The Fruit Shop.

Checked the calendar today and realised I am edging closer and closer to ‘day three hundred and sixty five’. However, considering I arrived in this country on Febuary 26th and will be flying out on Febuary 5th next year, this blog has in fact been falsely named and there will be no such ‘day three hundred and sixty five’. But then again, accuracy is overated and I shall continue to refer to the last day as no. 365.

Now that that completely necessary clarification has been made, I am currently sitting on day three hundred and something, and with less than two months left I’ve realised there’s so much of this country (or more specifically, this Zhejiang University bubble) that I’m going to miss.

Somewhere top of my list – the fruit shop across the road from our dorms.

Filed under: Life., fruit shop

Take a minute.

Absolutely fantastic song. Here’s the lyrics for the chorus and first verse:

And any man who knows a thing knows, he knows not a damn, damn thing at all,
And everytime I felt the hurt and I felt the givin’ gettin’ me up off the wall,
I’m just gonna take a minute and let it ride,
I’m just gonna take a minute and let it breeze,
I’m just gonna take a minute and let it ride,
I’m just gonna take a minute and let it breeze,

How did Mandela get the will to surpass the everyday,
When injustice had him caged and trapped in every way,
How did Ghandi ever withstand the hunger strikes and all,
Didn’t do it to gain power or money if I recall,
It’s to give; I guess I’ll pass it on,
Mother thinks it’ll lift the stress of babylon,
Mother knows, my mother she suffered blows,
I don’t know how we survived such violent episodes,
I was so worried, and hurt to see you bleed,
But as soon as you came out the hospital you gave me sweets,
Yeah, they try to take you from me,
But you still only gave ‘em some prayers and sympathy,
Dear mama, you helped me write this, by showing me to give is priceless.

Filed under: Random., knaan

Snow in HZ.

Filed under: Life., snow

Tee shirts.

Zhejiang University International College Tees. 30RMB.

Filed under: Random., tee, zhejiang university

Swag.

This is Willow Smith. My friend R.L showed me her new clip Whip my hair and now all I do is sit in my room and whip my hair back and forth.

Swag.

Something else swag and worthy of checking out is my friend TK’s blog. He posts up awesome photographs, motivational pieces and random little anecdotes from his day-to-day experience in China and then writes the word “swag” after it. Swag.

Filed under: Random., swag, TK, whip my hair, willow smith

First Impressions Re-evaluated.

It’s incredible how quickly time has passed. Nine months later and we’re finally on to our last assessment task for the year, a 2000 word reflection piece reevaluating our first impressions of this country. It has required looking back on what we wrote for the first assessment task and having a bit of a chuckle. Here’s the first two paragraphs of what I had to say:

Apparently what we understand in Australia as “customer service” does not apply universally like I originally thought. Instead, here in China it seems an entirely irrelevant concept. In numerous circumstances over the past few weeks I have been ignored, pushed aside, and even yelled and snapped at by people of various “customer service” positions.

I was first introduced to the Chinese definition of “customer service” on the evening of our arrival in Hangzhou, when we decided to dine in the Zhejiang University International College cafeteria. Initially quite thrilled at the fact that this meal was going to cost us less than two Australian Dollars, our feelings quickly changed when it came to ordering the food. To begin, there is no such thing as queuing. Instead, everyone crowded around a little counter and yelled their orders out to a couple of apathetic-looking attendants. I remember waiting patiently for the group of foreigners before us to complete their order first, however I should have realised that queuing was a completely foreign concept in China, because the next thing I know, the lady behind the counter looks at me and throws me a demanding “要什么? (What do you want?)”. This was soon followed by an irritated “快点儿! (Hurry up!) ”. Shocked and slightly terrified at this point, I don’t know whether I was more nervous under the pressure of making up my indecisive mind or at the prospect of upsetting those next to me for seeming like I had just jumped the queue…

God I’m dramatic.

Filed under: Life., customer service, first impressions

The West Lake.

Hangzhou West Lake. Four separate occasions throughout the year. Photographed from different parts of the lake.

RL.

DB.

Filed under: Travels., west lake

Taobao. The Sequel.

Despite the convincing photo, the phone isn’t actually compatible with iPhones. Useless and unecessary purchase number 2. Number 1 being this:

It was all very exciting until someone pointed out that I don’t even wear shoes which require laces. Hence ends my short (but exciting) relationship with Taobao.

Filed under: Life., phone, shoelaces, taobao

Taobao

Taobao.com is my new best friend. This is my latest toy.

Filed under: Life., taobao

Central Perk in Hangzhou.

Somewhere Wen’er Rd.

Filed under: Spotto., central perk