Pseudo-Tibet

Now we are in Shangrila, far northwestern part of Yunnan province not far from the Tibetan border. And here there resides quite a bit of Tibetans, and thus their cultural influence. The landscape here is stunning and something very unlike what I have been accustomed to seeing in China. That all the different places I have been to constitute one nation is truly amazing; it is difficult to conceive of how variegated and diverse a place China is. Yunnan is beautiful, but this time of year rainy and intolerably cold (Oregon has softened me, Chicago winters are much worse). I came unprepared for this weather so just now purchased long underwear that has left me duelly satisfied. I had to leave behind the special privelage of my own bedroom with a king-sized bed and heating blanket in Lijiang (Pingping hooked me up with that) for an even colder place and a shared room in Shangrila.
There is a lot on my mind these days, thinking about the future. I am specifically concerned about graduating on time, figuring out housing, searching for jobs both for when I am at school and after I graduate. Meanwhile I am focusing on now, on learning as much Mandarin as I can of course, and then missing Shawna a lot. Distance is far from easy, but no part of me has any doubt that it isn't worth the wait and the longing. Mainly these last couple of days all I can really concentrate on is how cold and wet I am. On a side note I am celebrating Halloween a night early (tomorrow) by going to a Tibetan family's house to eat, drink, dance, and be merry. Our teacher said the family would slaughter two sheep for us. Today I bought a homemade alcohol from a roadside restaurant near Tiger Leaping Gorge that was brewed in all sorts of plants, fruits, spices, snakes, and deshelled tutrtles, among myriad other unknown entities. It tastes good and will be suitable for our "Tibetan party."