This, in particular, does not happen to be something new starting—I'm always cold. Really, it's like China is just trying to make me feel at home.
I think this is going well so far!?
The Start Of Something New, Part 1
I've been in China now for 20 days and in Chengdu—my new home for the next 4 months—for 17. And I think I can absolutely say, with a vague degree of measured and shaky potential confidence, that I'm finally starting to get my bearings (I know. But keep in mind I never claimed to be good at this). Though I haven't had the time* (*emotional or mental energy) to write something coherent or informative about my time here thus far, I have compiled a note on my phone. It started out as a few brief observations such as:
child pooped on the ground next to me. Seemed happy
accidentally used word for chicken instead of pork!!!
people keep staring at me
And oh man, let me tell you. That sometime soon is so right around the corner. I can smell it. I can smell it and hear it. I can hear it and it has a megaphone (really that's just the man on the street beneath my dorm. Someday I'll figure out what he's yelling). I can feel it, in gusts, like the cold wind originating from somewhere in the corner of my room.
Now I know what you may be asking and it might sound something like this: Why, pray tell, are you writing a blog post about not having a blog post written?
Ok first of all, that's rude.
Secondly, because I do have something to get the metaphorical ball rolling! all over the dang place!
I'm starting an illustrated travel journal!! With illustrations! It'll act as a nice documentation of my time in China, and is part of my wider goal to bring more consistent creativity into my life. I'm not quite sure what it'll look like, or how often I'll be sharing my drawings in blog posts or on instagram, but I do like the idea of including them in certain posts so that when your eyes are exhausted from all these words it'll be like a nice break. Really it's all in the name of service and survival.
I made this first drawing while sitting in front of the little coffee table in my room, with my space heater keeping me toasty and the movie Spirited Away playing.
I hope to make a little drawing of my favorites every month and will post them here, where I can give them the attention they maybe deserve.
1. Bubble Tea.
I don't know if this needs much explanation, but still I feel compelled to say—it's so good. Those rubbery little balls! That sweet, sweet tea! Chengdu is the home of the Great Panda Research Center, and so it's only appropriate that you can get the traditional black boba mixed with golden boba as an homage to those lazy black and white angels. It's the little things.
2. Baotzi.
A steamed, filled bun. With what? Hopefully what you asked for, but who's to say! Your Chinese is abysmal.
There's a boatzi stand directly across the street from the International Student Dorm, where the USAC dorms and classes are located. This provides us with breakfast and between-class snacks, and them with the privilege of interacting with enthusiastic Westerners that speak their language only half the time.
3. Prissy pups!!!
Guys. GUYS. My heart legitimately started racing when I thought about that-thing-nobody-tells-you-about-Chengdu. That thing is that they like their dogs diminutive. And wearing clothes. On the first day here I was naive and began the fool's errand of trying to count all the chocolate brown toy poodles. Impossible. Impossible, I tell you. Extra points if they're riding in the handlebar basket of someone's bike.
Many pups wear small sweaters with hoods, upon which are sewn another set of cloth animal ears. For example, a pomeranian wearing a bear costume. A goldendoodle that's actually a bunny. Clean up in aisle EVERYWHERE when this happens, because I'm peeing. And clapping. And whispering almost aggressively to whoever's nearest about how unbelievably lucky we are to be alive to witness this. I say it through gritted teeth.
4. Noodles, everywhere.
My current favorites come from a food stand in Wide and Narrow Alley. They cost 10 yuan ($1.36) and are cold noodles nested on a hidden swamp of Sichuan spice. When I first got these I was mildly taken aback by the numbing peppercorn that made my mouth tingle all over, but within two days I was taking the metro alone to repeat the experience. I had to write down the instructions on my phone and make three transfers. Incidentally, I feel very comfortable riding the Chengdu metro now.
5. Cute babies.
And my body was just starting to recover from writing about the dogs. It's like the parents in Chengdu know there is cuteness competition and they rise to the occasion with a vengeance. Not only are most of the Young Ones swaddled in a colorful and ridiculous amount of clothing, but many of their outfits have hoods with ears too. Precious critter ears and rosy little cheeks. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.
6. My micron pens and Copic markers.
It's going to be a summer wedding.
7. Strangely, Hamburgers.
I rarely eat them in America, but it was like some sort of food-based biological clock started clanging a week and a half in and I've really come to appreciate the comfort of an overpriced beef patty. Right now it's the beginning of Chinese New Year, and because everyone is home with their families or out of the city most of the Chinese restaurants are closed. Western restaurants in Chengdu are much more expensive than others but are one of the only options aside from convenience store ramen. I've had two hamburgers since getting here, which feels like two too many given it's been less than a month. They've also been BBQ burgers??? someone needs to call me so we can talk it through.
Honorable mention goes to: My backpack! Poor thing didn't get a number (someone's getting fired for that).
I take it everywhere and it holds my important things and is pretty.
In summation: more informative blog post will be up in the next couple days!
thank you very very much for reading!
bye!!
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