What’s Up Everyone?
From a relaxing seven days during Chinese New Year to a stressful seven straight days of working, I was so looking forward for the weekend to relax and unwind. Why do the Chinese government like to torture their employees by working on a weekend and seven days straight? I must be getting older if I can’t make myself work without a break for at least a whole week.
In any case, between my last post to this post, I might as well note down what’s been happening with me as a way of releasing tension.
It’s “Glee” time!
After reading my sister’s post about this new TV series in the US, I decided to download all thirteen episodes during the Chinese New Year holiday. The story setting is in a typical American high school with cheerleaders and football players as part of the popular group. A young, Spanish teacher decided to relieve his high school days by revamping the almost gone high school glee club.
Starbucks China – Tea & Spring 2010
Chinese are known tea drinkers. There are different types of tea for different season, ailment or what not. After their Chinese New Year and Valentines product, their new marketing products are geared towards cherry blossom and tea.
Full Leaf Brewed Tea
This morning at 10am, Starbucks offered for free a tall size tea drink to the first 100 customers. This enabled their regular customers to sample their new products such as Starbucks Oriental Beauty Oolong tea, Starbucks white mu dan tea and Bi Luo Chun Green Tea.
Each tea bag are uniquely packaged in a triangular shape. The tea bag can be used 12 times and contains full leaf tea. A box of 12 bags costs RMB 80. I tried the green tea and as usual, it’s bitter and needs a lot of sugar for me to drink it. Chinese drink different types of tea for different seasons. I’m not sure if Green tea is best for winter and white tea is best for summer or the other way around. Oolong tea is nice to mix with milk.
Movie Review: My Sassy Girl
It’s the end of our holiday and what a good way to end it by watching a romantic movie ALONE (hahaha!). In any case, I can’t wait to see if this movie will live up to the Korean version standards.
I’ve watched the Korean version of My Sassy Girl four years ago. I know they’ve released the American version of the movie but it never was shown here in China or maybe I just didn’t notice. I remember waiting for it and finding it on DVD today, made me buy this movie.
My Sassy Girl : American Version
My Sassy Girl started with Charlie (Jesse Bradford) standing in one of the trees in Central Park reminiscing about the love story of his life. It started out two years ago with him studying for a business degree in college and finding out that his cousin suddenly died. He met Jordan (Elisha Cuthbert) in the park who his friend dared him
Claudine’s Major Expenses in 2009
When my brother blogged about his major purchases in 2009, I was thinking of writing one but instead of purchases a mixed of purchase and expense. I’m already dreading the final total as I know I spent a big chunk of my savings. My travelling alone is like my combined annual food, rent and miscellaneous expense.
So.. let’s see who’s the culprit last year and maybe I’d learn how to minimize it this year. As they say, if you don’t try to learn where your money went, you wouldn’t know how to save and budget.
1. Canon Ixus 970is (USD 406 or RMB 2780)
As I was getting sick and tired of my Olympus digital camera which drains battery faster than it can shoot, I wanted to buy my very own Canon digital camera. My cousins and friends have used this brand for quite some time and were quite satisfied with the shots they’ve taken and the camera itself.
At first, I was contemplating of purchasing a SLR but I don’t know how to operate one. The only one I know how to operate is my friend’s Nikon D50. I hate SLRs because it’s big and bulky and not friendly to put in your pocket. I would admit though the picture quality is much better than a point and shoot.
Another reason why I want to purchase a new digital camera is I’m going on my first ever trip to my ancestral hometown in China. So, with the help of the web and my friends, I visited several reputable shops in Beijing to find my perfect camera. I was able to buy one at Carrefour for a discounted price as it was near Chinese New Year.
One Day in Seoul
During the May holidays last year, my travel buddy and I decided to go on a soul-searching trip to Seoul. It was a relaxing trip compared to our previous whirlwind tours. Seoul is a beautiful place with four distinct seasons. When we went there, it was spring and the weather was cool with vibrant colors surrounding us. A day is enough to visit several tourist spots and what I’ll be writing are what we visited in one day.
Changdeokgung Palace
Changdeokgung Palace was built as a secondary palace in 1405, under King Taejong’s reign. During the Japanese invasion of 1592, the palace was totally destroyed. It was restored in 1610 and served as a main palace for 258 years. It was inscribed on the Unesco World Cultural Heritage list in 1997.
Except for Thursdays during April through November, guided tours are only allowed while visiting this place. The Palace is closed on Mondays. Guided tours last for one hour and twenty minutes with specific time schedule for the languages it supports (Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean). English schedule is 1130am, 130pm, 330pm only. Chinese schedule is 1100am and 300pm. If you miss the tour, then join the other tours but just admire the beauty of the place.
Decisions.. Decisions..
It’s already February and I have yet to sit down and make my new year’s resolution list. Well.. I can always say it’s my Chinese New Year’s resolution list.. 
In any case, I need to think about what to learn to improve myself this year. Should it be geared towards my career, life, or a new hobby? Maybe you could help me decide as I can’t decide from several things I’m currently considering.
Chinese Language
Having lived in China for 6-1/2 years, one might say that I should be fluent with the language. However, this is not the case as I cannot even watch a movie or speak to a person on the phone.
Learning by myself is out of question as I don’t have the patience to do so. I thrive in competition that I learn more in a classroom setting than real life. If ever I want to push through with this goal. I need to set aside at least two hours, three times a week to achieve this goal. Cost for this class would roughly be RMB 2000 every month. I would love to take an exam and get a certificate saying what level I’m already in.