Beijing

20 Things that I learned about Beijing: 

1. Do not fall asleep on a train. Even if it is at night. Let's just
say I may have developed a great relationship with motion sickness
here.
2. In note to the first lesson learned--Chinese traditional medicine
is great. Describing things to them is a little complicated, though.
3. In note of that: Chinese people love Americans that love to speak
to them... aka the people that can only speak Chinese. Although we
have the problem of forgetting this isn't our own secret language and
that the majority of people know exactly what we are saying.
4. We wish Chinese had a word that just sounded like an "a"
(consonant... not vowel) because with the Beijing accent they would
sound like pirates ("arrr").
5. The Forbidden City has 9 parts to it. Like giant parts. All of
those pictures you see people...That is just a part. As you can see,
they alllll look exactly the same. Our teachers gave us 3 ours to roam
this place. Let's just say we waited by the back gate for almost 2
hours.
6. That Square that is really famous for certain actions I shouldn't
talk about on the internet currently... it was pretty cool. Very
expansive... but really just a walk-through-and-see kind of place.
7. We discovered Chinese parent's love to put their children with us.
Don't stand somewhere too long--they will place their children beside
you. Although we really don't know what they do with those pictures.
Maybe I am on someone's mantle at home!
8. We went to an area called Houhai that was like bar city! I swear
every place was a bar (with some lovely chinese music). We had dinner
there. People also ate baby scorpions there.... I picked a puff pastry
similar to a funnel cake instead. You decide who is cooler.
9. Beijing has the second largest shopping mall in all of Asia. It was
amazing. They had a longchamp STORE. Too bad I am too Cheap in China
to buy anything over 150 kuai (until today.. dun dun dun..是我的秘密 aka
it's my secret until I return).
10. Mango is my new best friend. In 2 days I have had 3 different
mango things. Let's just say it wins in the competition against bean
popsicles.
11. Beijing food is wayyy weirder. We saw a street vender selling star
fish and snakes. I know I should step out while I am here, but the
normal meat is sometimes weird enough...
12. I experienced China's Underworld today at the underground tombs.
It was surprisingly a pretty nice place. No worries, I jumped through
the gate-way back to the real world so it was just a short visit.
13. Climbing giant animal statues at the Ming tombs was probably the
most fun we have had yet. Unfortunately that is not what they were
actually there for and we were probably defacing their gods or
emperors or something.
14. Yes, the Great Wall of China really does have that many steps.
Your legs will hate you but it is sooo worth it! We went to a
different part so no bobsled for me, but it was still really cool.
15. The Great Wall is also the only place you can evidently get a tan
here. Thank goodness I did, my body was suffering my Summer
paleness... no wonder Asians love being pale. They can't be any other
tone here.
16. We also managed to get lost at the Great Wall and take a massive
detour including walking on the Highway. Lesson learned: you are not
in "The Hangover" even if you look like it by the time you walk back
to the bus.
17. Chinese opera is an experience. Definitely. There are no other
words. I'll give you a presentation when I get home. Get ready. They
think I should go on tour.
18, If you see an American toilet, use it.
19. Watched a man make my personal noodles in front of me today.
Coolest thing in the world. I have no idea how he did it.
20. So I can't think of #20 but I just wanted it to be a solid 20
sooo...I have had McDonald's more times here in a month than in 2
years in America. Delivery makes all the difference in China. 

Enjoy!

-Abs