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!

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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.

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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...