Archive for January, 2011

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Just a Minute (January 2011)

January 31st, 2011 by Manda | 4 Comments | Filed in Life

On the last day of every month, I take Just a Minute to reflect on what I’m currently up to.

Battling… with this mysterious plague-like illness I have been fighting all last week. I think it’s a bad sinus infection. I have a penicillin vaccination lined up for me tomorrow at a local hospital :(

Brainstorming… ways to re-lay out the furniture in my room in a way that maximizes space. Right now, the furniture set up is appalling and I’m constantly bumping into my bed/closet/desk/desk chair/bedside table. Krissy would be appalled.

Researching… summer internship opportunities. I have my heart set on interning somewhere in China (PRC), Taiwan, or Hong Kong. I have my fingers crossed that something will work out.

Exploring… the area surrounding my new apartment in Beijing. I already have my following favorite places picked out: bakery, massage parlor, bubble tea stand, cafe, and jiaozi/baozi stand. It’s going to be a sweet semester.

Bonding… with my new flatmates. I am very pleased at how well we all get along, which will make things run a lot more smoothly this semester.

Trying… to keep humid and warm in the (very) dry and cold Beijing winter. Thank God for humidifiers and portable heaters.

Preparing… for my short trip to Pingyao, where I will be spending the first few days of Chinese New Year! More on that later.

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Food I Wish I Could Find in China

January 30th, 2011 by Manda | 7 Comments | Filed in Food

(Or find at an affordable price. Or in a form that remotely resembles what I can find back home.)

  • Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits
  • Doritos
  • Kraft Mac and Cheese
  • Parmesan (or pecorino romano) cheese
  • Bagels
  • Cream cheese
  • Pesto pasta
  • Blueberry muffins
  • Cheetos
  • Pop tarts
  • Chipotle
  • Red velvet cake

This list could go on for quite a bit but now I’m getting cravings for foods I won’t be able to have till I return Stateside in July/August. Sigh.

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Reporting Live from My Friday Night

January 28th, 2011 by Manda | 7 Comments | Filed in Life

It’s 10p.m. on a Friday night. I am a study abroad student in Beijing, China. Ideally, where would I be? Any one of the following would be a good answer to that question:

…in short, any place where I would be able to go out with friends, socialize, drink, and/or dance. Or all of the above.

Instead, what am I doing? I am lying in bed, sick as ever. I seem to have contracted the plague or something, because ever since Monday night I’ve been feeling absolutely awful. Congestion, on/off fever, headaches, and all that yucky stuff. It sucks, because my best friend has also (by pure coincidence) chosen this exact time period to do some traveling for Chinese New Year, leaving me without any caretaker in this cold, dry, windy wintry Beijing weather.

I know, I know. Whine much? I’m just frustrated by the fact that I’ve been sick for the majority of this past week with no sign of getting better. The medicines I got at a local pharmacy have done shit all; I’ve resorted to self-medicating with ibuprofen and Vitamin C. I don’t understand how, even with bed rest, that I’m not feeling the slightest improvement. What gives?

Still, there are worse ways to spend a Friday night than sitting in bed, eating dark chocolate and re-watching Skins (UK version). I could be doing homework, or something equally unappealing after a hard week of studying and test-taking…

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