Juniper Armstrong

By my last post, I apparently meant "Back in INaction" hahaha oh well, i am writing this while I am finishing up my time in England. I should actually be writing my dissertation as I type because it is due in 4 days!! eeeks. But i work best under-pressure.... frantically taping away the night before something is due haha I think my brain and my thoughts are more fluid :D I am back home, in the States, in 1.5 weeks. So excited to see my family and friends after 10 months away.

I will write again soon. I promise. Maybe.

It feels like my month spent back home in the States never happened. That 'vacation' flew by so quickly that I am not 100% sure it actually occurred. Being sick a majority of the time did not help as I probably was unable to enjoy it as much as could have... oh well.

Now I am back in the UK finishing up my final term of classes before I begin work on my dissertation (yeah, i have no clue what i am doing THAT on yet hahah). Also, this term I am going to be completing an internship which will hopefully get me some kind of experience in my field. I shall keep you all posted on my progress to obtain my masters degree... and any other adventures I might have along the way!

It has been some time since I last posted, but it is a new year with many more adventures! To be continued ...

The above quote is compliments of one of my fellow foreign teachers (I will not name names haha:) When she said this on the subway, I died laughing because this happens ALL the time for us. After living in another country so long you find you are unable to speak the English language correctly and start picking up phrases never used in the west.

I have now developed a tendency to use phrases such as: "what a pity", "make friends", "so-so", and "that is all" (this last phrase you just put at the end of everything you say). Not only have phrases I never would say in the west started popping up in my lexicon, but also pronunciation difficulties have started to arise. I now include an extra syllable for words ending in -es and -ed (ex: He wore many cloth-es while walking down the different path-es... or saying "Thank-id" not Thanked).

It is very amusing and we laugh constantly at our many gaffes. However, I am heading to grad school in the fall and have to begin sounding intelligent again. Therefore, if you hear me say anything incorrectly when I get back to the States, PLEASE correct me...and THAT IS ALL!

yea, that is right, I'm eating birthday cake with chopsticks...

I am nearing the end of my time here in China and I am actually getting really sad to be leaving. I truly enjoy teaching these students- they are anxious learners and it is so rewarding to see them improve their English skills. However, I am excited to get back to many western perks- toilets, thinking outside the box, and food with less oil.

I find with my last 40-odd days I have left, that I am trying to experience as much as possible and just get out and enjoy living in a foreign country. I still feel like there is so much more I want to see and do. Having a deadline/leave date makes it so I try and accomplish these goals.

Originally I had planned to head to Tibet for my last week in China, but unfortunately I can not afford it (grad school is beckoning). Oh well, one of my former students invited me to her hometown in Xi'an- home of the terracotta warriors! That is a pretty nice consolation prize. The only reason I am not truly saddened is because I KNOW I will come back to China/Tibet.

Carpe Diem, my fellow readers, and seize the carp! ("out cold" movie reference haha)

My mother, Tootles, came to visit during the Easter holiday. It was an amazing trip and I was able to see some new parts of China- Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou. For my mom, it was a stress free trip since I handled all the reservations, flights, money, and bargaining.

Understanding the Art of Bargaining is essential to living in China because there are no set prices on any goods. This can be VERY frustrating because once the merchants see your white face coming, the prices go up... way up!

It is important to realize three things:
1) Never appear too interested in something. You have to be willing to give up if the seller does not match the price you think it is worth
2) it is always WORTH less than you think it is (this is china... land of fakes and cheap labor)
3) the seller would never sell you something unless they are making a profit- they often try and tell you that you are getting it for less than they paid for it hahah yeah right

Once you understand those three facts, then comes the fun part of using your charm. My mother witnessed firsthand my shameless tactics... I FLIRT! Yep, I bat my eyelashes and look sad and say I can not afford what they ask because I am a poor teacher. Basically, I make a fool out of myself and the merchants love it... therefore giving me a large discount. I managed to get a table runner for my mother that originally was 180rmb down to 30rmb. Also, some "Rolex" watches that were originally 100rmb each instead managed to bargain and get them 2 for 40rmb. The rolex showdown was with a woman, so instead of flirting, a lot of arm waving around worked best.

Tootles was shocked by my behavior but it got her what she wanted- great wall t-shirt, rolex watch, and a panda bookmark. Plus, she couldn't stop laughing.