No one is here, so even though I was out doing a bunch of things (I finished getting the souvenirs! Finally lol), I was still a bit bored. On top of these melancholy feelings, it was also dismal and gray and sorta drizzly today. Tomorrow morning it's supposed to thunderstorm and I have to catch a cab to the airport =3=
Anyway, this will probably be my last post on this blog, since I'm gonna be checking out of here in the morning and then on the 13.5 hour flight back home~ wahhh I don't want to leave, but now that the time is here, I'm ready to go home. But the point is, all the things I haven't said yet or posted yet, hopefully I've got them all and they'll be here! Yay, closing!
Reflections: Children, Highways/traffic/cars, Trees, Pets, & Bike Locks
Children
I know, I already posted about children. But I have something more specific to talk about, although it still involves their clothes (haha). I've found that a lot of times, if the child doesn't appear to have dressed him-/herself, they completely match with their parental figures. I've noticed a lot where one parent will match a child, but I've also noticed entire families dressed in the exact same outfit and it is beautiful. The fashion around here is different from that of Dallas, where normally you'll wear one pattern and everything else is a solid that matches. Here, you're either wearing black & white, or you're wearing multiple bold colored patterns, or you're wearing an entire outfit that is completely the same (imagine a black & white polka-dot shirt... and that same pattern is on the pants and that's what you're wearing... and that is what your entire 4 person family is wearing). I really like seeing them like that haha it's kind of cool.
Highways/traffic/cars
So there are three words used here because I have three stories, but they're all essentially related so just bear with me. On most of the major highways I've been around over here, there are under- and overpasses for pedestrians and bikers, which I think is fantastic. There are stairs going up to a bridge or going down into a tunnel that crosses the highway, and along the stairs is a ramp, so if you have a suitcase or a bike or a stroller, you can roll it with you instead of trying to carry it. I really wish there were more in Dallas. But Beijing does a lot for its pedestrians and bikers, since not a lot of people can drive/have cars. Because of this, my fear of crossing the street has decreased dramatically. I no longer sprint across the street, but rather I do as the Beijingers do - stand partially in the street and sometimes, if the light is red and maybe there are two cars turning, I'll just weave between the cars and cross. It sounds dangerous, I guess, but actually doing it is something else. Because there are bike lanes, there's a lot more room for people to stand on the street without worrying that a car will come. All you have to look out for are scooters & electric bikes & stuff. Usually you never do anything alone here, so I always engage in this dangerous activity with the grandmas & grandpas (because if they're doing it, it's gotta be fine). Also, doing this is actually sometimes safer than walking on the sidewalks, which also apparently double as driveways and parking lots. Today, for example, I weaved through a parking lot sidewalk in front of a bank (people park there so often that they actually just drew spaces on the sidewalk), crossed through an underpass, and continued on the other side of the street. I looked up and a grandma was staring at me from way up in her apartment... and then I turned around and there was a taxi getting ready to run me over.
Trees
Even though there's crazy amounts of smog sometimes, and the public bathrooms smell disgusting (I don't think I'd ever get used to it, even if I lived here for years), and there's all sorts of DIY crazy construction going on, there are still so many trees and plants in Beijing. It's beautiful, I wish there were more trees in Dallas.
Pets
While fish are popular, and I've seen shops selling turtles (something about them bringing good luck?????), small to medium-sized dogs take the cake. There are so many little dogs everywhere... especially fluffy ones. And they're typically dolled up - most of them wear shoes. I'd have to say that most of the small dogs were unleashed, but the vast majority of mid-sized dogs I've seen had leashes. It's pretty interesting. But I still like big dogs the best <3
Bike Locks
Apparently, this is the #1 need-to-have-item. Literally if anything needs to be locked, people will use a bike lock. Want to keep people from stealing your bike? Bike lock. Want to close up your shop and go home? Lock the doors with a bike lock. And because people use bike locks a lot, they just carry them around. Like, in their purses and stuff. I don't even know...
And that's it for reflections! Now, a few pictures of things:
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| Made a friend while walking back from dinner tonight! BeiShiDa cats are more friendly than SMU cats. |
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| I couldn't remember if I'd taken a picture of it, but this is where I've been staying |
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| At the mall today I found Yu Yu Hakusho/Kurama/Hiei (Kuwabara where you at?!) |
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| My favorite of the two subway stations closest to school |
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| The yellow sign is the Japanese restaurant, then the two red signs further down are, from nearest to furthest, the Korean place & the Shaanxi place. And I just now realized that I've forgotten to take pictures of the Taiwanese & noodles places that I went to... darn. |
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| Flowers outside of school~ |
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| Smile Mart is a Korean convenience store I'd go to sometimes |
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| The bakery~ |
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| In the mall, all the ads are for SAT/GRE/TOEFL tutors... work harder, kids. |
I kept forgetting to take pictures of the grocery store that I go to... I went there so many times in the past two days and I just kept forgetting and ugh but it's too late now. And the picture of the boba place & the waffle place is missing??? Oh well, I'll just have to come back ;) haha
Well, by this time tomorrow I'll be home! Wait... time zones... maybe I won't?? I'll be home Sunday evening, let's just leave it at that. So... see you all soon!!
晚安，早上好！
