我很久没有参加圣诞节。小时候，我的父母带我们小孩儿去看屋子装得很漂亮的彩灯。我们从来没有圣诞树，可是我们吃特别好吃的菜。
来到北京，我的英国朋友介绍我他们传统的圣诞节。真的有意思也很好玩儿！
一起床就从圣诞树下面找出来你的礼物。
圣诞节的时候，一定要和很多酒 （啤酒，红酒，白酒等等）。
每一个人有圣诞crackers，圣诞cracker里面有小礼物。
他们做很多很多的菜。
吃完以后就听朋友唱圣诞歌。
我门休息以后就吃圣诞节特别的甜品。
酒倒在蛋糕上面，然后点火，火烯了以后就可以吃！
二零零七年就是我最喜欢的圣诞节！
Christmas in China isn’t traditionally celebrated but more and more young Chinese celebrate the occasion for the gifts and ‘togetherness’ it brings them.
Catriona and our fellow UK friends introduce classmates to the meaning of Christmas, SWEETS! Lots and Lots and LOTS of Sweets!! =P The classes at BLCU and everywhere else around China still run during Christmas including Christmas Day! But not surprisingly, most people don’t go to the class (even the ones who don’t celebrate Christmas!).
Although it’s quite difficult to find Christmas-y Gifts and products , many department stores and restaurants are fully decorated with Christmas tree and Santa!
We fell in love with Beard Papa’s ‘Fondant au Chocolate’ and decided to hunt it down for Christmas =Pp
Taking the subway on Christmas Eve was hectic because of the huge crowd! This photo is of the people lining up for the subway on the left, and people leaving the station (to transfer) on the right. Both are equally packed and has very little movement.
A very interesting way of drinking red wine introduced to us Aussies by our UK friends =Pp
Our candle lit Christmas Service led by Steph was like a very small version of Christmas by Candlelight =)
Just 20seconds in the microwave and you have the delicious Fondant au Chocolate!!!
I took a weekend trip from Beijing to Dalian leaving Friday night and returning to Beijing on Saturday morning.
The two nights sleeping on the train (sleepers) turned out to be a lot more beneficial considering the train beds are much softer than the one I have in the dorms! The sleep wasn’t too bad because my bunk cubical for 6 didn’t have any extreme snorers or babies crying. The problem with the bunk bed would probably be that it’s much too narrow (roughly three A4 widths – refer to photo below), obviously they don’t cater for fat Chinese people…
A weekend isn’t enough to really see what Dalian is all about, but it seems that my tour guide easily covered the non-nature-related-attractions … within one day!
I quite like living in a city, always bustling with people and being able to always have or find something to do. But when a city gets as big as Beijing, the magic just fades after a while. A city like Dalian reminds me a lot more of Perth;
How can you not love it?? =P
Don’t get me wrong, I think that Beijing isn’t too fantastic even though I love it here, I just don’t like the fact that staying here has made me lose interest in the culture as well as damaging to my health. Beijing is just getting less and less mysterious as each layer of paint goes on.
All for the preparation of the 2008 Olympics Games of course!
Anyhow, the stay in Dalian was a fantastic mini adventure, and it’s probably the only city in all of China I’ve beaten my mum to =P wOOt!
The train ride back to Beijing was a little more entertaining than the ride to Dalian because there was a WHITE person in my carriage! Most China people completely ignore me because I blend in well as a typical “China girl”, but when I struck up a conversation with my fellow English speaking friend, it was hard not to see those blatant stares.
So come Monday morning, after my hike from Beijing Central Station to Wudaokou (BLCU), the first thing that greets me back in my dorm room is my fishy friend looking VERY dead. I suspect Jinjin and Heihei had another one of their head-butting rounds which of course Jinjin, the one that eats the most, came out on top.
aHhh well, it was bound to happen sooner than later…
There’s a notice on my dorm building (the main dorm for international students at BLCU) that told us that we won’t be having any HOT water for a week from 8am-6pm.
This is quite alright with me since I like having late showers anyway, but when I went to turn on the hot water (during the set time period), a stream of ugly brown sewer-like water came out!!! So, to my horror, I had to make do with an unsatisfying FREEZING COLD shower – and can I just add that it’s currently WINTER here and I’ve never experience below zero Celcius until now.
I suppose I should be happy it’s the HOT water that they’re fixing up and not the COLD water. It was already bad enough the last time we didn’t have cold water because that meant we didn’t actually have any flushing toilet water! I only discovered this fact when we had used up all the stored water in the toilet…
For those who may come across this problem, you might want to consider the following for flushing toilets:
P.S. The toilet service man usually only comes in the evenings around 4pm. If your toilet was blocked the night before, you might want to consider hiding out in the many cafes around the Wudaokou area.
P.P.S. And please remember, learn from other peoples’ mistakes, no flushing toilet paper down china toilets (especially the ones with the sign). The toilet WILL clog!! (Squat Toilet Troubles)
Let’s hope this dirty hot water incident is a once off. I might have to borrow someone else’s shower if it isn’t fixed!!
