Zoo: Leaving comrades

May 4 still:
We began to head towards the exit but realized from Oliver that the driver was at another exit that was closer. We were only missing Lakia and Miah after awhile. I ventured towards the bird cages and talked with a white parakeet, all the while thinking of Julia (my sister) who loves birds (birds that make monkey noises because she cannot whistle and taught them eeeee eeee ooo aaah noises instead). Two Chinese women asked to take pictures with Mike and giggled the entire time. Then two guys asked to take pictures with Ellen and Taylor, who also giggled (our girls that is). I took a picture of Nevena and a little boy was taking a dump right behind her. We're not used to that, it's interesting and some of us cannot help but stare and/or giggle from amusement. After quite awhile we decided to go to the bus with Baldwin while Oliver and Larry stayed behind to wait for Lakia and Milah. Oliver asked for our tickets back and mine was chilling between my slightly sweaty breasts so I quickly pulled it out and I am sure I embarrassed him...
Some type of wolf dogs joined the raw meat from the cage earlier I noticed as we left. They continuously ran in circles. I took a picture by a large mushroom sculpture and threw my camera on the concrete while handing it to Jia...stupid stupid me...

I like to sit in the very front on the bus to take pictures and see everything easier. Baldwin sat across from me and I asked him some questions, with him politely answering but not saying much more (someone said later that this is the most English he's ever spoken at once- with us). He is an English major doubling with International trading. I asked about going abroad and he wants to go to the US or UK but doubts he will since he graduates next year and has to go to work right after.

We had lunch. Jia has a crush on one of the waiters. We then walked to a bookstore, which I feel was further than the water park I swear. There was a little black dog that knew how to cross the street better than us, waiting, going...it was quite interesting.
I needed to get more money, along with Taylor, Milah, Lakia and Ellen. We daringly crossed the street amidst racing cars and speeding bikes. At the ATM we didn't fully know what to do...we did not know if dollars meant cash or yuan. My 8 digit pincode did not fit so luckily there was a cash exchange right inside the bank and joined Milah in there. I exchanged my 100 dollar bill and I hope it does not run out...At the ATM they were trying to take out money again but as I had predicted, you could only withdraw once. Back in the Foreign Language Bookstore, they appeared ready to leave. I didn't want to! It was interesting and I was on a quest for some souvenirs. I bought one book and decided to come back with Bailey sometime later, not sure when yet. Taylor bought the English English version of Harry Potter.
On the way home we stopped at a bakery and they had delicious looking goodies. I bought a pastry with sugar cubes and cream inside. I could only eat half because of the sugar density...even for me. I wanted to take a picture of the pretty cakes but they said no when I asked...but I did it secretly at my hip anyway...yeah yeah, rebel me breaking rules, I happen to do that when it comes to photography.

We learned that parking is such a hassle...and rare...or anywhere...and it helps to have money...to tip and protect your car. Everyone had different ideas for the rest of the night. We all traveled to the bank by the hotel, besides Bailey, who went with Baldwin and Oliver's girlfriend (and Oliver?). I wanted to go back to the bookstore but will do later.
At the bank I sat outside and people watched. Larry pointed out an internet cafe and a few people ventured off there. I waited for Sunny and Jia to go back to the 5 story mall. There we decided to split up because I like to shop a lone, and I was not that interested in shopping for keychains and stationary. We had an hour to make it back by 6 for dinner. I figured 10 minutes per floor. I suggested starting at the top. I scanned that fast and was down again. I found a small pet shop and was really thinking about buying a small mouse or rabbit but figured Larry would kill me...
A few women tried to talk to me, while others completely ignored me. I need to learn more "shopping terms" too...it's frustrating. I understand the calculator numbers though...so I bought something for Evann (No, you cannot know until I return...). I stopped on the 2nd floor in one shop for awhile, which threw off my timing so I never made it to the first floor. I bought some things there. Then it was 5:58 and I went outside in front of KFC, our designated meeting spot. JIa is a shopaholic...we've concluded, and she denies sometimes.
I was about to pass out in my dinner plate, the tin tray but worried my black plastic chopsticks would poke my eyes out. After dinner some people decided to go to the mall. Sunny and I were in no way interested. I passed out in my bed at 8pm with my clothes on. I woke up at 11pm when Sunny was getting ready for bed and did the same. I slept until my alarm went off the next morning at 7 am.

.

Day 4: Tianjin Zoo

The zoo made me sad, a lot of us sad. At first it appeared a little dilapidated and I questioned where the animals even were. Oliver gave us our tickets and on the back was a map...all in Mandarin with nooo picture heads...
A few of us bought ice cream cones. I bought a strawberry fruit bar. It was delicious. I was dehydrated but did not feel like buying water at the moment, wish I had brought my bottles with me...
We split up at the stairs for this peddle coaster thing where you peddle yourself above everyone around the zoo. Lou and I just walked away because we only had an hourish. We could smell animal and found emus. Then white peacocks, then other peacocks. We continued around and wandered to the left and found the monkey "cage." The lady at the door, who appeared to be living in her 5x5 cubicle with clothes hanging outside of it, ripped our ticket (I still do not know the purpose of it because they did it at every spot we entered). Hau and Michael were passing us as we came in. They warned that "Monkeys roamed free." I was slightly excited, but it turned into a feeling of sadness and awe. It was true. They came right up to you and scrambled after one another when orange peels and crackers? were thrown at them. They grabbed some people's pant legs and stood on their hind legs. Some of them had fur missing and lumps that I assumed were tumors? We left slightly confused, which turned eventually into a feelings of despair and almost anger.

There were empty cages with raw meat in them. We then found the tigers, and one white tiger, in class cases with two way glass. There were plastic bottles and some trash in there. The lion's fur was matted. We met up with Hau and Mike and discussed the differences between American zoos we've attended, as well as this one. Although American zoos also have irresponsible visitors and caged animals, there usually seems to be more regulation and supervision and caring for the animals. We then brought up the circus and how there is a lot of shady dealings and treatment with the animals as well, trying to keep it all in an objective perspective, or at least one that didn't try to glorify the US and downgrade China.

We were running out of time and Hau was STILL on her quest to see pandas. We went into a building with crocodiles/alligators, seals, turtles etc. The seal was in a tank far too small and dirty. Its eyes appear sad in my photo, at least to me. The sea turtle tank had paper money floating in it, which made us sad because it looked so dirty and unkept. We were growing more and more upset, but calm. The bears' were also in a cage and some people threw things at them, which they proceeded to eat. Their fur was also matted. I left. We met up with a good number of us at the panda cage, one panda eating bamboo. Hau was happy. I was not but at the same time it was cool to see the animals that close, it's a double edged sword with any captured animal. We decided to leave for lunch by then because it was getting late.

Day 4: Water Park

May 4:
We had to arrive on time to breakfast today in order to leave on time for the "Water Park," which is more like New York's Central Park. It was close enough to walk, which Larry wanted to do, but the University gave us a bus again. Oliver came with us and his friend Baldwin. They're such nice, cute guys. Lakia said hi to him on the bus when he climbed on and Larry snapped (nicely) at her. She coiled up and became withdrawn and missed Larry telling oliver to giver a hug/say hi so when he approached her she said she didn't need him, but then realized what was happening...it was all miscommunication. I felt bad for all parties involved.

I went to the public bathroom downstairs in the lobby and Lakia warned me to take off one of my pant legs because it was a squatter. It was an interesting experience. In our rooms we have sitters but the squatting was different, I am glad I only had to pee, my thighs wouldn't hold me long enough to dispose anything solid...

At 8:54 am we arrived at the park. We clamored off as a group but began to split up and reconvene at various times and locations. At first I noticed some of us mimicking a group doing some exercises and was slightly embarrassed because I could have appeared like we were mocking them. So instead they decided to go behind and join them. Again we had people staring after us all the way around the park. Parts of it looked like Dr. Seuss Land while other parts were "traditional" architecture and beautifully painted. I was already to expect people exercising and walking around, dancing etc from a movie in Anth344 Medical Anthropology class, but it was neat to experience in real life. I also didn't expect the ferris wheel.

I like to hang behind everyone or off to the side to capture candid shots of everyone doing what they do, making the faces they do, and sometimes capturing a video or two :p

When we came across people dancing (some of it was something that resembled ballroom and one couple was doing a very nice Viennese Waltz) I tried to Hustle with Milah...but she was a bad follow ;p
Sometimes people come up to Sunny and Jia and ask "what they are" and they explain American Chinese, but I think that concept is hard for the strangers to grasp, as they just stare at all of us...Jia keeps getting irritated that they mistake her or ask if she's a tour guide a lot...

A man leading some TaiChi? asked/told me something but I did not understand so he said bu dong. Lou and I venture off together taking pictures sometimes because he does that too. A lot of people are fascinated with black people and take pictures of our lovely ladies a lot, whether asking or not.
We had a nice photography session on some rock garden? after watching people doing various things by the lake. Pictures will eventually make it to facebook to explain more visually...

A lot of people asked Larry if we could go to the zoo and he consented. It is at the end of the park, small but they still wanted to go. A sweeping lady saw Ellen's braids while we were waiting for Baldwin to buy tickets and Amanda said she would have went off if that woman had touched her hair. It was interesting until a crowd began to form so we had to hurry inside the zoo before a scene broke out...

I have been staying up until 3am to do blogs and edit photos so I don't fall behind, but I still am. Please forgive....

Day 3: Phone Mission

May 3:
Outside of the Shi Mansion is a river. There was a man who came up to us and thrust his baby at Taylor saying ni hao. A lot of the girls think it's hilarious/weird that all of the babies' clothes have slits in in pants that reveals their bare ass and genitals. Babies poop and pee in places that you don't normally do in the US. I don't think it's as strange as some...then again, I had a different type of childhood.
We use each other to take pictures of people and scenes a lot, to not look too creepy. Then again, people openly stare and take pictures of us. We usually just smile. Some keep getting irritated but I feel like it's a mutual exchange of curiosity and wonderment.
No helmets. Even little children on the back of motorbikes. A lot of people ride double on bicycles and motorized bikes/mopeds.

Our next stop after taking pictures by the "big golden baby" outside of the mansion was to get SIM cards. IT TOOK FOREVER. Hau and I were the only ones who did not buy a SIM card or phone. The phones were 30US dollars and and 20US dollars for the SIM card. At first I thought we walked in and cut everyone that was there. Everyone started at us. I eventually asked Larry and he said no, no, no. A little boy came up to me many times and just smiled and stared. I could not understand what he said but Jia said he said he was just looking at me and that I was pretty, or something like that. I said hello. He asked me how old I was in broken English. I said 21 but I don't think he understood and I tried to sign 21 but I recalled Vincent's lesson on how to count on my fingers and I am sure I did it wrong...
Another little boy (I swear, there are little children EVERYWHERE) was next to me when I decided to sit and wait, and just giggled so much when I said ni hao.

A few of us walked across the street to check out a market while they took our passports and went to work on the phones (I had to lend my passport to Sunny since she did not have hers in order for her to obtain a phone). Jia went in the exit and they yelled at her. Chaz and I were approached by an older woman and she said something to us and patted our bags...we assumed we could not have them...but we were ignorant and continued to walk around. Groups of 5 women followed all of us around the store. It was interesting. We pretended they were not staring and walking around with us...on our hips. But I understand, foreigners don't usually enter this area and they had no idea what we would do, good or bad or different...

I bought shampoo, conditioner, body scrub, water (a case of 24 was 2 bucks and Sunny and I split it), socks (a dollar each for wicking socks), a few souvenirs, laundry detergent-Tide, and Pringles (which I thought were barbecue because of the picture but then found out they were Black Pepper Rib Eye Steak), and I think that was it.

P.S. As I am typing this, a guy knocked on the room across from us and another answered in his undies...ooooo :p

Finally everyone got all set with their phones. I sat outside a bit after we went to the store because being inside gets cramped with all of us. The only thing is that outside feels very polluted where we are. My lungs burn sometimes, which I thought was dehydration but I think it is just the smog. Everyone was hungry by now and we had missed lunch so they prepared a meal specially for us. Tracy, a local Tianjin University student, 3rd year studying English I think, went around with us. She is very sweet.

Hau commented on how she feels sorry for the street sweepers and sellers.

At 'late lunch' someone asked Larry for soda, I feel spoiled sometimes in the way we ask for things. The money we paid was for food but I still feel spoiled (I keep repeating this statement). GIEU subsidizes a lot for us, which is nice but I also do not like to get birthday gifts because they make me feel guilty. Ellen and I had a conversation about this and how some people have problems receiving and how others love to ask for things.

We ate dinner at 6, shortly after lunch. I was fairly full. After dinner we/I at least, took an hourish nap. Then we went to the 5 story mall down the road. Some of the shops were closed or closing and we did not look around that much, as they closed at 9. I did not buy anything. There is a KFC and outside the entrance at night there are red and green lights that look like snow when you stand in them...bad description but they are pretty neat.

We played "Never have I ever"/"10 fingers" when we came back in Taylor and Ellen's room, at least most of us did, 9 or 10? We learned a lot about each other, some surprising while other things expected. I shall not go into detail on such a public source...

Day 3: Shi Mansion

May 3:

11:09 am, just leaving Shi Mansion- not a "normal" tourist attraction but was still set up for tourists. Many wanted pictures with us, especially Chaz and anyone with African decent. There was even a time when Baily and Nevena were shoved out of the picture because, well we assume because they were not black like Amanda, Milah and Lakia. There was a man who followed us for quite a bit, I spotted him and pointed it out. The pictures we took had him in the background a lot, it was comical but sad at the same time. I didn't find it as funny as some. A lot of people assume no one can understand us, which is often true, but I don't like to talk loud about people.
The architecture is beautiful, old school, detailed. Many venders

outside the mansion in the market area. It is hard for me to say no to anyone asking for money but I don't have money for everyone, even myself.
The architecture is beautiful, old school, detailed. Media/film family. Wealthy. Water jugs in courtyards to put our fires from jealous arsons.

Many venders outside the mansion in the market area. It is hard for me to say no to anyone asking for money but I don't have money for everyone, even myself.

Our group screams attention-getting Americans but a lot of it has to do with our personalities. We are a group of artists mostly: theater, artists, singers and dancers. I wish we were not so loud a lot of times but it is what it is. Sometimes it is better when we divide into smaller groups. It is hard to keep 14 people quite all of the time, especially when a lot is new and exciting or different. What I cannot stand the most is sounding spoiled or appearing spoiled, which happens to us sometimes, or sometimes we sound whiny. Just irritates me slightly. Larry said that we will go through a step process of groups...eventually get into fights, or "have a storm," but we deny it. We said we love each other too much...but there are times I can see how maybe, maybe, something might happen.

Day One- Late Start

Sunny and I were last to sit down around 8:15am. A waitstaff began talking to use at the buffet line and we just stared with dumbfoundness. She knows a little Mandarine but did not understand and told me to just keep going. We ate and conversed and Larry (Professor Gant) told us to meet back around 9am for the bus. After realizing it was 8:58 we hurried to the bus to go buy Sim cards and see some mansion...could not hear the name....update later.
P.S. Journal entries ugly due to bumpy ride