The realization is hitting me that I'll be leaving Beijing in little over two weeks. Not that I'm sad to go either. It's been fun, but I'm ready to move on to other places. Can't wait to get to someplace smaller, less crowded, less metropolitian. I think I'll really appreciate it more after being in Beijing. I'm sure some friend of mine will be happy for me to leave China. No names mentioned (Ansara, Conway). They never wanted me to visit in the first place. I'm really glad that I did. I've accomplished what I wanted to do here. I have a working knowledge of Chinese first and foremost. I've gained insight into a culture and people that I had only glimpsed before. Granted Beijing is not all of China but I've still gained the insight none the less. If I had to do all over again I'd probably only spend a month in Beijing learning Chinese. The school is great, don't get me wrong but the city wears on you. I've had enough. If I could leave tomorrow I would. Actually I can, but I'd be wasting two weeks worth of room and board and lessons paid for and that's just stupid. Missus C didn't raise no fools.
Where's next for me? I'll leave Beijing on August 31st and take a train ride to Chengdu. I'll stay there for a couple of days then head to Li Jiang by train as well. From Li Jiang I need to get into Laos. Haven't figure out than portion yet. Not sure if there is a bus or train. (If anyone wants to do the research for me I'd appreciate it, I hate research.) First stop in Laos from China is the city of Muang Sing, then Luang Nam Tha, then Luang Prabang then Vang Vieng then Vientiane. By this time I'll have had enough of Laos and will be moving on to.....somewhere. Probably Cambodia, maybe Thailand. Not sure yet. Remember this leg of the trip I'm making up as I go along.
I've got stuff that I need to ship home because I'm not lugging it around South East Asia with me. (So mom expect some boxes from China. Please not to open them under the punishment of not getting anything souvenirs from me. I know your fingers will be itching to open them but you must resist. LOL. And please no witty Yvonne Chappell response on my blog. And no cursing. Thanks. Love you too. )
Well that's it for tonight folks. Told you it would be a quickie. Wo feichang lei he kun. (I'm very tired and sleepy.)
See you in my dreams. - Wil
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
I can look back and say I was there.
I don't know about you but I think that that was one kick ass kaimushi (opening ceremony.) You can say what you want about the Chinese but they know how to open a show. The pagaentry, the costumes, the lights, the PERFORMERS (there was like a million of them, I stopped counting at 155,000), the Stadium, the lighting of the torch and the YANHUA (FIREWORKS.) Yanhua tai piaoliang le. (The fireworks were beautiful.)
Yunling, Hugo and I got an early start and headed to the stadium around 5pm. We wanted to get a close as we could before the had to stop and let us out. We got a lot closer than we had anticipated considering we didn't have tickets. We were trying to find a giant screen not too far from the stadium where we could view the festivities. We didn't know where it was but figured we were smart enough to find it.
With us we had Jack and coke, Absolute and orange, water, grapes, chips, cookies and I had a turkey sandwich which was supposed to not have mayo. Found out later that it did. It very incredible re he shi (hot and humid) and some of you know how much I hate to be hot much less humid since the whole thyroid thing. We were walking along this street that runs parellel to the Birds Nest and it was packed with folks walking the other direction. Brought some stickers with the Chinese flag on it and put on your clothing and Yunling on her face. The stares we got!! Not sure if it was because Hugo and I were sporting the flags and we were clearly not Chinese or because we the black and white giants.
At one point we stop to rest and sat on some steps in front of these building. And then it began. It started innocently enough with one guy sitting next to us and chatting us up. No big deal. Then he asked if he could take a picture with us. We said yes. Why the hell did we do that? It was him and then a hundred or so more other people wanting to take pictures. We took pictures with old, young, little girls, little boys, men, women, families, they flashed their peace signs, thechinese flags, their pearly whites, miles of smiles, they grabbed us around the waists, the shoulders, held our arms, held our legs, our heads, someone at some point had a hand a little to close to the butt, they crouched next to us, sat on the steps, some kids sat in our laps and they all had a great time taking pictures with the giants.
Through it all Hugo was drinking the Jack and coke and getting how can I put this delicately...slightly intoxicated. Totally in control but definitely under the influence. He had the brilliant idea to say the Chinese rah rah saying really loud and folks started joining in and you know what that meant!!! MORE PICTURES. Seriously, we are probably in more family photo albums than I care to think about and I hate taking pictures. At one point he wanted to lead the crowd in a rendition of the Beijing Olympics song Beijing Huanglin Ni but I said no. We were having a really good time. I know you are asking if I was drinking as well. Not yet I wasn't my stomach still hadn't recuperated from Tuesday so I wasn't drinking just yet.
We decided to hit the restrooms at the KFC across the street then go find the areas we were looking for. Yunling had asked some folks and come to find out we'd have to take a bus to get there but first had a walk a little bit to the stop. After the break we headed out and got to a place near the road where we had this great vantage point to see the stadium and the fireworks when it started. Us and a million or so of our chinese friends. It was crazy the number of people that were out. Just as we got there some fireworks did start so we stayed. The opening ceremony had begun. I knew with my stomach problems I wouldn't be able to stay the entire time outside waiting for the ending fireworks so we went across the highway to a restaurant had a great meal and watch the show on TV.
I cheered my head off when the Americans walked in. I was really happy to see that many in one place and knowing that they were less than a half a mile away from me made me even happier. And when they showed W, well lets just say the only booing came from me.
Back outside the see the ending fireworks and lo and behold the millions have trickled down to a couple of hundred. No joke. The place was empty. I don't know where they went or how they got there but they were gone!! We crossed the road again to get a good vantage point saw a taxi waiting as well for the fireworks and told him that when the were over we wanted him to take us home. He smiled and said okay, but just to make sure I dazzled him with some light magic and had him perplexed until the real light show began. Actually had most of the onlooking dazzled as well. Too funny.
Saw up close and personal the biggest fireworks display EVER!! I particularly liked the 29 "steps" in fireworks from the Forbidden City to the Birds Nest Stadium. How cool was that?! I may not have been inside the Stadium but I can look back and say that I was there in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics and that's pretty sweet. I still don't have tickets to crap but will watch some event live at really nice outdoor venues.
Here are some pictures.
Enjoy. - Wil
This is the first posing of a picture that started it all. That's Hugo in my apparently Dutch orange bandana that I haven't gotten back yet. The guy in the middle wanted me to signed in autograph book. I couldn't in all honesty. They were lined up after this photo was taken.
the bombs bursting in air....Oh, wrong country. My bad.
Yunling, Hugo and I got an early start and headed to the stadium around 5pm. We wanted to get a close as we could before the had to stop and let us out. We got a lot closer than we had anticipated considering we didn't have tickets. We were trying to find a giant screen not too far from the stadium where we could view the festivities. We didn't know where it was but figured we were smart enough to find it.
With us we had Jack and coke, Absolute and orange, water, grapes, chips, cookies and I had a turkey sandwich which was supposed to not have mayo. Found out later that it did. It very incredible re he shi (hot and humid) and some of you know how much I hate to be hot much less humid since the whole thyroid thing. We were walking along this street that runs parellel to the Birds Nest and it was packed with folks walking the other direction. Brought some stickers with the Chinese flag on it and put on your clothing and Yunling on her face. The stares we got!! Not sure if it was because Hugo and I were sporting the flags and we were clearly not Chinese or because we the black and white giants.
At one point we stop to rest and sat on some steps in front of these building. And then it began. It started innocently enough with one guy sitting next to us and chatting us up. No big deal. Then he asked if he could take a picture with us. We said yes. Why the hell did we do that? It was him and then a hundred or so more other people wanting to take pictures. We took pictures with old, young, little girls, little boys, men, women, families, they flashed their peace signs, thechinese flags, their pearly whites, miles of smiles, they grabbed us around the waists, the shoulders, held our arms, held our legs, our heads, someone at some point had a hand a little to close to the butt, they crouched next to us, sat on the steps, some kids sat in our laps and they all had a great time taking pictures with the giants.
Through it all Hugo was drinking the Jack and coke and getting how can I put this delicately...slightly intoxicated. Totally in control but definitely under the influence. He had the brilliant idea to say the Chinese rah rah saying really loud and folks started joining in and you know what that meant!!! MORE PICTURES. Seriously, we are probably in more family photo albums than I care to think about and I hate taking pictures. At one point he wanted to lead the crowd in a rendition of the Beijing Olympics song Beijing Huanglin Ni but I said no. We were having a really good time. I know you are asking if I was drinking as well. Not yet I wasn't my stomach still hadn't recuperated from Tuesday so I wasn't drinking just yet.
We decided to hit the restrooms at the KFC across the street then go find the areas we were looking for. Yunling had asked some folks and come to find out we'd have to take a bus to get there but first had a walk a little bit to the stop. After the break we headed out and got to a place near the road where we had this great vantage point to see the stadium and the fireworks when it started. Us and a million or so of our chinese friends. It was crazy the number of people that were out. Just as we got there some fireworks did start so we stayed. The opening ceremony had begun. I knew with my stomach problems I wouldn't be able to stay the entire time outside waiting for the ending fireworks so we went across the highway to a restaurant had a great meal and watch the show on TV.
I cheered my head off when the Americans walked in. I was really happy to see that many in one place and knowing that they were less than a half a mile away from me made me even happier. And when they showed W, well lets just say the only booing came from me.
Back outside the see the ending fireworks and lo and behold the millions have trickled down to a couple of hundred. No joke. The place was empty. I don't know where they went or how they got there but they were gone!! We crossed the road again to get a good vantage point saw a taxi waiting as well for the fireworks and told him that when the were over we wanted him to take us home. He smiled and said okay, but just to make sure I dazzled him with some light magic and had him perplexed until the real light show began. Actually had most of the onlooking dazzled as well. Too funny.
Saw up close and personal the biggest fireworks display EVER!! I particularly liked the 29 "steps" in fireworks from the Forbidden City to the Birds Nest Stadium. How cool was that?! I may not have been inside the Stadium but I can look back and say that I was there in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics and that's pretty sweet. I still don't have tickets to crap but will watch some event live at really nice outdoor venues.
Here are some pictures.
Enjoy. - Wil
This is the first posing of a picture that started it all. That's Hugo in my apparently Dutch orange bandana that I haven't gotten back yet. The guy in the middle wanted me to signed in autograph book. I couldn't in all honesty. They were lined up after this photo was taken.
In walks the American team. Can you tell that I'm happy.
And the rockets red glare.....
the bombs bursting in air....Oh, wrong country. My bad.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
For Penny O'Kane
Memory can be a bitch!! A song, a smell, a sound, a taste can all bring you back to that certain moment in time. That's what happened to me tonight.
We were out celebrating Jasmin's last few days with Mandarin House. Dinner followed by some karaoke. Amazing food at this restaurant in Nanguoxiang Houtong. During karaoke the beer was flowing and then the song came on: Bridge Over Troubled Water. I had to sing it, I can actually sing it rather well, but I couldn't tonight because I was blinking away and swallowing back tears at the memory of Penny O'Kane.
It was one of those summers where you are young full of life and having an amazing time meeting new people and figuring out where you fit into life as an emerging young adult. It was the summer of '83 at Syracuse University. I was 20 years old going into my senior year at university and I had just become a brother in my fraternity that spring. I was working as a peer tutor counselor for the incoming freshman class that were part of H.E.O.P. summer program. I was actually in this same program three years prior and being a peer tutor counselor was something that I was really looking forward to because the counselors my pre-freshman year in the program had made a tremendous impact on me and I wanted to return the favor.
I was a shy guy, still am with folks I don't know, and I didn't know any of the other counselor except a couple or so I'd seen around campus. Juliet M was one of them. We ran in different circles at school but we were cool. This summer and started hanging out a lot with Penny O'Kane and Anthony "Tony" M. The four of us were kind inseparable. The kids loved us and we generally had a really good time with them and each other.
At the end of the summer program Penny and Tony were seeing one another and it made perfect sense. They were made for each other. But it was Penny and I that sang together at the banquet that is held at the program's end, and it's the peer tutor counselors that perform for the staffers, students and other counselors. Penny and I sang, you guessed it, Bridge Over Troubled Water and brought the house down. It went over really well. All our hours of practicing had really paid off.
The four of us were reluctant to let the summer end for a couple of reason. 1. I was transferring to a college of Syracuse, Utica College that was 50 miles away and 2. we all ran in different circles at Syracuse during the year and paths probably wouldn't cross for the three that would be there. So a concerted effort would have to be made to stay in touch. We promised to do so and we all went home for the reminder of the summer and stayed in contact. Juliet and I lived in the Bronx and we talked a few times. I called Tony and Penny separately to check in now and again. All was cool.
The fall semester of my senior year I went to Utica College and they went back to Syracuse. I'd gone back to Syracuse on a couple of ocassions and checked in, left messages etc but you know how college is. Saw Penny though and had a good time seeing her. I remember us talking about how much fun and how carefree the summer with the four of us was. We call tried to stay in contact but it's college distractions, committments, this that, blah blah blah.
Went home for Christmas break. At some point during the break got a call that Penny was in a car accident and was currently in a coma. Her brother or sister was killed and another sibling had a broken arm. Tony, Juliet and I rushed to her side and tried to will her out of the coma. We talked to her, I sang our song to her, we held her, we begged her to come back to us....but she didn't.
Reality check. Bad things happen to good people. I'd never had anything like this happen to a close friend of mine. I didn't know what to do. I checked in with the family to see if there was any change but evertime I called there wasn't. Eventually I stopped calling. I went back to school as did Juliet and Tony but it was different. It's one thing knowing that the person you can't see right now or can't get a hold of is busy doing something else. It's another knowing that the person you want to contact you can't because they are seriously injured. Reality check indeed.
I'd go back to Syracuse and see my brothers there and also check in on Tony. He was the one hurting the most out of all of us I think. I think he and Penny may have gotten married at some point. Last time I saw him he was talking about going into the military. I'm not sure what happened to him. I think Juliet and I may have been in contact for a short while after all this. Not too sure, memory being what it is. I think it was too much for me to see these guys and not think of Penny so I stopped calling. And life went on.
And then one day years later I heard Bridge Over Troubled Water and the memory was opened and everything came flooding back. I called the only number I had for the family and found that it was disconnected. Called information asking for any O'Kane in that area, all to no avail.
This brings me to late last year when I heard the song out of the blue again. I had to find out one way or another what happened to Penny. I used the internet this time and found her obituary. I found that she had passed away in a long term care facility. I'm not certain if she had ever come out of the coma however.
So this is for Penny O'Kane: Sail on silver girl/Sail on by/Your time has come to shine/All your dreams are on their way/See how they shine/Oh if you need a friend/I'm sailing right behind/Like a bridge over troubled water/I will ease your mind/Like a bridge over troubled water/I will ease your mind
Sail on silver girl. I miss you. - Wil
We were out celebrating Jasmin's last few days with Mandarin House. Dinner followed by some karaoke. Amazing food at this restaurant in Nanguoxiang Houtong. During karaoke the beer was flowing and then the song came on: Bridge Over Troubled Water. I had to sing it, I can actually sing it rather well, but I couldn't tonight because I was blinking away and swallowing back tears at the memory of Penny O'Kane.
It was one of those summers where you are young full of life and having an amazing time meeting new people and figuring out where you fit into life as an emerging young adult. It was the summer of '83 at Syracuse University. I was 20 years old going into my senior year at university and I had just become a brother in my fraternity that spring. I was working as a peer tutor counselor for the incoming freshman class that were part of H.E.O.P. summer program. I was actually in this same program three years prior and being a peer tutor counselor was something that I was really looking forward to because the counselors my pre-freshman year in the program had made a tremendous impact on me and I wanted to return the favor.
I was a shy guy, still am with folks I don't know, and I didn't know any of the other counselor except a couple or so I'd seen around campus. Juliet M was one of them. We ran in different circles at school but we were cool. This summer and started hanging out a lot with Penny O'Kane and Anthony "Tony" M. The four of us were kind inseparable. The kids loved us and we generally had a really good time with them and each other.
At the end of the summer program Penny and Tony were seeing one another and it made perfect sense. They were made for each other. But it was Penny and I that sang together at the banquet that is held at the program's end, and it's the peer tutor counselors that perform for the staffers, students and other counselors. Penny and I sang, you guessed it, Bridge Over Troubled Water and brought the house down. It went over really well. All our hours of practicing had really paid off.
The four of us were reluctant to let the summer end for a couple of reason. 1. I was transferring to a college of Syracuse, Utica College that was 50 miles away and 2. we all ran in different circles at Syracuse during the year and paths probably wouldn't cross for the three that would be there. So a concerted effort would have to be made to stay in touch. We promised to do so and we all went home for the reminder of the summer and stayed in contact. Juliet and I lived in the Bronx and we talked a few times. I called Tony and Penny separately to check in now and again. All was cool.
The fall semester of my senior year I went to Utica College and they went back to Syracuse. I'd gone back to Syracuse on a couple of ocassions and checked in, left messages etc but you know how college is. Saw Penny though and had a good time seeing her. I remember us talking about how much fun and how carefree the summer with the four of us was. We call tried to stay in contact but it's college distractions, committments, this that, blah blah blah.
Went home for Christmas break. At some point during the break got a call that Penny was in a car accident and was currently in a coma. Her brother or sister was killed and another sibling had a broken arm. Tony, Juliet and I rushed to her side and tried to will her out of the coma. We talked to her, I sang our song to her, we held her, we begged her to come back to us....but she didn't.
Reality check. Bad things happen to good people. I'd never had anything like this happen to a close friend of mine. I didn't know what to do. I checked in with the family to see if there was any change but evertime I called there wasn't. Eventually I stopped calling. I went back to school as did Juliet and Tony but it was different. It's one thing knowing that the person you can't see right now or can't get a hold of is busy doing something else. It's another knowing that the person you want to contact you can't because they are seriously injured. Reality check indeed.
I'd go back to Syracuse and see my brothers there and also check in on Tony. He was the one hurting the most out of all of us I think. I think he and Penny may have gotten married at some point. Last time I saw him he was talking about going into the military. I'm not sure what happened to him. I think Juliet and I may have been in contact for a short while after all this. Not too sure, memory being what it is. I think it was too much for me to see these guys and not think of Penny so I stopped calling. And life went on.
And then one day years later I heard Bridge Over Troubled Water and the memory was opened and everything came flooding back. I called the only number I had for the family and found that it was disconnected. Called information asking for any O'Kane in that area, all to no avail.
This brings me to late last year when I heard the song out of the blue again. I had to find out one way or another what happened to Penny. I used the internet this time and found her obituary. I found that she had passed away in a long term care facility. I'm not certain if she had ever come out of the coma however.
So this is for Penny O'Kane: Sail on silver girl/Sail on by/Your time has come to shine/All your dreams are on their way/See how they shine/Oh if you need a friend/I'm sailing right behind/Like a bridge over troubled water/I will ease your mind/Like a bridge over troubled water/I will ease your mind
Sail on silver girl. I miss you. - Wil
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Necessity is the mother of figuring shit out or there goes a perfect good bandana down the drain
Warning BM alert: If you were in anyway offended by my previous bathroom posts STOP do not read any further! If you are like me and my girl Nory Pollack and this kind of talk doesn't rattle you even during dinner then read on beotches.
I've gone on record about how no one told me about the whole squat toilet situation in China. Beotches conveniently left that out of the description of China (Gordon, Kristin and you too Alan.) I've also gone on record about my avoidance of them toilets at all cost. Today world colllided and the explosion was not pretty. (I told you to stop right, if you are still reading be warned yet again.)
Had Tuesday dinner with Dorothy Dozier Jenn's mom. We went to some place in her neighborhood that coworkers had taken her for her first lunch in Beijing a week or two prior. Dinner consisted of cold jellyfish salad (I've had many times since being in BJ, delicious), a side of slice bamboo shoots (first time, really good), and tea tree dried mushrooms Cantonese style (chewy but delicious as well) and a braised trout in brown sauce (another good choice). A bottle of some 1998 chinese wine (not bad not the greatest, Gordon you'da hate it.) Good conversation and I was fine. Stomach was in good shape all day long.
At 9pm or so, Dorothy and I headed to Tian 'an men Square to meet up with Jasmin and Hugo because we were going to walk around the square and see the Olympic light displays and go for a drink afterwards. When we got to the square my stomach felt really weird and I knew I would be needing the bathroom in about an hour or so. Problem is is that there is nothing to be found in the square at all. I can hold it.
We walk around the square the lights are very pretty and my stomach is doing some very weird things about a half hour into the walk. It's time to formulate a plan because things can go from bad to really bad in an instance. I'm looking high and low for possible out but there are sooooo many people around. We decide to walk south to see what we can find by way of a bar to grab a drink. Drink? Drink? I'm thinking xishoujian (bathroom) and xishoujian now! It gets so bad that all I can do it be quiet. Just be silent and monitor what my body is doing. Gauge how long I can possibly keep walking looking for a toilet. Problem is is that we are not finding anything. The streets are residential and I'm cursing city planning right now. We walk a little further and see some lights. A cigarette store, no help. A china mobile stand, no help. The equivalent of a bodega, no help. A closed restaurant, no help. Residential, residential, resi-frakking-dential this is getting very serious, no help. Finally a restaurant. Not our ideal choice but the patrons have beer bottles on the table so what the heck, we decide to go in. I say to the waitress, xishou--bathroom, BATHROOM!! and make a beeline to the direction she's pointing. Shit there's some guy waiting and the door just closed. The could be really bad!!! One of my worst nightmares come true.
Left leg, right leg hop hop hop. Left leg, right leg hop hop hop. HURRY THE FRAK UP!! Hop hop hop hop hop. The door opens and a girl comes out. Come on guy go in pee really quick and get the hell out. He doesn't go in. He was just waiting for the girl. IT'S MY TURN. Thank GOD!!! I walk in, close the door, turn and see a F#%KING SQUAT TOILET. SHIT, MOTHERF#%KER, GDDEMMIT, F#%KING SHIT.
I literally have no time to figure out how to do this. I don't know if the pants are supposed to come off or stay on. I fumble to get my belt loose and the stupid ass tie that's on the inside of these dumbass nautica cargo shorts that almost did me in. (Never buying nautica again because of that dumbass inside tie straps.) It's a race against time where mere microseconds could mean the difference between walking shirtless down the street as your shirts covers your soiled shorts in the back or not. I won that race was able to squat, apparently in the right direction and get my shorts out of the way of Big Wil while he did his business.
I'm in there for a while, my system was really screwed up by something and I'm not sure what it was. My business is coming to an end and I look around for tp. I don't see anything. Fortunately, I asked Dorothy for some tissue before I came into the restaurant. She gives me two tissues but after what I did in there I'll need a fifth of a roll but nothings around. Only thing I have on me is my bandana that I've been wearing on my head, arm, neck to mop up the sweat. It will have to do. Goodbye trusted Grey friend. You served your master well. I can never tell you how much I appreciated the last service you provided for me. You will be missed.
So apparently these no toilet paper because there's a removeable shower head thingy that you are supposed to use to rinse yourself off after you use your left hand as tissue. NOT TODAY! Just not going to happen today. Not saying it won't in the future, just not today.
Got home and first thing I did was go again. Took a shower. Had to go again. Showered again and as I type this at least and hour later I think I may have to go yet again. Geez.
I'd gone on and on about this particular type of porcelin fixture and had worked myself up into the fear of the damn thing. When push came to shove the decision was removed from me. I had no choice but to accept it and GO! If you can avoid the squat toilet or the hole in the ground do so. That said, having had this experience, guess what, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. This example was so extreme that anything that could possibly come after it has to be a walk in the park as far as I'm concerned.
I think I'll be okay in some of the remote places that I plan on visiting on my next leg if a western toilet isn't available. I get the message about letting our fears get the better of us.
Lesson learned, but did it have to be so extreme? Geez! Oim!
-Wil
I've gone on record about how no one told me about the whole squat toilet situation in China. Beotches conveniently left that out of the description of China (Gordon, Kristin and you too Alan.) I've also gone on record about my avoidance of them toilets at all cost. Today world colllided and the explosion was not pretty. (I told you to stop right, if you are still reading be warned yet again.)
Had Tuesday dinner with Dorothy Dozier Jenn's mom. We went to some place in her neighborhood that coworkers had taken her for her first lunch in Beijing a week or two prior. Dinner consisted of cold jellyfish salad (I've had many times since being in BJ, delicious), a side of slice bamboo shoots (first time, really good), and tea tree dried mushrooms Cantonese style (chewy but delicious as well) and a braised trout in brown sauce (another good choice). A bottle of some 1998 chinese wine (not bad not the greatest, Gordon you'da hate it.) Good conversation and I was fine. Stomach was in good shape all day long.
At 9pm or so, Dorothy and I headed to Tian 'an men Square to meet up with Jasmin and Hugo because we were going to walk around the square and see the Olympic light displays and go for a drink afterwards. When we got to the square my stomach felt really weird and I knew I would be needing the bathroom in about an hour or so. Problem is is that there is nothing to be found in the square at all. I can hold it.
We walk around the square the lights are very pretty and my stomach is doing some very weird things about a half hour into the walk. It's time to formulate a plan because things can go from bad to really bad in an instance. I'm looking high and low for possible out but there are sooooo many people around. We decide to walk south to see what we can find by way of a bar to grab a drink. Drink? Drink? I'm thinking xishoujian (bathroom) and xishoujian now! It gets so bad that all I can do it be quiet. Just be silent and monitor what my body is doing. Gauge how long I can possibly keep walking looking for a toilet. Problem is is that we are not finding anything. The streets are residential and I'm cursing city planning right now. We walk a little further and see some lights. A cigarette store, no help. A china mobile stand, no help. The equivalent of a bodega, no help. A closed restaurant, no help. Residential, residential, resi-frakking-dential this is getting very serious, no help. Finally a restaurant. Not our ideal choice but the patrons have beer bottles on the table so what the heck, we decide to go in. I say to the waitress, xishou--bathroom, BATHROOM!! and make a beeline to the direction she's pointing. Shit there's some guy waiting and the door just closed. The could be really bad!!! One of my worst nightmares come true.
Left leg, right leg hop hop hop. Left leg, right leg hop hop hop. HURRY THE FRAK UP!! Hop hop hop hop hop. The door opens and a girl comes out. Come on guy go in pee really quick and get the hell out. He doesn't go in. He was just waiting for the girl. IT'S MY TURN. Thank GOD!!! I walk in, close the door, turn and see a F#%KING SQUAT TOILET. SHIT, MOTHERF#%KER, GDDEMMIT, F#%KING SHIT.
I literally have no time to figure out how to do this. I don't know if the pants are supposed to come off or stay on. I fumble to get my belt loose and the stupid ass tie that's on the inside of these dumbass nautica cargo shorts that almost did me in. (Never buying nautica again because of that dumbass inside tie straps.) It's a race against time where mere microseconds could mean the difference between walking shirtless down the street as your shirts covers your soiled shorts in the back or not. I won that race was able to squat, apparently in the right direction and get my shorts out of the way of Big Wil while he did his business.
I'm in there for a while, my system was really screwed up by something and I'm not sure what it was. My business is coming to an end and I look around for tp. I don't see anything. Fortunately, I asked Dorothy for some tissue before I came into the restaurant. She gives me two tissues but after what I did in there I'll need a fifth of a roll but nothings around. Only thing I have on me is my bandana that I've been wearing on my head, arm, neck to mop up the sweat. It will have to do. Goodbye trusted Grey friend. You served your master well. I can never tell you how much I appreciated the last service you provided for me. You will be missed.
So apparently these no toilet paper because there's a removeable shower head thingy that you are supposed to use to rinse yourself off after you use your left hand as tissue. NOT TODAY! Just not going to happen today. Not saying it won't in the future, just not today.
Got home and first thing I did was go again. Took a shower. Had to go again. Showered again and as I type this at least and hour later I think I may have to go yet again. Geez.
I'd gone on and on about this particular type of porcelin fixture and had worked myself up into the fear of the damn thing. When push came to shove the decision was removed from me. I had no choice but to accept it and GO! If you can avoid the squat toilet or the hole in the ground do so. That said, having had this experience, guess what, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. This example was so extreme that anything that could possibly come after it has to be a walk in the park as far as I'm concerned.
I think I'll be okay in some of the remote places that I plan on visiting on my next leg if a western toilet isn't available. I get the message about letting our fears get the better of us.
Lesson learned, but did it have to be so extreme? Geez! Oim!
-Wil
Monday, August 4, 2008
It was a number of things
I want to rant for a little bit. I want to be spoiled little billy for this post and get this out of my system before it gets the better of me. I just got incredibly homesick. No it hasn't been building for a while it just came on me as I looked at some pictures of my family and friends back in the states. It came on me yesterday as my sharon and chance called and checked in with me before heading out to see the dinosaur walk at the museum. It came on me when I called to wish Noah a happy third birthday and he remembered his uncle wil and wishes me a happy birthday instead. It whispers in my ear when my mom tells me in her comment posts that she loves me or how she and donna went shopping for darius' college dorm room. It grabs at me when Takeshia, Pa Ney Ney, Gordon, Tyree, Kristian, Harney et al send me IMs when we are online and when other friends (Kelly, Pam, Joanne, Kristian, Stevie boi, Thomas, Sean just send quick notes to let me know they are there and just dropping a quick line of hello. Or when Karen sends me a frantic note of concern when she heard about the bombing in Beijing and wanted to know if I was okay. Yes, I was because it wasn't Beijing it was some city as far away from Beijing as NYC is to LA, but it's the thought. It eats at me when poker night rolls around and my gang is probably NOT having a game without me. It's there when I can't reach Stone and Russell after calling time and time again. Then being partially satisfied when I reached one. (Russell Michael I'm on skype now as per my last voice mail I know you have it demmit. For the rest of you i'm wilchappellchina if you use skype.)
Okay so maybe it has been building for a while. I MISS MY PEEPS. I miss that support system that surrounds you daily and keeps you sane, safe and whole. I miss that easy access to those that are important to me. I miss my TIVO, my flatscreen tv, my macs, my high speed internet connection where I can see Orla's and Cormac's pictures without having to twindle my thumbs andwhistle while i wait. I miss Jerry's pizza in my neighborhood and wonton soup from the chinese place around the corner, stupid i know since i'm in the land of wonton soup but i still miss it. I miss my apartment with that stupid too dark paint on the walls which will hopefully be changed by the time i get back. I miss my one set of white dishes that I've had forever and probably really need to get a least two more set since i've broken quite a few of them. I MISS MY CLOTHES. I have been wearing the same three pairs four pairs of shorts, 7 pairs of underwear, one pair of sneakers, one pair of sandals and a pair of shower slippers, 5 pairs of sox three pairs of pants two of which are swimming on me now, and assorted t shirts since i got here. And yes, I was clothes every week sunday. I miss my shoes. I miss my toiletries. I miss my cologne. I haven't worn cologne in over a month and quite frankly don't have too cause I smell damn good but I miss it none the less. I miss...my country. I miss America. Land of the...home of the...I miss it. I miss America. She ain't perfect but she's mine, she's all I got and I miss her.
I feel better now. I feel like the pressure is off; the release valve was opened. For those wondering I'm still going to go on with this journey. I chose this. I knew what I'd be sacrificing. I knew at times it wouldnt be easy, most things aren't. If you don't cave in you only get stronger right?
I'll recognize and honor what I'm feeling and make it part of the entire experience. I may get homesick again but I'm never alone or lonely because I take you all with me. I truly mean that. I really do.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. (Big sigh of relief.) I'm going to bed now.
- Wil
Okay so maybe it has been building for a while. I MISS MY PEEPS. I miss that support system that surrounds you daily and keeps you sane, safe and whole. I miss that easy access to those that are important to me. I miss my TIVO, my flatscreen tv, my macs, my high speed internet connection where I can see Orla's and Cormac's pictures without having to twindle my thumbs andwhistle while i wait. I miss Jerry's pizza in my neighborhood and wonton soup from the chinese place around the corner, stupid i know since i'm in the land of wonton soup but i still miss it. I miss my apartment with that stupid too dark paint on the walls which will hopefully be changed by the time i get back. I miss my one set of white dishes that I've had forever and probably really need to get a least two more set since i've broken quite a few of them. I MISS MY CLOTHES. I have been wearing the same three pairs four pairs of shorts, 7 pairs of underwear, one pair of sneakers, one pair of sandals and a pair of shower slippers, 5 pairs of sox three pairs of pants two of which are swimming on me now, and assorted t shirts since i got here. And yes, I was clothes every week sunday. I miss my shoes. I miss my toiletries. I miss my cologne. I haven't worn cologne in over a month and quite frankly don't have too cause I smell damn good but I miss it none the less. I miss...my country. I miss America. Land of the...home of the...I miss it. I miss America. She ain't perfect but she's mine, she's all I got and I miss her.
I feel better now. I feel like the pressure is off; the release valve was opened. For those wondering I'm still going to go on with this journey. I chose this. I knew what I'd be sacrificing. I knew at times it wouldnt be easy, most things aren't. If you don't cave in you only get stronger right?
I'll recognize and honor what I'm feeling and make it part of the entire experience. I may get homesick again but I'm never alone or lonely because I take you all with me. I truly mean that. I really do.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. (Big sigh of relief.) I'm going to bed now.
- Wil
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Night market, night out, night of a thousand drinks
Forgot to tell you folks that I went to the night market in the Wangfujing area of Beijing early Thursday night after out kungfu class fell through. Apparently the students are taking part in the opening ceremonies and the school is closed until after the olympics. It really sucked that we (me, Marcos and James) didn't get a chance to practice with the class we were really looking forward to it. Between the three of us we has considerable years of martial arts experience. Marcos has two year of (and I will get the spelling wrong here) Capoiera (Brazillian martial arts), me with five years of KungFu and James with nine years of Tai Kwon Do. Funny thing is that we all agreed that we were not going to tell the insructors of our prior experience when we took the class. We didn't want them kicking out butt too badly. We walked about around Wangfujing and came across the night market where you can get street food cooked in front of you. The choices of dishes range far and wide from the humble dumpling to cooked starfish and fried seahorses. What did we opt for you might ask? Wait for it....wait for it....the scorpions of course!!! Here's the proof.
As you can see we opted for the smaller of the two sizes. We'd heard that the smaller ones were tastier but we did go to another section of Wangfujing looking for the bigger scorpions that apparently someone saw on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations show. Couldn't find it though so we didn't have the bigger scorpions that night. We'll make it back and try them though.
The last sentence that I would have ever thought someone would say to me was this: "Ah, Wil you have a little scorpion leg on your face." And what did I do, I searched for it with my tongue and ate it. In the words of my friend Candice Dorn who can never return a phone call or when she does it five months later, and no I'm not bitter, "Yummmaaaaay!"
Afterwards we had a meal from a Singapore restaurant. Food was really good and inexpensive. This is the night that Marcos introduced us to the Brazillian term Sidiera. Loosely translated it means something like one more drink for the road or like the last drink before you leave. Problem is is that there are many many shouts or Sidiera before you actually leave. We decided not to have a sidiera at the restaurant and went to Sanlitun to a bar called The Tree. Nice drinking establishment. Started out with beer in these huge mugs. I can only drink so much beer before I feel like I'm gonna bust my gut. I had two before I switched to Absolute and Orange. (I know my friends are saying "what about his devotion to "the Goose (Grey Goose)" I can't find it anywhere and quite frankly it's seems that they chinese know Absolute. When I say Grey Goose I get blank looks. I did find it once at Q Bar, but it was so expensive for a measure ounce that I said forget about it. Someone,okay me, had the bright idea to factor shot of tequilla, sadly not Patron, into the mix at random intervals. Hours later we left there clearly under the influence and went to another bar. It was only 1130pm afterall. More sidieras, more beer, more Absolute Orange, more shots and you get the picture.
There was music and dancing and girls celebrating birthdays and girls wanted to dance with the tall black guy (who can dance his ass off I might add) and more drinking and time just slipping away on this Thursday night now Friday morning. I think that James and Marcos have video, of what, I have no idea but I seem to remember cameras. (Nothing bad I might add, probably just us being drunk and dancing drunkenly with these girls on the dance floor.)
At one point I went to the restroom and came back and James was gone. Not really hard to miss him since he's taller than me but Marcos apparenlty had no idea where he went. Found out next day that he had simply gone home. When I asked him what happened he said "Sorry, did I not say a proper goodbye." Ah, the British. You gotta love them. Too funny.
Marcos and I left shortly after. I had to take him to his apartment, fortunately we live in the same building, because he was GONE.
I made it to class then next day at 10am. Marcos made it at 11am and James somewhere around 1110am. Needless to say we all were wearing out sunglasses in class. Thankfully mine and Marcos' instructor too pity on us and our class was not challenging this day.
And the moral of the story is this boys and girls: If a Brazillian says "Sidiera!" run because there will be no end to the drinking in sight! Now whether you run to or away from is totally up to you.
Me I'd run.......
Here's to getting in all the running you need. - Wil
Friday, August 1, 2008
Everybody was Kungfu fighting....
The evening started off pleasant enough. We were celebrating that Spanish guys' last day in Beijing and Roberto birthday. We had a VIP table at the club Banana and were enjoying ourselves like it was no one's business. Most of our group and decided to leave because they had flights to catch in the morning. That left me, LaLa, Roberto Hugo and Marcos. Hugo and LaLa left shortly after and Robert, Marcos and I decided to keep the party going in the Sanlitun area of Beijing. Sanlitun is a series of bar and drinking establishments in a relatively small area. It's the place to go and get drunk or go to an after hour spot, which is what the three of us were looking for.
It ended up that Roberto (he had just turned 17 earlier in the day) and I grabbed something to eat as Marco chatted up an Asian girl who seemed just a little too happy to meet him. Afterwards as we were walking to catch a taxi we ran to a group of people sitting on the curb and decided to join them. A really good conversation took place. Another change for me to practice my chinese. The sun was coming up as it was around 530am and we were having a really good a really good conversation with these folks just sitting on the curb talking chinese and getting to know them and they us as well all basked in our liquor induced euphoria.
We then hear voices raised across the street and look up to see a small gathering of people in a heated debate. There are four foreign people in an argument with some chinese guys. I pay it no mind and continue talking with the group. Marcos gets up and makes his way across the street unbeknownst to me. Next thing I know Roberto or someone says something about Marcos and I look up only to see him being attacked by three of the guys. I get up and hop over the chest high partition that's in the middle of the street with no problem this time (truth be told I had tried to hop over the partition earlier going to the other side of the street not even 20 minutes prior and fell on my arse in front of the group I would soon meet) and ran to Marcos' defense. No matter how you slice it three on one is never a fair fight.
One thing you should know about me is that I'm not a violent person. At the same time I'm not afraid of getting into a fight or being hit. I, however, am damn sure not going to let my friend get jumped by three guys for coming to the aid of some folks needing help.
So I hopped the partition, without a problem this time, and roll up on the nearest guy coming after Marcos and give him a shove and send him flying across the pavement. He's down and rolling on his back by the force of the shove. The next guy I just stone cold deck him in the face and he goes down. Guy number three has a broken skate board that he's using as a weapon, but aahhh, my Kungfu skills are much stronger than his. He swings with the broken skate board and I duck under it and come up throwing a punch that doesn't connect. He swings again I duck but he just barely catches me with the board on the head but doesn't break the skin. My next punch lands and he goes down and Marcos and I pound on him. Next there is a lot of shouting and threats and I end up with one of the guys in a choke hold around the neck. I push him away when I feel moisture on my face. Apparently the local police had showed up and saw the bruhaha and decided to pepper spray me in the face. Fortunately, it was only on my right side lips and lower jaw. When I realized what he did I wiped my face off and looked at him like he was crazy. I'm sure he thought why isn't this crazy laowei screaming with peppers in his eyes. Cooler heads prevailed but not before plenty of threat and curses where thrown both ways. Roberto and I were not hurt at all. Marcos' shirt was rippped and he was bleeding a little from being jumped but otherwise none the worst for wear.
In the cab ride home he couldn't understand how things had turned so bad so fast, particularly when he was coming to the aid of the french folks. I explained to him that those guys were looking for a fight to begin with. The fact that he was trying to play peacemaker just made him the target and not the french folks. What the guys hadn't counted on was that Marcos had back up. Honestly, I don't think that he knew he had back up either. I'm sure he appreciated it though.
Our new friends wanted to make sure that we were okay. We were. The french folks thanked us profusely and wanted to shake our hands. The guys we beat up didn't want to have anything to do with us but we still talked to them anyway. Marcos told them that it was all a big misunderstanding. I told them there was no way that I was going to let them just jump my friend. No hard feelings. The guys I clocked really wasn't receptive. Can't say that I blame hjm either. The police wanted to talk to me but I don't understand Chinese? What!? It's true? We made a hasty return to a taxi so I could blog about it you. Aren't you lucky. I'm just glad we were not arrested or anything.
That was my morning. How was yours?
Thankfully home safe and sound and not in jail. - Wil
It ended up that Roberto (he had just turned 17 earlier in the day) and I grabbed something to eat as Marco chatted up an Asian girl who seemed just a little too happy to meet him. Afterwards as we were walking to catch a taxi we ran to a group of people sitting on the curb and decided to join them. A really good conversation took place. Another change for me to practice my chinese. The sun was coming up as it was around 530am and we were having a really good a really good conversation with these folks just sitting on the curb talking chinese and getting to know them and they us as well all basked in our liquor induced euphoria.
We then hear voices raised across the street and look up to see a small gathering of people in a heated debate. There are four foreign people in an argument with some chinese guys. I pay it no mind and continue talking with the group. Marcos gets up and makes his way across the street unbeknownst to me. Next thing I know Roberto or someone says something about Marcos and I look up only to see him being attacked by three of the guys. I get up and hop over the chest high partition that's in the middle of the street with no problem this time (truth be told I had tried to hop over the partition earlier going to the other side of the street not even 20 minutes prior and fell on my arse in front of the group I would soon meet) and ran to Marcos' defense. No matter how you slice it three on one is never a fair fight.
One thing you should know about me is that I'm not a violent person. At the same time I'm not afraid of getting into a fight or being hit. I, however, am damn sure not going to let my friend get jumped by three guys for coming to the aid of some folks needing help.
So I hopped the partition, without a problem this time, and roll up on the nearest guy coming after Marcos and give him a shove and send him flying across the pavement. He's down and rolling on his back by the force of the shove. The next guy I just stone cold deck him in the face and he goes down. Guy number three has a broken skate board that he's using as a weapon, but aahhh, my Kungfu skills are much stronger than his. He swings with the broken skate board and I duck under it and come up throwing a punch that doesn't connect. He swings again I duck but he just barely catches me with the board on the head but doesn't break the skin. My next punch lands and he goes down and Marcos and I pound on him. Next there is a lot of shouting and threats and I end up with one of the guys in a choke hold around the neck. I push him away when I feel moisture on my face. Apparently the local police had showed up and saw the bruhaha and decided to pepper spray me in the face. Fortunately, it was only on my right side lips and lower jaw. When I realized what he did I wiped my face off and looked at him like he was crazy. I'm sure he thought why isn't this crazy laowei screaming with peppers in his eyes. Cooler heads prevailed but not before plenty of threat and curses where thrown both ways. Roberto and I were not hurt at all. Marcos' shirt was rippped and he was bleeding a little from being jumped but otherwise none the worst for wear.
In the cab ride home he couldn't understand how things had turned so bad so fast, particularly when he was coming to the aid of the french folks. I explained to him that those guys were looking for a fight to begin with. The fact that he was trying to play peacemaker just made him the target and not the french folks. What the guys hadn't counted on was that Marcos had back up. Honestly, I don't think that he knew he had back up either. I'm sure he appreciated it though.
Our new friends wanted to make sure that we were okay. We were. The french folks thanked us profusely and wanted to shake our hands. The guys we beat up didn't want to have anything to do with us but we still talked to them anyway. Marcos told them that it was all a big misunderstanding. I told them there was no way that I was going to let them just jump my friend. No hard feelings. The guys I clocked really wasn't receptive. Can't say that I blame hjm either. The police wanted to talk to me but I don't understand Chinese? What!? It's true? We made a hasty return to a taxi so I could blog about it you. Aren't you lucky. I'm just glad we were not arrested or anything.
That was my morning. How was yours?
Thankfully home safe and sound and not in jail. - Wil
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