"This is China."

You hear this often if you hang out with expats in Beijing. It's common usage follows a expression of confusion or disbelief, as in the following examples:

1. Why did your coke come with a glass and ice and mine is just a can? "This is China."
2. Why did they change the schedule on everyone in elementary spoken Chinese and not tell anyone, so all but a single person missed the class? "This is China."
3. Why do they take off points if you are sick, get a note from a doctor, and miss class? "This is China."

 It might seem to have a 100% negative connotation the way I've described it, but that is not entirely accurate. The expression is also meant to convey a sense of relaxed tension about scheduling and rules and the general order of things. It can be positive.

I had my first reading/writing class today. I am in the beginner writing/reading, and a slightly more advanced speaking/listening class. Thanks to Susan (my tutor in Boston) I had a bit more practice actually having a conversation in Chinese.

My listening/speaking class starts tomorrow. Well, actually, it started today. But they changed the schedule and didn't tell anyone, so only one person happened to make it (by checking the schedule late and seeing the updated version.) 

This is China.

I met my tutor today. Twenty-six years old, and after the two hour lesson (which was fantastic), she spent an hour telling me how difficult it was for her to get her parents to accept the fact that she has a non-Chinese boyfriend.

Yesterday we went to the silk market. For everyone who visits, I will be taking you there. Sure, you can buy any sort of knock-off clothing/jewelry/watches for next to nothing, but it is also an experience just to have so many people begging for your attention. Hundreds of stalls, everyone selling mostly the same stuff, and each vendor knows a few words of English: "Take a look" "You need nice pants?" "You want watch? I give you good price today."

I felt bad after meandering about for just a short while. One of the CSA guides said not to feel bad for them because they have a much better life doing this, working 10 or so hours a day, often for a year without a day off, than they would have otherwise.

Somehow that didn't make me feel any better. 

I bought two books. One on the history of China, another on an American's experience moving here permanently.

Both Will and I signed up to have a single roommate. We were told recently that our third roommate will be moving in tonight. We asked how that could be. We were presented with a rather awkward conversation that can only be described as verbal diarrhea, which basically amounted to "this is China." They ended up saying our place is nicer than most, and they aren't going to charge us extra!!

Our apartment is fine. The kitchen is dark and so underequipped, and the food outside so cheap, that I don't think I'll be cooking anything during my time here. That is fine. Our refrigerator is in the living room (rather normal in China I've been told) but it doesn't so much keep things cold as it does keep them hidden. 

My biggest pet peeve is that the shower floor is the same as the toilet floor - so once you take a shower your whole bathroom floor is wet for about a day. Since we have two (soon to be three) roommates, you can basically never go in to do any serious... contemplation... without first removing your lower garments and hanging them up - or they will become wet. I've heard that the "luxury" apartments have this same feature.

I rode my bike to class yesterday - maiden voyage. The handlebars misaligned with the wheel, which was my biggest problem until my left pedal completely broke off. It didn't screw off - the metal broke. This was a brand new bike.

I stayed in a coffee shop until 1 a.m. yesterday preparing for my lessons today. I already learned a bit of Chinese! Who would have thought??!