Hodge Podge

I'm so far behind I don't even know where to begin. I guess I'll just start with today.
It's only 10:20 am here, so a short bit, but it will get the juices flowin'.

I woke today at 6:00 a.m. and spoke briefly with mom and Genvieve. Anna called and asked if I wanted to go to breakfast with her since Samuel didn't have enough time to eat and catch the bus this morning. I was planning on going straight into Yoga after Skyping, but figured I should eat a small portion of the usual: rice, tofu, and some combination of veggies, before exercising. I took down a bowl with me and saved some for after my session, so I wouldn't eat too much.
After breakfast, went back upstairs and did today's Yoga lesson at yogatoday.com. If you're into Yoga, it's a really great site. Usually takes an hour, which sometimes works, sometimes doesn't with the schedule, but I had just enough time to do the full session today: Yoga for weight loss.
Wow. I was DRIPPING! Absolutely melting while I did this one. Probably a little more advanced than I am, but it was worth every bead of sweat and semi-cramping muscle, lol.
Afterward, I did a quick rinse off and an even faster packing, changing, prepping because I had left myself only 10 mins to get ready... oops. So, I threw my Tupperware into my backpack and hurried out to the car. I think my driver wants to leave around 9:15 instead of 9:20, because he was in the parking lot at 9:10.... I tried to be out of my room by 9:10, but it didn't quite work. SO, I arrived at 9:17 still early, but 2 mins later than I wanted to be.
Drive to work was relatively easy and clear, and the gate automatically opened up for us when we pulled in. Sweet! I knew it was going to be a good day!
Since I arrive around break time, I get my computer up and going (which I had to restart/shut down 4-5 times just to get the internet to work...still not completely working) and ate the rest of my breakfast. Yum... room temp rice, bean sprouts, broccoli and tofu. Not the best meal in the world, but I feel much better now.
And yes, I'm blogging at work. I (think) I've finished that darn Regional Climate report-which after I had finished it the first time became the Regional Climate and Economic/Population Report-and I have a repeat lesson for class tonight on the overactive nature of today's kids and families, so I have nothing to do. I'm a little hesitant to ask for more right now, lol. I probably by this afternoon so I don't spend I'll my time blogging... although that would be good for all of us.

Let me give you an in depth run down of my week so far.
Last weekend, Nov. 8-9, Anna, Samuel and made the trek to go see the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Silk Market. We rolled out of the hotel around 8:30 am and took the bullet train to the Beijing South station. We called a cab and asked him to take us to the nearest subway station, about 2 Km away. Somewhere in the conversation he asked Samuel where we were going...Tiananmen Square. So, instead of dropping us off at any number of the subway stations we passed, he took us PART of the way to Tiananment Square and dropped us at a station maybe 3-4 blocks away. We weren't entirely sure of where we were, nor did we want to walk since Beijing blocks are MASSIVE and the weather was quite chilly, so we got on the subway 20 yuan down, as opposed the 10 we would have paid otherwise. I love Samuel, but he's always so good natured... sometimes too much, lol. "Well, at least he took us to a Station." "Yeah, but after taking us for a ride..." (Anna's response)
We got on the subway, which I hadn't taken the other time I was in Beijing, and made it to Tiananmen Square.
The exit we took brought us above ground facing the Forbidden City with Tiananmen Square at our back. Because there is a major road dividing the two, we decided to do the Forbidden City first. We followed the crowd, herded across a decorative mote, where soldiers shouted at any one who stopped to try and take a photo of Mao. Once we were inside there was a bit more room to navigate. The first section offered a gift shoppe and a few other stands, the second section offered the something similar, but in this section we were greeted by an eager Chinese man (maybe 25 or so), who I thought was either trying to practice his English or get hired as a tour guide. He quickly realized our trepidation and told us he was an art student who had an art show up one of the nearby shoppes/rooms. Samuel didn't want to go, but Anna and I thought it might be fun to go see all the wall hangings and whatever else they were selling. Rebecca Ganster and I had done the very same thing when we were in Beijing about a month ago. (Side thought: wow... it's been a month since I first went to Beijing.)
I knew that the main point of these students was to sell art, and some how hope to make a connection in a Western Country, but we all knew we weren't going to purchase anything, so what was the harm in looking...
There were some BEAUTIFUL pieces for sale, but they all were FAR too expensive, and as usual, the salesmen far too pushy. Interestingly enough, the only people in the rented shoppe were students and tourists. Makes sense. Once we told them that we had no intention of buying, they quickly dropped us and let us leave.
We made our way to the end of the third section-I think it was number three-and purchased tickets to enter the Forbidden City at 40 yuan a piece. As we made our way into the main arena, we marvelled at how large this place is. We were only allowed in the center area, but it was still HUGE! Lots of open space with the original (I'm assuming) stone in all the court yards. We decided to take the path less travelled by and enter the next area through one of the side gates. Slightly smaller but still just as cool!
Each area unfolded something new, but each area also looked the same. We pushed and shoved our way to the back of the pack and tried to get some pictures of various thrones. However, so many Chinese were throwing themselves into the throng, that most of the Westerns were overwhelmed and quickly found their way out of the mass, the three of us included. We stepped off to the side again and spent most of our time looking at all the stuff surrounding us, rather than the "main attraction".
We took some pictures of the marble staircase, the giant bronze (I think) lanterns, Crane and Dragon-Tortoise combination thing, and moved on to the next section. Most of the sections had all been re-painted for the Olympics, so everything looked really nice. Everything looked the same, and probably would have looked better in sunlight than the cloudy weather we were experiencing, but still really cool!
The last section we decided to attempt had yet another throne, with more pushing and shoving, but it also had a giant Jade slab at the base of the throne building. A beautiful Dragon encircling a Chinese city. Samuel said it symbolized the Emperor projecting his people. And with a city like this, it wouldn't have been difficult to protect!
We decided that it was time for lunch, warmth, and not so many pushy people, so we turned around and made our way back to the entrance. We weren't in a particular hurry, so we posed for a few pics here and there and did a little bit of people watching. As we were taking photos, I had a man ask if he could take a picture with me. It isn't the first time it's happened here, but it was definitely unexpected. Sometimes I forget I'm so different from the Chinese. A weird thing to say considering I/we still get stared at everywhere we go. It usually doesn't happen as much when I'm wearing my sunglasses, but I didn't need them that day. Low and behold, lots of stares and even a picture. I'm such a celeb! (Okay not really... just big, blue eyes)
We asked the man if he would take a picture of the three of us, and he agreed. He actually took a really great picture! Not saying anything about Chinese taking photos, just about photo taking in general. I'm glad he stopped us!
Once we got back to the first area just inside the "ticket area" Samuel went to use the restroom. Not really and important fact, but he did discover that the Emperor's robe exhibit, which we originally thought was an additional ticket, turned out to be free! We thought it would be a really neat exhibit to attend so we headed up the steps and made our way to the gallery.
All of the lights were dimmed and flash was not permitted to keep the fabric and colors safe from fading. Being a pro of sneaking pictures in museums sans flash, I snuck a couple of photos of my favorite robes. Really incredible that anyone could fashion anything of this calibre.
After we came to the end of the exhibit, we headed out, Anna decided that Tiananmen Square did not look all that exciting, so we made our way to over to the Silk market to track down Subway, the restaurant.
Turns out the subway stop exits to the 3rd floor (shoes and bags). We took the escalator up to the 4th floor and headed to the information booth at the back of the building. We passed a pizza place, and an Irish sandwich place, and a cafe, but no Subway. By now we were all starving because of all the Western-style foods being churned out. We found the where the info booth should have been, but couldn't find it. There were two options and neither looked correct. So, we checked the info board to locate the food court, and decided to give that a go. Down to the basement 2nd floor and after wiggling down a twisting hallway, we came to the food court. We were hit with a blast of Asian spices from all the Hot Pot options. "Where is Subway!" Needless to say, Hot Pot-which consists of a boiling pot of broth and spices, and any number of ingredients: thinly sliced meats, fish balls, prawns, veggies, tofu-was not what we were hankering for.
Back up to the information desk area...we decided to ask one of the other attendants if they knew where Subway was. Turns out we were one attendant shy of the actual information desk, the only thing denoting it was a small plaque at on the counter. Samuel asked the women where Subway was and she pointed around the corner and down the stairs to the subway, as in the train, "no, no, no... a restaurant" No idea. Okay... try three. Anna suggested we go outside and peek around the corner. No Subway. Then, out of the corner of my eye as we turn away defeated, I saw it! Not quite like seeing McDonald's since they have the golden arches, but I'll take Subway's yellow text as the light from heaven, and the taxi's blaring horns as an angelic chorus!
We managed to beat the rush and were very excited to dig in. Right as we were about to take the only indoor table in this little hole-in-the-wall Subway, a different group of foreigners took it. Anna and Samuel went outside and I finished paying. Before I joined the others outside, I noticed one of the men who had beat us to our table trying to order. Let me tell you, if you haven't had Subway before, you have NO idea how to order properly. Even though they stole my table and we had to eat in the cold, I went over and helped the man with the first couple steps. After that, we was on his own!
Now the subway in China is similar to the US, but it just isn't the same. Every "Western" restaurant here has its own Asian flavor to it... literally. Don't know how they manage it, but the basic ingredients just don't taste the same. Nonetheless, we weren't hungry anymore.
While we were enjoying our sandwiches we did a little people watching. First, there was a beggar women of sorts who watched our table like a hawk. We all originally thought she wanted food, but she was actually watching-and waiting-for Samuel and Anna's water bottles. Any recyclable good gets dug out of the trash as a means of income. The second interaction we watched was between a Western, older male and a petite little Asian women. A prime example of what Aisan women think of Western men: Sugar Daddies. I acknowledged this, then listened to his attempt to strike up a conversation. He had recently had his palm. The reader declared him to be a wealthy man, apparently to his surprise, but I concluded it was because his hands were smooth and he hadn't done a days worth of hard labor in his life. Can't really talk, and probably a little harsh, but judging from the size of his belly, his recent comment, and the petite Asian with him, I'd say the reader wasn't too far off. Right on cue, his Asian Escort took his palm and begin to study it. HAHAHAHA! She just scored herself another outfit to go with the four or five (upscale) bags she was toting on her wrist. Not a bad find for her I'd say...
We finished up eating and made a bee line for the market. Anna wanted to get some Chinese decorated silk ties, I wanted to get one last item for Alex, and maybe a suitcase if the price was right. I'd seen some very large ones get rolled by on the way in, so I figured I'd take a gander.
I have never seen so much merchandise in one place at one time. This used to be an outdoor market, but it become so popular, nearly 60,000 visitors on the weekends, that they turned it into a massive indoor market. Let the bargaining begin!

Sorry to break stride. Most of this all happened last Saturday, 'cept for the blip about my morning, but I now need to go converse with the President. He's just looking for a little conversation with a native speaker, simply to practice. However, his English is quite good as it is... Glad to help though!
So, brief run down of the day. No new assignments after completing the Regional Climate/Economic/Population report. Chatted with mom briefly, a little Facebook, lunch, read about snowboarding-which I'm going to try and learn when I get home-touched up my overactive kids and families slide show for class tonight, received a MASSIVE gift set for attending the basketball tournament with Samuel (the guy next to Samuel told him he was pretty important around LG and he would get us some LG soap and stuff... guess he meant it!) and LOTS AND LOTS of blogging. Enjoy and hopefully more later, since I don't think I'll have work tomorrow either. Plus my hand as starting to tingle... oops!