October 31, 2005
Well Kinda Lonely But No Longer Stressed (Day 32)
Okay, okay so I guess I'm kinda lonely. But it doesn't help that I'm in a city that has no youth hostels, no one who speaks English and I have a hotel room all to myself.
Right now I'm in Nanning. I arrived last night, and I'll be leaving tomorrow morning...need I say more? Naw, it's actually a pretty city, there's just nothing to do. Except of course what I came to do:
GET MY VIETNAM VISA!
Yes, my time in China has come to an end. Sooner then planned, and at the cost of a flight from Hong Kong to Malaysia, but I really don't mind. I've enjoyed my time here (most of it) but I'm ready to go. I'm actually really excited, and I realize that's not because there's a ton of stuff I'm roarin' to do in Vietnam. There are really only two reasons:
1) Friends
2) Beaches
Now those are two good reasons if I may say so myself! (and I may, this is my blog) The first reason brings us back to the loneliness issue. Being in Yangshou it wasn't so bad because it was beautiful, there were lots of people around that spoke English, and I didn't have to figure anything out. But once I left, things got hard again ("things" being everything that has do to with communicating with someone from China) and the loneliness set in. It's a lot easier to figure out where you're going when there are four, three or even two of you. Not because someone in the group is spontaneously able to read Chinese, but rather because it takes less effort to achieve the same thing. For example, if you're asking for directions to the bus station, a group of four can ask 4 different people and you only had to ask once. That means you're less likely to get stressed out because all the weight is not on your shoulders. The load is spread, thus it's lighter, therefore you tend to get places faster. Okay, enough with that jibberish. My point is that the frustration of travel is much less when you have someone to share it with... not to mention someone to laugh about it with. So, since I'm meeting friends in Vietnam, I'm looking forward to Vietnam.
My second reason should need no explanation. I'm from Santa Barbara, and despite the fact that my skin is already dark, I love to tan. Well, I love sitting on beaches in the sun with cocktails in my hand... and that's a synonym for tan.
But before I cross the border into 'Nam/beaches/bird flu I would like to make a list of the things I loved about China. I realize that much of what I've written has at times been negative, and even as I walk down the streets I'm often thinking of the things I don't like about China. So, I figured I'd force myself to come up with the things I like so I leave with a much better feeling about the place...although I do have to deal with a lot of crap crossing the border tomorrow, but oh well. So here goes...
THINGS JASMINE LIKES ABOUT CHINA:
1) There are snacks everywhere. The Chinese love snacks and so do I
2) There are internet cafes around every corner
3) It's cheap. Who doesn't love getting a meal under $1 and a room for under $5?
4) Yangshou
5) The train system. It's really good once you figure it all out
6) Sweet and Sour Pork...there's just something about it
7) The fact that the guy on the computer next to me is watching porn...wait no strike that, that's something I DON'T like about China
7) (since the last one didn't count) The fact that we all seem to take the same route. This may not have as much to do with China as the China Lonely Planet, but it seems that most travellers are interested in the same places and travel at about the same speed. This may seem annoying to some, but I was able to make friends and learn lots of stuff. In some ways tourist traps can be beneficial
8) Tourist Traps. Someone can always speak English
9) The Forbidden City. Even though it was extremely crowded when I went, I still think it's one of the most amazing sites in China. As you can see, the place is ginormous!
10) CITS...except when they lie to me, like the guy in Guilin. Mostly I just like them because someone there always speaks English
11) Street Food. It makes me wish we didn't have as many health codes at home
12) Nanning. Even though I don't really like it, I found a place to run and I got my Vietnam visa in one day
13) The people who truely wanted to help
14) The food. Fried, breaded, slathered in sauce, mmmmm
15) Markets. How often do you hear yourself say: "no, really, what is that??"
16) The late nights. Everything stays open late...everything
17) Seniors doing Tai Chi in the morning
18) The Great Wall. Because it is GREAT
19)The fact that it makes me think. China has made me think about a lot of issues and opinions I had before, and as odd as it is, it's the first place that's made me more okay with where I'm from and who I am (you can ask me about this in person if you want me to explain)
Okay, now that that's done I have a sudden urge to list the things I hate. Today I was reading some posts on the Thorn Tree (Lonely Planets Travel Forum) and it got me thinking. Someone had listed the things they didn't like about China which I felt took some guts. Some people agreed with him, but others repremanded him pulling the usual "you're culturally ignorant/that's just your opinion" stuff, and I realized well, yeah, it is my opinion and that's really all that matters to me. It's okay for me to not like a place as long as I understand that me not liking it doesn't make it wrong or backwards. It's just different. I don't have to like everywhere I go, what I do have to do is think about everywhere I go. And if that means thinking I don't like it, well, so be it. Plus, after a stressful 2 days I need to vent. This is what a blog is all about right? So much for leaving off on a good foot.
THINGS JASMINE DOESN'T LIKE ABOUT CHINA:
(mind you I'm grossly over-generalizing...sometimes)
1) The fact that the guy next to me seems to think it's okay for him to share porn with the entire room
2) The Spitting. I'm sorry, I'll never get over it, it makes me cringe everytime
3) The Staring. GET THE F**K OVER IT! SO I'M NOT CHINESE, WHO GIVES A S**T!
4) The Food. Fried, breaded and slathered in sauce...can I please just get a salad?
5) The Incessant Honking. Some cities excluded (ie. Nanning, Guilin...I think that's it)
6) The fact that everyone that walks by in the internet cafe thinks that my emails are their business
7) The fact that most Chinese seem to think everything is their business
8) The people who have tried to screw me. This is the most unfortunate one of all because at the moment I feel like most people in China were trying to get money out of me. I'm just a big $ and the sadest part is that will probably never change
9) The fact that no one runs in China. I ask where people workout/run and everyone looks at me like I'm crazy
10) The fact that 90% of the time I don't feel like the person I'm talking to is trying to understand. They just seem to be trying to get me to do what they want me to do
11) The Yelling. Why is everyone always talking so loud?! "Loud noises! Why are we yelling??!" I've decided most people in China must be partially deaf
12) The Yacking. I kinda like this about the Chinese, but I find I'm annoyed by it more often then I'm amused so I put it on this list. They always seem to be discussing something. Everybody will be on the bus ready to go, but they'll stand around and discuss something for 45 mins. What are they talking about? That is the main reason I want to learn Chinese, so I can know what the hell they're all talking about!
13) The Smog
14) The Smoking. I think I have lung cancer... ahe ahe
15) The fact that they have no cheese
This list may make me seem ignorant, I will admit that. Some of the things I've listed are definitely things I don't understand, but a lot of them are things that I do understand and will allow myself to admit I don't like. I've always been so scared to say I do or do not like something being a Media, Cultural Studies major. But now, after being on my own, away from home in a foreign land for over a month, I've learned that it is okay to say you don't like things. Life is about figuring out how you feel and doing what makes you feel best. Do I dislike China more than I like it? Probably not. Do I like China more than I dislike it? Probably not. Who knows, I could come here a third time and have a wonderful experience, but then again I could come here a third time and find myself thinking "why the hell did I come here a third time?!". Odds are, I'll be here a third time. 1st impressions (and sometimes 2nd) can't be trusted.
Funny, I feel better already. Xie xie China. Xie xie.
