Tuesday, February 28th, 2006
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11:02 am
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I am leaving tomorrow. I am going to Dubai.
At times I feel it's overwhelming but at times I fear if really I am going to be okay.
I know I will be fine, jsut need time to adjust and get settled.
I am so excited to see my boyfriend that I haven't seen in two months.
In ways I got used to being by myself but there were many times I wished he was with me.
If I can log onto LJ in Dubai, I am going to make a new account because I can not access my other account. What should my new screenname be?
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(4 comments | comment on this)
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Friday, February 17th, 2006
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7:38 am
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Four jobs I've had:
1. United Colors of Benetton Sales associate
2. Greeter at TGIFridays
3. Intern job at Chase Manhattan
4. Kindergarten teacher Assistant
Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. Every movie with Hugh Grant in it
2. Royal Tenenbaums
3. Movies by Luc Besson
4. Chick Flicks
Four places I've lived:
1. Tokyo
2. San Francisco, CA
3. Chicago, CA
4. Beijing, China
Four television shows I love to watch:
1. E! True hollywood Story
2. Lost
3. The Apprentice
4. VH1 The fabulous life of...
Four places I've been on vacation:
1. Hawaii
2. Netherlands
3. Orlando, Florida
4. Thailand
Four of my favorite dishes:
1. Instant ramen (especially akai kitsune)
2. Seafood dishes (lobster, crab, mussells, OYSTERS!!)
3. Tendon
4. Sushi
Four websites I visit daily:
1. gmail
2. mixi
3. livejournal
4. msn news
Four places I would rather be right now:
1. where ever with my boyfriend
2. Thailand
3. Tokyo
4. somewhere I have never been
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(comment on this)
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Friday, January 27th, 2006
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12:46 pm - Who can follow these direction?
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Monday, January 23rd, 2006
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5:16 pm
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I spent my afternoon with my housekeeper. She taught me how to crochet. The crochet needle she uses is very small and she has this particular way of holding the thread. I wanted to hold the string like I would usually do but she tells me (or at least that's what I understand )that wrapping the thread on the finger is the the important part.
I brought some language books with me the dining room and tried to talk to her. I pointed at some words and pictures and tried to communicate. I pointed at some thai food that I would like to try and she told me my dad doesn't like it but I hope I got through to her that I want to try them.
I hope I didn't take too much of her time today from her work. Oh well, my dad should go easy on her for today because she entertained me.
Oh, I signed up to go to this business seminar for Dubai that they will be held in Tokyo. I found info about it on mixi. I am so happy that I am networking through mixi!
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2006
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9:40 pm - Golf weekend
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Two days in a row my dad and I went to a the driving range in the morning. At the driving range they take your golf bag out of the car for you, take it to your stand. A box of balls (40 balls each) usually costs 25bahts which is about 70cents. Today we got there before noon and they had a special of 5 boxes for 100bahts. That's $3. They have a machine that when you hit the ball off the tee a new on is placed. After you are done, they wipe the clubs and carry it to your car. No wonder my dads skill got better. It's cheap to practice here.
At night we went to the night market. I finally got the courage and patients to sit down to get my nails done. It's only 100bahts. $3 to get nail art for both hands. They take off nail polish, no nail care then starts drawing like the sample chip you pointed out to. It doesn't take them that long. Just 20mins or so. I know it won't last long but it's always nice to have your nails done. Unbelievable price and great satisfaction.
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(comment on this)
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Friday, January 20th, 2006
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6:32 pm - Thoughts on going to Dubai
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I thought I would have a job before I go to Dubai.
Turns out I am not going to.
It's better this way. I was already doubting the position anyway.
It's like going to Chicago again just this time, it's another country and there is no turning back.
I am pretty sure I will find a job.
It may seem that I am going to Dubai for Paul but I want to make this whole experience mine just in case "we" don't work out.
I actually started emailing with this one lady through mixi who is moving to Dubai in Febuary. She's a housewife and going on a spouse visa. She's not going to be working so I have someone to hang out with when I get there. She was telling me how she was going to English lessons in Japan. It hit me, if all these housewives for hanging out in Dubai wouldn't they want to take some classes to meet more people? I now secretly think that I should start fun English classes for housewives. As long as I find enough people I totally could! Maybe it would be fun to mingle with the Japanese housewives. They like to have lunch together and they do all kinds of activities. At least it will keep me occupied.
She told me that she told her husband about me. He sounded happy for her. What a nice couple. I am really looking forward to meeting them. I already invited her to come to Trader Vics with me.
Going to Dubai without a job is not bad. I am really excited to see what kind of opportunies there are for me. I already have a friend to hang out with during the day and most of all Paul will be there to support me no matter what I do.
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12:54 pm - I can get used to this life
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I have to admit, I have a good life. I have a very good life here at the house my father lives in Thai.
Even though I can not speak to my housekeeper, she entertains me. If I don't come down to eat she gets really worried that I am not eating. She's entertaining to me even though we can not converse. I observe her reactions daily and usually report it to my father.
Like fore example, my dad was busy in a meeting yesterday that my housekeeper took me to the dentist yesterday. She called a cab and she calls me down. We walk out the door and she's holding a umbrella for me so I won't get dark. (this is why I feel awfully bad to sit out and tan around here) It's not a fancy umbrella (it's pink umbrella with pig eyes and ears) but I totally feel like a princess!! We drive up to the hospital/dentist and the bell boys open the car door. Strangely, I catch my housekeeper getting out of the taxi from her side when my side is still open. When I come out of the dentist, I always see her sitting there quietly observing the atmosphere. She seems to be overwhelmed by this environment.
I tell my dad about my observation of the day. He explained to me that because she is from the suburbs she's not used to all this or what we think is normal. My father makes fun of her and tells her roughly how things should be done but I always remind him that at least someone else is doing this for you, you should be grateful for it. At dinner we asked her to bring out seaweed and she cut off the ziplock seal. I told my dad about it and he quickly started to make fun of her and tell her to pay more attention. She replied "they don't have that in thai" which I interpret to "she's not used to seeing these kind of packages" but at least someone is doing this for us it's a good life.
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Thursday, January 19th, 2006
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10:51 am
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I am having some serious mosquito biting issue. I seem to always have two more every day. It's itchy.
Yesterday my dad and I went shopping for mosquito repellent. Since we are not in Bangkok there are really not many tourist around here. Therefor, people around here are not used to seeing foreigners and I have noticed that I get lots of stare. My dad and I were walking through stores and I saw lots of people just staring at me. When we are shopping the sales person is always looking at me while my dad is trying to ask them questions and when we have decided to buy, they usually tell my father that I am pretty because they have already figured out that I don't speak Thai but my dad does.
My dad asked our housekeeper why people are staring. She said that because I am very "White". They say that Thai people admire whiteness. I look around, they are darker than I am but this is a tropical country of course they are. My housekeeper was suprised that few days ago she grabbed my hand to cross the street and saw such contrast in color of our arm. My dad and I agree that there are plenty of whiter girls who are thai but we do not see those girls getting any stare. My housekeeper keeps on telling us "because she's so white". We just don't get it, there has to be more to it to get so much stare.
My dad asks for me how much something is. They don't even take a glimpse at my father and keeps staring at me and answers the questions to me. My dad and I have seen some girls who do a double take when I pass by them. I remember the last time I was here I saw a girl walking toward me and she was so shocked to see someone so "white" that she gasped and grabbed on to her boyfriend's arm while I passed her by.
Of course all of this feels good in one way. Until yesterday I kept my head down because I felt so much stare. I got over it and started to look around to catch them looking at me. Sometimes it's uncomfortable if there are group of guys or something but when they are girls I must admit it feels good. I only wish I knew what they were saying! Oh! by the way, people think I am 20 years old. They can't believe that I am 26.
My dad must feel good walking next to me. I can see it that it amuses him too.
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2006
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10:41 am
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I actually wanted to write more yesterday but I had to go.
So here are some stories about me in Thailand.
We have a housekeeper. She was here the last time I came to thailand. She's been here for close to 4 years serving my father and she has been trained well to cook some Chinese food and Japanese food. I found out after I got here that our housekeepers daughter was staying here too. I know that our housekeeper has few children and I guess this is the youngest one still too young to work was staying with her aunt or uncle or something but things where not working out and the kid had no where to go. Poor child who has been taken care by her relatives for few years without her mom who rarely comes home. I wish I could speak more thai so I can talk to my housekeeper and the child to entertain myself and learn more about thai culture.
Anyway, the other night my dad took me to the night market. This market is near this house and there are no tourists to be seen. It's local and things sold here are very cheap. We decided to bring our housekeeper and the daughter with us.
They have hair extension booths and nail booths. The nail stands are not fancy. I asked how much it was and it's one nail 30yen with art. I have to say the sample chips laid out with art on them are not that bad. 300yen for your nails to be painted with art (no gel, no acrylics) very cheap. There are of course nail salons that you can go to in Bangkok but the price is not that different from Japan.
All of a sudden my father gives the daughter money and tells her to buy what she likes to eat. We are standing in front of a stand with roasted insects such as cockroaches and worms.GETEMONO!!! EWWWWWWW! I try not to make a face. It's her favorite. I don't want to be rude. The mother asks me if I would like to try some. I really didn't want to be rude so I picked one up and tried not to think of it. I put it in my mouth, there is no flavor. It's not as crunchy as I thought and I bite down. It pops in my mouth with strange filling spreading in my mouth. I try not to taste it too long and swallow it down. I quickly ask my dad to buy me a drink with lots of flavor quickly! OH MY it's gross! Hurry, anything drink Please!!!!!
I just couldn't stop making my disgusted face and shivering of the body. I just tried not to think about it. I really really just wanted to be polite to this little girl and try some of her favorites. I know that she thinks that I probably come from another universe, another planet or I am some kind of different human being because she has never been in contact with a person that came from a real city. But I don't want to be stuck up, I don't have any reason to. So I tried her so called favorite snack.
Last time I came to thailand I discovered that they sold fashionable jeans here. They sell some at the night market but I can't try them on so I asked my father to take me to the place where I bought my jeans last time I was here. This building is filled with tourists and I also spotted some foriegners with thai "girl" friends. Things are little bit more expensive than what I have seen at the night market. Of course things here are better quality than the night markets and have lots of selections of stuff. From the newest video games, game accessories, computers, cell phones, portable dvd players, mps players, speakers, knock off sunglasses, tourist t-shirts, knock off handbags, pirated dvd's, beach wear, t-shirts, shoes, print stores, eyelash extension, photo gallery, you name it it's there.
My father and I found few denim stores and we went in. I can barely look or start to look because of the small stalls with foriegners with their huge backpacks and their rude behavior. My dad was surprised with the selection of jeans there were and how many foriegners where buying it. I gave him a crash course on jeans from my image consultant perspective. He said to me, "Wow, you really do know a lot about this stuff". I am glad that I can clarify someone's question in fashion. I like to talk about fashion but really, I like to find fashion items at the cheapest price. Thailand does have jeans for cheap. Replay, diesel, seven, levis, edwin, evisu, wrangler etc. I bought four brand name pants and got them hemmed. Total price $100. Real or copies which you can barely tell apart as long as it fits and looks good.
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Monday, January 16th, 2006
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3:19 pm - Thai Update
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The day after I arrived in Thailand I went to the dentist which was my main purpose of this trip to get my teeth fixed. My teeth got examed and everything is going to be done with in the time I am going to be here. Sounds very promising. My dad is feeling uneasy about the price but I keep on telling him stories about how much it costs in America and Japan which totally makes him feel better and satisfied that I came for this mission.
It's quite boring when my father is at work. I am at home with a housekeeper that I have no way of communicating unless I learn some thai. Like that's really easy.. not! I told my dad to give me my own room for this visit because I will be here three weeks. I have my own room and I have a good life here. We have a housekeeper that makes breakfast for me or whatever I really want to eat. I know I can get her to do a lot more if I only spoke thai.
The past weekend, I been hanging out with my dad. It's been about almost 3years since I saw him last. We went to a driving range and he gave me some pointers how to get a better swing.
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3:13 pm - In Thailand!!
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So, the most pathetic thing has happened to me.
I forgot my password for my normal account. It's always saved on my home computer and I recently changed it and didn't write it down but I really wanted to update my journal!! I know this is my really old journal but I guess I will write it here for awhile.
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(comment on this)
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Tuesday, November 18th, 2003
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12:40 am - it's been awhile
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I am still planning to keep this journal for when I travel.
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(comment on this)
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Wednesday, April 3rd, 2002
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3:52 pm - Thailand
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So I have decided to take a break and come see my father. It's a nice change to be another country. It's nice to see my father and not fight. My mother is coming here tomorrow, it's a family reunion that we rarely have. Coming to thailand for spring break is sure nice, but man the airplane ride here was just so long and tiring. I have never been on a plane for longer than 10hours... going to tokyo and then on the same day going to thailand just makes it seem so long....
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Tuesday, January 15th, 2002
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11:15 pm - More Beijing!! Coming this summer!!
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I chatted with my Beijing friends.. he told me that he might go back this summer!! I am so excited! I already have plans to go back this summer but not sure about classes yet. If they do go back, I am positive that I will go back too!! I miss them so much and Beijing all over.. if that happens I willmake sure to post them here again!
Anyone else interested in joining me and my friends for some Beijing life???
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Monday, December 3rd, 2001
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8:01 pm
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"You Know You've Been in China Too Long
When..."
At Mealtime...
1- A few shots of maotai don't even give you a buzz.
2- You're at an expensive western
restaurant and don't even notice the guy at the
next table yelling into his cell phone
3- A June 2000 Great Wall Cabernet(mixed with
Sprite) is your vintage of choice
4- You think of 'salad' as diced apples in
mayonnaise
5- When someone says 'snack', you
think: salted cuttlefish.
6- You don't recognize a bowl of chicken soup unless there's feet and a head in it.
7- You only drink beer from one liter bottles.
8- You invite friends for dinner and serve 1,000 year old eggs as an appetizer.
9- You crave salt...all the time.
10- You feel awkward using a knife and fork.
11- You think pork belongs as a flavoring in all foods.
12- Your favorite pizza toppings are corn and shrimp.
When traveling by Plane...
1- You always are first to retrieve all your
carry-on luggage from the overhead bins between landing and
arrival at the gate.
2- You think 3 separate security checks in an airport is acceptable
3- You have carry on luggage made from red, white and blue nylon sheeting.
4- You sprint frantically from the tarmac to
the airplane to ensure you get a seat.
Fashion means...
1- you get your haircut on the sidewalk.
2- You leave the 'Garbano' designer label conspicuously on the jacket sleeve.
3- You like those Frankenstein shoes on women.
4- You don't bother to take the sticker off the lenses of your fake Ray-Bans.
5- You enjoy wearing flip flops on all occasions
6- In the summer, you roll the legs of your pants up to your knees whenever you sit down.
7- (men) And you roll your shirt up to your nipples.
8- You wear a suit when you dig ditches or do home repairs
9- You have a purse and you are male
For entertainment...
1- You enjoy karaoke.
2- You walk backwards in the park listening to
a transistor radio.
3-The China Daily is your source for hard hitting, fast breaking, investigative journalism.
4- You have grown used to the picture quality of pirated VCDs
5- Badminton and ping pong are your main forms of exercise.
6- You watch 'xiaqi' (Chinese chess)on TV religiously.
7- You find yourself "getting back to nature" in a park that contains
nothing but concrete and a giant revolutionary statue.
Around Town...
1- You smoke in crowded elevators.
2- All white people look the same to you.
3- You like the smell of the bus
4- Open spaces make you nervous.
5- You find state-employed retail staff helpful, knowledgeable and friendly.
6- People with bright white teeth look frightening to you.
7- You no longer need tissues to blow your nose.
8- Other foreigners seem foreign to you.
9- You find yourself exiting a major highway...on your bike.
In the WC...
1- You find western toilets uncomfortable
2- You throw your used toilet paper in the basket (as a courtesy to the next person)
3-Those footprints on the toilet are yours.
Your Health...
1- You go to the hospital at the first signs of a cold.
2- You think that the heavy air actually
contains valuable nutrients that you need to stay healthy.
3- Any discomfort causes you to think
there might be something wrong with your 'Qi'.
4- You don't notice your gastrointestinal problems anymore.
5- Your body no longer accepts dairy products.
Communication means...
1- You draw characters on your hand to
make yourself understood.
2- You ask people in what animal year they were born.
3- You measure distances in 'Li'
4- You think you speak Chinese fluently
Social Customs...
1- Squatting becomes your favorite position, anytime, anywhere.
2- The last time you visited your mother you presented her with your business card.
3- Your handshake is weakening by the day.
4- You think a 30 year old woman who carries a Hello Kitty lunch box is cute.
5- You would never think of entering your house without first removing you shoes
6-You think your nose IS kind of big.
Finally....
You read this list and understood everything.
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Thursday, September 27th, 2001
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12:41 am - I am alive!!
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Been in Tokyo until last week. Yes, I was in Tokyo when the WTC collapsed and another plane attacked DC. I was really shocked and I am sure it shook up the whole world. All I could think was if my friends were okay. Few days later I knew that all my friends were okay, TV got boring with the same clips of the building crashing.
Tokyo was just fine.. not too excting but not too boring. It was just nice to meet my friends and talk where all our lives heading. With the economy going down and how hard it is for people who graduate college who can't find jobs. We all thought being bilingual was great but how profienct is the key. I am still in school studying a specific profession. I still wonder were this will lead me after I graduate.
No matter where I am, I still really miss being in Beijing. It could of been the people that I met there that made my whole experience so fun. I partied so much that I ended up on the society corner of the metrozine (information magazine for foriegners in Beijing). Haven't actually seen the picture but heard that I am on it for realz. A picture taken at the vip lounge of a club with a friend of mine from Beijing. Many Beijing memories still live on. It is still fresh because I still talk to many of the pplz from Beijing. My friend asked me if I am going back next summer..pretty sure I will be in Asia but not sure if I can actually go to Beijing. I am not sure if I will enroll in classes that I will end up not going.
Being back in the states is weird. I was so used to seeing Asians in every corner of my eye sight and olympic ads. Now, I am back in SF were there are some strange people. Little intimidated by the whole american scene especially because all I see is the american flag everyone and people saying "We call stand together".
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Sunday, September 2nd, 2001
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1:57 am - Beijing Porn
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After meeting this guy and telling him that I am Japanese, he busted out with some Japanese Porn Japanese. Then he knew them in Korean. After that little sound effect show I asked him how about chinese? .... He did not know.
Ever since then I have been so curious what chinese porn would say. In beijing you can buy so many DVD's but you never see Porn DVD's. I knew how to say porn in chinese because for a odd reason I learned it or my teacher mentioned it in class.
After I told everyone about my mission to go find Beijing porn just to find out what they say in Mandarin, people thought I was a freak. I know they all liked the idea of watching porn. They just blamed me for having the freakiest idea.
current mood:  naughty
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1:37 am - Life in Bangkok
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Yes, I haven't had the chance to write in this journal for very long. I am very sorry but I have been reading all others that I like to check up on. Here is an update of what happened to me after my last entry.....
I survived six weeks of Beijing. The first time I got to Beijing I wanted to cry and prayed that my 6 weeks will be quickly be over but when the day I was leaving rolled around, I did not want to leave. I think it was the interesting people that I met there and the lifestyle that I had there in Beijing. Would I go back there again?? Not without my friends from Beijing. I truthfully enjoyed Beijing disregarding the fact if I really learned chinese.
After I left China, I came to Bangkok and the day after I got here, I went to one of the resorts here in thailand called Koh Samui. It was beautiful but I really missed my friends. Not only particularly the ones from Beijing but everyone. I wanted to share the beautiful scenery and I wanted someone to be there with me not my parents. Oh yeah!! Right before I was leaving for the airport to leave for Koh Samui, I slipped down the stairs and I have a big bruise on my ass and on the back side of my leg. My parents think I am okay but I am still hurting... My left side of the body actually hurts. I hope I will be okay.
After turning all brown and toasty, I am back in Bangkok looking around shopping whatever but since I bought so much in Beijing, nothing else is going to fit in my suitcase. The hard part of the whole trip is that I am only allowed to take one suitcase with me between Asia. If only I was going to the states from China I would of been able to shop loads more..and shop here more in Bangkok.
Shopping in Bangkok is not that bad... there are lots of things that I like. I think there are lots of more variety here but the price is not as cheap as China. Anywhere is cheaper than Japan.
Tomorrow night I leave Bangkok for Tokyo. I know I will have fun there. I can't wait to see my friends. I know I will have a blast. Partied Beijing style, now it is time to go party like Tokyo style.
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Friday, August 10th, 2001
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10:51 pm - The birthday week
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My birthday was wednesday and I had a great birthday. 30 people gathered for dinner to celebrate my birthday and we celebrated Beijing style. We had some beijing duck. I had a birthday cake and I really didn't expect much but it turned out great. Off course we all headed out to the bar and we all went out to a club called Banana. People kept on telling me that "it is so local" and yes I found out what they meant by that when I actually got there. It was tons of local chinese people wearing sunglasses, standing there shaking their heads. My gosh, this is the most funniest sight I have ever seen. People stand there in a circle to shake heads to chinese techno music. My other friend told me about this other club where you can't dance. All you are allowed to do is stand there still and shake your head, if you move, the security guy will tell you to stop moving and stand still. Isn't this the funniest thing that you have ever heard? Also I will like to mention that Banana is called Ba-Na-Na- (I just find this really funny).
Overall I had a great birthday. My summer in Beijing is soon to be over. 6 weeks wasn't short neither was it long. I still have 2 more weeks. Some of the people that I met here are leaving soon. They are leaving the course early. I am jealous but at the same time I enjoy being here. Still, that might be because I enjoy hanging out with the people I met here.
current music: The airconditioner at the Korean Internet place
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Monday, August 6th, 2001
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7:29 am - I miss the weather in California
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Man, Beijing is really really hot today. I wanted to go shopping today for shoes but I ended up sitting in my lobby and talked to my friends while we sweated. I can't believe my session here in Beijing is going to be over soon. Some days seem so long but time is flying so fast. Today my roommate's friend left. She was so sweet. She really wanted to stay here but she can't change her ticket so she left. I might be heartless. I can't cry nor feel anything about this. Some people say there is something missing. I might have gone through this too many times saying goodbye to good times. I do know one thing, I will miss being here when I get back. There is so much to explore and meet so many interesting people.
Just for information whoever is interested in knowing where I am exactly - I am in Beijing Language and Culture University going through the short term intensive program. There are several other Universities that provide intensive courses similar to here but supposely this is the best one. If you know some Mandarin already you can definetely improve it here. If you don't know any, you will pick up some but don't hope for too much if you can speak English. There are too many english speaking people here. Still, there are so many interesting people to meet and so many different things to do here. If you can stand the heat and pollution I strongly recommend it. In the begining, I was not really up to coming here but I could not tell my parents that I didn't want to come here. Now, I think this was the best decision that I made for my summer plans.
current mood:  content
current music: Long Vacation: Soundtrack
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