|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| Hey all. I know no one probably checks this, but just in case it gets through, my new web space is www.adamjamesbartlett.com. That's all.
| | |
| Well, here it is. The day. The final, unavoidable day. Unimagineable
that it finally happened, but here we are. We're leaving. All our stuff
is packed, all our cabinets are empty and our tickets are ready to be
punched. We're going home. I always hear people say "it seems like we
just got here" at times like this. Well, it doesn't seem like we just
got here. It kinda feels like this was home and that we're leaving a
big part of who we are behind. For Lisa and I, our first apartment will
always be in Beijing. Our first year of marriage was spent almost
entierly in China. Doing the math we've been here for 94% of our
marriage. That's a huge number. We really figured out (well, sorta
figured out. Still working on a lot of the details) who we are together
and what our lives are like within the confines of China.
Now we're heading to America, with radically different jobs, radically
different lives and we're going to have to do it all over again.
Hopefully better this time. We have to go and make new friends all over
again. Hopefully we'll get better ones this time. Kidding. We couldn't
have asked for better friends. Well, maybe we could have, but we
couldn't have gotten them. Kidding. You guys have been amazing. PWers,
keep rocking it out. ERAPers, keep loving on them students. BICFers,
keep it going. And all of you, we will miss you and you will be in our
thoughts daily. Thank you for sharing our lives with us this past year.
If you're ever in Ohio, let us know. We're going to be available at
thebartletts@gmail.com or on my cell phone at (513) 227-1302 or Lisa's
cell phone at (513) 227-9347. We'll have those starting this evening in
Chicago. We've got unlimited minutes after 7, so feel free to call then
(that's 8:00 Ohio time for now).
Also, it is time for the final and ultimate retiring of PresBillBrown.
Sad, but true. There comes a point in one's life when the college prank
has to end. That was probably when college was done, but I didn't get
the memo. Anyways, this marks the final post from PresBillBrown. Some
of you have also noticed that the IM name PresBillBrown has also been
retired. Here's the updated contact info...
AIM: AdamBartlett1
MSN Messenger: AdamJamesBartlett@hotmail.com
Yahoo Messenger: AdamJamesBartlett@yahoo.com
Just helps lend that air of professionality to it, I guess. Also, since
this is the last post, that means there's a new blog in town. You can
find that blog here or subscribe to the feed here.
Sorry folks, but it was just time. There's nothing there right now, but
wait. There will be. Also, as fair warning, it might not be totally
sensitive if those of you in China care about such things.
Well, we will miss you. Love you all to death. To those we're coming
back to, see ya soon. Call me and we'll hook up sometime. Later to all.
This is PresBillBrown signing off...
| | |
|
So, the in-laws made it here just fine. They and the Missus
are out shopping and I’m here packing all by my lonesome. Not really
complaining, got some nice spreadsheets made. The way I figure it, we’re only
going to need 5-6 boxes/suitcases plus carry-ons to get everything back to the
States. That’s not too bad, really. A huge bonus has been these little Space
Bag things. Basically, it’s a mondo sized Zip-lock with a valve on it you use
to suck the air out so things take up less space. We’ve got two bricks of
sweaters, sweatshirts and coats in a box to prove that it actually pretty much
works. Bonus. They were in one of those “just legal” sized suitcases, now they’re
in a middle sized box. It was simply amazing (why do I feel like those guys who
sell food dehydrators? “Troy MacClure here…”). Anyways, so I got the winter
stuff all packed in one box and most of the electronic stuff packed (well, the
boxes are there, just have to get to the point where I fell I can put my Xbox
away) and now I’m working out just exactly what I can pack and where. We’re
trying to set things up so that we can just open one suitcase the first week we’re
in the States and wait until we get into Ohio to partially unpack and wait
until we’re into our apartment (where ever that may be) to toally unpack. Just
seems logical. So then the question becomes: What do we pack next and how? What
will we need the next 2 weeks, what will we need in Chicago,
what will we need in Ohio at
first and when is the soonest I can unpack my Xbox? All critical questions, to
be sure. Well, lunch break’s over, so here’s your moment of zen…
It's a random 2 pictures I smooshed together to make fun of a high-falootin' contest online. Pretty sure I'm not going to win...
| | |
| was jenson ever in new york? check this out.
anyways, i'm beat. we went to two cookouts today, one on the east side,
on on the west (chayung park and wu ka song for your beijingers out
there) and we're wiped. lisa's in the other room having a talk with a
friend, and i'm just out here chillin'. at least i think she is. i
don't want to knock and desturb them, but my hearing ain't what it used
to be, so i'm currently having doubts as to wether or not they're in
there. so i can't knock and scare her out, but staying out here doesn't
give me answers. it's a classic catch-22. for those of you illiterate
people that don't know what that is, download the book this summer and
read it. slackers. let's see, about the cookouts. first off, i say
"cookouts" because i don't like how "pic nic" looks. even less
favorites are variations replacing the "c" with a "k" or "ck." so,
cookouts it is. even though at one we had pizza (it was with PW, so
fire was a very bad idea) i will still refer to it as a cookout. first
one of the day was on the west side (about 1:30 on third ring road for
you geographically declined) and started at noon. we got there with a
big thing of vegitables (which i helped lisa cut up yesterday while
watching dumb and dumber. yeah bonding with stoopid comedies) and a
thing of ranch dressing. now, the manufacture of the ranch dressing
threw into contrast something that i had been able to hide from my wife
for the last few months: i can't stand mayonase. it hadn't been much of
an issue, but recently she's just found out that i'm really a pansy and
can't stand many kitchen staples. raw eggs make me squeemish, bowls of
katsup make me wanna hurl (but bottles and packets are fine. strange)
and putting my hands in dough/batter is just out of the question. those
things are pretty easy to hide (except the eggs which i had to work at)
until lisa's been asking me to "take a more active role in the
household affairs." whatever that means. i'd rather xanga. anyways, so
the disgusting mayonase went into the dressing, that's why it actually
fit into the story. here's another story about the mayonase: i had to
buy it this morning. i went to modern plaza, which is right across from
the people's university at about 9:15. they don't open until 9:30, so i
spent some time hanging out and watching people. i'll have to do that
again sometime with a camera because it's just way interesting.
anyways, at 9:25 they start the opening ceremonies. again, i'll have to
go back with a camera because it's just to wild to belive. let's just
say it involves a fountain, an honour gaurd, circling pidgeons and
saluting gaurds as you go in. and it's just a mall. i'd love to see
what they do for the forbidden city. anyways, what was i talking about?
oh yeah, cookout. anyways, get there at 12:00, eat, then there are
games, but as i am a slacker (and one of the games was an egg toss.
referance above) i hung out by the food and made sure no one stole our
stuff. it gave me some time to talk to some people and chill. good
times. we hung there with the awesome pw's until 3:00, when we booked
it back to our apartment (3:45) then piced up stuf and left (4:45) for
the second cookout. this one was a real cookout. it had fire, meat and
beans. all the things needed. and guess what lisa and i brought to this
one. that's right, vegitables. while cutting up the one, it's just as
easy to cut up some extra for the other. we also brought dip (ew.
mayonase). anyways, good times. problems lighting the charcoal, as
usual. then food. may i say that the burger boys did great as they were
perfectly juicy, yet cooked. done, yet not burned. after that we ran
around playing water ballon volleyball (you use towels, it's not as
stupid as you're thinking) then i ate desert with the girls while the
guys tried to flex their egos in a game of ultimate frisbee. i'm
married. i have nothing to prove. that and i was wearing these sandals
that were just not fit for running. yeah, that made me sound more
manly. anyways, after that, back here, and i'm relaxing and killing
some time waiting for my room to open up. no complaints, though.
talking is good. if i get lisa talking to enough other people, maybe
she won't feel like she has to talk to me as much...
today's moment of zen is a double feature. check this out...
 
ok, so it's me taking a picture of nate taking a picture of me taking a
picture of nate...oh stop it. i think if you think about this long
enough, your head starts to hurt, things go fuzzy and marty's mom
marries biff. anyways, these were taken at just about the same time and
i just find it amusing.
EDIT: i'm having problems showing the pictures, so you can check here and here.
EDIT EDIT: ok, so it was actually a problem with my browser. this means i'm the dumb one. this happens.
| | |
| So, it’s Gau Kau day here in China.
Actually, it’s Gau Kau three days. Starting today, all the little senior three
students are sequestered in their classrooms and forced to take an achievement test
to end all achievement tests. Right now, eight million students are sitting in
these tests, a phenomenon that causes a shortage and a price hike in number 2
pencils nationwide. This test, though, is not just the SAT or ACT. This test
determines the future of 8,000,000 people. You see, China
only has room for 2,000,000 freshmen next year in college. And the positions
they have are also limited. Therefore, the results of this test are the only
criteria by which students will be admitted or denied college admittance. Your
GPA, your extra-curriculars, your personal qualifications are all swept aside
for this one score. Do well, and you’re
in a great university. Do poorly, you disgrace your family and will never be
permitted into any college in the country. You will never get a good job. You
will never marry well because you don’t have the money to. You will die alone,
cold in a small, cramped apartment unmourned and unnoticed until your neighbors
call to report the stench of rotting flesh coming from your apartment. Hmmm. And
you thought that SAT’s were rough. Imagine these kids. They’ve been studying
around the clock for the last year. No sports. No games. No fun. Just studying.
This is test based education at its eventual end, people. Good luck my little Chinese
friends. You will need it.
Oh, and today’s moment of zen (I almost forgot!)…
These are cicadas. They were out full force last year at
this time. Might still be one or two that missed the memo and came out this
year instead. Bonus: spot the one with blue eyes. Only one i've ever seen.
| | |
|
