Finally Settling In

One and a half month later, I'm finally settling in. School isn't easy, but I'm getting the hang of my classes. Recently it was the mid autumn festival and it's a big holiday here. Including the two weekends, I had 9 days off! woo! I went around Beijing and went to different areas like the Art District 798, San Li Tuan and Wang Fu Jing. 

 At San Li Tuan, it's definitely different than the rest of Beijing.  It's so foreign! There were foreign products like Casio, Coldstone Creamery, Lacoste, Adidas, Nike, and many others. All of these imported products are pricier than in the US. It is so foreign, when I was there, I felt out of place because of how I've adapted to Chinese culture. The apple store of Beijing is also there. Around Beijing, I've seen so many "authorised resellers" for apple products, it's ridiculous! San Li Tuan also had a huge five story and a basement level bargaining market. I think it was meant just for foreigners.  The sales people try to rip people off for fake products. One of my roommates and I really like going here to bargain. It's become a bit of a game for us.

Wang Fu Jing also has a mall with plenty of foreign brands.  What I most enjoy about Wang fu Jing was a little side market for food and souveniors!  This is also a bargaining market. 

These pics are from Wang Fu Jing.  They had meat on sticks. This pic is of squid, squid legs, and (i think) octopus)

corn on a stick! 

 Squirming scropians! They were a little pricy but I bought a stick for my friend and I to try.  They were squirming after they were cooked. It just tasted to salty seasoned insect shell. The thought is scarier than the taste!

Poor little starfish on a stick

This are lamb sticks. These are really popular in China.  There's also chicken sticks too.

Candied fruit on a stick.  It's basically fruit with a thick layer of sugar glaze. It's a little too sweet for me.

More food...

I'm not sure what eggs these are but there are five little eggs on each stick. Talk about your protein! 

More random food.

At Hou Hai Park in Beijing, there are people fishing with the longest fishing rods I have ever seen!

This is one of my language partners, Lei Lan! She's studying to get her Master's at Peking University.

I was waiting in line for food when a guy in front of me had a backpack on with a horrible English translation. 

This is a building at San Li Tuan. It's so fancy!

I was on campus looking for clubs to join and they had an Anime Club and boy do they get into it! I'm not sure what character he was trying to dress up as.

These next pics are of a Japanese buffet in my neighborhood called DaoLe Restaurant. So far, this has the best non chinese food. Unlimited drinks and food for 188 Yuan! Thats about 30 USD. It's a little crazy but it's worth it every once in a while.

Edamame, Sake, Beef Loin, and Sashimi Platter

Some kind of sushi roll with eel on top.

Clams, Sake, Salmon Sashimi, and edamame

PIckled cucumber, sushi roll, beef wrapped mushrooms, and really salty prawns.

SQUIIIIIIDDD! It was so good but we ordered it at the end so we only ate half of it.

That's all for now, but wait! There's more to come!