One Vacation, Four Ways to DIE.

As my students are taking the four finals I spent an entire weekend writing I can only think of one thing: vacation. Before I divulge  further let me specify that yes, I the students take finals in January.  The same courses with the same unruly students will continue in the spring semester.  Not only does Jin Cai falsely claim to follow an American curriculum, it must also think it is a college because must American high schools do not require students to take (teachers to write) two midterms and two finals for the same course.

Anyways my favorite word, vacation. Although I am ready an excited, life has turned me into an eternal pessimist and I must prepare myself for the worst, death.

Harbin- Death by frostbite
The first stop is Harbin, a city just east (ok slightly south) of Siberia. It is slightly more than 1000 miles north of Shanghai. (On a geographical side note, check out this interesting blog- its a few years old but still a new idea to me!) I am already freezing in Shanghai and its only in the 20s. In the winter (now) Harbin regularly gets as cold as -40 degrees.  My friend went a few weeks ago and pretty much died. I can't even go to the bathroom at the school I teach at without getting frostbite so this should be interesting.

Is than an igloo? If this little zhonggo de baby can handle it I say bring it on!

Chinese Mt. Rushmore. Gotta have a snow Mao

I'm such a sucker for pretty things.

I will not be that girl.  My butt will not get that close to ice.

South Korea: Death by nukes


Dear Kim Jong _____ whichever one of you is actually in power now, please don't blow up South Korea.  I hear they are very nice people and treat tourist very well.  My co-worker Brian also told me South Korea is much more developed than China, and specified by saying they don't try to run pedestrians over when crossing the street.  Plus if you do blow the south up I may never have the chance to eat dog.

Japan: Death by poverty?

I may have to put my newly acquired over the knee boots (true story, I did buy them.  Over the knee boots are ok, thigh high boots are for hookers) to use.  By the way, this picture was stolen from turbowhitetrash.com

My friend warned me "Japan sucks, one dollar is like 100 yen". I WISH! One dollar is only 83 yen now and guess what... I'm paid in worthless non-convertible RMB. Hostels alone will cost us each $40 a night (yea remember SE Asia and even China where they're close to $5 USD) so we are trying to couch surf.  This is to be determined.  Anyone with a comfy couch in Tokyo want to be my new best friend? There's also the $500 one way plane ticket I bought and the $500 rail pass and my need to go to Disney... I guess I'll just have to eat rice everyday. Oh and I am going to a snow festival with a college sisterfriend of mine! :)

Shanghai: Death by old age

I come back to stupid Shanghai on my stupid 23rd birthday. lkdjgfjdshgjdfhgjadfhgkjghdfjhgdjfgh. It also happens to be my first Valentine's day without a love interest in a very long time which is almost as bad as turning 23.  There is a Chinese teacher who is fixed against getting old so I may have to visit her for some remedies.

If none of the above kill me the students will.  Back to work the next day on February 15. :(