Cracking Myself Up

I have become one of those people who wears their Ipod ALL THE TIME.  I know I hated those people in America.  What in the world do you need to listen to your Ipod for when you are grocery shopping, they have music on for you to listen too.  I know it has been quite a transition and I am still trying to accept my new label.  Here are the reasons behind it. 

• People are not talking to me
• Everyone is speaking Chinese and I don't understand them
• If I don't I talk to myself
• It is hard for me to walk or do things without some type of sound
• It keeps me moving
• Taking the metro can be tedious day after day

You ask yourself Kelly what are you listening too.  Well friends let me tell you.  I listen mostly to podcasts.  I download the Eric and Kathy Podcast from The Mix.  I didn't listen to them before I left because I knew I would do this.  Each podcast is roughly 45 mins and it is the perfect length for my trip to and from work.  I am almost all caught up.  When I listen to it I find myself laughing outloud.  Now I get stared at anyway because some people have never seen a white girl before.  But when I listen to the podcast I laugh on the metro or when walking and people REALLY stare at me.  I find this hilarious and people must think I am crazy.  When I am not listening to Eric and Kathy I listen to the music I have on my Ipod.  It has become my best friend here. 

Side Note: Does anyone have a pedometer they are not using and want to send to me?

Sick

Well another week has past and it is time for another update.  I was able to celebrate Hanukkah with some friends here.  It was an amazing night filled with friends, candles, wine and fun.  I was having issues with my stomach before I went to celebrate but it held off for the night so I could party it up.  We went to a place called Brown Sugar and danced the night away.  It was ladies night which meant free drinks for the ladies til 11pm.  The band was really good and it was all and all a great time. 

The next day my stomach issues return in full force and I did not feel my best.  I put on my big girl panties and went to work only to be sent home later.  I had to visit the hospital.  I was so dehydrated and pissed that I had to go to the hospital.  They wanted to get some blood for a blood test to make sure it wasn't anything too serious.  My veins are really hard to find under normal circumstances but I was so dehydrated that I knew this was not going to be fun.  The nurse felt a vein in my hand she felt like she could get.  She stuck the needle in and missed and proceeded to move the needle around.  I very "nicely" yelled take it out and a few four letter words.  I was so embarrassed by my actions.  I started crying because it really did hurt and I was worked up already from being sick and not wanting to be at the hospital.  Another nurse came in to make sure I was ok and had me lay down.  They came in after I calmed down.  I kept apologizing to the first nurse.  I have never acted like that in the hospital.  A different nurse came in to try again in the other hand where they started an IV in case they needed to give me some fluid later.  It turns out it was nothing serious and they gave me some antibiotics to take.  Of course I believed I was fine and did not take the meds for two days and just ate blah food.  On the third day I was feeling better and decided to eat a real meal.  Holly bad choice Batman.  Needless to say I started taking the meds and I am finally starting to feel better.  I think it was something I ate.  I hate being sick and being sick in China isn't the best. 

Things to send if you wanted...

Some people have been asking what I would want people to send me.  I have complied a list to make things easier.  My address situation is hard right now because I am in Shanghai for only a little bit more.  If you would like my address I can send it too you but please note that it will change again around Christmas.  Boxes also take up to 6 weeks to arrive in China.  Some people here have told me that sending letters from the states is not really that great.  Letters get lost here but packages seem to be ok.  This list is purely for those who were inquiring.  I do not expect anyone but my mother to send me things but anyone (as always) is welcome.

My list

• Deodorant-  Secret Clinical Strength or Regular Secret
• Toothpaste- Any Crest Product
• Tampons- (You can not get them here) Tampax Perl Regular unscented
• iTunes Gift Card- I love to rent movies on iTunes and hear new music
• You may be able to just buy the card and give me the codes without even sending it!
• My Pampered Chef Knives, garlic press and measuring cup set

Things you can NOT send to China

Prohibitions (130)

Arms, ammunition, weapons.

Articles in hermetically sealed, nontransparent containers.

Chinese currency.

Coins; banknotes; securities payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; gold, silver, platinum, manufactured or not; precious stones; jewelry; and other valuable articles, unless sent as an insured post.

Manuscripts, printed matter, photographic negatives, gramophone records, films, magnetic tapes, video tapes, etc., which could do political, economical, cultural, or moral harm to the People’s Republic of China.

Meat and meat products.

Perishable infectious biological substances.

Radioactive materials.

Radio receivers, transmitters or receivers of all kinds, walkie-talkies and parts thereof; valves, antennae, etc.

Used clothing and bedding.

Wrist-watches, cameras, television sets, radio sets, tape records, bicycles, sewing machines, and ventilators.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and has successfully transitioned into the holiday season.  I was able to celebrate Thanksgiving with a few people from my on-boarding group.  I was in charge of the salad and did it up just great until I forgot the dressing at my apartment.  Whoops! It was a wonderful spinach salad with carrots, boiled eggs and avocado.  We feasted on chicken instead of turkey because it was an ungodly amount of money about $75.  We also had mashed potatoes, green beans, rice, curry, stir fry and steamed buns.  It was nice to get together as a "family" and share in the holiday season. 

I was able to Skype with my parents on Friday morning, Thanksgiving Day in the states.  My grandma took one look at me on the computer and started to cry.  She gets emotional sometimes about things like these.  I know she worries about me and lights candles and such.  It was fun to see my family and catch up on the happenings.  Most of my dad's family had never Skyped before so it was fun to see their reactions.  I am now taking requests to visit your Christmas celebrations, weddings, birthdays, news years parties ect. 

Hello from China

I have been in China for about a month now and things are definitely different. This will be a long post so bear with me as I update you on the last month of my life.


Leaving on a Jet Plane

I was super excited to be flying nonstop from O’Hare but was not excited about the 18 hour flight ahead of me. Everything went very smoothly at O’Hare. The only problem is that it started to downpour 30 minutes before my flight with lighting and all. This was the first time in a couple weeks that it rained in Chicago. I was able to move my seat from the middle of a five to the end seat in the first row of economy class. It was brilliant. We had an extra foot of leg room and still had our own personal TV’s and tray table. Once everyone boarded the plane we had to wait for them to clear the runway because of lighting so we sat for about 30 mins. I waited till we were up in the air made sure I drank so water and went to the bathroom and took my tyonel pm. It worked like a charm for a few hours. Every time I woke up the flight attendants where feeding up again. I had a turkey dinner, Chinese noodles in a cup, and rice and veggies during my flight. I did need to take another dose of TPM because I could not go back to sleep. For the most part I watched Disney’s Cars a couple times, played Tetris, ate and slept. When I arrive in Shanghai Disney people where waiting for me with a sign and everything.

Welcome to China and the first couple days

A group of four of us were driven to the hotel located in “the bund” where we would call home for the next 3 weeks. The hotel had more than one name, sometimes it was the elegance Hotel and other times it was the Elegrace hotel. This is just the first string of strange things that happen in China in which I like to call “welcome to china moments.” Sometimes things in China don’t make sense and you just say to yourself. “Welcome to China”

The first couple days were a blur of going to sign contracts, getting our first metro card, cell phone, figuring out how to order something editable and exploring our new city. There were 9 of us that arrived in China at the same time so we did everything together for the first couple weeks. On our first night out we went to Party World and sang karaoke. It was amazing. You have your own room and you sit, drink and sing with all your friends. It was a blast. Then we went to another bar on the bund which happened to be hosting the kick off celebration for Shanghai Pride month. It was fabulous. The only sad part of the night was I lost my cell phone which I hated anyway in a cab. I was so mad at myself for losing it because I had never lost a cell phone ever.

Because I lost my cell phone I had to find the cell phone place and buy a new one. My new friend Julia and I set out and did just that. We successfully got off at the correct metro, found the correct exit and located the cell phone place. We were extremely proud of ourselves for not getting lost. We learned that if you are ever lost in China, find a Starbucks because at least 1 person will speak English and can get you to where you are going. I think that day we ended up visiting 4 different Starbucks but we were able to visit many different stores including the supermarket.

The next two weeks consisted of training. I love my on boarding group and miss seeing them. We learned about Disney, Disney English and everything we need to know for now to get started teaching.

MSG

As many of you know I am allergic to MSG, which is all fine and dandy in America because I know what I can eat and what I cannot. In China it is a different story. For the first couple days I was not careful with what I ate and I paid for it. I got an MSG headache which lasted for two full days and I was done with eating MSG. Another fun thing was that my ankle were so swollen for about a week and a half after arriving. MSG also contributed to that. If I want to eat Chinese food I have to show them my book that says I am allergic. Everyone I am eating with gets their food and I wait for mine to come out. I have been forgotten about three times. It takes them about 20 minutes to cook the food fresh. I eat a lot of western food and sushi here. My roommate Lindsey makes fun of me because I don’t eat Chinese food. I do plan on going to the hospital to get acupuncture which is supposed to help block MSG from getting absorbed in to your system.

Crazy Moments

Sometimes you have some crazy moments in China that you just can’t take it anymore. My first one was in the metro. In China people do not wait in lines. They push you and don’t say excuse me. I was exiting the metro and heading to the stairs when four different people bumped into me with in a 30 second span. I said very loudly with my hands in the air. “Oh my god!” The Chinese people around me started to stare even more. I just had to laugh and say to them “I am ok, everything is fine.”

The next moment was when I wanted to get a personal pan cheese pizza from Pizza Hut. After my two day MSG headache I was done with Asian for a couple days. I found Pizza hut and just wanted a cheese pizza. It was not on my menu and after 9 hours of training I was drained. I nearly broke down and cried at the table. My waitress did not speak English and I don’t speak Chinese so I just started explaining that I had had a long day and ordered Pasta instead.

Snaps for China

I really am enjoying China and promise to keep you better updated on what is going on in my life. Here are a few things that are amazing in China

• Metro System of Shanghai

o Seriously amazing! It is so easy to get around and once you know how to read the map or visit exploreshanghai.com that tells you how to get to where you are going. You can go anywhere in the city on the metro

• Massages

o Love them and they are cheap and make you feel amazing

• Shopping

o I am not much of a shopper but everywhere you turn there is another store or shopping mall to visit.

• Convenience Stores

o Not many young people in China know how to cook because they still live at home and their mother or grandmother does all the cooking. Because of this there are so many convenience stores to get drinks, food and snacks from. You cannot walk down a city block without seeing at least one.

Life is Short

I was reminded over this past weekend just how short life is.  A friend of mine from elementary/middle school passed away suddenly.  Vinnie you will be remembered dearly.  I remember him as always being very nice to me.  Which for some of you who knew me back then was not always easy.  Thank you for your friendship. 

I want to take this opportunity to thank those in my life who mean the world to me.  So many of you have touched me in ways you will never know.  I will be across the world for a year and a half but I know through your friendship and love I will not be alone.  Thank you.

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them and we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again in this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you


-I Knew You
Wicked
(ps. Wicked is coming back to Chicago this winter. If you haven't been you should really go!!!)

Just Keep Swimming

It has been a long few weeks.  I have been on the phone for my numerous mortgage, credit card, and insurance companies to prepare in moving.  I finished my TEFL certification finally! I now just have to pack up my house, move the stuff and clean it.  Easy right? I wish.  I am just going to just keep swimming and everything will get done I just know it. 


Days til I leave: 34

China!

As most of you know I will be leaving shortly for China. I found out a few days ago that I will be going to Shanghai for two months to be trained. I am super excited about this because I wanted to work in Shanghai first but there were no openings. Now, I get to live it up in Shanghai before moving over to Suzhou. It is only a 30 min. train ride so I will just think of it like going downtown.

I also received news that I will not be leaving until October 14th now!!! That means I will be home for my 27th birthday. I was getting depressed about not seeing my friends and celebrating my birthday this year. I know its silly, you're going Kelly you are going to be away for a year and a half and your worried about your birthday? I love my birthday and the fall.

Days til I leave: 50 days

Pictures of Suzhou

A few pictures of Shanghai