A Sucky Halloween, and an AWESOME Beijing!
So let's get to the bad part first, shall we?
Halloween on Saturday was the first all-nighter I've had since... since... christ, I can't remember.
But Halloween on Tuesday, when I dressed up, was by far more stress-inducing.
Raukura and I had pumped the kids up to ask us for candy and say, "trick or treat" when they saw us, which is exactly what they did. From the very minute that school began, we were hounded and attacked, pinched and pulled and molested. That cute little bunny tail? At least 20 kids decided to pull it at various stages. Lunchtime was a MAAADHOUSE. Although we tried to instate a "one piece of candy for everyone" policy, dozens of children attacked us for seconds and thirds... forgive me, but as un P.C. as it may sound, it's frickin' impossible to tell these kids apart.
Worse than the children, however, was the reception from our co-workers. Many wrote off the situation as "cute" and "naive" on Raukura's and my part, but one of my favorite teachers, Nimori Sensei, gave me serious cold shoulder until I took off the costume and personally apologised for the ruckus. She actually turned to me and said, "I'm glad you told me that, Melissa. And if you ever need some advice on a project, you know you can come to me." This sounded a lot like, "Melissa, if you ever have an idea, you should run it by me, so I can tell you if it's retarded or not."
I'm still not very happy with that.
But, screw that!!! Check this out!
Yes, my good Chinese buddy, Yui Sensei (though, I call her Yui-chan) invited me on a trip to go see Beijing!! I really REALLY needed to get out of Japan - I hadn't left since February, and it was killing me. Especially after Halloween - I just had to get OUT.
Beijing is big and dirty in some places, but also really really clean in some places. I kind of see it as South Asia, only not so scummy. In fact, rather proud and upstanding. But you still get a few, "Hello! Hello! You like? Buy? Very nice! Very cheep!" So, I bought a lot of crap. Good times!
As far as the food, it's hysterical, but it's almost EXACTLY THE CHINESE FOOD YOU GET ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. With one difference - it's really REALLY good. I had two favorites: Peking Duck (Peking is another way of pronouncing Beijing. I bet you knew, but I didn't, so I'm just trying to console myself by assuring myself that everyone is as lost as me. Sorry...) and pork buns. Good God, I love pork buns. Some people could survive on chocolate, or ice cream, or steak and potatoes, but if I had only one wish, I would live and die by pork buns.
So, what did I see? I saw the Great Wall, Tienanmen Square, the Forbidden City, some tomb for some emperor of the Ming dynasty (sorry, don't remember the name...) and Chinese acrobats! No kidding! Also, while we were in Beijing, a bunch of African diplomats were staying at our hotel, and the nicest hotel in Beijing, which was down the street from us. This meant that the whole street was policed off for security reasons, which made us feel very safe. I think this was the best part of the whole experience, because I felt like I was in the middle of history - China was making a huge economic contract with Africa, and they have become trading partners in order to mobilize their countries together. Wow! Also, when I was reading the English-translated Chinese national newspaper at breakfast, there was a big picture of all the African diplomats. Looking up from the paper, I saw one of the diplomats at another table! How freaking cool is that?
Other news? Beijing is very windy in Spring and Autumn, and Yui suggests that the best time to visit is October. There is also a LOT of English translation everywhere. Beijing is rapidly mobilizing, but anyone who tells you that it's "getting too western" is talking out of their ass. No country is so western that they've abandoned their culture - people are too proud for that. Also, they're preparing for the 2008 olympics, so after that year, China will probably be the cleanest it's been in a long time.
Sorry this has gotten so long! In any event, I'll be busy for the next nine days until I COME BACK TO THE USA for two weeks!!! I'm killing to see both of my sisters, my friends, my family, my boyfriend, and Nor Cal! Oh, and Mexican food. Sweet, sweet Mexican food.
All my love to you guys :) and I hope to see you soon
(And good luck Democrats!!!!)