While My Roommate Gently Weeps
By Justin DeMarco
July 28 2008
Since arriving in Beijing three weeks ago, I've been attempting to keep as many remnants of home present in my life.
Since arriving in Beijing three weeks ago, I've been attempting to keep as many remnants of home present in my life.I've eaten at every North American style restaurant I can think of - Subway, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Dairy Queen, the local pizza place - Donata's, a Mexican restaurant, and last night I ate at my first Chinese/American diner, "Steak and Eggs" - just to have a taste of home. The only Western establishment I've refused to eat at in Beijing is KFC. There's a reason it's called KFC and not Kentucky Fried Chicken anymore.
However, I'm not homesick or feel that I'm missing out on an opportunity of a lifetime by limiting myself while in China. In fact, all this longing for home isn't to say that I haven't been enjoying my time in Beijing. Rather it's the opposite, I've been immersing myself in the culture and taking this experience for its face value. I've eaten all the dishes from different regions of China presented to me, climbed the Great Wall, driven an electric boat on a lake in the Summer Palace and also in Beihai Park, taken profile pictures of any Chinese citizen who will let me, relieved myself using squat toilets, visited the Ming Tombs, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, a rich rural village and have even made stops at a Chinese water reclamation sewage plant and a nursing home. I'm still not 100 percent sure why we made stops at the last two places, but I went with an open mind and a smile on my face.
As much as I may make light of my fond experiences so far, I do enjoy playing charades with non-English speakers and ordering food without knowing what I'm actually eating. China has already surpassed my not-so-high expectations with flying colors. However, there was something missing that I couldn't quite wrap my fingers around.
A few days ago, I was walking down Wangfujing Street watching my peers eat scorpion, snake, sea horse and anything else they thought exotic enough to try. I was not interested in what the street vendors had to offer. Period. The food smelled rancid and there was a sharp odor from the sea of people who were walking through the food stands. My friend Peter from Toronto, who frequents China, has described the smell to me "like a stagnant pond with a dead raccoon rotting somewhere under the surface."
As I left the area, which Peter so accurately described, I was walking down another street off of Wangfujing with my roommate Jim when he spotted a music store. I walked into the store. I asked the salesman to point out the cheapest guitar. He told me 260 yuan. I put my hand around the neck of the guitar and without playing a note decided to buy the guitar. I gave him what is about 38 US dollars and went on my way with a pick, a Z-Power "World Class" steel string acoustic guitar, and a black plastic guitar bag, which said "guitar" on the front.
When Jim and I walked back into the room, I ripped the guitar out of the bag, tuned it up and start playing. In an instance, it was just like I was sitting in my living room asking my dad to teach me different guitar riffs, while my mom and sister complained about me playing the same song over and over and over again.
I've played the guitar at least a half hour each day since I've had it. However, it was today that it felt like I was at home. I played "Crash" by Dave Matthews for the 150,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 time, as Jim will tell you. But this time, I heard him say under his breath, "I'm never going to listen to that song ever again."
I've played the guitar at least a half hour each day since I've had it. However, it was today that it felt like I was at home. I played "Crash" by Dave Matthews for the 150,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 time, as Jim will tell you. But this time, I heard him say under his breath, "I'm never going to listen to that song ever again."I'll be the first to admit that I'm no Dave Matthews, but at least I've now found my groove -both literally and figuratively. Unfortunately for Jim, he may have just found his breaking point.
Here's to another month in Beijing.
DEAR JUSTIN,
I AM BEYOND PROUD OF YOU FOR FINDING YOUR GROOVE! HOW LUCKY ARE YOU THAT YOU HAVE FOUND WAYS TO ENJOY YOUR BEIJING EXPERIENCE WHILE STILL DOING SOMETHING EACH DAY THAT REMINDS YOU OF HOME? HOW UNLUCKY IS JIM THAT HE HAS TO LISTEN TO THE SAME SONG OVER AND OVER? TELL JIM THAT EAR PLUGS WILL DO THE TRICK OR FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN TEACH YOU SOMETHING NEW!! BY THE WAY, YOU AND JIM LOOK HAPPY, WELL, AND HANDSOME IN YOUR AUTHENTIC OLYMPIC UNIFORMS. THE ORANGE UNIFORM REMINDS ME OF THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS' JERSEY YOU WEAR TO THE GAMES.
LOVE YOU FROM HERE TO BEIJING AND BACK,
MOM
Wow! How lucky for you to experience China and the Olympics!
I look forward to reading more about your adventures in China!
Kyle's mom, Lorraine!
I think "Stomp" used to be in your repertoire! Just, sounds like your keeping an open mind through your studies and travels, but I'm glad that you're being cautious in terms of street food! Keep the great blogs coming.
Love,
Marisa
Hi Jimmy,
I'm so glad to hear of your adventures with Justin! You guys look really great! Hmm...Maybe I'll get you a Dave Matthews CD for your Birthday when you get home? How about picking up a keyboard or trombone while you're there, and you can give Justin a dose of his own medicine! I hope your are trying all the food delicacies that you can. I'll be checking back in later, have to read all the other stories!
We miss you,
Love Mom, Mike and the whole family!
JUSTINIAMALSOPROUDOFYOU-BRADDYE
Justin you are too funny and too good hearted! Your description took me back to Beijing in an instant (rotting raccoon in skanky water and all). We once tried our hand at haggling for some touristy trinket and we got her to $40 from $80. Our guide made us leave without taking it and she went back and got it for $2. Glad that you got such good value out of your guitar purchase. Cheers Peter
JDM! I got your postcard and I was soso excited. Thanks for that! I love reading your blog - your stories are hilarious. I think that is so awesome that you got a guitar there. You should check out what's happening in the local music scene over there and send me a cool CD! That would be awesome. Miss you dearly and can't wait to see you.
-Jack
i feel like i am travelling with you in china. enjoy the trip of a lifetime it can only pay dividends in the long run!!!
Dear Justin,
Loved the stories. I am so glad you are having a wonderful time.We can't wait to see your pictures when you are back.
All the best,
Arnon Melo
Toronto, Canada
All the Fios are enjoying your commentaries. We feel like we'll be getting an insider's view of the Olympics and we're loving the food reviews.
Justin,
You don't know me, but I am a friend of your Grandfather Joe & Grandma Mary, & they gave me your address. I enjoyed reading about all of your experiences in a foreign land.
Sincerely, AF