Adventures Via Bike and at Student Canteen #5

We had our first full day of classes today, Regional Business Environment: Asia with Professor Goddard (whom I had last trimester for Global Political Economy). Class actually went decently fast, Goddard was generous with breaks and we discussed the Susan Shirk book in the afternoon. We broke down into smaller groups to present certain chapters from the book and my group had the Japan chapter. It was pretty interesting and our summary provoked a long discussion. The gist of our thesis was that while Japan has not been helpful in refusing to properly acknowledge and take responsibility for their atrocities, China has not been helpful in their petty squabbles directed at China, which I chose to represent in doodle form as China blowing a big international raspberry at Japan.

At lunch Franklin took us to the student meals office to get our meal cards set up. For 10 yuan plus whatever you want added you get a special card that is usable in any of the student canteens on campus. The food is subsidized by the government so it's incredibly cheap. Franklin also said he'd take us to the cafeteria afterwards, but in what was not a shocker, there was only one lady at the meals office who could process the cards, so I made sure to get in line first and then jet once I was done. I went to Student Canteen #5, which Franklin had recommended yesterday. The setup is total madhouse by Western standards, pretty normal for Chinese standards. You walk in and join the milling mass of students waiting by the kitchen. There are handwritten signs on the glass displaying the dishes available, none of which seem to designate what kinds of meat are being used. I found it best to just point and wave at what I wanted. One must wriggle to the front of the line somehow and then order dishes as desired. The attendant then punches in the price to a little reader and you swipe your card. Or, should I say, you insert you card, wait a few seconds for it to register and then you're good to go. I had some kind of spicy chicken, a green peppers and pork dish and rice. It was very tasty and at only 5 yuan, a total bargain. As it turned out, I'm glad I bounced because everyone else went to a slightly more sedate and less chaotic place to eat, which did not sound as authentic and fun.

After lunch I broke down and bought a bike from the student bike shop. Total plus basket and longer seat post (yeah, it was too short for me) was 270 yuan, about $40. It cuts down on the commute like something crazy. I still get some funny looks but not as many as just walking. I commuted home on the bike, which was nice because I go through campus to avoid the nasty traffic and it took about half the time of walking. I did some kind of funky maneuvers however which were a little bit heart attack inducing (I will save the descriptions so as not to freak out my parents) but I made it back safely. I parked it in the bike parking lot by the corner of my hotel. For 3 mao (like 30 cents) a guy is supposed to keep an eye on my bike. One thing about Beijing that is very odd--everyone only locks the wheel of their bikes but not the frame to anything solid. No wonder bike theft is such an issue! I only hope that this bike doesn't get stolen. Otherwise I am taking a cab to the nearest Carrefour and will buy a fold-up that I keep in my room.

I grabbed a quick ramen to go from the Japanese restaurant next to the hotel, I managed to communicate that I wanted to get my meal "to go", which was fun. The ramen was OK, kind of oily (like everything here). I wanted a rice dish but they were out of rice (WHAT?? I know, ridiculous) so I had to make do. I watched a great soap about Qing dynasty China that is kind of like Kung Fu Panda but with people instead of pandas, and now am watching some Chinese opera. I don't care about what Cross Cultural Communications says about embracing other cultures, but this stuff sounds totally terrible. I wish Jessica were here! She comes in a week. :/