Issues of computing notwithstanding
(lack of pictures), I better get on and introduce the place I'm
actually living.
(lack of pictures), I better get on and introduce the place I'm
actually living.
The city of Dalian has turned out to be
a pleasant coastal monolith of a mere 6 million people, dotted with
mountains, beaches, mosquitoes Communist tower blocks and the
occasional incongruous ex-colonial building. Sadly the majority of
the real colonial buildings are now what passes for Dalian's slums
and in common with most of China being ripped down and replaced with
a fake as fast as possible.
a pleasant coastal monolith of a mere 6 million people, dotted with
mountains, beaches, mosquitoes Communist tower blocks and the
occasional incongruous ex-colonial building. Sadly the majority of
the real colonial buildings are now what passes for Dalian's slums
and in common with most of China being ripped down and replaced with
a fake as fast as possible.
It is true to its billing, quite
pleasant for a Chinese city, save for the mosquitoes, the recent oil
spill and an odd obsession with sea cucumbers (they come packaged
like cigars in very fancy shops in downtown Dalian, rubbing shoulders
with the likes of Armani, Anmani, and Gucci). I'm still a little in
shock – this is a side of China I've never quite seen before. Its
no longer a miracle to find peanut butter or tampons, I keep being
mistaken for Russian, and living standards are somewhat higher than
Dingxi. I simply miss the food – Dongbei cuisine appears to believe
in ample, bland portions, not quite the fiery Sichuanese scorch I'm
used to.
pleasant for a Chinese city, save for the mosquitoes, the recent oil
spill and an odd obsession with sea cucumbers (they come packaged
like cigars in very fancy shops in downtown Dalian, rubbing shoulders
with the likes of Armani, Anmani, and Gucci). I'm still a little in
shock – this is a side of China I've never quite seen before. Its
no longer a miracle to find peanut butter or tampons, I keep being
mistaken for Russian, and living standards are somewhat higher than
Dingxi. I simply miss the food – Dongbei cuisine appears to believe
in ample, bland portions, not quite the fiery Sichuanese scorch I'm
used to.
The family I'm living with are lovely,
although stressed due to their daughter shortly sitting a major exam.
As a result I'm bound to silence much of the day, in case I should
disturb her studies. However, my host father and I have managed
whispered/mimed conversations about all sorts of things, from the
merits of Mao's poetry to jury service (that one took a lot of
miming).
although stressed due to their daughter shortly sitting a major exam.
As a result I'm bound to silence much of the day, in case I should
disturb her studies. However, my host father and I have managed
whispered/mimed conversations about all sorts of things, from the
merits of Mao's poetry to jury service (that one took a lot of
miming).
My host mother fusses wonderfully, and
disapproves of young people having fun. She is currently celebrating
a moral victory – I went out one night and came home a little late,
and two days later am down with a cold. This she appears to be taking
as comeuppance for the error of my ways and is rejoicing accordingly.
They're going to be fun, I think.
disapproves of young people having fun. She is currently celebrating
a moral victory – I went out one night and came home a little late,
and two days later am down with a cold. This she appears to be taking
as comeuppance for the error of my ways and is rejoicing accordingly.
They're going to be fun, I think.
However after a week long grace period
we start classes tomorrow - 8am start, and an average of 4 hours of
Chinese a day. I'm looking forward to it, in a thoroughly
apprehensive/I am not designed for such sleeping rhythms kind of way
we start classes tomorrow - 8am start, and an average of 4 hours of
Chinese a day. I'm looking forward to it, in a thoroughly
apprehensive/I am not designed for such sleeping rhythms kind of way
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