Blah

This week hasn't been that exciting. All I really have been doing is going to class, doing homework, swimming, and being lazy. I am starting to wonder if I should have taken one more class because I feel like four classes is almost too easy. I don't really have lots of work to do. I guess I will just be patient and more work will come as we get further into the semester.

During my abundant free time, I explored more of the library's amazing DVD collection. I got out Grease, Hotel Rwanda, and Gran Torino. I haven't watched the first two, but I saw Gran Torino on Monday. It was very very good! I highly recommend it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8Z2n534q1Q)


In my drawing class yesterday, my professor talking about journaling. I have always desired to keep a journal or a diary because I love looking back and remembering the small things which might not stick in my memory. She really inspired me to start keeping a journal. It won't be a collection of great writing or beautiful sketches. Just glimpses of my life, quotes, photos, clippings, ticket stubs, anything. There is something slightly therapeutic about keeping a journal. You are free to express yourself in a journal. You can put down the facade you wear in public.

Here is a glimpse of what I am learning in Chinese class now.

林娜： 力波, 明天开学，我很高兴。你看，他是不是我们学院的老师？
Lin Na: Li Bo, tomorrow school starts. I am very happy. Look, isn't that our college teacher?
丁力波：我问一下。请问，您是我们学院的老师吗？
Ding Li Bo: I will ask. Excuse me, are you our college teacher? 
张教授：是，我是语言学院的老师。
Professor Zhang: Yes, I am Yu Yan College's teacher.  
丁力波：您贵姓？
Ding Li Bo: What is your surname?
张教授：我姓张，我们认识一下，这是我的名片。
Professor Zhang. My surname is Zhang. Nice to meet you, here is my name card.
丁力波：谢谢。啊，您是张教授。我叫丁力波，她叫林娜。我们都是语言学院的学生。
Ding Li Bo: Thank you. Ah, You are Professor Zhang. My name is Ding Li Bo. She is Lin Na. We both are Yu Yan College's students. 
林娜：您是语言学院的教授，认识您，我们很高兴。
Lin Na: You are Yu Yan college's professor. Nice to meet you. 
张教授：认识你们。我也很高兴。你们都好吗？
Professor Zhang: Nice to meet you too. How are you both?
l林娜：谢谢，我们都很好。张教授，您忙不忙？
Lin Na: Thank you, we are both good. Professor Zhang, are you busy?
张教授：我很忙。好，你们请坐，再见！
Professor Zhang: I am very busy. Okay, you leave (don't know how to translate that and not have it sound rude...) Goodbye! 
丁力波，林娜：再见！
Ding Li Bo, Lin Na: Goodbye!

I miss the food from home. I really miss the variety. I know there is variety here, but since I am so picky (ugh) I can't experience that (I really prefer not to eat chicken feet, thank you). I'm sure if I was raised here, the food would be no problem at all. I miss Italian food, Mexican food, and good ol' American food (mashed potatoes and sandwiches). But! The eating experience here has been so much better than I expected! I am actually finding things that I really do enjoy eating (even a chicken dish)!

I can't wait until it's not so hot here. It's supposedly supposed to cool down at some point... I guess we'll see when that happens. If it weren't so hot and humid and sticky and gross, I would go on walks around the area or go into the city and explore. I am tired of being cooped up in buildings.