We went over to the Johns Hopkins Center at Nanjing University today which was boring and long-winded but actually rather enlightening. The center is the only one in the entire country that has a joined American-Chinese post-graduate study program where Am. and Chinese students live, eat, and study together in the same environment. Both have to be VERY fluent in the others' language (which counts a lotta people out) but I think it is a unique and purposeful program. The graduates go on to be big honcho leaders out there in the business world. I took a picture of a classroom, lol, which (*Shocker*) is just like an American University room.
We also went to the library where we learned some fascinating info.:In China there are no open shelf libraries- basically people can not go into a library and get any book they want like in America. You have to go in, ask for the specific book you want to see, they give it to you, you look at it, then give it back! No looking at the wide range of books nor checking out as many books as you want. Americans feel it is a service to provide libraries and the ability to check out books- when you go to the library, the librarian is happy to serve you and wants you to get the books you're looking for. The Chinese, on the other hand, feel that it is simply their job to give you the book you ask for and instead of libraries serving as a "generous service" they instead serve as a place to keep books. They feel that if people come in to check out books, it is not going with their main mission of "keeping books".. So the Nanjing Library is unique in that it is the only one in the country that allows people to go in, browse around at books, and check them out!! Imagine that sort of control and limitation on your life?!?
It was also interesting to see how in this library there were books on Communism, The Berlin Airlift, etc. Even though there are books here that aren't anywhere else they are still censored. (of course) You can't get books into the country they don't want you to have and will hold them at customs-- which makes teaching AP World history in China rather difficult!
For dinner we walked to a place a lot like Las Vegas with the lights and the activity and the liveliness. It was nice (and of course, dripping sweat hot!)
We went to a Japanese restaurant here in China, lol. It was a real interesting experience. No one could speak English and of course none of us could speak Chinese. There was one guy with us, Curt, (who btw, UD- he reminds me SO much of you!!) who had studied the Rosetta stone for about 2-3 mo b4 coming but still wasn't past lesson 4! lol. He was able to semi-communicate with the service but not easily. After 20 minutes and 4 people came over to figure out what we were trying to order (even though we were pointing right at the pictures!!) they finally got it!! YEA!!
During the dinner, Curt got up and took over our chef's role and the chef gave him his hat. It was quite funny and naturally we all enjoyed it. (Including the local Chinese men that were dining there who applauded when Curt was done!) 
I had the best beer in China- Tsingtao which was 1 Liter of beer for only 15 Yuan (about 2 1/2 bucks) I had three and Curt complimented me on my beer drinking abilities (I gave credit to my Uncles whom taught me well!!)After all that we took our long route home-- long b.c. we got lost in the center of Nanjing and also my 3 Tsingtao's were catching up with my bladder with me by this point! lol. We stopped at a WC (water closet) on the side of the road which was the most disgusting experience of my ENTIRE lifetime. I am not exaggerating. Ashley (another beer drinker) and myself desperately needed to go for quite sometime and as the Tsingtao's were messing with our minds as well as our bladders we did not care where we went just as though we did. Bad choice. Walking towards the WC the stench engulfed us and yet we still went in. There were no stalls, just tiny little walls which really held no purpose except to separate individuals. Then instead of having urinals there was just a long opening in the floor- kinda like a horse corral but built into the floor! Of course everything that others left behind were there to greet us! blech. There was a woman who "Worked" there and her 5 year old daughter followed us in. She was in the little cubby in front of me and when she finished, she decided to stand next to my cubby and watch me!!!! I couldn't believe it and thank god her mother called for her or else she woulda cont'd to stare!!
Seriously, the most disgusting thing of my life. woa. I didn't take a picture-which now that I think about it was against my better judgment b.c. I really can't describe what such a place is like.. but maybe I will in the near future.
My rock bed is calling to me once again.
Until then,
Wan-an!
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