[March 28]

I now understand more than ever the phrase "Chinese fire drill."  Everything is such a process here- and a roundabout one at that.  Take cafeteria-style lunch for instance.  No, takeout cafeteria-style lunch is an even better example.  Stand in line, get cut in front of about 10 times, order your food, swipe your meal card, take a ticket, give it to the lady at the microphone, take your ticket back, walk to the appropriate area, give guy A your ticket, watch him give it to woman B who hands it to the cook, watch your food go to woman B, back to man A, who hands it to woman C who wraps it, then hands it back to man A who gives it to you.  And don't forget your chopsticks or you're eating chao mian with your fingers.

 

Despite the seemingly nonsensical nature of this process, it actually does have some value- employment.  This leads to observation number two: there is a job for absolutely everything in China- the woman who mops your floor is different from the one who sweeps it, the person who checks your train ticket is separate from the one who rips it, and only in China do restaurant employees drastically outnumber restaurant customers.  Maybe you think I'm exaggerating, but let me remind you that the population problem is so astronomical that the one child policy has eliminated the concept of multi-child families.  But that is another story for another time.

 

Since the last update, I made a 2 day journey to Xi'An (that's a total of 26 hours on a train) where I saw the Terra Cotta Warriors, Xi'An City Wall, and explored the streets of China's ancient capital city.  I went to the Silk Market and haggled with relentless saleswomen over the price of 'designer' bags, sunglasses and jackets.  Our program spent a day in a Chinese retirement community for retired professors, I watched my friends play at an open mic night at a local bar/American restaurant, and endured a week of grueling midterms (which basically entail memorizing entire chapters).  Needless to say, it's been a busy few weeks.

 

I'm happy to finally be able to announce that I'm staying in China this summer for sure, working for JW Marriott's Communications Department in Shanghai ( www.marriotthotels.com/shajw), which is very exciting news as finding internships in China is, generally speaking, not common practice.  Not to mention staying in China- Shanghai, no less- is a perfect way to spend the summer.  So if you happen to be looking for an excuse to come to China, this summer would be the ideal opportunity!

 

Thanks to all of you who have been sending me notes-  I don't have much time at the computer but I do love to receive them, and will write back eventually!  I also have been updating my photos fairly regularly, too, so if you have time: [...]

 

I hope that life is treating you well wherever you are...

 

JOCELYN