wǎngbā

Unbelievably, it's been a year (and one day) since Megan and I arrived in Huai'an. We arrived to two one-bedroom apartments in the same building, despite our adamant request to live in one two-bedroom apartment together. We'd also been told the apartment would be well-stocked and that we should pack as if going to a hotel. Unfortunately, we followed that advice, and slept poorly, me in my cocoon and Megan on her yoga mat (yeah, it flew across the Pacific), together on top of the one double bed in the upstairs apartment. No sheets, towels, soap or toilet paper to be found. (After informing the school we'd like to live together in the upstairs apartment and we'd need another bed in there, we slept in that same double bed for two whole months before the second bed showed up. Ohh, sister bonding.)

When we woke up and collected the courage, some hours later, to step outside into our new neighborhood,we embarked on a search for an internet cafe. (Because the computer in the apartment was not yet equipped.) The guide book glossary indicated anything having to do with internet looked like two Xs in a box: 网

We made it to the main campus gate, retracing the path of the car the night before when we'd been dropped off. Bicycles rolled by, bells dinging; cars careened, horns blaring; people walked, people sat, people pulled carts, people pushed carts, people, people, PEOPLE. This is what one billion feels like.

It's funny to recall how we marveled at crossing that street, wondering which of us would die first and when; how baffled we were by the intersection, picking out landmarks and remembering which way we turned and how far we walked. It's amazing how adaptable humans are: we quickly learned, and liked, to play chicken with the traffic and soon recognized the regulars at that intersection, crossing and recrossing it every day to catch the bus or get noodles.

Around that corner we did find the box with two Xs. With no attempt at verbal communication by either party, we plunked down some cash and the wǎngbā/网吧/internet cafe attendant turned on two computers for us, behind a cluster of gaming Chinese boys. While we sat waiting for the machines to get going, I tried convincing myself we didn't get swallowed up by an alternate universe on the opposite side of the planet. This tiny speck of a town teeming with humans was the center of the world. I'm not lost! my inner self cried out. I'm right here! I still matter, right?! Just look for me on a map, you'll see! Through the jet lag, exhaustion, overstimulation, fatigue, and yeah I'll say it, fear, something popped. Not metaphorically, something actually made a popping sound down the row. One of the computers had caught fire. It sparked and smoked, and flames licked the jumble of wires.

OhhhhMG..........do computers explode?!?

We didn't want to find out. We pushed our way through chairs and back out to the sidewalk. A small cloud of smoke billowed. Some of the gamers had escaped with us, but others farther from the fire carried on. We had read that some internet cafes don't allow foreigners because of the high incidence of fires. Huai'an didn't see enough foreigners to have rules about them.

Just a few shops down was another box with two Xs. We downloaded Skype.

We made it.

lost

Currently MISSING:
a best friend/sister, several Midwesterners, a few East Coasters, a couple West Coasters, a couple south of the border, two Southern belles, and at least a dozen Zhongguoren

Please come back to me.

EPL

Despite all hype and my affection for the story, I have not gone to see the Eat Pray Love movie, and from the few reviews I've heard and read so far, I don't think I'll go anytime soon. It seems the movie turns Elizabeth's quest for independence and self-actualization into an international manhunt, and if that is the case, I must ask the producers, "Did you even read the book??"* Twisting the story into yet another one of woman's-search-for-man-to-make-her-happy is an insult to the book's message, and probably Elizabeth Gilbert herself, not to mention, like, so totally 20th century.

So take that! I wasn't excited about you to begin with, Julia Roberts, and the eye candy visuals and lineup of crushes is not nearly as compelling as the introspection and insights the book offers. Bah humbug.

That's what I have to say about that.

*Please note that I have not seen the movie, which makes this a mostly uninformed opinion, which is the kind of opinion in fashion, right? If my inference is off base, please advise.

just acting my age

Phew. Thanks, NYTimes mag. I wasn't worried, but maybe some people I know are/were.

What Is It About 20-Somethings?

the gist:

"The traditional cycle seems to have gone off course, as young people remain un­tethered to romantic partners or to permanent homes, going back to school for lack of better options, traveling, avoiding commitments, competing ferociously for unpaid internships or temporary (and often grueling) Teach for America jobs, forestalling the beginning of adult life.

The 20s are a black box, and there is a lot of churning in there. One-third of people in their 20s move to a new residence every year. Forty percent move back home with their parents at least once. They go through an average of seven jobs in their 20s, more job changes than in any other stretch."

i love wisconsin

that's all.

ohmyladygaga

A couple nights ago we celebrated mum's birthday with a night on the town. The plan was to enjoy happy hour and tapas at Extra Virgin, a new-ish, "hip" spot in the Crossroads. We pulled up to see the radio station's van parked out front. Megan hopped out to investigate.

M enters Extra Virgin, looks around.
Radio Station people sitting near the entrance: HI!
M: hiii..
Hostess: HI!
M: hi. Do you..have an event going on here tonight?
Hostess, thinking, isn't that why you're here?: ..Yeah..
M: Uhm..
Hostess: Iiiit's... the Lady Gaga pre-party?

Megan came back to the car and we quickly concocted a Plan B. (R Bar anyone?) But yes, Lady Gagme herself descended on downtown KC Tuesday night. Of course the appropriate response to such an event is, "OHMYLADYGAGA!" -- the popular phrase amongst Chinese youngsters as a variant of OHMYGOD. "Because...," one of my students explained, "Lady Gaga is so famous. Like God."