friend. Hilarity ensued when Wayne + guy friend were obviously too heavy for genuine Chinese bikes and after a rather violent whip-around by guy friend designed to scare Wayne, the back wheel completely bent to a right angle leaving both immobile. Even the natives were laughing at this.

I switched up to third year Chinese today. The class is long, but I like my teacher. I spoke a little with her during breaks and she lent me a CD of classical and folk Chinese music (mostly instrumental). The last hour or so of class we played a game where someone said a word in Chinese (eg peng you) and the next person had to say something that started with the last character (eg you ming). If you couldn't think of a word in time, you were at the mercy of classmates who chose your punishment. Wayne came up with a particularly nasty one, making Ed write his name in the air with his butt. I had to dance with a stuffed fish.

After history class, I went with a large group into town to get a cell phone. I really just needed it for a watch/alarm clock. For any interested, my number is 13141262159 and after July 1, I'll be able to receive calls for free. I like the phones over here because you don't have to worry about weird plans. You basically buy a SIM card (which is also your phone number) and put money on it. If you get features like text messaging or small boys who cobble shoes for you, the cost is taken from the SIM card (I believe). All of this was done in Wudaokou, a city very close to Tsinghua. A 10 kuai taxi ride or a couple of minutes on your bike if you're cheap like me. After I got my phone, I proceeded to walk down random streets and explore. Walking around aimlessly is a hobby of mine. I did a little bit of shopping and got the prettiest white lace jacket as well as some weird baked goods from a French bakery; the mango heart was good, but I wouldn't recommend the green tea glutinous donut. When it finally came time for me to head back (feet were killing me and it was getting dark) I ran into a small hiccup of a problem--I didn't know where I was. (Travis, stop reading here) I had taken a cab into the city with other NU kids and hadn't really paid attention to where I had been taken. This, mixed with my lack of Chinese speaking skills, spelled trouble. I eventually got a cab to take me back to Tsinghua, but remember, this campus is bigger than Evanston, so when I finally determined how far away the student dorms were (two kilometers), I broke down and stopped at the first bike place I saw. Crew team peeps, you'd appreciate this. I asked about the price of a bike, not comprehending anything they told me of course, and ended up trying out this dingy-looking waif of a bike. We''l cal it "vintage." Anyway, I had a bit of trouble guiding it at first (it's shaped more like a scooter, really) and when I came back to the bike owner, he was shaking his head. By this time he had flagged down a guy who spoke a little English and the guy translated to me that the bike owner didn't want to rent me the bike because he was scared I was going to crash into something!!! If he only knew my track record... I told the guy I didn't want to rent, but wanted to buy and he said no. But then we worked out I could rent it for 8 weeks for 60 RMB (cheaper than anyone else has paid for wheels so far!). But, when it came time to pay he was asking for 100 RMB. We went round and round on this until he flagged another English speaking dude who told me it was 100 RMB now and upon return of the bike, I'd get 40 RMB back. I think the chances of me returning this are slim to none--I think he knows this as well. I just have this feeling it's going to get stolen. But hey, 100 RMB is still cheaper than most other students paid. Anyway, as I was leaving, English-speaking guy number two started telling me my Chinese sucked and how hard that must be and do I have a phone number he could have so he could help me with my Chinese? Nope. No phone. Mei you phone. Sorry.

Another good day where I wasn't mugged or killed by a bus. Life is good. Although it turned out my unfounded faith in my digestive system was indeed, unfounded. Oh well.