Happy Mid-Autumn festival! Moon cakes for everyone!
Yes, folks, I’ve been an incredible slacker. I must sadly admit I haven’t done anything too exciting since the four seasons. Mostly eating, reading, eating some more, and some napping. It’s sooo hot here, it’s almost unbearable to go outside, but I make the daily trudge to class (haven’t missed on yet! Then again, there are only 14 people in class, so it’s kind of hard to miss when we’re not there). I was hoping to go to the museum yesterday, but plans fell through (it was one girl’s birthday last week so we went out to a bar called B:Lo – great breaks, but there was no one there! Oh well, we stayed for the ½ price drinks for ladies – there are lots of that around here –but the guys here aren’t really looking for girls like us, which is definitely NOT a bad thing). We followed a Frommer’s guide to a place called Shanghai Sally’s. Sadly, it didn’t exist, hence us ending up at this empty, yet very fun bar. The company (the girls I went with) were awesome, we had such a blast, and it was nice not to be harassed by drunk doods (yes, intentionally spelled that way), like at Stages. Oh, dirty little Kingston!! How I miss you!Today is the mid-autumn festival. I was woken up at 8:30 in the freakin’ morning by a marching band RIGHT outside the international rez. I wonder if they were out there to provide entertainment, it certainly isn’t the busiest intersection, or to wake up the large percentage of internationals who would have gone out on a Saturday night (not me!). The worst part was that they kept stopping for speeches that I couldn’t hear, so I kept thinking that the band was over, then lo & behold, it would start right back up again! It was an … interesting … wake-up.
People buy “moon cakes” and give them to their family & friends. You never buy them for yourself, but most people don’t like them because they’re too sweet. They’re this puck-shaped pastry (if you can call it that) that is filled with a number of different fillings, from mixed nuts, to egg yolk (like flan), and sweet bean paste. I had one in class that one of the municipal officials bought for us, and it was horrid. My buddy, Sophie, also got me one, and hers looked different. It was actually pretty good. It was a much flakier pastry with a sweet bean paste, sunflower seeds and a little bit of rose (at least that’s what she said). It was not heinous. Anyways, the moon festival is the third biggest national holiday (according to some internet thing) but most people here don’t consider it a holiday since it occurs on a Sunday, but everyone spends the day with family, or goes home for the weekend to celebrate with their families. Two of the girls, Melissa & Cassie both have family in China so they’re spending the day with them, the rest of us are S.O.L, and have to just think longingly of our own back home, since everyone at home is sleeping now.
Actually outside my window right now there are some fireworks, a small display but still beautiful. What a nice night for it!
Also, there are a few bats who like to hang outside of my window (well, this entire side of the building). It’s actually pretty cool, there are lots of insects, so I’m sure it’s a feast, but it’s neat to be so high up that they’re right at my level!
Well, I have some essaying to do, later folks, keep e-mailing, I love to hear from you!
posted by Jenn @ 8:53 a.m.
1 Comments:
中秋节快乐
nice to meet you,at mid-autumn festival,people always lived with their family,enjoy your life in ShangiHai.
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