I know a lot of people from around the country and even around the world read my random ramblings… but i also know a lot of those readers come from the land of Auburn University. Some of those people often ask me about the weather. Here’s your answer: We are similar.

I plan to visit this new coffee shop in Beijing called “Rendezvous.” It looks super cool and relaxing. Apparently, on Fridays and Saturdays they will have live jazz. The prices seem fairly reasonable for a place like this. And according to my trusty map, it looks close to my university. If i make it there soon i’ll be sure to give you the full scoop.

Photos courtesy of “The Beijinger”

The first signs of winter are here. Like… really here. Like… i wore 4 layers on top and 2 on bottom today. I was still cold. I’m in the market for a ski mask. I walk 20 minutes to school… up hill both ways. Seriously, it really is. Don’t believe me? www.delta.com. Come see for yourself. Now that winter is here my normal routine is to put on as many layers of clothes as possible and then put a jacket on over that. Next, i put on my scarf, then… this is important, stay with me… then i must put in my iPod BEFORE the gloves. The sequence is key because if i put on the gloves first then i can’t control my iPod through the gloves. Then out the door, down the stairs, 20 minutes to school. My face is usually frozen, but i’ve got good music and my hands are warm.

Here’s a big difference between cold in the states and cold in China.

Cold in the states = you put on some warm clothes, but really, you’re just walking from the front door to the car, then from the car to your office or school or wherever.

Cold in China = You’re always outside. Walking, riding buses, waiting for buses, waiting for taxis, walking some more. In China you experience the elements a lot more than in the states.

I was waiting for the bus tonight at McDonald’s and i realized that i really like the idea of bundling up, facing the frigid air and feeling the warmth of my home. Sure, i’ll be ready for Thailand soon, but for now… the cold ain’t so bad.

Tomorrow starts midterms for my English classes. The students are nervous. I’m nervous. It should be a disaster. Can’t wait.

I made them sign up for 5-minute time slots for me to test them on their oral English ability. I got a text message tonight that said, “Is our exam tomorrow?”
I slapped my hand on my forehead and thought, “This should be a fun week.”

However, later this week i have a big exciting announcement about some cool stuff we’re getting cranked up around here. We (the foreign teachers) are really excited and have been preparing for quite some time. I’ll bring you in later this week as we get everything together.

But how about you? It’s Monday morning… the week is getting started… Are you excited? Nervous? Big plans? Small plans? Dreaming of something new? Stuck in a rut you want to get out of? Do Monday’s excite you for what’s ahead? Or do they make you wish Sunday lasted forever?

Pipe up… Tell me about your Monday and what’s on the horizon for your week… i’ll pray for you as you pray for these midterms to be smooth and easy for my students.

I live here, you live there… we talk, email, and work on various projects together. What time is it again? 12 hours ahead? 13 hours behind? Is it 14 now since daylight savings??

Because i collaborate with a lot of people on a lot of projects across the big pond my brain is constantly calculating the time differences. It’s fun. Sometimes. But sometimes it all gets fuzzy and i have to cheat.

Here’s my cheat sheet:

There’s an import store here in town. It’s tiny. Like, really tiny. I go there occasionally to browse the three shelves of European imported candy, chips, and cereal. Last time i was there they wanted to take a picture of the foreigners. And this time, i was checking out at the register and i looked up… and i saw…

that’s me on the far left in the gray hoodie.

A couple of nights ago we invited the freshmen English majors to come play games with us. Chinese people love card games. I know, now your mad because i just painted China with such a broad brush. Let me rephrase that… every Chinese person i have ever met loves card games. So about 26 students showed up and we played “Dumb Bunny Bridge.” It’s a really fun, fast paced game where you move a lot, change partners and the whole game is a lot of luck and very little skill. We had a great time and i think the students did too. There are two pictures below and then rest of the album is here.

This first picture is me being ultra-professional… as usual.

I’ve been here nearly two months so that means it’s been about two months since my last haircut. I needed one. Bad. I have a place in Beijing that i went last Spring that i thought i would try again because it is near the university in Beijing. For the sake of making a long story short, let me jump right in…

First: It started with an amazing head wash and massage. WOW! After that i was totally relaxed.
Second: I quickly learned that these guys treat cutting hair like an art form. I can appreciate that. I mean, this dude would get his eyeball about an inch away from my scalp just so he could cut that one stray hair. Amazing precision and dedication to their art.
Third: They brought me a cup of water half way through my cut because that’s the Chinese thing to do.
Fourth: They washed it again after he finished cutting it to get all the loose hairs out. Amazing!
Fifth: At the end he decided to style it and i looked very Chinese. Which, by the way, is not a bad look at all… if you’re Chinese. I’m anglo, therefore i looked like a clown.
Sixth: Did i mention that they treat it like an art? On multiple occasions he would gently stroke my hair and then step back to look at his masterpiece. It was like he was sculpting a fine piece of marble stone.
Seventh: They were so gentle with my hair that i found myself falling asleep. I had to keep telling myself to pay attention to make sure i didn’t get a mullet.

So now you must be asking yourself, “How did Biscuet communicate what kind of cut he wants.” Great question. Here’s my answer: I sent a text message to my friend QiQi (she’s Chinese) who lives in Auburn (that’s America, people!) and told her to call me. She called and she gave me walking directions from BIT to the barber. Then, i handed the phone to the barber and she gave him full instructions in Chinese. I love technology. And i have amazing friends! Thanks, QiQi… you gave him perfect directions!

And for the final product… Not bad, eh?

Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks and much needed conversation with a great friend!

Most people i know would go to great lengths to get John’s undivided attention for an hour. I guess today was my lucky day.

Thanks, John! It was so good to hear what’s going on with you. The more we talk, the more i realize that we’re all in this together no matter which side of the planet we’re on.

I finally found some time today to get out and take a few pictures. Of course, i picked the most gray, cold and polluted day since i’ve been here, but i still took pictures. They aren’t great by any stretch of the imagination so when it’s a more clear day i will get out there and find more things to take pictures of.

Also, as a side note about photo-taking… I get really self-conscious when i go out to take pictures. I don’t know why this is. Any photographers out there want to give me some pointers on boosting my confidence when taking pictures of random people and buildings? I feel like taking pictures of people will offend them. The camera i carry around is probably more expensive than everything they own, so that automatically makes me feel like a terrible person. I need help.

Ok, enough complaining about my issues with being a photographer… just go look at my photos.