villainous friend
Would you believe me if I told you I found an abandoned inn, with a mysterious martial arts scroll inside it?
Photos by @in_the_bottle
Maybe you’d have other ideas about what I got up to there.
Picture 3 by @in_the_bottle
First culture shock on returning: in China you don’t walk on elevators, in Switzerland you’re supposed to stand to one side so people can walk on the other.
Today’s quest in Shaoxing: collect every Wang Xizhi!
I’m very certain there are more Wang Xizhis that we didn’t find, but we got a good selection. Pictures 1, 3 and 4 are by @in_the_bottle.
Me: So anyway I was at the Shanghai Museum today because I’m so interested in Chinese history and culture!!!
—
Sorry for denying you, fandom. 😅 It’s just the stress of being in a much bigger enclosure than I’m used to…!
Host family dad, G: So, you came here to study Chinese. What are you going to do when you go back to Switzerland? Read Chinese books?
Me: Well, I already have a Chinese teacher at home. And I read Chinese books, very very slowly.
G: Do you watch Chinese films?
Me: Yes, and series!
G: Oh, really? So what superstar do you like? [He said ‘superstar’ in English.]
Me: Actually, I like Wang Yibo. [Yibo is my default answer for this question because everyone has an opinion on him. And I do like him!]
G: Oh! Wang Yibo! We had a homestay student before who REALLY liked Wang Yibo. She watched his series… what’s it called…
Me (sweating): Uh, Wang Yibo has a lot of series.
G: Something something ling…
Me (giving up): Chen Qing Ling?
G: Yes! And that xiaojiejie, she spoke Chinese SO fluently. She couldn’t pass a written exam, but she spoke super fluently because she watched Wang Yibo’s series over and over again. They say that interest is the best teacher, right? [兴趣是最好的老师。]
In the Northern and Southern Dynasties sculpture gallery, looking at Buddhist statuettes. He’s not here per se, but I am spiritually visiting with my ornery dude Yan Zhitui.
Giant Food at the Shanghai Museum East Gallery! It’s a bronze-themed ice cream. I might have to come back and try the real thing. 👀
