So I'm UBER excited to be back in Kunming. Kara and I had to fight to get our old dorm back. (It was prime dorm real estate; one of the few that always could receive wireless signals to pirate). But as often happens in China, you have to be careful. Things change fast here. We weren't even gone three weeks, but when we came back our special bubble was burst - there were so many more westerners on Ming Da's campus (Its a weird part of the westerner studying abroad in China syndrome- you get irrationally possessive of the "territory"). Then on the nearby "Culture Street" with a lot of international restaurants, they started doing construction on the street and completely renovating one of the shops. And then! I went to use my laptop after spending the morning on the internet and I found that the internet wasn't working anymore. (This means even more time and money spent in cafes with wireless).
But the weather is great - its November and I could have worn just a T-shirt and jeans yesterday and have been comfortable.
I'm officially in the Independent Study project phase of the program, which is challenging, yet, at this point not too stressful yet. (despite the fact that I only have one contact. . . so okay, maybe its a little stressful) Its really going to be a challenge for me, in self-discipline, self-motivation- all that type of thing. I don't see so much writing the paper to be the problem . . . just motivating myself and getting my self focused and out there to get the information to write it.
My topic is something along the lines of just examining how environmentally friendly Kunming and rural households are, and trying to figure out why they conserve water/energy/etc or why not?
(when i put it like this it doesn't sound overly exciting, but, perhaps because I'm not familiar with a lot of the methods that the Chinese are using, its at least interesting to me, especially in a time where its rumored that China has finally surpassed the United States in greenhouse gas emissions. . .)
But the weather is great - its November and I could have worn just a T-shirt and jeans yesterday and have been comfortable.
I'm officially in the Independent Study project phase of the program, which is challenging, yet, at this point not too stressful yet. (despite the fact that I only have one contact. . . so okay, maybe its a little stressful) Its really going to be a challenge for me, in self-discipline, self-motivation- all that type of thing. I don't see so much writing the paper to be the problem . . . just motivating myself and getting my self focused and out there to get the information to write it.
My topic is something along the lines of just examining how environmentally friendly Kunming and rural households are, and trying to figure out why they conserve water/energy/etc or why not?
(when i put it like this it doesn't sound overly exciting, but, perhaps because I'm not familiar with a lot of the methods that the Chinese are using, its at least interesting to me, especially in a time where its rumored that China has finally surpassed the United States in greenhouse gas emissions. . .)
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Basically, at this point I'm doing exactly what everyone tells you not to do. I've been holing myself up in Prague Cafe because it has good wireless, an AMAZING breakfast attempting to get research done and failing miserably.
Fortunately, Aly and I have been running in the mornings on a fairly regular basis, so my life isn't completely without structure. I don't have much to do, but I've been getting up at 7:50 to run (and I don't even have class at 8 AM!!). Crazy. I know. Sometimes I don't recognize my China-self. But then I spend the rest of the day just bumming around Kunming, to balance it out.
Our first Saturday back, Min Da invited us to participate in the "Opening Ceremony" of the Min Da Games, apparently sporting competitions between the different university departments. We had to march, and wave in matching polo shirts. It was very "China."
As part of my research, I need to interview your average Kunming citizen. What better place to talk to some Chinese people I thought than this famous "English corner" I'd been hearing about. I was picturing a cafe somewhere, where Westerners and Chinese people met at a designated time; I could pull out my laptop and type up their answers to my carefully planned questions (written up in both English and Chinese). I should have known better- I am still in China. English Corner ended up being on an actual street corner of Green Lake Park. It was MOBBED. And as soon as people saw me approach I was like descended upon. I was lucky I had a pad of paper with me and I just started scribbling down some answers, to questions somewhat resembling my initial ones. It was definitely an experience, and fortunately, I got a Chinese friend out of it.
Fortunately, Aly and I have been running in the mornings on a fairly regular basis, so my life isn't completely without structure. I don't have much to do, but I've been getting up at 7:50 to run (and I don't even have class at 8 AM!!). Crazy. I know. Sometimes I don't recognize my China-self. But then I spend the rest of the day just bumming around Kunming, to balance it out.
Our first Saturday back, Min Da invited us to participate in the "Opening Ceremony" of the Min Da Games, apparently sporting competitions between the different university departments. We had to march, and wave in matching polo shirts. It was very "China."
As part of my research, I need to interview your average Kunming citizen. What better place to talk to some Chinese people I thought than this famous "English corner" I'd been hearing about. I was picturing a cafe somewhere, where Westerners and Chinese people met at a designated time; I could pull out my laptop and type up their answers to my carefully planned questions (written up in both English and Chinese). I should have known better- I am still in China. English Corner ended up being on an actual street corner of Green Lake Park. It was MOBBED. And as soon as people saw me approach I was like descended upon. I was lucky I had a pad of paper with me and I just started scribbling down some answers, to questions somewhat resembling my initial ones. It was definitely an experience, and fortunately, I got a Chinese friend out of it.
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