Stress Test

This is not a drill.  It's a test.  A real test.  In Chinese.  And it's tomorrow morning.

Before you think I've already begun my slip into stress induced madness, I'll assure you that I haven't, yet.  I'm sure that'll come later on.  For now I just have to accept that I have to prepare the same amount of work I would normally have two weeks to do, in just a day.  Actually, I've already prepared it.  Now I just have to sleep, hoping that it's good enough.  I anticipate some interesting dreams...

In happier news, my roommate gave me a Chinese car magazine.  I imagine I will learn a lot more Chinese from it than I will from my text book, partially because I will probably read it more than the latter.  Yesterday, I had the pleasure of trying to buy a lock at Jialefu, the local super market (which is actually a French based company called Carrefour).  There is a phenomenon is the United States of cramming everything we possibly can into one store (I'm looking at you, Costco).  Apparently this idea has been rejected by the Chinese, because they did not have small locks at this supermarket.  In fact, when I asked one of the Chinese roommates if he knew where I could get one, he had to sit and think for a minute or two.  Then he replied with something I didn't understand, and I nodded and smiled.  This happens on a daily basis.  A similar thing happened when I tried to buy allergy medicine at the same store, a five minute operation in the states.  In China, however, you apparently have to go to a pharmacy to buy such things.  See, separation, instead of conglomeration.  I'm pretty sure that in the process of trying to explain that I wanted allergy medicine, I probably cursed the super market attendees children, or something, so poor is my Chinese.  Oh well, that's why I'm here (to learn, not to insult old ladies, that is).

EJR