Fun With Words!

Twenty six days or three weeks and five days till China!
(On a side note, eighteen days till I turn 21)


One of my best friends is leaving to go work in New York for an entire year on August 1st, so I've been using that as something to keep my mind off of how anxious I am to leave. I'm really going to miss her...we've had quite an interesting summer together. 


This is really a crazy waiting game. This whole summer I've just felt like I've been holding my breath, waiting for something to happen. And sometimes things did happen. Like getting my awesome job helping ESL students with their conversation skills. I can't even begin to explain how much I've learned through that. But really, for the most part, I'm just impatient. Maybe things will pick up on my birthday? Hmm...

 

I just downloaded this sweet app called "Google Translate". It's the nifty phone-version of this popular site...and I figured it would not only help me learn the language better, but also might be useful IN China (The jury is still out on whether or not I can use my phone during my stay, though...). Right now, however, it's mostly been hilarious. Anthony and I decided to say things that we thought would be helpful, listen to them repeated back in Chinese, switch the translation from Chinese, to English, and then speak the Chinese as best we could and see how well it translated back. Obviously A) there are hardly any 'perfect' translations when going from English to another language and vice versa and B) we are super new at this...but I have to say, I didn't expect it to be this bad:

 

This was Anthony's attempt at "Where is the bathroom".

Yeah...this might end up being a little bit harder than originally expected.

Honestly though...that is hilarious. 

We're screwed.

Love,

     -Z

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The Countdown

In one month, I will be boarding a plane to China.

Yep, China.

From August to December, Anthony and I will be at Sichuan University in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. The Sichuan Province is in Southwest China, and it's capital city, Chengdu, is known for it's blending of traditional culture and modern advances in technology and economics.

When considering study abroad locations, Anthony and I chose China for a few reasons. One: it is much less likely that we'd be so inclined, later on down the road, to travel to China (rather than tour Europe, etc). Two: being religious studies and cultural anthropology double majors with focuses in Eastern philosophy, studying in China just made sense. And three: because this trip was going to be my first step into becoming a world traveler, I wanted to pick somewhere completely out of my comfort zone.

I have a feeling I'll be getting exactly what I'm asking for, and much more.

I've spent the summer earning money, filling out endless paperwork, and studying up on Chinese culture and modern life. I think it's safe to say that...I'm not ready at all.

I still have so much to figure out. Communicating with friends and family (No Facebook or Google in China), classes I'm going to sign up for, basic language...don't even get me started on packing. Ugh. How am I going to pack what I need for three and a half months in one suitcase under 44 pounds?!

The answer, I know, is pretty simple:

                       I just will.

There really isn't any "ifs" or "buts" about it. I'm going to China. I'm starting my life. This is it.

Passport, Visa, campus map:)

If you're interested in keeping up with my daily life leading up to, and during this amazing experience, then bookmark this blog. I'll put the links to my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in my sidebar (Although keep in mind I'm not sure if I can use any of those while abroad).

If you're super insterested, you can click here to visit the website of the university I am officially enrolled in.

Twenty-nine days.

With love,

         Z.

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Apologies

It's been way too long since I've written anything.
This is partly because I have been busy with school, and sick, and partly because I am extremely judgmental of my own writing. Even though this is supposed to be my unedited view of the world around me, I still nitpick over everything I type out...and more often than not, I dislike it and end up not pushing "publish".

But my good friend Jessica told me to "get over it" and "write already". So, here it is.

It's been a long winter. Where I'm currently living, this means a lot of snow and cold winds. Regardless of how beautiful that can be (see previous post), it can also get old. This morning it was sunny and, despite the wind picking up (think: average of 20-25MPH), warm. By the time I made it to my 10am class I was regretting the jacket and sweatshirt combo. Of course, it ended up clouding over and raining later (which, because of the rarity around here, was sort of nice)...but I enjoyed it while I could. I'm usually a big fan of the seasons in Washington, but this day-in, day-out low temperature, slipping-on-old-snow, worrying-about-driving thing is getting me down.

This might be a slight exaggeration

So I've had to come up with a few distractions.

I started enhancing my cooking techniques. Instead of copying each line of a recipe for dinner, I've started to research multiple versions of the same dish and piece together my own recipes. I'm working on memorizing useful ingredient substitutions (this one is mostly because I am a broke college student who can't afford to buy buttermilk). I'm trying new things. Vegetables I used to balk at are now becoming staples. Tonight, I cooked with garbanzo beans for the first time! I have dabbled in everything from hearty stews to crockpot roasts to spicy dry-rubbed chicken to key lime cake (Soon, Kevin, I promise) over the past few months, and it's earned me a bit of a reputation.

I've gotten into Parks and Recreation. Really into it. My fiance and I have watched three and 1/3 seasons. I referred to someone as "pulling a Ron Swanson" today. Anthony points out certain things I do as "very Leslie". We hate Ann. This needs to stop.

Yet another thing we have in common, fellow over-achiever.

I have been contributing to my love for knowledge with documentaries. I've been watching Stephan Hawking documentaries and shows on "origins of [insert ancient civilization here]" on NOVA and the Discovery channel for a long time, but it's only been in the last few months that I have really explored the documentaries section on Netflix, and actively pursued flicks on my favorite topics. Say what you want, but besides Sense and Sensibility or Cool Runnings, there isn't another moving picture I'd rather curl up with than a good ole' documentary. I'm majoring in Cultural Anthropology and Religious Studies, with a focus in Eastern philosophy, so that tends to be my subject of choice. Recently I watched one called Please Vote for Me about a democratic election in an elementary school in Communist China. If you don't have Netflix, you can read about it and watch previews/clips here. It sounds a little kitschy, but the underlying messages and values are phenomenal. 

I started working out. Sort of. I do yoga and walk/jog a lot. But I've recently been going to the school gym more and specifically working. I've always been athletic, so it's not a big lifestyle change or anything, but I am excited to get back into shape nonetheless. Besides, exercise = endorphins, right?

And from now on out, I'll be writing more often!

Really, besides school and the few "college lifestyle" things I indulge in, these are my "winter-is-dragging-on" activities. (Anthony will probably say something if I don't include beating Diddy Kong Racing 64 as well...I'm a violent player) I'm counting down the days till it's warm again and I can hit the streets on my longboard. I worked my class schedule for Spring quarter so I can be out at noon everyday again...oh, the possibilities :)

But for now, I'll just study for math and watch another Parks and Rec episode...or two...

What do you do to ward off "winter blues"?
Do you like Parks and Rec?
What are some awesome documentaries you've read lately?
Got any awesome recipes?  

 

Images courtesy of: Funzu, ImgFave,

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Environment

Around this time last year, I lived in a city.
It was fast and diverse and dangerous, and for all those reasons, beautiful.

Now I live in...well, it's still technically called a "city", but by my personal standards I think of it as more of a "large town". Anyway, the point is that it is vastly different than where I was last winter. Things here move a bit more slowly, and for certain stretches of time the day-to-day sameness is almost suffocating. However, this sameness found on the activity level of things is, for me at least, overshadowed by the insane amount of change that can be found in the sky, along the rivers and streams, and even on the ground. 

It might sound cliche; a city girl suddenly noticing the wonders of nature. But I'd like to think that I've always had a sense of the non-material world around me. And besides, what I'm really enthralled by is the conjuncture of nature, the elements, and the human life amongst it all. 

Interaction at any level is beautiful. I am most fascinated not by the exchange of politics or religion by groups, but how these groups built their culture and everything included in it around the beauty and danger of their environment.

What I really sat down to right about was the feeling I get when I go out on my own with my camera. I may not be a studied photographer, but I have a 20 year trained eye. Walking around yesterday reminded me why I had chosen to live here in the first place. Perhaps I did alright for myself in the glittering city of opportunity, but for the time being I am well adjusted to life in the clockwork town of natural beauty.

Here is my walk:








I haven't felt this alive in a long, long time.

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Snow-musings.

"Oh, I thought a Meadowlark was a tree."


Seems legit.

But, I digress.
You know the sound of a steady snowfall in the morning? Not quite pure silence...more like watching your favorite movie on mute. You can hear every key line in your head, but on the outside, its all just movement. I was doing that this morning (watching snow fall steadily, not Cool Runnings on mute) before begrudgingly getting ready for my 9am class, and thinking about how there are moments of absolute beauty in EVERYTHING. Rain storms with lightning across the sky, heat waves in their brilliant and hazy sunrises, and snow covered trees as you walk (slowly...awkwardly...) to class.
 

His favorite movie is Cool Runnings, too.

Going to college in a town that is braced for blizzards every November-February is like watching your friends go trick-or-treating through the window the year you got grounded. Too obscure? All my friends have had back to back snow days, and I'm still sitting through math class and reading about the relative population in different parts of China. I don't want to pout or anything, but this isn't the most awesome thing in the world.

Speaking of things that are annoying. SOPA. Okay, I don't really want to go there to the point of no return, but, come on guys. I totally understand that we are in danger of losing our "rights" to the free and uncensored Internet. This is a HUGE deal. I'm saying this in all seriousness, because my after-college career will probably mostly depend on the Internet...but it's not like the government is looking to screw you over. Really, we screwed ourselves. Pirating movies, games, music, etc., has created a need for action. I'm not saying this is the best course of action, by any means, just trying to put things into perspective before we grab our keyboards and old monitors and beat down officials with them in angry rage.
Maybe I can talk about this without much fear because I am part of the last generation to remember life before the Internet takeover? I remember getting our first home computer. My grandmother used it for her work. I think I was eight or nine before I got an email address.

Anyway, that's all I want to say about that.

Sorry I don't have much else to write about. I just need to get back into the practice of posting regularly. Here's my cat:

Next time, we can chat about Australia. I have a lot more to say about that.

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The beginning.

Up to this point in my life (which, obviously, is not long enough to mean much, yet) I can attribute four things to my creativity:

1) My darling, devious little sister. My viewing of her triumphs (and shortcomings), as well as her never-ending personal "f-you" to the societal norm has shaped my idea of what it means to be yourself.

2) The similarities and differences I have experienced in going from living in a big, roaring city to a quiet college town. This includes the people I have crossed paths with in both situations.

3) My fiance. Say what you will, but this exceptional a**hole of a best friend has taught me a whole lot about self-expression and acceptance in a shorter time than most people I have been influenced by my entire life.

4) My ability to get things out of my head and on to paper...or blogs.

Writing is one of those things that makes me more than just a person. When I sit down to write or type my daily events, past or future, I am instantly soothed by the clean lines and certainty of the checklist. When I am penning a note to a friend, the mere act of putting words together into sweet or entertaining sentences makes me feel like I have the infinite ability to love and be loved.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I really like to write. In fact, most of the time, I like watching and listening to people, and writing down my thoughts, more than I like the actual interaction. That's probably a really terrible thing. But if I'm crazy, then reading what I have to say should be all the more fun for you. Aren't we all a little curious now and then about how the "other people" see things? If not about that, then about the world around us in general? What is out there and how is it experienced by people, everyday?


Ultimately, I wish to experience those experiences. Be among those people in their mini-vans or mountain huts...Beijing, Sydney, Iowa, Nepal...

this is where I write about it all. This is my project.

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