Monday, June 28, 2004
i can be so immature sometimes...
so i was watching an episode of family guy where they go to the zoo. everyone's jabbering about what they wanna do and then after everyone's done, the older son says, outta sync with everyone else..."monkeys throw their poo". omigoodness i found it hilarious. i don't even have a reason. i think it's more in the delivery (how it was outta sync with everyone else's yammering) and his voice when he says it. it also has a little to do with the subject matter...
anyway. so my boyfriend thought it was funny that i found that phrase so funny, so he kept rewinding it and playing it again and again, and i laughed harder and harder each time i heard it. i'm laughing right now just thinking about it! then i came to a point where i was laughing at myself for laughing at the line. goodness, i need help. at least i entertain myself...
so i was watching an episode of family guy where they go to the zoo. everyone's jabbering about what they wanna do and then after everyone's done, the older son says, outta sync with everyone else..."monkeys throw their poo". omigoodness i found it hilarious. i don't even have a reason. i think it's more in the delivery (how it was outta sync with everyone else's yammering) and his voice when he says it. it also has a little to do with the subject matter...
anyway. so my boyfriend thought it was funny that i found that phrase so funny, so he kept rewinding it and playing it again and again, and i laughed harder and harder each time i heard it. i'm laughing right now just thinking about it! then i came to a point where i was laughing at myself for laughing at the line. goodness, i need help. at least i entertain myself...
Monday, June 21, 2004
my friend brought me to this hole in the wall restaurant today. and when i say hole in the wall, i mean...someone's apartment.
imagine walking into a small alleyway, into an apartment building, up a flight of dodgey stairs, up an elevator, and having to ring the doorbell or just open the door slowly, into a small apartment. there are enough tables to seat about 30, and a little old lady is the only waitress in the place.
there's a board in which 6 items (A-F) are written in sloppy chinese, and it changes daily. you tell the lady how many of which letters you want. she brings you the soup of the day and a big thermos of tea. you get up to get your own rice, noodles, or congee straight from the rice cooker (you can have as much of that stuff as you want). and then she brings you your order when it's ready. it's a really good portion, and really tasty too. then you pay at the little window that connects the kitchen to the dining area on your way out. only $4! i'm definitely coming back. it's only open on weekdays from 11-3:30. i wonder if the little old lady (and i'm assuming it's her husband in the kitchen) live in the apartment too. very interesting.
apparently, there are lotsa these little places out here. in that same apartment building, i think there was one more restaurant and a hairdresser, and i'm not sure what else.
there's also this other thing that i've heard of but have yet to try. some people who are really good cooks will open up their homes on friday or saturday night a few times a month to the public as well. well, not the real public, it's all by word of mouth. you have to call and make a reservation, and they'll set up a few tables in their living room (depending on how many people have booked a table for the night). there's no menu at all, you just eat whatever is brought to you. and while you're eating dinner, the rest of the family is going about their business as usual, watching tv, reading in their bedroom, whatever. this is a bit more expensive...like $35-$40, but it's supposed to be delicious, and it's worth it just for the experience...
imagine walking into a small alleyway, into an apartment building, up a flight of dodgey stairs, up an elevator, and having to ring the doorbell or just open the door slowly, into a small apartment. there are enough tables to seat about 30, and a little old lady is the only waitress in the place.
there's a board in which 6 items (A-F) are written in sloppy chinese, and it changes daily. you tell the lady how many of which letters you want. she brings you the soup of the day and a big thermos of tea. you get up to get your own rice, noodles, or congee straight from the rice cooker (you can have as much of that stuff as you want). and then she brings you your order when it's ready. it's a really good portion, and really tasty too. then you pay at the little window that connects the kitchen to the dining area on your way out. only $4! i'm definitely coming back. it's only open on weekdays from 11-3:30. i wonder if the little old lady (and i'm assuming it's her husband in the kitchen) live in the apartment too. very interesting.
apparently, there are lotsa these little places out here. in that same apartment building, i think there was one more restaurant and a hairdresser, and i'm not sure what else.
there's also this other thing that i've heard of but have yet to try. some people who are really good cooks will open up their homes on friday or saturday night a few times a month to the public as well. well, not the real public, it's all by word of mouth. you have to call and make a reservation, and they'll set up a few tables in their living room (depending on how many people have booked a table for the night). there's no menu at all, you just eat whatever is brought to you. and while you're eating dinner, the rest of the family is going about their business as usual, watching tv, reading in their bedroom, whatever. this is a bit more expensive...like $35-$40, but it's supposed to be delicious, and it's worth it just for the experience...
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
o happy day!!! thank you detroit for making my day :)
Monday, June 14, 2004
i went on my first boat trip this weekend. out here, they're called junks. junks are those traditional wooden fishing boats that used to be used out here in the olden days. but these days, most junk trips are on yachts. nice pretty big ones!
anyway. so yah. my first junk trip. it was fun! we ate and drank and ate and drank some more. played some football, did some swimming, played drinking games, sunbathed, just relaxed and had fun. it was like a mini-vacation (as if i need one). it was great! i wish you guys could've been there, it would've been so much better...(that means come visit). bye!
anyway. so yah. my first junk trip. it was fun! we ate and drank and ate and drank some more. played some football, did some swimming, played drinking games, sunbathed, just relaxed and had fun. it was like a mini-vacation (as if i need one). it was great! i wish you guys could've been there, it would've been so much better...(that means come visit). bye!
Friday, June 11, 2004
i'm a giant computer geek. as much as i try to deny it and hide it, i am...
so i'm watching this special on the brain, and they're talking about neurons communicating with each other. you know what i immediately thought of? computer networks!!! how geeky is that? omg, i'm pathetic. then i go on to think about how to program the communication between neurons. i blame it on dum berkeley training me to think this way, but still...goodness gracious i embarass myself. and to top it off, i was (and still am) drunk. have a great weeekend everyone!
so i'm watching this special on the brain, and they're talking about neurons communicating with each other. you know what i immediately thought of? computer networks!!! how geeky is that? omg, i'm pathetic. then i go on to think about how to program the communication between neurons. i blame it on dum berkeley training me to think this way, but still...goodness gracious i embarass myself. and to top it off, i was (and still am) drunk. have a great weeekend everyone!
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
a mission for you: ask someone who speaks cantonese how to say "flower bridge" (i kno, i kno...it's immature, but it's funny too!)
anyway. exciting news! today, there was a typhoon alert 1 hoisted or something like that. from what i gathered, it means that there is a typhoon somewhere out there, and there's a possiblity that it'll come our way. i've never been in a typhoon! my first typhoon! kinda sux tho becuz everywhere i go, people have their radios on to get constant updates about it, but those updates are all in cantonese. o well. i guess i'll just follow the crowd. or stay close to home...
o, and another thing. some salespeople are retarded. this happens quite often actually at the street markets and stuff where they sell all the fake stuff. so i haggle a little over the price but haven't made a decision yet. i ask to see it (ie a shoe in my size or a purse they have in a catalog). they go into their warehouse or whatever (which is pretty crazy sometimes, i've seen people crawl into a little cabinet that leads to an entire stockroom, or through a tile in the roof. it's nuts where they hide their goodies.) anyway. they come back, i try it on, i don't like it. then they get all pissy and say stuff like, "if you weren't gonna buy it, why'd you make me go get it?" BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR JOB DUMMY!!! then they try to gimme a better price to make the sale. as if i'm gonna buy it from you after that attitude. any price you give me, i know i can go next door and get it for the same price without the attitude. but in general, service in asia is 100x better than even some of the fanciest places in the states...i'll definitely miss that when we eventually move back.
anyway. exciting news! today, there was a typhoon alert 1 hoisted or something like that. from what i gathered, it means that there is a typhoon somewhere out there, and there's a possiblity that it'll come our way. i've never been in a typhoon! my first typhoon! kinda sux tho becuz everywhere i go, people have their radios on to get constant updates about it, but those updates are all in cantonese. o well. i guess i'll just follow the crowd. or stay close to home...
o, and another thing. some salespeople are retarded. this happens quite often actually at the street markets and stuff where they sell all the fake stuff. so i haggle a little over the price but haven't made a decision yet. i ask to see it (ie a shoe in my size or a purse they have in a catalog). they go into their warehouse or whatever (which is pretty crazy sometimes, i've seen people crawl into a little cabinet that leads to an entire stockroom, or through a tile in the roof. it's nuts where they hide their goodies.) anyway. they come back, i try it on, i don't like it. then they get all pissy and say stuff like, "if you weren't gonna buy it, why'd you make me go get it?" BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR JOB DUMMY!!! then they try to gimme a better price to make the sale. as if i'm gonna buy it from you after that attitude. any price you give me, i know i can go next door and get it for the same price without the attitude. but in general, service in asia is 100x better than even some of the fanciest places in the states...i'll definitely miss that when we eventually move back.
Friday, June 04, 2004
life has been busy. the "in-laws" were visiting for a while. then a friend's girlfriend was visiting, so we hung out a lot while our men were working. and i have prospects for informal employment. it's more just to learn more about new industries, help out some friends, gimme something to do during the day. i'm not too keen on finding a real job just yet because i'd like to take 6 weeks off in august, and if i start a job now, i probably won't be able to take those 6 weeks off.
i have quite a few social circles now too. that keeps me busy with luncheons, dinners, drinks, boat trips, potlucks, clubbing, hiking, shopping, etc. i've actually been really bad about finishing that stupid certification to teach english. too many distractions. life is good and i'm having fun...
i have quite a few social circles now too. that keeps me busy with luncheons, dinners, drinks, boat trips, potlucks, clubbing, hiking, shopping, etc. i've actually been really bad about finishing that stupid certification to teach english. too many distractions. life is good and i'm having fun...
