Film Review: "The Mistress of Spices" (2006)

Well it's official now- I'm definitely gonna put my (very) short reviews here. I can't help it... When I watch a movie- sometimes I'm so drawn to it - that I forget who I am or where I am... (The same always happens with books... I already missed my stop on the subway coz of that...)

"The Mistress of Spices" (2006) is based on Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's book of the same name. I wish I had read the book first- but I think I've never heard of it (even though now when I think about it - I'm pretty sure that my mom has it in Hebrew at home... hmmm...).
Not like other examples- in this case I don't mind watching the movie first- coz it was such a colorful, magical, romantic, mysterious and beautiful one. The story is almost a fairytale, the colors are so vivid and bright, the music is perfect for the cause. For about 100 minutes you completely forget reality - even though it stands right in front of your face- the movie takes place in real life San Francisco. If you feel like stepping out of ordinary life to a place full of passion and magic - you better watch this movie.

I think I'm going to find that book now- knowing the story and the ending doesn't seem to make me want to read it any less- because books hide so much more in them- so many more details than you can actually capture by watching a movie. In a book- you "drink" every little thing, nothing goes through you without leaving a mark.

A note about the star this movie didn't get (I'll give it 4 stars) - I never like it in movies when immigrants, whom their mother tongue is not English, speak it among themselves.

The "little" things that affect our lives

There was an earthquake near Taiwan, 2 ppl got killed and 42 wounded. We hear about these things every day right? this time it actually affected my life a bit, and all the other ppl around here too. The earthquake damaged a few big communication cables under the sea - and now around all this area of Asia there's telecommunication problems. I can't open my e-mail, nor sign in to my messenger. Almost all international websites are inaccessible. I don't really mind, I mean they said that it's gonna take at east a few days- but I'll survive. The thing is that it shows me how delicate these things are, the things us- human beings- build. Earth can do what ever it wants to- and leave us without the little things that make our life better and easier, even take ppl's lives. Here I sit in a rather comfortable apartment, next to my own laptop (when it works... ) in the warmth of the AC, just watched a movie, and had my dinner, and in any minute there can be an earthquake, a storm or whatever that takes all of this away from me. We all know it- but to protect our selves we ignore it. Otherwise who can live thinking 24/7 that he can be literally swept off his feet in the next Typhoon?

Well that's it for today's philosophical moment...

So- no e-mails guys, and no MSN messenger!!!
(Skype works most of the time- in a miraculous way...)

Exit

I took this picture from the train
when it stopped in one of the stations on the way to Shanghai.
Notice anything wierd?
I thought it's funny that instead of writing: "Exit" under the 出口(= exit in Chinese)
they wrote the Pinyin for the word = chu kou.

Hangzhou

Warning: This post is kinda long

Yesterday I puled myself to Hangzhou, even though deep inside I knew I should stay in bed for at least another day or two. I took the subway to the new train station in Shanghai - they build it in the past year or two, it didn't exist last time I lived here. I see it from the outside all the time - it's just amazing- it's supposed to look like a big Chinese umbrella and it actually does... you can see for yourself in this picture:

Shanghai South Railway Station a view from the outside

I change metros there every day on the way to uni and back, but I never got to go to the actual station. This place looks totally like an airport rather than a train station in east Asia. It was absolutely easy to find my way around (I think it would be easy for ppl who don't know any Chinese at all too), and it's definitely efficient which is a very surprising thing when talking about China... I arrived there in the morning (after getting a wake up call from Rob at 8:14AM - wake up shmake up- there's nothing sweeter than waking up from a phone call from you tipsy loving boyfriend...) so that drove me to leave on a normal time- being in the station at 11:10AM. I asked for a ticket to Hangzhou - and the teller told me the train leaves in 40 minutes. I was really relieved to hear that there's seats, and that I don't have to wait for long. I bought the the cheapest there was (I guess that's what was left) it cost 25RMB (= about 2.5€） and headed to the entrance to the gates. There I found an x-ray machine (they have one in all the train stations- even the ones you think are so not worth the security coz they look like a dump) went through that and looked for my gate. The nice lady in the entrance told me to go to waiting room number 7 - so I headed there and was very impressed with the inside design of the place too...

x-ray machines even in the crappiest train stations

As soon as I set down on the seat- I noticed that my train was "boarding". I followed the herd and found myself going down an escalator to the platform. I found my seat on cart number 13, and set down. It wasn't the cheapest ticket for nothing: my seat was one out of three crowded seats (out of five in a row divided in the middle making a 2 seats row and a 3 seats row with an aisle in between). My seat was just next to this kid and his grandpa, and here in China I must admit- I haven't figured out a way to tell who cares about those seat numbers on the ticket and who doesn't - it appears to be 50-50 in the population... In the end instead of sitting on my aisle seat- I found myself sitting between a Chinese guy (later on he left and came a young woman) and the grandpa with the 4-5 year old (spoiled like all of these one-kid-per-family-kids) on his lap. The kid I must say seamed kinda smart but as I said- very spoiled. across from us set a middle aged couple that was just as noisy as all the Chinese ppl, and a young guy that while sitting down on his seat was finishing his noodle-meal-in-a-box (it's very popular here as travel food or something to eat at work). The whole time I was being squeezed by the kid / grandpa that were moving around as if it's a new national sport. The kid saw one of the food carts ladies walking through - and told his grandpa that he wanted to eat lunch now (it was almost noon and the Chinese ppl can not go through a day without eating their lunch at noon and their dinner at 18:00. Really - they just can not). He looked at all the nice boxes the lady had and picked them all up looking at them to see if they're nice. He picked a blue box and said he wants that one, but the lady told him that this one is spicy and he should better pick something else. He looked a bit confused for a second, saying that he wants the blue one coz it's just the most beautiful one... but his grandpa and the nosy lady across from us agreed that he should take the orange one. The nosy lady butted in and told him: "it's beautiful, but it's also spicy!". The kid was convinced and there was peace for all. Until he decided he doesn't wanna have more than a few noodles and the chase after him began in the whole train....
After 2 hours and 10 minutes of being a playground for one little kid and one old grandpa, we finally arrived at Hangzhou. By the way- I totally managed to fall asleep on the train- even if it was only between squeezing and only for 20 minutes). To start telling you about the differences between the old east Hangzhou train station (there's a new one in town) and the Shanghai South Railway Station - it's like telling the difference between an airplane and a horse carriage. The smells, the colors (well the lack of colors in this case), the lady who was laying on the platform- not moving when the security guys touched her frightfully... Third world compared with state of the art. Got out of there as quickly as possible and took a taxi to the youth hostel to meet Omri, whom I know from the China forum online. The youth hostel is located in the center of town, right next to the lake, which is a great location. I really liked the streets next to it, and this lake, as touristy as it is- has something special about it - especially under thick mist. I checked in the hostel, got a lower bed in a 4 bed dorm room, put my things in the locker and headed to meet some more ppl.

The entrance to Mingtown Youth Hostel, Hangzhou

We met Diego and Adriana, he's an Israeli who was born in Argentina, she's Colombian. We had lunch and then headed to the place where it's all gonna happen: Adriana's place (lives with a few more lovely girls- just like her) to cook the x-mas dinner. After a lot of ppl in a small kitchen (well, bigger than mine) and a few hours - we had some dishes set on the table- and we dug in... The evening was one of the most pleasant, fun, warm and welcoming I've ever been to. I even got a nice bracelet from one of the girls- as a x-mas present (thank you Cecilia) - this little gesture of giving presents to the ppl you love- I think I'll have to write about it one day too (we don't have a holiday like that in Israel, well at least we just like giving presents for fun...). Even though I still didn't feel totally healthy - I didn't wanna leave. In the end we left at around 02:00 and I was asleep by 03:30 (it takes a while to get ready for bed when you're doing it in the dark to not wake up any of the other 3 ppl you have in your room).

In the morning I met Omri and Diego for breakfast in one of the endless Starbucks coffees in China. This one is just by the lake, and it was really nice walking there on the bank while rain drops were falling on my head (had to say that line from the song...).

A golden ox merging from the lake
West Lake (Xihu), Hangzhou

As it was raining a bit and I wasn't feeling very well - I decided that I'll go back to Hangzhou soon, and of course take Rob with me... I took my backpack from the hostel, and went home...

(still not feeling great- laying in bed since I got here...)

baaaaa I feel ichy...

Went to sleep last night - put on the alarm clock so I wont sleep all day, but the universe had different plans for me: I really didn't sleep all day - but I feel really bhhaaaa... Headache and a sore throat and a general feeling like my head is gonna fall off... So I guess I'll rest today - maybe go get me a ticket to Hangzhou for tomorrow later on... oof... well... It's OK, I have 5 days off school (including the weekend) so I'm not in a hurry. Besides- I have another exam on Friday - so I better study a bit...

***

Just a note-
Especially when I have a headache or don't feel very well- I hate the Chinese!!! Why??? Why??? Why do they have to honk their horns all the time everywhere all the time for hours and hours??? They are such noisy ppl, and again- I usually don't like it - but I let it go, but when I'm sick - I just hate it!

I know I know- this is no film blog but...

There's one thing you do in China if you have a lot of free time (well even if you don't...) you watch a lot of movies... DVDs are so cheap here- going to the store to buy some is a regular thing we do every weekend- to fill up the stash...
So today I watched 3 films - 2 of them were really not great, but then- at the end of the day - I watched a movie that I can definitely say is the best I've watched here since I arrived. This movie is called "TransAmerica" - and the story is about a transsexual man - who is on the verge of getting the surgery to become a woman- suddenly learning he has a son from his first and only girlfriend. I obviously wont "bore" you with the details to not ruin it for you... You'll just have to believe me- that this one is really good. I laughed, I shed a tear, I was surprised and scared (well more worried than scared really) and I really enjoyed it...
I've always loved the stories that are a bit strange but totally make you believe they are real (and no- I'm not talking about Sci-Fi). Of course the way the movie is made is really important- including the music first (on my scale it's the most important element) then directing, editing, and acting. The story can be good or bad- I've just proved today that a movie can have a nice story, a believable one, even interesting to a certain extent- but if all the others are bad- the movie will totally fail (so don't watch "Shop Girl" with Clare Danes).

***

Tomorrow I'm gonna go to the railway station to try to get a train or a bus to a city called Hangzhou. There I'm gonna meet 2 Israeli's I know from my online life (China Forum) and we're gonna spend Sunday night at their friends' house for dinner. I guess I will get a train or a bus, but because there's a holiday I'm not sure I'll get a ticket. So I might find myself buying a ticket for Sunday and going back home. Who knows.

Oh my God

It's really been a while since a film left me so shocked. I've just finished watching "The King" (2005) with Gael Garcia Bernal (Written by James Marsh & Millo Addica, Directed by James Marsh). Bernal is definitely one of my favorite actors. I've watched a lot of films he stared in. I chose this film at the store- just because of him - To see what he's capable of in the American industry. The story left me shaking. I've never been so surprised by the development of a plot in my life. There are no words to describe it- maybe these words- a disturbed tragedy.
The story is about a young man who got of the Navy and decided to go find his Father whom he had never met. He finds out his dad is a pastor of a small Christian community in Texas. I don't want to ruin the film for you- but if you decide to watch it - be prepared to watch a very disturbed sick weird shocking film. It was so shocking that I didn't even notice the good acting (and it was) the fine soundtrack (oh yes it really was) and the exceptional directing and editing. I'm pretty sure that if I ever watch this film again - I'd like it better - coz then I wouldn't be rushing my palms to my mouth every 10 minutes from surprise and shock. I will probably not shed tears again in one of these moments that you just can not believe what you had just seen.

The title of this post is not accidentally chosen - this whole film talks about this pastor and the strong believe in God he and his family has. If you'll watch the film - you'll see where that got them.

A different kind of goodbye

I went with Rob to the airport last night. Being there really made me regret not going- but I blame the airport flame - that feeling you get when you're there- like no matter how great your life can be somewhere- you just wanna go somewhere else... Standing in line with all the people taking his flight- and not taking it myself... hmmm... Of course I've noticed something else I've been feeling while being there- it was as if we don't know how to say goodbye just for a few days... We're so accustomed of saying goodbye for a long period of time - that we couldn't stop being sad and kissing each other as if the next time we meet is in a year... Then I realized he's only going for 10 days (well 11 but who's counting?) and this is ridiculous! I smiled at him and let him go...
Being alone in this flat is kinda weird- before- in Israel- I had my own place and when Rob was there it was always full of light and warmth. Then when he left- it felt empty again- but it was still my place and after a little while I got used to being alone there and enjoyed it. It was all decorated to my taste, with lots of pictures I took on the walls, my little things everywhere. Most of the furniture was mine - and when Rob was gone- I could still feel natural there. But here- this flat is not just mine- it's actually ours. We didn't put any pictures on the walls (I guessed it's not worth it for 6 months - maybe I was wrong- but we're almost in the middle of that period already- so what's the point) and all of the furniture is the flat owners'. It's weird waking up here - without him reminding me what I'm actually doing here...

***

I skipped school today- thought I don't feel like going there so early in the morning after getting home late last night. Tomorrow I guess I'll go- and the next day- what will probably be good for me- to keep busy. I also got an invitation for a Candle Lighting tomorrow night at the place of a couple I met here- he's from Israel, she's Belgium and Jewish and they met when she studied in Israel. I hope it'll be good there- coz I have no idea who else is coming, but as I wrote here before- especially when you're alone in this city you should force yourself to go to places even if you're not sure you'll know anyone there...

When you can't say the word "Degrees" (plural) - it means it is COLD

The "Hanukia" I made by myself - just like in kindergarten...

Last Friday I invited some friends for a Hanukkah dinner. Out of the 5 of us we were 2 Jewish ppl that really knew what this is about, and in the end- we had a really nice evening. I made the special food for it, and we lit up the candles. I always enjoy indoor parties and dinners a lot. Sometimes I would defiantly prefer them over going out to a club or pub.
This last weekend had blue skies and less than 5°c... In the evenings it got down to 1°c - which is very freezing for me- especially when the sun is not out and there's a wind... But today it's a bit better, I try to wear more clothes (I'm becoming Chinese in another way- wearing another layer under my pants...) and then I feel rather fine... As long as it doesn't get colder than this (from my experience it doesn't get a lot colder) I'll be fine. The thing is that the houses and buildings are really not isolated - and the AC's really don't help in these low temperatures. We often turn both our AC's on for hours- and last Friday Rob and I were shopping for dinner - and he bought "me" my Hanukkah present- a small fan look alike radiator heater (it's the cutest thing- and it really warms you up- but you have to be kinda close to it).

***

This Saturday evening I talked to my family over Skype- and saw them in the web cam. I know it's no big deal, Rob and I had a whole relationship based on that for more than a year, but when I saw my grandma and my little brother - that was really cool. Apparently until they fixed the Skype on my dad's computer, and installed the web cam in it - My little bro Daniel was so excited and couldn't wait to see me on the screen. When they finally called, and they could see me and hear me- he was totally hyperactive and didn't stop telling me: "I love you, I love you!!!" (he's not even six...). My other brother Gil (who's almost 4) was already asleep- and I hope that I'll be able to see him next weekend... I asked Daniel if he wants to call me the next morning too (they have a Hanukkah vacation) since it's Sunday here- and on Sundays we don't work or study (as apposed to Israel- there Sunday is the first day of the week) he said: "OK, but it CAN NOT take so long as today!!! I'm going to the vacation's activities in kindergarten and I have to leave the house early!!!" LOL I laughed so much... He's such a clever kid - talking to him is so interesting, I can almost talk to him about anything.
I'll try to give more of he's pearls if I have some in the future... It's unbelievable how much I miss my siblings. A LOT.

***

Rob's leaving tomorrow night - going home for Christmas. I'm gonna have 10 days alone in which I don't have school for 3 days, and 1 weekend and one Saturday- meaning out of the 10 days alone- I don't have school for 6 days. I hope I won't bore myself to death... All of my friends here are gone for the holiday - and I seriously do not know what I'll do with that time (did someone say study? NO WAY come on - do you know me at all???)

Happy Hanukah

Tomorrow's Hanukah. Used to be my favorite holiday when I was a kid. It's supposed to remind us that the Hebrew ppl in Israel won over the Greek thousands of years ago. OK not a lot of thousands but a few... The story tells that after the victory the big temple was ruined and the Menorah - a big lamp with 7 candle spots (one for each day of the week) was the only thing left. As well they found a small jug with oil to lit the Menorah up. There was so little oil left that they were sure it's not gonna last for long- but then it lasted for 8 days. We call it the miracle of Hanukah, and the holiday is also called in Hebrew the holiday of light. We celebrate it by lighting candles every evening in the Hanukia, or Menorah (that's how Jews outside of Israel call it) every night we lit one more candle- for 8 days, to remind us of the miracle. The special food is everything that is fried in a lot of oil- like big puffed donuts with jam inside.
I used to like it so much especially coz of the candles lighting up in the evening - standing proud next to the window until they're gone. It's usually in December and the darkness outside, the winter- which I always disliked to a certain extent- would go away and make room for light, fire, warmth and the colors of the candles. Kids in this holiday get 8 presents - one for each day- usually some chocolate, or a Dradle (a spinning toy with the Hebrew letters saying- "A big miracle happened here" - or "there" if you're not in Israel) to play with. When we got older we usually got a bit of money from our parents and close family.
The last time I was in China- 2 years ago - I met my later to be best friends here on a Hanukah celebration with the Jewish community. I remember I only arrived here 2-3 weeks earlier and decided to go to the celebration - to meet new ppl. I realized that here if you don't make the effort- you'll never make friends. Even things that at home seem absurd and too straight forward- like calling someone you don't know and saying: "hey I got your number from this and that and I'd like to meet" this kinda thing here would totally make sense. That time I didn't celebrate Hanukah in any way at home- but this time - I decided that I want to. It's weird- coz then I was living alone and basically lived life the way I wanted to- and now I'm living with Rob- who's not even Jewish and I decide to do it... LOL
But I thought it would be nice - I do it with no religious feelings, more than that- I think one of the reasons I love this holiday so much is because in the whole story "God" is not mentioned even once- which makes it easier for me to relate to.

I didn't have a Hanukia here so I decided to make one of my own the same way we used to in kindergarten. I bought paint and painted some old candle holders (like the ones you get with burner candles). I bought candles at the Jewish community and I'm ready to go. I'm waiting for a reply from Charles - one of those good friends I made last time I was here - and I hope he'll come with his girlfriend and join us for a Hanukah dinner.

***

I've noticed how much I enjoy cooking lately. I've always liked it, and I've tried cooking all sorts of stuff in the last 2 years of living alone, and obviously have cooked stuff at my moms. Every now and then I would have had a project and cooked something interesting for all of us. But now- I really have someone to cook for- and if I wont cook something that is more than simple paste, then... hmmm... no one will or at least- untill we cook together it'll be so late in the evening we will starve (I feel obliged to say here that Rob likes cooking- and I really like it when he does). I don't have an oven here - so I'm chalenging myself with stove cooking only. I think after these 6 months I'll be a master...

***

I watched a movie last week - I got it from Liya. It's called Garden State. It took me a bit of time to get into it but when I did- I was captured forever... It gave me a sense of reality, especially because it has such a real life - weird story... Yes yes- there is such a thing as real but weird. I'm putting a link here to the movie's website- you can check it out- I especially loved the soundtrack (it plays on the website a bit for your enjoyment) and I haven't stopped listening to it over and over in the last few days...

Garden State (2004)

And here's a bit of trivia about it - but you shouldn't read it if you haven't watched yet- to my opinion it'll mean nothing to you...

Garden State Trivia

The Place where thoughts go when they're lost

Reading my last post made me feel like sometimes I just don't have the muse to write... Especially now when I don't have my computer and I'm too lazy to do it in the old fashioned way- pen and paper... I compose long posts in my head- usually before I fall asleep - and then they're gone with the wind when I wake up... Just like last Monday- I had my Monday fever- not being able to sleep after waking up when Rob leaves the house. On Mondays my first class starts at 09:50AM not at 08:00 like everyday. It's really great that I don't have to wake up early after the weekend- especially coz after the weekend it takes me a little while to fall asleep- having slept so much during it... Rob has to wake up as usual at 6:00 and leave half an hour after that. I developed a Monday fever where I can't fall back asleep after he goes. God knows why- coz every other day when I wake up 10-20 minutes after him - I can totaly fall asleep again... Why am I telling you this? Coz this Monday was the same - and in the time I was trying to sleep I was "writing" posts in my head the whole time. Not a lot of them turned real- and I only remembered a bit of them.
I must start writing again in my little red book (yes yes I have a little red note book - the kind they all had 30 years ago here... I used to write my thoughts there last time I traveled in China...)

my weekend

This weekend was a really good one... On Friday evening we went for dinner with Rob's bosses from Germany - we met them in the center of town - and walked to a really good sea food restaurant that one of them knew from the last time he was here. With us was the company's translator- a young Chinese woman. It's the second time I'm having dinner with her - for Rob it was more than the second time. Like all the other times she took control over the menu - reading it alone and deciding for us what we'll eat, And just like the first time I had dinner with her - it was terrible! She never ever shares the menu with us- meaning she never translates it to us- just reads it to her self. On top of that - she never orders enough food for everyone and we always stay hungry. I left that dinner thinking it could have been so much better if only I hadn't stayed hungry in an expensive good restaurant... Rob's bosses are really nice ppl - and the food situation kinda shadowed the whole evening for me...
On Saturday we woke up late and then I made some chocolate balls for a friends b-day party. We went to an Indian restaurant for dinner (was really good) and then to the party. It was a really good party- and I met some ppl that I haven't met since I came back to China. Some it was really nice and surprising to see and some was surprising and not nice... LOL... But in general we had a really good time there...
Sunday was the laziest day of all - we didn't get out of bed before 14:00... Needless to say - it took me forever to fall asleep again at night...

My computer is still dead- waiting for the ppl from the lab to call with some kind of news - hopefully good news.

It's cold and rainy- and it's gets harder and harder to get out of bed early in the morning... I can't wait until winter is over- I really do not like it... summer person - what can I do...

I'll go to class now (skipped the first one- was moving too slowly in the morning...)

Some things just don't last...

Well- at least it worked for one day... But this morning my computer didn't start. AGAIN. so I was forced to go to the lab again- and they said it's gonna take another week - coz they're sending it to the factory. This time they said they'll bring it to my house when it's ok. I hope it will be ok.
This morning I skiped school coz I was supposed to go to "English Corner" at uni in the evening and decided that going there twice a day is really too much... "English Corner" is an activity the uni offers its students- English speakers get payed for coming for an hour and a half to speak English to some Chinese students. But for some reason they postponed it to next week. So in the end fate had plans for me anyway- going to the lab...

Anyway- I don't have anything smart to say today- just needed to let some steam out...
Gonna have dinner with Liya today - Rob's staying for dinner with his bosses and co-workers.
Oh and I bought so much wool for knitting- there's no way I'll ever nit it... LOL At least I have something to do!

My sister

I'm not sure if I had mentioned it before in here- but my sister got back to Israel after 14 months she's been abroad. She's a US citizen- so she was there for most of the time working and spending time with some ppl - now these ppl are her second family. The rest of the time she traveled in south America. That's where she met her new boyfriend- an Israeli as well.
It's very weird to not know the new most important ppl in your sister's life. Especially when you're so close to her. And we are. Close. I don't even know her new boyfriend.
I miss her so much. It's really hard being away when she's there now- at home. It felt so terrible not being able to see her when she came back. It's gonna be 15 months I haven't seen her in 2 weeks. Yes, I keep track.
I suggested she'd come here to travel a bit and see me- but I know it doesn't make any sense for her to come now- since the weather here until March (at least) is terrible almost everywhere. Except for the south- but I'm not there... If she actually comes- it'll be only then- and wow- that's far...

Nitz- if you're reading this (and you better!!!) I miss you.


(I took this picture of her a few years ago - until today it's my favorite)

A personal computer??? that is just genius!!!

Genius! A personal computer... LOL... Got my computer back from the lab. They fixed it. And made me poorer... well... the things you do for comfort...

***

Today I went to the dentist here- you must think I'm very courageous- going to a dentist in China- but no- I did a lot of research - online and with friends and found this nice clean clinic. My tooth started aching a few days ago- it's a tooth that has been treated before, and now- after going there for a consultation- I found out I'll need a root canal. Ouch. The x-ray showed that with no doubt, So I asked how much will it be- and the doctor said that the whole treatment will be around 3000 RMB (= about 380$) and it'll take 3 times- each will be about 1 hour and a half. OUCH. This sucks so much... I have to do it coz there's no way I'm waiting until I'm back home- that will be in 5 months and until then I'll probably lose this tooth... So I have no choice- and I guess I'll make the appoitment next week... I asked my mom to find out how much this would be in Israel (just to know) and she said it's pretty much the same.

***

My Chinese exam last week went pretty much ok- this Monday we got it back and I was surprised to see that I got a 90!!! 90%!!! I must admit: I guessed a lot of the characters that were there- but first of all- most of them I guessed right- so it must have been a scholar guess, and second of all this just shows me that if I had studied a bit more- I could have been really good... Lazy me!

***

Last night we went to a Yann Tiersen concert. Yann Tiersen wrote the soundtracks of "Amelie" and "Goodbye Lenin!". He also published a few other albums- which I'm most interested in after this concert. It was just great! This guy is a genius I tell ya. He plays 6 different instruments, and has a band of 4 more ppl playing with him in complete harmony. They played some songs from the soundtracks as well- and to not make it boring they added "color" to it- and it sounded just superb. We enjoyed it a lot- and the only thing that bothered us was that we were sitting in a concert hall- and we couldn't move our bodies to the great jumpy music.
Oh and of course- how can I forget- the thing that bothered me most: just as if someone doesn't wanna let me forget I'm in China: We sat down in our chairs - second row on the balcony - really nice seats. In front of me sat a Chinese girl (AKA "big head") with her friend (AKA the nerd). Just as the lights went out she started getting something out of her bag- totally blocking the view to the stage while leaning forward to fetch it. I suddenly noticed that she's holding a camera's tripod in her hands and setting it in front of her. Then she got a video camera and tried to attach it to the tripod (it took her about 10 min and 2 songs to get it right- the whole time leaning forward and blocking the view). I was so mad! The rude big headed Chinese girl!!! How dare she? I would have been so ashamed to do so! She obviously wasn't from the press- having these seats and doing it all in the dark! This is just amazing how something that is totally illegal anywhere else in the world- here- nobody cared about- nobody approached her and no one stopped her. After 15 min or so with her leaning forward as if she owns the place I asked her politely to lean back- so I can see the concert too. She did, and so did her friend. Urgh! I tell ya- What did I want? An hour and a half in which I forget where I am? An hour and a half of peace and quiet??? This is something you can't get here. Peace and quiet.

***

I had so many ideas what to write about when I didn't have my computer- and was too lazy to actually write them down in a notebook (the new digital world makes us so lazy) so I forgot a lot of them... I promise, as soon as I remember some of the things I'll write them down...

One dead computer and one uppset girl

I'm at uni now writing from the computer lab (that costs me money- fucking'ey am I a student here or not???? what the *%#$ is that? aren't students supposed to be poor???) It's cold in here (they only started using the AC for heating the classes- the computer lab apparantly isn't that important) and tomorrow I have an exam in Chinese- as I've told you before- this time the exam is only in Chinese characters... I'm so unprepared- and as you can see - instead of studying I sit here online...
My main teacher is starting to annoy me- she was so sweet in the beginning - at the time it really seemed that she knows exactly where we come from and what are most of our goals in learning Chinese. Lately it feels like she's on a race to finish the book, no matter if we really know how to speak or if we understand Chinese or not- the thing that became most important now in class is to memorize characters- a thing that can be cool if I had remembered them but it really doesn't give me anything if every day there are 20 new ones... I feel like my speaking is stuck- I haven't progressed in a while - in favor of the character learning in class. I really try to make the best out of class- trying to learn how to say as many words as possible- especially the ones I know I'll need outside the walls of uni. But the combination of not being satisfied with the studying in this uni (I guess it's almost the same in all of them- in the end- they are all under the same education system) and the fact that I don't study enough when I'm alone- that puts me in a breaking point - a mid semester breaking point.

***

My computer died last Monday. I got home from uni and couldn't turn it on. I called the IBM numbers in China that Rob looked up online for me, and got the address of a computer lab. I took a taxi there - taking my computer with me- as if he's my little child whom I'm rushing to the hospital... They told me there that the main board is dead- and that I have 2 choices: the first one is to order a new one from the factory- a matter of 2 weeks and about 500$ (!!!). The second choice (and the better one) is to try to fix it - and if they succeed (they don't know if they will) it'll cost me "only" about 200$. In any case I spend a lot of money... The only bright spot is that they say that my hard drive isn't damaged (crossing my fingers they are right) so I can always put the data on it on another computer or an external hard drive.

***

That's it for now - I'll go try to make myself study a bit- I must admit- I HAVE NO MOTIVATION.

It's time to work out!

Yesterday I finally signed up for a GYM. It's been a while that I was looking for a gym close to my place and couldn't find one. I looked online- on several websites in English- but nothing. The problem was that on those websites they only published the gyms in the center of town- or rather in places they know there's a lot of foreigners. I don't live in such a place- so there were no listings of gyms next to my place. I decided to put the search on full gas and asked my new Chinese friend (have I told you guys about her? if not I'll dedicate a whole post for it one day...) about gyms in this area. So she looked online in Chinese websites and then she told me that there is a gym in the mall next door to my building. I felt so stupid for not looking there before- coz I've been there so many times- even on the top floor - where it's located... So after a waste of 2 months- I finally have a subscription for a gym - and it's even not that expensive (well I guess it's about the same prices as in Israel... but that's fine by me). Whats so great is that it's gonna take me about 5 minutes to get there - and its so close to my place- I have no excuses to not go... They also have lots of Yoga classes- which is exactly why I wanted to sign up for a gym. So I'm going to check out today's teacher- hoping I will understand some of what she says..
After that I'm gonna come home- shower and go take the bus to the place where Rob works. We're going to have a dinner with some of the ppl working with him. I hope all will be well- and that I'll have some fun!

Some pictures

This picture I took from our balcony-
showing how here in Shanghai you can find really modern things next to really old ones...
Just behind our really modern complex there's a Chinese cheap old-fashioned neighbourhood (great for eating a noodles dinner for 4 RMB = 0.50$).
On the other side we have one of the most expensive malls around.
That's China - progressing so fast- you can actually see the changes as they happen.

This picture was taken in ZhuJiaJiao-
the small very old Chinese Beautiful town we went to with Rob's family.

It's rainning.... grrr...

Oof it's been raining for the last few days and it doesn't look like it's ever gonna stop... grrr... and BRRRRR... every time I go outside with pants that accidentally touch the ground I get home wet to my knees- coz there's puddles everywhere. It's like there's no sewage here- and the water keeps piling up in huge quantities- just for me to get wet... I understand now why Chinese ppl always wear pants that are narrow in the end- not touching the ground. It's really hard to find a Chinese person wearing bell bottoms or anything that is even remotely close to that. Now I know why!

***

My dad was here last weekend- it was so much fun! I really enjoyed his stay here... We went to the Tennis Masters Cup Final together- with Rob. It was between Roger Federer and James Blake. Federer won- and it looked like he didn't even try hard- he was just standing there most of the time letting nature do what it's supposed to do- WIN... Blake is a new comer to this contest (it's a tournament between the 8 best players in the world and 8 best couples in the world) and I think he gave a good performance regarding his short past in these kind of contests. Well anyway- it was really nice to spend time like this with my dad- especially coz I know how much he likes watching Tennis.

***

School... hmmm... I really like the classes... I think that a student like me should get more classes everyday- rather than have to work at home. When I get home- all I can think of is doing nothing special. At least once a week I do something after school with my Spanish friend Lia- and then when I get home I really don't feel like studying. Big problemo! Next week I have another exam- and this time the teacher said it's gonna be all in Chinese characters... OOF! Not ready for that at all... I hope I'll sit on my ass and study some more this week. The rain outside should do the job but it just does the opposite- makes me wanna stay under the blanket!

***

Bought the second season of "Veronica Mars"... I know I know- I'm not a teenage girl- but I just love this TV show... it's so unreal but so clever and never ever boring... so of course I saw the whole season in 3 days (22 chapters) - couldn't resist!!!

***

Rob's going home for x-mas. I've decided to not join him. He's going for about 10 days- and I know he's going on a family marathon. I love his family- They were all so nice to me, but most don't speak enough English to communicate with me for more than 5 minutes and I figured that it wouldn't be so much fun... Plus- I don't feel comfortable getting in to the family x-mas eve- being Jewish I've never been to one- and I don't think that coming from China for 10 days - having nowhere to go to after that evening - is the good time to start. I guess that when we'll live there and coming for the holidays will be just coming from a few hours away by train- it will feel different. I'll have more freedom then- not like in this case- where I know that I'll be dependant on Rob and what he's doing- like I was in every visit in Germany in the last 18 months. To make things short- I'm gonna stay in Shanghai ALONE!!! for about 10 days... But I made him come back here on the 31st- so I wont be alone on new years eve (not that I care about the evening it self- just here- I don't feel like being alone when everyone is coupling up and going out to parties... I guess that in Israel I really wouldn't have minded...)

***

Can read here again in China- cross your fingers it'll last... Have been reading Dorian's blog so fast- afraid that any moment the connection will fall LOL I'm getting Paranoid...

Getting colder...

Until last week the weather was pretty much alright. There were a lot of sunny days and the temperature was nice at noon. But since this last weekend the temperatures dropped even more, and today I hardly woke up to a very grey rainy day... My dad is arriving tomorrow with a suitcase full with my winter clothes- and my feet can not wait to be in my boots... I hope that the fact the weather is only gonna get worse is not gonna disencourage me from going to uni- coz I really enjoy the classes there and the atmosphere.

***

Last weekend we hosted Rob's best friend's girlfriend. She's Chinese and she lives in Chengdu the capital of Sechuan province. She's working now for the same company Rob does (different division) meeting customers all over the country. Here it's very normal to take the train for long coz of the huge size of this country. She takes the train for more than 40 hours (!) to get to Shanghai from Chengdu. These are numbers we usually can't even imagine... She told me a story about a girl who used to be a friend of hers in uni. This girl came to study in Chengdu from a place far away in the north of china, roughly close to Siberia. Her family are all farmers and they obviously do not have a lot of money. She was granted with the tuition by a rich relative of her family's. The university- placed in Chengdu Is located more than 52 hours away, on 2 different trains from her home. Due to her family's situation she could not afford to go home more than once a year- between the semesters in the holiday. When she did go home she used to buy a "hard seat" ticket - meaning she would sit on a hard seat for 52 hours each way to go home. She got this kind of ticket coz it was the cheapest obviously. (The ranking of tickets in China goes like this: Hard seat, Hard sleep = sleeping on a bed in the big train cart, soft sleep = sleeping on a bed in a room with another 3 ppl). Apparently one time this girl had missed her train from Beijing home and the next one was in 24 hours. She had nowhere to go, and no money to stay anywhere- so she just slept in the train station with 2 big bags... As well- she used to send the little money that was left from the allowance she got- to her family... Today this girl has a good job in the municipality of Chengdu - and earns enough money to visit her family a bit more often. This story is probably one of thousands but it still sounded so special to me.
Just wanted to share here some views on normal daily life in China... When I hear about these kind of things- I feel really lucky with what I have.

Sick...

Staying at home today... Since yesterday I don't feel great, and this morning I didn't feel fit enough to go to uni... Rob told me that I should stay at home and try to study a bit here... Then kissed me on the forehead and went to work... It feels so nice to have him with me everyday... Especially on days like this one- when I feel a bit sick...

Yesterday I had an oral exam with my nutty professor. It was so funny... I love this teacher- he's so interesting and nice. He always likes to say Shalom to me and Lehitra'ot and Toda- trying to show me that the knows some words in Hebrew... LOL... Yesterday on the exam (the whole thing took 5 minutes) he said something about Sharon (but obviously he pronounced it more like the word Shalom) and made a "coma like" face... He said: "Sharon, leader of Yi Se Lie (=Israel in Chinese) and then made the face... Meaning- Ariel Sharon is in a coma... LOL that was so funny!!! And then he said: "Sharon same as Shalom" (he pronounced the words exactly the same- being unable to pronounce "R") so I told him in Chinese that it's not the same- and tried to teach him how to say each word correctly - obviously not very successfully...
In the end he said that I speak not bad at all (after telling me to read something in Chinese from my own book- that has my own notes in it LOL) and the whole experience was just so hilarious...
I hate missing today's lessons- they're both lessons with our main teacher- and she teaches really well- I really learn in every lesson of hers... I'll try to make it up from Liya- today for a change she's actually at school... (I really like her- she's a real fun person and we really get along and always have something to talk about...)
I'll go on now and continue being sick at home...
By the way- I still can't see my blog meaning- Dorian - I can't read your blog... :-( (keep me posted???)

Back to normal life at last

Rob's family left on Saturday morning. His dad left here on Tuesday already. I spent almost everyday with them- wondering the streets of Shanghai- was really nice walking in places I've seen so many times- but this time listening to his mom tell us all about the buildings and history(reading from her book- I made her leave it here so Rob and I can actually be tourists too). When you live in a place- you usually don't really look at it like a tourist does- you usually don't see things that for someone new are really interesting. Of course I've seen Shanghai in these eyes the first time I've arrived here almost 2 years ago- but I haven't spent so much time touring it then- and after a while I got so used to the scenery that it never looked so interesting and strange to me anymore. This time I could really see it and learn. Rob and I have seen more of and walked more in the streets and spots of Shanghai than we ever did and it actually felt really really nice. On Friday we both spent the day with them- he took a day off- and I just skipped school (bad girl!)- and we went to ZhuJiaJiao- a little Chinese town almost an hour to the west (an hour with traffic). It's very touristic but it was really nice to see how a real old Chinese town looked like. The fact that they actually charge you for the entrance to the town might seem weird at first- but then you see how rather clean it is (compared to Chinese standards) so you forget about it and just enjoy. Rob's mom and sis spent most of their time shopping - buying all kinds of Chinese souvenirs - nice stuff- but the stopping at every store was exhausting. In the end I think they left with a nice collection of Chinese stuff. I have these kind of things since I'm a little girl, and obviously I have a lot of these things from my last stay here- so it's not so easy to excite me with them...
I promise I'll put some pictures soon- as soon as I collect them all from everybody's cameras...
Starting a normal week now... Wish me luck

Crazy weekend

Friday was a busy day as it is- and in the evening we went to the airport to pick Rob's dad. Then we went to his hotel with him- and then home. Saturday we woke up early and spent the whole day with him- walking distances I've never walked before in Shanghai. I think it was a total of 8km that we walked in town that day. I was beat in the end of the day- wishing for a day of rest after it- that will never come- coz on Sunday morning we woke up early again- and went to the airport to pick Rob's mom and younger sis and bro. Then again- crazy day- walking everywhere- doing everything... In the evening- when we said goodbye- till tomorrow- I realized that tomorrow starts a new school week... Getting no rest on the weekend was really exhausting...
I had an exam today- and coz this time we still had the Pinyin (the way to write Chinese in English letters) as well as the Chinese characters- I think I did really well- but then in the middle of the exam- the teacher said that the next one will have no Pinyin- and we'll have to do it all in characters... At that point I knew that the next exam wont be so great...
Tonight we're meeting Rob's family for dinner- they're traveling in Suzhou today- a small town an hour away- that ppl say is beautiful. Funny thing is- I've never been there. Well- maybe it's more sad than funny...
So I'm about to have a busy week- now I'm resting a bit- reading online after 2 days I haven't, trying to relax...

(The answer to the last post's question is: Yes. It is.)

Well- If you have read my last post- you know that I can't see my blog. Fortunately, Knock on wood (I'm still Jewish- can't stop the habit) I can still write new posts. If that ever changes- I promise I'll do my best to write new posts and publish them somehow here.
After being personally affected by the policy of this country- negatively may I say- I must admit that even though I'm happy with my life here as it is- being a student, having blue skies a few days a week (that's gonna end in about a week or two...) living with Rob and so on, even though I'm happy here- I can't not think about all the ppl here that don't know what they're missing. I'm not sure that they should know what they're missing- coz I seriously believe that here- it will just bring to chaos. After living here for a short time, adding the 6 months I spent here 2 years ago- I must admit- that for the Chinese ppl- this may be the ideal solution. But how far should this go??? I obviously dislike being affected by it- especially coz I AM NOT CHINESE. And I do know what's behind that big wall, and I do know other things- And: I do have my own ideas, my own thoughts and judgments. Therefore- I really don't appreciate being censored like this. I don't care if the Chinese ppl can't read this blog. It's not for them specifically. Its for me, and for whoever is interested in my life. I really respect the government here- otherwise I really couldn't have lived here for a while. Maybe not even travel. But they have to decide- either they close all their doors to the outside world- or they open them in this way that ppl like me - from the outside world- don't feel entrapped in their decisions. I'm usually not the type of person who sees it all in black or white, but the gray area here- is really hard to see through.
I hope this blocking of my blog's website will be over soon, as I understood- it had been blocked until a year ago- then they unblocked it. I seriously thought they are making good changes- but maybe I was too naive, or maybe (and most probably) I just still haven't figured them out.

Is it really censorship???

For the last few hours I've been trying to log on to my blog, and another blog of a friend of mine (in Blogspot as well) and it just doesn't let me log on... What is weirder (but maybe good) is that I can still log on to the page where I add posts... Rob has tried to log on at work- and couldn't as well, but Dorian (the one I was trying to read her blog) who's in Germany - told me she can log on no problem... I'm worried that the stupid Chinese might have blocked the pages ending with .blogspot.com - their censorship is just outrages. I really cross my fingers they haven't done such a stupid thing. Just 2 weeks ago or so- I found out that they unblocked Wikipedia- which was a really great thing- and I thought: "oh! they're actually advancing!!!" I hope these thoughts wont be proven false...
So let's hope together- that I didn't just move to the dark ages!!! (well at least lets hope it's not gonna be so dark...)

Just.... Life...

There's no school today and tomorrow- coz it's "sports day". The whole uni is having sports contests in the other campus (that is actually not so far from where I live). The teacher has been trying to convince a few of us to go to the opening ceremony- that starts before 08:00 AM... So she said that whoever joins must be in uni at 06:00 AM to get on the bus going to the other campus. Obviously at that point no one wanted to go... But then she said- whoever is coming will get 2 meals (lunch and dinner) and a sports suit!!! ha ha ha!!! Well as you can imagine that still didn't do the trick- no one wants to be at uni at 6:00 AM. Even when she brought a sample of the suit- to show us how nice it is- and tell us "look! It's good quality!!! Nike!!!" still no one wanted to go. The ppl who are going in the end are the ones that live on campus- it's easier for them to be at school at 06:00 AM. I used the excuse of- I live far enough- just imagine the time I'd have to get up that day... So the teacher said- but you live closer to the other campus- so maybe they can pick you up on the way! She asked some ppl about it- and (luckily) they don't drive through anywhere that is around my house... Plus... There's an exam on Monday (how terrible) and since Rob's parents are coming the next week- and his dad is gonna be here this weekend already- I told the teacher that I really need to study in these 2 days off...
So today I thought I'd sleep in- but when Rob left to work (06:20 AM) I couldn't sleep anymore- so I got up and decided to catch up on my knitting! I haven't touched this scarf since I came back from Austria in August... How sad... Then obviously I fell back to sleep- and now- as much as I'm trying to avoid it: I HAVE TO SIT ON MY ASS AND STUDY. You all know how much I hate that... But I promise to do my best- it's not the grade I'm after- it's knowing Chinese...
Last night I went with Rob to watch him play Ping Pong (or as he calls it- coz he was professional in it in high school: Table Tennis) with this Korean guy that lives here with his wife (who came there too) and 2 kids. So I spent the hour talking to his nice wife- using Chinglish (Chinese + English) to understand each other better... Rob obviously won the game ha ha ha... So unfair- he actually played for years!!!
That's it for my Shanghai life for now - see ya soon!

No privacy

Literally: NO PRIVACY. There's no such word as "privacy" in Chinese. REALLY. They have no word for it.
The girlfriend of Rob's best friend is Chinese. When she went to Germany last year- the first thing she told her boyfriend was: "where are all the people in the streets?". When she showed her father the pictures from Germany the first thing he said was: "Meiyou ren!" this means in Chinese- "no people!".
When you walk in the streets of Shanghai, there's so many people around you- no matter the time of the day. Well, in the middle of the night or really early in the morning there are less, but still- there's a lot of ppl, compared to any other country I've ever been to (well... Maybe in Thailand its almost as crowded in the big cities). This is very overwhelming and energy draining. There's lots of noise and you get touched all the time- by ppl you don't know, and lots of times- by ppl you don't wanna touch... The subway is so full you hardly get a seat, and most of the time you stand between dozens of ppl in each car.
We thought about going to Suzhou today- a small city- which has lots of canals and water around- suppose to be beautiful. In the end we obviously slept in a bit, and until we actually left the house- it was 11:30. We got to the train station after 45 minutes, and found out that the next sitting tickets are at 14:00 and there are no tickets to go back from there tonight. So we decided to stay in Shanghai, and go to the Shanghai Museum. As students it cost us 5 RMB (0.50 Euro) and there are a few different galleries inside- spread out on 4 floors. It all has something to do with Chinese art and culture. The problem with Chinese museums is that they don't have a lot of information about the displays. Rob really doesn't like that- Me? I don't really care. I just like looking at the nice stuff!!! LOL!!!
after the museum we met this 14 year old Chinesee girl outside- she approached us and asked us if she can practice her English with us. We said sure- and we talked to her for 45 minutes... Apparently as a Chinese school student she studies Mondays to Fridays 7:20-16:50, then goes with her mom to her grandma- then goes home does her homework and only then she has a very short time to herself- and then to bed.On Saturdays she wakes up at 7:30 (AM!!!) cleans, has breakfast (this girl was very informative) plays on the computer for about an hour, then goes to a math class for about 2 hours (her school decided she has to take it every Saturday coz of her grades or whatever) then she goes to English class (which she actually enjoys- its in her teachers house- with anotherr 6 kids). On Sundays she would wake up at 8:00-8:30 (I already said- she's VERY informative...) go to The English Corner (apparentlyy there is one) in People's square in Shanghai (some Chinesee ppl meeting up to practice their English) and then have some Chinesee snacks for lunch and then her mom would come and encourage her to approach foreigners like us to practice her English with. She said that when her mom told her to maybe approach us she told her mom: "but they look so much in love... I don't wanna interrupt them..." LOL. Anyway- if there are any young ppl not from china reading this- how do you imagine a life like this??? This is not an exception!!!They all live like this: work work work, study study study!

I would have moved to a different country a long long time ago if I had been born in china...

10 signs of becoming Chinese

1. Getting up at 6AM 5 days a week. (and getting woken up on the weekends by the noise- see number 8 below).
2. Stuffing yourself to 3 different crowded subway trains every morning to uni (and back), and owning a subway card you charge every time you've used all the money in it.
3. Being on the trains for more than one hour each way (eating your breakfast on the train and studying too).
4. Having lunch (usually Chinese food for less than 1 US$) at NOON (12:00).
5. Sometimes even buying one of these Chinese food boxes in the small places that sell really really greasy food, and obviously carrying that box all the way home. Or:
6. Eating in the university's cafeteria. Buying coupons in the entrance for about 1.5 US$- than using the notes to buy some dumplings or whatever Chinese food they have. Then obviously getting change back from something like 10 cents- in the shape of small coupons that look like the note I just wrote to my classmate in class.
7. Having Dinner around 6PM. Sometimes at the nice lady's booth in the corner. She sells fried noodles for less than 0.50 US$. Or: cooking in your own Wok.
8. Becoming deaf- from all the noise around you all the time (big roads, honking horns, building and destruction of houses and buildings - 6AM to 6PM, 7 days a week, renovation in the apartment above when you're trying to rest from your day etc. etc.) Then starting to yell on your cell phone- coz you can't hear a damn thing.
9. Buying lots of DVD's in the store downstairs. Watching Veronica Mars episodes in a raw- until you've seen them all and there's nothing next to the DVD player to tempt you.
10. Going to sleep before midnight. At the only hours there's actually some quiet- meaning- the only hours you could have used to study/read/have a decent conversation with someone.

Exhausted...

What a week! Woke up at 6:00AM everyday - it's so hard to get used to that... Took the metro for an hour every day to school (I change the lines twice every morning coz this way I usually have a seat on it- the line leaving from here is already full when I get on it- even though its only the 3rd stop!) Chinese ppl i tell ya... They love being crowded... They will just stand waiting for the train wherever they got to the platform from the stairs. They never walk on the platform towards the beginning of the train- and this way the first cars are usually a bit emptier. How stupid of them. School itself is actually really nice, I've made friends with a Spanish girl already, and the rest of the ppl in class are really nice. We're actually from all over the world: France, Switzerland, Indonesia, Russia, Spain, Colombia, Burundi, Canada, Sweden (originally from Iran and Hong Kong), Saudi Arabia... Really all over the world... I understand most of what they say in Chinese in class- maybe even more than the rest of the students - vocabulary wise, but the characters... I hate them!!! Why do I have to learn how to write the stupid things????? Wouldn't mind recognizing some but... Hate writing them. Really.

was a really busy week. There wasn't even one day that I came straight home from school. On Monday I decided to be the good housewife and cook a nice dinner for the both of us- celebrating the first day of school and first day at work. On Tuesday went to take Rob's passport from the visa place and then went to the market to buy some clothes. It was amazing: as soon as I stepped in the building I immediately remembered all the words I need to know in Chinese in order to buy in the market. All the colors names in Chinese came back to me, and all the other words that are very helpful when shopping... The market was crowded as usual, lots of ppl, lots of really ugly clothes- I really had to dig in to find something nice, the smells, the noise... But its still a nice experience...
on Thursday I went to the visa place again- this time for me- to get me the students visa (got all the papers from uni for that) and then went to a deli in a really fancy hotel with Lia the Spanish girl, to buy some nice (and very expensive) cheese...

yesterday was Rob's birthday. So on Wednesday I got him an i-pod as a present, and yesterday I prepared a little celebration for him when he got home from work: I made a pile of blueberry pancakes (don't have an oven- couldn't bake) and I decorated them with gummies and ice cream. I hung balloons in the house, lit up two candles (couldn't find birthday candles here) and put the present on the bed. It was really nice... We went for a foot massage in the evening and then went to a hot pot restaurant (its a restaurant where you sit next to a table that has a hole in it- to put a big pot in the middle - on fire. There's soup in the pot and you order all kinds of raw food like meet and vegetables to put in the soup and fish it out- so you can eat the soup or just the cooked food).

I'm really enjoying my first real weekend in a long time. I haven't been working in a while- so this week it was hard to get used to waking up everyday and having something to do. Its fun being a student again though. Kinda weird after more than 2 years that I wasn't a student.

today we're planning on going to eat dumplings in a restaurant I got a recommendation to. And tonight I'd really love to go out... Haven't gone out in Shanghai since I got here- and I really miss going out here... This city actually has a lot to offer...

The Chinese way of starting

First day of school was today. Took me an hour to get there in the morning- was way too early- got there by 7:30 already... Class is suppose to start at 8:00AM. My classroom was empty and dark at that time. Went upstairs to ask what's the deal- the nice lady looks at my class note- takes me to this time table on the wall- obviously written in Chinese- tells me: "you see here?" I nod and say... hmmm... I see- but I can't read this.... So she says: "you see, here it says- that your class starts at 9:50 every Monday... YAY! Great!!! Nice of them to give my class a longer weekend- but why didn't anyone tell me??? Plus I found out that there was school yesterday on Sunday- a one time thing- coz of the week holiday they had before... Crap... Well nevermind. I wondered around, had an errand to do- did it and met this Spanish girl that I have already met last time I was there (she just joined too- and we convinced the lady in charge to put her in my class...) anyway - she's really nice, plus whet's funny is that my Chinese name is Ya Li and her Chinese name is Li Ya... ha ha ha... All the Chinese ppl had a good laugh about that... So class started at 9:50 - more than 2 hours after I got to uni, and the first teacher is called Prof. Qian (it sounds like: chien- in English) - he's a real nutty professor... He's funny, nice and expects a lot (but not too much- they really don't treat us in a tough manner- I guess they realized we're not Chinese students after all) and his class was actually fun. The next teacher was miss Wang- she's our main teacher- or you can call it home room teacher. She's a lot more "teachery" and uses a lot more English in her lessons. She's very nice too.
So after all the first day was a good day, now I have some things to review (can't believe that I have "homework" to do... ha ha ha - who would have thought about ME doing homewark and reviewing at home...)...
Till next time!!!

Chinese holidays...

This week is a week "off" in China coz of October 1st- which is their sort of independence day. I said "off" coz obviously a lot of them still work. They have a system - each worker gets his days off at another time- and this way places and work are not totally shut down for a whole week. There's not even one day in the year, not even one- where all the businesses are closed. Not even one day that all the people are off work. Not even one day where its totally quiet... And even so- on the holiday weeks- all the flights are booked, all the hotels are booked, all the trains are full, all the places are full of people. Two days ago we decided that we should do something - see a bit of Shanghai. So we went to the other side of the river, to the new area, to see the TV tower and maybe a museum. As soon as we got out of the subway- we realized that its pouring down cats and dogs... The rain just didn't stop. It wasn't really cold- just so so so wet. There were huge puddles everywhere, and we got wet to our bones. So I offered that we do get in the tower- just not all the way up- only to the Shanghai History Museum (which I really liked last time I was there) - it's on the bottom floor of the tower. We bought tickets and ran in to the building. We were soaked. Then we realized that we couldn't have made a better decision- the line to the tower was looooooooooooooooooong and there was no line to the museum!!! We passed all the people going to the tower, felt like VIP's not having to stand in line... We were there for about 2 hours, got dry while walking in the museum, and then left. It didn't rain anymore... The amount of people, especially Chinese tourists everywhere was amazing. They were everywhere. And it was really easy to spot who's from a city and who's from the smaller towns: first according to their clothes, second according to the taking pictures everywhere (even on the subway, and in a restaurant) and of course according to their loudness, to their saying hello to and having a conversation with the manikins in the museum (yes- even adults did that) and to the fact that they were generally astonished by the miracle called "the subway system". For example- when I went to uni a few days ago I saw one old woman standing in front of the machines that sell tickets to the subway. She was standing there for about 15 minutes trying to figure out how to work the thing. It has instructions both in Chinese and English by the way- it really couldn't be easier to use. When she finally decided what kind of a ticket she wants and clicked the right buttons on the screen (with the help of a kind man) - she took her coins and tried to put them in the bills entrance. she's probably never seen one of these things in her life I guess... Ha ha ha... Thats it for today, more stories about the aliens called "the Chinese people" next time.

Back in Shanghai!!!

So it took me about 26 hours door to door to get here... How exhausting... But a bit after I landed I met Rob... And we went to our new apartment... It's so great! It's a great place, great location (very close to the metro station and the big supermarket- how convenient), and the area is really nice.
Today I signed up for uni- took me a bit more than an hour to get there from home- which is fair enough- coz it's gonna take Rob about an hour and a half to get to work every day...

I find it a lot easier to deal with the Chinese ppl here now- coz I've been here before and have been through all the bureaucracy shit. I really don't get excited, plus my Chinese is not great- but still a lot better than what it was the first time I got here. Rob still gets annoyed sometimes. I guess I will get annoyed at some point- but my annoyance bar is a lot higher now...

I really feel at home. It's amazing how I feel comfortable in this huge city. Even though I haven't been to a lot of the places I used to know before. It still feels familiar.

So- expect more stories from the prostitute of the east (=Shanghai- if you've never heard the phrase).

Leaving today...

Haven't heard from Rob since yesterday... I'm worried... I hope he contacts me before I leave today- I'm leaving in 2 hours... And I'm really anxious... I can't even write anything right now... I'll go shower now and get ready... I'll try to write here as soon as I'm online again... I have a 4 hour flight to Frankfurt - then 3 hours in the airport, and then 11 hours to Shanghai. A long trip- and if I wont hear from Rob until I go- I'll go crazy really...
Taking deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breaths... Trying to relax...

I already miss them

Was at my dad's today. Said goodbye to him, his wife, my aunt and cousin, my grandparents... But the hardest thing was to say goodbye to my brothers. Last time- when I left to China- They were much younger- it was a bit easier to say bye- because they didn't really talk that much, and didn't quite understand. Now- Daniel is more than 5.5 years old, and Gil is more than 3.5 - and they can't stop talking... They are the sweetest things on earth (well... I'm obviously not very objective but... They are!). They never stop telling me how much they love me, and today it was so heart warming- but hard to hear... I told them that I'm going to China, for 7 months, so Daniel said: "oh, that's not a lot at all!" LOL!!! Was really hard to walk away from them this time. This time I know how much they'll grow and change when I wont be around.
So I downloaded Skype to my dad's computer, and told him to buy a webcam and a microphone. I told my brothers that they'll be able to see me and talk to me on the computer- and they were amazed and excited about it. I told them about it because I know that if they know- they'll ask and bug my dad about buying the webcam and mic... hahaha!
Hope I do get to talk to them once a week, and see them... I'll really miss the two little sweet brats!

4 days to go

My flight is in 4 days and 15 hours... Not that I'm counting...

My last few days have been kinda busy. I started packing- to see what I want to take and what not. Needless to say that I was not amused by the whole packing situation. I packed one small suitcase for my dad to take for me- with all my winter clothes. I tried to stuff as many stuff as a could there- and even so- the other suitcase I'm packing for me to take- is so full and so heavy. I just don't wanna buy so much there as I did last time- I have so many clothes- I feel stupid buying more and more there-this time I'm not going to earn any money - and I just don't wanna rely on buying new things. Every hour I think about another big thing I wanna take with me- like my skiing clothes (would have sent them with my dad- but I'm afraid that there's no more space in that suitcase) and my yoga mattress (have to take it!!! Not leaving it behind- I wanna practice yoga there- even bought me a guide book!!!) or my new art cutting equipment that Rob bought me for my birthday- it's handy and I like using it... I have a huge list on my mirror (I write on it with an expo marker) and it grows and grows everyday.
I really hate packing. Especially if it's for so long... I actually have to take clothes for different temperatures- and a few different purposes (living normal life in the city + traveling). It's hard to do so- and just depressing...

***

Last night I went to Yifat's brother's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding. They did it in a reverse style- where you eat dinner before the ceremony- I found it great- and it really makes much more sense. It gives the guests something to look for the whole evening- and plus- you can't be late to the ceremony- because it is actually rather late in the schedule. The wedding itself was really nice too- nice place, nice people, nice food, funny Rabbi... LOL... Was a real show! And after the ceremony we just danced until really late. I was so drunk!!! I really cant remember how many glasses of wine I had... Got home dead tired and drunk...
unfortunately this morning I had to go to Social Security- to fix the payments to them before I go. Apparently it's gonna take 1-2 months (!!!) to send me the booklet with all the payments I have to give them... Amazing... LOL... Very efficient... Whatever- I'm gonna ask my mom to pay that for me- I'll just transfer her the money for it. What's really stupid is that as a person that doesn't work at all I pay more per month than a person who works and earns money. It's so absurd! I never took unemployment money from the government- never took advantage of the system- and that's what I get back- big payments to keep my rights in Israel... Lucky for me I still like this country enough to want to keep my rights...
So after that- I went to my gym especially to meet this guy that read my online add about my subscription (I wanted to sell the rest of it- 4 months). We met in the gym- he said he's interested. We set in front of the nice girl dealing with that kinda stuff- and he already signed the papers. Then he gave me the money for it. One forth of it. I asked- "what's this?" he answered: "the money". I said: "that's only for one month- its four times as much". He said: "oh! I didn't realize!" (obviously not the smartest guy in the world). I was annoyed, he said bye and he's sorry and left. I set there- tears in my eyes from frustration- telling the girl- I can't find anyone to take this damn subscription off of me... She was nice- and in the end- she did exactly what I wanted from starts - she said she's not suppose to do that- and actually she's not allowed to- but she'll cancel my payments... And I'm off the hook... It was really nice of her- and I hope that she won't get into trouble. Still - I kinda got what I wanted (knock on wood - hope no one finds out before it's a done deal).

OK I'm tired now... Going to sleep... In 5 days I'll be on an airplane over China...

Apartment chosen

Today Rob saw another apartment. He sent me the pictures, and we immediately decided that we want to take it. It's big enough for both of us, one bedroom and one living room, everything looks so clean and nice, and it's in our budget, and it's 5 minutes from the metro station.
It's so great that we're already gonna have a place of our own when I arrive... Rob so did all the hard work for me in this case...
Now all I have to do when I get there is go to the university and try to register. I got an e-mail from them saying to come there as soon as I'm in Shanghai. Our apartment is about an hour away from where Rob's gonna work, and it's gonna take me kinda the same time to get to uni. So I feel like we compromised well on the location of the place.
Can't wait.
Can't wait.
Still have so much to do.

The race begins

Had a really busy couple of days. 2 days ago I went all the way to Ashdod to my dad's factory, coz he found someone that was interested in my car. After a few hours drive, and a few hours there- we sold the car. Then I had to drive the car to Tel-Aviv to give it to that person's daughter. Then I took a train back to Haifa. Was so tired that day that I actually fell asleep at 22:30...
Now, after selling the car- I have the money for all the arrangements that I have to do- and the race begins! Selling my car was almost the last task before my flight to China. I can't believe it's so close... 12 days... Its gonna go so fast...

***

Rob's already in Shanghai for a few days now. He started looking at apartments for us. He sent me pictures of 2 of them that are an option. The one is really nice and big and clean- but a bit more expensive than what we thought to spend (but we might spend that much if we really like the place), and on the 5th floor without an elevator. The second apartment is smaller, not as nice and not so clean, but in our budget and on 7th floor- with elevator. Dilemma...
I told him that I think he (or we, when I'm already there) should look at some more places. He's going to that area now- to see if he can find some more real estate agencies.

***

Last night I met some friends of mine from the virtual community I participate in. It was such a nice evening. We were 4 girls and lots of food (always good!). The thing that was really nice was that all four of us have a partner (either boyfriend or husband) from a different country.
When I joined the "Mixed Couples" forum online, I did it coz I really needed to talk to people that are in the same situation as me. I felt like even my best friends couldn't really understand what I was talking about- even though they are all supportive of me and very happy for me with this relationship. I needed something more than that. I needed someone that has actually been through all this before, or going through this right now. Since I'm a part of that forum- I feel a lot stronger, and a lot less confused about my life. Well... At least less confused about questions that regard this relationship.

It's sinking in

Rob's on his way to Shanghai right now. He still has about 3 hours to go till landing. The last few days, while he was packing his stuff, and spending time with his family- it hit me: he's leaving soon to China, which means that I'M NEXT. It suddenly sunk in that it's really close. I think it made me more excited than him about his flight.
I still have 15 days to go- which is not a lot really. There's so much I still have to do... Like getting the Chinese Visa. And going over my Chinese (still VERY lazy...). And packing up- deciding what to take and what not. Buying all kinds of stuff I know I can't find there. I think I need a list.

***

Not doing anything can be a lot of "work". Well it can really be a time spender. I read all day, and I go to the gym, and everyday I do one chore. Like today I called my x-boss and told her where to send the last paycheck to. And I took my car out of the garage. And went to the gym. A busy day! LOL... It's so sad- I can't stop laughing...
So you see... Right now It's not the most amusing thing- to read my blog- but I assure you! In 2 weeks time- It'll be a lot better...

"Is he Jewish?"

That's the first question that people ask me after I tell them my boyfriend's from Germany. Well not entirely true- it actually goes a bit more like this: (after we've established the fact that my boyfriend is not from Israel):
- "Where is he from?"
- "Germany"
_ "......... (weird awkward face followed by a forced smile) ...... Is he Jewish???"
- "Nop"
- (now there's another awkward face followed with another forced smile)
"... Where does he live now? In Germany?"
- " Yep"
- "Isn't it hard? A long distance relationship?"
- "Well, we got used to it, and we know it's temporary"

That's just a short part of the conversations I usually have with all the "Neshume Tehorot" (Pure souls- from Yiddish - obviously sarcastic) that hear about my relationship.

You get used to it. To the faces, and the questions.

Next time I might give you a taste of the questions we've been asked in the airport, by the security people. It's even more invasive than this!!!

Empty house!!!

Took my mom to the airport- she's going to Sinai, her monthly visit. Never thought I'd be so happy to be alone again... :-) ... I feel like a teenager who's parents left for a week leaving her at home with the dog- letting her know they don't want her to have any parties and no boys!!!
Well it's a bit different now I guess... But it still feels sweet.
My car's in the garage again- for some repairs - maybe my last hope to sell it...

***

When I left my moms place- to move to my own apartment- I remember that one of the things I knew I'd miss most was the view to the sea. The sunsets over the valley, the way the sun looks just like a biscuit dipping in the big cup of coffee. It was hard to admit that I wont be able to afford this kind of view. As soon as I admitted it- I found a place I liked.
As time passed I got used to the environment around me, and got to really like where I lived.
Now, after coming back to the place where I grew up, to the views I missed every time I left for more than a day, I appreciate it- no doubt, but I didn't find myself looking at the sea, telling myself how much I've missed it. Living on my own, marking my own territory in a new place, still the same city I grew up in, but a different area- was so worth it. That alone had all the meaning in the world- and I didn't really need the view to make me feel better.
Plus- I could still see the sea whenever I wanted to.



***

Changes in life

It's unbelievable how boring life can be at one point, and how stormy it can be after a second. Just a month ago I was still wondering about my near future. 2 months ago was sure Rob's gonna come here for his internship and I'll work teaching English in kindergartens. I had an apartment that was all set to "absorb" us as a couple, and everything seemed obvious and normal and routine. But then came the stupid war, and changed my life. Completely. In a week we decided that Israel 2006-2007 is not the place for us, and we should look for a new place. Rob suggested a few places on earth. I chose China. Preferably Shanghai.

I was considering a few aspects in this decision:
1. I was already there- the shock will be a bit more subtle.
2. I already started learning the language- must be easier than starting something from scratch
3. Going to an English speaking country- gives me no benefit- I already know the language- so no language to learn- and getting a working permit in these countries for me is almost impossible.

Fortunately Rob found a place close to Shanghai.
He's flying there on Sunday, its 4 days from now... His flight makes mine closer and closer... I wish I flew with him, or at least at the same time, but I've decided to stay here for a couple of reasons: the first would be to stay here for the holiday (Rosh Hashana) on the 22nd with my mom. The second is Yifat's brother's wedding on the 20th. So I've decided to take a flight right after the holiday on the 26th of September.

To finish with what I said in the beginning- how unbelievable it is that one second your life can be so boring and the other so stormy- now it seems like I have nothing to do- I have no job, and the only highlight of my day is the gym- and even that- I'm a bit too lazy to go...
I have started going over my Chinese notes, but found that its rather hard to do that alone with no push from anyone else... But I'll just have to do it.

Back Home

Was at Yifat's for 2 days. Was GREAT! We went out on both nights, the first I got kinda drunk, the second- I learnt from the last one to not mix alcohol (it seems like we never really learn, right?) couldn't get much sleep the first night coz of the nausea... lol... We went to the uni's pool yeasterday (the nice lady let me in for free, from the back gate - coz there's no way to get in unless you buy a 5 entrance ticket for 200 nis) after that we went for indian food- in a really cheap great little restaurent, where you sit on cushions outside, and there's only vegetarian food. On the way south to Yifat, I met a person about my car. I still have my car- do the math. It's really hard to sell my car because it was a rental before. I hate lying to people's faces. I'm no saint, but now i know there are a few things wrong with it- and I can't stand in front of a person- and try to sell him or her a "damaged" car. It's not on such bad shape- I must say- but well... it's not perfect... Dahhhh!!! it's a used car!!! It seems like everyone here is trying to get a perfect car, for really cheap. Stupid people.
Today I left, and started driving to the north. Stopped at my dad's for a short visit- saw my lil bros, had some fun with them. Then headed home. I miss having my own place, but here it does feel more like home than anywhere else right now...
I must admit that I CAN'T wait for my flight. It's in exatly 3 weeks. Still have to get back to this one Chinese uni in Shanghai- the only one that said- "OK - you can sign up- if you're willing to catch up on the program yourself" (I'm gonna get there 2 weeks after the semester starts). It's not gonna be easy- but I'll start going over my Chinese books tomorrow.
Gonna go to sleep soon- after I'll have some quality time with myself...

Going away

I'm goin away for 2-3 days, to visit Yifat, in Beer Sheva. I really need this break from here- at my moms... It's been an educating experience... I've learnt that a 26 year old CAN'T live with a 50 year old. I've learnt that I LOVE LIVING ALONE. I've learnt that I'm just not myself anymore- coz I really don't spend so much time with myself in my own environment anymore. I wonder how it'll be when I'll live with Rob. I mean- I obviously feel a lot more like myself around him than around my mom- he doesn't try to shove food into my mouth. He doesn't ask me a milion questions a minute. He doesn't listen to my phone conversations (well to be fair- he doesn't understand them... they're in Hebrew...) but he doesn't. I must admit- my mom is really one of the nicest people i know, and one of the most interesting people i know. But living with her... being with her for hours every day (I have absolutely nothing to do except for the gym... how sad)... That's practicaly impossible...

So- I'm going away for a few days, just to be myself again. Go out, go to the pool, be with my friend. Be me.

ummmmm... technical problems...

I'm trying to change the blogs look... IT DOESN'T WORK!

Read the help, read all the instructions... It shows on the preivew - the look I want- but here- still looks shit!!!

Troubles of the rich???


ok ok found the reason- it doesn't work well with firefox... how sad.... i'll have to use the explorer... :-(

First post

Ok... first post...
Still in Israel- going to Shanghai in exactly 24 days, but who's counting...
Was wondering if i wanna post here in Hebrew or English... started in English but can't promise I wont switch to Hebrew every now and again...
Didn't even start going over my Chinese books- and haven't decided yet if I really wanna sign up for the only uni that ever replyed... what to do what to do... In a way I think its my only option- and it means i'll have to really sit on my ass and study Chinese in the next few weeks- otherwise there's no point 4 signing up to uni there. The problem is that the uni is, how to say, not very close to the south- and Rob's work will be at least an hour south to Shanghai... So I'll have to decide what to do real soon....
Ok, enough for now....