I know, i didn't show up here for a long time, i was "enjoying life" back in Germany. I had thou still many things I wrote and wanted to post. So here they are. And i also had selected some pictures.
Tomorrow i will be especially remembering the time in Shenyang, since i will give a small talk with pictures (more pictures than talk) in the Christmas Party in Weimar.
I probably will show up (and post) here sometimes, but for now, that is it......
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
the last days in Sy
20th of November 2007
ICE 1645 - From Frankfurt-Airport to Erfurt. Home finally!
The last days.
After arriving from Beijing on Wednesday (14th) i had a lot of ................................(things to do, and nice moments, or whatever, i don't even remember it now, less than one month later)
Friday
Saturday. Lecture. Dinner with Prof. Li Rudong, Prof. Raninger... Very delicious. Traditional Chinese Duck. Beer at the pie, with Chinese people, including the sweet Alice and King and
Prince. At home, just watched Laurence of Arabia and slept with the load of my head on my hand, had to scream with the pain when i woke up....
Sunday.No electricity in the morning. Changed the room back to the initial configuration and started packing. Last lunch in the University restaurant. Went to the "small town" to upload my phone card (all stores around the campus were closed), and to meet Alice and King at KFC, for changing the small presents. They are really very sweet and kind. Went to the lab, and worked with Zhang, compiling her data, accompanying some CG measurements and so on. At home, beer with the Russian girls, then finished the movie. Not so good sleeping, already anxious.
Monday is a good day for goodbyes. What a Monday. Computer decided not to work (now it is working again, who can understand?!?!). Solved last problems at the University: pay the rent for the days i had to stay longer (got a good discount! with my new strategy!). Met Matt to had on the chocolate and wine i had for him. Then went to Lab, no internet connection, also good. Just saying goodbye, and waiting for time to pass (and for the Prof. to finish the documents going to Germany with me...and also for martin, who wanted to show up to say good-bye, in the mean while, just wrote a text on the lab´s computer...) (ops, need to find it.....)
(the last day in Sy)
------------------------------------------------------------------
snowing in Shenyang right now.
soft and white.
it is Monday, and in a little bit more than 24 hour i will be home.
finally.
everything will be normal again.
life needs routine sometimes.
i have had a very very interesting time here.
things are beautifully and at the same time sadly different.
met many many nice people. and i am just so happy about it.
somethings didn't work as i wanted.
but that is also part of the deal.
i learned, indeed, a lot. And i recognize in myself
a wish to work with people.
years ago i thought i would be a scientist. a laboratory rat.
but human beings are the best lab.
i want the contact, the interaction.
so one thing i am really sad about, is the fact i was not able to
learn more Chinese. there were many reasons, lack of time.
lack of motivation sometimes. it is kinda difficult for me.
maybe i do not have the talent for this language.
but anyway, it is important to have it,
if i am going to work here.
i do want to learn it someday. as i do want to come back
to China in the future.
there is just so much to be done here.
it is challenging.
at the same time i feel strange, because i also
want to do something for my country. we also have many problems,
but we are just 10times less people than here, and changes
done here in China would affect and improve the
situation of much more people................
well, well, well, enough with wondering.
time to solve last details.
(Sy. 19 of November 2007, 12.21)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
It snowed and snowed, when i went to take the bus, everything was white.but no blue sky, gray smog. quite cold. windy. for some reason the bus stopped after 2 min, and everybody had to go out. It seemed traffic was going to be chaotic, decided not to wait for the next bus, luckly could take a taxi right away. Took me much longer
to arrive at the place as usually. what place? Police! Yeah, i had to go, and then first wait in the waiting hall for aliens.
had my passport with a visa until the 21st of November, finally. Good to have the passport back. Not to good to have to move from A to B with the snowy windy weather Shenyang reserved for my last day. But these time i took the bus (hey, next time in Sy i can try to use more bus, if i am not worried about saving time, it is much more interesting....and cheaper - 1RMB - 10 cents of euros!, sure. oh, well, maybe next time i can use the subway anyway, hopefully it will be ready...) to the north train station, and waited for Dolphin who was coming from Beijing.
Amazing to observe the people in places like train station. Most of the mass arrive or leave with these huge rice sacks with -i don't know what- inside, and they don't look so happy. In the waiting halls, almost no place to wait, sacks and people on the ground, waiting.
Waiting to go home or to go visit their beloved, or to go to work. Huge waitings halls, but anyway not big enough.not very comfortable chairs, hot water near the toilette available for the basic things: drinking and making the instant noodles everybody always eat. It is a meal which cost from 2 to 5 RMB, 50 cents. I am always a good "attraction" for these poor and not so poor people (it depends on which waiting hall you are). They look, and look
again, i always smile, they are surprised about that, some of them really look at you from bottom to top as if you were a alien. (ha, this time a real "alien"). People try to talk to me, and i am so embarrassed that my Chinese is so poor. I sometimes just guess what they might be asking, and answer something. (I should have had more of these conversations (also with taxi drivers), but i was just to lazy, since i kinda always forgot the correct pronunciation
or even the entire phrases. I should have made more "help notes" with the usual dialogs...should have had more courage.....) So, spent sometime there, observing people as subtly as possible, and being obviously observed. Dolphin arrived and together with her husband we went to my favorite restaurant in Shenyang. Guo Fu Beef. Last time hotpot (at least until i buy one of the special cookers - really want to eat this at home). We had a great time. Had to go to the pie,
for a last beer with Martin. And then back home, knocking on everyone's door at the dormitory to say goodbye. Second time last beer with the girls. Back to the mess, finished cleaning, oli called. this and thats, at the end it was almost 2 in the morning,
and i had to wake up at 5. 00am, now i do feel the tiredness. "Checked out" of the apartment at 5.50 (lady taking her time to check everything in the room), thought that i would have a taxi waiting outside, but, no one answered at the hot line. Walked with my 2 heavy backpack to the small town, cold and white are the last memories. Well, also some
problems in between. First thing, just when i got a taxi, there comes another one just behind, and it could not turn left to the road because my taxi was blocking the passage. I was just a question of 2 minutes until i got the bags in the car, but no, they are always in a hurry,
the stupid guy kept horning uninterruptedly. I had to show the dirty finger, just wonder if they understand. So, traveling with lower speed because of the snow. Freezing in the taxi with heating off. So, almost there, toll gate of the highway closed, highway blocked. Took another way, which in fact was the same distance, but even slower, and to complete, on the way, an accident with a big truck. Police already around taking
pictures. When i was thinking i would still take some time we arrive. The last thing was the small fight with the taxi driver. The taximeter was showing 90, he wanted 180. How come? Gave him 110 and said i would give no more. Dunno why they do this. Anyways, at the end i didnt care, i was just happy to arrive at the airport. Check in with no problem. More waiting. I was so hungry, but they only gave us something to drink, i really thought we would get breakfast.
Naja, transit in Beijing with no problem (except for the fact that i didn't had the departure card, since the lady didn't want to give it to me in Shenyang. It is amazing, if you know you have to do something, just, don't believe anyone....). Still some time to walk around at the aiport in Beijing, Bought an interesting book about China. Then the flight. Oh. Even an upgraded class, much more space for the legs. Everything very normal, good lunch. Slept a bit, then a bit bored, making pictures of clouds. Then time decided to pass slow, read a bit, thoughts and music. Then dinner, and the new Mr Bean movie. And then, arrived. Home "sweet" (not so sweet, cold) home. Home. Such a good feeling to understand people speaking.To be among the different-looking people around, to understand all signs and so on.......Could not manage the train at 5, waited for the one at 6.11, and here i am, just gained 7 hours, that means, it is time for
dinner again. Thou i would be time for bed, my eyes cant do it anymore.
So, will also take a break and enjoy the movements of the train, trying to sleep. In hour i will be arriving in Erfurt............huhuhuhu,
back to normal life.
ICE 1645 - From Frankfurt-Airport to Erfurt. Home finally!
The last days.
After arriving from Beijing on Wednesday (14th) i had a lot of ................................(things to do, and nice moments, or whatever, i don't even remember it now, less than one month later)
Friday
Saturday. Lecture. Dinner with Prof. Li Rudong, Prof. Raninger... Very delicious. Traditional Chinese Duck. Beer at the pie, with Chinese people, including the sweet Alice and King and
Prince. At home, just watched Laurence of Arabia and slept with the load of my head on my hand, had to scream with the pain when i woke up....
Sunday.No electricity in the morning. Changed the room back to the initial configuration and started packing. Last lunch in the University restaurant. Went to the "small town" to upload my phone card (all stores around the campus were closed), and to meet Alice and King at KFC, for changing the small presents. They are really very sweet and kind. Went to the lab, and worked with Zhang, compiling her data, accompanying some CG measurements and so on. At home, beer with the Russian girls, then finished the movie. Not so good sleeping, already anxious.
Monday is a good day for goodbyes. What a Monday. Computer decided not to work (now it is working again, who can understand?!?!). Solved last problems at the University: pay the rent for the days i had to stay longer (got a good discount! with my new strategy!). Met Matt to had on the chocolate and wine i had for him. Then went to Lab, no internet connection, also good. Just saying goodbye, and waiting for time to pass (and for the Prof. to finish the documents going to Germany with me...and also for martin, who wanted to show up to say good-bye, in the mean while, just wrote a text on the lab´s computer...) (ops, need to find it.....)
(the last day in Sy)snowing in Shenyang right now.
soft and white.
it is Monday, and in a little bit more than 24 hour i will be home.
finally.
everything will be normal again.
life needs routine sometimes.
i have had a very very interesting time here.
things are beautifully and at the same time sadly different.
met many many nice people. and i am just so happy about it.
somethings didn't work as i wanted.
but that is also part of the deal.
i learned, indeed, a lot. And i recognize in myself
a wish to work with people.
years ago i thought i would be a scientist. a laboratory rat.
but human beings are the best lab.
i want the contact, the interaction.
so one thing i am really sad about, is the fact i was not able to
learn more Chinese. there were many reasons, lack of time.
lack of motivation sometimes. it is kinda difficult for me.
maybe i do not have the talent for this language.
but anyway, it is important to have it,
if i am going to work here.
i do want to learn it someday. as i do want to come back
to China in the future.
there is just so much to be done here.
it is challenging.
at the same time i feel strange, because i also
want to do something for my country. we also have many problems,
but we are just 10times less people than here, and changes
done here in China would affect and improve the
situation of much more people................
well, well, well, enough with wondering.
time to solve last details.
(Sy. 19 of November 2007, 12.21)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
It snowed and snowed, when i went to take the bus, everything was white.but no blue sky, gray smog. quite cold. windy. for some reason the bus stopped after 2 min, and everybody had to go out. It seemed traffic was going to be chaotic, decided not to wait for the next bus, luckly could take a taxi right away. Took me much longer
to arrive at the place as usually. what place? Police! Yeah, i had to go, and then first wait in the waiting hall for aliens.
had my passport with a visa until the 21st of November, finally. Good to have the passport back. Not to good to have to move from A to B with the snowy windy weather Shenyang reserved for my last day. But these time i took the bus (hey, next time in Sy i can try to use more bus, if i am not worried about saving time, it is much more interesting....and cheaper - 1RMB - 10 cents of euros!, sure. oh, well, maybe next time i can use the subway anyway, hopefully it will be ready...) to the north train station, and waited for Dolphin who was coming from Beijing.
Amazing to observe the people in places like train station. Most of the mass arrive or leave with these huge rice sacks with -i don't know what- inside, and they don't look so happy. In the waiting halls, almost no place to wait, sacks and people on the ground, waiting.
Waiting to go home or to go visit their beloved, or to go to work. Huge waitings halls, but anyway not big enough.not very comfortable chairs, hot water near the toilette available for the basic things: drinking and making the instant noodles everybody always eat. It is a meal which cost from 2 to 5 RMB, 50 cents. I am always a good "attraction" for these poor and not so poor people (it depends on which waiting hall you are). They look, and look
again, i always smile, they are surprised about that, some of them really look at you from bottom to top as if you were a alien. (ha, this time a real "alien"). People try to talk to me, and i am so embarrassed that my Chinese is so poor. I sometimes just guess what they might be asking, and answer something. (I should have had more of these conversations (also with taxi drivers), but i was just to lazy, since i kinda always forgot the correct pronunciation
or even the entire phrases. I should have made more "help notes" with the usual dialogs...should have had more courage.....) So, spent sometime there, observing people as subtly as possible, and being obviously observed. Dolphin arrived and together with her husband we went to my favorite restaurant in Shenyang. Guo Fu Beef. Last time hotpot (at least until i buy one of the special cookers - really want to eat this at home). We had a great time. Had to go to the pie,
for a last beer with Martin. And then back home, knocking on everyone's door at the dormitory to say goodbye. Second time last beer with the girls. Back to the mess, finished cleaning, oli called. this and thats, at the end it was almost 2 in the morning,
and i had to wake up at 5. 00am, now i do feel the tiredness. "Checked out" of the apartment at 5.50 (lady taking her time to check everything in the room), thought that i would have a taxi waiting outside, but, no one answered at the hot line. Walked with my 2 heavy backpack to the small town, cold and white are the last memories. Well, also some
problems in between. First thing, just when i got a taxi, there comes another one just behind, and it could not turn left to the road because my taxi was blocking the passage. I was just a question of 2 minutes until i got the bags in the car, but no, they are always in a hurry,
the stupid guy kept horning uninterruptedly. I had to show the dirty finger, just wonder if they understand. So, traveling with lower speed because of the snow. Freezing in the taxi with heating off. So, almost there, toll gate of the highway closed, highway blocked. Took another way, which in fact was the same distance, but even slower, and to complete, on the way, an accident with a big truck. Police already around taking
pictures. When i was thinking i would still take some time we arrive. The last thing was the small fight with the taxi driver. The taximeter was showing 90, he wanted 180. How come? Gave him 110 and said i would give no more. Dunno why they do this. Anyways, at the end i didnt care, i was just happy to arrive at the airport. Check in with no problem. More waiting. I was so hungry, but they only gave us something to drink, i really thought we would get breakfast.
Naja, transit in Beijing with no problem (except for the fact that i didn't had the departure card, since the lady didn't want to give it to me in Shenyang. It is amazing, if you know you have to do something, just, don't believe anyone....). Still some time to walk around at the aiport in Beijing, Bought an interesting book about China. Then the flight. Oh. Even an upgraded class, much more space for the legs. Everything very normal, good lunch. Slept a bit, then a bit bored, making pictures of clouds. Then time decided to pass slow, read a bit, thoughts and music. Then dinner, and the new Mr Bean movie. And then, arrived. Home "sweet" (not so sweet, cold) home. Home. Such a good feeling to understand people speaking.To be among the different-looking people around, to understand all signs and so on.......Could not manage the train at 5, waited for the one at 6.11, and here i am, just gained 7 hours, that means, it is time for
dinner again. Thou i would be time for bed, my eyes cant do it anymore.
So, will also take a break and enjoy the movements of the train, trying to sleep. In hour i will be arriving in Erfurt............huhuhuhu,
back to normal life.
things that happen 2...........
Beijing, 12nd of November 2007
What seemed impossible became true!
Can you imagine?? The men showed up at the bus station with my passport, at 9 in the morning today, just before i was about to enter the Brazilian embassy. Dolphin said she still have to tell me the story. I will not be able to meet them, since they are not
in Shenyang anymore. So, i also was kinda lucky today, like something related to good timing. I arrived at the embassy at 8.45 (surprised with my good orientation, i just needed to look up twice in the map, after going out of the metro station). There are already people waiting. I checked the block, embassies only, the one from the kuait was the nicest, not bad. Waiting outside in the cold, until i was the next in the line. Then a couple, he brazilian, she chinese come in just like this, without waiting in the line. Hum, actually after that i figured out, i am at the Brazilians embassy, i am brazilian, why do i have to be waiting with the other chinese applying for visa, when my issue is with the passport section anyway. So, if i was half an hour faster in entering the embassy, i would probably just have signed the document of lost of passport by the time i receive Dolphins call, with the good news.
Hey, what a history, kinda unbelievable. It was a bit late, but not to late, since i saved some money anyway, and a good amount of bureaucracy work.
Could only buy a ticket to Sy on Wednesday, the fast train, didn't want to take bus or slow one. Would be doing some sightseeing, but it is gray and raining outside.
So, will write some emails, and relax for the moment. Then work later.
What seemed impossible became true!
Can you imagine?? The men showed up at the bus station with my passport, at 9 in the morning today, just before i was about to enter the Brazilian embassy. Dolphin said she still have to tell me the story. I will not be able to meet them, since they are not
in Shenyang anymore. So, i also was kinda lucky today, like something related to good timing. I arrived at the embassy at 8.45 (surprised with my good orientation, i just needed to look up twice in the map, after going out of the metro station). There are already people waiting. I checked the block, embassies only, the one from the kuait was the nicest, not bad. Waiting outside in the cold, until i was the next in the line. Then a couple, he brazilian, she chinese come in just like this, without waiting in the line. Hum, actually after that i figured out, i am at the Brazilians embassy, i am brazilian, why do i have to be waiting with the other chinese applying for visa, when my issue is with the passport section anyway. So, if i was half an hour faster in entering the embassy, i would probably just have signed the document of lost of passport by the time i receive Dolphins call, with the good news.
Hey, what a history, kinda unbelievable. It was a bit late, but not to late, since i saved some money anyway, and a good amount of bureaucracy work.
Could only buy a ticket to Sy on Wednesday, the fast train, didn't want to take bus or slow one. Would be doing some sightseeing, but it is gray and raining outside.
So, will write some emails, and relax for the moment. Then work later.
things that happen....
Sy, 10th of November 2007
There are moments in life, when you feel strange, i mean, it is something good and bad at the same time. It is difficult to describe. I dont even wish i could. I just feel it.
So, i am still here in China. I think someday i will laugh about this, because, somehow, it IS funny. It is nothing "serious", it is just that, without a passport, anyone more or less becomes no one. At least you cannot travel anywhere. On Monday, the 5th of november, a gray day over here, i lost my passport. Everything began really early.At 6 am we took a taxi in the south gate of the school, that was supposed to bring us to the long distance express
bus station, where we would take the bus to Dan dong. Well, as the taxi driver brought us to the wrong bus station, and as he just didnt want to understand that we wanted to go to the other one, near the train station (damm, i have tried to explain it, but well, my language knowledges are definitelly not good enough, and, he was not smart enough to find himself in the map we were showing), i got kinda upset and left the car without noticing that my passport just had
felt down from my bag. I know, i know, i know, i should have been more careful, and so on. I am, always, careful with documents. It is the first time i lose a document. The thing was, as i put the pass inside the chinese book, and i didnt expected to need it. So, when i was trying to talk to the taxi driver, i had to take to book, and i just forgot to put the passport in a safe place inside my bag. Well, whatever, i doesnt matter now. Anyway, we took another taxi to go to the other station, and could even manage to get the bus at 7 to Dandong. Inside the bus
i start checking my bag, and, surprise, pass is gone. First difficult moment: the bus driver didnt want to stop the bus, so we could get out. After 10min trying to explain it, saying that
we had to go out to find my passport, and they just always saying, they just can not stop the bus, what do they ask me? if i could show my passport!! well, i thought it was a joke, but it wasnt.
No one had understood anything, and after almost not believing we would get out of the bus, the "stewardess" of the bus had make some calls, and the got "permission" to stop the bus.
Well, the first thing i did was to call the only person who could really help us, and start to search for the lost document. It is such a strange feeling, 3 days before going home, to realize what you will have to go through, without the piece of paper used to prove that you are you, so you can travel through borders. At the first bus station (the wrong one), we had the luck that people were really trying to help. So, we explained everything again,
people laugh, i don't know if they really think it is funny, or if they dont realize the seriousness of the situation. So are the Chinese, they are always under controll, they never show any sign of being nervous or whatever. Well, the police showed up and the bus station staff explained the situation to them, in the mean time we had some radio broadcasting the lost, so if taxi drivers have found it, they could know where to send it. At some time, just when i had lost my nerves and had let some tear out, someone come and say, oh, we found your passport. Too good to be true. To bad no to speak the language. At the end what was the deal: yes, someone had found it, more precisely 2 migrants from the countryside that came to
work, probably in the many constructions sites. How did they figure that out? Well, they showed my pass to the lady in the luggage store, and asked what to do. She just said she didn't know what it was, and what to do with it. That would be expect to much, i guess?
So the workers left their 2 bags there, and payed in advance for 2 days, until Wednesday at 16.30. We asked them to check the bags, in case they hat put the pass inside, they didnt want, and after, they just said they checked and found nothing, and the lady
(she had silver shoes) just said she saw that the workers took the pass with them. Oh God, what a fate. So there they are, two of the thousand migrants from the countryside that everyday try their luck in the city, there is enough work anyway. Waiting is the most difficult things in these situations. I had hope (i still have!) they would show up sometime. And that they would have
the pass. Times passes, you keep thinking positive, but also start to take the necessary measures for the worst case. You dont sleep, and if, only nightmares.
Who knows where these people is right now? Who knows what they might have done with my pass. Days passed and i tried to solve the things, reported the lost to the police (normaly it takes 1 week till the can give you a certificate of lost) changed flight, contacted embassies, bying tickets to Beijing and so on. The Brazilian embassy said they can give me a new passport quite quickly, and the problem is now the visa to Germany. Jesus, this is a torture.
Also the Chinese police responsible for foreigners wants a new visa. So, having a passport is not the most important thing, you have to have the right stemps inside. Ha, this is the world.
The other "funny" thing: It was Oli´s last night here, and there was a blackout. We woke up next day early, still not electricity (and no water, and no heating). Taxi to the airport, Oli checked in. I went back by bus very sad, just wishing i could be going home as well. Going back home, i feel like being in a movie. The day was so gray, smoggy and it had been raining for hours, not pouring, just nisseln. It seemed like the end of the world. And still no electricity.
Spent the afternoon reading, and trying to work a bit. It is amazing how dependent we are on energy. There is nothing to do, i dont even had warm water to make some tea. At least later on, i could buy some beer at the restaurant, when i receive Oli´s call that he was still in the airport in Shenyang. All flights cancelled, because of the weather. That is it, even having a pass and a ticket, sometimes you just can not move nowhere. Oli came back to the school, and we had candle light dinner, and watched movie with the last two hours of my computers battery.
Next day started good again, despite the fights and long phone calls with people from the flight company (air china), he had electricity again. Also again with the right help we could manage to get a ticket for today, the saturday. Some more this and thats to solve, day still gray, but less than the day before. Now Oli is gone, and i am here trying to work, or not to go crazy. It is good that i know i will be able to solve things in the next week, and it is good
to have a flight back. But i just didnt need all this right now, still so many things to do for the winter term, and i am not even there yet. I just hope, when i am back home, that also the "Gluck" is back for me. This feeling of atrackting everykind of unluck is not good.
Time for a break now .
There are moments in life, when you feel strange, i mean, it is something good and bad at the same time. It is difficult to describe. I dont even wish i could. I just feel it.
So, i am still here in China. I think someday i will laugh about this, because, somehow, it IS funny. It is nothing "serious", it is just that, without a passport, anyone more or less becomes no one. At least you cannot travel anywhere. On Monday, the 5th of november, a gray day over here, i lost my passport. Everything began really early.At 6 am we took a taxi in the south gate of the school, that was supposed to bring us to the long distance express
bus station, where we would take the bus to Dan dong. Well, as the taxi driver brought us to the wrong bus station, and as he just didnt want to understand that we wanted to go to the other one, near the train station (damm, i have tried to explain it, but well, my language knowledges are definitelly not good enough, and, he was not smart enough to find himself in the map we were showing), i got kinda upset and left the car without noticing that my passport just had
felt down from my bag. I know, i know, i know, i should have been more careful, and so on. I am, always, careful with documents. It is the first time i lose a document. The thing was, as i put the pass inside the chinese book, and i didnt expected to need it. So, when i was trying to talk to the taxi driver, i had to take to book, and i just forgot to put the passport in a safe place inside my bag. Well, whatever, i doesnt matter now. Anyway, we took another taxi to go to the other station, and could even manage to get the bus at 7 to Dandong. Inside the bus
i start checking my bag, and, surprise, pass is gone. First difficult moment: the bus driver didnt want to stop the bus, so we could get out. After 10min trying to explain it, saying that
we had to go out to find my passport, and they just always saying, they just can not stop the bus, what do they ask me? if i could show my passport!! well, i thought it was a joke, but it wasnt.
No one had understood anything, and after almost not believing we would get out of the bus, the "stewardess" of the bus had make some calls, and the got "permission" to stop the bus.
Well, the first thing i did was to call the only person who could really help us, and start to search for the lost document. It is such a strange feeling, 3 days before going home, to realize what you will have to go through, without the piece of paper used to prove that you are you, so you can travel through borders. At the first bus station (the wrong one), we had the luck that people were really trying to help. So, we explained everything again,
people laugh, i don't know if they really think it is funny, or if they dont realize the seriousness of the situation. So are the Chinese, they are always under controll, they never show any sign of being nervous or whatever. Well, the police showed up and the bus station staff explained the situation to them, in the mean time we had some radio broadcasting the lost, so if taxi drivers have found it, they could know where to send it. At some time, just when i had lost my nerves and had let some tear out, someone come and say, oh, we found your passport. Too good to be true. To bad no to speak the language. At the end what was the deal: yes, someone had found it, more precisely 2 migrants from the countryside that came to
work, probably in the many constructions sites. How did they figure that out? Well, they showed my pass to the lady in the luggage store, and asked what to do. She just said she didn't know what it was, and what to do with it. That would be expect to much, i guess?
So the workers left their 2 bags there, and payed in advance for 2 days, until Wednesday at 16.30. We asked them to check the bags, in case they hat put the pass inside, they didnt want, and after, they just said they checked and found nothing, and the lady
(she had silver shoes) just said she saw that the workers took the pass with them. Oh God, what a fate. So there they are, two of the thousand migrants from the countryside that everyday try their luck in the city, there is enough work anyway. Waiting is the most difficult things in these situations. I had hope (i still have!) they would show up sometime. And that they would have
the pass. Times passes, you keep thinking positive, but also start to take the necessary measures for the worst case. You dont sleep, and if, only nightmares.
Who knows where these people is right now? Who knows what they might have done with my pass. Days passed and i tried to solve the things, reported the lost to the police (normaly it takes 1 week till the can give you a certificate of lost) changed flight, contacted embassies, bying tickets to Beijing and so on. The Brazilian embassy said they can give me a new passport quite quickly, and the problem is now the visa to Germany. Jesus, this is a torture.
Also the Chinese police responsible for foreigners wants a new visa. So, having a passport is not the most important thing, you have to have the right stemps inside. Ha, this is the world.
The other "funny" thing: It was Oli´s last night here, and there was a blackout. We woke up next day early, still not electricity (and no water, and no heating). Taxi to the airport, Oli checked in. I went back by bus very sad, just wishing i could be going home as well. Going back home, i feel like being in a movie. The day was so gray, smoggy and it had been raining for hours, not pouring, just nisseln. It seemed like the end of the world. And still no electricity.
Spent the afternoon reading, and trying to work a bit. It is amazing how dependent we are on energy. There is nothing to do, i dont even had warm water to make some tea. At least later on, i could buy some beer at the restaurant, when i receive Oli´s call that he was still in the airport in Shenyang. All flights cancelled, because of the weather. That is it, even having a pass and a ticket, sometimes you just can not move nowhere. Oli came back to the school, and we had candle light dinner, and watched movie with the last two hours of my computers battery.
Next day started good again, despite the fights and long phone calls with people from the flight company (air china), he had electricity again. Also again with the right help we could manage to get a ticket for today, the saturday. Some more this and thats to solve, day still gray, but less than the day before. Now Oli is gone, and i am here trying to work, or not to go crazy. It is good that i know i will be able to solve things in the next week, and it is good
to have a flight back. But i just didnt need all this right now, still so many things to do for the winter term, and i am not even there yet. I just hope, when i am back home, that also the "Gluck" is back for me. This feeling of atrackting everykind of unluck is not good.
Time for a break now .
Friday, November 16, 2007
friday again!
Working hard day. Cold. Went for dinner with Hailian just near the west gate. Our dialog:
me: (while looking to the food pictures on the wall and trying to recognize some of the signs on the menu) "I will miss the Chinese food!"
hailian: (looking at me with her sweet way of looking) "Oh, i will miss you!"
It was nice to hear that, never thought she would be so open! I will miss her too. I will miss many things, indeed. Some others not so much.
But i right now i just miss home (both German and Brazilian one....)
me: (while looking to the food pictures on the wall and trying to recognize some of the signs on the menu) "I will miss the Chinese food!"
hailian: (looking at me with her sweet way of looking) "Oh, i will miss you!"
It was nice to hear that, never thought she would be so open! I will miss her too. I will miss many things, indeed. Some others not so much.
But i right now i just miss home (both German and Brazilian one....)
Monday, November 12, 2007
delayed
hey there everyone in Germany, i was supposed to be home now, but China did not want me to go. i will be there soon thou, everthing is fine. tell you all about incredible stories later.
Monday, October 22, 2007
soon....
(near the north train station in Shenyang)
"carbon laundering"
Quarter of China's Carbon Emissions Due to Exports
@ http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/- Who Owns China´s Carbon Emissions.
@ http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/- Who Owns China´s Carbon Emissions.
blogs and more blogs....cold and more cold.....
http://www.lifeclever.com/
http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/
(check this: 7-little-known-ways-to-drastically-improve-your-learning)
did i mention i love Mondays?!?! ;-/
It is cold, but sky is blue.
Have a meeting with my Prof.tomorrow, but i still didn't get the data from last weeks about the waste collection. Well. I wanted/needed everything, to finish all diagrams and discuss/compare the results. But, "This is how it works, it feels a little worse...."
http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/
(check this: 7-little-known-ways-to-drastically-improve-your-learning)
did i mention i love Mondays?!?! ;-/
It is cold, but sky is blue.
Have a meeting with my Prof.tomorrow, but i still didn't get the data from last weeks about the waste collection. Well. I wanted/needed everything, to finish all diagrams and discuss/compare the results. But, "This is how it works, it feels a little worse...."
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Today's featured picture - from Wikipedia
This Chinese child soldier, age 10, with heavy pack, is a member of an army division returning to China following the capture of Myitkyina airfield, Burma, under the allied command of US Major General Frank Merrill in May 1944. Chinese and allied troops had earlier crossed through the treacherous jungle of the Kumon Bum Mountains Japanese troops to the south. A number of international conventions have since come into effect that try to limit the participation of children in armed conflicts. However, according to Human Rights Watch, as many as 300,000 children remain direct participants in war in over twenty countries around the world today.
Source: U.S. Army Signal Corps
i hope she does not mind....
....for a little bit of relaxing in this cold and boring Saturday night (reading stuff about landfill gas and planing the trip to Beijing), i just read some funny things from this girl website:
- Nothing supports the notion that life is serious.
- The real trouble with reality is that there's no background music.
- War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who's left.
- Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.
- Your conscience may not keep you from doing wrong, but it sure keeps you from enjoying it.
- Life is short. Don't be a dick.
- Life and everything in it. Yes, that includes the platypus.
- The only substitute for good manners is fast reflexes.
- Nothing supports the notion that life is serious.
- The real trouble with reality is that there's no background music.
- War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who's left.
- Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.
- Your conscience may not keep you from doing wrong, but it sure keeps you from enjoying it.
- Life is short. Don't be a dick.
- Life and everything in it. Yes, that includes the platypus.
- The only substitute for good manners is fast reflexes.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
bad working conditions.....
October is said to be the worst month in the fall/winter season, since it is still not allowed to heat, but it can be really cold, with temperatures falling to lower 0! Oh, God, it is so cold in this room, it is not possible to concentrate....
Plastic Bags
Once upon a time, in my first studies (Materials Engineering) I focused on subjects about polymers (structure, properties, characterization, production). Polymers are not only about
"plastic", there is much more involved around this class of natural and synthetic material. Polymers are, indeed, fascinating (well, all materials are fascinating...)
Their application and use is everywhere, probably many people would say, it is not possible to live without polymers.
However, there is one special kind of polymeric material causing a great damage to the environment, because of its wide use. Plastic films used for manufacturing bags, used for transporting and containing goods (mostly food). These material, because of its already low/restrict properties is, in general, not suitable for recycling (material recovery). The reuse option is given (e.g use the bags for toilet bins), but the amount generated is much higher then the demand for reusing.
Because of their low density, they are responsible for increasing the volume of waste being generated in our society. A common fact in developing countries in the large use and undiscriminated disposal of plastic bags.(So called "plastification" of landscapes). Since the environmental awareness is anyway low in this countries, people just litter these bags everywhere. The decomposition time of these films is low (hundreds of years), and eventhough
the approach of using biodegradable materials is an option (price is high, low market share), there is still a really big problem to be solved in what concerns the amount of plastic bags being generated worldwide.
Chinese people also would say they cannot live without polymers, especially plastic bags. For me the most striking situation here is to see people carrying their take-away food inside this bags, all the time, everything, even soup. At the university restaurant first they take the rice in one small bag, then each of the dishes in another one, then the bread, and so on. (if you ask why there are no other more appropriate plastic recipients for transporting the food, the answer is, it is because it is expensive, and its ok so, since its use would also mean more resources use and, at the end, resource waste as well). So, after a first sorting analysis of the waste generated by the students, it is estimated that, by volume, at least one third of the amount comprise plastic bags.
What to do about it?
One option would be the energy recovery, but for that bags would have to be source separated and some additional steps (cleaning/drying) would be need before they could be used, e.g, as RDF, or even recycled.
The waste hierarchy is clear - reduction! That is what i do everyday:
- Use my trendy fabric bag for carrying supplies. People at the supermarket always look at me as if i were from another planet, when i refuse the plastic bags. The tellers at the counter always talk about me, and they even call other people to show "the girl who does not like plastic bags". I just wish i could explain them why i do this, but at least they get the chance to think about it.
- I always have some Tupperware with me, especially when i know i will get some take-away food. The same happens here, people staring and laughing at me when i order and give them the recipient.....
What else could i do, more than giving my example? My plan would be, actually, if I was to prepare a Waste Management Concept for the entire university, propose some changes. Everybody should just pay maybe 0.1 Yuan for plastic bags (this is the selling price for the bottles), everywhere. Unfortunately it is the only way to achieve some changes: to make people think about ways of saving money. The university could merchandise
fabric bags, Tupperware and cups. Corporate identity! There would also be a visible reduction in waste amount/volume to be disposed of, meaning economical and environmental benefits.
And everybody would live happy forever! ;-)
"plastic", there is much more involved around this class of natural and synthetic material. Polymers are, indeed, fascinating (well, all materials are fascinating...)
Their application and use is everywhere, probably many people would say, it is not possible to live without polymers.
However, there is one special kind of polymeric material causing a great damage to the environment, because of its wide use. Plastic films used for manufacturing bags, used for transporting and containing goods (mostly food). These material, because of its already low/restrict properties is, in general, not suitable for recycling (material recovery). The reuse option is given (e.g use the bags for toilet bins), but the amount generated is much higher then the demand for reusing.
Because of their low density, they are responsible for increasing the volume of waste being generated in our society. A common fact in developing countries in the large use and undiscriminated disposal of plastic bags.(So called "plastification" of landscapes). Since the environmental awareness is anyway low in this countries, people just litter these bags everywhere. The decomposition time of these films is low (hundreds of years), and eventhough
the approach of using biodegradable materials is an option (price is high, low market share), there is still a really big problem to be solved in what concerns the amount of plastic bags being generated worldwide.
Chinese people also would say they cannot live without polymers, especially plastic bags. For me the most striking situation here is to see people carrying their take-away food inside this bags, all the time, everything, even soup. At the university restaurant first they take the rice in one small bag, then each of the dishes in another one, then the bread, and so on. (if you ask why there are no other more appropriate plastic recipients for transporting the food, the answer is, it is because it is expensive, and its ok so, since its use would also mean more resources use and, at the end, resource waste as well). So, after a first sorting analysis of the waste generated by the students, it is estimated that, by volume, at least one third of the amount comprise plastic bags.
What to do about it?
One option would be the energy recovery, but for that bags would have to be source separated and some additional steps (cleaning/drying) would be need before they could be used, e.g, as RDF, or even recycled.
The waste hierarchy is clear - reduction! That is what i do everyday:
- Use my trendy fabric bag for carrying supplies. People at the supermarket always look at me as if i were from another planet, when i refuse the plastic bags. The tellers at the counter always talk about me, and they even call other people to show "the girl who does not like plastic bags". I just wish i could explain them why i do this, but at least they get the chance to think about it.
- I always have some Tupperware with me, especially when i know i will get some take-away food. The same happens here, people staring and laughing at me when i order and give them the recipient.....
What else could i do, more than giving my example? My plan would be, actually, if I was to prepare a Waste Management Concept for the entire university, propose some changes. Everybody should just pay maybe 0.1 Yuan for plastic bags (this is the selling price for the bottles), everywhere. Unfortunately it is the only way to achieve some changes: to make people think about ways of saving money. The university could merchandise
fabric bags, Tupperware and cups. Corporate identity! There would also be a visible reduction in waste amount/volume to be disposed of, meaning economical and environmental benefits.
And everybody would live happy forever! ;-)
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Procrastination
Some time ago I was indeed planing to write about this word. It sounds bad, but somehow i like it. Ok, but i do not like the meaning. Anyway, i know i am not the only person in the world procrastinating right now...
And by the way, i found a really interesting blog entry about it:
how-to-unschedule-your-work-and-enjoy-guilt-free-play
And by the way, i found a really interesting blog entry about it:
how-to-unschedule-your-work-and-enjoy-guilt-free-play
Monday, October 15, 2007
Blog Action Day
Today is Blog Action Day, and before i finish using the internet for today while sitting here in this really cold office room, i think about what should i write about.
Where should i start? Let´me see.....I will just let words come out....
I am 28 years old, born in Brazil but living in Germany for the last 5 years. Currently i am spending some time in China, as a part of my studies/research on my second graduation course ("Master" in Infrastructure and Environment). After studying Materials Engineering and working with research and development in the area of Materials Science, i decided i wanted to do something different, where i could use my skills to work with something related to environment protection.
One thing I am quite sure is that we, human beings, are changing this EARTH we live in, and that was given us for free, in such a way (not sustainable!) that probably the great children of my great children will never get to know anything of this planet as it once was.
Oh, maybe I am being to fatalist and pessimist. But i do believe things are unfortunately changing too fast, and that some changes (climate) are REALLY serious!
Well, what else, I do also, thou, believe in these human beings, I believe we can change, we can make thing happen, we HAVE to. Maybe sometimes I do doubt on that, but at
least I really want to believe. And the thing is, I want to change somethings, and I am doing my part. I have been doing what i can in my daily life to help protecting this planet since i realized how important IT is to me. And I want to work with this topic, especially with Solid Waste Management issues.
Being in the most populated country in the World is quite an experience. Many issues i could talk about but the most impressive one: ya, there are soo many people. And they are generating sooo much waste. Despite a relative low per capita generation, when compared to developed countries, at the end of the day, the amount is huge anyway. And this challenging situation will become even more difficult by 2050, when, according to estimatives, 70% of the Chinese population will be living in cities. There is a lot, but really a lot of work to be done here, for sure not only in this area, but, in providing infrastructure in general, water and energy and tranportation.......
Well, I am cold and hungry, I need to go.....
Last words: I don´t know what the future has planned for me, but i just know I have to continue having faith in the human beings, and especially in myself, I want to be good enough in my work and with my good examples for people around me, to help CHANGES to take place!!
We only have this Earth, do you part, take good care of it!
Where should i start? Let´me see.....I will just let words come out....
I am 28 years old, born in Brazil but living in Germany for the last 5 years. Currently i am spending some time in China, as a part of my studies/research on my second graduation course ("Master" in Infrastructure and Environment). After studying Materials Engineering and working with research and development in the area of Materials Science, i decided i wanted to do something different, where i could use my skills to work with something related to environment protection.
One thing I am quite sure is that we, human beings, are changing this EARTH we live in, and that was given us for free, in such a way (not sustainable!) that probably the great children of my great children will never get to know anything of this planet as it once was.
Oh, maybe I am being to fatalist and pessimist. But i do believe things are unfortunately changing too fast, and that some changes (climate) are REALLY serious!
Well, what else, I do also, thou, believe in these human beings, I believe we can change, we can make thing happen, we HAVE to. Maybe sometimes I do doubt on that, but at
least I really want to believe. And the thing is, I want to change somethings, and I am doing my part. I have been doing what i can in my daily life to help protecting this planet since i realized how important IT is to me. And I want to work with this topic, especially with Solid Waste Management issues.
Being in the most populated country in the World is quite an experience. Many issues i could talk about but the most impressive one: ya, there are soo many people. And they are generating sooo much waste. Despite a relative low per capita generation, when compared to developed countries, at the end of the day, the amount is huge anyway. And this challenging situation will become even more difficult by 2050, when, according to estimatives, 70% of the Chinese population will be living in cities. There is a lot, but really a lot of work to be done here, for sure not only in this area, but, in providing infrastructure in general, water and energy and tranportation.......
Well, I am cold and hungry, I need to go.....
Last words: I don´t know what the future has planned for me, but i just know I have to continue having faith in the human beings, and especially in myself, I want to be good enough in my work and with my good examples for people around me, to help CHANGES to take place!!
We only have this Earth, do you part, take good care of it!
so true.....
"But pleasures are like poppies spread—Robert Burns
You seize the flow'r, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snow falls in the river—
A moment white—then melts forever."
"If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this."
------------------
Album of the month: Spoons - Wallis Bird.
-
-----------------
Nobel Peace Price
Nobel Peace Price 2007 shared by the IPCC and Al Gore.
"for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change"
"for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change"
already some time ago.....
Picture at Dolphin´s Place, for the occasion of the moon (mid autumn) festival.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Autumn
The Autumn has arrived now for sure. September was great, some warm days....
After the rain, here we are, sunny weather with min. of 2°C and max .of 14°C.
Hands were freezing while biking work today, and it was hard to get out of the warm bed...
After the rain, here we are, sunny weather with min. of 2°C and max .of 14°C.
Hands were freezing while biking work today, and it was hard to get out of the warm bed...
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Waste Management at the SYIAE
First thing, sorry for the fact that the pictures are dated. I don't like the date on pictures, and even more if it is the wrong one. Well, i have a new digital camera, and in the beginning i forgot to shut this feature off.
Both pictures are a very common situation of the waste management here: everyday there is people taking/buying the plastic and glass bottles or papers/cardboard. Everybody takes this materials, which are, in fact, not waste, from the waste stream, and sell them for recycling. Well, not the foreign students, there the cleaning ladies take them from their waste, and i think she might be very happy with the many plastic and beer bottles and cans.....
The other picture show this blues house i mentioned before, used for waste storage. This is the one near the dormitory building.
Social life.....
Working is good, especially if you like it, but there is so much more than that, isn't it? So, i take myself the time to go out, meet people, for dinner, karaoke, even discos.....
It is raining.....
....cats and dogs here, it is now only a drizzle, but, well, water coming from heaven the entire day.....
And this is just the perfect weather for the last preparative procedures all around the campus. :-S
The evaluation kick off meeting is tomorrow. What is really impressive is to notice the changes taking place everywhere. What was all unfinished and unready, is now almost perfect...and they did most of the things really last week, and i wonder, if there was no pressure because of the evaluation, how long would it take, for them to finish everything.....
Well. Not of my business anyway. There is one thing i might learn here: don´t try to understand Chinese people, and the way they do things......
My situation is quite strange, time is passing by so quickly, and i see that i wont finish everything, and i even got an idea of starting another project, something more concrete. But i am leaving in one month, and i still have also to plan our trip.....well, let´s see. Damage control.
In order to relax a bit right now, Katie Melua. There are nine million bicycles in Beijing....
And this is just the perfect weather for the last preparative procedures all around the campus. :-S
The evaluation kick off meeting is tomorrow. What is really impressive is to notice the changes taking place everywhere. What was all unfinished and unready, is now almost perfect...and they did most of the things really last week, and i wonder, if there was no pressure because of the evaluation, how long would it take, for them to finish everything.....
Well. Not of my business anyway. There is one thing i might learn here: don´t try to understand Chinese people, and the way they do things......
My situation is quite strange, time is passing by so quickly, and i see that i wont finish everything, and i even got an idea of starting another project, something more concrete. But i am leaving in one month, and i still have also to plan our trip.....well, let´s see. Damage control.
In order to relax a bit right now, Katie Melua. There are nine million bicycles in Beijing....
Friday, October 5, 2007
coincidence
Hello World! I am doing fine, pretty much to do here.....but after staying in front of the computer the entire day, in the evening i decide to change a bit, and stay in front of TV, watching movies.. Yesterday watched Painted Veil, great movie, and i could even understand Edward Norton speaking Chinese....Naomi Watts is really one of my favorite actress. Then decided to watch another one: October sky (with Jake Gyllenhaal- Donnie Darko). So, the coincidence is the fact that, the launch of the Sputnik I, which was the inspiration of the whole thing, is this memorable event that happened exactly 50 years ago, October 4, 1957.....
And since is October, i have a perfect song for this moment.
( I'm moving in circles, I'm trying to come in)
And after enjoying it with coffee, staring the gray sky outside, work starts.
And since is October, i have a perfect song for this moment.
( I'm moving in circles, I'm trying to come in)
And after enjoying it with coffee, staring the gray sky outside, work starts.
Monday, October 1, 2007
by the way....
....talking about the National Day. So, millions and millions of people are "moving" these days. They say it is worse than "hell" to travel, what i could imagine, and, lucky me, that don't have to do so. Someone mentioned the fact, for example, of people having to travel by train 2 days without sitting! dude, can you imagine that? without sitting would also mean without really being able to move! You stay inside the train as, literally, sardines in cans......well, maybe this is not worse than hell, but it is bad enough.....
National Day
On this day....
1949 – Chinese Civil War: Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
It is a holiday in all China, but here at our University they had to postpone the free week because of an important evaluation (i think it is because they are supposed to be granted a higher status) taking place next week. It seems everybody should be more worried about this fact, but i have heard the opinion of someone (foreign teacher living here since 4 years) that people is really very relaxed. So, maybe the results of the evaluation are now already decided, so that is why they don't worry.....(i wonder if someone will think i shouldn't be writing this here, the big "Big Brother".....)
Anyway, did i mention that the there are no more students walking around with their camouflage clothes?! I think i have to correct some previous statement, the freshman were not being "domesticated" by the senior students. That was a military training they are obligated to do when entering the university, to be in condition to serve their country in the case.....well, the 3 weeks training provided are, as i was told, not really a help if they really have to put hands in gun or somethings like that. But at least, none of them has to worry about their military obligations anymore. It was, anyway, very interesting to observe the "troupes" marching and singing some songs....
Did i mention that sometimes life here seems like a video game? Or something called real time strategy games, or whatever.... It is funny to see the masses moving to here, than there, all at the right time, time to wake up, to go to classes, to go to lunch, to take hot water, to go for a walk, time for music or advertisements to be transmitted in the entire campus through the speakers all around. Indeed, things are different here.......just different.......
1949 – Chinese Civil War: Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
It is a holiday in all China, but here at our University they had to postpone the free week because of an important evaluation (i think it is because they are supposed to be granted a higher status) taking place next week. It seems everybody should be more worried about this fact, but i have heard the opinion of someone (foreign teacher living here since 4 years) that people is really very relaxed. So, maybe the results of the evaluation are now already decided, so that is why they don't worry.....(i wonder if someone will think i shouldn't be writing this here, the big "Big Brother".....)
Anyway, did i mention that the there are no more students walking around with their camouflage clothes?! I think i have to correct some previous statement, the freshman were not being "domesticated" by the senior students. That was a military training they are obligated to do when entering the university, to be in condition to serve their country in the case.....well, the 3 weeks training provided are, as i was told, not really a help if they really have to put hands in gun or somethings like that. But at least, none of them has to worry about their military obligations anymore. It was, anyway, very interesting to observe the "troupes" marching and singing some songs....
Did i mention that sometimes life here seems like a video game? Or something called real time strategy games, or whatever.... It is funny to see the masses moving to here, than there, all at the right time, time to wake up, to go to classes, to go to lunch, to take hot water, to go for a walk, time for music or advertisements to be transmitted in the entire campus through the speakers all around. Indeed, things are different here.......just different.......
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
again.....
i know, i shouldn't be, but i am, bored, again. it is gray outside. i need some urgent help from Mr. Luo, but he seems to forget me sometimes. Well, he is always very kind and helpful, but today i had an appointment with him, and he is not there. So, still can not understand the data......
Reading is boring. My assimilation capacity is slowing down......
Sound trek of the moment:
The Cure (is there a Cure?) - In between days.
Go on go on | Just walk away | Your choice is made |
Go on go on| And disappear | Go on go on| Away from here
Reading is boring. My assimilation capacity is slowing down......
Sound trek of the moment:
The Cure (is there a Cure?) - In between days.
Go on go on | Just walk away | Your choice is made |
Go on go on| And disappear | Go on go on| Away from here
Sooo big....
It is somehow still now so strange for me to live in such a big city!!!
PS. Dont have the source of this picture right now, need to check it!
PS. Dont have the source of this picture right now, need to check it!
zhōng qiū jié
Two special occasions during this mid-autumn festival:
On Tuesday, party at my office building with all the international students and teachers. some of them did great performances, and after that had a look at the American pie with Matt, Thomas, Alina, Mita and Aryuna.
Yesterday, the real "moon-party", sky bit clouded, but the moon was just the way i love to see it, so round and powerfully bright. So the very special thing about this night was that me, Julie, Florian and Steven were invited to join the typical celebration of this evening together with a Chinese family. The tradition is to be outside, praising the moon, and eating (also moon cake) and drinking. We were at Dolphin´s house, with her parents and brother, and we had barbecue.
(Oh my God, do i have to mention the fact that we had to eat as if we were going to war, they prepared too much food, and i almost exploded)
Her father is a great singer, and he sang a traditional "love" song normally sang in this evening. It was really really something special and interesting. And at home, i could not avoid to further stare at the moon....
PS.I have tried different kinds of moon cake but, hum, always no luck, couldn't enjoy it.
On Tuesday, party at my office building with all the international students and teachers. some of them did great performances, and after that had a look at the American pie with Matt, Thomas, Alina, Mita and Aryuna.
Yesterday, the real "moon-party", sky bit clouded, but the moon was just the way i love to see it, so round and powerfully bright. So the very special thing about this night was that me, Julie, Florian and Steven were invited to join the typical celebration of this evening together with a Chinese family. The tradition is to be outside, praising the moon, and eating (also moon cake) and drinking. We were at Dolphin´s house, with her parents and brother, and we had barbecue.
(Oh my God, do i have to mention the fact that we had to eat as if we were going to war, they prepared too much food, and i almost exploded)
Her father is a great singer, and he sang a traditional "love" song normally sang in this evening. It was really really something special and interesting. And at home, i could not avoid to further stare at the moon....
PS.I have tried different kinds of moon cake but, hum, always no luck, couldn't enjoy it.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sing a song.....
.....in Chinese??? We learned today: And my witness is the moon (or, yuè liàng dài biâo wô di xin - the moon that represents my heart).
Specially for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Specially for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Friday, September 21, 2007
International Day of Peace
Today is the International Day of Peace.
Very good, but what we need is: peace every day!
"All you need is love [and peace]"
Very good, but what we need is: peace every day!
"All you need is love [and peace]"
Chinese Sayings
Dolphin, the Chinese teacher is really great. Like her a lot! Because of her interesting way to conduct classes, the daily 3 hours always fly....
She told us already about two sayings in China:
- zài dà dà bú guò tiän. *
meaning more or less like no one is bigger than the sky! The interesting thing she explained about this saying relates to the characters for sky - tiän and big - ta (hum, which is actually somehow not in the sentence....ps. dugh....yes, it is in the sentence, it is not ta, but dà!!!!). Well, for explaining it, i need to write (or should i say draw) the Chinese characters.....so, explanation comes later......
- bú dào chàng chèng fèi hâo hàn.
meaning you are not a hero if you didn´t climb to the top of the Great Wall! So, in the touristic points of the wàn lî cháng chéng you can buy a special souvenir, a "certificate" that you are a hero. Well, i don´t need the certificate, i just want to go there. And yes, i am going, in the end of October!!!!
*attention! i can not type the accents of the first and the third tone, so for the first i will use the two points, dunno what is it called - the eyes of the fish! - and for the third i will use the same sign for the third tone, but in the upside down version â.
She told us already about two sayings in China:
- zài dà dà bú guò tiän. *
meaning more or less like no one is bigger than the sky! The interesting thing she explained about this saying relates to the characters for sky - tiän and big - ta (hum, which is actually somehow not in the sentence....ps. dugh....yes, it is in the sentence, it is not ta, but dà!!!!). Well, for explaining it, i need to write (or should i say draw) the Chinese characters.....so, explanation comes later......
- bú dào chàng chèng fèi hâo hàn.
meaning you are not a hero if you didn´t climb to the top of the Great Wall! So, in the touristic points of the wàn lî cháng chéng you can buy a special souvenir, a "certificate" that you are a hero. Well, i don´t need the certificate, i just want to go there. And yes, i am going, in the end of October!!!!
*attention! i can not type the accents of the first and the third tone, so for the first i will use the two points, dunno what is it called - the eyes of the fish! - and for the third i will use the same sign for the third tone, but in the upside down version â.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Sorting Analysis
Shenyang, 15th september 2007.
Sorting analysis of the municipal solid waste and of the source separated bio-organic and rest waste in the districts of Beifangyiyuan and Quanyuan.
For the third time in my life i could observe and participate in a waste sorting analysis. First in Brazil, then Germany, now here in China. Most of the people i know would never imagine doing this, but well, someone has to do it. It is not so bad, i keep saying to myself! And anyway, if you want to understand the waste and the problems related to it, you better know with what your dealing.....
The day began early on that sunny Saturday. After a relatively long ride with the taxi we arrived at the Quanyuan district (south of Sy). Met the workers of the project in that area. One of their tasks is to control the amount of the separated waste which is being delivered everyday by each household. Each household receives plastics with the number of their household, black for the bio-waste and blue for the rest, and they bring them down to the collection area near their building. (I was told that, normally in China people take their waste out in the morning, when they go out.)
After collecting the waste, i guess we had maybe 60Kg, we took a cab, and i wonder if the driver knew about the content of the bags, anyway, the black plastics bags sometimes do not really retain the leachate....
So, we had our samples, and we had much work to do, but before, some "shopping". Here i am again, buying things which i don't know how to bring home. But i just loved this vase...... ;-P
And also, what could not be missing: EATING. This was a special restaurant for eating bones (need to check the Chinese name), but we had bones, eggplant, tofu, potato salad, and fried rice and noodles. It was, like usual, a way too much food! And imagine, everything for only 4 euros. Fact: the restaurants give their waste food for animals feeding. So, what we don´t eat, the pigs eat, and then we eat the pigs....
So, after a small rest, we got started. This was the team (and myself), 3 master students Zhang Hailian, Liu Xiansong, and the other guy i forgot the name, since i never saw it written.....buh, so difficult to remember the names of the people....(Check references for the international standard for waste sorting analysis)
The hard work. The sorting table consists of a screen, so that the fine fraction (smaller than 10mm) is separated. The different fractions are then sorted into the categories: plastic, paper, glass, metal, hazardous (serynges, batteries), complex (plastic with different layers), textile, wood/bamboo and the organic itself.
But we are laughing, and somehow, even having fun!!! Well, here i think we were laughing because we were, after 3 hours, almost finished.....
The sorting analysis is done once a month, and the bio-organic waste is used for the anaerobic fermentation and composting (and the MSW for the landfill reactors) experiments.
So, i still need to confirm if the waste which is being separated goes together with the normal non-separated waste to the landfill. But i think so, which is a pity!
Sorting analysis of the municipal solid waste and of the source separated bio-organic and rest waste in the districts of Beifangyiyuan and Quanyuan.
For the third time in my life i could observe and participate in a waste sorting analysis. First in Brazil, then Germany, now here in China. Most of the people i know would never imagine doing this, but well, someone has to do it. It is not so bad, i keep saying to myself! And anyway, if you want to understand the waste and the problems related to it, you better know with what your dealing.....
The day began early on that sunny Saturday. After a relatively long ride with the taxi we arrived at the Quanyuan district (south of Sy). Met the workers of the project in that area. One of their tasks is to control the amount of the separated waste which is being delivered everyday by each household. Each household receives plastics with the number of their household, black for the bio-waste and blue for the rest, and they bring them down to the collection area near their building. (I was told that, normally in China people take their waste out in the morning, when they go out.)
After collecting the waste, i guess we had maybe 60Kg, we took a cab, and i wonder if the driver knew about the content of the bags, anyway, the black plastics bags sometimes do not really retain the leachate....
So, we had our samples, and we had much work to do, but before, some "shopping". Here i am again, buying things which i don't know how to bring home. But i just loved this vase...... ;-P
And also, what could not be missing: EATING. This was a special restaurant for eating bones (need to check the Chinese name), but we had bones, eggplant, tofu, potato salad, and fried rice and noodles. It was, like usual, a way too much food! And imagine, everything for only 4 euros. Fact: the restaurants give their waste food for animals feeding. So, what we don´t eat, the pigs eat, and then we eat the pigs....
So, after a small rest, we got started. This was the team (and myself), 3 master students Zhang Hailian, Liu Xiansong, and the other guy i forgot the name, since i never saw it written.....buh, so difficult to remember the names of the people....(Check references for the international standard for waste sorting analysis)
The hard work. The sorting table consists of a screen, so that the fine fraction (smaller than 10mm) is separated. The different fractions are then sorted into the categories: plastic, paper, glass, metal, hazardous (serynges, batteries), complex (plastic with different layers), textile, wood/bamboo and the organic itself.
But we are laughing, and somehow, even having fun!!! Well, here i think we were laughing because we were, after 3 hours, almost finished.....
The sorting analysis is done once a month, and the bio-organic waste is used for the anaerobic fermentation and composting (and the MSW for the landfill reactors) experiments.
So, i still need to confirm if the waste which is being separated goes together with the normal non-separated waste to the landfill. But i think so, which is a pity!
Warm Lousy Bad
So, i did steal it from somewhere.....but it is different, warm head, lousy weather, bad mood. Oh, if only knew where i should start writing.......
The fall arrived suddenly here in Shenyang. Just because i was so happy about having warm days in September. It is indeed quite cold now. Who cares?!?! 8-P
The fall arrived suddenly here in Shenyang. Just because i was so happy about having warm days in September. It is indeed quite cold now. Who cares?!?! 8-P
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
September 18
Forgot to tell about it:
Yesterday at 9.18pm the city (all this north region) stopped for 3 minutes, and sirens rang. This was to remember the Mukden Incident (1931) - that gave Japan the pretext to invade and occupy Manchuria.
Yesterday at 9.18pm the city (all this north region) stopped for 3 minutes, and sirens rang. This was to remember the Mukden Incident (1931) - that gave Japan the pretext to invade and occupy Manchuria.
Today is 13th. September. this last days have been quite hard, many activities, small talks and somehow not so productive work.(well, this is another problem) Monday evening: beer drinking and talking, almost philosophizing (?), well indeed, talking about some serious things like the nature of men (ps. i mean human beings...), moral values and expectations, problems the future will reserve us and so on. Interesting. For me it is all about trying to change people around a little bit, if they at least start thinking about things....The day before (12th), excel tables. well, what can i say, the data i need ist actually incomplete, so, let´s see if there will be a way to solve this. Had dinner near the old campus with some of the English teachers. Nice place, hot pot, native English speakers, sometimes difficult to understand, but indeed the best opportunity to practice the language.
So, 5 days later, here i am, 18th of September, the time is just flying, fact that makes me nervous sometimes. Well, and i kind lost the pace of writing every day, and indeed, i kind forget all the details of daily life, which might also be not so bad, since i must be boring you with all my stories......anyway, there are some things to tell..... New things/old things i forgot to talk about:
- Have a kind of a mountain bike now, so i can go much faster to the places, thou it is not really a bike for serious riding, quite old, a monster bike....i hope it just don't get broken...
- The other language i am kind practicing for fun is French (i can understand quite a lot) since i sometimes hang up with some of the 24 aeronautical engineering students which arrived from Paris IPSA. Well, they are all as old as my sisters, and by spending time with them, i always have to think about the time when i was 22......well, sometimes i feel like it.....
- So, since last week i am attending Chinese Classes, and i hope now i manage to learn it more structurally. But as someone said: it is bloody hard work.
- Had some "small talk" with the 3 sweetest girls ever, from Russia. They are 17, God, THIS good times ware long time ago for me, dude, feel so old sometimes......the other day they went to the disco and came back at 6.30 in the morning....well, i promised them we would go out together sometime.....
- The poor freshman, you see them with this camouflage clothes all around, they have to wear it for 1 month, and they do some hard training everyday beginning at 6 in the morning. Much hard then the treatment we got from our senior students back in my college times.....
- There are also a plenty of beautiful Stewardesses walking around, they do some of their training here.
- All around the campus you can find speakers, and during lunch, in the morning and the evening the play music or do some advertisement or whatever. So it would not be so bad
if i hadn't one of these speakers just in front of my window. And the people in the building besides mine (we share the same wall) are always so loud, so sleeping well is becoming more complicated.
- It was middle of September, and we had a day, it really looked like summer, it was so warm...............is it climate change? (hey, now i can use wikipedia again,with Anonymouse.org)
- Did i ever mentioned the aircraft models the Chinese students are building in the first floor? so, every day when i come to work, i go have a look, and, they are quite interesting. And then when it gets really loud outside, i know they are trying to get the things to fly, or most of the time, they are testing the motor, so, they burn some fuel for half an hour and make a noise which makes quite nervous, but hey, what can i do?!?!?
- The first time i saw one of the models flying (and trowing fireworks) was at the sport event from Sunday. Kind of "gincana" (what is the English word??), and some athletics, and soccer game, the French guys against the Chinese teachers.
- Today i finally met the head of the ICEEE. And today my internet decided to stop working, no one could help me until now. So tomorrow. The other thing definitely not working anymore is my dvd. Well, my notebook is almost 3 years old, i think it is already kinda sick.......
- Internet working again, as you might notice, since i am posting...rainy, Chinese classes were good today, work is going, still didn´t get the data.... :-(
-This is more or less (in fact, i think it is more crowded) how it looks like at noon, when classes finish and everybody goes for lunch.....
- Next post will be about work, cause maybe someone is thinking i do nothing besides having fun....well, not that work isn´t fun..... :-P
So, 5 days later, here i am, 18th of September, the time is just flying, fact that makes me nervous sometimes. Well, and i kind lost the pace of writing every day, and indeed, i kind forget all the details of daily life, which might also be not so bad, since i must be boring you with all my stories......anyway, there are some things to tell..... New things/old things i forgot to talk about:
- Have a kind of a mountain bike now, so i can go much faster to the places, thou it is not really a bike for serious riding, quite old, a monster bike....i hope it just don't get broken...
- The other language i am kind practicing for fun is French (i can understand quite a lot) since i sometimes hang up with some of the 24 aeronautical engineering students which arrived from Paris IPSA. Well, they are all as old as my sisters, and by spending time with them, i always have to think about the time when i was 22......well, sometimes i feel like it.....
- So, since last week i am attending Chinese Classes, and i hope now i manage to learn it more structurally. But as someone said: it is bloody hard work.
- Had some "small talk" with the 3 sweetest girls ever, from Russia. They are 17, God, THIS good times ware long time ago for me, dude, feel so old sometimes......the other day they went to the disco and came back at 6.30 in the morning....well, i promised them we would go out together sometime.....
- The poor freshman, you see them with this camouflage clothes all around, they have to wear it for 1 month, and they do some hard training everyday beginning at 6 in the morning. Much hard then the treatment we got from our senior students back in my college times.....
- There are also a plenty of beautiful Stewardesses walking around, they do some of their training here.
- All around the campus you can find speakers, and during lunch, in the morning and the evening the play music or do some advertisement or whatever. So it would not be so bad
if i hadn't one of these speakers just in front of my window. And the people in the building besides mine (we share the same wall) are always so loud, so sleeping well is becoming more complicated.
- It was middle of September, and we had a day, it really looked like summer, it was so warm...............is it climate change? (hey, now i can use wikipedia again,with Anonymouse.org)
- Did i ever mentioned the aircraft models the Chinese students are building in the first floor? so, every day when i come to work, i go have a look, and, they are quite interesting. And then when it gets really loud outside, i know they are trying to get the things to fly, or most of the time, they are testing the motor, so, they burn some fuel for half an hour and make a noise which makes quite nervous, but hey, what can i do?!?!?
- The first time i saw one of the models flying (and trowing fireworks) was at the sport event from Sunday. Kind of "gincana" (what is the English word??), and some athletics, and soccer game, the French guys against the Chinese teachers.
- Today i finally met the head of the ICEEE. And today my internet decided to stop working, no one could help me until now. So tomorrow. The other thing definitely not working anymore is my dvd. Well, my notebook is almost 3 years old, i think it is already kinda sick.......
- Internet working again, as you might notice, since i am posting...rainy, Chinese classes were good today, work is going, still didn´t get the data.... :-(
-This is more or less (in fact, i think it is more crowded) how it looks like at noon, when classes finish and everybody goes for lunch.....
- Next post will be about work, cause maybe someone is thinking i do nothing besides having fun....well, not that work isn´t fun..... :-P
Monday, September 17, 2007
World on Fire....
Sometimes i come to work, and i feel depressed, or, lost, dunno, something bad in my heart. then a listen to this song, and it gives me strength.
have to find some time to write here, sorry....i hope i will soon have internet in my dorm.
but anyway, i am doing good, miss you all! talked to oli and to my family this weekend, and this is always soooo good......
So, by the way, talking about songs, the other one which i have been listening quite often is this here: Regine Spektor - On the radio.
have to find some time to write here, sorry....i hope i will soon have internet in my dorm.
but anyway, i am doing good, miss you all! talked to oli and to my family this weekend, and this is always soooo good......
So, by the way, talking about songs, the other one which i have been listening quite often is this here: Regine Spektor - On the radio.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
I seriously have to be less soul and more reason soon. Too much philosophy is also not good, said the doctor. Am I Homesick? "Tomorrow will take care of itself".
"I am not arguing that with you!" (From the movie Joe versus the Volcano, liked a lot)
Finally got the DATA i need to analyze, so, let us go, work and work. By the way, i got a job offer the other day. Quite interesting: just because i was giving them some ideas and hints, they offered me to be a co-manager of this place The American Pie. Hey, do i ever dreamed about having such a job? ;-)
Anyway, i just wanted to optimize their cash flow, and if had the time, i would like to organize/create a database for the almost 7000 movies they have. Well, this would be really interesting, since i love movies, but i guess Waste Management is a more urgent question right here right now!!!!! :-P
Yesterday (Sunday) was an interesting day, we went shopping! With Steve and Martin @ DVD´s paradise. It is quite well hidden in a huge electronics store. 5th floor, i should remember that. Got like some 120 of them, and next time i just have to be more patient while choosing. After 1 hour there, you just wanna go out. Well, i bought a Martin Scorsese and Wim Wenders Collection, and many precious things i always wanted and many i´ve never heard about.... :-P
!!!! One has to stop sleeping to do work, learn Chinese, AND watch movies. No time at all!. hum......(and do sightseeing, and write this blog.....i need another one of me.......as everybody does, i guess.....)
So Saturday was also very nice, spent the day with my Prof.s family, and i just felt in love with his daughter, she is amazing. We visited interesting places, for example a nice restaurant (so here we are, eating again...) in old farm stile.
"I am not arguing that with you!" (From the movie Joe versus the Volcano, liked a lot)
Finally got the DATA i need to analyze, so, let us go, work and work. By the way, i got a job offer the other day. Quite interesting: just because i was giving them some ideas and hints, they offered me to be a co-manager of this place The American Pie. Hey, do i ever dreamed about having such a job? ;-)
Anyway, i just wanted to optimize their cash flow, and if had the time, i would like to organize/create a database for the almost 7000 movies they have. Well, this would be really interesting, since i love movies, but i guess Waste Management is a more urgent question right here right now!!!!! :-P
Yesterday (Sunday) was an interesting day, we went shopping! With Steve and Martin @ DVD´s paradise. It is quite well hidden in a huge electronics store. 5th floor, i should remember that. Got like some 120 of them, and next time i just have to be more patient while choosing. After 1 hour there, you just wanna go out. Well, i bought a Martin Scorsese and Wim Wenders Collection, and many precious things i always wanted and many i´ve never heard about.... :-P
!!!! One has to stop sleeping to do work, learn Chinese, AND watch movies. No time at all!. hum......(and do sightseeing, and write this blog.....i need another one of me.......as everybody does, i guess.....)
So Saturday was also very nice, spent the day with my Prof.s family, and i just felt in love with his daughter, she is amazing. We visited interesting places, for example a nice restaurant (so here we are, eating again...) in old farm stile.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
The other day....
....this week, i think it was Tuesday, i went downtown to get money, since i did not had enough to pay the rent. and then, it is always like, at least 2 hours lost, bus 141 or 255, than change to bus 138...... So what happened, when i got at the bank i realized i had the wrong card with me. My credit card looks just like the Miles & More card, and well, i wish i could have converted some miles into money not to have made the trip for nothing, in vain.
Well, i could make some pictures, finally, of these red sculptures....
Well, i could make some pictures, finally, of these red sculptures....
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