Friday, February 6, 2009

tell me what you see.

so the past couple of days i have been trying to blend in with the asian people. and over the past couple of days i have realized that this task is nearly impossible.
here are a few reasons why:
1. the chinese people in general have abnormally large moles. you are probably thinking that moles are fairly normal; however, asian moles are much different than regular moles. they have long thick hairs coming out of them that the asian people believe to bring bad luck if you cut them or pull them out. if i ever find a hair coming out of one of my moles, there is no way that i am going to let it grow and grow and grow until i can braid the hair. i guess i am going to have bad luck.
2. chinese people have terrible teeth. i don't think they know that toothbrushes exist or if they do, they probably don't care to use them. most of the people i have seen have teeth that are rotting out of their head, and on top of that they are incredibly crooked. it is sad. really. the other day some girls went to an open market in the morning and came to find a place that helps with that problem. it is a chair, with some plier sitting next to it and a sign with a toothy smile on it. dentist? maybe.
3. chinese babies are SO cute. and it is even cuter when they have holes in the back of their pants in order for them to squat in the street. it is not so cute when they are squatting in the street, but those little bums are just so cute. i would love the freedom of being able to squat in the street, but baby asian bums are luckily...knock on wood...the only ones i have seen pooking out of bum less pants, and hopefully it stays that way.
4. fingernails? more like claws. both men and women have extremely long fingernails that they use for grooming. i would rather use a q-tip and a kleenex.
5. i have come to realize that showering isn't always necessary. sure they have grease on their fingers and their clothes are covered in meat water. who cares?! it's all good. PSYCH. it is not all good. but i still love it here.
6. the chinese (as well as many other asians) have terrible facial hair. it grows in spurts around their chin an upper lip and is so stringy and strait that it doesn't really look like it should be there. all i can say is that i am glad i am not a man (asian or not) that has to worry about facial hair.
7. the chinese have a very skewed sense of exercise. they walk backwards and barefoot. they believe that they are getting more exercise that way. i am going to keep walking facing forward. and keep my shoes on. at all times.
8. asians are tiny people. and i mean tiny tiny. both men and women. they have the smallest waists and cinch their belts so tight that their pants are folding over on the top.
9. asians love to hover. is doesn't really matter what anyone is doing, but they LOVE to watch everyone that comes into their store and/or vicinity. i have never felt so uncomfortable than when i am standing in a store looking at something with 5 asians hovering over me. and when i say over me, i literally mean over me, their hovering forces me to stoop down.
10. asians can sleep anywhere. and i mean anywhere. on the bus. on the street. in the street. on a motorcycle. in the park. in a tree. on a rock. on a boat. in a cart. in a car. in a store. blocking the entrance of store. on your shoulder...with their dandruff getting on you. in a grocery cart. in a grocery cart going down the street. in a cart behind a motorcycle. etc...etc. i am a deep sleeper. but not that deep.

as you can tell, i have learned a lot about the asian people i am surrounded by. and by surrounded by; i mean surrounded on all sides, nearly all the time. i am sure this list is going to get longer and longer. stay tuned.
i love asians.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

there's a place.

i am in GuZhen Town, China. and i have noticed a few things over the past couple of days of being here.
if you are ever planning on visiting china now, or ever, you may find it in you best interest to know the following...

1. learn how to squat before you come. get down low, Low, LOW.
2. don't be alarmed by little kids peeing in the street. it's totally normal.
3. rivers of poo and garbage are no big deal. thats just how it is.
4. there are no crosswalks. just cross the street when there are no cars coming and hope you don't get run over. walk around the cars if you have to.
5. cars and scooters HONK all the time. it is to warn people walking that they are coming. it isn't meant to be rude but it definitely takes some getting used to.
6. 4-5 people on one scooter or motorcycle is totally normal (today i saw three men squished together on a tiny seat of a scooter. i don't think that would go down so well in the U.S.).
7. if you hear what sounds like gun shots, don't be scared, it's just fireworks for the new year. they are for good luck.
8. GuZhen Town is the city of lights. nearly all the shops on the main road are light shops. like fancy lights and chandeliers, and lamps and regular lights. they are never busy, but they are open for business.
9. if you ever need help at the super market, just look puzzled and about 10 workers will come help you. they don't speak english but they will be happy to hover over you while you shop.
10. people stare at americans ALL the time. they will even turn all the way around on their motorcycles just to get a longer look (today some guys yelled, "hello" at us from a van that drove by, we were so stoked to hear english that we turned around only to find the guy yelling to us, leaning half way out of the car taking pictures of us).
11. you can't understand anything, don't even try to understand what anyone is saying (the chinese always sound like they are arguing. for all i know, they could be).
12. nearly everyone here has long fingernails. don't look to hard, you can see left over ear and/or nose particles.
13. bring a foam pad or blow up mattress to sleep on. unless sleeping on plywood is appealing to you, that is.
14. sometimes little kids run in the street and babies walk in their little walker things in the street. it's no big deal. they'll be fine.
15. chicken is illegal in china. it makes people sick and die. a girl died from eating it just last week. DON'T EAT CHICKEN IN CHINA!

this is a just a short list of things that i have noticed in the short time that i have been here. i'm sure there will be much more insights to come. stay tuned.

Monday, February 2, 2009

across the universe.

i am in china now.
it's great.

more to come.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

ticket to ride.

i am moving here.



in one week. i am scared. and pretty nervous. but totally ready for the adventure.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

a day in the life.



rees family photos.

Monday, November 3, 2008

fixing a hole.






breathtaking views of moab.

i'll get you.

we are cats.





hear us rawr.