Weather

Two hours ago I left for my last UCEAP lecture (PKU lectures start next week.) It was almost 100 degrees outside, and bright and sunny. A few minutes ago I left my airconditioned lecture room to discover a thunderstorm with raging winds that kicked up dust and blew open my umbrella multiple times, and light rain. Only in Beijing. Fortunately, I just happened to have busted out my windbreaker for the first time today, because the classroom is usually pretty cold, and I have gotten into the habit of carrying my umbrella everywhere (it's used for both the constant sun and unpredictable rain here.) So I managed to get back to the dorm without my bags getting too wet. Alls well that ends well right? And now I get to listen to the thunder indoors.

Apparently some people have not been able to comment on my blog, or it doesn't show up. I think I have fixed the problem, but if I don't respond to a post that you think deserved responding to, let me know and I'll look into it. Also, if you try to comment on my posts while not having a google account yourself, it will probably show up as anonymous user. Just to let you know.

I'm really hungry right now. Hmmm, risk the rain for a cafe? Maybe... Guess I'll decide after this post.

I am currently importing all of my pictures that I have sitting on my camera since my last import. There are over 500 right now....

Looks like I'm going to have to pick and choose, huh?

On Monday a few of us decided to go to the Beijing aquarium, which is actually located inside of the zoo. (So buying tickets to the aquarium gets you inside of the zoo.) I saw pandas, so about half of my trip is already over and done with.

Awesome caramel sculptures. I really should have bought one...

And then we got to the actual aquarium at the far end of the zoo.

GIANT fish

Look like something out of Atlantis.

Some artwork.

They had the cutest jellyfish ever.

You can't even tell.

and that makes me sad.

But this picture was pretty good, I think.

So after walking around for a couple more hours and seeing all kinds of cool things, we headed back outside. We were all really hungry, but there were so many photo-op moments we basically had to drag each other away from them by reminding each other how hungry we all were. Especially Byron. I swear, he's going to have so many photos by the end of this trip his camera will exceed the luggage weight limit simply in data.

Tuesday was supposed to be a field trip, but it got postponed, so we actually had the whole day off. Woah, that's new. I was still kept decently busy running around for things though.

Yesterday we went to The Capital Museum, which was really interesting and full of facinating CHinese history and great interactive set-ups, and Guozijian, the old Imperial Academy back before the Cultural Revolution when China began using the university system, instead of the imperial examination system. We also went to Yonghegong, a Lama temple.

Unrelated, but this puppy hangs around global village all the time and is adorable. 

Capital Museum iconic gate.

Really cool interactive displays.

SWORD.

POTTERY.

This was actually set up like a doc, where you walk on really creaky floorboards and look out onto the scenery.

Ancient Chinese woman's swiss army knife.

Woman's jacket, supposed to represent the cultural tendency to desire many children.

Display of the imperial city, complete with figurines.

Burial pillow.

And then we went to lunch...

Super fancy.

Chinese tacos.

And then off to the imperial academy.

A guy spent 3 years transcribing the 13 confucian classics onto these stones. And in really clear handwriting. It's pretty impressive. It looks like he typed it out. Who would guess he used a chisel?

This is where the emperor gave his lectures, while everyone else sat on the ground outside. No matter what the weather was like.

Yeah, what the description says. She also had a bunch of boyfriends and her own harem. Just saying.

Checking for cheating on the exam.

And you thought AP exams were long. These guys were locked up in here for three days.

Alright, enough of the learning stuff. What are we here for anyway? Definitely not learning. On to the temples!

Gods of health.

One of probably about 30 buildings in the complex. This was one of the bigger ones.

GIGANTIC statue. It's in the Guinness book of world records because it's carved out of a single tree.

And back through the ginko trees, to board the bus again.

So that was the past couple of days. Phew, you made it! So many pictures... But I suppose it's better than listening to me rant all the time. So there you go. I have a ton more sitting in my files, but I don't want to overload you guys. Otherwise you'll just start scrolling faster, and faster.... Haha. So anyway, we actually also went to a beer factory today! Whoo! Buuuut, I'm not telling you guys about that. ;) Just teasing, I know that's what you're all here for. But I actually have a test tomorrow to study for, and another field trip tomorrow morning! So that's it for today. I'll see if I can update on the rest tomorrow.

(btw, don't expect much from the beer, the tour was actually really short.)

Until later then! Wish me luck, and 再見！