Project Chungguk: Day 12

Fact #1: This keyboard sucks so I am less inclined than ever to make a long post describing what I've done.

Fact #2: I am learning so much Chinese at least reading-comprehension-wise. It really helps to be in a context where everything is Chinese and you really don't have much of a choice. Plus, trying to read about idols in my magazines requires me to squint at the characters and guess. Oh the things I do for you, SuJu.

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But to recap a few days:

Day 8 (Sunday):

We met Fu Chen and went KTV-ing with her and Awesome Chinese Boy. We sang awkward Korean songs and English songs and Chinese songs, yes! There was so much food too, it was amazing. I will forever be spoiled by Asian karaoke, my god. I have pictures to show how awesome the entire building was: so hardcore, guys. Asia takes its karaoke so seriously. Then we took the Beijing subway for the first time to Tiananmen and walked around a bit at night. We also passed WangFuJin Street but, well, it's super pricy and we can ge cheaper stuff almost anywhere else in China. Thus we were not that interested.

Day 9 (Monday):

Michelle and I were so tired today we did absolutely nothing. We went to the bank in the morning, ate at a super-expensive cafe that lied to us (so deceptive, we had no idea it was so pricy ;_;) but had a sullen subservient boy who made me laugh. He was so lonely, operating the entire store by himself. Michelle and I thought about inviting him to drink but not seriously. Oh Chinese boys, they amuse me so much. That night we also discovered a drama on TV called 雪在烧 (Snow is on Fire?) from episode 7 or something and got entranced by how very bad and predictable it was. It's so cute. The main female lead reminds us so much of Yeonhee from ZLY's MVs and thus also reminds us of Sungmin as a girl. Oh Sungmin, so pretty. (Donghae said if the members were all girls, he'd date SM b/c SM was so cute. Yesss, I approve.)

Day 10 (Tuesday):

We shopped. We both now have so many clothes and it's not really our faults! Shall I talk to you about how very aggressive these salegirls are? My god, they flatter and push clothes at you until you feel obligated to buy something in order to escape. They're all so...I'm not sure what it is about Chinese fashion nowadays, but the in thing is to perm your hair, dye it blonde, and apparently wear heavy eye makeup and all sorts of bling clothes. I will attempt to get a picture to demonstrate, but seriously, these girls, they all look like manga/anime characters come to life. Sometimes I turn around and think I'm looking at a foreigner, but it's just another Asian girl with super blonde hair. It's sort of tragic. On a different note, Asia is also incredibly good with cosplay. I've seen some cosplay photobooks in the bookstore and, goddamn, if I could've taken pictures of it, I would've. They're so elaborate and hardcore and amazing. Oh cosplay.

Tuesday we also went to the zoo! We saw giant pandas and tigers and various other things! I don't have too much to say about this because zoos make me depressed and this one was really no different. The scenery was really gorgeous though: I love willow trees next to lakes. So Asian, so zen.

We ate dinner at a porridge place though. 粥饭! Zhou Fan! I am one. :D And then we watched more of that awesome drama featuring Sungmin-as-a-girl-lookalike. Sadly she is no one we know.

Day 11 (Wednesday):

That was yesterday! We went to the Summer Palace in the morning and ran into all sorts of tourists groups, both Chinese and foreign. We walked around a lot and took many pictures. There's really not too much to share if I can't show pictures, because nothing exceptional happened there except possibly inappropriate conversation about Kibum's godly genes and need to procreate. We have this conversation a lot at various locations throughout Beijing. I sort of hope someone will understand us one day and agree, haha.

After the Summer Palace, we ate lunch at a barbeque place near Beijing University and then found a bookstore! The bookstore was amazing. I bought the entire Coffee Prince drama and stared at some others, and also I found Jay Chou's basketball movie! Does anyone remember the news about China making a Slam Dunk-based movie? It was ages ago that I heard about this and I totally forgot until Fu Chen mentioned on Sunday that Jay Chou did pretty well in his newest movie. So I went on a mission to find it and I did! He looks like he still has only one expression in it, but Awesome Chinese Boy says Jay Chou can actually play basketball so maybe it has some merit. The movie, by the way, is called "Kung Fu Dunk". Somehow I suspect that it is not entirely similar to Slam Dunk.

At the bookstore, we also found photobooks! Photobooks! Michelle acquired a BOBO photobook in her effort to prove that they are indeed famous and well-liked and you better be jealous that we met them, damn it. I bought a Super Junior fan book type thing--some pictures, lots of info. It's all in Chinese (the things I do for you, SuJu!) and pretty much amazing. I think once I get back to the States I'll be translating some of these interview/bio sections to spread SuJu love and practice my Chinese. I love Donghae. I'm so biased. I read his and Teukie's over the closest and they both made me cry, but Donghae's more because his was all about his dad. Oh baby, I want to adopt you and also marry you at the same time. I'm so conflicted.

Last night, Awesome Chinese Boy and his si mei (the ELF!) came over to drop off the CDs she bought for us (she got them chepaer). We now each have an SJM CD and I have the Don't Don CD. :D Does anyone want an SJM CD? Since now I have two? Must think carefully as to who to gift this to; they must appreciate SJM fully. Anyway, we talked and hung out and ELF was sane and sweet and liked Henry and ZM! It made me happy. We may all go out drinking on Friday night, which would be awesome.

Day 12 (Thursday):

Today hasn't really started for us yet. I found some fancams on Youtube that make me giddy and happy (this one in particular: http://youtube.com/watch?v=iOlpTKC4qlY OH TEUKCHUL ILU) but also hate Thailand. Boo, why must SJ be in Thailand? Anyhow, later today we're going shopping again (bookstore, not more clothes, never more clothes, we have so many clothes forever) and then to the Botanical Gardens where ELF-girl (LiLing I think) will hopefully meet us.

Mm, Beijing. I approve.