So, as I said aeons ago, my little life in China was fairly plain, and nothing happened, most the time. However, there was this one day, a faded memory now... I'm kidding, I do remember it quite clearly, and it isn't as dramatically ancient as I made it seem. There was one day where I had quite a lot of fun. Back in China, I usually just stayed with my dad, or with the oldest of my two cousins, and her kids. This day, was the day it all changed.
No! Stop trying (and failing) to be dramatic!
This specific day in a period of unspecific days, I had lunch with some very distant relatives. I'm not exactly sure what to call them, but apparently, they were my dad's brother's wife's brother's family.
Are you confused? Me too.
We had Chinese hotpot, something which there's a lot of in China (duh!) in a little shack-like restaurant. The beautiful walls were decorated with cracks and the silk threads of silver spider webs.
That's sibilance for you!
Even though it wasn't a five-star rating restaurant, the food was pretty good. And it's hotpot, so what can I say? All my favourite foods dumped into a steaming pot in front of me...mmm...
This was also the first time I had ever tried Chinese milk. To all you people who live in China, I would like to say... "HOW ON EARTH CAN YOU DRINK THIS?!"
And to all those who are now curious as to what the milk tastes like and may want to try it, I say to you, "NO! PLEASE DON'T!"
It's truly the most disgusting milk I've ever had in my entire life. I've never had curdled milk before, but in my imagination, it's sour, kinda thick in places, and warm (for some reason). And that's how Chinese milk tastes like. And no, the milk hadn't curdled. I, of course, did not drink any more of that ('iste', on behalf of Cicero, and his persecution of Verres) for the rest of my stay in China.
Randomly, after finishing the lunch, I then went to a water park with my other cousin, the one-I-don't-usually-spend-that-much-time-with-cousin, and also the daughter of the family I had lunch with.
I had to buy a new swimsuit too, as I didn't bring any from home, so that was...different. Did you know, that Chinese swimsuits ALL come with padded bras? They're all under-wired, and with massive pads in the already padded cups. I swear, they turned my meagre size A cup into frickin C cups or something! Not that I would ever know how big a C cup is :-(
The water park itself was small, but great fun, mainly because we didn't care about anything, there was no-one to impress, and we just did whatever we wanted without any other thought. I think it was actually for little kids aged 4-8 or something, and I think us three girls were the only teenagers there. No, scrap that, we were probably the only ones there over the age of 10, excluding the parents who were there with their kids. As embarrassing as it was being pushed down a water slide by a 6-year-old, it was still tons of fun. On the biggest slide there, which the other girl and myself had to force my cousin to get on, we went down together, holding hands, one after another in a train. We took turns being at the front, and honestly, I could live there if I was allowed to.
I had to buy a new swimsuit too, as I didn't bring any from home, so that was...different. Did you know, that Chinese swimsuits ALL come with padded bras? They're all under-wired, and with massive pads in the already padded cups. I swear, they turned my meagre size A cup into frickin C cups or something! Not that I would ever know how big a C cup is :-(
The water park itself was small, but great fun, mainly because we didn't care about anything, there was no-one to impress, and we just did whatever we wanted without any other thought. I think it was actually for little kids aged 4-8 or something, and I think us three girls were the only teenagers there. No, scrap that, we were probably the only ones there over the age of 10, excluding the parents who were there with their kids. As embarrassing as it was being pushed down a water slide by a 6-year-old, it was still tons of fun. On the biggest slide there, which the other girl and myself had to force my cousin to get on, we went down together, holding hands, one after another in a train. We took turns being at the front, and honestly, I could live there if I was allowed to.
Except the water was brown from filth and there were dead bugs everywhere. Killing the moment for myself, it's what I do best!
Finally, it was getting late, and so we went on the giant slide one more time, before leaving to have a shower. Public showers in China...where everyone literally just strips butt-naked with no dignity what-so-ever. Being British born and bred, I was...very uncomfortable. And I am not saying any more, it was a traumatic experience.
I came out of the showers as quickly as possible, changed into my clothes as if I had not even taken them off, and literally ran outside and up a slight hill where I was supposed to wait. Whilst there, I was greeted by a surprisingly nice view of the water park, the river which runs its way through the place in China where I was staying, and a gorgeous sunset. As it was getting dark, the lights in the water park were on, and a few little food vendors were making various Chinese snacks. The sunset made everything a sort of red-orange colour. It was beautiful, I was sad that I didn't have my camera with me.
And it's sad that I'm sounding like an old granny reminiscing over events that happened five thousand years ago.
Anyways, I really have to hurry now...I've spent so long writing this!
When at last I got back home (AKA my grandma's house) we went on our usual little night-time walk by the river. I love how everyone there knows each other, and how friendly the people there are. The sad thing about living in the city is that you don't take the time to get to know people, I don't know anyone on my street except my neighbours...let alone being friends with them all. I hardly know the people who live opposite my bedroom window!
Finally, it was getting late, and so we went on the giant slide one more time, before leaving to have a shower. Public showers in China...where everyone literally just strips butt-naked with no dignity what-so-ever. Being British born and bred, I was...very uncomfortable. And I am not saying any more, it was a traumatic experience.
I came out of the showers as quickly as possible, changed into my clothes as if I had not even taken them off, and literally ran outside and up a slight hill where I was supposed to wait. Whilst there, I was greeted by a surprisingly nice view of the water park, the river which runs its way through the place in China where I was staying, and a gorgeous sunset. As it was getting dark, the lights in the water park were on, and a few little food vendors were making various Chinese snacks. The sunset made everything a sort of red-orange colour. It was beautiful, I was sad that I didn't have my camera with me.
And it's sad that I'm sounding like an old granny reminiscing over events that happened five thousand years ago.
Anyways, I really have to hurry now...I've spent so long writing this!
When at last I got back home (AKA my grandma's house) we went on our usual little night-time walk by the river. I love how everyone there knows each other, and how friendly the people there are. The sad thing about living in the city is that you don't take the time to get to know people, I don't know anyone on my street except my neighbours...let alone being friends with them all. I hardly know the people who live opposite my bedroom window!
So, getting back to the night-time walks: let me set the scene for you...
It's night, not too late, around nine or ten pm, and the street which is right next to the river, though slightly above, is half-filled with the families who live in the area. From the lit up street, you can walk just a few metres down a paved slope until you reach the bank of the river, where there aren't any lights.
But that's irrelevant.
The street itself extends for quite a while, but halfway down the street, there's a circular area where there's no pavement, just the road, and a huge permanent metal sound system. Every night, music blares through those speakers, and couples dance around in the circular area, or sit and chat with friends. This is the central hub, it's not a large place, but it's certainly the most crowded.
The street, however, is not only for pedestrians. Large vehicles such as cars and anything bigger can't get in, but bikes, motorbikes, and three-wheeled carts can. Once the vehicles, of which there's not a great amount, but there's still a fair trickle on each side of the road, reach the circular area with the sound system, they slow down, then carefully navigate around the sound system placed oh so conveniently in the middle of the road, and weave their way past the dancers who seem to have a death wish.
Down the whole street, there are occasionally semi-circular sections on the side, where there are tai-chi lessons for little boys or dance lessons for the seniors of this village.
And there are bats. In London, we don't have bats, unless you go to a national park or something. So it was pretty exciting for me to see them, albeit not very clearly. There were loads, never stopping anywhere from what I could see, they were always flapping around. A bit like birds, when they haven't learnt how to fly yet, I'm guessing.
These night-time walks were the best. If someone would kill all the insects for me.
Yes, I hate insects, especially ones which either jump, fly, or move quickly. I especially don't like butterflies, because when they fly, they're so unpredictable, and when they land somewhere, they're still unpredictable. And they're bodies look disgusting without wings (I've seen some messed up stuff). And I also hate mosquitoes, but that's an obvious one. They love me though, or my blood, should I say.
Never did I ever think that I would hate crickets. Yes, they jump, and yes, they're just as unpredictable as butterflies, but they don't usually move unless you go near them. In England, where I live at least, the most you'll find is a midget grasshopper, and only when you go to an overgrown park. But on the night-time walks in China, it was impossible to not go near those huge crickets, whether it was dead or alive.
They were everywhere. Daytime, yeah great, there's none. But as soon as it get's dark, suddenly there's a whole swarm of them from god knows where! Every step you take, you have to check to make sure you don't step on one, or step on an already squished one. If there's anything I hate more about a bug, it's actually seeing them when they're dead and the insides are all squished against the ground with splats of insides around it.
And it's not just the ground you have to worry about, it's the air too. These insects can fly. They jump, they fly, and they can move quickly - my worst nightmare.
So, let me conclude this scene for you...
It's a beautiful street bustling with activity. Music, laughter, the sounds of dancing feet, ...and gross ugly crickets croaking away and crunching every few seconds as someone steps on one. There's no chance to properly take in your surroundings, as your too busy trying to duck out of the way of an incoming army of crickets.
Pure bliss.
I love y'all, and goodbye xxx
It's night, not too late, around nine or ten pm, and the street which is right next to the river, though slightly above, is half-filled with the families who live in the area. From the lit up street, you can walk just a few metres down a paved slope until you reach the bank of the river, where there aren't any lights.
But that's irrelevant.
The street itself extends for quite a while, but halfway down the street, there's a circular area where there's no pavement, just the road, and a huge permanent metal sound system. Every night, music blares through those speakers, and couples dance around in the circular area, or sit and chat with friends. This is the central hub, it's not a large place, but it's certainly the most crowded.
The street, however, is not only for pedestrians. Large vehicles such as cars and anything bigger can't get in, but bikes, motorbikes, and three-wheeled carts can. Once the vehicles, of which there's not a great amount, but there's still a fair trickle on each side of the road, reach the circular area with the sound system, they slow down, then carefully navigate around the sound system placed oh so conveniently in the middle of the road, and weave their way past the dancers who seem to have a death wish.
Down the whole street, there are occasionally semi-circular sections on the side, where there are tai-chi lessons for little boys or dance lessons for the seniors of this village.
And there are bats. In London, we don't have bats, unless you go to a national park or something. So it was pretty exciting for me to see them, albeit not very clearly. There were loads, never stopping anywhere from what I could see, they were always flapping around. A bit like birds, when they haven't learnt how to fly yet, I'm guessing.
These night-time walks were the best. If someone would kill all the insects for me.
Yes, I hate insects, especially ones which either jump, fly, or move quickly. I especially don't like butterflies, because when they fly, they're so unpredictable, and when they land somewhere, they're still unpredictable. And they're bodies look disgusting without wings (I've seen some messed up stuff). And I also hate mosquitoes, but that's an obvious one. They love me though, or my blood, should I say.
Never did I ever think that I would hate crickets. Yes, they jump, and yes, they're just as unpredictable as butterflies, but they don't usually move unless you go near them. In England, where I live at least, the most you'll find is a midget grasshopper, and only when you go to an overgrown park. But on the night-time walks in China, it was impossible to not go near those huge crickets, whether it was dead or alive.
They were everywhere. Daytime, yeah great, there's none. But as soon as it get's dark, suddenly there's a whole swarm of them from god knows where! Every step you take, you have to check to make sure you don't step on one, or step on an already squished one. If there's anything I hate more about a bug, it's actually seeing them when they're dead and the insides are all squished against the ground with splats of insides around it.
And it's not just the ground you have to worry about, it's the air too. These insects can fly. They jump, they fly, and they can move quickly - my worst nightmare.
So, let me conclude this scene for you...
It's a beautiful street bustling with activity. Music, laughter, the sounds of dancing feet, ...and gross ugly crickets croaking away and crunching every few seconds as someone steps on one. There's no chance to properly take in your surroundings, as your too busy trying to duck out of the way of an incoming army of crickets.
Pure bliss.
I love y'all, and goodbye xxx
