Yesterday I met with Lee and we were trying to get out of the rain thinking we could use the tunnels at Xujiahui station. We didn't realise that there were 2 stations that didn't interconnect and we were forced to go back into the rain to get to Metro City. Downstairs from the Pacific Plaza is a food court area and they have this brand called Bee Cheng Hiang which is a Singaporean brand but I used to get it in Hong Kong. They do barbequed meat which is so tasty but expensive for China at 10RMB per slice.
Lee and I went to Chamate since she really wanted some fruit tea. I decided to try some chicken noodles although I realised my mistake when I found chicken gizzards floating around - ick.....! After lunch we went to the bookshop and got approached by a member of the Wall Street English company. I don't think Lee knew who they were so I quickly told her we already speak English, she looked a bit wide-eyed, apologised, then went to find some other poor sucker.
Not long after a man tried to offer us English classes and this time Lee told him we didn't need them - we did see him again but I think he wasnt like the other goldfish there who have a 5 second memory and left us alone after remembering he spoke to us.
We then went to our favourite cafe place in the basement and had strawberry and banana milkshakes which was really good! As we left they said goodbye in Japanese and I thought it was odd seeing as the cafe had a French name but was actually a Japanese cafe apparently.... I then decided to have a taiyaki since I was beside there and then we left trying to get a taxi which wasn't as difficult as I thought seeing as it was raining so badly. I was surprised that even though he had to take me another way back it only cost 14RMB.
When I got back I decided to book my trip to Chengdu seeing as the prices on English and Chinese websites were the same. I booked via Ctrip who seem quite efficient and 30 mins after booking my hotel they called me up to explain they have to book for me with the hotel the next morning. The following morning I received no less than 8 SMS at 9am when I finally had an afternoon class and could lie in! So frustrating and the messages keep breaking off into 3-6 word messages......
So I'm booked to go to Chengdu for 3 days, 1 day spent volunteering with the pandas! I'm so excited I always dreamed of it, pandas are so special to me ^^
In the evening I met Hannah at Zhongshan Park and we had dinner at Secret Recipe. It wasn't bad for 2 of us it came to 88RMB. I had a mac and cheese with prawns which was unusual - kinda reminded me of the mac and cheese with lobster I had in Boston ^^
We then went to Carrefour and its always great fun in there seeing the unsual products!
Today
I went to afternoon class (yes, on a Saturday!), which seemed to drag on perhaps because it was such a lovely day today - sunny and warm with a gentle breeze. Finally when class was over and I went to Starbucks to study. It was so strange this time I went and ordered as always in English and they had no problem with it but then the lady treats me like an idiot and "directs" me to stand at the end table to pick up my drink. The guy there then speaks to me in Chinese and realises I can't speak he continues to anyway (I don't know if this was some kind of joke). They must have thought I was leaving and said goodbye in Chinese but I sat down and I think they gave me the wrong drink but I wasn't too sure and didn't know how I'd even say it to them. Then they each took it in turns to lean over and stare at me, then laugh loudly and tell another who would do the same and I endured this with 5 different staff members!
I was just really upset by the end of it and I got up and left. I was too upset to go out to eat anything so ordered a take away which was a bit expensive but a nice proper American burger with bacon and fries which certainly cheered me up.
To be in China you really need to have thick skin and I think I am overly sensitive. I really need to try harder and ignore such people as I know not everyone is like that. But sometimes the stares and the comments are hard to deal with, at times they think I do it on purpose and speak English instead of Chinese. I'm trying so hard to study better and am starting to consider studying in the living room where the table isn't as high and the sun sets on that side so there is more light in the afternoons. I got to see a really nice sunset today as I was studying and hadn't seen the sun set that fast apart from in Barcelona.
Tomorrow I have class at 8.30am and then I'm trying a yoga class in the afternoon. Pilates isn't for me I realised....
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