Sunday, July 30, 2006

Clubbing in Vancouver

Well I wanted to wish my friend Nik a very happy birthday. We went clubbing at CELEBRITIES on Davie Street this evening, "the straightest gay club in Vancouver," as many people like to call it. It's a very cool club, I must admit, with hot dancers, but unfortunately I was pretty damn tired and not really into it, I'm sorry Nik!!! So we left early-ish.

Beforehand we watched the fireworks at my brother's apartment. China was hosting and the show was spectacular. I would rate it better than Italy's on Wednesday. So many inventive, original, amazing fireworks!!!

And this afternoon I went to buy shoes that cover my socks. Because of my dying feet (they're badly cracked underneath), I was wearing socks to keep in the ointment and bandages that contoured my feet, and I had nothing else to wear but my sandals. Socks and sandals. What a terrible fashion faux-pas bubble-world was I living in???

I went on Robson street and bought pumas at the very first shoe store I encountered, but not before being teased by the vendor that anything looked better than the socks and sandals I had been wearing, and that I had to buy socks that were all of one colour - not like the ones I was wearing with the rainbow bands covering the tops of my feet (don't ask). Okay, I admit, my fashion sense is not always the best...:P

Friday night I played a game I did not know existed: Kareokee Revolution. Similar to Dance Revolution, but instead of dancing for points, you sing for points - and you must sing on key, of course! And since I have never been able to sing on key...well...I absolutely suck. But I enjoyed myself a lot and I have Jeremy, Chris and Cheryl to thank for that! Thank you guys!

And pictures...maybe I'll post some from my brother's computer. That's an idea!

Saturday, July 29, 2006

New post!

Well, I've been back in Vancouver a week and it's so good to be home. Since I arrived I've been down to the beach, swum in the ocean, watched a couple ultimate games (fun! fun! fun! threw a frisbee around and got cold...), played some beach volleyball (gotta love it!), eaten Chinese cafe food ;), eaten Japanese food and also Japanese sushi (different!), had dinner on the terrace at the Golf Club (so beautiful! so relaxing!), watched the annual fireworks from my bro's apartment, gone shopping on Robson (bought a pair of runners), watched movies at different locations, had bubble tea!!! (but not at the usual locations), had Starbucks AND Seattle's Best, biked around UBC, walked all over downtown, and...and...and...loved it all!!! This place rocks! Can't get over how wonderful Vancouver is in the summer. The fact that we've been having beautiful Vancouver weather has helped.

Really enjoyed meeting Cheryl's "teams": both the ultimate team (although that's almost over) and the new beach volleyball team. The undersides of my feet are too dry and cracked to play though...spent all Thursday with my feet up, creamed and bandaged..pretty harsh.

I'd like you to notice a new link to my friend Erika's blog, although she doesn't update all that much. She's in Montreal doing some really intelligent masters' program in some really specific science field. She'll never cease to amaze me. Good luck Erika!

And good luck to my friends in Beijing...soon to leave for their respective home countries (most of them leaving July 31st). It's the end of an amazing chapter in the book that we call our life.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Thinking about other places

What do I miss about Beijing?

The cheap prices. That's about what it all comes down to. I think of the food, and what I mostly liked about the food was the very very cheap price; the convenience of it too - always less than five minutes away.

What do I miss about Paris?

The constant beauty around me. The bread and dairy products (two separate things).

I can't really say I "miss" these things, because I like to view Vancouver as simply "different," not necessarily "better" or "worse." I don't particulary "miss" anything, I just think about how cheap and convenient and beautiful and delicious things can be elsewhere...

My cousin, her husband, and her two children (Leo, 7 1/2 and Nemo, 5), are visiting Vancouver from Paris for two days. Life with them suddenly becomes loud, hectic, and tiring, but the boys are super duper loveable. No pictures. I'm bad with pictures these days. Don't want to think about it.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

About me

A red box means it's true for me...to some extent.


(Click here to post your own answers for this meme.)


I miss somebody right now. (But at the same time I don't...is that understandable?) I don't watch much TV these days. I own lots of books.
I wear glasses or contact lenses.× I love to play video games. I've tried marijuana.
× I've watched porn movies.× I have been the psycho-ex in a past relationship.× I believe honesty is usually the best policy.
I curse sometimes. (Sometimes it's bad, sometimes it's good.) I have changed a lot mentally over the last year. (Immensely. Have you noticed?)× I carry my knife/razor everywhere with me.

* * * * *
× I have broken someone's bones.× I have a secret that I am ashamed to reveal.× I hate the rain.
I'm paranoid at times. (At times. It passes...) I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free. I need/want money right now.
× I love sushi.× I talk really, really fast.× I have fresh breath in the morning.
× I have long hair.× I have lost money in Las Vegas. I have at least one sibling. (An older brother. We fought a lot in the day, now it's better.)
I was born in a country outside of the U.S. (Canada!) I have worn fake hair/fingernails/eyelashes in the past. (Fake hair rules.)× I couldn't survive without Caller I.D.
I like the way that I look. (Of course I'd like to look better, but doesn't stop me from liking me now...)× I have lied to a good friend in the last 6 months. (I don't think "keeping information" counts...does it?)× I am usually pessimistic.
× I have a lot of mood swings. I think prostitution should be legalized.× I slept with a roommate. (The only roommate I had was a charming French girl...I wasn't tempted.)
I have a hidden talent. (If I told you what it was, it wouldn't be hidden anymore!)× I'm always hyper no matter how much sugar I have. I have a lot of friends. (It's all relative...)
I have pecked someone of the same sex.× I enjoy talking on the phone. × I practically live in sweatpants or PJ pants.
× I love to shop and/or window shop.× I'm obsessed with my Xanga or Livejournal.× I'm completely embarrassed to be seen with my mother.
I have a mobile phone. I have passed out drunk in the past 6 months. I've rejected someone before.
× I currently like/love someone. I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life. (This one hits the nail on the head...) I want to have children in the future. (7 is ideal, but then I'd have to start now.)
I have changed a diaper before. (My cousin's son's diaper. Not that bad!)× I've called the cops on a friend before.× I'm not allergic to anything.
I have a lot to learn. (Too much to learn...it's depressing, no?) I am shy around the opposite sex. (Often enough.) I'm online 24/7, even as an away message. (Usually.)
× I have at least 5 away messages saved. I have tried alcohol or drugs before. I have made a move on a friend's significant other or crush in the past.
× I own the "South Park" movie.× I have avoided assignments at work/school to be on Xanga or Livejournal.× I enjoy some country music.
× I would die for my best friends.× I'm obsessive, and often a perfectionist.× I have used my sexuality to advance my career.
× I think Halloween is awesome because you get free candy.× I have dated a close friend's ex. I am happy at this moment.
× I'm obsessed with guys.× Democrat.× Republican.
× I don't even know what I am.× I am punk rockish. I go for older guys/girls, not younger. (I would say usually, but then I fell for a guy two years my junior...)
I study for tests most of the time.× I tie my shoelaces differently from anyone I've ever met.× I can work on a car.
I love my job(s). I am comfortable with who I am right now.× I have more than just my ears pierced.
I walk barefoot wherever I can. I have jumped off a bridge. (A short one of course...)× I love sea turtles.
× I spend ridiculous amounts of money on makeup. I plan on achieving a major goal/dream. (I guess right now it's learning Chinese...to what extent has not been decided yet :-))× I am proficient on a musical instrument.
× I hate office jobs. I went to college out of state.× I am adopted.
I am a pyro. I have thrown up from crying too much. (No...but I've thrown up for absolutely no apparent reason...on james' carpet. Sorry!) I have been intentionally hurt by people that I loved. (To inspire jealousy maybe?)
× I fall for the worst people. I adore bright colours. (Sometimes...)× I usually like covers better than originals.
× I hate chain theme restaurants like Applebees and TGIFridays.× I can pick up things with my toes. I can't whistle. (I've tried!)
I have ridden/owned a horse. (I have ridden a horse and loved it!) I still have every journal I've ever written in. (And there are many.)× I talk in my sleep.
× I've often thought that I was born in the wrong century.× I try to forget things by drowning them out with loads of distractions.× I wear a toe ring.
× I have a tattoo.× I can't stand at LEAST one person that I work with.× I am a caffeine junkie.
× I am completely tree-huggy spiritual, and I'm not ashamed at all.× If I knew I would get away with it, I would commit at least one murder.× I will collect anything, and the more nonsensical, the better.
× I enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner.× I'm an artist.× I am ambidextrous.
I sleep with so many stuffed animals, I can hardly fit on my bed. (This was me for many years...I forget when it stopped. At one point it was books...)× If it weren't for having to see other people naked, I'd live in a nudist colony.× I have terrible teeth.
I hate my toes. I did this meme even though I wasn't tagged by the person who took it before me.× I have more friends on the internet than in real life.
I have lived in either three different states or countries. (Canada, France, China...) I am extremely flexible. (Oh yeah!!!!)× I love hugs more than kisses.
I want to own my own business. (If it were a success, of course, but it's too risky and too much worry.)× I smoke.× I spend way too much time on the computer than on anything else.
× Nobody has ever said I'm normal. Sad movies, games, and the like can cause a trickle of tears every now and then. (Sad movies and stories.)× I am proficient in the use of many types of firearms and combat weapons.
× I like the way women look in stylized men's suits. I don't like it when people are unpleased or seem unpleased with me. (Umm, duh...)× I have been described as a dreamer or likely to have my head up in the clouds.
I have played strip poker with someone else before.× I have had emotional problems for which I have sought professional help.× I believe in ghosts and the paranormal.
I can't stand being alone. (Sometimes I can't, sometimes I love it.)× I have at least one obsession at any given time.× I weigh myself, pee/poo, and then weigh myself again.
× I consistently spend way too much money on obsessions-of-the-moment.× I'm a judgmental asshole.× I'm a HUGE drama-queen.
I have travelled on more than one continent. I sometimes wish my father would just disappear.× I need people to tell me I'm good at something in order to feel that I am.
× I am a Libertarian. I can speak more than one language. I can fall asleep even if the whole room is as noisy as it can be. (If circumstances are right (ie: drunk))
I would rather read than watch TV. (Sometimes.)× I like reading fact more than fiction. I have pulled an all-nighter on an assignment I was given a month to do. (In high-school.)
× I have no piercings.× I have spent the night in a train station or other public place.× I have been so upset over my physical gender that I cried.
× I once spent Christmas completely alone because there was a miscommunication on which parent was supposed to have me that night.× There have been times when I have wondered "Why was I born?" and may/may not have cried over it.× I like most animals better than most people.
× I own a collection of retro games consoles.× The thought of physical exercise makes me shiver.× I have hit someone with a dead fish.
× I am compulsively honest.× I was born with a congenital birth defect that has never been repaired. I have danced topless in front of dozens of complete strangers. (Not on purpose: my top fell. I changed.)
× I have gone from wishing I was a girl to revelling in being a boy to feeling like a girl again in the span of five minutes, and not cared a whit for my actual sex.× I am unashamedly bisexual, and have different motivations for my desires for different genders.× I sometimes won't sleep a whole night or eat a whole day because I forget to.
× I find it impossible to get to sleep without some kind of music on. I dislike milk. (Maybe I'm allergic?)× I obsessively wash my hands.
× I always carry something significant around with me.× Sometimes I'd rather wear a wig in day-to-day life than use my own hair. I've pushed myself to become more self-aware and thereby more aware of others.
× Even though I live on my own I still cry sometimes because I miss my mother.× I hand wrote all the HTML tags in this document.× I've liked something which a majority of people claimed was either bad or weird.
× I have been clinically dead for a brief period of time.× Instead of feeling sympathy/empathy with people and their problems, I simply become annoyed.× I participate/have participated in auto drag races and won.
× I do not 'get' most comedy acts.× I don't think strippers are money-greedy or slutty for dancing.× I don't like to chew gum.
× I am obsessed with history/historical things and can't wait for someone to build a time machine so I can be the first to use it.× I can never remember for the life of me where I parked the car. I had the TEEN ANGST thing going for at least 2-3 years. (Whatever that means, I'm sure it's different for everybody. I was never a rebel, that's for sure.)
I wish people would be more empathic and honest with each other.× I play Dungeons and Dragons weekly.× I love to sing.
I want to live in my mother's basement when I grow up. (I am grown up and I do live in my mother's basement. Got a problem with that???)× I have a custom-built computer. I want to create a certain someone's babies, even though there's a 0% possiblity of ever achieving it. (*sigh*)
× I would be in a relationship with one of my pets if they were human. I've gone skinny-dipping. (Yay!) I've performed in three plays. (I was young...)
I enjoy burritos.× I'm Irish and loving it.× I have a thing for redheads.
× I am a twin!× Most of the times, I'd rather do something intellectual instead of doing something generically 'fun'.× Once I set out to finish something, I always stay at it until it is completed before I move on to something else.
I wish there were a way to erase past mistakes.× I sleep more than 12 hours a day. I wish I could be prouder of what I've accomplished, but it's never enough.
× I need more time to myself. I wish I was more open-minded. (Mmm...maybe not open-minded but more accepting of people for the way that they are. Sometimes people scare me and I wish they didn't.)× I hope that I go really prematurely grey.
× I download songs from the internet.× I've just reenacted chapter 58 of Death Note with my best friend.× I say random things to freak people out.
× I'm still a little mad about the ending of Death Note. I love playing Truth or Dare.× I love listening to slow music, but I hate singing to it.
× Music helps me remember that I am not alone. Playing my favorite sport makes me temporarily forget my problems. I think this survey is particularly long.
× I prefer my LJ friends to my real-life ones.× I can only hate someone that I love.× I've ordered an extra two shots of espresso to an Americano at Starbucks.

Back in town

Hey everybody, I'm back in Vancouver...and glad to be! Paris was extraordinary, I loved it, but I'm happy to be home.

Haven't cracked open my Chinese book yet...oh well!

No plans for my birthday, just hitting the beach. Hope to see many of you down there! Yikes! I'm 25!!

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Paris

I'm in Paris for ten days. Arrived last night (Monday, July 10th) around 10 PM local time. My mother was waiting for me at the airport. Yay for mothers! Although she seemed more tired than I was. I had gone to bed around 5 AM (watched the final, of course!), woken up at 7:30 AM, done some final moving out with the help of Loic and Gaetan, taken the plane at 11:40, arrived in Moscow around 7 PM Beijing time, left Moscow around midnight Beijing time, then arrived in Paris around 3 AM Beijing time, going to bed around 5 AM Beijing time...what a day!

It's so wonderful to be back in Paris. It's breathtakingly beautiful and I realise how ugly Beijing really is. I saw my grandmother this morning. She's thin and frail but still herself. She'll be 93 years old this year, I think it is.

Life is beautiful. I hope you're all enjoying yourselves.

I'm in an internet cafe because my laptop isn't working...which really sucks because I have all my Beijing pictures on my laptop. Hope I can retrieve the hard drive once back in Vancouver.

Take care and have fun!

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Mafia party

In April we had a mafia-themed party, which meant the guys dressed up in pseudo-suits and the girls dressed up like their chicks. It was quite funny.

Mariana and Diana. Diana had the most beautiful red dress on.
Katia and Loic. Too bad Katia's eyes are closed, but I don't have many "good" shots of this evening, since everyone was a little...tipsy. She was wearing a cool black dress, though. And Loic had a mustache drawn on his face using eyeliner. :-)
Gaetan and I. I had my hair curled for the occasion. I liked it!
Katia, Simon, me and Branko in pink. Such a fun night! Happy memories... Posted by Picasa

Sunday, July 02, 2006

The train to the countryside

We left for the countryside on Friday afternoon. Gaetan and Katia sent their papers (that is their 50-page graduating paper about foreign investment in China; they're doing a Masters in Economics) by email at 2:30 PM and we left the university by around 3 PM... We took a 3-hour long train to a small village where we then took a mini-bus to our destination - a hotel in the middle of nowhere that Diana and Branko had already been to on a previous trip.
It was John's birthday. John's an American studying Chinese here, that I never really got to meet or know. Oh well. In another lifetime maybe... Here he is with Diana. I didn't eat any of that cake - not very appetizing! But I did get a piece smashed in my face...Chinese style.
John, Diana and Katia - happy birthday!
Mariana and Leslie - an Australian studying Chinese who arrived in February. She's staying in Beijing another term, until end of December.
Gaetan and Eva, Loic's Chinese friend. Well...she's become all of us's friend...

We arrived at our destination around 8 PM I think. We ate dinner around 11 PM. We went for a "night hike," which in hindsight was pretty dangerous since we couldn't see anything. Posted by Picasa

Our hotel

Loic, Yas, Branko and Gaetan. We weren't really "allowed" to smoke where we were sitting...but it didn't "really" matter...
Our "hotel" in the middle of nature. We had the whole top floor - maybe eight rooms in total (there were 16 people).
The top floor hallway.
Some little girls playing a game across the way...a very relaxing and fun place to hang out!
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Scenery...

The views from just outside our hotel were breath-taking...I was so happy!

When we had arrived the night before (Friday), we had heard there was water, but we couldn't see anything. We went for a "night walk" that didn't last very long, but was quite exciting...we couldn't see a thing!
Cliffs and green hills...what more could a person ask for?

 Posted by Picasa

The Bridge

We had to get across a bridge to get to the hiking area on the other side. The previous night (Friday) we had crossed it no problem, but on Saturday, after a few hours of torrential rain, it had collapsed at one point...
The large red bridge in the foreground is an old railway track I think...it seemed to come from nowhere and lead to nowhere.
At first the old Chinese men that stand around the bridge - seeming to have no particular job other than to just "be there" - didn't want to let us pass. Then they told us we could pass but they wouldn't let us come back, which didn't make any sense. Finally we just went and everything turned out okay - nobody fell in the water and we weren't stranded on one side!
The current was pretty strong. I loved the sound of the water...
Crossing wasn't all that tricky - many of us weren't thinking all that straight anyway, the night before having been a little rough... Posted by Picasa

A Walk in the "Jungle"

The way was definitely green and bushy - almost like a jungle, but not exactly. ;-)
At one point we could hear a bees' or wasps' nest nearby. For maybe five minutes we could hear them buzzing loudly...it scared the hell out of Katia! But nobody got bitten - we just got thwacked by a lot of branches and bitten by a lot of small insects.
Katia was in her skirt and I was in my cotton dress - maybe a little out of place but we were very comfortable indeed!
There were many ponds/small waterfalls and it was all very, very relaxing and beautiful.
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Pretty walkway

We walked along stone pathways like this one...it was somewhat slippery. It had rained all morning - poured actually.
Gaetan among the greenery.
There were some really beautiful areas - and it was all so green!
A group picture by a pond we refreshed ourselves at. It was very warm outside. We were all sweating like pigs! Posted by Picasa

Waterfall

We reached a waterfall that we were told measured 108 metres...it was quite impressive.
We took a break by the waterfall and wished we could go swimming...we were very hot!
Yas, Katia, Eva (in pink), Branko, Gaetan, Loic and Diana...happy to be in the shade!!!
After our waterfall break we continued to climb up the mountain. I love the colours!!!
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Yay for greenery!

The climb was not very difficult and the views were spectacular. It was so amazing to be out of the city and in nature...we didn't do this often enough this year! We regretted not having done more week-end outings of this sort, where we leave the city.


We reached "the top" of the mountain. :-)
On our way back down...Katia spent a lot of time walking with Yas. ;-) Posted by Picasa

Locals and transportation...

Some Chinese men watching us as we crossed the bridge. Not even sure if they're locals or not. Might be migrant workers from the countryside...
A man sitting on old railway tracks (at least we think that's what they were...). He looked at us more than we looked at him...
We took a mini-bus from our "hotel" into town (the nearest "big" town, called "Miyun") - there were ten of us. We spent a little less than an hour in the mini-bus I think.
In Miyun we caught a bus to Dongzhimen - a Beijing subway station. We spent around two hours in this air-conditioned "big bus."
Many people slept (including me!) on this big bus. Here's Mariana and Branko (who usually slept with his mouth open, it was funny), and Simon's by the window. Posted by Picasa