I have a large mole on the right side of my neck that protrudes. While shaving this morning, I cut it very badly. I didn't notice until I was halfway to the public bike rack. I wanted to rent a bike so I could ride over to the wild animal sanctuary Peter had shown me and see some lions and tigers. i tried to stop the blood with my hands, but it was really gushing out. By the time I reached the bike rack, I had blood all over both of my hands and my yellow "I'm happy and I know it" t-shirt.
I struggled at the bike rack for a while, trying to figure out how to unlock one, but to no avail. I was very self conscious about being covered in blood (that might attract the wild cats anyway) so I soon gave up.
Feeling distressed, I went to the McDonalds at the subway again because I wanted a cheap coffee. I really need to clean my percolator so I can make coffee at home. I also ended up getting criss-cut fries and a spicy chicken sandwich. The pig ladies were there again, still serving my food. I asked them for ketchup, which they only understood after much miming. I also grabbed some sweet and sour sauce when they finally pulled it out.
A group of police officers were standing in front of the subway station. In China, the cops don't have guns, but they do have shields, clubs, and giant tasers on sticks. It is very intimidating because they look like riot police, but its actually much less scary than cops having guns once you think about it for two seconds.
I also saw this sign when walking back to my apartment. It says " A huge cancer of the harmonious society, the underworld not only brings great harm to people's lifes and proper security, but also affects the prosperity of the whole society. People are all biting and hating it. Special anti-gangster and anti-evil actions have been carried out in various places, and social peace has been restored. Eliminate evil and eliminate evil." I find this whole sign creepy, but the scariest part to me is the claim "social peace has been restored." Meanwhile, my VPN keeps going down due to the Hong Kong protests. (Sorry Mom! She thinks if I say anything political on my blog I will get the death penalty.)
I get back to my apartment and keep blogging up a fury. I only watch one episode of comedians in cars getting coffee, that's how in the zone I am. And I'm still not smoking cigarettes. I'm fucking killing it.
Before work, I stop at the convenience store to buy Dr. Brown, a Chinese coffee energy drink. It tastes like a coffee flavored red bull. I also snap the picture above because of the caption above. Peter always shows Tom and Jerry cartoons to his classes when he needs a break. All the other teachers show Peppa Pig.
Before getting to school, I decide to stop at the market to see if I can buy supplies for my house (I really want to get some swim trunks for my Bali trip and a water bottle for school.) It seems like most of the meat vendors at the market have already left, but there are lots of vegetable benders still around. There are also lots of live birds for sale that are definitely meant to be cooked (geese, chickens, pigeons, and even a crow.) I purchase no birds, but I do stop in a different convenience store to buy some toothpaste (I've still been brushing my teeth with toothpaste I stole from the hotel a week ago.) I also found a new lays flavor, stewed beef noodle.
At work, I ask Peter to explain how I can rent a bike. He saws it's impossible because I am not a Chinese citizen. Peter always seems so unhelpful. Just make things work for me one time Peter.
Josie tells me she need my passport, which I obviously didn't bring with me because she didn't ask until I got to work. She gives me the keys to her scooter so I can drive over and grab them. Then, she realizes she doesn't need my passport and takes her keys back.
The kids are especially rowdy today. I have to separate two kids from their friends, which really sets those kids in a bad mood. Another kid shoved his finger in my mouth, which was really disgusting. Today I taught the words table, sofa, bookshelf, bed, fridge and desk. The kids had a lot of trouble with fridge, and desk was pretty hard too.
In another class with all four year olds, my whole lesson plan was "I like pink. I want pink flowers. I'll water it. I like blue. I want blue flowers. I will water it." I was also supposed to teach them the color gray. All of the students would fall to the floor whenever I said pink, which was cute at first, than very annoying. One student messed with the computer so I loss my pink and blue flower stands. So for about ten minutes, my entire lesson plan was just the color gray.
After work, I decided to walk to the mall to try to continue my shopping. It was a very long walk and I skipped dinner so I was starving. At the mall, I bought a bed sheet (in china, there is no bed sheet between the quilt and you. But I can't fit my quilt in the washing machine and I like two sheets so I bought another one), a water bottle, a hand towel, an umbrella, sunscreen, and a lemon lime Gatorade. I really wanted to buy black out curtains for the bedroom because the light wakes me up every morning, but sadly there were none. I also wanted swim trunks for my trip to the Bali, I asked at every single clothing store, but there were none of those either. Does no one swim in Gaochun?
On my walk back home, I ended up not getting any food. I didn't want to get any American take out because all that food is disgusting, and I'm always scared the Chinese restaurants don't do to go orders. So I am pretty hungry as I write this. I just eat a pear and some garlic scented peas when I get home.
I organize all my buys as soon as I get inside. It seems like the toothpaste I bought has been used a few times, which is disgusting but isn't going to stop me from using it. A man's gotta brush his teeth, and I want to save that hotel toothpaste for the trip to Bali. I spent over 230 yuan today, despite only eating one meal. I have 1680 yuan to last me until October 15th ($235). I think I can make it work, but it's gonna be a pretty close call.
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