Thursday, February 25, 2010

Dentistry Adventures

Next week I have to go to the dentist, so I thought you might like to hear about what that’s like.

The Peace Corps has a designated dentist we go to in Chengdu, the city where PC headquarters is located. They’ve verified her skills and credentials, materials and clean water supply, so that’s why we all have to go to her.

Here’s how the trip goes: I take the bus 1 1/2 hours to the train station in my city. (On a good day—one time it took 2 1/2 hours and I missed my train.) I take a two hour train to Chengdu (yay, high speed trains!). In Chengdu, I take a 45 minute bus from the train station to the university where Peace Corps offices are located. I walk 25 mins from the bus stop to the PC office, near the campus hotel where I check in to spend the night because I don’t have time to take the train back the same day. I walk 25 mins. back to the street, then take a 20 minute bus ride to the dental office. After my appt. is over, I have the evening to hang out in Chengdu. In the morning, I do all of that in reverse.
 
This is the kind of thing I mean when I say we only do one thing a day. It will take me almost two full days to see the dentist, and I’m lucky, I’m relatively close to Chengdu. Some volunteers have to travel for days for a dental appt.  

In China, this is called “Incovenient.”

Last year I had to have a lymph node removed from my cheek, so I went to the University dental hospital. I was in a sparse room of about 50 chairs, no privacy at all. A doctor operated on me while another dentist held my mouth open with his fingers, because there was no tool to keep my cheek open. I was really hoping his fingers didn’t slip while that scalpel was in my mouth! Goodbye, tongue.

This was the best care I could receive there. The conditions shocked me, but for my part of China, it’s perfectly acceptable. And hey, my lymph node was removed and I’m fine, so it worked.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Junk Food, Plus My Fantasy Makeover

I started packing to go back home, and here’s what it looks like so far:

Luggagejunkfood

I left most of my clothes in China, so I don’t have a lot to take back. So hey, why not candy, pretzels, bacon bits and pudding? Underneath all the candy etc. there are jars of salsa, jalapenos and hot sauce wrapped in bubble wrap tucked inside Ziploc bags.

--------------------------------

So, completely changing gears, here are the deep thoughts of my late night mind: you know that moment at the end of the movie when the slightly awkward girl gets a makeover and wows everyone away?  And then sometimes, she turns around and walks away, leaving That Boy who didn’t like her enough for who she is in her high-heeled dust?

I love that moment.

(Watch from about 7:45 in this video for a great example.)

It’s not politically correct to love that moment, but deep down, I still have my own little fantasy makeover moment, where That Guy I just wasn’t girlfriend material enough for realizes how girlfriend-material I really am, as externalized by my new awesome haircut, jewelry, tight pants and sexy shoes*, and will for the rest of his life remember me as the one who got away.

It’s immature, narcissistic, and petty. I know. I blame my repeat viewings of this part of Grease as a child.  Just call me PopCulture Victim Rebecca.

*ACDC’s Shook Me All Night Long will be the song that starts playing spontaneously in the background.

The Lighter (blue-eyed) Side

I really like Jake Gyllenhaal, mostly because he kinda looks like a caveman, like he could get stuff done. I like that. I should have been born in the year 3000 B.C., I'm attracted to men who are physically strong and can do stuff. Is that so wrong*? (I'd also put Vin Diesel in this category.)


*And who also have a brain, a sense of humor, and are kind. I ask for a lot, I know!

American Guilt

I get this question a lot: "Are you so sad you have to go back to China?" Umm... no. I'm  not sad. But I don't feel like I can say this (especially when it's family members asking me). I feel guilty telling them I don't mind living in China, like I'm a traitor to my home culture Those who have been following this blog know that this was not always the case. My first year was awful; I was very overwhelmed and unhappy. But somewhere along the way, I adapted and adjusted, and it became my home. I think it's wonderful that we, as human beings, can be so adaptable.

I've mentioned over different posts the things I like about my life there: the low crime rate, the fresh food, the exercise, the friendships I've made, etc. But the biggest reason is this: every day I learn something new, and every day is mentally and physically stimulating . I love studying Chinese because it keeps my brain working constantly in that environment. And besides the language challenges, you are constantly bombarded with smells and sights and tastes and physical challenges that remind you how much of your physical body is tuned to be aware of your physical surroundings. And to enjoy them. I feel *alive* in China.

Some days, it *does* get overwhelming. Some days I have to go home and shut the door and be done with China for that day.

But here's the other challenge: in America, we are taught that our culture is the best one in the world. So I feel guilty when there are aspects of Chinese culture I really like, because somehow this makes me 'Un-American.'  I love our Constitution. I'll always be an American. My home culture will always be the status quo and default for me. But, right now, I'm enjoying this challenging ride I'm on. I'm sad to leave my family and friends again, but I'm not sad to get back to a life that, even with all of its inconveniences and hardships, I've grown to enjoy.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Time Goes By

My birthday weekend in Vegas was awesome! Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I forgot my camera (again!) but I have been to Vegas several times. Here are some of my favorite pictures from past trips:

A view of Las Vegas Blvd:


Me and a friend I met there:


A bride waiting at a bus stop at 2:00 AM:



Kids playing a joke on David:



Vegas, there really is no place like it in the world. I had a great time at Sephora, Rebecca bought some super strong pigment silver eye shadow (Urban Decay in Vapor) and nail polish (Sephora OPI in Queen of Everything) for my birthday. I'm really into strong metals these days. My little brother got me this awesome Michael Kors costume jewelry perfume ring from Sephora. I love it!


My friend and I had a good time, and I ate many delicious foods. (That is Chinglish, btw; they aways say 'delicious foods' to describe all foods.) I'd say more, but you know the rule! Haha.

I have a few more days left here, I'm trying to get everything done. Time has flown by. It's weird, I was so freaked out by America that first week or so, but now I've gotten used to it again. And now it's time to go back. *sigh* I feel like I'm caught between two cultures.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Vegas! Poker! My Birthday!

This weekend it’s my birthday (go Pisces!), so I’m heading to Vegas for a long weekend. One of my best friends, FloJo, also has a birthday this weekend, and it’s tradition for us to celebrate together; we missed last year because I was in China, but this year, it is ON. She lives in Vegas, so this is an easy and fun trip for me. Our big plans are to shop and eat (sorry T., no poker, you forgot to give me money!) and perhaps see a movie. Did you know Sephora gives you a free gift on your birthday? They do! So we’ll be hanging out there as well. (Sephora ties with Target as my happy place—I’m a make up and skincare junkie.) I love the shops along the Strip. I can’t afford anything, but it’s fun to look. And speaking of looking…

600full-bradley-cooper
…thanks to The Hangover, I can’t think of Vegas without thinking of Bradley  Cooper. He’s not even really my type (I'm usually not attracted to fair, blue-eyed guys, although there was a big exception), but there is something about him that is really attractive. I don’t know that I’d want him to be my boyfriend, but I do think he’d make the best personal concierge ever. “Bradley, please draw me a bath.” Yup, I can feel it. And have you seen the A-Team trailer where he blows up a plane from a falling tank? I so hope this movie is released in China so we can go see it!

Stephane Lambiel I love the Olympics, so I’ll be watching the men’s figure skating long program Thursday night. Johnny Weir is my pretend best friend, love him. If you haven’t seen this video of him skating to my favorite song of 2009, “Poker Face,” it’s worth watching. And have you noticed there are a lot of good looking male figure skaters? This is Stephane Lambiel, not too shabby. And boy, can he spin! But he’s no Johnny.

Hope you all have a great weekend! If anything fabulous happens in Vegas, I’ll post it.

Monday, February 15, 2010

I Adore....

I've had a week and a half now to adjust to being home again (albeit temporarily-- a week and a half of leave to go!). I adore so many things about being home. Here is a short list:

1. My family. I got to spend time over the last week with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My cousins and I were raised to be close, and I love them so much. The hardest part is seeing how downhill my grandmother's health has gone. Dementia is terribly sad. It's tragic we can become so lost in our own mind. I know many of you have also gone through this with someone you love, and you know how sad it is.

2. Bathtubs. I love hot baths, and I have been indulging myself frequently!

3. Indoor heat and instantaneous hot water. What a treat!

4. Clothing in my size; I forgot I'd ever fit into clothes sold on the rack again. I've been enjoying trying on summer dresses and finding cute, simple things to take back with me for my last summer in the furnace of Chongqing.

5. Hummus and greek yogurt, and other assorted foods from this part of the world. Salsa and corn tortillas and cheese (together or separately). So delicious.

6. I like this song, and I can hear it on VH1 all morning long.

7. Sunshine! I'll never take it for granted again.

8. No Great Firewall to block the internet. And that's all I'm going to say about this.

Mixed blessings:

1. Quiet time. Boy, it sure is quiet here. It's quiet in my house, it's quiet in my car, it's quiet in the store and in the restaurant, and there's nobody on the street at all. It's nice, but...it's also a little disconcerting how easy it is to avoid other human beings here. Chaos can be a nice reminder you're alive and a part of humanity.

2. American junk food is delicious. I'm trying to indulge in tiny bites and small doses. It's possible to lose your taste for fake fat and sugar, but it's also possible to get it back! Lime tortilla chips, you are my weakness.

3. Elevators. Buildings in China don't have elevators unless they are over 8 stories. All those stairs keeps your legs and butt in good shape. I already feel like I'm going soft. I take the stairs as often as possible, but there are only three stairs to my front door. I miss the four flights I have to walk up to my apartment several times a day.

4. I don't really care for driving. It's convenient, but gosh, you really have to pay attention! I like being able to get on a bus and zone out for an hour.

Things that I the opposite of adore...

1. I miss my students. I can't wait to see them again. I know I have said this before, but I am going to spend the rest of my life thinking about them and hoping they are okay. They have sent me little messages by email, and they are so cute.

2. I miss my Chongqing boys. And R. This is a small taste of what will happen in July when I leave for good, and it makes me sad. And the guy I adore in China? I still adore him. At least now I know it wasn't the choggles!

3. I kinda miss my hard China bed. I got used to it, and now this softer bed is giving me backaches.

4. I miss my electric tea kettle. I'm definitely going to have to invest in one of those when I return for good.

Perhaps the biggest lesson I have learned in China is just how adaptable we are. It's a blessing to be adaptable, but it means leaving things behind when you move on. I'm still learning how to do that.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Our Relationship With Food

I mentioned yesterday being critical about some aspects of American culture, and honestly, all of them are about food.

Americans have a reputation in China for being extremely friendly, nice and helpful, and I definitely noticed these qualities as I returned. It’s not that the Chinese don’t have these qualities, but they are usually reserved in the public sphere for people you are friendly with or who can help you in some way; it’s not necessary to be friendly to strangers. From the Customs agent to the guy selling me my Diet Coke at the local gas station, I am constantly reminded of this aspect of American culture that I really appreciate.

But advertisements for food, and the process of eating out, have really disappointed me. Disclaimer: I haven’t seen any American advertising in a year, so suddenly being bombarded with it perhaps causes a heightened reaction to it.

Here is my overall concern: why do we spend so much time and effort trying to make unhealthy food ‘healthy’? Chips and cookies and flavored drinks are not healthy, but it seems from the advertising that these companies are trying to market them as healthy options. Well, why? Isn’t it better to eat in a healthy way by eating fresh fruits, veggies*, whole grains and other non-overly processed foods, and save the bad stuff as an occasional treat? Junk food isn’t bad, but I think it’s important to acknowledge that it IS junk, and should be eaten sparingly and as a treat. This is all just my humble opinion, of course. But I find myself looking at these print and tv advertisements trying to convince me otherwise with a very critical eye. And the magazine ad about changing the shapes of chips so you can get every last drop out of the bowl? Really? We need this??

And I am surprised by the sheer number of commercials telling me how fat I am, but with their product, I can be sexy again. Now, in China I am in fact fat because I am about 60 lbs heavier than the average Chinese woman. It’s been a hard thing to deal with there, but at least I wasn’t being bombarded by television commercials telling me how unsexy I am! Phooey on you, tv commercials. I don’t like you AT ALL.

It seems I have also adapted to the Chinese way of eating, which is fresh food prepared at the time you order and small servings of a lot of different flavors and textures instead of a big plate of one or two things. It’s just not that exciting to me anymore to take 20 bites of the exact same thing. And honestly, it tastes processed and chemic-ly. Which is kind of sad to me, because man, I love me some Chili’s boneless buffalo wings! Or, I used to. It just doesn’t taste like real food anymore.

However, I am so happy to be eating greek yogurt again! I’ve really missed it. And the first thing I ate after coming home was an avocado with cubes of pepper jack cheese, and that was just heaven in my mouth. (I’ve eaten 5 avocados in the last five days, and I have no regrets.) And don’t even get me started on salsa and hot sauce….I’d bathe in it if that were acceptable.

We have awesome, delicious foods here. I just wish we had a better relationship with food so we could focus on the tastes and quality and what it can do for the true health of our bodies, and not how sexy or pseudo-healthy it will make us.

*I do see one problem here: we ship our fruits and veggies and so they are often lacking in flavor because they are picked early to avoid spoiling in transit. Chinese veggies might have poo all over them, but they taste a lot better because they come from a few miles away, not a few thousand miles away, and have time to ripen naturally.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Shell Shock, Eyeballs, and the Shopping Cart Conundrum

1. I made it back to the U.S. with no problems or delays, all luggage in hand. It is miraculous we can fly halfway around the world in less then two days. I am really grateful for my smooth sailing trip.

2. Being home...has been an adjustment. I feel a little shell-shocked by everything around me. It'll pass, but I've spent some time trying to absorb this lifestyle again. I'm really critical of some of the things I see around me, and I didn't expect that. I'll talk more about this later.

3. I've already experienced some fish-out-of-water moments: I accidentally spoke to someone in Chinese at the Los Angeles airport. I went to the grocery store in the middle of the night (hello, jetlag!) and when I was done checking out, I couldn't remember what to do with my cart. Do I return it to the front of the store? Leave it at the cashier's station? I honestly could not remember. And there was no one else around for me to look at as an example. I took it back to the front of the store, just in case. (In China, you leave them at the cashier's station, because it is someone's assigned job to collect the carts.)

4. I wore my contacts on the plane. I didn't think it would be a big deal, and I took them out overnight, but on the last leg of my flight my eyes had had enough. I underestimated how dry airplane air is and when I took out the contact from my right eye, it pulled a little bit off skin with it. My vision is really blurry now in this eye, and it's getting a little better everyday, but slower recovery than I am comfortable with. So I am breaking down and calling our doctor about it. I hope it's just temporary and the eye will heal itself. If not, there are always contacts and glasses, no biggie. But I'm never wearing contacts on an airplane again! So I have been staying off the computer in order to give my eyes some rest.

I'm doing better on the jetlag, but I caught a cold. All these strange germs! So it's been hard to stay awake these past few days.  But I am in fact very happy to be with my family and friends, and I leave soon to visit my grandma. I'm really looking forward to seeing my extended family.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The ‘Most’ List: Hainan Edition

Most Unusual Food Eaten: ‘Drunken Shrimp,’ or, raw shrimp soaking in a bowl of Chinese rice wine. The wine gets the shrimp drunk/dead, and they are eaten raw. I ate one (1). It wasn’t too bad, but I wouldn’t eat one (1) again. We also ate this yummy stuff,

Fresh Seafood

which we picked out beforehand from the live menu:

Picking Out Dinner

Most Ego Gratifying Moment: Andrew bowing down to my awesome genetic makeup, which allowed me to spend days on the beach without burning. (He spent... minutes before turning red.)


Most Comfortable Moment: Beach chair, blue sky, sunshine, the gentle waves of the South China Sea. Ahhhh… (Picture taken by Andrew.)




Most Life-Affirming Moment: Stepping out of the airport into the clear, fresh air of Hainan Island. After the smoggy, sunblocking cauldron of Chongqing, I could almost feel the oxygen rushing back into my brain. And the lingering skin rashes I’ve been having? Gone. Pollution sucks, yo.


Most Regretted Missed Tour Opportunity: The ‘Archaic Sacred Beast Fantasy Tour.’

Fantasy Beast Tour

Most Ditzy Moment: I left my iPod behind at the hotel. I always forget something. The hotel found it and is shipping it to me, but it won’t be here until after I leave for America. Thirty six hours of airports and airplanes with no iPod will be an old school adventure.

Most Karmic Moment: Standing in the airport security line flying home, this girl rushes up to us and insists all princess snotty-like that she has to cut in line because her plane is going to leave. We let her cut in front of us, but were annoyed at her behavior. Then we board the plane: she’s sitting right next to us! HAHA! She tried to sink into her seat, invisible, the whole way home. (Andrew was going to tell her, “So, I see you made your plane,” but because sarcasm isn't used here, she wouldn’t have gotten it.)

I got home today, and I leave in 36 hours for America. It takes about 36 hours to get home (flying time + layovers). I hate flying, especially internationally, so I am a bundle of nerves right now. I’m unpacking, cleaning and packing again as fast as I can. I will catch up with you all very soon!