corrinado_swam

Here is a little bit about the chinese yuan exchange rate. I don’t get paid for 3 days. I have around 70 yuan, which is really close to ten dollars. This money could easily last me for 3-4 days here in China. I can buy a half-kilo of rice for about 3 yuan, some broccli for 4 yuan, some other veggies for3 yuan and some eggs for 2 yuan and peanuts for 3 yuan and two 580ml  beers for 5 yuan. That’s 20yuan, and easily enough food for (at least) me for two days. I would buy two packs of instant noodles, and a few more beers, thats another 7 yuan… no problem.

Now, what’s ten dollars looking like in America. Well, no beers for sure. Maybe some ramen noodles, but I haven’t yet mentioned the quality of Chinese noodles. Basically, Chinese ramen makes US ramen look like dirt. Chinese ramen noodles comes with THREE packets instead of just one packet of salt/garlic in the US noodles. The Chinese have a meet-based paste, some dried veggies, and either powder or soy sauce. Some noodles even have a fourth packet with peppers or bamboo shoots! Amazing!

So, back to the money thing. Ramen in the US is about 15 cents, which is about 1 yuan in China. Ramen in China is about 2 yuan, so twice the cost of US, but wayyyyy better. Plus,  the beer is only 2.5 yuan, a mere 30 cents! for a huge glass bottle of 580ml. That’s like two beers for 30 cents! I know my friend Sam Spear would like that deal But the rice is cheap, and GOOD. My rice cooker works like a champ and the veggies are ALWAYS fresh! I got some smoked pork (yes!) the other day, and it has been so tasty. A few hard-boiled eggs with put a great touch on any meal, especially with the rice. And then some Oreos for desert. The Oreos are pricey, 6 yuan for about 10 of them. So, not bad in US terms, about a dollar for a pack.

Did I mention you can buy a whole chicken, or duck, pig, or any animal you want? It seems wrong, like rape, but you can here in China. Not only that, but they will cut the thing up with a huge knife right in front of you, bones and everything, just a huge butcher’s knife on a big piece of wood. The markets here are unbelievable. My favorite? There is a market not to far from here where you can buy snakes! They are more like eels than snakes because they swim in a tank of water, but there are snakes. And the meat that sits out allllll day… you begin to wonder. Or the sausages that are hanging EVERYWHERE (literally in every house, every single house) has sausages they are preparing for the SPRING FESTIVAL.

It’s a big deal here. The Spring Festival is a special time. It is time for community, and family, and friends, and happiness. There are so many people in China.

So, we are on vacation right now. The Chinese Lunar New Year is approaching on Februrary 14, which is like the equivilent of the Western world’s Chirstmas. My friend Sam from Britian and I have been skateboarding every day. I brought my skateboard to China and he bought one here. He’s a decent skater, has been for his whole life, and he’s teaching me the ways of a skater.

First, you have to learn the language: Ollie, Shove It, Fakie, Nollie, Frontside Shove It, Switch, Backside Shove It, Fakie 180, Backside 180, Kickflip, Heelflip, Manual, Riding Goofy, Riding Regular, etc. Second, you have to learn the technique. Skating is all about technique: balance, foot placement, and focus. Third, you have to practice. Practice, practice, practice. Every day, practice.

The cool thing about skating is that you actually get better.   There is a Chinese saying that reminds me of this. Every Chinese student knows this. It is posted in all the classrooms, and if you begin to say the phrase, they will chime in. It goes:

好好学习，天天向上
Hao Hao Xue Xi, Tian Tian Xiang Shang
Translation: “Good Good Study, Day Day Up”
My intrepretation: everyday use your mind and be productive.

Skating is about the mental game. You have to be sharp, focused, on point, ready to take risks. You have to be able to trust your body and mind. You have to use your judgement, and think fast. You have to be confident. You have to be cool. You have to be disciplined, and well-trained. You have to be yourself. You have to know yourself. You have to push yourself. You have to be somebody else. You have to wear a helmet. You have to be in shape. You have to exercise. You have to see your skateboard as a tool. You have to know your tool. You have to use the tools you have. You have to respect the tools you have. You have to love being outside. You have to love wasting time. You have to drink water.  You have to keep a mean face. You have to keep a game face. You have to love being a superstar. You have to love being yourself. You have to love what you are doing. You have to love skating.

Peace.